Category: Inspiration & Resources

Please enjoy the following vendor interview with Nicole of Above and Beyond Events with photos by Vancouver Wedding Studios. Learn all about how Nicole got started in the wedding industry, her best tips for couples, and how much work planners are doing behind the scenes!  

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Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Nicole and I’m an Event Planner. I didn’t always plan and create events, actually quite the opposite. I was in law enforcement; the work was extremely stressful, dangerous, misogynistic and I was incredibly unhappy and totally unfulfilled. I had always planned parties for family and friends such as, birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, etc. Everyone always told me I should do it for a living! But how could I? How could I give up a pension and a federal government job?

Here’s how. I learned to really love myself and in doing that I knew I had to do something I loved. Even if it was a risk, which it was, I just wanted to feel happy. I made the best decision of my life in 2018. I went back to school for event planning, design and management, and have not looked back. That is how Above and Beyond event planning was born.

How long have you been in the wedding industry?

Unofficially, I have been in the wedding industry for 5 years. Officially, I have been in the industry for a year. I say a year because that was my first actual paid wedding I completed.

What first attracted you to the wedding industry?

I seriously love weddings! I love love! I was initially attracted to weddings not only for the love, but because I love creating and designing. I love seeing how we can turn a space from a zero to a hero! And my favourite part of a wedding is actually the ceremony.

Going back to the “I love love thing,” this is where the magic happens. Plus there’s nothing better than seeing a partner’s reaction as the love of their life walks down the aisle. Ugh! I still cry at every wedding I create; catch me in the back with all of the tissues!

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

I have a 3-year-old niece, Cyprus. She is amazing and hilarious, so I spend a lot time with her and her sassiness (as I write this, she is sticking stickers on me). I’m also married to a very cool guy named Justin. We love going to the movies – horror movies are our favourite, however, Justin would probably say he only goes for me. We travel a lot, usually 2-3 trips a year. We recently spent 4 weeks traveling around Thailand and Cambodia just the two of us. It was quite the experience! My guilty pleasure is Judge Judy; I watch her every day!

What does Above and Beyond Events do?

We are a full service event planning and design company. We create fabulous weddings, birthday parties, kids’ parties (we love doing kids birthday parties), corporate events, religious events, etc. If there is a party to be had, we can do it!

What makes your business stand out from other event planners?

We work with all budgets. We aren’t those pretentious people that only want that 100K wedding. Our guarantee is that we can make any event look like a 100K event even if the budget is a small fraction of that. We are so good with finding deals and work with so many great vendors that offer a variety of pricing.

Also, we named the company Above and Beyond because that is exactly what we do for our clients. We want our clients to see us and talk to us whenever they want. Clients will NEVER hear us say, “You only get three face to face meetings.” We are different; we want our clients to feel like friends, so limitless contact is what we provide.

We also list our pricing on our website. I remember when I was getting married and I found it extremely frustrating when I did not see vendor pricing – how do I know if I can afford you? This was the biggest source of annoyance, so when I started this company my main goal was to be affordable, transparent and personable. I live by this.

What is the process of working with Above and Beyond Events? 

We make it easy and fun! A client will contact us, usually via E-mail, and we then write a personalized E-mail back – no templates here! Next we set up a free in-person consultation with the client. During this meeting we will get to know the client or clients, we will answer any and all questions, we will tell you what we can do for you, and then BAM- hopefully magic has struck and we can work together.

Share a wedding story! What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked on?

There are so many incredible stories, as we work with so many incredible clients. The one that really stands out for me is when we worked with a couple that had a $6,500 budget for their entire wedding. It was awesome because the couple was so involved and they loved crafting, so a lot of items were DIY, but it did not look like it. I would go over to their house and spend hours glue-gunning pearls to fabric and cutting paper and I loved it. We received so many compliments on this wedding! Since then, this bride has been inspired to start her own crafting business and she is doing so well. Just goes to show, a little sweat equity goes a long way.

If you had one piece of advice for couples planning a wedding, what would it be?

Hire a planner! Even for month-of coordination services. Clients spend years preparing for their wedding and it should be perfect for them. Hiring a planner will ensure that if issues arise on the day, the couple won’t know about it. Planners are fantastic people; we are crafty, natural problem solvers and full of resources. The upfront cost of a planner may be intimidating for some couples, but if you see what a planner actually does you would know the investment is worth it. It’s for that peace of mind.

If you choose not to hire a planner, then I highly suggest taking the time to read each contact that you receive from other vendors – specifically their “no show” clause. Most people glaze over the contract, but it is soooo important. Take your time with this.

Make sure you’re meeting with possible vendors. For example, with photography, this is such an important and valued vendor, but you also need to feel comfortable with who you select. Meet everyone in person before giving a deposit.

What are the current trends in planning & design? What’s on its way out?

There are so many amazing trends right now. I’m loving the greenery at weddings with the vintage furniture and candles. So classic!

Chair covers… They should just go away. I know couples think they need to hide the hideous nature of those banquet style chairs, but there are so many other things that couples can do instead of unleashing chair covers. Just say no to white satin on a chair!

What are the biggest mistakes couples make in regards to planners?

Sometimes couples don’t utilize wedding planners like they can; we are an untapped resource. We know the industry, we know what looks good, we know about pricing, we have recommendations, we can do it all for couples. So it’s just a good reminder to couples who hire planners; most things you end up researching for hours online are probably things your planner can do in a few minutes. Always reach out to your planner.

