Toronto Wedding Planner - Distinct Occasions

The Problem With Pantone

distinctoccasions — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:52:46 +0000

Branding your business, like “branding” (aka personalizing) your wedding, will ultimately involve choosing colours to fit your style, your personality, your vision. Colour, or in true Graphic Designer speak Pantone, is a personal choice. We all have personal reactions to certain colours and are drawn to them for very different, very personal reasons.

Most couples don’t think about colour theory or the impact of colour on their guests experience. We think of it in terms of a choice based on personal preference or even our surroundings. Let’s dig deeper and really think about how colour affects us all… so before you go pulling paint chips or consulting your very own pantone chart consider this little bit of colour theory!

Here is some very basic colour theory courtesy of squidoo.com:

Blue: trustworthy, dependable, committed
Green: soothing, relaxing, offers a sense of renewal/self control
Yellow: mentally stimulating, activates memory, encourages communication
Orange: stimulates activity, stimulates appetite, encourages socialization
Red: increases enthusiasm, encourages action/confidence, provides a sense of protection from fears
Purple: uplifting, calming, a sense of spiritualism, encourages creativity
Brown: stability, reliability, approachability
White: aids mental clarity, encourages the clearing of clutter/obstacles, enables fresh beginnings
Grey: timeless, practical, solid
Black: authorative, powerful, evokes a sense of potential and possibility

So, what colour is your wedding? How will your guests feel from your choice of colour?

Happy Planning & Beautiful Design,
Crystal Adair-Benning

A Song To Build a Life To…

distinctoccasions — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:21:55 +0000

As many of you faithful blog readers know, I was recently in both California & Scotland for business… searching out the hottest suppliers, trends, and products to make your wedding a true showpiece of your love and affection for one another.

This whole experience got me thinking tho… beyond the trends, as humans we naturally live our lives to a soundtrack – happy, sad, funny or common ground – music makes our very own personal soundtracks to our lives. So, it only stands to reason, that you'd want a beautiful and fitting soundtrack to your marriage. What would you choose?

I'm Yours – Jason Mraz
Love Story – Taylor Swift
Always on your Side – Sheryl Crowe
Into The Mystic – Van Morrison
Once In a Lifetime – Keith Urban
The One – Oh Susanna
Suddenly I See – KT Tunstall
Do You Remember – Jack Johnson

Live your life's soundtrack… whatever it may be…

Congratulations!

Breana & Tyler’s Pro Pics from Ambient Studios

distinctoccasions — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:18:00 +0000

Breana & Tyler’s beautiful nuptials were captured just stunningly by their Photographers, Trevor & Larissa at Ambient Studios!

To see more of this beautiful wedding check out: http://www.ambientstudios.ca/blog/blog4.php/2008/10/17/september-20th-breana-aamp-tyler

Luxurious Inspiration for Wedding Planners & Brides! Part 2!

distinctoccasions — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:28:00 +0000

I couldn’t choose just a few shots so I had to fill another post today about the fantastic luxury inspiration event from Monday evening. Decor & Florals were custom designed and created by yours truly, Daniela Perri from D&D Floral Design and Anna Brandes of Have a Seat. Catering by Seventh Heaven Fine Catering, Gowns by Lisa Van Hattem, Entertainment courtesy Michael Coombs at Prodigy Entertainment and Photography courtesy of Judy Cormier at Elementz of Foto.

Get prepared for the eye candy… all images courtesy Judy Cormier from Elementz of Foto!

Inspiration Investigation: Scotland

distinctoccasions — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:06:00 +0000

The buzz word on my brain at this time of year is always ‘inspiration’! As a Wedding Designer & Planner, I want to offer my clients unique takes on everything from florals to linens, cuisine to favors, invitations to attire. I want to have you fall in love, not only with each other, but with your wedding. Your day should be your own personal love affair with exquisite design, interesting focal points, unique entertainment, bold choices balanced with elegance and grace.

So, in my quest to always bring you bigger, better and even more romance I am headed to Scotland, UK for a week of blissful inspiration sourcing… checking out what’s hot in attire, floral design, photography, favors, entertainment and more. My trip will take me to designer boutiques, fellow Planners and even a tour of some of the most incredible art galleries and hidden shopping districts this island country has to offer.

