Still haven’t found your Vancouver Lower Mainland wedding reception venue for your Spring wedding???

Don’t panic — it’s not too late.

The most popular Lower Mainland wedding venues might be all booked up, but you might find some flexibility if you are willing to have your wedding on a Friday or Sunday instead of the popular Saturday.

You might also still be able to book a Saturday morning or early afternoon wedding, allowing the venue time to set up for another wedding later that same day.

So don’t assume all is lost! Call your favourite Lower Mainland edding venues and discuss the various options with them for your wedding ceremony and reception.

Not sure which venue you want?

Well, for a Spring wedding, your best bet is to look for a venue that features an outdoor area (like a patio, veranda, or garden) for photos and possibly your ceremony. You may even wish to add heat lamps and possibly tents to this area to make it more usable on chilly Spring evenings — and in case of rain.

That way, you can showcase the beauty of the season at your Spring wedding, but keep guests (and yourselves!) warm and dry throughout your wedding.

You’ll definitely want to find a venue that has a back-up plan in case of bad weather, whether that means tents or a separate room for your ceremony (if applicable), or a back-up area for photos.

Another wonderful option for a beautiful Spring wedding — when nature is at it’s prettiest but the air is still a little cool for an outdoor event — is to have your reception in a glass-domed room that lets all the nature in.

Venues like this one and this one  offer stunning glassed-in areas with spectacular views.

To find other Lower Mainland wedding venues that might be perfect for your Spring wedding, including in-depth reviews of over 150 wedding venues in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, go to www.myperfectwedding.ca.

If you’re getting married this spring or summer, and you don’t have your wedding dress yet… NOW is the time to get dress shopping!

There are plenty of  Vancouver wedding dress shops and wedding dress makers throught the Lower Mainland to choose from.

Below is a list of popular Vancouver wedding dress shops and designers to help you get started on your search for the perfect wedding dress!

Bisou Bridal
www.bisoubridal.com 
Bridal shop specializing in high-end creations from premier designers including Monique Lhuillier.  

Isabelle’s Bridal
www.isabellesbridal.com 
Bridal shop which offers the latest creations from different designers from sizes 2 to 28.  

Manuel Mendoza Design
http://manuelmendoza.com 
Design house which creates custom-made couture gowns for brides and mothers.  

MJM Wedding Services
www.mjmweddings.com 
Offers “off the rack” dresses and affordable custom-made dresses.     

Sandra Sung Bridal
www.sandrasung.com 
Sandra Sung creates “ready-to-wear” in all sizes and custom designed gowns to suit every bride’s taste.      

Something Blue
http://www.somethingbluevancouver.com/
Modern and designer wedding dresses.

The Bridal Gallery
www.thebridalgallery.com 
Voted as British Columbia’s “best bridal store” and the exclusive source for Maggie Sottero gowns in the Lower Mainland.  

Treat Bridal Gowns & Services
www.treatbridal.com 
Offers new and pre-owned designer wedding gowns at a discounted price.

For even more Vancouver wedding dress shops and dress makers, plus access to over 150 in-depth reviews of Vancouver wedding ceremony and reception venues, go to www.myperfectwedding.ca.  Happy dress shopping!

Looking for an all-in-one wedding package at a Langley wedding venue?

One of the very best deals in the Lower Mainland is Newland’s Golf and Country Club, located in Langley, BC.

This Langley wedding venue boasts an extremely popular “Club Wed” wedding package with truly amazing deals that include everything you could possibly think of for your all-in-one wedding, from wedding and reception locations to flowers, photography, decorations, tux rentals… you name it!

Langley wedding venues: Newland's

Some people may consider Newland’s a bit of a “wedding factory” — and the truth is, it absolutely IS a wedding factory.

But that’s what makes Newland’s such a great deal: Their Club Wed wedding factory is like a well-oiled wedding machine. They’ve got a great wedding system in place — and they have their systems down-pat. Newland’s knowledgable staff will ensure that every detail of your wedding is taken care of. There will be no hiccups or last-minute problems. These guys know what they are doing.

Of course, there are drawbacks. This Langley weddig venue is housed in a ’60s building that looks a little dated. Many of the ballrooms are kind of dark and characterless, with the exception of the “Conservatory Ballroom” (depicted above).

But the real drawback is that Newland’s does multiple weddings on the same day (as any good wedding factory will do).

But if you can overlook some of these details, you can wind up with an all-in-one Langley wedding venue that’s affordable, easy, and remarkably complete.

Check out Newland’s upcoming Wedding Show on March 25th: www.newlandsclubwed.com

If you’re getting married in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland (at a wedding venue that DOESN’T insist on providing all your catering), then the problem you might be facing is:

How the heck do you choose from among the ZILLIONS of Vancouver wedding reception caterers?

Here are some ideas to help you find the RIGHT Vancouver wedding reception caterer for your wedding!

