Dear Jennifer Borgh

We are planning a destination wedding in Jamaica. Most of the resorts we are looking into have a wedding coordinator on site but we feel like we are not getting anywhere and are just getting the run around. Our wedding is less then a year away and we are nervous about planning it when the resorts take so long between emails and phone calls to answer our questions. We thought it would be less stress to plan a destination wedding but the resorts don’t want to deal with anything until we arrive 3 days prior to the wedding. I want to relax before the wedding not start planning!

Rena and Peter

Toronto

Dear Rena and Peter,

Planning a destination wedding can be a lot less stressful; you just need the right wedding planner and travel agent. A travel agency would have their TICO licence (if in Ontario) and be able to get you the best rate, best flights and deal with all of your guests booking. A destination-wedding planner would have the connections established with the resorts and vendors and be able to help you pull together the vision for your day. If you can find a destination-wedding planner who is also with a travel agency then you have the perfect match to help you plan your wedding in Jamaica.

Hope this helps,

 Jennifer Borgh

Dear Jennifer Borgh,

We are sitting on the fence on whether to invite children to our wedding.  We love kids but think that having kids at our wedding might end the party early for some of the parents.  We are also concerned that the party won’t be kid friendly and sitting for the ceremony and speeches might be to boring for them.  If we decide not to invite kids then we are concerned that we will offend our friends who are parents.  What is the best way to deal with this dilemma?

Chris and Tammy

Dear Chris and Tammy,

To have children or not is always a dilemma from deciding what to do to handling the opinions of others on what you should or shouldn’t have done.  It’s your wedding so ultimately you get to decide what you want to do.  Having kids at a wedding usually mean the parents have to leave early in the night to put them to bed although not inviting them creates extra coordination for the parents to find a babysitter.  This can be especially hard for parents who are travelling far.  I would go through your guest list and think about each guest that has children to see what would make both you two happy and the majority of the parents invited.

A few tips if you want to invite children to your wedding:

- Make sure you include their names or “and family” on the invitation.  If they are not on the invitation it will be assumed that they are not invited.

- Have activities, craft bags, toys or even a babysitter on hand to keep them busy

- Order kid friendly meals and discuss options with the parents.  Kids that are fed are almost always better behaved.

If you DO NOT want to invite children

- Don’t include any option on the invitation to add names or number of guests. Or better yet, ask how many adults will be attending.

- You will still be obligated to invite babies that are breastfeeding.  You can’t expect a baby to go a night without food.

- When you have made a decision regarding children, then make it across the oard for all kids (unless they are in the wedding party).  People shouldn’t feel as though their kids were the only ones not invited.

-Give guest's ample warning if kids are not going to be invited so they can plan for childcare.

Hope this helps,

Jennifer Borgh

A lot of couples want to avoid making a detailed budget since it comes down to spending money and possibly forcing people to cut certain things out, but it should not be considered a daunting task.Having a budget is vital in helping you see the future and decide what is most important to you before the money is spent. 

The budget is the first item that I like to tackle with all of my couples.  I provide them with a budget sheet and ask them to either fill it out on their own, or to work with me in filling it out.  It’s very important to me that my clients get the wedding that they want so I encourage them to take advantage of my skills and experience to put together a budget that works with their weddings dreams but stays within their allocated financials.  Budgets aren’t set in stone, and clients can add or remove from the budget as needed.  They are a great guideline to avoid spending $120,000 on a $60,000 wedding.Couples are often surprised at how fast the expenses can add up, so hiring a professional Wedding Planner can put this into perspective and also avoid that big surprising bill at the end of the wedding.

Download a budget worksheet to get you started

Jennifer Borgh Events was featured on Global News on Tuesday March 2nd, 2010.  If you missed the show.  Click on the link below to watch it:

Global News Wedding Budget

Dear Jennifer Borgh, I want my wedding to be about my husband and I and I have some great ideas for some DIY projects. What are the best wedding related DIY projects that you have seen and do you have any advice on taking on such a big task while planning such a big event?

