Over 10 years ago, 2 teenagers met while on summer vacation at a campground in Canada with their families.   They instantly became friends, and not long after that, started dating.  After over a decade of growing up together,  falling in love, and building an incredible life together, they decided to make it official in beautiful Victoria, BC!  And I'm thanking my lucky stars, as they chose FKE to bring their day to life, and oh man...it was a good one folks! Taking place at the 2 most iconic venues in the city, Hatley Castle and The Empress Hotel, their wedding vision was grand from the start of the planning, and we pulled out all the stops to bring it to life!  

One of my favourite things about this wedding, was the epic seating chart that we pulled together.  I've had this idea for a few years now, and we were just waiting for the perfect wedding to create it at!  As guests arrived to the ceremony, all of their pics were snapped at a portrait station (thanks Four Frames!) near the entrance to the Castle.  Those photos were then printed and turned into polaroids that we displayed at the couples reception, acting as the guests personalized escort cards!  It was a huge hit, and something that everyonewas blown away by.

The reception space was overflowing with luxurious details and we infused the couples impeccable taste all throughout.  The neutral palette of soft creams, greys & blush tones, helped transform the ballroom setting into a modern day take on the traditional space. The menu, custom designed by The Empress's chef, was served tapa style, inspired by all the couples favourite eats! Ranging from sushi to maui rib sliders, the food was a hit!  And as the lights dimmed, guests partied the night away to Side One's 8 piece band (always a favourite of mine), photo booth, Mojito bar and Popcorn station!

It was definitely a wedding to remember, and for sure the party of the summer!  One of the things I love most about weddings though, is no matter how much planning you do and how many incredible details there are, often the best moments of the day are the unplanned ones.  This was definitely the case for Tiff & Levi.  After dinner, the couple sneaked out with Ryan Flynn and Kismet Creative for some sunset shots down in the harbour.  A band busking in the harbour congratulated the couple, and then asked them what their first dance was.  The song was "Georgia" by Vance Joy, and without skipping a beat, the band began playing it for them, and they had their first dance right then and there, in the harbour, just the 2 of them.  Pure magic!  You can see this gorgeous day unfold below, and make sure to check out the incredible video by Kismet at the top! 

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Ryan Flynn Photographer.  Video courtesy of Kismet Creative.

Planning & Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Ryan Flynn Photography
Videography - Kismet Creative
Ceremony Venue - Hatley Castle
Reception Venue - The Empress
Florals - Verbena Floral Design & Thorn & Thistle
Stationery - Love by Phoebe
Band - Side One
Cake - Passion for Cakes
Linens - Faire la Fete
Hair - Conscious Hair
Makeup - Carly Flint
Photobooth - Four Frames Photo Booth

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• Real Weddings 48

Photo by: The Nickersons

As I sit here writing this, with my 2 week old daughter in my arms (one handed typing is super slow fyi!), I am blown away with how much can change in a year.  2017 was definitely a year of change for me personally, and chugging along beside all that change was a business that I love more than I thought possible, and a crew that is making it possible for me to balance life and work.  This past year, we tore down our house and built a new one, found out we were pregnant (yay!) and welcomed baby Madison into the world, welcomed 2 new planners to the Heyday team, and worked with 11 amazing couples, bringing their dream weddings to life.  It was a big year, and a really really good one.  As I have over the past few years, I thought it would be fun to take a look back over the year that and share with you the highlights.  So, without further adieu, here we go!

The year started off as I like it to...nice and slow...We had a really cold winter in Victoria (which is super rare!), and enjoyed lots of cozy nights in and even a few snow days here and there!  A highlight though was seeing Mica & Nate's wedding featured on SMP here.  If you remember this wedding from last year, you'll remember how special it was, and getting to see it published was such a treat!  

Photo by: AMERIS

Come February, we took our annual trip over to Saltspring Island with some really good friends, and enjoyed 4 days of games, hikes, wine, runs & really really good food.  We also met up with AMERIS in February to take some new team photos for the site.  A whole lot of hilarity ensued (as it usually does with them), and I loved getting to update the site with Paula & Nick added on, as they are both so instrumental to FKE! With the arrival of Spring, weekends were completely filled with meetings, mockups, site visits, and full on prep for the upcoming summer of weddings.  

