DIY Project: Turn carnations into peonies

Oh beautiful peonies! These gorgeous flowers are definately one of my favourites, but you will only find them in the late spring or early summer and the blooms only last for about a week! How can such a pretty flower last only a week?! If you love this flower as much as I do and want to see it in your late summer or fall wedding, I have the solution for you!
The English Rose will often be your florist's recommendation as peonies become less available. But if you are looking for a budget-friendly solution, carnations can also pass for peonies in a wedding bouquet or in a simple vase for a quick and pretty decoration at home. Here's the full tutorial to turn your inexpensive carnations into fuller looking flowers that ressemble the coveted peonies.

Ilsée + Jesse | Real Wedding

A rustic chic wedding in Sacacomie,Qc.

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A year ago, my dear friends Ilsée and Jesse, from Montreal, were tying the knot in front of one of the most majestuous backdrops Quebec can offer: Sacacomie. It is on a rustic wooden terrace overlooking luscious mountains and the grandiose Sacacomie lakes that the couple said 'I do'. Maybe it's because they are high school sweethearts, or maybe it's the breathtaking views of Sacacomie, one thing is sure, we couldn't help but shed a tear at the sight of these two love birds exchanging their heartfelt wedding vows on this magnificent day!

Ilsee and Jesse's rustic chic wedding was as sweet as it gets. The couple chose a lovely palette of peach and grey as their wedding colors and integrated some personalized DIY projects into their day: Welcome table frames, Peach marmalade as wedding favors, custom bracelets for the bridesmaids and finally the names of each of their tables was the word 'LOVE' in all the languages spoken by their wedding guests, which they engraved into little cedar signs to go with their rustic theme. 

On their 1 year anniversary, I wish Ilsée and Jesse a life filled with peachy moments and lovely adventures. May you always look back at this day and say: 'I love you more today than yesterday'.
Happy Anniversary!
Love, Bella xox

Photography: Roger at Ambient Wedding Photography | Floral Design: Benjamina Flowers | Wedding Dress: Boutique J'adore | Makeup: Vicki Bourbonnais | Hair: ColorTown Coiffure | Venue decor: Décoralium | Engagement Ring and Wedding ring: Bijoux Marsan | Bridesmaids Dresses:  Boutique J'adore  | Groom and groomsmen attire: Moores | Wedding Band: Bellande Montour | Ceremony/Reception Venue: Hôtel Sacacomie 

Awesome Bridesmaids and Groomsmen gifts under $55

Friends and family are a big part of your wedding day. Your girls will wipe your tears when you have too much on your shoulders and will do their best to throw you a memorable bachelorette party. The same goes for the groomsmen who will keep the groom relaxed the day of and will give him a tap in the back when his eyes get teary when he sees his bride walking down the aisle... It goes without saying that your wedding party does a lot for the two of you before and on the big day. So how can you say THANK YOU without breaking the bank?
On my last trip to one of my favourite stores (INDIGO) I noticed that these guys have put a series of awesome (and cheap) gifts that make perfect bridal party gifts. Here are my favourite items, all under $55, for both the bridesmaids and groomsmen (the hubby gave me his stamp of approval for the guys gifts - so we are good!)
The beauty with Chapters/Indigo is that you can order everything online, so if you have a large bridal party, this makes things much easier, especially for a bride with a busy schedule and many to-do's on her list...

Let me know below if you plan to gift your wedding party and the kind of gifts your had in mind, I would love to know :)

Bridesmaids Gifts under $50 (listed clockwise): 

Essie Bridal Collection CONTEST

Since you got that ring on your finger how many times have you caught yourself staring at your hands? What if you could accompany that bling with some pretty bridal digits? Would you say yes? I bet you would! This is why I am happy to host this amazing contest from Essie Canada who want to share their love for weddings with all brides-to-be. I will be giving away 5 bridal collection sets every week for 5 weeks! Don't miss this chance to bring bridal beauty to your fingertips :)

Essie Bridal Collection - CONTEST

2014 Wedding Trends

Oh May... the month when all things beautiful come back to life and also the month that sets off the wedding season! A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to attend Wedding Bells & Mariage Quebec's special breakfast presentation in Montreal, where, surrounded by local florists and wedding vendors alike, we learned about the most popular trends of 2014, which I will be showing you my favourites below.

You will notice that this year, all things bridal have gone back to basics. Cakes are un-iced, bouquets are organic, brides sport natural make-up and flowers in their hair and there's even a touch of a bohemian vibe in the air. The 2014 wedding trends definitely celebrate the beauty of nature in its most authentic form.
I must say, I LIKE!

But when looking at these photos, don't think: "Oh gosh I need to follow all these trends to have a cool wedding!" Not at all! You wedding is YOUR DAY, and it must be a reflection of who you are as a couple. Follow your heart and fall in love with every decision you take; whether you are choosing your cake design or your groom's sock color. Trends are there to guide and inspire you, so have fun with it.