Sometimes, people are under the misconception that wedding planners don’t do a lot. And I believe this is because clients don’t see the hundreds of hours we spend preparing for their wedding. From all the phone calls, emails, meetings, site visits, contracts, vendor procurement, designing, scouting, planning, rehearsals, making sure no one walks away with your gifts, helping over-indulging guests get into taxis at the end of the night, formulating back up plans, and so on. And that’s not to mention the 12 or so hours we spend ensuring your wedding day goes off without a hitch. Sure, we don’t have a physical product to offer you, but our time is our product. This is our service. It’s our brain, our time, our skills, our help, our management, our contacts. These are the things couples are paying for.

Where can couples save? Where should they splurge?

Couples can save in all aspects, but I see a lot of couples saving in the floral department. Choose florals that are in season and that is already a huge cost saver. You can opt out of bridesmaids’ florals and do something unique instead. Be different.

Couples should splurge on the guest experience, such as food and drinks! Guests will always remember the food at weddings. I’m sure you remember weddings you’ve attended that had dreadful food. Spend money on a fabulous photographer and videographer; these photos and videos will be the only things you still have from your wedding 10 years later.

What’s something people need to understand about wedding planning?

Wedding planners work really hard. We have multiple weddings all throughout the year, some even on the same day, but good planners will make you feel like you’re the only client. We have super late nights, we are always on our phones and we spend time away from our families. But we do it all because at the end of the day, we love what we do!

Any other tips for couples planning a wedding?

Here are a few more tips:

• If you’re thinking of hiring a planner, make sure you meet them, to ensure you click.
• A higher price doesn’t always mean a better service.
• If you’re going to plan your wedding without the help of a planner, make sure you download a wedding timeline (there are tons online) this will keep you on track.
• Breathe. It can be overwhelming, so give yourself breaks. Don’t spend all day, every day planning your wedding. Make sure to still live in the moment; you’re marrying the love of your life. Don’t lose sight of that.

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Special thanks to Nicole of Above and Beyond Events for taking part in this wedding vendor interview. For more info, visit:

• Website: https://aboveandbeyondeventplanning.ca/
• Email: hello@aboveandbeyondeventplanning.ca
• Instagram: @above.and.beyond.events

A few weeks ago, we shared 21 unique wedding traditions from all around the world. But in our research, we found even more incredible wedding traditions that show off the culture, folklore, beliefs and traditions of places, cultures and religions all over the world. So we’re back with part two!

Check out 20 MORE wedding traditions below!

Missed part one? Check out those wedding traditions here!

Czech wedding tradition: Not the fun kind of spooning

At a traditional Czech wedding reception, the first course served is soup. But it gets a little bit more complicated than that for the newlyweds. The couple of the hour are wrapped together in a towel/sheet and made to eat their soup from a single bowl sharing a single spoon. Sometimes their hands are even tied together! All of this tying together symbolizes how the married couple will have to work together in their future.

Japanese wedding ritual: Wearing white

The tradition is that most brides wear white on their wedding days. But Japanese brides taking part in traditional Shinto ceremonies take this advice to the next level. These brides will wear white from head to toe, including white makeup and a white hood called a “tsunokakushi.” The hood is supposed to mask the brides “horns of jealousy” towards her new mother-in-law. Ouch!

Fijian wedding tradition: He’s been gone a whale…

For grooms who follow the tradition of asking their bride’s family for her hand in marriage, the big conversation with his future in-laws is surely scary and sweat-inducing. But how much harder would it be if the groom-to-be had to bring a whale’s tooth with him? Fijian tradition says a man must bring a whale’s tooth to his future father-in-law in order to ask for the daughter’s hand in marriage.

South African wedding traditions: Burning love

In this loving tradition from South Africa, parents of the bride and groom will both bring fire from the fireplaces of their own homes to the home of the newlyweds. The couple will then use these flames from their childhood homes to light the fireplace in their new home together.

Indian wedding ritual: A new version of the shoe game

This wedding tradition from India is called Joota Chupai. In this tradition, the groom takes off his shoes as he approaches the altar. And when he does, the bride’s family tries to steal his shoes and hide them. But at the same time, the groom’s family is trying to protect his shoes. If the bride’s family wins, the groom must pay to get his shoes back.

Moroccan wedding tradition: A wedding week

We may be used to weddings being a one-day or one-afternoon affair. But in Morocco, weddings often last up to seven days! There are elaborate pre-wedding parties and rituals, including a spa day, and tons and tons of feasting. Sounds fun to us!

Jamaican wedding traditions: The bride’s red carpet

A wedding tradition from Jamaica dictates that a bride must parade herself down the village streets before her wedding. As she walks, neighbours will call out insults if they don’t think the bride is looking her best. Too many insults and the bride will head back home to work on her look and try again.

Persian wedding tradition: Sofreh Aghd

Sofreh Aghd, meaning “spread” and “ceremony” in Farsi is a Persian wedding tradition celebrated by both traditional and modern couples. It includes a table filled with items to symbolize the couple’s new life together. Items include a mirror, representing light and brightness, an embroidered cloth, symbolizing family tradition, and a spice tray, to guard against evil.

Norwegian wedding ritual: Let them eat cake

Kransekake is the special cake served at traditional Norwegian weddings. It’s an iced almond cake, created in the shape of a cone with a hollow center. What’s in the center? Usually a wine bottle!

Pakistani wedding tradition: Bring on the flowers

In traditional weddings in Pakistan, the groom will wear a beautiful ring of flowers around his neck. We love the idea of flowers being worn and/or carried by everyone who wants some.