I will be away from the office November 11-20th and will have very limited access to email/phone during my stay. Email will be most convenient and quickest to respond to during this time.

Be prepared for even more inspiration when I return…

Happy Planning!

ABC Conference

distinctoccasions — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:53:00 +0000

Distinct Occasions will be out of office from Nov 8-11, 2008 at the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC) ‘California Couture’ conference in Newport Beach, California.

The conference is inspiring to us giving us new ideas, treats and inspiration for you, our clients!

I will have limited access to email (and even more limited access to phone). Please do leave a message and I will promptly reply upon my return!

Happy Planning!

What’s New at White Toronto!

distinctoccasions — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:55:00 +0000

If you’ve never had the sheer joy of visiting White in Toronto’s illustrious Yorkville neighbourhood you’re truly missing out on the experience of a lifetime. Andrea and her wedding fashionista team can put together a bridal look that’ll not only dazzle but stun even the most snobbish of wedding conniseurs.

Located at 19 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto this beautiful 3-story boutique offers brides a very personal and private experience in shopping for their gown. Feast on delectables from Toronto’s Churchill Fine Gourmet Sweets while trying on the latest couture styles to find the dress that’s just perfect for you.

If I were getting married all over again I’d want to visit this shop to be not a princess but a Queen, if only for a day. Try out your very own love story as you slip into a couture Monique Lhuiller, Oscar de la Renta or even Thread gown. Luxuriate over bridesmaids gowns in the loft featuring enough colours and styles to wow even the pickiest of ladies and sweeten your eyes with the delightful and soul-warming images on the walls by Christophe Stroube, a truly talents and up-and-coming Photography genius.

Looking for a gown to die for? Visit heaven in Yorkville… White.

http://www.whitetoronto.com/

Luxurious Inspiration for Wedding Planners & Brides! Part 1!

distinctoccasions — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:46:06 +0000

Monday was an evening of luxurious inspiration as Distinct Occasions proudly hosted over 60 Wedding Planners at downtown’s 130 West Event Centre! The event brought together established, new and student Planners interested in taking their clients events from wow to WOW! With luxury vendors on-hand to teach this informational and educational seminar and to inspire some of THE MOST luxurious weddings Toronto has ever seen!

My Motto: Luxury should be for every bride, at every price point, in every wedding, surrounding us daily.

Thank you again to our vendors:

Crystal Adair-Benning – Distinct Occasions

Jason Robins – Seventh Heaven Fine Catering

Daniela Perri – D&D Floral Designs

Anna Brandes – Have a Seat

Lisa Van Hattem – Lisa Van Hattem Custom Gowns

Michael Coombs – Prodigy Entertainment

Judy Cormier – Elements of Foto

Enjoy these images of what I believe to be true luxury… all images courtesy Elementz of Foto.

Stay tuned for more wedding eye candy early next week!

Style Me Pretty: Little Black Book! We’ve Been Added!

distinctoccasions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:11:59 +0000

If you’re looking for the best of the best when it comes to style, grace and unique elements… look no further than online Blog, Style Me Pretty by Abby Larson. This Blog is a holy grail of wedding ideas from stationary to cakes, decor to dining and of course Planning!

Today, Distinct Occasions was honoured with being asked to join their very prestigious Little Black Book of Vendors for Toronto Wedding Planning. The book only includes the 3 top vendors in any category within any city and we’re delighted to have achieved such an honour!

Stylemepretty.com’s Little Black Book is an online guide to the most innovative and unique designers, planners and bridal industry professionals… we’re in great company!

So, if you haven’t already checked it out… www.stylemepretty.com

Teaching at George Brown College

distinctoccasions — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:29:32 +0000

This past week I had the great honour of being guest lecturer to a Wedding Planner course at George Brown College. The night proved fun and lively with ancedotes and fun talk over Preferred Suppliers and how to choose and use the very best in the city (and beyond)! I had a great time talking about why I work with my Preferred Vendors in the city, what makes them exceptional and why that makes my clients nuptials exceptional!

The class of twenty-six students are well on their way to becoming the next up-and-comers in the city, and I was honoured to share my insight and advice on their climb to the top!