Featured Vendor Profiles

Meet Cathy Martin Flowers - Niagara-on-the-Lake Wedding Florist

The Swish List is a great place to get inspiration for planning your Niagara wedding or event, but even more than that, The Swish List exists to introduce you to Niagara’s leading wedding and event professionals.

We are proud to present Niagara’s finest — the crème-de-la-crème of the Niagara wedding and event industry. Each Niagara Wedding Vendor featured on The Swish List has been chosen for their proven excellence – they are the best in their field!

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles, Wedding Flowers,

What inspires you?
I’m inspired by art, music, photography, and architecture … floral designer Jeff Letham, the architecture of Frank Gehry, the jazz guitar of Lenny Brough, abstract impressionist paintings and my daughter’s photography.

One of my favorite places to visit is Bartel Organic Garden – it’s a 3 acre property with a beautiful mixture of mature trees, veggies, perennials and flowers – I get many of the flowers for my designs from there.

Give us three words to best describe your business.
Experienced. Versatile. Passionate.

Cathy Martin Flowers - Niagara-on-the-Lake Wedding Florist

Talk about your design philosophy.
Our design esthetic is very versatile. From clean, bold, modern designs to soft, romantic, vintage-inspired designs ... the final outcome really depends on the client’s request.

It’s important to design floral décor with the venue in mind, taking notes from the space and incorporating the style into the floral arrangements.

Everything from the style of the wedding dress to the choice of linens, vases, and flowers should all work together to create a cohesive look.

What do you love most about the wedding industry?  
Being part of the most exciting time in someone’s life is so inspiring and fulfilling! I love working with my clients every step of the way and helping them realize their wedding day vision. Also, because Cathy Martin Flowers is located in downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake, we’re lucky enough to work with some of the most talented wedding vendors in the area.

Talk about current trends ...
I love that long tables are more of a trend for wedding receptions, it allows for a big impact with flowers.

Flower trends in the last couple of years include succulents, dusty miller, garden roses and a lot more yellow. Baby’s breath is also back in a big way, but the look is more up to date with it being gathered in mass amounts to create more impact.

What advice would you like to give to people when they are investigating your services?
Have a budget in mind when you come in for a consultation and photos are always a great idea! I can sit down with you and help you figure out a strategy for design, but the more research you do beforehand, allows me to give you clear recommendations and suggestions. Visit my Facebook page, website and blog to see what kind of work I’ve done in the past and see if we are a good fit

What scenario brings out the best in your work?
When a client trusts my ability to design, my eye for detail and when they are happy to have me create a look for them, this tends to bring out the best in my work. Working with a beautiful venue and with minimal restrictions is always inspiring and allows my work to shine.

What is the consultation/creative process like?
Our complimentary consultations allow us to get a better sense of each client’s specific needs, and bounce ideas back and forth. We’re happy to hear a client’s ideas and guide them in the right direction to achieve the look they want within their budget. Every client is different, some people have a very specific vision for us to execute, but many clients love to give us more design freedom.

Just because we’re nosey ... what’s on your iPod?
Lenny Breau, Susie Arioli, Madeleine Peyroux, Adele, Feist, Amy Winehouse, Ingrid Michaelson, Mumford & Sons, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Eric Clapton, Colm Wilkinson

Niagara is becoming a destination wedding mecca for couples in love! What do you think draws them to our corner of the world?
Niagara has such a fantastic combination of natural beauty, theater, and vineyards it’s just the perfect combination to host the most important day of your life! With an abundance of places to see, and things to do here, it’s great for out-of-town guests and for such a small population we have world-class wedding vendors catering to your every need!

Share your latest fun project – a chance to stretch your creative muscles!
We recently worked on the “Coast to Coast Chef Series” dinner hosted at Stratus Winery, which was a lot of fun. Award-winning Indian chef Vikram Vij from Vancouver’s Vij’s served dinner at a 70-foot long table in the winery’s “Press Alley” amongst the stainless steel and oak casks. This setting allowed us to create some fabulous bold florals to match a table runner using traditional sari material.