Photo by: Lauren Kurc Photography

In April, I had the opportunity to team up with some seriously inspiring ladies, and put together a styled shoot that was totally out of my comfort zone.  The results were drop.dead.gorgeous., and I can't wait to share the images with you all very soon!  Stay tuned...  Paula & I also signed up for a Modern Calligraphy class taught by the wickedly talented Kate Campbell, and our obsession with wedding signage grew that much more!  In the middle of the month, Nick & I escaped to the Okanagan with some friends, for the Easter long weekend, for a much needed vacay before the craziness of wedding season began.  And let me tell you all this: the Okanagan is AMAZING!  Go there immediately!  So much delicious wine (obviously!) and food!  And the wineries...so many beautiful spaces!  I would absolutely love to start planning a wedding or 2 there each year, and so I am putting it out into the universe for 2019.  Any couples out there that love wine country as much as me?  Take me with you!

Photo by: Jesse Holland

After a really relaxing Winter & Spring, $*%t got real in May: We tore our house down and found out I was pregnant (all within the same week, just in case you were curious lol!).  Wedding season was just around the corner as well, and our sister company, Heyday, kicked off the season with a stunner at Starling Lane Winery.  This wedding was featured on SMP (woohoo!!).  And at the end of the month, we helped to gather all of our favourite people in the Victoria wedding industry at the annual Meetup.  This time, Toque treated us to an incredible sit down feast, and I honestly don't know how we are going to top it in 2018!  

Photo by: Taylor Roades Photography

Photo by: Ryan Flynn Photography

June kicked off the FKE wedding season, and once it got rolling, there was no stopping until October.  This season was also the season of live music (woohoo!), which is hands down, my favourite part of weddings.  Our first 4 weddings all had bands, which kept the parties going well into the night.  We stayed close to home this year, celebrating at a family farm, an English estate, a winery, and some of the most iconic spots in Victoria (hello Empress!), just to name a few.  In June, I also took the leap, and started to take guitar lessons!  Random, right?!  I've wanted to learn for years, and finding out I was pregnant was the final straw that got me to the music school.  In my mind, I'm going to be able to play like this within a year, but in reality, we all know that is never going to happen lol!  

Photo by: Katrina Massey Photography

Photo by: Amee Nijjar Photography 

In July, Nick & I escaped to Vancouver to see Jack Johnson (#bucketlist), and then also managed to take off to Saltspring Island again for our dating anniversary.  We seriously love that place!  Upon our return, it was back to weddings!  There were some seriously stunning ones this year, and as the galleries come in, I'm reminded how lucky I am to work with such amazing couples, and equally amazing vendors who help me pull off these wicked celebrations! 

Photo by: Blush Photography

Photo by: The Nickersons

August & September took us to another farm, an Inn by the sea, an Island resort, a Castle, and back to the Empress (twice).  I also did a little happy dance when this wedding was published in Real Weddings (#pinchme).  

Photo by: Luke Liable Photography

Photo by: Christine Pienaar Photography

In October, feeling insanely pregnant (hello third trimester!), Nick & I headed off on a baby moon to our absolute favourite place in the world....you guessed it...Maui! Our days were spent debating whether we should go to the beach or pool (tough decisions!), eating a lot of delicious food, and really soaking up the last few moments of it being just the 2 of us.  Upon returning home, life started to move at warp speed. Our house was nearing the finish line, all things baby prep officially took over, and we were so honoured to have an incredible baby bash hosted for us by Laura!  I was also stoked to add Bonnie  to the Heyday team, and made it official with a new team shoot for the Heyday site!

Photo by: Jesse Holland Photography

At the beginning of December, we moved into the house!! Woohoo!!  The timing couldn't have been better, and our incredible builders, Philco Construction, worked their butts off to make sure we were in the house before baby came!  The rest of the month was spent unpacking, settling in, and working as hard as possible on all of our 2018 weddings before baby arrived.  And on December 23rd, our whole life completely changed, with the arrival of Madison Elizabeth Walker.  We are head over heels in love with her, and she has already stolen both of our hearts in a big way.  Basically the best way to end this incredible year, and I have no idea how 2018 is going to top it.  But...I am up for the challenge, and can't wait to see what the new year brings!

Photo by: Tegan McMartin Photography

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• Office Talk 55
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• Real Weddings 48

This wedding is proof that breaking away from the traditional wedding format is sometimes the best thing ever!  When I first met with Robin & Deandra, it was obvious that a typical wedding day was not their thing. They wanted a no fuss, relaxed and authentic celebration, to take place in the afternoon surrounded by an intimate group of family and friends.  And that is exactly what they got!  Robin, a hockey player from the Czech Republic, spent most of their engagement living in Europe, and so the couple really put their trust in our team to create their dream day while they remained fairly hands off.  And let me tell you....when you have a Bride & Groom that has complete trust in their vendors with their vision, the results can be extraordinary!  I loved every minute of working with this couple & their family (big shout out to Elaine, the Mother of the Bride, who quickly became one of my favourite Mom's of the season!), and loved every bit of their wedding day.

