Happiest of mornings to you, my lovely bloggies! A few weeks ago I wrote about an average day in the Girl Cave. And it’s easy to tell from just the lengtth of this post here that my days in the office prepping for an event pale in comparison to a day out in the field bringing all of that hard work to fruition. If there’s one thing I could tell aspiring planners to be what to truly prepare for, it would be the amount of effort and time you need to give on the big day. So if you’re a bride or groom to be looking for a sample timeline read this. But if you’re an aspiring wedding planner or really just want to know what I do to stay busy on the weekends check out more below. Sit down too, while you’re at it :) This is kind of a long one. A really long one.

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6:30 am – It really depends on the circumstances but typically I start my work on an event day as early as 6:30 am. This may be the time I get my wake up call in a hotel or the time I need to be on the road by but the earlier the better is always a safe bet when you’re always working against the clock. Weddings are obviously a one shot deal. Time is money. Money is time. Yeah!

8:00 am – I try my best to grab my fave Starbucks latte or some breakfast before I get to my first destination so I can feel fueled up and awake. I’m an excellent example of how hangry someone can really get (hangry = hungry + angry) so an empty belly is never good. I also run through my timeline real quick, check my item list, and make any first calls (like to the bride!)

9:00 – 12:00 pm – If there was absolutely one thing I could have control of on a wedding day (other than the weather of course!) it would be the times that venues allow myself and other vendors access to the property/premises. With every single wedding I do, my timeline solely depends on when I can gain access to begin setting up. 9:00 am entry? Good. 3:00 pm entry? Terrible. Either way, I make it work and the middle chunk of any event day is based purely on adrenaline and good planning.

Noon – By noon, if I have already been setting up for some time, I’m most likely neck deep in seating card arranging, table runner ironing, chair sign tying, napkin folding, sweets table arranging, banner hanging, or some other form of set up. I’m usually watching the clock closely at this point, making calls with the band or DJ, checking in on the groom, making sure everyone is on schedule and feeling good. I’ll change out of my set up clothes and get into my day of clothing, making sure to fix my hair and make up so I can still be comfortable but fit it nicely with the other guests. If I’m lucky, I get some lunch.

2:00 – 4:00 pm – It’s wedding ceremony time! About 30 minutes before the ceremony I check in with the wedding party and important family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc) and the officiant or pastor, to make sure everyone is clear on where they need to be, and also to make sure everyone is relaxed and comfortable! I make sure the girls know how to carry their bouquets, the guys know how to pin their bouts, that the MOB has a tissue or two to keep within her reach, and that the FOB knows how to fix his daughter’s train and veil so she looks her best right before she starts that trek down the aisle. Once everyone gets into place for the ceremony, I stick back with the bridal party, bride and bride’s escort, to whisper some last words of encouragement before she’s off on probably the biggest walk of her life (insert a few happy tears on my part here).

4:00 pm – Time to gather rose petals for the toss, to fasten the Just Married banner to the getaway car, to take a short breather and get ready to help round up family members and guests needed for photos. If I can I check back in with the venue here, too.

4:30 pm – Depending on the ceremony conclusion time and what needs to be done at the church/ceremony locaction spot, I head to the cocktail hour/reception space and make sure all is according to expectations. Candles need to be lit, waters poured, lights dimmed, entertainment set up and musicians on set, sound checking, ready to do. I make sure the venue coordinator and I are on the same page on the order of events and I also grab a drink for the bride and groom to make sure they are greeted with a drink of choice when they arrive. I do a quick look over of the room, and then maybe Instagram a few details for you guys :)

5:00 pm – I love to do a first look with my bride and groom of the final reception set up before guests arrive (see below for more). This is another favorite part of my gig and is hands down one of the most rewarding. Once they have seen everything and are happy with things, I send them off for photos or to enjoy their cocktail hour with their guests. I also start to welcome early guests, direct them to the guest book, offer to take their card or gift and put it in the designated spot and I’ll check in with the photographers to see if things on their end are going well (along with myself, the photographer and videographer are the other vendors that also work extremely long days so I try to make sure they are looked after as much as possible). Team work!