Finally, what’s your most memorable wedding story?
We’ve been lucky enough to have some really stand-out experiences over the years! From a week-long luxury event for Audi cars where we designed modern arrangements for a massive tent at the airport, to designing a tablescape to host His Royal Highness Prince Edward, there are a lot of fond, fun memories!

Click here to read more or learn about hiring Cathy Martin Flowers.

Tags: Niagara on the Lake Wedding Flowers, Swish List Member, Niagara Wedding Flowers, Niagara wedding florist, Cathy Martin Flowers

Featured Vendor Profiles

Tyler James Niagara Wedding Photographer

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles, Wedding Photography,

What inspires you and where do you go for inspiration?

I look for inspiration in so many things. Design, Typography, Fashion, Writing. I see so many overlaps in those things with my work. For example, good writers are taught to observe and write about the subtleties and things most other people overlook, that whole elusive obvious thing. The greatest photographers do the same thing.

The actual photography I look at tends to come from the fashion world, and I prefer aggregating websites and blogs like Fashion Gone Rogue. I do pay attention to wedding blogs, but mostly to see what my fave vendors are up to and what trendy for this season’s weddings. Pinterest and Picssy can be awesome tools for general inspiration if you’re following the right people.

What do you love most about the wedding industry?

The people I meet is my fave part about being in the wedding industry. I get to see so many amazing creative outlets from florists to table design to stationary. There’s just so much a wedding covers. It’s really inspiring when you get to be involved with these people regularly. When I’m surrounded by awesome work on the wedding day, it fuels my creativity and it elevates my game. I’m enjoying just being along for the crazy ride and excited to see where we all end up.

Three words to best describe your style/business.

Romantic. Vibrant. Alive.

Talk about your philosophy or approach to wedding photography.

I love motion and life in my images. This starts with the relationship I have with my couples. Beyond the images, I like telling my couples as much about my life as I can so they truly know me as a person. Only when we have that trust can I really lead them into situations that make for authentic images with real moments. I love that stuff. I always hope to have a funny story after every wedding or engagement session.

Share your latest fun project – a chance to stretch your creative muscles.

Latest fun project would have to be the creative I did back in the winter that was featured on Junebug a little while back. I love it when Im surrounded by that level of talent and then get to just play and shoot all day without the pressure of an actual wedding.

What advice would you like to give to people when they are investigating your services?

Get to know me! If you don’t understand me or aren’t super clear that I’m the right guy for you, then we probably aren’t a fit. I won’t be able to do my best work unless you have 100% trust in me. Poke around the website, read my bio, add me to Facebook, whatever it takes. The relationship is so crucial for me to get those soft, natural images.

What scenario brings out the best in your work? (location, type of client, timing, venue)

Being a self-labeled ‘romantic’, I’m a sucker for nature. I prefer outdoor settings like vineyards, fields, willow trees and the sun. I don’t like complicated settings, I prefer to strip most of that away and just showcase the amazing relationship between my couple. Dusk is the best for timing (I’m not a morning guy), while venue doesn’t really play much of a role. I do prefer decor that is full of life though, floral centerpieces, etc. My favourite couples are the ones who get excited about their images and aren’t afraid to collaborate with me. Exchanging creative energy pushes me to do my best work. If I had to think of everything myself, we only get my perspective. I like being challenged to see things differently.

What is your specialty?

My specialty is bringing the life out of my couples and their surroundings. It’s not photojournalism. I prompt and coach and do whatever it takes to make sure my couples look and feel electric! Lots of times this ends up being conversations about weight loss (I have a background as a personal trainer), or clothing selection or hair/makeup. Sometimes it’s about learning about what my couple does in their spare time and bringing some of those elements into the shoot.

What makes your artistry unique/ stand out from the crowd?

I like showcasing the romance and the intimacy my couples have. There’s nothing intimate or romantic about 2 people staring at the camera smiling, so you won’t see too many of those on my blog. I always want to create softness and motion. That’s what I’m drawn to when I look at photography, I’m searching for that soul.

