Columbine Rainbowwand
Author: Becky Newhook
Michelle’s Grower Direct might be new to Bridal Fantasy but we are not new to the wedding world. Our team had a fantastic first show in Calgary. It was a lot of fun to interact with brides and find out what they are looking for in the 2012-2013 wedding seasons. We are finding brides are looking for simple yet elegant bouquets for their special day and the biggest hit was the bling that we placed in and around the arrangements; definitely a show stopper. The fashion show was the biggest highlight and we heard great things from the brides that found us after. All our arrangements were fresh and big for the special day and you noticed that!
We have been designing and working with brides for close to 20 years. Brides continue to come to us based on our great price points and ability to work within the budget - high or low. To celebrate our first time with Bridal Fantasy we want to extend a 15% discount for all brides that book their flowers through us. We give a free consultation, which includes discount offers from other wedding vendors that we love and trust. Come check us out and start your wedding planning on budget with our team that cares about YOU and your very special day!
All Photos Courtesy of Michelle’s Growers Direct
Address: 4041 Macleod Trail Phone: 403-423-3388 E-mail: weddings@michellesgrowerdirect.com
Feather Elfwand
Author: Brittany Foster
Date nights aren’t just about spending money and going out. They are about filling in the parts of your relationship that get overlooked while you are both living out your daily routines. Try and figure out what you would like more of in your relationship, and base your date around that.
For the couple that spends too much time at work try a date night in. Grab a bottle of wine, light some candles, throw in a movie, and share a plate of dessert. Relax and unwind together in your own home. You need one on one time to connect with each other and to enjoy some time in your own territory.
For the couple who never finds the time to go out, make an effort. Try a comedy club or go to a local bar and listen to some live music. The social setting will allow you to enjoy your time together without worrying about the broken dishwasher or the laundry that’s sitting in the dryer. Let go of your household woes for an evening and make a rule to not talk about anything stressful.
For the outdoorsy couple, try out a hike that you haven’t been on before. Have a picnic in a park or take your dogs somewhere new. Spend a day enjoying nature with each other, explore your surroundings and take your time. Try to learn something new from each other while you’re at it.
If you and your spouse enjoy the “nerdy” things life has to offer, try a multiplayer game. Get some munchies and throw on some comfy clothes. Not everything has to be about sex appeal, and I speak from experience when I say it’s hard to wield a controller when you’re in a dress. If you don’t have any two player games for a console, try out a board game. They’re still popular, and there are some good ones out there. If that isn’t what you’re looking for, try out a museum or science center.
The most important thing about date night is spending time together in a setting you both appreciate. It should be about finding a way to connect that will allow you to become closer and maintain your relationship. Be creative and explore both of your interests.
Thorn Yewtree
A love relationship demands great ‘maintenance’ from both partners. It is not that effort is required only to improve a relationship. Effort is necessary even to maintain the relationship in status quo!
The common understanding is that love changes after the dating period and affection is on a decline. Why does it happen this way? The answer is actually very simple. The love and affection seem to be on a decline because the efforts put in are on a decline. In the dating phase, both partners go out of their way to keep the other happy and smiling and the efforts usually pay off. The promise of such happiness draws them both into solemn marital vows. Marriage is more often than not, the objective of the dating game and once it is achieved, there seem to be other objectives that occupy the partners and the relationship is left to languish.
And when this is brought to their notice, the excuses are almost clichéd. One does not have time for the relationship and one wonders as to what is the necessity of ‘maintenance’ when the partner already knows of his/her love. But this logic does not work. When one needs to keep aside regular time and energy for earning one’s daily bread, one needs to do the same to earn food for the soul - love - also. What finally matters is not how big a place you own in the bowels of earth but how big a place you have in the hearts of people.
Once the basic physical necessities are met, fulfillment comes for a person only emotionally and spiritually. When one works so much for physical and material comfort, how much more should one work for mental, emotional and spiritual fulfillment? And this kind of emotional and spiritual fulfillment arises only out of love. All things material come and go one day; it is only love that has the capacity to come and grow! Love is what makes the world go round. It is the most essential in your world too - whatever or wherever it may be.
And so, if one is really interested in investing for the future, one must invest in love and nurture a relationship. Here are some tips that will help.
1. Pay attention to what your partner likes. Learn his/her deepest desires and aspirations. See how each one can help the other in achieving the same.
2. If you cannot agree on everything, agree to disagree! Since the opinions and feelings can vary, the journey may get a bit longer with detours. That should not deter you for you will have company of your beloved in your journey and will never have to walk in life alone.
3. Learn to love unconditionally. Basically this means your love should be free from expectation. Do not do anything for your beloved with the aim of receiving the same. The very act should be its fruit!
4. Spend quality time with your partner. This means that you give yourself completely to him/her during that time. Keep aside work, worries, career and friends for that time. This shows that you value him/her.
5. Your partner may have some traits that you dislike or positively hate. Let not this dislike for the traits become a dislike for the partner. Learn to objectively separate the traits from the person.