Polish wedding ritual: Want to dance?

A wedding tradition from Poland allows guests to dance with the bride, but for a price. The maid of honour will collect donations from guests which allow them to take the bride for a spin on the dance floor. All of the money collected goes towards the couple’s honeymoon.

Australian wedding traditions: Fill the unity bowl

We’ve heard of unity candles but what about unity bowls? A wedding tradition from Australia has guests hold stones throughout the ceremony. Once the ceremony is over, guests drop their stones into a decorative unity bowl that the couple will then keep in their home. The unity bowl will remind the newlyweds of the support and presence of their loved ones.

Scottish wedding tradition: Time to get dirty

Blackening of the Bride is a Scottish wedding tradition where the bride, and sometimes the groom, are captured by their friends and family a few days before the wedding. During their time in captivity, the couple is covered in gross things like beer, syrup, rotten fish and feathers, and then paraded around town. Sounds fun, right? Apparently, they say if the couple can get through this, they can get through anything in their marriage!

French wedding ritual: Take a sip!

At the end of a French wedding reception, the newlyweds are presented with a chamber pot (a medieval toilet bowl). And the chamber pot is full of leftover alcohol, including extra items such as chocolate, bananas or even toilet paper! The couple must drink until the pot is empty, to strengthen them for the wedding night ahead.

Welsh wedding traditions: Carve me a lovespoon

An old Welsh tradition states that when a man falls in love, he must carve lovespoons out of wood for his betrothed. The lovespoons are decorated with important symbols such as keys, signifying the key to his heart, and beads, symbolizing the number of children they hope to have.

Mongolian wedding tradition: Playing chicken

Before a Mongolian couple can set their wedding date, they must first take part in a wedding tradition that is not for the squeamish. Together, they must kill a chicken and, both holding the knife, find a healthy liver. If their chicken doesn’t have a healthy liver, they must continue hunting until they find a suitable liver.

Irish wedding traditions: Put your foot down

At a wedding reception in Ireland, tradition states that a bride must always keep one foot on the floor – no matter how wild the dancing gets! According to folklore, if the bride lifts both feet off the floor, evil fairies will come and take her away.

Czech wedding ritual: All about fertility

Like many wedding traditions, these ones from the Czech Republic are routed in fertility. Before the ceremony, a young infant is placed on the bed of the newlyweds to not-so-subtly enocurage them to have a baby of their own. And after the ceremony, the couple is showered with rice, peas or lentils, all symbols of fertility.

South Korean wedding tradition: Hope his feet aren’t ticklish

A traditional South Korean wedding may involve Falaka, the practice of beating the groom’s feet. Friends and family of the groom will beat his feet with a stick or dried fish while asking the groom trivia questions. The tradition is said to strengthen both his feet and his mind.

Kenyan wedding ritual: Spit me with your best shot

As the newlyweds leave their Kenyan wedding, tradition says the father of the bride must spit on his daughter’s head. This ensures the good fortune of the couple is not jinxed.

Peruvian wedding tradition: Put a ring on it

We may be used to a bouquet or garter toss, but in Peruvian weddings, single guests take part in a different tradition. A Peruvian wedding cake will be filled with charms attached to ribbons, with one of the charms being a fake wedding ring. During the cake pull, all the single women will pull a ribbon from the cake. The guest who pulls out the wedding ring is said to be the next one to walk down the aisle!

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We love learning about these wedding traditions from all over the world. How many of these did you know about? Will you be incorporating any fun or unique wedding traditions into your special day?

 

written by Riana Ang-Canning
feature image by Emily Nicole Photos

Please enjoy the following vendor interview all about guest portraiture with Shelley of The Portrait Co. Learn more about including guest portraiture and an elevated photo booth experience to your wedding day! 

Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Shelley. I am the founder and photographer for The Portrait Co. a small local business which started as a passion project a few years ago. Photography has always been a creative outlet in my life, but more recently I found myself focusing on portraiture, creating classic black and white images that capture the beauty and happiness of the moment. Weddings and special occasions are where I bring this to life by offering fun and flattering guest portraiture. A simple way to capture friends and family looking their best, feeling great and enjoying the day!

What first attracted you to the wedding industry?

I think weddings are beautiful. What other occasion brings all of your dearest friends and loved ones together in one room? Grandma on the dance floor, flower girls eating cake, speeches that bring tears and laughter – it’s all a wonderful occasion to share in and be a part of.

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

You can usually find me with my pup; she’s my sidekick and I’m pretty sure she enjoys our photo walks as much as I do!

What does The Portrait Co. do?

The Portrait Co. is a petite onsite photo station that offers guest portraiture. A professional photographer is there to help with posing and set the stage for a fun and flattering black and white portrait experience. We consider ourselves to be an elegant alternative to the traditional photobooth. We drop the props and instead focus on your guests looking their finest and enjoying your special day. Each guest will go home with a professionally printed portrait, a beautiful keepsake and a great way to express your thanks!

What makes your business stand out from other vendors?

We match our service with the sophistication of your event, making sure to add the feel and wow factor our couples are looking for. We provide an elegant backdrop, black velvet seating, flattering lighting and help with posing guests, all in the most professional and fun way.

What is the process of working with The Portrait Co.? How can couples work with you?

We know how much goes into planning a special occasion; there is so much to manage and a lot of logistics to consider. Our priority is to keep the process of working with us as smooth and stress-free as possible. Once clients reach out to us and we will take it from there. We handle all of the details with the venue, we provide a smooth set up and take down, and we are always available for any questions or requests our couples may need.

