Spring is Here - Maple Meadow Custom Landscapes

Maple Meadow Custom Landscapes, a family owned and operated business, services the Greater Caledon and Orangeville area. They offer the highest quality of outdoor landscape and garden services available. Since 1987, they have provided superior service to customers and have assisted them in achieving their goals.  They bring over 24 years of experience in all aspects of landscape construction, tree care and maintenance.

From Concept to Installation, they do it all!

Tree removal, maintenance and clean up.  Insured Professionals!

Lawn Care & Maintenance. Garden Design, Installation, Restoration and Maintenance.

For More information on Maple Meadow Custom Landscapes, please visit online @ http://www.maplemeadow.ca/

'Guest Blog' by Cendi Micor TASTE, TRADITIONS & TRENDS

I would like to introduce you to today's Guest Blogger... Cendi from Immortal Weddings.  Cendi is known for going against the crowd.  This attribute is perfect for those of you who really want your wedding to stand apart. She has a love for music, tattoos, concerts and movies.  She appreciates traditions, however, you cannot please everyone.  Trends are not a priority…why be like everyone else?  She can add a chic touch to your edgy style.  www.immortalweddings.ca

The 3 Ts of Planning- TASTE, TRADITIONS AND TRENDS

~written by Cendi Micor

When it comes to making decisions about your wedding, there are many things to consider. It all boils down to you and your partner's style and taste. You may also consider traditions that both of your families value. Plus, to make things a bit simpler, you should also take note of current trends, which may make certain items more accessible than obscure ones.

PICKING A DATE : You may have a date that is meaningful to both of your. For example, a dating anniversary. You may also be set on a specific time of year. As for your family, they may have superstitions regarding certain numbers and dates. Lately, it has become very popular to choose a date that is extremely easy to remember. For instance, October 10, 2010 = 10/10/10.

BRIDAL PARTY: The size is the first thing to decide. Do you want it to just be your closest family and friends or do you want to include as many people as possible? Does your family have a say as to whom you choose? Many people are no longer following traditional etiquette in terms of their bridal party. The number of bridesmaids does not have to match the number of groomsmen. There are now best women as opposed to strictly just best men.

~Photo courtesy of www.flickr.com

SHOWER: If you want all of your closest family and friends present, you can choose to have a co-ed shower. Traditionally, if you are not currently living together, you may want to have a gift registry. Traditionally, it should be the bridal party throwing the shower...you can have a potluck or luncheon. One modern trend that is occurring these days is to throw a Stag and Doe, which is essentially, to raise money for the couple.

STAG/STAGETTE: Do you want to go all out with the partying? If so, you may go clubbing, to the strip clubs, and get around in a limo. Traditionally, celebrating your last night as a "single", used to occur the night before the wedding, but this is no longer as common. Nowadays, a weekend getaway is huge...Vegas is a very popular trend.

~Photo courtesy of www.destination360.com

CEREMONY: Will you be exchanging vows in a church? Are there cultural aspects that you would like to include. Traditionally, the couple has their backs towards the guests. Throw a twist into your ceremony and ask your priest/officiant if he/she can stand off to the side on an angle or if you can face your guests. It is very common now to also have the ceremony and reception held at one venue.

FLOWERS: Are you going to include your favourite flower into your bouquet and/or decor? As it is tradition to keep your bouquet, why not have a mixture of both real and fake flowers? As for your bridesmaids and maid of honour, make it different and have them hold a single flower as opposed to a bouquet. Consider what is popular and what is in-season.

~Photo courtesy of www.womensweddingsdresses.com

ATTIRE: How traditional do you want your outfit to be? Do you want to wear a white dress...men, to wear black tuxedos? How will your family feel about it? It has become very acceptable to now add more colour to the bridal gown and the colour black is also now acceptable. The length no longer has to be full-length. Another twist could be to wear coloured pumps.

FOOD: What better time to have your favourite meal than your wedding? Traditionally, dinners are more common but it may suit you and your guests better to have a luncheon. A very popular trend right now is having food stations, giving everyone more of a chance to mingle. Also think about what type of bar you will offer. Plus, your cake...how many tiers and how much detail do you want?

MUSIC: What route are you going to take with your music? A DJ or a band? Traditionally, a receiving line occurs and an introduction to music takes place. Is this something your want? You must also consider how speeches will occur during the event. Are you going to have an MC? A great trend right is to allow guests to request songs on the back of their RSVP cards.