Lauren, Unionville

Lauren,I love DIY(Do it yourself) projects. As you said, it can add some personalized touches. I do however caution you on a few things. You must be able to execute these projects at the same level as a professional would. These projects should never look like a child made them (unless they did;). The other concern is taking on too much. Do not add any unnecessary stress. DIY projects that need to be implemented in the days leading up to the wedding are not a good idea. Unless this is your profession, I would not recommend baking your own cake, cupcakes or doing your own flowers. These things need to be done right before the wedding to get the freshest results and these projects usually add an enormous amount of stress at the last minute when you should be relaxing and taking care of yourself so you look the best on your wedding day.

Hope this helps,

Jennifer Borgh

One of my number one priorities for all my clients is to try and get them the BEST photographer that they can afford. I just love photos and they are a big part in making the memories from the wedding day last a lifetime. There are thousands of photographers in Toronto and the GTA and it can be very daunting to spend a lot of the budget on a product that you can’t see before you have paid.

Here are a few tips for hiring the right photographer

- Get a professional referral. I have a data base of very impressive photographers and I love to share it with my clients. I narrow down the search to a handful of photographers that suit my clients style and budget.

- View the entire portfolio and not just selected photos. You want to see how the entire wedding has been captured. Most photographers can take a few good shots (with the right camera) but only an amazing professional photographer doesn’t miss a single important moment.

- View hard copies of the photos and not just an online version. Websites can make photos look much better then they do when they are enlarged physical photos.

- Make sure they have a second shooter or at least an assistant. Who will block the sun? Capture the photos of the guests while the bridal party takes photo? Make sure all the guests are smiling? Run to get another camera/light or props if needed?

- Find out the turn around time. With digital photography, a lot of photographers have reduced the time it takes to get your photos in your hands.

- Make sure that touch ups are included. Photos should look their best.

- Pay for the rights and for a digital CD/DVD to make re-prints. With digital photography you should always be able to re-print the photos.

- Find photographers that are willing to be flexible on time. They may charge you if they need to stay late, but you may want them to stay a little longer to capture something special.

Dear Jennifer Borgh,

The countdown is on until our wedding and we haven’t yet decided if we should have an open bar. We would love to but the cost of the wedding is going to jump substantially if we do. Most of our friends have had an open bar but haven’t had as many guests as we have had. Is it expected that drinks will be served without being charged?(By the way, love your website)

Elizabeth, Toronto Elizabeth,

Dear Elizabeth,

Your wedding and this decision is completely up to you and your fiancé. Every bride and groom needs to decide how to spend their budget to best achieve the wedding they visualize. I do however have a very strong opinion about this.

Guests are expected to come to a wedding with a gift and although the gift is not supposed to pay for the meal and the beverages, it often covers or exceeds the actual cost. Your wedding should feel inviting and be an extension of your home. Since you don’t charge guests to drink in your home, you should not be charging them at your wedding. My clients all have different sized budgets, but I am happy to say that even with the tightest of budgets, we have always worked creatively to be able to provide an open bar for the guests. Since guests are often giving a gift of $100 each to attend an average wedding in Toronto, it makes it very difficult to ask them to pay for their own drinks on top of that.

There are often difficult and controversial decisions made while planning a wedding and a lot of people will share their opinions on every aspect of the wedding plan, but to me not offering a meal and an open bar is not an option. This decision can disrupt the celebration and cause issues and anger from the guests. If you absolutely cannot afford an open bar then I would suggest telling the guests “no gifts , and also letting them know a head of time so they can be prepared to bring cash to the reception to pay for the drinks. With credit cards and debit, guests often don’t come expecting to need extra money.

Hope this helps,

Jennifer Borgh

Dear Jennifer Borgh,
My boyfriend and I just got engaged and we are thinking about having an engagement party but not sure if it’s necessary.  Do most people have one?
Thanks
Maria, Toronto

Maria,

Having an engagement party is optional and not necessary for most couples (although some cultures expect that an engagement party will be part of the pre-wedding activities.

Engagement parties are a great way for both families to get to know each other and another opportunity to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Tips:

- As with a wedding, food and beverages should be served to guests, although a full meal is not expected.

- I strongly suggest inviting only guests that will be invited to the wedding.  Otherwise, you may create the expectation of a wedding invite and could be put into a very uncomfortable position when they ask where their invitation is.

