The last few days of sunshine has me dreaming about summer! While we wait for summer to officially arrive, please enjoy some photos and memories from Spencer and Erin's wedding last June. A few fun memories:
​

• The ceremony with a champagne toast. The wedding took place at a winery (where Erin works on the weekends!). It was only fitting to have a champagne toast DURING the ceremony, featuring delicious Singletree wine. 
• The details. Erin spent a great deal of time compiling the decor for her wedding. There were mismatched brass candlesticks and brass pieces throughout the reception that Erin sourced herself at thrift shops and on bidding sites. Erin even took the time to spray paint mini dinosaurs gold to match the decor (Spencer loves dinosaurs!).
• The food. The couple both really value good food so they provided an extensive buffet for dinner and desserts plus a crepe bar. So delicious! 

And now, enjoy some photos of the day! 

Caterer: Austin Gourmet
Day-Of Coordinator: Jodi Marie Events
DJ: In the Mix
Hair/Makeup: Salon Cardeiro
Photographer: Amy Teixiera
Rentals (Arbor, Signing Table and Assorted Furniture): Past Pieces
Rentals (Dance Floor, Heaters, Hightop Tables): Confetti Party Rentals
Rentals (Wooden Tables): Woodpecker Tables
Rentals (Tent): Phoenix Tent Rentals
Rentals (Washroom): Full Moon Rentals
​Venue: Singletree Winery
Videographer: Michael Holbrook

Pre-warning: this wedding means a lot to me as it involves dear friends of ours. My husband, Nic, and I met Colin in Bible College. Colin and I were in the same music program which my husband transferred into in our second semester. The moment Nic met Colin, they were instant best friends. They bonded over music and were even in a band together. Their friendship has remained strong even as life has shifted over the years. It was so exciting when Colin and Jessica met, as we could instantly tell that they were and are a great fit for each other. I was so honoured when they asked me to coordinate their wedding, and I loved being with them through the whole planning process. A few special moments from their October wedding:
​

• Family involvement. My husband was the best man and our son was the ring bearer (fulfilling my not-so-secret wish of my son being a ring bearer at one point in his life). Scroll down for photos of that cuteness. My husband is the groomsmen with glasses and our son is the blonde ring bearer. 
• Friend and family support. A team of friends and family members offered their help as we flipped the room from the ceremony space to reception space. All I had to do was direct people and ensure it was being setup the way that Colin and Jessica wanted it setup. It all happened SO fast because of their amazing friends and family.
• The custom details. Colin and Jessica are both extremely artistically inclined. Colin is a talented vocalist and musician and Jessica is a fantastic artist (drawing, painting, embroidery, photography,... you name it, she's good at it). Their wedding was full of special details: hand painted, designed and written stationary, tartan fabric on the head table and the wedding favours, and a unique unicorn backdrop (did you know that unicorns are the national animal for Scotland?!). 
  
  

I could go on and on about everything I loved about this wedding, but for now I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Caterer: Columbia Catering
Day-Of Coordinator: Jodi Marie Events
Florals: Floral Support
Makeup Artist: Dear Darling
Photographer (First Look -> Bride/Groom Reception Entrance): Brenna Louise
Photographer (Getting Ready + Reception): Natahsha Priya
​Venue: Murrayville Hall

Did you know that Jodi Marie Events offers decor setup and takedown services? Well, we do! I loved having the opportunity to setup and takedown the decor for Jordan and Emily's wedding. Everything was so beautiful (and well organized thanks to Jordan's talented mom)! Please enjoy some photos from this special day:

It's been a year since this couple was married (so basically, about time I shared some photos from their wedding day). Josh and Naomi met while Naomi was doing some traveling, in South Africa (which is where Josh is from). They fell in love and the rest is history! It was so special to be part of their wedding day at the beautiful Hive Events in New Westminster. The whole day felt like a joining of two families and I have many special memories from the wedding:

• The relaxed cocktail-style reception. It was the perfect way for everyone to mingle and get to know one another, especially since it is unlikely that that group of people will be in the same room again in the near future.
• The honour given to their families and friends. The wedding was absolutely a time to thank family and friends for their love and support. Josh and Naomi even prepared handwritten thank-you notes for each person who attended their wedding, which was such a thoughtful gesture. 
• The live music. Josh and Naomi are surrounded by so many talented musicians, who were featured throughout the ceremony and reception. I loved how unique and beautiful the music was. 

Now that you have a bit of background on the couple, it is time to enjoy some gorgeous photos from their wedding day. Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

Day-Of Coordinator: Jodi Marie Events
Hairstylist: Tiffany Fortune Hair
Photographer: Johnny Lui and Valerie Hsu
​Venue: Hive Events

And just like that, Josh and Kizzie's one year anniversary is upon us (December 30th to be exact)! Their day was lovely with the weather staying mild enough for the wedding party to take some fun outdoor shots. I can't wait to share some photos from their December wedding, but first here are some memories!