HONEYMOON: Are you more into hot, tropical atmospheres or sight-seeing in Europe? To have a more relaxed approach to your wedding, you can have a mini-moon, which is a small trip prior to your wedding. Traditionally, couples used to depart on the night of their weddings, whereas most couples no longer do this. An extremely huge trend now is the Destination Wedding. This way, you and all your closest family and friends can vacation together.

~Photo courtesy of www.sdweddinginsider.com

No matter what you ultimately decide, make your wedding about what YOU want. Not what you think you're supposed to do based on family opinions, nor what today's society is doing. Stand apart and make it memorable! And enjoy it!!

The Civilized Bride Wedding Show in The Distilleries Friday January 21st, 2011

This past Friday evening, we had the pleasure of being a part of the Civilized Bride, a unique take on a bridal show.  Bride & Groom's to be were invited to mix and mingle with the GTA's finest Wedding Professionals while enjoying a cocktail and a canape. Here are a few pictures I took before it became too busy for pictures. 


The Bar



Wedluxe - Official Sponsor



Fantastic Fruit Platter Display



Guests Starting To Arrive

The Arta Gallery is a Fantastic & Hip Venue

Our Uplights Among the Great Art on Display



Funky Table With Promo Material

It was a great evening. Not only did I meet with some amazing couples, some of which booked us right on the spot, but I had the chance to finally meet some of the fantastic vendors that I hear about all the time while catching up with those who we work with regularly.



Wonderful Weddings of 2010 in review... Part II

Due to the popular feedback we received from our first launch of pictures last week,  Laura and I decided to add another round from my Wedding picture files.... Hope you Enjoy!

Just the boys having some fun at Wooden Sticks!



A Very Unique Wedding Cake at Markland Woods Golf and Country Club

Our Mini Starball effect.

Laura's creative flair gone wild as we uplit our meeting room and Christmas Tree

A wonderful Fall Wedding at Canoe atop the Toronto Skyline

A themed Wedding in Ancastor at Knollwood Golf and Country Club

The Sutton Place Hotel overlooking the downtown core

A priceless cake topper, for a wonderful couple

Ceremony Set up at Halton Regional Museum

Our uplighting on display behind the podium

A terrific fun filled evening at Toronto's Liberty Grand

An unbelievable evening at Toronto Design X

A funfilled cocktail hour at Markland Woods Golf

The outdoor Wedding Gazebo at Halton Regional in Milton

Many Thanks to all of our 2010 couples who made these memories possible!

The Civilized Bride - January 21st, 2011

Please join us this Friday evening as Dan and I will be participating in this new concept boutique style Wedding Show.  This will be a stunning and original event that has been sponsored by our dear friends at Wedluxe. Magazine.  Like the concept of Wedluxe, all vendors have been hand picked and are by invite only.  This will make for an enjoyable experience discussing your plans and dreams amongest the industries cream of the crop  Wedding Professionals. 

Stop by and say Hi... we would love to see you!

Cheers,

Dan and Laura Forbes

A Look Back at 2010!

2010...... what can we say other than WOW... what a wonderful year! Our business and family grew last year!  2010 was filled with amazing couples from all around the world.  We also travelled most of Ontario for Weddings and other amazing events. Words cannot tell you what a great year we have had, but pictures can.

~Here are some of photos of some of the highlights of our 2010~



Laura is now the Wedding & Special Event Coordinator for the Alton Mill.

 

Jennifer, Laura, Dan & Lisa in the Funky FotoBooth!



Reception at the Alton Mill

Great Music is Timeless ~ bringing free services to Seniors Homes

Kevin & Nora's Wedding @ The Old Mill

We welcomed baby Chase to the family on April 20!

We invested in Ambient Decor Uplighting (Hockely Valley Display)

Rustic/Elegant Wedding @ the Alton Mill.



Spring Wedding @ King Valley Golf & Country Club

Suze & Andrew's Royal Wedding @ the Royal Ambassador

Rocking it out in Chattam @ The Retro Suites

Uplighting in Aberfoyle.

Rockin' the Top Floor of the Sutton Place Hotel.

Lion Dance

The Great Hall - Toronto

Reception on the Lake with a beautiful Couple



Modern Wedding at the Gardiner Museum

 
2010 was a fantastic year.  We made tons of new friends and colleagues in the Wedding Industry and also had just amazing clients to work along with.  We took a more active roll in the CPDJA and are now reside on the National Advisory Committee. 

2011 looks very promising to make this past year seem lame.... stay tuned for some amazing announcements and updates on where we will go, work and take Sounds of Distinction Entertainment in this new year.