If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for guest portraiture or a photobooth for their wedding, what would it be?

Photos will be cherished for many years, especially those that you can hold in your hand and not just view on your phone. Offering your guests a quality printed portrait is a great way to preserve the memories of a fantastic day spent with you!

What are the current trends in your niche? What’s on its way out?

I think we can say goodbye to the props, the silly hats and the DIY photobooth concept. Although fun, there is definitely a trend towards offering a more elevated and creative experience. Portrait stations, beautiful crafted backdrops, and even red carpets with custom step and repeats are what couples are looking for now.

Any other tips for couples planning a wedding?

Regardless of what people may tell you, love is in the details! I always appreciate a lovely place card, a tray of mints and hairspray in the ladies room, a sentimental brooch on a wedding bouquet. The effort is never wasted.

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Special thanks to Shelley of The Portrait Co. for taking part in this wedding vendor interview. For more info, visit:

• Website: www.theportraitco.ca
• Email: vanportraitco@gmail.com
• Instagram: @the_portraitco

Please enjoy the following vendor interview all about wedding photography with Jelger & Tanja. Learn more about this husband and wife duo, why they choose to work with spontaneous and adventurous couples, and how to handle outdoor photography when Mother Nature has other plans. 

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Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

We’re Jelger and Tanja, a Vancouver based hubby and wife wedding photographers duo that specializes in working with spontaneous and adventurous couples.

How long have you been in the wedding industry?

2019 will be our 8th wedding season.  

What first attracted you to the wedding industry?

Before starting our photography business in Vancouver, we worked in very different industries in Belgium. Jelger used to be a lawyer and Tanja used to be a physiotherapist. When changing our careers, we both went from professions where our clients were troubled (nobody sees their lawyer for fun!), to a job where everyone is happy and celebrating.

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

We both love the outdoors and will take any chance to go on hikes and enjoy the gorgeous nature in BC. It blows our minds that we can be in the mountains with a 30 minute drive! Another thing we enjoy is cooking meals from scratch. Jelger makes his own bacon and sausages. Tanja willingly eats everything she prepares. Maybe it’s our European background, but food is very important.

What makes your business stand out from other wedding photography businesses?

The most important part of our business is that it’s based on our clients’ personalities. We specifically work with spontaneous and adventurous couples, because we can connect with them on a personal level. It’s all about having fun together and creating the best possible experience.

Share a wedding story! What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked on?

There are so many amazing stories, but one we’ll never forget is the wedding we photographed at a ranch (Sundance Guest Ranch) in the interior of BC. The couple, who are Irish, worked there for a year as wranglers and had a lot of photos taken with their favourite horses. One of the photos was of horses running through the field behind the two of them. This photo went viral and won a BC Wedding Award. We’d like to think of it as the “official” start of us being more adventurous in our work and life!

If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for a wedding photographer, what would it be?

Make sure you like your photographers not only for their work, but also for their personalities! You’re spending so much time with them on the day of your wedding. When you have a great relationship, it’ll improve your experience so much!

What are the biggest mistakes couples make with wedding photography?

Occasionally couples think photographers can change their editing style to accommodate their wishes. I.e. they hire someone whose portfolio shows dark and moody photos, but the couple actually prefers a light and airy look. The photographer’s portfolio is there to show you exactly what you can expect. If you’re wanting something different, you’ll for sure end up disappointed.

We also highly recommend asking to see a couple of full day galleries before hiring your photographer. That way you can see how they take photographs at night, when using flash, etc. And you’ll know what to expect from your gallery.

Where can couples save? Where should they splurge?

Splurge on what you value and save on things you don’t care about! It’s ok to not do everything according to tradition. If you don’t like something, don’t invest in it! For photography, a good photographer will make everything look better 🙂 But even with photography, it’s all about what you value.

What’s something people need to understand about wedding photography?

With outdoorsy weddings comes the risk of the weather being uncooperative; think rain, wind, etc. Nature always keeps doing her thing. You can prepare with umbrellas or a backup plan (and waterproof shoes during portraits!), but ultimately if you just “surrender” to the moment and are invested in having fun regardless, it’ll be amazing.

Any other tips for couples planning a wedding?

Make sure you have a person on the day of your wedding that can deal with questions from vendors or guests. Give them your phone; you don’t need it! Your only job is to have a great time!

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Special thanks to Jelger and Tanja for taking part in this wedding vendor interview. For more from them, visit:

• Website: https://jelgerandtanja.com
• Email: us@jelgerandtanja.com
• Social media links:
  • facebook.com/jelgerandtanja
  • instagram.com/jelgerandtanja
  • twitter.com/jelgerandtanja

One of our favourite things about creating custom wedding ceremonies is being able to integrate and celebrate wedding traditions from different cultures, religions and groups all around the world. Which got us thinking, how do other people celebrate weddings in their home country?

Below are 23 of the most unique wedding traditions from all around the world. Some may sound familiar to you, some may sound a bit odd, and some may inspire you so much that you incorporate them into your own wedding!

Before we dive in, we will say that, of course, not everyone from these countries takes part in these traditions. For example, you might be reading this and think, “Hey! I’m from Spain and we don’t do that!” Some of these traditions may just pertain to a certain part of the country or culture, or may have new modern variations. As well, some of these wedding traditions cross countries and cultures, occurring in multiple places around the world.

Let’s travel the world and discover 23 local wedding traditions!

