WEDDING NEWS & UPDATES: FREE WEDDING DRESSES

Let The Vlogging Begin!

Yup... it's true... I'm vlogging now!

Check out my first vlog and check back for regular updates from Tuesday to Friday each week.

Leave your comments and questions below.

Sophie

Coverall Featured in Eco-Beautiful Weddings!

Hi Everyone,

I'm very excited to announce that one of our fabulous weddings has been featured in the Summer 2010 Issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings. Darlene and Tobin's wedding was an eco-filled day with beautiful, socially-responsible touches at every turn.

I'll be giving more details on this spectacular event when I post the wedding in our Real Weddings Section but for now you can get a sneak peak by checking out the latest issue of Eco-Beautiful Weddings HERE!

You'll find Darlene & Tobin's wedding starting on page 43.

Yours,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

The Best Email Follow-up System

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!

Okay... failed attempt at trying to make the blahdie-blah, gloomy-looking day a little brighter. It's still yucky out. And I feel yucky on top of it all so it doesn't help.

Nevertheless, I have cheerful news. Okay... cheerful wasn't the right word there either. Man I wish I was still in bed... (looking off into distance).

*Snap*

Okay, I'm back. Seriously though, I have something very fun to share with you today. I've already posted this handy little tidbit on the Something Blue Blog but since I know that none of you are reading it (that's right... I'm keeping track) I thought I'd share it here too.

The concept -- very simple: basically, this email follow-up system is completely free and it's designed to give you a quick and easy way to stay on top of your tasks. When you're planning a wedding this is especially important. You're constantly emailing caterers, photographers, planners, and vendors of all kinds. And then there's the emails you're sending out all those volunteers; and um, you're not paying them so they may or may not get back to you. These people include your wedding party, MC, the flower girl's mom... you get the picture.

FollowUpThen.com has created a simple way to follow-up on emails you send out. If you know how to send an email you can use this system... it's as simple as that! Even my grandmother knows how to send email; heck, I think my grandmother had a Facebook account before I did (Hi Gramma!)... but I digress.

Anywho... where was I?

Darn this gloomy day... it's got me in a fog.

Right... FollowUpThen.com. As I was saying, it's really simple to use. Here's the CliffNotes version:

1. To have a follow-up email sent to you only enter the time{at}followupthen.com in the BCC field (note the bold for emphasis) and you'll receive an email at that time (example: 2days@followupthen.com).

2. To have the follow-up sent to you and everyone else listed in the "To" field just enter the time{at}followupthen.com in the CC field.

Easy enough right? For full details you can check out the FollowUpThen site here.

And no, this is not a sponsored post -- this is something that I stumbled upon (not literally... but you know what I mean) and I've been using it myself for a few weeks. It's really great and I definitely recommend it... no strings attached.

Alrighty then... that's my little tip-of-the-day. Back to dreaming about my bed...



Ha! Okay... back to work.

You too!!

Happy Planning!

Sophie

Sayeka & Baj: Engagement Photos with Julie Butler Photography

I just love Julie's photo shoot with our wonderful couple Sayeka and Baj. Aren't these two gorgeous! Looking forward to the beautiful wedding and more great photos from Julie. You have to go to Julie's blog to see just how STUNNING this shoot turned out.

Yours,

Sophie

Something Blue: Free Wedding Workbook

Some of you may have noticed that I've been a little absent lately (I'm afraid to look at my last post date). I've been busy working on my newest venture and I'm VERY excited to announce that, at last, it's ready for it's big reveal!

Something Blue is a free printable wedding workbook and it's been customized by city and state/province to make your planning experience even better. The workbook guides you through a ten-step planning process to help you prioritize and stay on track. This planner is designed for couples who want to plan their own wedding - but I still recommend hiring a planner to take care of your day-of coordination needs (the book can only do so much, after all).

You can download your free planner here: www.somethingblueworkbook.com. I'd love to get your thoughts and feedback. You can send them to me at feedback@somethingblueworkbook.com. Enjoy!