What is the consultation/creative process with your clients? Do clients come to you with ideas, or do they let you ‘go’?

It always starts with me getting to know the people I’m shooting. I ask tons of questions and send my couples questionnaires that ask about their relationship and tastes. Only when I have that info will I start planning a shoot. I do have some brides who have planners or have a vivid picture of what their wedding is going to be. Even with those brides, I still make suggestions for locations and styling to make sure we’re on the same page. Other brides want me to be more involved and then I’ll take most of the creative control and do my best to make sure the shoot fits them and who they are.

What are you most passionate about in life?

I’m a giver. I love helping people in any way I can. I’ve been fortunate in so many ways and I strongly believe in the karma effect. I love my girlfriend, my family and my crazy dogs. I’m passionate about creating and putting smiles on people’s faces. If I wasn’t taking pictures, I think I’d just find a way to talk for a living.

What’s on your ipod?

Oh man, I have the most ADD music taste ever! On my latest playlists, there’s Bon Iver and the Drive soundtrack for office ambiance. Naked and Famous, Awolnation and Foster the People, if I’m in the mood for something more upbeat. Love everything about the Arcade Fire. I’m even open to some Carly Rae because it’s so catchy!

Most memorable wedding event/story?

This is a really tough one. I’m gonna get deep and hopefully pass on some advice. Earlier this year, one of the groom’s who’s wedding I covered, passed away tragically. The one thing he did at his wedding, I will never forget and I pass it on to all of my brides and grooms. It was advice he received from a friend who said, “At every milestone during the day, after the ceremony, after the pictures, before the reception, take 5 minutes to yourselves, just the two of you, just to soak it all in. The day goes by so quickly that if you don’t, it will be a blur”. He took his 5 min with his bride every chance he could and every couple should do the same. The wedding is about you, take the time and actually enjoy it. It will be busy and there will be pressure to hit every deadline, but slow down and take your 5 min. Life is too short not to.

Tags: Niagara Wedding Photographer, Niagara Wedding Photography, Niagara Wedding Photographers, Tyler James Wedding Photographer

Featured Vendor Profiles

Mimosa Flower Studio ... Inspirational Short FIlm

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles, Swish Loves This!, Wedding Flowers,

We’re loving this inspirational short film produced by the uber talented Niagara wedding florist team at Mimosa Flower Studio ... one of our recommended Swish List wedding vendors.

Shot on location around Niagara’s prolific and stunning wine region, the crew at Mimosa Flower Studio spent three days producing a suite of five different 'scenes' to inspire and excite you about all the dreamy possibilities for your wedding ... we're over the moon to be able to share them with you!

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Concept & Production: Jennifer Elliotson of Mimosa Flower Studio.
Floral Design & Installation: Jennifer Elliotson, Heidi Taylor, Helen Bang of Mimosa Flower Studio.

Photography & Models: Nataschia Wielink Photo + Cinema / Bride’s Wardrobe: Anthropologie, About a Bride
Groom’s Attire: RW & Co. / Hair & Makeup: ALLURE Hair and Makeup
Linens & Chiavari Chairs: Simply Beautiful Decor / Location: Stone Mill Inn
Cinematography: Enns Visuals / Print Design: Mark Elliotson
Macarons: Bobbette & Belle Artisanal Pastries

Tags: Niagara Winery Wedding, Niagara Wine Country Wedding, Niagara Wedding, Niagara Wedding Florist, Niagara Wedding Flowers

Featured Vendor Profiles

White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles,

Give us three words that best describe White Oaks.
Modern. Chic. Upscale.

What makes White Oaks stand out from other wedding venues?
The location and décor of White Oaks certainly sells itself ... but it’s our attention to detail and outstanding team give us the WOW factor!

Niagara on the Lake Wedding at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa

What is the specialty at White Oaks?
Customization. While we do offer theme packages to help kick start the planning process, anything and everything can be customized to suit the desires of our couples. We take great pride in our flexibility.