- Couples should not expect gifts (although guest may bring gifts) and no registration for gifts or mention of gifts should be made.

Hope this helps

Jennifer Borgh

In January, I was lucky enough to attend a star-studded party thrown by celebrity planner Preston Bailey, as he celebrated the launch of his new book Celebrations. Joan Rivers and Nate Berkus, were among the celebrity guests in attendance. I decided to take my friend and Toronto Wedding Planner Lindsay Mogford. During the party, we met Randy Fenoli, fashion director of Kleinfeld and “Say Yes to the Dress” on TLC.

The party unfolded at the Armory, which was completely transformed from a huge empty warehouse to an intimate room filled with purple, blue and pink touches. A large illuminated runway with images of Preston’s book cover and past events split the room. A lot of un-expected surprises popped up throughout the night to keep guests excited including models dancing down the runway with very little covering their bodies other than purple flowers and then Gloria Gaynor singing to get the party started. The vendors were the best of the best in New York. The lighting was incredible and provided by lighting expert Ira Levy (Levy Lighting). Olivier Cheng catering thought of every detail and the food was incredible with a huge selection of tasty bite sized hors d’oeuvres. Preston hired celebrity events planner Marcy Blum so that he could spend the night socializing and enjoy the party himself(the best thing anyone having a party or wedding can do for themselves and their guests).

It was a nice to remember.Thanks Preston!

www.prestonbailey.com

( photos provided by Preston Bailey)

• Order local/seasonal flowers to avoid shipping


• Order local/seasonal food to avoid shipping and transport


• Make a donation instead of guest favours or give guests seedlings


• Order a horse and carriage, carpool or walk


• Have ceremony, reception and photographs at the same location


• Make the centrepieces potted plants or herbs that can be planted instead of thrown out


• Have the ceremony during the day and outdoors to avoid lighting


• Buy a suit that the groom will wear again or rent it for the day.


• Make the gifts for the bridal party something that can be used on the wedding day and after (instead of a trinket)


• Get married in a location that already has the look you want to avoid adding transport/cleaning


• Use washable napkins and tablecloths


• Sell or pass your wedding dress down when your wedding is over


• Rent items instead of buying them (unless you can use them after the wedding)                    Photo credit: Rachel McLean

Dear Jennifer Borgh, I can hardly contain my excitement. My boyfriend proposed after 5 years of dating and we are in the midst of planning our wedding. It’s all I can think about. Most of my friends are married and I have been helpful and excited for each of them when it was their turn. I am really upset that one of my very good friends brings only negative comments to me. She wouldn’t do this or that, she wouldn’t bother with a wedding, she hates this or that about weddings. I wanted to ask her to be in my wedding party but have been avoiding her and her negativity. What should I do?

Anne, Markham

Dear Anne,
The excitement of getting engaged can make some couples very emotional. Most brides can’t stop talking about their wedding and it can consume all conversations. If you find yourself doing this then hiring a wedding planner to discuss ALL the details can be helpful. Couples should be prepared for many different reactions from their friends and families. I find myself consoling many couples when they didn’t get the reaction that they were expecting. There always seems to be at least one envious person who is less then excited about the engagement. Depending on your personality, it can be a good idea to be understanding of how they are feeling and not take it personally. They may come around. This may also be a good time to re-evaluate your relationship with them if they are bringing only negative feelings to you. Hope this helps, Jennifer Borgh

One lucky Bride-to-be will get a chance to meet Randy Fenoli-Fashion director of Kleinfeld bridal in NY and star of "Say yes to the dress" on TLC, $5000 towards your dream Kleinfeld dress, Free airfare, 5 star accommodation, private store opening in Manhattan, NY.*

Step one: Submit your engagement or romance story
to TheRingBearer.ca before February 14, 2010
by clicking on the link below

Step 2-The Top 10 love stories will be posted online on
February 19th, 2010. You, along with the rest of Canada, will have one month to vote for your favourite!

Step 3-The winner of The Kleinfeld Experience will be
announced on March 20, 2010 after the nationwide
vote has been tallied!

