This place will always hold a special place in my heart. I use to live 5 minutes from Langdon Hall and spent many an evening in the dining room and afternoons on the grounds. I adore this place. I would live here if I could. Absolutely everything about this place is breath taking. The drive up Langdon Hall Road, the grounds, the buildings, the garden, the ice rink, the food and drink and the service! HVR was so happy to be part of two weddings at Langdon Hall in 2012. You may remember this one, captured by Rebecca Wood, that was featured on Style Me Pretty. Also take a peek at this one, photographed by Andreas Avdoulos and designed by Bliss Events! It was a rainy day but Tara pulled it together beautifully.
Rebecca Wood Photography
Rebecca Wood Photography
I'm just putting it out there that I would be more than happy to drive Cal to Langdon Hall again this summer. Really. It is no trouble at all. Call me!
As couples walking through wedding shows ebb and flow, the vendors are there for the duration. During those slower moments we chat amongst ourselves, drink coffee, tweet, text, eat the from the catering trays and dance (well at least in our minds). It always helps to have some great tunes in the back ground. This year I was so ever thankful to be in the same room as Greg, from Enjoi DJ. I couldn't have asked for anything better! Happiness equals movin' and grovin' with your friends and family. For some it is a natural expression and for others, well, they are a bit more hesitant. Either way, if you are hosting a party you need to rely on someone to keep that party going! When HVR arrived at 1 a.m. to pick-up props at this Evergreen Brickworks wedding, the music was still going and guests were still dancing. So much fun!
Wedding photos from Joseph + Jaime Weddings
| | Greg describes his music mixing as "an eclectic mix of funk, soul, hip-hop, r&b, disco, house, boogie, reggae, party breaks, rock, new wave, synth-pop." What could be better!?!? Pop over to the site & listen to the mixes. I'm listening to Blooms and Blams mix as I type this blog entry.
Greg
Trust me, I'm not even remotely hip enough to be listening to this music but just like photos, I know what I like! If you need to hear more, go to Greg's blog to see what he is listening to AND if you are in Toronto, check out WVRST on King the first Thursday of every month. Greg will be there. It is a great way to see if he is exactly what you need for your celebration!
I do not need to write words about my photographer friend, Nataschia. You just need to watch this film and let her own words speak about her passion for romance and love. Her passion is at the heart of her creativity. Trust me she really is THE photographer for capturing 'people madly in love'. NWP + C is about more than photography. Yes that 'C' means something too. Cinematography is provided by Mike Enns. After spending many hours watching Mike's celebration of love films on the web, I finally met him in January at the Wed Co. Show. Our booths were beside each other and we all shared our Starbucks' breaks together (do you see a trend here with the Niagara folk?). It was so much fun! Mike is just as passionate about love and capturing the meaning of the day as Nataschia (they wouldn't have it any other way). NWP+C captured one of HVR's groovy couples who rocked planning a long distance wedding (from Bejing back to the bride's home in London Ontario and the groom is from Australia!). And sometimes, just sometimes, conversations amongst wedding vendors becomes very serious. We are surrounded with so much love most of the time, not just our own families, but by the brides, grooms and their families and friends who invite us to be part of the celebration. To see those once in a lifetime moments is an honour. I know that Nataschia and Mike feel the same way.
In the spirit of Valentine's take some time reflect on your love, the love of yourself and the one you are with. Here is a little something about love that a friend sent me. I hope it inspires you as it does me.
Love is action. Love is tolerance. Love is learning your partner's love language and then expressing love in a way that they can receive. Love is giving. Love is receiving. Love is plodding through the slow eddies of a relationship without jumping ship into another's churning rapids. Love is recognizing that it's not your partner's job to make you feel alive, fulfilled or complete; that's your job. And it's only when you learn to become the source of your own aliveness and are living your life connected to the spark of genius that is everyone's birthright can you fully love another. Love is as love does. Love is an act of will - namely both an intention and an action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.