PS: Want even more? Check out 20 more wedding traditions from around the world!

Italian wedding traditions: Shower you in candy

In traditional Italian weddings, guests are given a bag of candy, usually colourful candied almonds, to throw over the couple as they exit their ceremony. You may now see these candied almonds appearing as wedding favours at receptions. The almonds represent health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity.

Mexican wedding tradition: Literally tying the knot

Once the vows have been said, couples in Mexico are then tied together with a rope by their friends and family. The rope, which may be decorated with crystals and beads, is tied in a figure eight shape to represent the couple’s eternal unity.

Russian wedding ritual: Playing hard to get

Vykup nevesty is a Russian wedding tradition where the groom will have to play games and pass through a series of challenges in order to pick up his bride for the wedding. The bridesmaids will instruct the groom to sing songs, recite poems and even pay a ransom, which usually results in the groom being presented with one of his male friends in a dress, before the bride eventually comes out.

German wedding ritual: The couple who saws together…

Baumstamm sägen is a German wedding tradition where the newlywed couple will use a handsaw to cut a large log in half. Sounds like tough work! This symbolizes the way the couple will have to work together in the future. As this takes place during the wedding, while the couple is in their fancy wedding attire, the log is usually partially sawed by the couple’s fathers to save time and effort.

Greek wedding tradition: Barber shop visit

Putting the “groom” into “groomsmen,” a Greek wedding tradition involves the groom visiting a barbershop where his best man will become his barber and shave his face. Talk about trusting your friend! Once clean-shaven, the groom’s new mother-in-law will feed him honey and almonds.

Venezuelan wedding traditions: Disappearing act

In Venezuela, it’s tradition, and a sign of good luck, for the newlywed couple to slip out of their own wedding reception completely unnoticed. We’re not sure how they manage to get away with that as all eyes are usually on the couple!

Chinese wedding ritual: Talk about making an entrance

The journey from a bride’s family home to the groom’s home is an elaborate affair according to Chinese wedding tradition. The bride will ride in a decorated chair that is carried from her home to the groom’s. As she rides, her attendants will shield her with parasols while tossing rice at her. She will also be accompanied by a good luck charm, a woman hired to take care of the bride as she travels.

Southern US wedding tradition: Bury the bourbon

A month before they say their vows, Southern American couples will bury a full bottle of bourbon, upside down, at the spot where they plan to get hitched. Why? Burying bourbon wards off bad weather, of course! Rain or shine, the bottle is dug up on the wedding day and shared with guests during the reception.

Armenian wedding tradition: It’s all about balance

When a newlywed Armenian couple enter their reception, they break a plate for good luck and then are given flatbread and honey by the mother of the groom. They eat a spoonful of honey, symbolizing happiness, and then balance the flatbread on their shoulders to help ward off evil.

Russian wedding tradition: Take a big bite!

Russian wedding traditions seem to be all about the challenges! Newlyweds will be presented with a special sweetbread representing prosperity and faithfulness, called a karavay. Whoever takes the bigger bite is said to be the head of the family.

Niger wedding traditions: Chicken dance? Nope, camel dance!

No one gets a party started better than a camel! A camel is often brought to wedding receptions in Niger where said camel will dance along to a drumbeat, with wedding guests partying alongside.

Swedish wedding traditions: Just add myrtle

A Swedish wedding tradition is to add a sprig of myrtle to the bride’s crown or bouquet. Myrtle symbolizes love, and can often be seen in other attendants’ bouquets and throughout the wedding florals at the ceremony and reception.

Spanish wedding tradition: Dressed in black

A wedding gown has to be white, right? Wrong! Traditionally, Spanish brides wear black dresses to symbolize “till death do us part.” And as far as we’re concerned, you can wear whatever you want, in whatever colour you want, down the aisle!

Turkish wedding tradition: X marks the spot

In Turkey, wedding tradition states that a Turkish flag must be planted at the home of the groom on the day of his wedding. The area is then decorated with other items, like fruits, vegetables and mirrors, to symbolize that a wedding ceremony is taking place there.

French Canadian wedding tradition: Dancing feet

Wearing fancy printed socks to your wedding is definitely a tradition we can get behind. And it seems that it may have started in French Canada, where unmarried siblings of the newlywed couple perform a dance at the wedding reception while wearing wild and colourful socks. If the guests approve of the dance, they can toss money at the dancers, which is then gifted to the couple.

Congolese wedding tradition: No laughing matter

We’re used to seeing smiling photos of newlywed couples. But in the Congo, you won’t see any of that. Congolese newlyweds must not smile throughout their ceremony and reception. Otherwise, it means they are not serious about their marriage.

Spanish wedding ritual: Chop chop!

Cortar la corbata del novio is the Spanish wedding tradition of the groom losing his tie, piece by piece. During the reception, the groom’s attendants and friends will surround him and begin cutting the tie that he’s wearing around his neck. Let’s hope they’re careful! Pieces of the tie are then auctioned off to wedding guests, symbolizing good luck for everyone who gets a piece.

Guatemalan wedding tradition: Ring the bell

After the wedding ceremony, Guatemalan couples and their guests will head to the groom’s house, where a large white ceramic bell will await them. The bell is filled with rice, flour and grains, representing abundance. The mother of the groom will then smash the bell, which brings the newlyweds good luck and prosperity.

Dutch wedding tradition: When you wish upon a tree

Instead of a guest book, Dutch couples prefer a wishing tree. Guests will write notes and well wishes for the couple on tiny pieces of paper, and hang those off the small tree placed at the reception.

