Paradiso Burlington

My husband and I have ventured out to experience 'A Taste of Burlington' this weekend. The event runs from February 22 - March 14th 2010, featuring various restaurants in the Burlington area. Paradiso, featuring Mediterranean cusine, was our first wonderful downtown dinner experience.
I was drawn to the small & quaint atmosphere as soon as we walked through the doors. As we were seated, the hostess walked us by their own concept kitchen so we could really see how the chefs put our meals together. Enjoying wonderful appetizers of a Red Wine Poached Pear Salad & Sicillian Roasted Calmari we were drawn to the wonderful attention to detail which was evident while creating our plates. Our meals of Crab Ravioli & Moroccan Chicken followed, and after my first bite I knew this place was a hidden gem!
The staff were wonderful, not overly pushy, but always present if needed. As we were enjoying our coffee and desserts a guitar duo came out to play for the seated guests. It is evident the owners have created a comfortable and elegant astmosphere, offering gluten free and numerous vegetarian options on the menu.
Paradiso ofers Winemaker's Dinners, a chance to experience a five course gourmet meal complimented by five different wines; Private functions as well as a Chef's Table - which can be brought into your own home.
A wonderful location for a smaller intimate gathering or cocktail party.

http://burlington.paradisorestaurant.com/

Upcoming Wedding Show

Bridal Showcase
Sunday March 7th 2010
1:30pm
Burlington Arts Centre

http://www.bridalshowcase.ca/

ULTIMATE BRIDAL SHOW
Sunday April 18th 2010
10:00am - 6:00pm
Living Arts Centre Mississauga ON

http://www.ultimatebridal.ca/

TORONTO'S BRIDAL SHOW
Friday April 30th - Sunday May 2nd
Fri 5pm - 10pm
Sat 10am - 9pm
Sun 10am - 6pm
Toronto Congress Centre
650 Dixon Rd Toronto ON

*you could win over $66,000 worth of prizes!*
www.lastbridestanding.com/index.html
It is a contest to be 'the last bride standing' with a hand on the wall. With elimination and bonus rounds, this one is definately not to be missed!

Donate to Charity

In lieu of wedding favours, a lot of couples are turning to donations as alternatives.

Honour a loved one by donating to the Canadian Cancer Society. When choosing this option, the CCS provides you with placecards or giftcards which are customizable. Every bit of the donation goes directly to cancer research. http://www.cancer.ca/

The Toronto Humane Society suggests a $5 donation for each guest. In turn, you will receive a greeting card, business card or tent style card to share with your guests that a donation has been made in their name http://www.torontohumanesociety.com/

Make A Wish Canada is also another great charity to donate to - http://www.makeawish.ca/

Magnet Street Weddings

I was casually browsing through ads and I came across an interesting write up. I followed up the ad by finding the company online - Magnet Street Weddings. I was intrigued to see what exactly they had to offer (mainly quality) so I placed my 'free sample order' and it arrived a few days later. Upon opening the package, I found numerous gorgeous wedding paraphernalia - from Save the Date magnets to an actual invite with 2 samples for the inside. I must say, if I was a bride again - this site would be bookmarked!! Their catalogue features numerous styles and designs to really fit anyone's wedding theme. By giving their customers a free sample BEFORE purchasing an entire set sight unseen, I think this company is a hidden gem!
Feel free to check them out online and order your 'fun' sample package today!
http://www.magnetstreetweddings.com/

More Trends for 20-10

The wedding dress trend post inspired me to collaborate more general wedding trends for the year.
My personal favourite - mismatched bridesmaids dresses. I thought of doing this for my own wedding playing with colours, but then with the style of wedding we wanted, it didn't seem like it would completely work. I love the idea of chosing a colour palate and letting the wedding party chose the style of dress that suits them best.
Birdcage Veils - vintage styles are coming back

Edible Wedding Favors -Candy buffets are a wonderful late night treat for guests!
Colour Trends
Spring / Summer Turquoise, platinum, coral, pale yellow & champagne
Fall / Winter Deep red, teal, violet, mocha, sage
AND another personal favourite - Edible Topiaries!

10 trends for 20 10

Wedding Bells has listed the top 10 trends for dresses in 20-10.

1 - V neck dresses
2 - Ruffles (paired with a fitting bodice of course)
3 - Black - just a touch, not the entire dress!
4 - Illusion (sheer necklines)
5 - Print - subtle pattern throughout the fabric
6 - Sleeves (ick, not my 6th choice!)
7 - One shoulder
8 - Draping - gorgeous for DW gowns!
9 - Gold
10 - Bustier (corsets)


Take the 'What Dress Suits You Best' quiz! www.weddingbells.ca/quiz/16/16

BUDGET!

Weddings are definately fun to plan! Deciding on colours, the wedding party, and invites are all 'fun' tasks for a couple to explore. Of course, with any added 'wants', the budget can sometimes get out of control.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind
First, what is the most important thing when it comes to the big day? Do you want memorable photos or videography to be able to gawk over for years to come? Or would you rather splurge on a breathtaking venue?
What are aspects of the wedding that you don't feel will be huge costs? Will you get a limo for the entire wedding party? Do you really need to buy all of the bridesmaid's dresses?
And of course, are family members pitching in to help cover any of the costs?
Many newly married couples are left in debt by their wedding by not sticking to a budget. Trust me, if you shop around you can find the perfect (budget friendly) aspects to add to your day!
Some facts from bridesmag.com

• The typical couple spends $22,947 on their wedding
• 43.7 % of the budget goes towards the reception site, meal, cake & bar
• 15.2% of the budget is spent on photography
• 5.1% of the budget is put towards flowers
• 0.9% of the budget goes towards the groom's tux rental

Slice.ca offers some advice on breaking down the budget

http://www.slice.ca/Advice/SliceBlog/BlogPost.aspx?sectionID=42&postID=74855