1. Determine your wedding reception catering budget.
This is a very important first step — since caterers can range from homestyle, cheap, and cheerful… to extravagant and VERY pricey!

2. Decide upon the style of your Vancouver wedding reception.
Will you have a formal, sit-down dinner with plated dinners served individualy to each wedding guest? Or a buffet table? Or “family style” dining where platters of food are passed around at each table? Or a stand-up cocktail wedding reception?

3. Think about food preferences.
While most wedding caterers can be flexible as to their wedding menus, some offer only the usual suspects (chicken, beef, salmon, and a vegetarian option). If you want to try something a little more unique, you may need to find a unique caterer.

4. Ask about alcohol.
Some wedding caterers will want to provide the alcohol for your event — with a markup that will make your alcohol costs much more than they need to be. Most will allow you to purchase your own alcohol straight from the liquor store, but many will charge “corkage” fees and other serving fees. Make sure you ask prospective caterers what their alcohol policies are!

5. Check location.
Some wedding caterers prefer to stay within their immediate area and are not willing to commute from Vancouver to Surrey, for example. Your best bet is generally to find a Vancouver wedding reception caterer in your area.

6. Check references.
Good wedding caterers should be able to provide you with a long list of their happy customers — some of whom you should be able to contact for direct feedback. There’s nothing like asking a former bride about the catering details of her wedding to reassure you about your own wedding!

7. Taste test!
Good wedding reception caterers should also allow you to sample their wares before you hire them. If you are not able to do a taste test, ask why…

To find a list of Vancouver wedding reception caterers, log in at www.myperfectwedding.ca.

Winter Wedding Ideas

If you’re getting married in the next few months in Vancouver or the Lower Mainland, then you know what it’s like to plan a winter wedding. The flowers are harder to come by; your outdoor options are limited (or completely eliminated!); your weather concerns increase… and so on.

Well, here’s a list of ideas to help you finalize the details on your winter wedding!

1. Add some faux fur
Nothing says luxury like a bride wrapped in elegant white fur at her winter wedding. Try a stole or a wrap — or even an old-fashioned muff — to add this touch of decadence to your event. And don’t forget: fake fur saves you money AND is more humane!

2. Spread some icy blue
When most of us think winter weddings, we think red pointsettias, maybe some gold accents… Another way to design a super elegant winter wedding colour scheme is to stick to white and silver, but throw in a few touches of pale, icy blue (like on your wedding cake, for example, or your favours). The effect: cool, elegant, and stunning!

3. Think outside the pointsettia
If you like strong, rich colours, then red pointsettias are going to be a great option for your winter wedding. However, if you want a more subtle colour scheme, then you could consider white pointsettias as an alternative — they’re beautiul, and tend to be easier to find these days than in the past. Another option is to buy or find a large number of sticks or branches, cut them to similar (but not identical) lenghts, and spray paint them either white or silver. Arrange them in glass vases as a striking accent to your winter wedding, emulating the bare branches on the trees outside, but in a stunning, artistic style.

4. Lights, lights, lights!
One thing that’s easy to find around the holiday season is Christmas lights. If you’re going to be having your winter wedding after the holiday season, you’re in luck, since you’ll be able to pick up plenty of lights at bargain prices! You can decorate almost any space with strings of small white lights (or try pale blue if it suits your event) to add even more sparkle to your winter wedding. Try wrapping lights around trees or through the branches that you’ve spray painted.

5. Stock up on silver bells!
Again, if your winter wedding falls near to or after Christmas day, you will be able to find bargain-basement prices on decorations like silver baubles and other tree decorations. Try purchasing large bags or buckets full of silver, white, and pale blue baubles (tree ornaments) and use them to fill the same style of vases you used for your branches. (Obviously, you’ll need to use the colours that suit your particular colour scheme.)

Good luck planning your winter wedding!

For more information and articles on how to plan your wedding, including tips on booking the perfect venue for your wedding ceremony and reception, go to www.myperfectwedding.ca.

If you’re a bride getting married in a Vancouver wedding venue, you’re probably wondering how the heck you’re going to plan everything and pull it all off for the big event.

Well, the best thing you can do is start with a good checklist. Being able to tick off the items on your wedding “to-do” list is a sanity saver for any bride!

Some Vancouver wedding venues will offer some or all of the items on this list; others will insist that you bring your own:

• Wedding deejay
• Florist
• Limousine service
• Wedding photographer
• Table, chair, and tableware rental
• Tent rental
• Wedding cake
• Wedding invitations

…. the list goes on! This can be a really overwhelming time in your life — but don’t worry!

Whether or not your Vancouver wedding venue offers the items on this list, we’ve got you covered!

Because we’ve put together a full checklist of all your wedding tasks and “to dos” all in one place, so all you have to do is tick off each item as you complete it! The checklist also tells you how soon you need to do each item in advance of your wedding, so you don’t need to even worry if you’re too late or too early for each wedding task!