Chinese wedding tradition: Practice your aim

A wedding tradition from China involves the groom pulling a Cupid and shooting his bride with a bow and arrow! Before you freak out, know that the arrow is head-less and no one gets hurt during this activity. Once he’s hit the target, the groom will collect the arrows and break them during the wedding ceremony, ensuring their love will be everlasting.

German wedding tradition: Get to sweeping!

Another German wedding tradition is Polterabend. Guests throw porcelain dishes on the ground to ward off evil spirits. It is then the couple’s job to sweep up all of the broken dishes, learning that when they work together, they can face any challenge they meet.

Nigerian wedding traditions: The more the merrier!

In Nigerian traditional weddings, there is no guest list because the entire community is invited. Sure, you don’t have to stress about who is making the cut but now you have to make sure there’s enough food and drink for your entire neighbourhood!

Another Nigerian wedding tradition is called Aso-Ebi, meaning family clothes. In this tradition, each side of the family is assigned a colour to wear to the wedding.

Norse wedding tradition: Odinist rituals

The Odinic Rite is a religious movement that honours Odin, Thor and other gods of Norse mythology. The religion “acknowledges the gods by fostering thought, courage, honor, light, and beauty.” An Odinist wedding would share a lot of traditions with Norse folklore and Viking weddings. For example, these weddings are often held on Fridays, as this is the day dedicated to Frigg, Odin’s wife and the goddess of marriage, love, and fertility.

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Did any of these wedding traditions surprise you? We love learning about customs and traditions from all over the world. So much so that we’re diving in to learn more. Check out part two with even more wedding traditions from all around the world!

written by Riana Ang-Canning

Please enjoy the following vendor interview all about wedding photography with Caroline Ross Photography. Read on to learn more about Caroline’s experience (including her time spent living and working in the Caribbean!), her editing style, and the truth about phone cameras. 

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Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Caroline Ross and I’m a fashion and wedding photographer in Yaletown, Vancouver, BC.

How long have you been in the wedding industry?

I’ve been in the industry for over ten years.

What first attracted you to the wedding industry?

I had a lot of friends and family members getting married my first year out of school, and they had seen school work I had done and wanted me to shoot their weddings. I bought a DSLR the week before my first wedding and started shooting. I still keep my first wedding up on my website today, because when I first started shooting weddings, I loved going through other photographers’ websites and enjoyed seeing their progress and their work from when they just started out. It gave me hope that I could grow my talent and get better at storytelling and shooting.

Here is my first wedding! http://www.carolinephotography.ca/oshawa-wedding/

When you’re not busy with weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

In addition to shooting weddings, I also teach part time as a photography professor at a local college and shoot fashion and commercial photography as well. So I don’t have a lot of spare time, but I do like to spend it like every other Vancouverite… running, swiming, biking, hiking and exploring local coffee shops and vegan restaurants.

What does Caroline Ross Photography do?

I shoot wedding, families, fashion and commercial photography.

What makes your business stand out from other photographers?

My editing and shooting style.

Editing:  I keep all my skin tones natural and I try to create a timeless edit – no one wants to look at their wedding photos in five years and remember how terrible the photoshopping was.

Shooting: I shoot photojournalism about 90% of the day, and the remaining 10% is a traditional style portrait session. Because of my ten years of experience shooting, I am able to get through the portrait session really quickly so the couple can get back to their guests. I often have less than 30 minutes to complete all the portraits, including the couple and their wedding party, so I have to work fast and I am able to adapt to any lighting situation and weather.

Share a wedding story! What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked on?

I used to live on the Caribbean island of St Maarten and specialized in private villa weddings where most of my weddings were destination and the wedding couple was from another country. My most memorable wedding was when a local groom and out of country bride got married – their wedding was a blend of St Maarten and North American traditions and the party was really amazing!

If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for a wedding photographer, what would it be?

Go with someone who has the most natural editing style, not the trendiest.

What are the biggest mistakes couples make when it comes to wedding photography?

When a couple has a Pinterest board pinned with all their favourite photos; it’s important to understand these are the BEST OF THE BEST from hundreds of weddings, which translates into hundreds of thousands of photos.

Where can couples save? Where should they splurge?

I started my career off with family members as my first clients and I encourage other couples that don’t want to spend a lot of money on a photographer to reach out to a relative or friend or a local photography school for a student. I realize this is terrible business advice from a photographer. I have seen many friends and family go through the planning process and I think there is too much pressure on couples to follow trends, keep up with their friends’ weddings and a fear of looking “cheap.”

I don’t think anyone should have to go into debt over a wedding so hire the vendors you are able to afford. The goal of a wedding is to get married and I think it would be better to start off your married life without debt. If there was a photographer you wanted for your wedding but couldn’t afford, hire them for a one or five year anniversary portrait session; it will definitely be cheaper than the wedding day.

What’s something people need to understand about photography?

Phone cameras are changing our body image. Most phone cameras are wide angle so you can fit your whole face in the photo as a selfie, and as a result, we all look 10-20 pounds lighter. It also changes our face shape. I had a friend recently get upset with how she looked in camera photos, and it turned out to be the wide angle lens making her nose look really large – it pushes things in the middle of the frame out.

After a quick shoot with a professional camera she felt a lot more confident. This is why an engagement session is essential and it’s also important to know what you like or dislike about a photo and communicate that with your photographer before the wedding.

