First off I want to remind you about our Facebook LIKE contest that is happening right now.  The 500th person to LIKE the HVR Facebook page by January 1, 2012 is going to win a few goodies.  Here is the list:

2 tickets to The Wedding Co 2012 Show at The Carlu. Valid for use between Friday January 13th and Sunday January 15th
A copy of the premiere edition of The Wedding Co magazine
A $50 gift certificate to use at Lilium
A $200 gift certificate from Hazlitt Vintage Rental
and just added....
Four boutonnieres from Pomp & Plumage

So I bet you are thinking 'I want to win those prizes'.  How am I going to be the 500th person to LIKE the page?  Well, you need to encourage all your friends to LIKE the page and then take your chance to be that 500th LIKE before January 1st.  Good luck.

We've had over 50 of you jump on board since we started this contest.  Hopefully a lot more of you will join in and take us to the 500 mark.  I think we can do it.  180 people?  Sure, why not?

In the new year HVR is going to start offering specials on our Facebook page.  Join in so you don't miss the deals.  

Now on to the pretty stuff.

Did you see our feature on SMP Canada with Images by Bethany last week?  It was such a treat to have Meagan and Travis's Ontario wedding featured.  It was the perfect mix of California comes North for a beautiful wedding celebration.  This gorgeous bride is super talented and her groom is as sweet as pie.  

Every celebration needs some sweets.  A little indulgence.  Choice is always nice.  Tarts.  Cupcakes. Squares. Pies. Cheesecakes.  Chocolates. Cookies.  And, cake.  Always cake.

Word on the street is that a lot of people are trying to create the fabulous displays they see on party and wedding blogs.  It isn't as easy as it looks.  I have heard that some of you are struggling with pulling it all together.  So lets go on a sweet journey together and get this figured out.

Clearly, the focus is vintage (as if I had to tell you that) and I'm also focussing this post on desserts; we will look at candy bars some other time.  First lets look at some of my favourite displays of desserts.  I suspect you will be familiar with them since these tables are popping up on Pinterest so much.

Craving cake yet?

I know, all of these displays are gorgeous.  The reason why they present so well is a mixture of height, texture, colour, back drops and of course yummy treats.   From pretty to rustic to themed, there are ways of creating an interesting display.

Things to keep in mind:
- Does the display create a conversation?  i.e. are people going to stop & look at it or are they just going to grab a dessert and walk away?

- Will the props hold the weight of the tasty treats?  Test and re-test, you do not want a disaster the day of your party.  i.e.  If you are having the suit case open, how do you know the lid will stay up?

- With the exception of the last photo, take note that none of the above displays include an 8 foot table with a white table cloth.  Generally, you need to take things a step or two further for a true vintage display.

- Talk to your caterer, pastry/dessert/cake creator or your event coordinator about the ideal time to place the desserts on the table.  In the heat of the summer, icing melts quickly and things can go soggy.

- Determine who is going to replenish the display as people select their desserts.  Sometimes these displays only allow 12 or 20 pieces at once.  i.e. a tray with 12 cup cakes is going to go fast, so make sure you have lots and someone to put more out.

- If you have a display of cakes, think about who is going to cut them and how the slices will be served.  Will guests do it themselves?

- Add 'photo of the dessert table' to your picture list for your photographer.  Set a time so it coordinates with when the treats are nicely displayed.

- And my final tip, if you are a bride & groom, ask to have a sample of the treats packed away for your departure.  Often you forget to savour the sweets that you have selected. Have some champagne chilling and dig into the treats together to reflect upon your great day.

Sometimes when a group of vendors gets together, we go a little overboard.  Imagine creative minds buzzing with so many great ideas, a beautiful day and a warehouse full of props.  It can be a lot of fun!

We set up an outdoor kitchen.  It would be sweet for an engagement shoot if the couple enjoyed cooking and the outdoors.  There are lots of fireside engagement shots so we figured we should take it up a notch and create a kitchen.  

More of this shoot and a vendor list is at Style Me Pretty Canada.  Enjoy.

A couple of weeks ago, Style Me Pretty Canada featured one of our inspiration shoots.  The feature appeared on August 24th, three days after a devastating tornado ripped through the village of Benmiller, where we live, and our closest town of Goderich, Ontario where we shop, bank, hang out with friends in coffee shops, attend the farmers market and watch parades.  The days following are a blur to me.  All my family and our homes were fine but so many friends lost their homes or had severe damage to their businesses.  One of our properties in Goderich was also damaged.  As of today at 1 p.m., our downtown core will open again.  It has almost been 3 weeks.  Many businesses are still closed and will not re-open for some time but there is something significant about our town square opening again.  We are one step closer to the light at the end of the tunnel.