Let me know in the comments below which of these wedding trends are your favourite and which one(s) you would like to see at your wedding.

The little white dress: Perfect to show off those pretty shoes you picked up!

Radiant orchid - Pantone color of the year: a vibrant marriage between pink and purple.
(see more of this trend here: 2014 wedding color palettes)

Naked cakes: Crowned with roses and peonies, this cake is a statement of its own.

Flowers and tiaras: Whatever you choose, accesorize that hairdo!

Add a few succulents to your bridal bouquet and other flower arrangements for an organic feel.

Make your something blue, SOMEONE in blue!

Blush is everywhere! This color adds softness and femininity to anything it touches.
From bridal dresses to stationary, will you be a blushing bride?

Carnival themed wedding: kissing booth, cotton candy, lemonade, balloons, family and friends.
What more can a girl ask for?!

Photos credit: Pinterest

Follow us on Pinterest here: She Said Oui on Pinterest

TwoBirds Bridesmaid opens in Montreal

If you are getting married this summer or fall, you probably already found your wedding dress and are patiently waiting for it to arrive. But while you wait, you have another important task at hand, finding a bridesmaid dress that will complement your wedding style, be flattering on every single one of your bridesmaids and most importantly, one that your girls will want to wear again and again so they don't see the purchase of the dress like an expense, but rather like a fashionable acquisition. The solution has arrived to Montreal and it's called: Twobirds Bridesmaid dresses!

David Dixon White label at World Mastercard Fashion Week

Much to my delight, David Dixon decided to debut his bridal collection, White Label, instead of presenting a fall/winter 2014 collection at the World Mastercard Fashion Week taking place in Toronto last week. The show started with a beautiful video filled with testimonials of love and heartwarming quotes. As stated in this clip, Love never fails … and David Dixon’s designs didn’t fail to impress. 

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The quest for the perfect engagement ring – An exclusive interview with Maison Birks

When it comes to picking an engagement ring, so many emotions and thoughts come to mind. Will I love it 5 years from now? (or if you are a guy reading this: will she say yes when she sees the ring?) Should I go for more carats or clarity? What cut is the most beautiful?

There is such a large selection of cuts, settings and colours of engagement rings out there that making a clear decision can be a real challenge. I had the opportunity to meet with Canada’s premier jeweller, Maison Birks, and asked them all the questions you would want answered when searching for the perfect ring!

Birks Square Phillips platinum emerald-cut / Birks Pure Desire Yellow diamond pavé

Top 10 Romantic movies for Valentine's Day

With your big day on the horizon, you and your fiancé may be looking for simple ideas to celebrate this Valentine's Day together. But low-key doesn't necessarily mean unromantic! 

As a big fan of Hollywood love stories and a hopeless romantic myself: I put together a list of my Top 10 (I promise you'll cry) romantic movies. Paired with a couple ideas to set the mood, this February 14th, enjoy a movie marathon night snuggled up on your couch with your honey. Happy Valentine's Day!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO SET THE MOOD:

1. Popcorn (Make it yummier with this caramel popcorn recipe) 
2. A bottle of wine or bubbly
3. A big blanket
4. A few scented candles
5. A kleenex box

TOP 10 MOST ROMANTIC MOVIES:

Descriptions and ratings by IMDb

#1: 

The Note Book (2004) 

A poor and passionate young man falls in love with a rich young woman and gives her a sense of freedom. They soon are separated by their social differences. 8.0/10

Wedding Color Palettes 2014: Radiant Orchid

One of the first things you should check off your wedding-planning list is picking your wedding colors and style. Although it may be hard to make a decision, you should make your final choice no later than 6-8 months prior to your wedding. Remember that many details on your wedding day will include your colors and therefore, you will not be able to move forward without making this important decision.

But I get it! You may love 3 different colors that don't go well together or maybe your favourite color doesn't mix well with your venue. To add on to that, you may spend hours on Pinterest pinning all sorts of things with different color schemes... At the end of the day, you may find yourself overwhelmed with so many options.

Enters Pantone, to save the day! Every year, they launch a color that sets the trends for the new year.
If you like pinks and purples, you will be happy to know that the Pantone Color of 2014 is Radiant Orchid, a beautiful encounter between fuchsia and purple. It is definitely a color suited for a wedding, whether in the spring, summer or fall. Check out my 4 different color combos, pin them and tell me which one you like best below!

Photos: Pinterest   

2014 Essentials for Brides

Happy 2014 beautiful brides!

I wanted to start the year by sharing with you some of my favourite items to help you embrace your time as a bride-to-be. Getting-hitched is not an easy process and it can be quite stressful at times, but in the preparation to this day, you get to pamper yourself and pick pretty girly things to beautify your world so that you look and feel absolutely gorgeous on your wedding day!