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Special thanks to Caroline of Caroline Ross Photography for taking part in this wedding vendor interview and providing all of the gorgeous photos. For more information, visit:

• Wedding website: https://www.carolinephotography.ca
• Fashion website: https://www.carolinecharlotteross.ca
• Email: caroline@carolinephotography.ca
• Social media links: www.instagram.com/carolinerossphotography

Please enjoy the following vendor interview all about wedding music with Waira of Airwaves Music DJs. Waira shares exactly what Airwaves is all about, what the big trends in wedding music look like today, and what happens when a robot hits the dance floor! 

And if you’re looking for a DJ for your wedding or event, stay tuned for a special discount at the end of this post! 

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Please introduce yourself! Who are you and what do you do?

Hi! My name is Waira. I am the current Owner and Director of Airwaves Music DJs. I have been a DJ since 2010 and started working for the company in 2013. My job at Airwaves is to constantly improve our company while supporting our amazing team of DJs and support staff.

How long have you been in the wedding music industry?

I personally DJ’d my first wedding in 2011 at the age of 16, however we have DJs on our team who have been in the industry for decades! As a company, Airwaves Music has been around since 2007 and we have DJ’d over 3000 weddings/events since then.

What first attracted you to the wedding industry?

I have always loved the atmosphere at weddings – being part of a day where two people bring their communities together to celebrate is an incredibly rewarding, fun, and unique experience. As soon as I experienced this for the first time, I was hooked!

When you’re not busy DJing weddings, how do you love to spend your time?

When I’m not behind the DJ booth, I love to be on the dance floor! Personal development is also a huge passion of mine so I can often be found reading or taking courses and programs to deepen my knowledge of marketing, sales, business, psychology, spirituality and working with others.

What does Airwaves do?

We do a number of things here at Airwaves:

• Recruit and train the best DJs to be professional, reliable, and excellent at all they do;
• Make the process of finding and booking a great DJ easy and streamlined;
• Ensure there is not only a DJ booked for the big day, but also a backup DJ, and dedicated support staff on call in case anything happens, so that our couples don’t have to worry about a thing;
• Show up early and set up a simple, clean DJ booth with tasteful lighting;
• Pride ourselves on playing the RIGHT music for amazing couples on their big day;
• We also work with corporate companies like Redbull, Lululemon, Victoria Secret, Microsoft, Earls, Tough Mudder, Topshop, Bioderma, Molson, Honda, Corona and many more, supplying tunes for non-wedding events as well.

What makes Airwaves stand out from other DJs?

Airwaves is not just a 1-person DJ company; we are a team of folks devoted to making sure your event goes perfectly. Alongside our DJs, you’ll work with our Music Advisor and Event Manager to make sure all the details are locked in. They will personally select the right DJ for you based on your taste and style. All of this allows us to be very systemized and organized. We use great software to automate the process and make everything as easy as possible for both our couples and our DJs.

We also offer peace of mind, with a backup DJ and emergency hotline on the day of, just in case. Having done over 3000 weddings and events, we know how to get and stay ready for absolutely anything.

What is the process of working with you?

We have a simple and personalized process:

• Talk with a Music Advisor about your vision, wants, needs, hopes and dreams and see if our team/approach is a good fit;
• If so, then save your date with our online booking agreement and deposit;
• Meet your Event Manager who is there to help you plan all of the details and get them down in writing in our helpful, extensive forms;
• Talk directly with your DJ before your event to go over all of the details;
• Have a stress-free wedding, knowing that Airwaves is there every step of the way!

What’s the most memorable wedding you’ve ever DJed?

This past summer we had a couple that wanted an all out rave dance party so decided to hire a robot! They loved EDM and hip hop/rap, and wanted an all out nightclub feel, which gave our DJs an excuse to curate and create some specific mixes for an incredibly fun group of people. When Aborg the Robot showed up, we introduced him and hyped him up to the crowd. It was an EPIC and super memorable night. This wedding actually won us a spot as a finalist in the 2018 BC Wedding Awards. Be sure to check out the video.

If you had one piece of advice for couples looking for a wedding DJ, what would it be?

Don’t let cost be the deciding factor or the way that you determine the value of a DJ. Sometimes great DJs are not expensive, and sometimes terrible DJs are way more expensive. Instead, take the time to interview your DJ and ask them questions, find out who they are, what they do and how they do it. Check out our blog post about DJ pricing and request our “Top 12 Questions To Ask Your Potential Wedding DJ.”

What are the current trends in wedding music? What’s on its way out?

We’re seeing a lot more couples say “absolutely NO” to the classics like The Chicken Dance, Macarena, YMCA and Cotton Eyed Joe. These songs do still get requested (there’s a reason they continue to be overplayed – some people love them!), but we are definitely seeing them on more “DO NOT Playlists” lately.

Generally, more couples want their music to be personalized to them and reflect their unique style/love story: We see more folks requesting unique, indie songs for moments like their introduction or first dance. That’s why we say our motto is “Your Music, Your Way.” (editor’s note: just like the YH&M motto, “Your wedding. Your way.”)

We’re also seeing more and more blending of styles! Fewer couples want strictly Top 40, and more will ask for a percentage of Bhangra, Hip Hop, Alt-R&B, or Country, alongside the more mainstream oldies and pop selections.

What are the biggest mistakes couples make in regards to their wedding music?

100% the biggest mistake people make is waiting too close to the wedding to start looking for DJs and to start planning their music/playlists. Reputable DJs book up fast – most of our couples book 10-12 months in advance! We recommend beginning to look at DJs as soon as your venue and date are confirmed, so that you have time to put feelers out there and check out your options.