So my apologies to my readers, I haven't been keeping up.  I'll try better.

In the meantime, I would like show you all the details from our shoot.  It was a HUGE shoot - all day, with lots of vendors and lots of wardrobe changes and lots of scenes to style.  

BUT, today in celebration of last night's opening of the Toronto International Film Fest, I thought I would start with the fabulous wardrobe from the shoot.  I expect there will be a few star sightings at Cabaret Vintage over the next couple of weeks.  So if you are 'festing' stop by.

O.k. I can't help myself.  I love Tao and the gorgeous clothes he has in the shop!  Plus he is an absolute gem to work.  I am starting off with the dress that had me drooling.  The one that MUST land in my closet.  The ONE I NEED!

I adore this pink frock.  Take a look.  It would be perfect for a summer party!

Photographer: Alex Albojer / Vintage Rentals + Styling: Hazlitt Vintage Rentals / Wardrobe: Cabaret Vintage / Jewelry: Tara Fava Jewelry / Hair + Make-up: Dawna Boot + Michelle Porowski of Onare Salon / Wedding Cake + Dessert Table: Truffle / Stationery: Barbara Kua Calligraphy + Pulp and Pearl/ Floral Design: Wild Thyme / Event Planner + Styling: Sweet Beginnings Wedding & Event Planners / 


Next up will be the flowers by Wild Thyme!  Margaret is fabulous and I can't wait to show you her wonderful creations.

It is always such a treat to be featured on Style Me Pretty and even more exciting to be on the brand new SMP CANADA page!   

Congratulations to Tracy & Stephen!  Thanks to Erin, from A Simple Photograph, for including me in this surprise.  And Ida's work, from Sweet Sweets, is outstanding as ever when it comes to cakes!

I am so happy that people can’t get enough of our winter romance shoot.  It really was spectacular!  (Obviously I am biased)  Last week at The Wedding Show it was great to hear from so many of you who had viewed on Style Me Pretty.  It is good to know brides are out there doing their research and finding what works for them.

LaBelle Bride featured the shoot today and outlined the important pieces that you need to carry-off a superb vintage wedding.  Enjoy!


On another note, I went shopping yesterday.  It was a cold and blustery day, so no one else was shopping for vintage.  I arrived home with our SUV full of goodies.  A vanity table, a phonograph stand (sans the phonograph), some books and sheet music, a couple of typewriters (sorry, it isn’t the Royal pink), a chippy paint ladder, some luggage and a fantastic Paymaster machine.  Will post pictures soon!

This is my all time favourite shot of Katie and Eric.  It was taken towards the end of the day.  They had persevered through a chilly wind and Katie had just wrapped up an intense session of modelling at the bed vignette.   You could tell Eric was a bit concerned that his beautiful lady was getting chilly (even though she never let on).  


In this moment, we were all cold BUT then Eric put his hand on Katie's head and gave her the most sensuous kiss.  

BREATH-TAKING!  

It made all of us stop in our tracks and of course, Erin captured the moment perfectly.

Filled With Heart stumbled upon our shoot in late December.  I was so happy to read the post today.

Today is a big day for HVR!
The winter romance shoot is posted on Style Me Pretty today.  


Until the end of the year I will feature lots of pictures from the shoot on my blog; giving you glimpses into the styling and individual pieces that were pulled together to get the 'look'.

The first thing I want to do is tell you about the amazing vendors I worked with on that chilly, grey day.  I assumed I was going to be thrown into a world of mass creativity.  It went well beyond my expectations.  Besides an immense amount of talent, these people are so kind and such good souls.  It didn't feel like work at all!

Photography: A Simple Photograph
Cake and Sweets: Sweet Sweets
Make-up and styling for Katie: Sonia Ryan Make Up Artistry
Stationary: Laura K Design
Florist: Luann’s Country Flowers
Bouquets, Boutonnières,  Fascinators, Veils and Hair Pieces:Pomp and Plumage
Fashion Styling: Cabaret Vintage Toronto
Craft Services:  Mary Lynn Weaver

Thank you to all the vendors for making my first appearance on Style Me Pretty such a proud moment.  I can't wait to work with you again.


And then there is Katie & Eric.  Words are not enough to thank them for their efforts, their beauty, their love and their endurance of a cold wind.

Pop over to Erin's blog today for a look at the red sleigh in action.
You can also see more pics at Grey Likes Weddings and The Wedding Co. blogs.
Congratulations to Sarah & Brody on their engagement.

Thanks to Distinct Occasions for picking HVR as Friday's Find.
Check it out.