Dan and Laura Forbes

A thank you from Stephanie & Dave.

Dan and I both had the pleasure of working along with Stephanie & Dave for their wedding this past June, Dan as their Dj and I as their Wedding Coordinator. 

Yesterday we received a couple of thank you cards and we wanted to share them with you.  If you are interested in a sneak peek of how their wedding day turned out, I blogged it with photos a couple of months ago. (http://soundsofdistinction.blogspot.com/2010/07/stephanie-dave-june-26th-2010.html)

Here is the first card.

Dear Dan,

Thank you so much for the unreal job you did DJing our wedding.  We still get comments on how fun our wedding was & how our guests at the end of the night kept begging for one more song!  We were so happy you were able to play all of Dave and I's favorite songs!

It truly was a night to remember!

Thanks again!

Stephanie & Dave Collet!

And here is the second card.

Dear Laura,

Thank you so much for the amazing job you did on the day of our wedding. All the behind the scene tasks you did, did not go unnoticed!  Our day ran like clock work because of you and we were both able to enjoy our special day knowing you were there to handle any problems that arose. 

I cannot thank you enough!! You made our day extra special!!

Thank you again,

Dave & Stephanie Collet

Thank you Dave and Stephanie for having both Dan and I as part of your Wedding day.  It was an absolute pleasure getting to know you both!

Dan and Laura Forbes.

September 3rd, 2010 - Andrea & Chris

We had the absolute pleasure of working along with Andrea and Chris for their recent wedding at they Royal Ambassador.  Not only were they both fantastic and beautiful people, their families were just as nice.

We provided ceremony music, reception music and an amazing uplighting display.  Everything went off without a hitch and we kept a fun and full dance floor all night!

Andrea sent me this quick message just a few days ago!

Hi Dan!


Thank you so so so much to you and Laura! You two were so amazing - I had such a great time! Excellent music selections - I think it was the best music at a wedding by far! We had absolutely nothing but compliments with Vitamin String Quartet - Excellent suggestion!

Thank you so much once again - You did a fantastic job! :)

Andrea

 
Here is a letter that was sent to us this week from Barbara Bean, the mother of the bride, who helped with alot of the planning of this spectacular event.

Dear Dan & Laura

We are now into the middle of September - and the wedding of Andrea and Chris is well behind us.  All of the planning and preparations for such a long time suddenly came to life on September 3rd at the Royal Ambassador in Caledon - and it was over in one day.  But what a spectacular day it was!  There is not one thing about the entire day that I would even dream about changing - or improving.

Everything was absolutely perfect~

Dan and Laura, I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful atmosphere that you created for the entire wedding of my daughter and new son-in -law - from the Ceremony right through to the Last Dance.  You assisted them tremendously in making choices of music for their wedding - and they were so happy with how unique the music for their special day was.  It was not just another wedding - it was 'their' wedding - designed  just for them.

We were very pleased, as well, with the Ambient Decor Uplighting that you provided for the evening reception.  This is an incredible product - and does so much.  The pink glow around the room certainly complimented their theme, and highlighted the already beautiful venue, creating  a breathtaking atmosphere - one that we will remember for many days to come.  It is hard to imagine what we would have missed, had we passed on that.  As I mentioned earlier, it was all so perfect!

Thank you Dan, for taking care of the emceeing for the evening - you did a great job!  I appreciated having you look after this, so that I did not have to impose on any of our guest.

Laura, I am so happy that you were also able to join us for dinner and the evening, as well.  I hope that you enjoyed yourself.  I have seen a couple of the preview pictures from the photo booth - and you looked pretty happy.  All of the vender's who assisted us turned out to be Number One - it was like dealing with friends.

In closing, I just have to say 'Thank You' one more time. You assisted greatly in making my daughter's dream come to life - and your services were much appreciated.  If anyone is ever asking for a recommendation for Disc Jockey services - "Sounds of Distinction" will be Number One on our list.

Yours truly,

Barbara Bean

Here is few pictures of the event!

My very good friend and one of my favorite Photographers Jennifer Images was their that day with her assistant Lisa.  We had so much fun taking part in their Funky Photo Booth that they had set up and so did all the guests, it was packed all night.  Check out Jen's Blog for a sneak peak at some of the great pictures that they captured! www.jenniferimages.ca/blog

 Here is my favorite!

 

 A huge congratulations going out to Andrea & Chris!  We had so much fun being a part of such a wonderful day!  We wish you countless years of happiness!