Talk about trends for the season.
As far as colour goes, we’re seeing lots of Tiffany Blue around White Oaks this wedding season. Mini ‘treats’ are also very popular ... candy stations are all the rage! Tall multi-tier wedding cakes seem to be making a resurgence as well ... some boasting as many as 5 or 7 tiers!

What advice would you give couples investigating your services?
We suggest couples prepare specific questions to ask or a have vision in mind for their day. This helps to give the planner something to work with ... a jumping off point. Also, knowing your needs ... Do you have out of town guests that will require guest rooms? Will you need golf booked? A rehearsal dinner? Any special needs or dietary requests? The more information you can provide the better we can help!

What is the consultation process with your clients?
We’ll respond to a bride and groom’s inquiry and invite them to visit White Oaks for a face to face meeting with our wedding planner! We’ll give them a guided tour of the White Oaks property and discuss and address their needs, wants and overall vision for their wedding day.

During the booking process, everything is confirmed in writing to ensure a clear picture of the day is properly communicated. Referrals for specific vendors like flowers, cakes, entertainment etc. are also discussed.

As the wedding date grows closer, we’ll finalize any last minute details in a subsequent meeting.

Give us some detailed information on the key services provided at White Oaks.
We can host intimate weddings for 10 right up to 450 guests! With our beautiful hotel rooms, spa, amazing fitness club, Royal Niagara golf course and onsite restaurants (LIV and Play Urban Café), there is something for all guests to enjoy over the course of a wedding weekend. Guests of the bride and groom can stay at White Oaks on a special wedding room rate and no one needs to worry about driving home after all the fun! Bring your workout clothes or your tennis racquet and enjoy the gym to work off the wedding cake the next morning! Or treat yourself to a luxurious spa treatment and have a fabulous family breakfast in our award-winning LIV Restaurant!

Our wedding specialist holds your hand throughout the entire process, helping you to make special arrangements with other suppliers, overseeing the set up of your day and ensuring your vision becomes your dream wedding!

What do you wish you could do more often?
We’d love to be more involved in the total wedding celebration experience including engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor and/or bridal party weekends to the rehearsal dinner and brunch the next day!

Talk about Niagara as a ‘destination’ wedding region. What brings your clients to Niagara?
Niagara is known as the wedding capital of the world for many reasons. It’s a very picturesque location ... which our couples are definitely looking for! Accompany this by the many attractions available for their guests ... such as Niagara Falls, local wineries, Shaw Festival Theatre, shopping and golf ... and our proximity to all of these options make for a great weekend getaway for everyone involved in the wedding whether it be the bride, the groom or their family and friends!

Tags: Niagara wedding venues, Niagara on the Lake Wedding Venues, Niagara on the Lake Wedding, Niagara Wine Country Wedding, Niagara wedding reception facilities, White Oaks

Featured Vendor Profiles

Inn On The Twenty: Winery Weddings in the Heart of Niagara’s Wine Country

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles,

Give us three words that best describe Inn On The Twenty.
Vintage. Wedding. Bliss.

What makes Inn On the Twenty stand out from other wedding venues?
Location, Location, Location! The location of the Inn On The Twenty in the quaint little village of Jordan makes it a perfect getaway location for small and large wedding receptions alike. Wedding guests can enjoy suite accommodations at either the renowned Inn On The Twenty (directly across from our reception facilities) or just a four minute walk away at our Jordan Hotel which features an additional 14 tastefully decorated hotel rooms.

Within convenient driving distance from the GTA, guests often make a weekend out of it ... enjoying spa services at the Spa On The Twenty and browsing the many unique boutiques on Main Street. For weddings of any size, the convenience of a venue that offers all services - ceremony, reception, accommodation and pampering - is difficult to resist.

Inn on the Twenty

What is the specialty at Inn On The Twenty?
Exquisite dining in the heart of Niagara using Niagara’s seasonal bounty. Inn On The Twenty was the first regional restaurant to open and introduce the farm-to-table culinary experience. Our talented culinary team works diligently to offer seasonal à la carte menus which pair perfectly with the wines of Cave Spring Cellars. Whether it is a dinner for two in our main dining room or a wedding reception for 100 in our Windows On The Twenty, the culinary expertise is apparent.