Taking place at the beautiful Starling Lane Winery, and surrounded by just their closest family & friends, the wedding of Deandra & Robin was a special one. Guests were treated to a modern garden party, filled with great music, creative comfort food, and fun games.  The word "raw" was in our minds while designing the florals with FLEURtacious, and boho design touches helped the day feel grounded, un-fussy and true to the couple. The spring palette of blushes, peaches & blues were infused throughout the textiles and florals, and the stunning garden setting provided the perfect backdrop for great conversation and mingling.

One of the highlights of the day, was the non-stop live music provided by Noah Edwards & his band.  Their folk sound provided the most perfect atmosphere for the day, and even had guests dancing by the late afternoon in the gardens.  And the food stations, created by Toque Catering, were a HUGE hit!  I mean...gourmet pizza, sliders & milkshakes?  Can you get any more fun?!!  The afternoon activities flowed seamlessly into one another, allowing the couple to celebrate with everyone as well as truly enjoy the day together!  It was perfect!

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Brett Reid Photography.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Brett Reid Photography
Venue - Starling Lane Winery
Catering - Toque Catering
Floral Design - FLEURtacious
Lounge - Bash Specialty
Linens - Faire la Fete
Hair & Makeup - Erin Bradley
Cake - Ruth & Dean
Music - Noah Edwards
Signage - Emma Allen Design

• FKE Featured 24
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• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48

Ok folks.  I am so, so, SO excited to share this one with you.  I've been holding on to it for way too long, as we had some publication hopes for it, but it is just too good to wait any longer!  This wedding had all of the key ingredients to make it incredible: beautiful couple, gorgeous venues, A-team of vendors, and a palette that has me craving a big glass of Sangria! Ok.  So now on to the details...

Roslyn & Luke’s whimsical summer wedding took place ocean side, on a hot and glorious day in the summer of 2015, and oh was it lovely!  Working with this adorable couple was an absolute dream, and their fun, quirky personalities paired with the drop dead gorgeous backdrop of the PNW, was the perfect recipe for wedding perfection.  The day was overflowing with whimsical and romantic details, fun elements and elegant touches.  The Bride’s parents home played host to the ceremony, and was the dream location to share their i-do’s!  The couple met at University down in the States, and so many of the friends and family of the Groom, were travelling to this beautiful part of the world for the first time.  One of my favourite parts of their wedding, was how we incorporated their dog into so many aspects of the day.  From the invitation and day of goods, to even a special floral dog collar…Milo was the centre of attention!  The stunning florals, designed by our good friend, Verbena Floral Design, also took centre stage, and wowed the guests from start to finish.  

The colour palette, inspired by Roslyn’s (and mine!) favourite summer drink, Sangria, was filled with rich plums, magenta’s, orange and peach.  The bouquets popped beautifully against the grey bridesmaids dresses, and the rest of the florals complimented the lighter blush tones throughout.  The invitations and paper goods, all custom designed by Caribou Creative., were illustrations of the couple and their dog.  And the large painting that hung above the fireplace at the reception, a surprise to the couple from Verbena & myself, helped to create a really cozy and intimate feel in the dining room.  This was such a beautiful and fun celebration, and one that we won’t soon forget!  

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of AMERIS, and video courtesy of Orriss Films.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - AMERIS
Videography - Orriss Films
Floral Design - Verbena Floral Design
Paper Goods - Caribou Creative
Ceremony Venue - Private Property
Ceremony Catering - Toque Catering
Reception Venue & Catering - Brentwood Bay Resort
Hair - Conscious Hair
Makeup - Erin Bradley
Cakes - Schur to Please
Specialty Furniture - Bash Specialty

• FKE Featured 24
• FKE Living 7
• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48

If you asked me to sum up Heather & Gaven's wedding in one word, it would hands down, without a doubt, have to be FUN!  This beautiful young couple (& their wedding party) was filled with an abundance of energy, and the celebratory mood of the day was not lost on any one of the guests.  The wedding was overflowing with southern charm (Heather hails from Oklahoma) and a west coast ease (Gaven is from Victoria), and highlighted the couples fun loving nature to a tee.  