Now that that's launched I'll be back to posting on a more regular basis. Whew!

Happy Planning!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Thirst Relief International: Grace Ormonde Benefit Shoot

According to UNICEF more than 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water. That's 1 in 6 people on the planet! Statistically, there is 1 death every 15 seconds caused by water-borne illness; 90% of those deaths are children under the age of 5.

Thirst Relief International is a water development organization founded by wedding photographer, Jim Davis-Hicks. In August of 2009 Thirst Relief teamed up with Grace Ormonde, several designers, and 15 U.S. wedding photographers to create one of the most beautiful wedding gown shoots I've ever seen.

All of the gowns, which each contained a touch of blue, were designed specifically for the Tanzania shoot. You can check out some of the photographer's photos from the trip here. For photos from the shoot check out the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Grace Ormonde.

Visit the Thirst Relief website for information on how to donate. What a wonderful "In Lieu of Favours" gift this could be for your wedding!

Happy Planning!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Resolutions For 2010: Healthier Lifestyle

Happy New Year's Day!!!

Given that it's January 1st I thought I'd post another resolution. And isn't this always one of our resolutions? It's probably because there's always more we can do to be just a little more healthy. Most of us drink too much coffee, ingest too much salt and sugar, and don't get enough exercise.

In 2009 I became a vegetarian which has made a surprising difference in the way I feel. I initially became a vegetarian because I'm out to save the world (or at least that's what I'm told) but it turns out that I've felt a hundred times better since making the switch. I have more energy, I feel satisfied but not full after a meal, and I've lost weight. Christmas killed me a bit after receiving a whole cupboard worth of chocolates and treats... once that's gone I'll get back on track! Ha ha!

I used to be in really great shape but after two kids this body just isn't what it used to be. For Christmas I got a Wii Fit system so now I'm adding a daily routine of running, hula hooping, Yoga, and other random activities to my schedule. It also means that I'm getting up earlier so that no one can see how ridiculous I look flailing around on the balance board. I'm not sure if this will make a huge difference in my fitness but I've had friends who swear by it and I've definitely been a little sore since I started using it.

What are you doing to improve your health and fitness in 2010? Perhaps you're looking to tone up or shed some pounds before your wedding. Feel free to share your tips!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Resolutions For 2010: Less Stuff

I'm not one to make resolutions come New Years. I can't even remember the last time I put a resolution on paper.

This year, I have a few things that I'm really committed to working on for 2010. One of those things is reducing my consumption and my reliance on "stuff". I've already made some big changes to this end but there's always room to do better. For example, I love my Tim Horton's coffees and when I'm on the road all day for meetings and such I'll often buy two or three and I rarely remember to bring my travel mug along. I think I'll start leaving a cup in my car.

My motivation for this resolution came from "The Story of Stuff". It's an enlightening 20-minute film and I hope you'll check it out.



If this film interests you, you may also be interested in the book "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping" by Judith Levine.

What sorts of resolutions are you making for 2010?

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Ottawa's Wedding Gown Consigment Store

December has become gown month on the Coverall blog! I've had two posts on wedding gowns in as many weeks. I wonder what will come about next...

This week I want to let you know that Ottawa FINALLY has a wedding gown consignment store!! White Haute Bridal is now accepting dresses from past brides (by appointment only) and opens its doors to new brides in January.

The store offers a selection of once loved and never worn dresses at a fraction of the original sale price. All dresses are dry-cleaned and restored to like new condition.

Personally, I love consignment stores for their eco-friendly qualities. Imagine if half of all wedding gowns were purchased on consignment and if every new wedding gown was sold on consignment once used. The impact in terms of materials and chemicals used and the transportation required to get new dresses out to the market would be significantly reduced. (John Lennon's Imagine comes to mind, ha ha).

My dreams of a more socially responsible planet aside, this is a fantastic way for new brides to save some money on their wedding gowns and for newlywed brides to make a bit of money on their once loved dresses. You'll want to call to make your appointment soon as I'm sure White Haute's calendar will be packed in no time!

You can check out the White Haute Bridal website here.