Talk about trends for the season.
Winery weddings in the heart of Niagara’s Wine Country! Guests enjoy an outdoor ceremony on the Cave Spring ‘home farm’ followed by an intimate candlelit reception in the ambiance of our century old barrel cellars in our Vintner’s Cellar dining room.

Any night of the week and any season, this dining space transforms beautifully and with access to the original cistern turned wine cellar, the space offers intrigue for all who dine there.

What advice would you give couples investigating your services?
Narrow your list of potential reception locations to 4 or 5 maximum; any more will be overwhelming. Don’t rely too heavily on the venue questions included in your wedding planning booklets. Make sure you have a clear idea of your guest size before searching for a venue.

What is the consultation process with your clients?
When looking for a wedding venue, we recommend contacting our Events department to arrange for an one-on-one site visit of the property, to discuss availability and preferences for your special day. After confirming and securing your date, our couples are introduced to their coordinator who will lead them through the planning stages of their big day! Closer to the event date the couple will be introduced to their Catering Manager who will be their contact for the day of the event.

Give us some detailed information on the key services provided at Inn On The Twenty.
Reception Spaces
Inn On The Twenty has 3 reception spaces suitable for a variety of sizes of wedding.
The Windows On The Twenty seats up to of 140 people with a gorgeous view of the Twenty Valley below! The Vintner’s Cellar Dining room is located downstairs in our actual barrel cellar, seats up to 60 people and is a truly unique ‘wine’ experience!
Our intimate Wine Library is located adjacent to Cave Spring Cellars Winery and provides a maximum seating capacity of 24.

Accommodations
Our flagship Inn On The Twenty offers our guests 27 beautifully and uniquely decorated suites with king size bed, jacuzzi, fireplace and TV. The Jordan House is a contemporary boutique style hotel featuring 14 tastefully decorated rooms offering queen bed, three piece bath and TV.

Dining
The Jordan House Tavern offers two levels of dining in an upscale pub-like atmosphere. Great casual menu offered for lunch and dinner. A perfect spot for a rehearsal dinner for up to 50 people!

Relaxation
Spa On The Twenty is our full service spa facility offering customized aesthetic and massage services incorporating the line of Phytomer products. Wine themed treatments are available. Enjoy a day at the spa with a lovely light lunch in the quiet area or one of our garden spaces. On-site wedding preparation services include hair consultation and make up application.

Tags: Niagara Winery Wedding, Niagara wedding venues, Swish List Member, Inn on the Twenty

Featured Vendor Profiles

Casablanca Winery Inn: Niagara’s Boutique Inn and Wedding Venue

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles,

Located at the western Gateway to Niagara, Casablanca Winery Inn is nestled between the Escarpment and north shores of Lake Ontario. Ideally situated close to endless vineyards, boutique wineries and the best views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Skyline, wedding guests will want to turn a wedding into a weekend getaway!

Give us threes words that best describe Casablanca Winery Inn.
Classic. Warm. Accommodating.

What is Casblanca’s specialty?
Personalized service. We take the time to get to know our
couples, communicate and work with them to create their ideal wedding day experience. We follow with outstanding cuisine and flawless execution of the event.

Any advice for couples investigating your venue for their wedding?
Visit in person with our wedding professionals for a tour of the property. This approach sparks the imagination and simplifies the process. Ask questions. Talk about your wish list and what is most important to you. Explore your options and talk about your true desires!

Enjoying the wedding planning process is possible! The best way to achieve this is by continuing to narrow down what you and your spouse-to-be truly want your day to be like! Follow your heart and ask questions. Our wedding professionals are happy to build custom packages based on your preferences.

Casablanca Winery Inn

What makes Casablanca Winery Inn stand out from the crowd?
First and foremost is our team. We all share the philosophy of offering gracious hospitality without limitations. You will always find a friendly face, ready and willing to assist you. As a boutique property, we are large enough that we can offer a full-range of services and options, but small enough to provide that personal touch. We help to make each wedding as unique as the bride and groom themselves.