6:15 pm – I now have 15 minutes to politely ask 150 guests to head into the main reception room where dinner will be served. It often takes up to three or four rounds to each group of guests to convince them that yes, dinner will be served now just over here, but eventually with the help of my assistant and the venue coordinator we get it done. I also make sure the bridal party and the emcee or DJ/band, are all in order and up to speed on how the grand entrances, if there are any, will be unfolding.

6:30 pm – The bride and groom are announced. They might cut their cake, do their first dance, say a few words or just head over to their seats, but these next 10 minutes typically flow nicely into dinner being placed in front of each guest. I check in with the bride and groom to make sure their meal is adequate, their drinks cold and replenished and everything perfect. Then I also check in with both sets of parents so I know they too are comfortable and happy. I make sure the photographers are fed and that any guests needing anything, are assisted (any extra chair, a clean knife, more napkins, a bandaid, you name it!)

7:00 – I get to eat! For the first time since my morning latte! One word: happy.

7:15 pm – And I’m back at it. I do things like make sure dinner music volume is key, the bride is comfortable, the groom is happy, cards and gifts get locked up in an appropriate vehicle. Any cocktail hour or ceremony decor that was left behind is usually picked up at this point if it’s within the same establishment. I make sure speeches are cued in on time. Kind of like so:

8:30 pm – The party then begins. Sometimes I sew bustles, or bandaid up brides (and my own!) poor toes. I make sure the top tier of the cake is saved, that the bride’s Kate Spade flutes are carefully washed and placed back in the proper box, that the patio candles are lit, and sweets table opened to guests. I clean up the bridal suite, make sure the washrooms are good on toilet paper, and call to check on the transportation due to come back at the end of the evening. Sometimes we need to move tables around.

10:00 pm – I get the bouquet for the bouquet toss. Or I have the bride and groom sneak away for some final photos.

11:00 pm – I ask the DJ to announce the late night snack is being served. I also check on Grandma and Grandpa.

11:30 pm – I make sure the bride and groom are having fun. I drink another coke. Sometimes a father of the bride will try and pull me on the dance floor against my will. I start gathering centerpieces for guests to take home, I put away the guest book and other personal decor items in a predetermined vehicle, and I make sure the venue staff knows who is responsible for what.

11:55 pm – The last song plays. I find the bride and groom afterwards and bid them farewell as they head off into the night. I get lots of happy, sweaty, hugs. I love that. I also fill them in real quick on any important details and make sure they get some cake, pie, candy, sweets, whatever, to bring home with them to snack on. We hug again. And I probably grab another coke.

12:00 or 1:00 am – Depending on the end of the event, once the majoirty of guests leave, the lights come up and each individual vendors does their thing. The florist will return for vases and centerpieces, the band or Dj will start to tear down their equipment, the waitstaff will pick up napkins, linens, glasswear and plates, the rental company will tear down chairs, tables, pipe and drapes and other special items. I’ll continue to tear down signage, buntings, special touches, candles, any trash, leftover favors, menus, programs, wrappers, straws, and the list goes on and on. I may change back into my set up clothes.

1:15 am – With my car loaded up, I head back home or to my hotel. Feet are a throbbin’. But heart is full.

1:45 am – Time for a quick snack perhaps and a bath. My feet are swollen, dirty and blistered. I’m sleepy!

2:00 am – Climb into bed, read any happy texts from the bride and groom, and drift into Zzzzzz…..

Phew. Are YOU tired yet? :)

Now for some fun Rhi Without Makeup visuals to enjoy, this was a wedding I did in August with one of my fave couples of all time. Mary Beth and Tom’s wedding had a TON of details. We’re talking nearly 8 hours the day before the wedding and then the entire morning and afternoon on the day of, to get it all in place. This was one of the few events this year where I did their tent reveal before I had the chance to change out of my hard core set up clothes into my ceremony gear. Excuse my summer heat wave appearance and brace yourselves, guys! But in other news how cute is my couple? I just loved this moment and how their reactions made all of the craziness that weekend absolutely worth it! Hey Tom, can I get a Go Green perhaps?