-Scott Peck
as seen in Wedluxe, Laura K stationery design
Last year, Laura launched an amazing new web site featuring her wedding invitation collection! Seriously, it is fantastic! It makes ordering straight-forward and I guarantee you will be thrilled with the package your receive. I'm a huge fan of the colours she uses and the fonts she brings together. Her
Laura is so kind and such a generous soul. Give her a call, let her know the style you are seeking and I know she will create something absolutely stunning (or make it easy on yourself and select a gorgeous design from the wedding collection). Remember, the invitation is the first piece that gives your guests a glimpse into the type of celebration you are hosting.
She has a sketch book. The most darling of sketch books. I see it from time to time and I wonder. Wonder what else lies beneath the other pages. I know it is beautiful. Whatever it is.
Mimosa Flower Studio www.mimosaflowers.comOffices in Niagara and Liberty Village, Toronto e. info@mimosaflowers.com p.905 562 4868 I met Jennifer, the extraordinary creative soul behind Mimosa Flower Studio, at The Wedding Co Show in January 2012. If you went to that Show you will remember the stunning, mouth-dropping display that Mimosa created. A beautiful harvest table setting, laden with orange flowers, including gorgeous orange orchids and more. If you missed out on this 'made with love' inspiration, take a look at the film posted above. You will fall in love with the beauty and spirit.
Did you watch it? That is Jennifer telling the story, creating the beauty and truly meaning every word she spoke.
We were introduced to each other by our mutual friend, Nataschia Wielink (you will hear more about her next week). Over the course of spending two and a half days in the same room, we started to get to know each other through casual chats and Starbucks runs. Jennifer's husband, Mark, was also on hand at the Show and always ready to share a witty antedote (which I always admire in a person).
In any case, by the end of the Show, I knew that I liked these people and hoped that our paths would cross in the future (and they did, again and again). I can confidently say that my friendship with this lovely couple is growing and I couldn't be more excited for the journey.
It is more than just flowers from Mimosa Flower Studio. It is thoughtful design, fresh interpretations of what you envision, it is immense beauty, statement pieces that strike conversation and it is creativity at its best. | | All photos are from Mimosa Flower Studio's web site. | |
If you follow HVR on Facebook you already know about my mad adoration for Angela Zaltsman, the owner of A to Z Event Management.
Site Plan for an event. Angela shares this information so we are all on the same page.
A spring Bat Mitzvah always seems to kick off our season together. I absolutely love working on these family celebrations with Angela. It is such a special time for family and it is nice to be included in these intimate and gorgeous parties.
The short story is that Angela is simply a fabulous event planner. She is a planner, not a decorator. She focusses her time on bringing together a team of amazing vendors who create the clients' vision for the celebration. She knows the top names in the industry but also knows the quiet behind-the-scene vendors who have so much to offer. I come from a corporate background and I greatly appreciate efficiency. I can't tell you how much I look forward to receiving the day-of itinerary from Angela a few days before the event. It is a small thing but it is ever-so important to me (and other vendors). THAT is one of the reasons you hire Angela. EVERYTHING is coordinated and EVERYONE understands their job that day and who else will be on-site and when they will be there.
And you know what else is really, really nice? Angela always sends a thank-you note after the event. She cares about the people she works with and takes the time to let us know.
I think my son would marry Christina, the owner of Truffle, if he was older. Every time I mention Truffle or say Christina's name, he says 'Do you mean the pretty girl, Mommy?' Yes, I mean the pretty girl. But trust me Christina is more than 'the girl my son loves'. She is the creative mind and baker extraordinaire behind Truffle. Truffle creates outstanding dessert tables and gorgeous cakes. Christina was truly the first to pull all those sweet treats together to create mouth-watering displays. I guess I met Christina when we were both vendors at The Wedding Co. Show a couple of years ago. Later that year, we worked together on a massive inspiration shoot that ended up being featured on Style Me Pretty. When you spend the day with someone at a photo shoot you get to know them. I can tell you this, Christina never stops smiling, is extremely professional and detail oriented and as cool as a cucumber no matter what the circumstance. I have no doubt she would be exactly the same with clients. Christina goes above and beyond in her work to please clients and create unique cakes surrounded by even more yumminess. She has a diverse selection of sweet treats listed on the web site with prices too (I know ya'all like to keep to your budget!) Chocolate Macaroon Sandwich Cookies, Chocolate Blood Orange Tart, Blueberry Streusel Cake, Vanilla Meringues and of course, Truffles. Desiring a sweet yet? Remember everyone has a sweet tooth to some degree. Sweet tables are appropriate at any celebration. Go ahead, just ask my son. He would encourage you to offer sweets all the time, especially if they were from Truffle and he could be the taste-tester.