At Casablanca, you can relax and focus your attention on your guests’ experience. Our space is already beautiful ... all it needs is your finishing touch! Our priority is top quality dining, comfort and amenities for you and your guests. Our private Ballroom is where you’ll enjoy the your own bar, restrooms and the freedom of not sharing your day with anyone else! Pair that with a one-stop-shop environment and it really is all about you at the Casablanca!

Explain some of the key wedding related services that you provide.
The Casablanca Winery Inn offers 78 beautifully appointed guest rooms and suites, 9000 square feet of banquet and conference space including one of the prettiest ballrooms around!

For an elegant engagement dinner party, our Casablanca Steak and Seafood Restaurant on the top floor of the Inn is a beautiful spot to satisfy your craving for a juicy steak, shrimp cocktail and a glass of Niagara wine.

On our main level, Bogey’s Grillhouse offers a casual atmosphere and a menu with something for everyone. Perhaps a laid-back rehearsal party with thin crust pizza and pitchers of draught is what you’re looking for. Sunday brunch at Bogey’s is a client favourite for bridal and baby showers alike. Host your brunch with sparkling mimosas in one of our two private dining rooms.

Wedding planning goes beyond the ‘Big Day’ ... talk to us about your needs for engagement parties, showers, and farewell breakfasts. We’d be pleased to make that easy for you too!

Tags: Niagara Winery Wedding, Niagara wedding venues, Swish List Member, Casablanca Winery Inn

Featured Vendor Profiles

Vineyard Sweets: Niagara on the Lake Wedding Cake Design

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles, Wedding Cakes + Pastries,

The concept of a wedding cake dates back centuries and, traditionally, cutting the wedding cake is the first task performed by the newly married couple. We chatted with cake artists Ruth Aspinall and Eda Marion of Vineyard Sweets to learn a little more about what makes their work so Swish!

Give us three words that describe Vineyard Sweets.
Professional. Creative. Quality.

What is your specialty?
We specialize in custom wedding cakes, but we also do other event and celebration cakes, cupcakes, cookies and sweet treats!

What makes your wedding cakes so unique?
We concentrate hard on offering both beauty and taste. Too often a wedding cake is pretty to look at, but the taste doesn’t live up to expectations. We pride ourselves on both the beauty and flavour of our work!

Vineyard Sweets: Niagara on the Lake Wedding Cake Design

Any advice for prospective brides investigating your wedding cake services?
Come prepared. Do some homework ... look through magazines or online to have some idea of what you’re looking for. Look at both colour and design. Also, have an idea of what your budget might be ... as realistically as possible.

Talk about your philosophy on ingredients.
We use only fresh ingredients ... and that will never, ever change. No preservatives. No chemicals. We use as much local produce as we can and even make our own preserves using locally grown fruit.

What are some trends for the season?
Colour itself seems to be a trend. In particular, greens and purples were big in 2009. This year more pink and turquoise is showing up.

What inspires you?
Most of our inspiration comes from the bride herself. We spend a lot of time with our brides to get a feel for their personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. – only then will we start working on a design.

What do you love most about the wedding industry?
What we love most is the joy! We are dealing with happy people and it spills over into what we do. We also love working with other talented Niagara wedding vendors. Niagara is a relatively small community and we love our relationships with other wedding industry professionals.

Share your latest fun project!
We recently designed a birthday cake for an actor here in Niagara on the Lake (there’s a picture on our blog). It consisted of a clapboard, stacked film reels and a sculpture of the actor. A real challenge, but so much fun!!!

What music to you listen to while you’re designing in the kitchen?
We run the gamut, depending on our mood. Jazz, pop, opera and even classical!

Tags: Vineyard Sweets, Wedding Cake, Niagara on the Lake Wedding Cake

Featured Vendor Profiles

Simply Beautiful Décor: Niagara Wedding and Event Décor

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles,

Angelica from Simply Beautiful Décor recently gave us a ‘behind the scenes’ view of her wedding and event décor business. We absolutely love getting to know our Swish Vendors and sharing with you what makes them so Swish!