All photos above by Harrison Studio. Love love love them. Happy Monday, friends xoxo

Guys, I could nearly burst with excitement that I get to finally share Ashley and Dallas’ wedding. Even though their wedding was earlier in June it feels like so much longer ago. See, Ashley was one of the first brides to contact me when I first launched my business a few years ago. For over a year her and I talked back and forth about her beautiful wedding day, through email and Skype dates, and when it finally came time to meet in person the day of her rehearsal I felt like I was hugging a good friend. Ashley had her vision in mind long before she hired me; modern, sleek, romantic and fresh. She had me at blush, gray and white anemones. And I simply came on board to help when I could, come up with a few details and make sure Ashley and Dallas had a celebration as special and memorable as the love they have for one another. The way Dallas looks at Ashley melts my heart. And Ashley gave one of the sweetest speeches to her groom during their reception. I just love love, don’t you too? :)

Oh, I also love all of these magnificent photos from one of my faves, Beth Kaye. I sort of lover her. Let’s do this!

Ashley started the morning off with her bridesmaids getting dolled up over at Salon Red in Burlington, Ontario (my hometown!) before heading back to the bride’s parents house for some drinks, make up and relaxation. I loved the black accents Ash incorporated into her wedding day look from the black sash on her gown to the Nina black heels. When I first saw Ash that day all dolled up I literally felt my heart skip a beat; she was just glowing and truly looked like a princess.

Here’s Ashley opening a little pretty from Kate Spade courtesy of her hubby to be that day. Nice one Dallas :)

And the girls all looking gorgeous in their Plum Pretty Sugar robes. Such a fun group of girls!

Then when Ash slipped into her gown and made the world stop for a second with her fierceness…

Dallas was over at the couple’s home looking sharp as ever in his black suit. Let me just mention real quick that Dallas is actually Bahamian and has the slightest accent that is the cutest thing ever. Dallas came up to me the morning of the wedding during set up to ask me what I thought of the idea to present Ashley with a huge bouquet of roses from a local floral shop. I nearly fell over with admiration for the sweet gesture from this groom to his bride. It’s the little things, people! Speaking of which, check out how adorable this first look is. A first look filled with laughter and goofy smiles is simply the very best.

Gorgeous gray dresses paired with stunning florals from Lori of Sticks and Stems.

And here are a few ceremony details! This wedding set up? Hands down my fave of the year!

Ashley and I went back and forth for months (maybe even a year?) on what to do with all the negative space in the Art Gallery’s pavilion (where the ceremony ended up taking place in too thanks to the weather). We went from ribbon chandeliers to lantern bunches to finally deciding on 36 inch black and white balloons floating on the ceiling with tulle tails. It was the perfect accent to not only the remaining decor Ashley worked so hard to perfect (like all of the paper products she designed and printer herself; this girl is talented) but was a fun, unexpected way to spruce up the room. Look how fun this shot is that Beth snapped during the ceremony! That natural light makes me weak in the knees. And I want balloons in my office everyday.

Oh, whose ready for the cutest first kiss ever?

On to more details! There were a lot of them. A lot of really pretty, swoon worthy details.

The most gorgeous piece of edible art I’ve ever seen. Jocelyn of Sugarbelle Cakes outdid herself on this!

More details!

During cocktail hour we quickly flipped the room around to make it reception ready.

And from there the party began. The band rocked this wedding until about 2:00 am and they were good. Real good.