PLUS, we’ve combed the city and the internet and put together a list of Vancouver wedding vendors, including each type of vendor in the list above plus tons more!

Just log in at www.myperfectwedding.ca to access your checklist, vendors lists, plus plenty of other resources… AND gain access to over 130 candid reviews of Vancouver wedding venues as well!

Huge Vancouver Lower Mainland Ballroom

Are you looking for a huge ballroom for a Lower Mainland wedding reception, but you DON’T want one of those dingy old halls with ratty carpets that smells like your uncle’s armpits?

Well, you’re in luck!

A new, modern ballroom has been constructed in an area that is central for many wedding receptions in the Vancouver Lower Mainland. The venue can seat up to 500 guests — WITH room for dancing!

And the best part is… though this venue will provide the food for your wedding reception, you can bring your own alcohol. This will be a HUGE cost savings for most weddings!

For more information about this Lower Mainland reception venue, and to read an in-depth review and rating, sign in at www.myperfectwedding.ca.

You’ll also gain access to over 150 reviews of wedding and reception venues in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, with in-depth critiques of all the details, photos, and more!

If you live in Vancouver or anywhere in the Lower Mainland, then you know that your wedding day might be a rainy one — whether you’re getting married in November or August.

Of course, some times of year in Vancouver are better than others if you’re planning an outdoor wedding in Vancouver... and anything but the summer months will likely be too chilly anyway.

But whether your wedding will be in the Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter, you risk having a rainy wedding day.

But don’t dispair! It’s not “ironic” to have rain on your wedding day, as Alanis Morrisette would have you believe. In fact, some even say it’s a good omen of fertility for your marriage!

Here are some tips for what to do if you have a rainy wedding day:

• Check the forecast in advance so you know what kind of weather to expect on your wedding day.
• Always ensure you have a back-up plan in case of rain — do NOT plan an outdoor event without a tented or indoor option, at any time of year, for a Vancouver wedding.
• Consider having a number of umbrellas on hand for guests to use to get from place to place (parking area to reception hall, for example).
• Consider having your groomsmen or ushers escort guests through the rain with umbrellas.
• Make sure you have a large golf umbrella for yourself so that your wedding dress doesn’t get wet! The bigger the umbrella, the better!
• Consider wearing outdoor shoes when you’re travelling through the rain, then put your beautiful wedding shoes on when you’re safely indoors. You wouldn’t want to step in a puddle in satin bridal shoes!

Looking for a great Vancouver wedding ceremony Venue? Try your local park!

But if you’re having your Vancouver wedding ceremony at a Lower Mainland park, there are a few things you’ll need to consider…

First of all, almost all of the different municipalities have different rules about what you are and are not allowed to do on park land.

Some parks restrict the number of people who can attend your Vancouver wedding ceremony.

Some parks will not let you reserve park area for your ceremony, while others will charge for reservations.

Some parks will not let you set up any chairs or tents, while others will allow you to bring a few chairs.

Of course, these are important considerations when planning your Vancouver wedding ceremony in a local park! What will you do if it rains, as it so often does in Vancouver? What will guests do if they have trouble standing for long periods of time (i.e., elderly, disabled, or pregnant guests)?

However, there are a great many ceremonies each year in Vancouver and Lower Mainland parks — and there are many beautiful parks to choose from.

Check out our list of Top 20 Gardens and Parks in the Lower Mainland to find the park that’s right for YOUR Vancouver wedding ceremony!

Because “banquet halls” can mean a wide variety of different things. Sometimes a banquet hall is simply a large room in a community centre or public building that can be used as your Vancouver reception venue.

Sometimes a banquet hall is specifically designed as a Vancouver reception venue, which usually means it will offer more charm and more options for your wedding reception. For example, some Vancouver banquet halls have seperate areas or are adjacent to gardens that are perfect for your wedding ceremony.

A really great Vancouver banquet hall will offer either…

- A fantastic package for rentals, decorations, staffing, and potentially catering that suits your budget and the style of your wedding ceremony and reception.

- OR -

- A charming or beautiful element that is unique to that venue and makes it a more appealing banquet hall than the basic ones with no additional features.

… OR both!

Here are two great example of Vancouver banquet halls that have something really unique to offer:

This french ballroom style Vancouver banquet hall is not only unusual, interesting, and beautiful; it is also huge, located in a lovely heritage building, and well-priced.

This Vancouver banquet hall features more basic styling, though it’s quite modern with its exposed concrete and huge windows. But what’s unique about this banquet room is that it offers fabulous ocean views — for a very low price!

In the end, finding the Vancouver banquet hall that’s right for your wedding reception is about finding a banquet hall that offers something extra — something that appeals to you, whether it’s the view, the decor, the location, or the package deal!