*go to http://www.theringbearer.ca/kleinfeld for more details

video of Randy

Dear Jennifer Borgh,

I really want to plan my wedding for next summer but not sure if we have enough money to pull it off.  My soon to be mother in law has a beautiful backyard and has offered to host the wedding there if we want to install a tent.  I have no idea how much a tent would cost and was wondering if a backyard wedding could still be incredible while spending less then other venues.
Tanya, Woodbridge

Dear Tanya,

Summer backyard weddings can be really beautiful, especially if you already have a nice garden and landscaping as a backdrop.  It may not be as cost effective as you think when you compare it to other possible venues.  Once you add up the chair rental, table rental, linens, catering, catering tent (if needed), extra portable toilets(especially if you get he luxury ones), tent, lighting, and dance floor it can all add up.  With a lot of venues these items are already included in the cost.  Although one way to save money is to have a casual tented wedding with hors d’oeuvres and a few high top tables and a few chairs or stools.  Once you plan a sit down meal the costs can add up quickly. 

Booking a consultation with a wedding planner is a great way to figure out your budget and see if it’s possible to plan the wedding of your dreams with the numbers you have.

I hope this helps.

 Jennifer Borgh

Off to NY to attend Preston Bailey's "Celebrations" party! Congratulations to Preston and all his success. He is a true inspiration.

Check out this blog for some of the party details: www.prestonbailey.blogspot.com

Over the past few years candy bars have become increasingly popular at weddings. They provide guests with entertainment (if they get to pick their own candy) and an addition to the menu.

I always encourage my clients to take any ideas they love and put a twist on them. If everyone is doing colour themed candy bars then step out of the box to make things more interesting. Get huge containers and fill them with candy that is a little more rare to find. Gourmet jelly beans such as Jelly Bellys can make your candy bar more exciting than standard candy that is available at any store. Use unique dishes to display the candy such as an old fashioned gum ball machine or bowls (make sure they are food safe). The container can be as unique as the candy bar. I used food safe lined jewelry boxes for a candy bar and that provided guests an easy way to keep the candy for later if they were too full.

If you want to take things to another level then try another type of food with the same concept. Perhaps a popcorn bar with different flavours, yum!

Hope this helps you have an amazing wedding!

I always recommend building up some anticipation to your wedding. Don’t tell your guests all the details, but just a little hint here and there.

This is one reason why invitations play such an important role in the wedding. Invitations (and save the date cards) are your first opportunity to hint at the theme, give your guests advanced warning about where and when and to build the anticipation.

Just be warned that once you build up the anticipation, you will need to come through with an amazing wedding to satisfy the expectations you have created.

I highly recommend reading celebrity event designer-Preston Bailey’s BLOG to see how he is building up the anticipation to his big party! As one of the lucky guests, I have been sitting on the edge of my seat with anticipation.

www.prestonbailey.com

I hope this helps you have an amazing wedding!

Dear Jennifer Borgh,

My fiance and I are getting married this summer. We have lived together for years and already have an apartment full of housewares. We have worked hard to save for our wedding and could really use money instead of gifts. Is it rude to print "monetary gifts prefered" on the invitations?

Thanks

Simone, Toronto

Dear Simone,

“Monetary gifts only”, “registered at the bank” or “money preferred” should NEVER be on an invitation. Everyone is well aware that most couples prefer cash (Although my husband and I did receive some amazing personalized gifts that I would much rather have then cash). Guests should never feel obligated to give you money as a wedding gift. In a perfect world couples would be showered with money and have enough to pay for the wedding and a down payment on a house but in reality this doesn’t always happen. I always advise my couples not to count on potential gifts to pay for anything. Are you inviting guests to your wedding to make money or are you inviting them because you care that they attend and share in this day with you? Also, consider how they will feel if they don’t have a lot of money to give you as a gift. They might be out of a job or be a single parent. Let people give what they can afford to give and what makes them comfortable. Don’t lose sight of the true purpose of the day.

Hope this helps,

Jennifer Borgh

The New Year has just started and I am thrilled to announce that I will be working with Angelique Sobschak of “Rich Bride Poor Bride” (on Slice TV) to coordinate Amanda and Duane’s January wedding!