Ash and Dallas it was such a pleasure to be a part of your special day. I loved listening to your friends and family speak such sweet words about you both and your relationship. I loved watching you say I Do. I especially loved watching one of your wedding guests tie 10 oversized balloons to the belt loops on his pants in an effort to elicit a few smiles. And come to think of it there were more than a few of those on your big day. Enjoy marriage today and always. Big hugs to you both xoxo

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Photography: Elizabeth in Love / Partial planning: Hey Gorgeous Events / Venue: The Art Gallery of Hamilton / Flowers: Sticks and Stems / Cake: Sugarbelle Cakes / Chairs: Special Events Rental / Paper products: The Bride / Dress: Paloma Blanca 4208 – Felicia Bridal Toronto / Hair: Dave Jurkas, Salon Red / Make Up: Cait Mizzi / Veil: Mrs Bridal Boutique / Soloist: Sara Dell / Band: Parkside Drive / Dress hanger: Etsy / Bride’s bracelet: Etsy / Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar / Macaron favors: Bobbette and Belle / Clutch: Coach / Shoes: Nina / Bridesmaids dresses: Alfred Sung / Groomsmen suits: Tuxedo Royal / Grooms suit: Zara / Groom’s cufflinks: Burberry / Groom’s shirt: Holt Renfrew / Ruffle curtains and zinc letters: Urban Outfitters

I’ve been a long time purchaser and loyal fan of Papyrus cards. It’s not just the gorgeous art work, timeless design and sweet messages that have me hooked for life, but I’ve always been drawn to the Papyrus brand because of the little paper insert that comes with every card. Perhaps you other Papyrus card buyers just toss this piece of paper out but for me, this little piece of paper is often the most treasured part of my purchase. I actually save this piece of paper every time I open a new card, and hang it up in my office until the next one comes along. If you’re not familiar with the insert text, let me type out for you what it says:

“Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Hummingbirds open our eyes to the wonder of the world and inspire us to open our hearts to loved ones and friends. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and to savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird’s delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life’s sweetest creation.”  

Some of you know that a few years ago I lost my Nan. She was hands down the most selfless, giving, caring and loveable woman I had the pleasure of calling my Grandmother. Losing her was like losing a little piece of life. It was a devastating loss and constantly I still struggle with the grief and finality that comes with experiencing the death of a loved one. While I feel sad she’s no longer here, I also feel extremely blessed and inspired even, to be able to have an impact on people’s lives in doing what I do, just the way my Grandmother was able to do so so simply and lovingly in mine and most likely everyone else’s.

My Nan had a sweet love of hummingbirds. And for as long as I could remember the two went hand in hand. Hummingbirds and Nan, Nan and humingbirds. From the ones that would buzz around her and my Grandfather’s gorgeous garden, to the sweet welcome sign decor that surprisingly greeted her when she checked into the hospice before she passed, she had a soft spot in her huge heart for these tiny magical creatures and they seemed to follow her every move. Now I too seem to find them everywhere, from the hummingbird artwork on mailboxes in the middle of nowhere to the hummingbirds that fly by the window of a venue when I’m setting up an event, stopping ever so quickly to hover for just the perfect amount of time.

Bevy is a hand drawn creation from this amazing artist here, and she going to be a big part of the new Hey Gorgeous brand. And the Papyrus slogan is simply a reminder of sorts to step back and peel back the layers because that’s when you get to the heart of what matters. It’s so simple and sweet like Hey Gorgeous. You’ll see Bevy around here a lot too, gracefully floating from one event, blog post and gallery to the next. She may even make an appearance in my new logo. But for now I want to introduce all of you, my sweet readers and supporters to Bevy, my beloved hummie. Make her feel at home, would ya? xoxo

I’ve been getting a ton of emails about my rebranding experience. Most messages are obviously from other industry professionals, who too are interested in pursuing a potential business makeover like the one I’m half way through. It’s tricky to reply to each individual message because every business and business owner is so different than the next so I figured I’d write a little bit here to tell why I personally decided to take the leap and why for me, it was the best thing to do. Rebranding is a very personal and highly invested journey and certainly isn’t for everyone but if you’re completely torn down the middle on what to do then read this first. Hopefully my thoughts will sway you one way over the other and give you a little bit to think about!