6. Take decisions together. Show that you value the relationship. It is as important as actually valuing the relationship!
7. Do not think that since everything is known, you need not be expressive. Show your passion and love for your partner.
Like a plant that needs watering and care, sapling of love too needs attention and effort. Of course, once it grows, the effort needed will be less but still even the mightiest of trees need water, soil and protection. Let the seed of love grow into a mighty relationship tree. The fruits will only bring you more love!
Author: Rebecca Jones
Bio: Rebecca is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on Wireless Router Technology. Beside this she is fond of Gucci Wallets. These days she is busy in writing an article on Wedding Centerpiece Ideas.
Hazel Goblindancer
As I am sure all you brides-to-be are aware we have our Bridal Fantasy Edmonton: The Bridal Show Everyone Is Talking About is fast approaching (January 22, 2012). Doors open at 9:30am!
This year Marks 30 years in Alberta for us and we cannot wait! We have our celebrity keynote speaker Renee Strauss and Kevin Lee from Slice TV’s “Brides of Beverly Hills” coming in. Not to mention we are giving away over $100,000 in prizes! And Molson Canadian 67 & 67 Sublime are the official Fashion Show Sponsors giving away a few prizes of their own, keep an eye out for their Extreme Team. One of many amazing prize that will be won is a 9 night getaway to Fiji! Fiji is absolutely breathtaking; and is valued at over $5000! This beautiful trip is being brought to you by Farlie Travel, Aussie Travel and Air Pacific be sure to stop by their booth.
Some other great prizes that will also be given away are:
One Groom’s free rental and Three Groomsmen rentals ($1000) Courtesy of Derks Formals & Menswear
All-inclusive trip for Two to Mexico or the Caribbean ($3000) Courtesy of Flight Centre
A One-Hour Game Show Package for your Rehearsal Dinner Party ($1500) Courtesy of Hear by Request
A Brianna - Fresh Start Queen Size Mattress Set and Frame ($1999) Courtesy of Mattress Mattress
Outdoor Photo-shoot and Ten Images of Your Choice ($1100) Courtesy of McMasters Photographers
Free Wedding DJ Services ($1199) Courtesy of Platinum DJ
Wedding Gown ($1000) Courtesy of Sposabella
All brides that attend our show will receive a copy of 2012 Bridal Fantasy Magazine, 2012 Wedding Planner and of course our Brides Coupon.
Tickets are $20 available at the door. Don’t forget to print off your Registration Form ahead of time!
For a full list of our Featured Exhibitors click here.
Keep your eye out on our Social Media Outlets for the latest Sweepstakes Info! Being brought to you by Lexus of Edmonton, Thomas Cook Weddings, Molson Canadian 67, UNIGlobe Travel (Love in London) and Bridal Debut (FREE - Alfred Sung Gown).
Columbine Goblinfilter
On December 23, 2011 I finally got married. After months of planning, drama, and stress, it’s over. It went perfectly, even better than we thought that it would. The ceremony was beautiful, the dinner delicious, and the guests entertaining and supportive. The schedule that I had been working on for weeks was followed exactly, to my surprise.
After the ceremony I expected to feel like a wife. I thought there would be some sort of feeling of relief, or a ‘walking on the clouds’ sort of atmosphere. Instead, I feel exactly the same as always. It makes sense, seeing as we have been living together for 5 years, we bought a house together, and have been raising three animals for 4 years. There’s not much difference in being a wife compared to a fiancé or girlfriend. Perhaps it would have been different if we had gone on a honeymoon.
Since the wedding I have had to decide if I am going to change my last name to my husband’s. At this point, I have decided to keep my maiden name the way it is. Perhaps one day I will change it, when we have kids or it gets too complicated to have different names, but I am proud of my name and I’m not ready to give it up.
The best part of the wedding was the dinner afterwards. We had an intimate dinner of 10 people in a private room. It was cozy and everyone was happy. The food was great, our hostess was amazing, and there were smiles all around. It was great to sit at the same table as everyone else and to be able to enjoy all of them at the same time. It was the first time that Kyle’s mother met mine and it was wonderful to see our two families together.
The worst part was that it was my last night with my mom in Alberta. She left of December 24th, and we are very close. It broke my heart knowing that she had to leave, but I have a little sister in Ontario who needed her over Christmas more than I did. It was hard to take her to the airport the next morning, but she made such a difference in my wedding that I am just glad she came, even if only for a few days. She remembered things like painting my toenails, getting sparkly things for my hair, she did my make-up and hair, and she took on a good amount of responsibility to help me out. It wouldn’t have been the same without her, and even though I rolled my eyes at her insistence that I wear lipstick and satin shoes, I am glad that she made me do it.
Unfortunately there is still a touch of drama surrounding our wedding and our choices, but it was exactly what we wanted and we couldn’t have asked for more. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and wouldn’t have changed a thing. Now all I have to do is get used to saying ‘husband’.
