Weddingbells 30th Anniversary

There's something so special and exciting about buying your first bridal magazine as a fiancée... No need to secretly hide in the corner of an Indigo bookstore, you can now openly enjoy flipping and tagging the pages that inspire you. I still remember when I got my very first Weddingbells magazine in the summer of 2011... I sat down on my couch and devoured it from cover to cover, reading every word and admiring every picture. 

This year, Weddingbells is celebrating 30 years as the premier source of inspiration for Canadian couples tying the knot. I had the honor of celebrating this milestone with them at the Design Exchange in Toronto. The night was filled with grandiose surprises. Some of my favourites were the giant Weddingbells marquee letters by Event Graffiti, the extraordinary sweets table displaying a selection of 30 macaron flavors from Bonnie Gordon College and finally the amazing aerial performance and latin dance show. Believe me when I say, it was spectacular!

WMCFW | My Favorites from Toronto Fashion Week F/W 2015

"Love what you do. Do what you Love"

This quote has been in my head for a couple of weeks now, and it's exactly how I feel when my day job takes me to exciting places, such as backstage at World MasterCard Fashion Week. This was my 5th season backstage and definitely one of my favorites, so I thought I would present to you my ultimate favourite beauty and fashion looks to inspire your fall/winter 2015 wedding. 

Timeless. Elegant. Feminine.

3 words to describe my 3 favorite shows at Toronto Fashion Week: Farley Chatto, Narces and Mikael D. From elaborate braids, bold red lips to lace and cut-out dresses, these 3 designers really left their mark on the runway and left me wanting more. Here's what I took away from each of these fabulous shows.

Farley Chatto

This beauty look created by Redken Canada and Maybelline Canada was without a doubt my favorite of all. This braided low bun paired with a matte scarlet lip, perfect eyebrows and black eyeliner is both romantic and timeless, everything you want for your wedding shots. 

Farley Chatto was inspired by royalty's refined beauty and style when creating this fur collection that is nothing less than princess-worthy - all you need is a pair of glass slippers!

NARCES

This beautiful collection wowed me with its charming yet sexy pieces. Dresses ranged from short to long and the designer smartly played with lace, fun prints and see-through fabrics. My favourite piece from this collection was a delicate lace jumpsuit paired with a birdcage veil - the perfect look for the modern bride. To complete this glamorous collection, the beauty team enhance the "femme fatale" allure of the Narces woman with a sleek black eyeliner and cherry-coloured lips. Deep side-swept curls delicately finished this old Hollywood look to a tee. 

MIKAEL D

And finally, the piece of resistance, the epitome of elegance: Mikael D. This designer truly knows how to make a woman's dream come true with his astonishing dresses. Inspired by the Japonese grace and beauty, his Fall/Winter 2015 collection, was filled with sumptuous black and red lace, sexy cut-outs and modern high-low lengths. His collection also showcased gorgeous flower appliqués, like the incredible wedding dress below, which was a pure master piece and a delight for the eyes.

Brides: Take inspiration from this collection and opt for a less traditional lace and look for  a piece that plays with textures, cut-outs and 3 dimensional appliqués. Dare to wear a high-low dress and show off your wedding shoes on the dance floor. To complete this Mikael D runway look, pick a high updo that will showcase your features and make you appear taller and svelte.

Et voilà! I hope you were inspired by these amazing designers and beauty experts. Let me know what designers or trends have inspired you with your choice of dress and bridal beauty look for your big day.

I'm  leaving you with a few photos of me being silly just outside the tents. What a fun week this was! Sending you much love,

Bella

xox

Pre-Wedding beauty treatments in Toronto

A few months ago, the hubby and I moved our lives from Montreal to Toronto, and we're slowly discovering new places and becoming regulars at our favorite spots. Today, I'm introducing you to one of my new discoveries: The Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris. This Moroccan hidden gem is located on the 5th floor of the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Toronto.

When you walk into the spa, everything, from decor to scents, transport you into an exotic world where you are the cherished princess. The staff is very welcoming and the ambiance is calm and relaxing. Truly the place to escape from all the hustle of this hectic city.

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