After meeting in University down in Oklahoma, and falling head over heels in love, Heather & Gaven first met with me in the summer of 2015.   The combination of Hatley Castle & The Beach House for their wedding venues allowed them to have the best of both worlds, Glamour & West Coast beauty, and I loved working with them on designing their dream day.  Heather L O V E S pink, and pretty soon, we realized we had an un-official "50 shades of pink" theme running through the wedding.  Subtle pink ombre touches, through the bridesmaids bouquets, reception tables, and paper goods, made their appearance, and modern elegant touches kept the design feeling sophisticated.  The beautiful images, captured by the wickedly talented Luke Liable, are oozing with the energy that was present that day, and they still put a huge smile on my face!

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Luke Liable Photography, and video courtesy of Paper Heart Films. 

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Luke Liable Photography
Videography - Paper Heart Films
Ceremony Venue - Hatley Castle
Reception Venue - The Beach House
Floral Design - Verbena Floral Design
Beauty - Erin Bradley
Cake - Passion for Cakes
Ceremony Music - Opus String Trio
DJ - DJ Pro

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• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48

It has been just over a year now since the launch of our sister company, Heyday Events, and I am STOKED to be finally sharing a bit more about it over here on the blog!  If you are in the wedding industry on Vancouver Island, you may have heard about Heyday, and we are all so appreciative of the amazing support that this wonderful community has given us so far!  I thought it was about time though that I introduced Heyday formally, and shared with you what it is all about!

Photo by: Jesse Holland Photography

Heyday Events is a "Day-of Coordination" specialty company, meaning "day-of" is all that it does, and it does it right!  Day of Coordination is an invaluable planning service that has been around for a long long time, but its title is often very misleading. Day of Coordination is so much more than help on just the day.  A day-of coordinator typically becomes involved in the planning 1-2 months prior, helping the couple tie up any loose ends, put together timelines, and take on final confirmations with the vendors.  It is the perfect service for those couples who are super excited to take on the planning themselves, but don't want to "work" their wedding.  Or, for those couples who really see the value in having a professional on the day, but don't have the budget for a full service planner.  

Photo by: The Best Men

From 2010 - 2015, Day-of Coordination was a service that we offered at FKE, and we loved being able to help couples bring all their hard work and planning to life!  In 2015 I decided to remove this service from FKE and focus solely on a Full Service/luxury planning experience for our couples.  I see such value and importance in a really good Day-Of service though, and wanted to continue to offer that to couples in BC, hence the idea of Heyday was born!  A company that would become known for stellar day-of coordination, and would also be a place for planners to learn, grow and become even more involved in the wedding industry.  The team of "heyday makers" that we have is absolutely incredible, and all of the planners come from a great background in events.  It has been such a pleasure working with them, providing guidance when needed, and seeing them work alongside some wickedly cool couples!  Last season, we tested the waters (success!), and this upcoming wedding season, we are going full force!  We have a lot of awesome weddings lined up for Heyday, and still have some weekends available this summer.  SO.... if you, or someone you know, needs a bit of extra help pulling things together, or is at the point of wedding planning where they realize that yes, it IS a good idea to have a planner, check out Heyday Events, and give the girls a shout!  

Photo by: Sabrina Patrice Photography

Photo by: The Best Men

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• Office Talk 55
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• Real Weddings 48

Last week, we were "shout it from the roof tops" excited to finally get to share this dreamy elopement from last May, on Grey Likes Weddings!  Oozing in Texan charm, and overflowing with romance, moody florals, and a couple ridiculously in love, this wedding was what a wedding planner's dreams are made of!  

Catherine first reached out to me in the beginning of March, with her vision of a simple and romantic elopement on the west coast.  Based out of Austin, Texas, Catherine & Patricio decided to skip a large wedding (400+) and instead keep the day as authentic to them as possible.  Working with them was seriously a dream, as their impeccable taste and trust in me (thank you C&P!!!), made my job as easy as can be! 

We drew inspiration from the historic setting at The Empress, as well as their love of vintage poetry, to create a warm, intimate and lush space for this very special occasion.  Surrounded by only their closest family (13 guests total), the days focus was on the coming together of the 2 families, and the celebration of the new adventure that they were about to embark on.  The details throughout were filled with beauty, and perfectly curated to represent their love for one another, and the darker colour palette of marsala, peach, rose & garnet, suited The Library room beautifully.  Music, an incredibly important part of both families, played a central role.  And just before dinner, the Eryn Sharpe Trio entertained the guests, while they all danced, laughed and celebrated the newlyweds!  It was truly magical to witness!!

And the florals...can we just stop for a second and talk about those florals?  Verbena Floral Design absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one!  The mantle place was the focal point of the entire design concept, and my jaw still hits the floor whenever I look at it! Both Best Bouquet & Best Overall Florals at the BC Wedding Awards were awarded to this wedding, and we couldn't agree more!  I could seriously go on for days and days about this wedding, but I think I'll let the beautiful images do the rest....enjoy. xo

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of Taylor Roades.