Imagine this: as a new business owner, a local university has asked you to be the focus of an article they’re writing for the school’s newspaper. This is your first public ‘appearance’ of sorts into the community and is a big step for your business. You want to look professional, authentic and of course well put together. Perhaps it’s not in the budget to hire a make up artist, hair stylist and someone to coordinate your clothing nor does the circumstance seem appropriate to do so. Maybe a new shirt and a fresh new pop of color on your lips will be all you need to look the part and feel confident. The bottom line is you know you can confidently prepare for the interview and photo session considering the level of importance placed on the situation.

Now imagine being asked again to be the focus of an article in a different kind of publicaiton like the national edition of The Knot Weddings. It will be a three page spread on your business, your successes as a business owner and will include some lifestyle-esque photos of you in your office, of you on the job and of course of you just as is. Chances are you’ll want to hire and invest in a team of professionals to make the difference. It’s not that the article in The Knot is more importance than the small university piece. But it’s easy to invest differently into the preparation and presentation of yourself and your business for both situations. For me, this simple analogy has always been such a great way to keep rebrand-related things in perspective.

When I first started Hey Gorgeous Events a few years ago, my website from Bludomain was the absolute best business tool I could have gotten my hands on. Bludomain offers extremely affordable, professional and user friendly template websites for purchase. The great thing about affordable and customizable templates is not only can you save serious cash but you’re forced to keep your site looking good and up to date; a task that requires some time and effort on your part. Having my Bludomain site paired with my already established blog, small, but authentic portfolio of photos, and a few business cards with my handmade logo printed on them, was a great way to start my business. I truly at that point did not need anything more.

But for me, when I realized my business is absolutely what I should be doing, and I started to invest my fully in my work (setting up a home office, registering as an LLC, booking weddings for the following season, trademarking my business, etc), I realized a Bludomain template that hundreds and hundreds of other people have, was no longer cutting it. I have a business that has grown and flourished and accomplished a lot in a few short years and I have a brand that is fun, authentic, full of spunk and love and above all else I need a website, blog, logo and ‘look’ to represent that. Enter the professional brand consultants!

The minute I first thought of a rebranding, I was literally only six months into business ownership. I was spending triple what I was making on expenses, I was still trying to be content with doing my own thing versus taking the safe route, and I also felt it to be premature just thinking of going through an entire rebranding experience. I wanted to rebrand as soon as possible but I also knew it wasn’t the right time for me. It’s so hard to explain to someone who isn’t quite in a creatively-driven industry or who isn’t a business owner, what a rebrand experience entails because it’s so much more than just a new logo. But for me, I knew I always wanted to take my business to the next level and rebranding would be the absolute best way to do so.

It wasn’t until this past spring that I finally felt it was the right time to move forward with a rebrand. I was at a point finally where my professional, mental and financial (sort of :) situations all lined up nicely. My current brand, website, blog and collateral are just fine and can get me by but they aren’t exactly what I feel they need to be to equal my potential greatness. With the final results of my rebrand, when my website has launched, my blog design reflects my new brand, my collateral sparkles and the back end of my business is structured and streamlined, I know there will be nothing standing in my way of success.

Everything I mentioned above is obviously how my business journey has played out and certainly isn’t applicable to everyone but hopefully gives the lot of you who have contacted me a bit more insight. The above two photos are from a recent summer wedding shot by Amy Carroll and will be some of the gorgeous new images shown on the new site. And below is a screen shot of my Bludomain site as it is now. I can’t wait to show you the after in just a couple months :) Happy Monday xoxo

I don’t typically blog instagram photos (yeah yeah I know, I said that over here too) and really blogging on Friday’s has become a thing of the past since wedding season started. But this morning, despite my awful sleep, I woke up feeling inspired and excited about pretty much everything. Maybe a little Friday blogging could become tradition over here at Hey Gorg. I’m off today to Traverse City to set up this couple’s tented beach front rehearsal dinner complete with centerpieces including those lovelies below. And then tomorrow wait until you see all of the prettiness all of us vendors are going to create! I just adore my clients and cannot wait to see Bryan and Sarah finally say I Do. Follow along over on Instagram as usual for fun peeks :)

With the happiest of hearts, enjoy what should be a wonderful weekend, my blogettes xoxo