I love Naz because he loves my home-made minestrone soup.
He had me at, "can I have another bowl?" Ah but seriously, who is not completely mesmerized when watching one of Naz's films? An outstanding film maker with a special affinity for Super 8mm who travels the world to capture celebrations in life. I'm always giddy when he posts something new from California (because you know that is my favourite place to visit). My imagination goes wild when I view one of his films from Italy (I have yet to travel there). And I smile every day when he posts a beautiful photo of food or landscape on Instagram.
I'm patiently waiting to see the film he creates for a wedding we were part of last September in Muskoka. And I am over-the-moon excited that he will capture the love of a special couple at a wedding we are styling in October. In the meantime, I know our paths will cross soon (like when the snow buggers off) because last year Naz was introduced to Lake Huron and I'm pretty sure he fell in love with the sunsets.
I will let you in on a little secret. Whenever I need to cry tears of happiness, I watch this next film. I am a Mom and I am a sentimental person. So combine those two attributes and you will know why I cry every single time I watch. Watching those boys walk the bride down the aisle is my all time favourite wedding film moment!
Pure love. Beautiful soul. Those are my words of love for a photographer I adore. Anyone who knows Rebecca Wood would whole-heartedly agree that her ability to capture stunning moments in time is carried not only by her skill but by her peaceful and thoughtful approach with every person she meets. I know what I like when I see photographs. I can not describe in technical terms about the light, the colour, saturation, etc. I honestly don't understand a single thing about it. I just know that if my feelings are triggered when I look at a photo, it is a good thing. There isn't a photo in Rebecca's collection that does not ignite a feeling of joy, admiration of beauty or the reflection of things past (yes, she also has a personal love for vintage). Her clients feel exactly the same way. Read about their absolute joy and love of Rebecca's work here. It is the story of place. It is the story of the couple. In that place. At that moment. The story of love. Family. I am thankful to have met Rebecca (thanks Christine), thrilled that she captured one of my client's weddings ( seen here on Style Me Pretty) and so looking forward to seeing her again. At the beach. On Lake Huron.
It seemed obvious to me that I needed to kick-off the 14 Days of Love posts with a tribute to a simply fantastic store with such a creative owner and artist. The added bonus? The name of the store is so perfect for the launch of the 14 Days of Love series.I met Christine Flynn, the artist and curator of Love The Design a couple of years ago at The Wedding Co Show. Our booths were in different rooms but we glanced at each other across the foyer. Amidst crystals, pink flowers, ghost chairs and cakes, I was thrilled to see someone that I felt I could totally relate to for a love of vintage. Building upon her creativity and her massive artistic talent, Christine delved into the world of retail with a splash! It would be hard to find a designer or magazine editor who has not stepped foot in her Queen Street East shop and walked out with something for their home, their t.v. series or written an article about their 'latest, greatest find' at the shop. Christine has a fantastic eye for sourcing authentic vintage pieces and ability to source perfect reproductions and sweet vintage inspired gifts. The best part for me though, is walking in to admire her creativity that manifests itself in the way the shop is styled or more importantly in her art work, stationery and design.
From Christine's collection. Captured on the shoreline of Lake Huron.
Whether it is Christine's resin art or her carefully selected vintage treasures, whenever I walk through the door I feel at home. Over time, our discussions evolved and we discovered that our love of vintage is not all that we share. We happen to share an immense love for Lake Huron. The dull, grey November days are just as beautiful to us as the long hazy day of summer spent on a sand beach.
So many of you ask 'where do you find pieces for your inventory'? Well, I will never give away my secrets but I can tell you that sometimes Christine and I cross paths on our junkin' trips. So if you like the Hazlitt Vintage Rental collection, I guarantee that you will fall in love with Love The Design's treasurers.
In short, you need to go to this shop. Why go? You will find fabulous vintage pieces for your home, sweetly designed cards of thanks and gifts for your wedding party and you will fall in love with her art work. (I consider art to be the best wedding gift ever!)
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