• The decor. The "theme" of the wedding was loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. The decor touches that Kizzie chose fit the theme perfectly without being over-the-top (scroll down to check them out). 
• The dancing. My goodness, I had no idea how talented of a dancer Kizzie was (and Josh too, for that matter). Their first dance was nothing short of perfection! As a surprise, Kizzie even choreographed a dance with her bridesmaids for Josh and the guests to enjoy. It was truly amazing!
• The honour. A beloved family member of Josh's was unable to attend the wedding, and the honour given to his memory was incredible. As someone whose family member was battling a serious illness at the time, it impacted me in a deep way. Josh and Kizzie found a way to make their wedding day positive and upbeat, while creating space for remembering someone so special to them both (*cue tears*). 

It was a gift to be chosen to coordinate Josh and Kizzie's special day. Please enjoy some photos from their wedding! 

Cake/Cupcakes: Once Upon A Treat Bakery (the bride's company!)
Day-Of Coordinator: Jodi Marie Events
Decorator: Chair Decor
Florals: Niki Trading
Hairstylist/Makeup: The Love Team
Limo: Luxury Life Limo
Photobooth: Lucky Booth
Photographer: Miranda Harvey Photography
​Venue (Ceremony): Sts. Peter & Paul Parish
Venue (Reception): Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier
​Videographer: Bernie Hipos Wedding Films

Oh goodness, it's been a liiiittle while since I've blogged last. There's a few reasons for that! 

1. It was my busiest wedding season yet! Nearly every weekend was booked from mid-June through till mid-October (with weddings scattered in the earlier 2018 months too). Some weekends I did up to three events (Friday, Saturday AND Sunday). It was amazing and so busy! I knew that I couldn't keep up with blogging while also giving my family and my clients the full attention that they needed. So that just means that I now have a ton of new content which I'm excited to be sharing with you soon!

​2. I'm expecting again! My husband and I are thrilled to be giving our little guy a sibling. Our newest family member will be joining us sometime in late February. What does this mean for weddings and Jodi Marie Events? It means taking a few months off and returning to weddings in late May 2019. With that in mind, 2019 is getting pretty full! I have only a few dates available in June and only one weekend available in July. Be sure to contact me soon if you were thinking of booking. ​

As you are approached your wedding day have you had a moment of panic wondering if you forgot something? I figured it was time I put together a list of the items that are most commonly forgotten at weddings I coordinate.

I can't tell you how many weddings I've done where the pens for signing the guestbook are entirely forgotten. I always have extra pens in my emergency wedding kit, but the pens I have don't always work with the chosen guestbook. For example, if you have a guestbook that has shiny paper then a regular pen may not necessarily work. 

About 95% of the weddings that I do incorporate candles into the decor. But very rarely are lighters included to light those candles. I'm never concerned as I always have 5-10 lighters in my wedding kit. But what if you didn't hire a coordinator? And what if your coordinator doesn't provide lighters? Definitely make sure to bring a few lighters just in case! 

Most venues require that you take home all decor and personal belongings the night of your wedding. It is pretty rare to find a venue that allows you to store and pickup anything in the days following your wedding. With that in mind, it is important to designate a person to bring your belongings home on your wedding night along with a vehicle that has enough room for everything. Definitely ensure that you have more space coming home than what was needed to bring your decor and rentals to the venue. Why is that? Because at the end of the wedding day not only do you have the decor and rentals that you brought to the venue but there are also often leftover florals, wedding gifts, etc. which require extra space to take home.

What if you don't have someone to take your belongings home? Consider renting a Uhaul van or truck. When I coordinate weddings I'm happy to bring in a team to load decor, rentals, florals, etc. at the end of the night into whichever vehicle, room, or area you designate. 

SO important! It is easy for nerves to take over on your wedding day but that doesn't mean that you should skip breakfast or lunch. Plus your wedding party will need to eat too! Work food breaks into your wedding day or have platters and water bottles available while you are getting ready so that both you and your wedding party have a chance to eat. Bringing a cooler of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks while you do wedding photos is helpful too! Ensuring that you and your wedding party have food and drinks available throughout the day will keep everyone fed, happy and energized! 

Wedding cakes and cake cuttings are becoming less common, but when they are present at a wedding it is pretty rare that a cake knife is provided. It isn't a huge deal as I typically just run to the kitchen staff or caterers to get a knife from them. However, this doesn't guarantee the most attractive knife as it is based on what the kitchen or caterers have available. 