Give us a general overview of Simply Beautiful Décor.
Our showroom is located in Niagara-on-the-Lake and offers an amazing display of our collections, organized by colors and shades. Our setup allows us to present the newest collections and our displays can easily be undressed, allowing brides and/or event planners to play with different samples. Our talented onsite staff can also help to create your amazing look!

Simple Beautiful Décor: Niagara Wedding and Event Décor

What is your specialty?
Wedding and event décor. We love transforming wedding reception venues with drapery, lighting and beautiful linens. Along with fabric décor, we love adding finishing touches in the form of jewels, crystals, ribbons and more! Our full line of accessories is unique to Niagara.

What makes your business stand out?
We have a tremendous passion for décor, fabric and accessories. We love what we do! We’re always striving to ensure that we are Niagara’s leading wedding décor company. Our styles, colors and collections are updated 2-3 times a year and that sets us apart from most traditional linen companies.

What inspires you?
All of our designs are inspired by trends and couture bridal fashions. I absolutely love wedding gowns! I get so many ideas from the fabric, style and intricate detailing.

What advice would you give to brides investigating wedding décor services?
Keep an open mind. The role of a décor designer is to absorb the information clients give us and translate that into our design process. Find a company that can create something so unique that your guests leave with the feeling that they’ve just experienced something extraordinary.

What scenario brings out the best in your work?
Adventurous color schemes really bring out the best in me! I love breaking the traditional looks and setting new trends.

What is the consultation/creative process with your clients?
Most clients come in to see us with a color theme, fabric swatches or pictures of dresses. After reviewing all that has been gathered and presented, we can create a look that will be reflective of the couple’s personal style and personalities.

Share some 2010 wedding décor trends.
Texture, texture and more texture! Linens are layered, more lush and ruffled. Appliqué linens are also hot for 2010. Appliqué linens are generally raised, have a stitched-in floral pattern or are embroidered with jewels in some fashion.

What do you love most about the Niagara wedding industry?
I love that every couple, every wedding, is a different and unique experience. I love being able to draw out the personalities of my clients, both as individuals and as a couple. This helps us to create weddings that reflect who they truly are.

Share your latest fun project ...
Its coming soon ... my youngest sister just got engaged! They’re currently living in Dubai, but they are planning their Niagara wedding for next year. I have been looking forward to this for a while! I know that this will be a fun project because I know them both so well. It will be just so incredible to create a wedding that is truly all about their love, their personalities and their lifestyle.

Tags: Simply Beautiful Decor, Swish List Member, Niagara Wedding and Event D

Featured Vendor Profiles

Vineland Estates Winery: Niagara Wedding Venue Extraordinaire!

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles,

We recently chatted with Diane from Vineland Estates Winery to learn more about this unique Niagara wedding and corporate event venue. Diane has been the Event Coordinator at the winery for past six years and is passionate about the Niagara wedding and event industry.

Give us three words that would best describe Vineland Estates Winery
Picturesque. Intimate. Charming.

Vineland Estates Winery: Niagara Wedding Venue

Tells us a little more about the venue and property!
We host weddings and corporate events in the Carriage House (seating 56) and we can do standing receptions that accommodate up to 75. You can have your wedding ceremony in the Carriage House or outdoors on the property or one of the patios! We do a max of two events a day … lunch and dinner.

We’ll do wine tours and entertain wedding guests between the ceremony and reception. We also have a one room B&B and 3 bedroom guest house available on the property.

We have a great Chef who loves to be creative. If you’re looking for something a little different or themed, Chef can do that for you … he’d love to sit down with you and plan the menu!

The wine is half the fun! Let’s serve 6 - 9 flights of wine with dinner! We’re in Niagara, we’re a winery ... take advantage of that!

What is your specialty?
We don’t have just one ... we have three! Food, wine and service. We take pride in the fact that we offer exceptional service. Our staff are phenomenal! Guests often comment that we’re one step ahead of them … that’s the very definition of service!