Also, don’t wait until one week before the wedding to start thinking about wedding music and playlists. We suggest actually allocating a few hours every month as you get closer to the big day to thinking through songs and filling out the forms your DJ gives you. Have a bottle of wine, singalong to your favourite songs and enjoy it; you will thank yourselves later! You could even create a playlist early that you can enjoy throughout your planning season, attaching new memories to the songs you love.

Where can couples save? Where should they splurge?

We might be biased but don’t skimp on your DJ! Most wedding guests remember how great the music and party was over your decor, flowers, dress and even the food. The truth is that good music and atmosphere can make or break the whole event. A good DJ doesn’t have to cost a lot, but a bad DJ can cost you everything.

What’s something people need to understand about wedding DJs?

A Wedding DJ’s job is to get people dancing and keep the dance floor full for as much of the night as possible. In order to do that, we need to be able to take requests and play a variety of of music styles. It makes our job really hard when couples say absolutely no ‘insert X genre here.’ For example, the couple might not like country, but there might be lots of guests who do. Another thing that makes our job difficult is when we’re given a “MUST Playlist” of eight hours of music for only five hours of dancing, giving the DJ very little room to be creative, engage with your guests and read the crowd.

At the end of the day, couples need to understand that when they are hiring a wedding DJ they are working with a professional who has dozens or even hundreds of weddings under their belt. Trust your DJ when they suggest certain songs or genres that you might not like; their job is to make sure that your wedding is fun!

Do you have any other tips for couples planning a wedding?

Slow and steady wins the wedding planning race! You might be really excited and try to plan everything at once: hire a venue, a florist, look at tux rentals, etc. and then get burned out. This can lead to fights or putting all wedding planning on the back burner and missing out on the vendors you really want to book. Instead, pace yourself. Be strategic and give yourself a roadmap of things you want to prioritize and when you’d like to book them. Block out a little time every week to goi over planning stuff with your fiance. Before you know it everything will be done and you’ll be celebrating with all your favourite people!

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Special thanks to Waira and Danice of Airwaves Music DJs for taking part in this wedding vendor interview. For more from Airwaves, visit them:

• airwavesmusic.ca
• info@airwavesmusic.ca
• https://www.instagram.com/airwavesmusic
• https://www.youtube.com/user/Airwavesmusicco
• https://twitter.com/airwavesmusicco
• https://www.facebook.com/AirwavesMusic/

Looking for a DJ and like what you’ve learned about Airwaves so far?
You’re in luck! Airwaves is offering you a special promotion. They’re offering $150 off your booking for any readers who mention this post!

 

feature image by Meghan Hemstra Photography
interview questions by Riana Ang-Canning

We are so excited to share that for the 5th year in a row, a Young Hip & Married officiant has taken home the title of Best Wedding Officiant in BC from the BC Wedding Awards!

Officiant Jane won Best Wedding Officiant 2018 and Officiant Shawn was one of the finalists. As well, our amazing elopement photographer, Emily Nicole Photos, was a finalist in the Best Wedding Group Photograph category. Way to go, YH&M team!

Check out the wedding stories that earned us the Best Wedding Officiant title:

Jane’s elopement with Niki & Steve

In April, Jane officiated Niki and Steve’s intimate elopement. This was a special ceremony, as Niki and Steve wanted to honour Niki’s grandparents by getting married at the same church where they were married, St. Andrew’s Wesley Church. However, they didn’t actually want a church wedding. So we decided to do their elopement on the stairs of the church where Niki’s grandparents wed 72 years ago.

To make the elopement even more special, Niki and Steve brought along a photo of her grandparents so they could be a part of the wedding. We recruited a passing couple to serve as witnesses, and they totally loved every moment of the elopement. And everything was beautifully captured by Erica Miller Photography!

Shawn’s wedding with David & Lejla

Usually brides take a lead role in wedding planning, but for this wedding, David wanted to do something special for Lejla during their ceremony. He shared with Shawn how daffodils were important to their relationship: David and Lejla met at the Daffodil Ball, it was the first flower David had given Lejla and daffodils were going to be a central decor item at their wedding. In addition to daffodils, David also wanted to play a little prank on Lejla. What’s a wedding without a little fun and games?

Shawn was totally on board and worked with David to craft the perfect ceremony that told their story, incorporated the daffodil, and even had a little prank. David and Shawn arranged for the guests to take part in a ring warming ceremony, where rings are passed between the guests before making their way to the couple, but with a twist. The twist? There were no rings! A guest, who was in on the prank, pretended to put rings into a box which was then passed around.

When the “rings” reached the front, Shawn announced that the rings were missing. Everyone had a moment of panic before Shawn let them in on the prank. He said, “Don’t worry folks. Just like how Lejla & David met at the Daffodil Ball four years ago, magically, randomly and surprisingly, love surprises us all and appears in the most mysterious places. And the tangible symbols of their love once again reveal themselves in the daffodil.” Shawn then pulled the real rings out of a daffodil and the rest was history!

Emily’s Group Photo

We also want to shout out our amazing elopement photographer, Emily, who was a finalist in the Best Wedding Group Photograph category. Michaela and Rob were married at Stanley Park Pavillion and did their photos at the Vancouver Art Gallery. How awesome is this shot of Michaela, Rob and their wedding party on the rooftop? That is one stylish and fierce wedding party!

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Congratulations to Jane, Shawn, Emily and all of the other winners and finalists! We’re so excited to celebrate a great year of weddings alongside our friends in the industry.