Happy Planning!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

The Breast Dress Project

There are so many fundraising organizations out there looking to get their hands on your money. While each of these groups is out to serve a good cause, with the economy being what it is these days donating your dollars may not be a realistic option.

The Breast Dress Project is an initiative that was launched this past November. What's so fantastic about this program is that you don't have to dig into your pockets and spend money that you wouldn't have spent otherwise in order to help. The fundraising structure is pretty straightforward:

1. The Breast Dress Project collects gently used dresses from brides whose weddings have come and gone. This frees up a bit of space in their closets for new stuff AND supports a great cause;

2. TBDP then sells the dresses to future brides-to-be who want to look fabulous on their wedding day AND support a great cause; and

3. Then TBDP donates the proceeds from the purchased dresses to support breast cancer research.

Jamie Johnston, one of the project's co-founders, is fighting a personal battle with breast cancer right now. Your support will help to arm her, and millions like her, with the right tools to fight back and beat this for good.

The organization's website is under construction but you can check out their Facebook page here. If you have a dress you want to donate or if you'd like more information on The Breast Dress Project you can contact Jamie Johnston at 613-723-5755 / jamie@groovylinen.com.

I also invite any of you who have your own blogs to post about this project and help spread the word.

Your amigo in this fight for a better world,

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Ottawa Wedding Planners Gathering

I'm doing a bit of a lazy post today... okay, a SUPER lazy post today. I just wanted to give a shout-out to all of the local Ottawa WPIC Planners who came out last Saturday for our little get-together at Fat Tuesdays.

It was a great night filled with lots of chatting and great ideas flowing. It was wonderful to see everyone and I'm looking forward to some of the collaboration that was discussed over the course of the evening. More to come on that later.

And... here's where the super lazy part comes in. My very good friend, Lynn Lee from Weddings Unveiled, already posted a picture from the evening and listed everyone who was there. So rather than regurgitate Lynn's post I'll just send you there. Here's the link. (THANKS LYNN! xoxo!! lol).

And now back to work on my last wedding of the season which is coming up this weekend. Today's main focus: getting the hundreds of votive candles into holders and packed up.

Have a marvelous weekend everyone!

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

The Bridal Expo 2009

Hi Everybody!

I know I've been a little MIA lately. I came down with a horrible flu and I've been working around the clock getting last minute details together for The Bridal Expo.

Now the show is done and the flu is gone and I'm back (like it or not, ha ha).

This year was the second year of The Bridal Expo which is a unique bridal show for Cornwall's modern bride. The majority of my weddings take place in Ottawa and surrounding area but I still work very closely with the Cornwall market and I use the show as a method of showcasing the city's very best wedding vendors.

Cindy put together a great table setting for the Coverall booth this year.

After the success of last year's show we moved to a larger venue (the Cornwall Civic Complex), designed a brand new website (www.thebridalexpo.ca), and made improvements to just about every aspect of the show. As a result, the show was a huge success again this year and we're looking forward to many more successful shows in the future.

For a list of the year's exhibitors check out the Exhibitors section of the show website. You can also view more images from the show on The Bridal Expo Facebook page.

Cheers!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

The Bridal Expo: A Show for Cornwall's Modern Bride

Your Wedding Reception or Anniversary Celebration on TV!

Hello Everybody!

I just found out about this great opportunity being offered by Mountain Road Productions that could get you and your party on TV!

Ottawa's new gourment vegetarian restaurant, Zen Kitchen, will be the subject of a new television series called 'The Restaurant Adventures of Caroline and Dave' which will air on the W Network in January 2010.

The show is searching for participants to host a small wedding reception or anniversary party at the venue which is to be aired on one of the series' episode's. The restaurant can hold 36 for such an event - so if you have a party coming up in the next couple of months and might be interested in this fun opportunity be sure to get in touch with Sonja Osberg by email, or phone: 613-237-4447.

Let me know if you're chosen! I can't wait to watch!!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

New Service! Production Schedule Creation

We've been working on our Information Package for 2010 for a few months now. We've made a few minor adjustments to the package; but today I wanted to let you know about one of the bigger changes we've made.