What type of event do you wish you could do more of?
Although Vineland Estates Winery is well known as one of the most picturesque and sought after Niagara wedding venues, we are equally equipped to host five-star corporate events! Despite our ‘old-world’ exterior, we’re totally state-of-the-art inside … equipped with a projector, screen and wireless internet. Plus, we offer the whole ‘wine and dine’ experience that follows the meeting. It’s an amazing experience!

What is the consultation process with your prospective clients?
Just come and see the venue … it pretty much speaks for itself! Have a walk around and learn about all that we can offer. Experience the feel of the winery. Let us know your specific needs. We love to be creative and will do everything to make your event special. As cliche as it sounds, we will always say “it’s your day, not ours”.

Tags: Niagara Winery Wedding, Niagara wedding venues, Vineland Estates Winery, Swish List Member

Featured Vendor Profiles

Allure Hair and Makeup - Niagara Mobile Bridal Hair and Makeup Services

Filed Under» Featured Vendor Profiles,

The Swish List recently visited with Jessica and Teresa, the exquisitely talented girls behind Niagara’s mobile bridal hair and makeup service Allure Hair and Makeup.

Give us three words that best describe your business.
Mobile. Hair. Makeup.

What services do you provide?
All bridal party hair and makeup services including trial consultations, extensions and hair accessories, false lashes, Frosting Cosmetics (Allure’s exclusive new makeup line) ... pretty much everything a bride and her attendants would need leading up to and on her wedding day! We also offer Mobile Spa Services, including Spa Manicures and Pedicures, Registered Massage Therapy, Paraffin Treatments, Polish Changes, and Nail Art.

Talk about your philosophy with style and design.
We believe in styling every bride to look and feel her best! We really want our clients to feel comfortable with the style we help her choose. Our goal is to achieve ‘perfect balance’ ... so that the pictures look amazing and our bride feels comfortable, gorgeous and like herself on her wedding day!

Where do you go for inspiration?
Bridal and wedding magazines, seasonal fashion trends, websites and television shows.

Talk about trends for this wedding season.
We’ve noticed that our Niagara brides are having a lot of fun with their hair and makeup! Lots of hair accessories (fascinators, fresh flowers, etc.), mini-veils and false lashes. For makeup, jewel tones are very popular right now.

What makes your business unique?
We’re mobile ... that means we come to you and offer stress-free in home/hotel room service on your wedding day! Not only are we mobile, we are also a team service that offers both wedding hair AND makeup styling services. No need to look for two separate vendors! We also maintain studios and so we can work with our brides ahead of the actual wedding day to help her be more fully prepared (i.e. colour and cutting consultations, esthetic services, etc.).

What advice would you give to people investigating Niagara bridal hair and makeup services?
Be sure to look at a portfolio of work by the stylist .. check out their website. We highly advise a trial consultation so that you can be completely comfortable knowing that you will love your bridal hair and makeup. It’s so important that you trust your stylists ... then we can all be relaxed and the results will be amazing!

What is the consultation/creative process with your clients?
We encourage clients to bring pictures and ideas to their hair and makeup consultation, but we also love giving our creative input into their ideas. Most of our Niagara brides know what look they are looking for, so we get to “experiment” a little more with her bridesmaids!

What scenario brings out the best in your work?
We love brides who share their vision for their wedding day hair and makeup. Discussing desired looks beforehand will ensure that hair and makeup will compliment each other. Alternatively, it’s always a lot of fun when our brides give us free reign and tell us to ‘go for it’!

Most memorable wedding?
We recently had a chance to work with celebrity wedding planner Angelique (of Rich Bride, Poor Bride fame) on a pretty high profile wedding. It was such a great experience and really kept us on our toes. It was good to work at such a high level. Afterward, we received a really nice email from the bride detailing how thrilled she was with our services. There is nothing better than getting a huge thank you after the wedding!

Tags: Swish List Member, Mobile Bridal Hair and Makeup Services, Allure Hair and Makeup