After the ceremony and photos are complete, it's nice to have vases of water setup at the reception to freshen up the bouquets. Bonus: bouquets can then be repurposed as decorations for the head table or around the reception space. 

7. Batteries

This is especially important if you are using a polaroid camera or LED candles at your wedding. I have been at countless events where the polaroid camera for the guestbook has stopped working due to the batteries running out. If you are using anything that requires batteries, be sure to pack a few extra. 

Summer is nearly upon us and I'm definitely feeling ready for it! This recent warm weather has me reminiscing on last summer, specifically Raymond and Lindsay's wedding. There were so many special memories from their wedding day, but here are a few moments that jumped out at me:

• The glorious, clear, sunny day in Tsawwassen (did I spell that right?!). It felt like the first truly sunny day of the year and that sunshine made for some amazing weddings photos! 
• The laughter and fun throughout the day. Everyone was there to have a good time and nobody took themselves too seriously. It made for a fun and enjoyable day for not only myself but for all of their guests too!
• The florals and the favours. The florals were luscious and bright! They were complimented so well by the favours: tiny plants in mini pots. Scroll down to see a photo of the favours, they're SO cute!

That's enough from me, please enjoy the following photo set!  

"Jodi was excellent! She was easy going, professional, organized and super responsive. She made sure the wedding ran smoothly and she helped relieve so much stress during that last month before the wedding. I would definitely recommend her as your Day of Coordinator!" -Lindsay

Day-Of Coordinator: Jodi Marie Events
Decorator: Kawano Decor & Design
Florals: Garden Works
Musician: V&G Music
Photographer: Vivian Chung Photography
​Venue: Tsawwassen Springs
Videographer: I Do Productions

It feels like forever since I've posted some pictures of my family on the blog, so I'm making up for that today! I'm excited to share some new photos of our family as well as a few life updates from us:

• We moved recently! From a basement suite in Coquitlam to a house in Pitt Meadows. Moving was a lot of work but it's absolutely worth it! We now have a huge backyard, a lot more living space and some great housemates. And don't worry, I'll still be traveling all over the Lower Mainland for weddings. Moving 15 minutes from where I lived before won't be changing anything. ;) 
• Our son, Wesley, is growing so much. He'll be two in July (how did that happen?!). He is obsessed with dogs (as you can see in a few of the below photos), balls, doors, and basketball hoops. 
  
• I've had a pretty quiet and restful winter/early spring with only a few weddings here and there. But I'm definitely itching to get back into more frequent weddings! I'm continually grateful to be able to do weddings so that I can stay home with Wesley during the week.
• My husband is amazing and hard working as always. He owns a carpentry company (yes, we're both self-employed!) and it definitely keeps him busy.

We are so privileged to have a photographer in the family: my talented sister, Joy of Sheer Joy Photography. She has captured so many special moments and memories for us, which I am forever grateful for. 

Markus and Gracie initially booked me for decor setup and takedown. And let me tell you, Gracie came prepared to our first meeting! She handed me a booklet with pictures and diagrams that explained exactly what decor she wanted setup, how she wanted it setup, and where she wanted it setup. She knew exactly what she wanted, which I loved! Not long after they booked for me decor setup/takedown, they decided to book me in for Day-Of Coordination as well. And I'm so glad they did, as it was a pleasure to work for them! A few special memories (and photos) from the wedding day:

• The flexibility. Even though Gracie had a clear plan of how she wanted everything setup, she was still flexible to necessary changes. One change that came up last minute was having to do the ceremony indoors because of inclement weather. The ceremony still ended up looking absolutely beautiful (see the last picture on this post). I love that Whonnock Lake offers a beautiful space for both outdoor and indoor ceremonies. 
• The personal touches. I loved seeing the bride and groom's personality throughout the wedding. From handcrafted wooden pieces made by the groom to the bride and groom's amazing entrance music (Love Story by Taylor Swift switched to Ms. New Booty partway through ;) to a custom drink in honour of both the bride and the groom. 
• The colours. The wedding was in October and the colours chosen gave the wedding an amazing Fall look and feel! Everything was bright, vibrant and fun! 

Markus and Gracie, you are such a sweet and loving couple. Your love for one another is so clear and I know that you have a long, amazing future ahead of you! I can't wait to see the adventures that life takes you on! 

Much love,

Jodi Marie

Caterer: Over The Top Catering
Day-Of Coordinator: Jodi Marie Events
DJ: Garry Robertson Entertainment
Florals: Westgate Flower Garden
Lighting: Sitka Studios
Musician: Musical Occasions
Photographer: Karolina Turek
Transportation: Royal Limousine Service
​Venue: Whonnock Lake Centre