Starting in 2010 we will be offering a new wedding planning service: Production Schedule Creation. The service is designed for the couple who really need the professional touch of a Wedding Planner on the wedding day but can't afford to hire one, or perhaps, can't justify the cost because they have so many reliable volunteers who are willing to lend a hand on the wedding day.


With this package I will personally create a wedding day production schedule that you can use to manage the flow of your day by delegating tasks to the family and friends you have at your disposal.


This service is not the same as hiring a planner, of course, as the production schedule does not account for unexpected delays or any of the other little things that always seem to pop up over the course of the day. However, it's better than worrying about whether or not someone thought to grab the programs while you're getting your hair done.



Here's an overview of the service:

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE CREATION

Initial Telephone Discussion: This meeting is held to help determine your needs and to discuss your initial thoughts on the flow of the day.

Wedding Details Form: Following our initial discussion you will be sent a Wedding Details Form to complete. Once we’ve received the completed form we will complete a draft production schedule which will be sent to you to use as a guideline during the planning meeting. When compiling the schedule we take into account driving times, persons available, tasks to be completed, and any potential scheduling conflicts or “dead times” that have to be addressed.

Telephone Planning Meeting: During the planning meeting we review all of the details for the day as well as all the persons tasked with each item. We use this meeting to address any issues and to ensure that everything is clear and flows as it should.

Final Schedules: Once complete, will provide you with a copy of the final schedule. We will also provide six personalized schedules; one for each of the wedding party, the MC, the DJ, the Photographer, the Officiant, and the Caterer. You can then send these schedules to everyone involved. We recommend sending the final schedule out to your key players no later than one full week prior to the wedding day.

Schedule Review for Rehearsal: If your Officiant will not be attending the wedding rehearsal we will set up a time to review the ceremony schedule with the person to whom you have delegated with this task.



For more information on this service please contact me at info@coverallevents.com.



Happy Planning!



Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Happy Birthday Cindy!

Tuesday was Cindy's birthday and I thought that this would be a great opportunity to really introduce her to everyone. The first thing you should know, in case you hadn't figured it out already, is that Cindy and I are sisters.

Cindy joined the Coverall Event Coordination team nearly a year ago. Bringing her on board was a bit of a no-brainer for me. Since we were kids Cindy has had a phenomenal way of making friends and really making people feel special. People's first impressions of Cindy have always been that she is warm, friendly, and really fun (While I, on the other hand, was always mistaken for a snob growing up. But that was just because I was REALLY shy! Anyway, we're not talking about me today).


Cindy is also a "super-mom"; she actually made all of her daughter's baby food from scratch! I tried to do that once... and only once.

Since joining the team Cindy has proven herself to be a huge asset and has been such an enormous help to me personally. Over the past year our business has more than tripled and on top of that I had to slow down for a bit after having a baby in June. Cindy's had to take on some extra work along the way and she's been a real pro through it all.

Here are some things you should know about Cindy:


Tim Hortons or Starbucks?
Starbucks because of the complexity of the beverages.


What are you known for?
Loudness! I'm the one you'll always hear over everybody else. (I come from a BIG family; you had to be loud if you wanted to be heard).


What is your favourite word?
Excellent (lately anyway). It's the word of the week - no particular reason, it's the first word that popped out of my mouth; it sounds good and flows well, so let's use it. Next week, who knows...


If the whole world were listening, what would you say?
*I cried at this question??* I'd say: "Let's work together to make this a better place for our future - we seem to be meaner than we used to be, we seem to be less caring of ourselves, our neighbours, and our planet. We need to work together to make this a better place for our children to live."


If one song were to describe your life, what song would it be?
"So Small" Carrie Underwood- the song says it all.

"Don't worry about things that you have no control over, because you have no
control over them. Don't worry about things that you have control over, because
you have control over them."

~ Mickey Rivers ~

If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
IKEA. Need I say more?


What song best describes you when you first wake up in the morning?
"I don't wanna work, I just wanna stay in my bed all day..."