Planning/Design - French Kiss Events
Photography - Taylor Roades Photography
Videography - Paper Heart Films
Floral Design - Verbena Floral Design 
Venue/Catering - The Fairmont Empress
Hair/Makeup - Erin Bradley
Paper Goods - Caribou Creative
Rentals - White Events Studio
Ceremony Music - Opus String Trio
Reception Music - Eryn Sharpe Trio

• FKE Featured 24
• FKE Living 7
• Office Talk 55
• Planning Tips 13
• Real Weddings 48

Happy Friday everyone!!!  It's been a ridiculously cold week here in Victoria, but the weather man says that this cold spell we've been having is about to end (sort of...), and so I've decided that is worth celebrating with a cocktail tonight!  Since the new year, we have been full on design mode, and 2017 inspiration has been oozing out from everywhere. Some new trends are definitely appearing, and we are finding ourselves drawn to some new things, which is always fun.  Here are just a few of the things that are currently inspiring us.

Patterned Napkins
Textiles are a beautiful way to add personality to a tablescape, and a patterned napkin feels fresh and unexpected.  

Source: BRIDES

Source: Style Me Pretty

Modern Bouquets
We are still as obsessed as ever with organic styled bouquets, but these modern, clean lined and elegant bouquets had us at hello.  Sophistication at its best.

Source: Hey Gorgeous Events

Source: Style Me Pretty

Blue
Pantone may have dubbed green the colour of the year (which we will not argue with), but one hue has become a stand out for our 2017 weddings: Blue.  It's everywhere, and whether via textiles, glassware, or styling accents, we can't get enough!

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: MODwedding

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• Office Talk 55
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• Real Weddings 48

Confession time: This wedding is from a year and a half ago.  Which basically just proves how far behind I let the blog get this past year.  Eek!  It has been on my list of ones to share for a while now though, and I am stoked to finally be doing so!  Kiki & Brad were married in May, 2015, on a beautiful sunny Spring day, at Starling Lane Winery (one of our favourite spots in the city).  After finding us on Instagram, this very trusting and lovely couple passed over the design reigns, and I am so glad that they did!  Getting to work with couples on the design is one of our absolute favourite things, and when they give us full creative license, it becomes even more fun!  

After discovering Kiki's love for Anthropology, we got started with the design.  We took inspiration from the French countryside, and the romantic, yet natural entertaining style found throughout quaint villages.  We created an atmosphere that was relaxed yet vey chic, and fused pretty floral details, elegant high-end furnishings, and the dreamy season of Spring, to create a unique and fresh look.  Fresh fruit overflowed at the reception, and an insanely gorgeous palette of navy, pink, peach, pink, blush & champagne was highlighted throughout the florals.   

Thank you Kiki & Brad for putting all your trust in us, and inviting us to be a part of your beautiful celebration!  

**Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the complete list of all the kick ass vendors that helped make this day so incredible!  All photos courtesy of EA Photo.

Design - Barb Walker, French Kiss Events
Day of Coordination - Marika Beise, French Kiss Events
Photography - EA Photo
Floral Design - Clare Monica Day
Hair - Conscious Hair
Makeup - Jen Clark
Furniture Rentals - Bash Specialty
Paper Goods - French Kiss Events
DJ - DJ Pro, Liam Biggs
 

• FKE Featured 24
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• Office Talk 55
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• Real Weddings 48

This month the festive parties and snow are definitely inspiring our admiration for luxurious textiles and dreaming of far away tropical places. Without further ado here are this month's currently inspired by items.

Velvet Textiles
I am loving this timeless classic lately. Velvet is such a subtle texture, but makes a bold impact and dresses up any room.

Source: The Decorista

Source: Southern Weddings

Minimalist Signage
Sometimes less is more! And I am digging this simple and modern look on signage.

Source: Nouba

Source: mywedding

Tropical Eclectic
So, this one may have to do with our undying love of Hawaii, or the fact that we’ve been hit with a winter blast the past couple of weeks that is super rare.  Either way, the eclectic surfer/tropical design vibes have been hitting me hard lately.

Source: Wedding Chicks

Source: My Domaine

The Rainbow Effect
If done properly this look is so stunning! Whether it's as simple as multicoloured glassware or as bold as different chair colours, we are loving this effect (not to mention the velvet chairs here too...) 

Source: 100 Layer Cake

Source: Wedding Chicks