EMERGENCY FUNDRAISER FOR HAITI
Shop for the Cause 2

www.nathalie-roze.com

When: Saturday January 23rd, 11am to 5pm

Where: Queen St. East Presb. Church (947 Queen St. East at the S.E. corner of Carlaw - the Queen streetcar & Pape bus stop right there!).

WHAT: A super-fab sale of new merch and gift certificates donated by Toronto artists/designers, indie businesses, restaurants & local shops - as well as a kickass jumble sale of individual donations of gently used quality items and vintage finds (books, clothing, CDs, accessories, housewares, kids' toys, craft supplies, etc.)
Plus: a silent auction and gourmet bake sale spotlighting high-end pastries at a discount along with yummy homemade edibles by area volunteers

ALL money raised goes directly to the Haiti Earthquake relief efforts via the Canadian Red Cross.

Nathalie-Roze & Co., 1015 Queen St. East (Leslieville)
email: info@nathalie-roze.com

Jennifer Borgh is excited to launch her new complimentary service: "Ask Jennifer Borgh". Every monday one question will be selected and answered on her BLOG. 

Please email your question to askjennifer@jenniferborghevents.com

As some of you know, I also design jewelry.In the January issue of TCHAD magazine, my bracelets are being worn by Bai Ling! Now if only she would hire me to plan her wedding.

http://www.tchadmag.com

Karat spelled with a "K" refers to the breakdown of pure gold into a gold alloy unlike Carat spelled with a "C" that refers to the weight of a gemstone or diamond. Gold jewelry is usually stamped with a # following the "k" in a non-intrusive spot. When determining the karat that you want to get for your engagement or wedding rings the use of the jewelry is very important. For a charm on a necklace or earrings a high karat gold would be beautiful, and damage from daily use would be of very little concern. A ring on the other hand has to deal with a lot of wear and tear. It gets knocked, rubs against your fingers and can even be bent during your daily activities.

10k- would very hard, endure a lot of wear and tear but be a very light gold colour

14k- would be hard, endure more wear and tear then 10k and be a light gold colour

18k-Would be hard, endure wear and tear and be a rich gold colour

24k-Would be soft, not endure a lot of wear and tear(pure gold)

(some other countries use different alloys which produces different karats but these are the most common in Canada)

As some of my school training was as a Goldsmith, I have opinions about the Karat that is best for wedding rings and engagement rings. I recommend that my clients order their wedding rings in 18K gold. Alternatively, 14k gold can be used if you don’t mind a lighter colour. This will ensure that your rings have a rich gold colour and are a little harder so that they can endure years of daily wear and tear that rings go through. If either the bride or groom’s job involves manual labour with their hands, I would certainly recommend a lower karat as it would be able to withstand even more wear and tear.

I Hope this helps. JB

Jennnifer Borgh Events is excited to launch our new blog today! We hope you find it helpful, easy to navigate and inspiring. One of our 20-10 goals will be to update our blog on a regular basis with exciting news and information!

Jennifer Borgh Events in the news again.

To read the full article please go to the Toronto Star website @:

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/750239--add-choreographer-to-list-of-wedding-hires

Jennifer Borgh is now a SuperClubs Specialist and booking destination weddings & honeymoons to all SuperClubs resorts.

Weddings are included at SuperClubs/Breezes resorts(min 3-night stay)

Included in every SuperClubs/Breezes Destination wedding that is booked with Jennifer Borgh is:

-Jennifer Borgh as your Wedding Coordinator(Jennifer Borgh will help coordinate from Toronto/GTA as well as an on-site Coordinator at the resort), Marriage Licence, Minister Fees, preparation of documents, recorded music upon request, witnesses(if needed), champagne or sparkling cider, decorated ceremony site, wedding cake, bouquet & boutinniere, Four complimentary off-property wedding guest passes, candlelit dinner for bride & groom, continential breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding.

***(additional options are available for an additional charge, government fees are only included with minimum 7 night stay, government charges are not included in Cuba)

Email: Jenn@jenniferborghevents.com for a quote or to book your wedding or honeymoon.