What do you love most about weddings?
The father to daughter speech and dance. It gives a chance for everyone to see what a wonderful relationship a father and daughter have. Oh, heck, I just like to cry.

The Bridal Expo Cornwall 2009

The Bridal Expo is a unique concept in Cornwall. The show is geared at the modern bride; but who is the "modern bride" anyway?

Well... here are a few tips for recognizing her: The modern bride is the bride who is taking control of her wedding (instead of handing the reigns over to her mother or mother-in-law); the modern bride is a do-it-yourselfer and has her hands in at least one creative project for her wedding; the modern bride is budget-conscious because she works and she's contributing a big chunk of her own money into her wedding; and the modern bride doesn't have time to mess around - she wants the best of everything she can afford and she has little time to find it all.

Do any of these descriptions sound like you?

This show is geared at helping brides set a path for their wedding to create the best possible event that they can with the resources at their disposal. The show boasts a roster of the Cornwall's top wedding vendors who you can interview and book at your leisure (this will cut back on much of the research time you would have spent on your wedding). But this isn't where the show is unique - the show is truly unique in it's presentations and seminars. This is where you'll have a chance to learn a bit of DIY info to really put you in the best possible shape to take on the planning ahead.

So keep your calendar open for Sunday, November 8 and ask a friend to keep her day free as well (or hey, you could take your fiance). Doors open at 12-noon.

For more information check out The Bridal Expo Website and Register today!

Cheers,

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

50% OFF WEDDING GOWNS AT MIDNIGHT CONFETTI!!

As many of you already know, the Seaway International Bridge which connects Cornwall to Akwesasne and Massena was shut down for about six weeks. I'm not going to get into the politics of that now but I did want to let everyone know about a fantastic sale that's come about as a result.

Midnight Confetti Bridal Boutique, which is located in Akwesasne, was closed for the duration or the bridge dispute. This week they are open for business and are kicking off their re-opening with a HUGE liquidation sale. Every in-stock item has been marked down 50% or MORE!!! If you're looking for a wedding gown you have to check out Midnight Confetti first.

Check out the website here (but don't linger too long... you'll want to get to the store to check out the stock first-hand). The store is located at 167 International Road, Unit # 3 Peace Tree Mall, Cornwall Island (613) 932-2828.

Are you still reading this? C'mon... get out of here! Those dresses are going to go FAST!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

Go Wedding Mapper Go

We announced Wedding Mapper's great new site back in April when it first came out - now, with only two months under its belt, the site has really come into it's own with tons of local information on Ottawa vendors, venues, Real Weddings and really great reviews! Newlywed couples are passing along their wedding experiences and new couples are reaping the benefits.

Similar sites exist but I haven't found one as well-organized and easy to navigate as this one. I think that all of you Weddingbells brides would really appreciate this site.

I can't wait to see how much this site grows over the next year. It is quickly becoming the ultimate wedding resource for local brides.

And for all you brides in other cities, don't feel left out! Wedding Mapper covers all kinds of cities all over Canada and the US. Even my Cornwall couples can benefit. You won't find as much activity as you will in the Ottawa section, but trust me... what you will find is better than anything else there is online for Cornwall couples.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the site (especially if you're already using other wedding planning sites to do your wedding research). How do you like the new Wedding Mapper?

Sophie
Coverall Event Coordination

Coverall Welcomes Baby Khori!

So with a full month since my last post I feel I owe a bit of an explanation for my absence. My family and I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our second daughter who was due on May 17th. Every day seemed like it could be "the day" but Khori was quite happy right where she was.

Finally, after waiting more than two weeks past her due date, Miss Khori decided it was time to make her grand entrance... and what an entrance it was. Once this girl was ready there was no stopping her. With only three and a half hours of labour we only barely made it to the hospital in time and Khori was born at 6:37PM on Monday, June 1, 2009.

It's been a fantastic ride and we're all settling in nicely with our newest addition.

Thanks to everyone who have sent their well-wishes and kind words!

Sophie