Memory Laine Events

Wedding & Event Planner

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Danielle & Tyler - August 26, 2016

Danielle & Tyler went to school together, and had multiple mutual friends. They never talked, or really hit it off until one lovely day in the world of tinder! They went on a date after seeing each other on the dating app. Their coffee date lasted hours and hours and the sparks just flew. A few short years later they are tying the knot in the most beautiful way. Danielle is one of those brides who are so detail oriented and you know just from speaking to her that she has a specific vision in her mind. She was so organized and had planned every last detail to the mad libs on the napkins and I was so grateful to have pulled everything together for her on her special day. They hired me for their day of coordination as well as all the set up and take down. Putting out all her beautiful decor and making sure every final detail was perfect for her day. 

Photography By: Mikaela Ruth Photography http://mikaelaruth.com

Vendors: Performance Works, Budget Blooms, Pedersen’s Rentals, Eller Sound, Signature Catering, Diamond Limousine, Mink Makeup & Hair

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Michelle & Dave - August 6, 2016

Michelle & Dave have one of the greatest love stories I have ever heard. When Dave proposed to Michelle he put her ring in a kinder surprise. After dinner she opened the kinder surprise and the ring fell onto her lap.... She didn’t notice, and started right away to build the prize. Dave just staring at her waiting for her to notice the engagement ring. Such a fun story and it reflects perfectly their fun, loving personalities. I had the honour of pulling all their visions together as their Day of Coordinator and it was such a fun day!  

Vendors: Photography by Julie Christine Photography http://juliechristinephotography.com/

Champagne Dreams, IDJ, Meadow Gardens Golf Club, Poco Hunting and Fishing Lodge, Vivio Flowers, Catering Visions, Tommy Limo.

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Tara & Will - July 30, 2016

I am still swooning over Tara & Will’s wedding on Saturday July 30, 2016. I can honestly say Tara & Will are one of the nicest, kindest, loving couples I have ever met. Their love for each other is so obvious and it gives me goose bumps and teary eyes every time I watch their Same Day Edit, and look at their photos. 

Vendors: Swaneset Resort, Luminessence Photography, Video by Kismet Video Creative, Vivio Flowers, Wedding Design Studio, BU Letters, Faye Smith Hair & Makeup, Cakes n Sweets, Airwaves Music, Memory Laine Events Inc 

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Caity & Andrew - June 10, 2016

Caity & Andrew were so much fun to work with! They had so many unique quirks to their wedding. They had a bridal party who loved them and the two best MC’s I have ever seen. This was hands down one of the funnest weddings I have ever been to. They had fun games all throughout the night, Caity & Andrew even crowd surfed!! Loved these two! 

Vendors: Fort Langley Community Hall, Canuel Catering, Deborah Lee Designs, Young Hip & Married, Wailen Dalen DJ. 

Photos By Adriana Bryce Photography http://www.adrianabryce.com/

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Heather & Ian - May 22, 2016

I met Heather & Ian at a wedding show in January, shortly after we had our first consultation and I quickly realized they didn’t have a whole lot of their wedding planned that was just a short four months away. They had a date, a venue, and then a Day of Coordinator. Not much else! I quickly got underway by helping them find some amazing vendors. Like their caterer Sugar Mountain Catering, who are one of my all time favourites. And then their DJ Absolute Entertainment who also covered their bar. Heather had the decor under control. She handmade basically every piece of her wedding day, and she did an unbelieveable job. Creating paper flowers, so many in fact she made a whole wall! Heather did an unbelievable job planning this wedding in four months, and I was so grateful to pull it all together for her. 

Beautiful Photography by: Meghan Hemstra Photography  http://www.meghanhemstra.com/

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Philena & Peter - April 24, 2016

Philena & Peter have one of those stories where if one thing didn’t line up in one of their lives they may have never met! We are so glad they did because they are such a beautiful couple. Philena from Arizona, Peter from Ontario they met at a Party in Arizona and hit it off immediately. Fast forward 7 Years they have just moved to this beautiful property in Maple Ridge and they are planning a risky April outdoor wedding. Of course it did end up raining, but not until after their ceremony. This was the most interesting set ups we have ever done. We had to bring all the supplied up the side of a mountain with a tractor! Such a fun experience! 

Vendors: A1 Party Rentals, Cosmic Catering, Chasing Sapphires Photography, Capture Productions Videography, Stef Chies Hair & Makeup, Diana’s DreamCakes. Full Service Coordination by Memory Laine Events Inc.

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The 5 Most important parts of any wedding!

It is the time of year where wedding planning is in Full Swing! A few of my clients have been asking me about what is most important. It is a hard question to answer as everyone is different and they see different things as being more important than the next bride. I wanted to write a blog showcasing the the top 5 as I think these are the most important to the most brides. Let’s start with number 5!

5. Do YOU love everything you picked out?

When planning a wedding it is very hard to keep all the details to yourself. You are excited! and you should be, so you talk about everything you have decided and picked out to your friends and family. There is always that one person who doesn't share the same style and vision as you. Which is fine! But they have to tell you that they don't like it. Or tell you all the reasons why it won't work and you shouldn't do it. IGNORE this person. It is your day you pick and do what you want! Make sure that YOU and your fiancé are happy with everything you have chosen as you are the ones who will be reflecting on the pictures for years to come.

Photo by: Dakota Maverick

4. A good DJ is more important than you think it is.

A lot of people do not give DJ's the credit they deserve. It takes a lot of skill and experience to be able to read a crowd and play music that appeals to your audience. Every guest list is different and filled with different types of people and you can't just put on any old playlist and expect everyone to enjoy the music playing, let alone dance to it. You also need to trust this person to play the songs you have picked for the special moments such as walking down the aisle, your first dance, Father daughter dances etc. When picking your DJ look for someone who is reliable and has experience! It is more important than you think!

 3. Food!

We all love food, we all love eating GOOD food! There are very few things your guests will remember about the day but they will remember one of the next two statements.  Was the food Good? or was the Food Bad?  This is one of the most important details on your wedding day. Feeding all of your guests a great meal. Especially your bridal party! They will be STARVING come the reception and they will be looking for a great meal. 

 Photo by: Capture Studios

2. Mothers & Fathers

I know the day is about the bride and groom! I know! BUT to your Mothers & Fathers, especially Mothers, this is an EXTREMELY important day for them as well. They are so excited and filled with different emotions it is very important to keep them happy and enjoying your wedding day as well. This is where hiring a Day of Coordinator comes in handy as it will take any stress off of your mother. Your family should not be responsible for setting up your decor, cake, putting out favours, this may be more stress than a mother or family member needs on your wedding day. They don't want to remember how many chair covers they put on, they want to remember how happy you looked marrying the love of your life. That is what is most important.... which leads us to....

1. Getting Married!!!

At the end of the day the most IMPORTANT part of the day, the entire reason why you are planning everything is to marry the love of your life. As long as you do that the day is exactly what it was supposed to be. Keep this in mind throughout the entire planning process and everything will be just perfect! 

Photo By: Jayme Ann Photography

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Styled Shoot

One of the things I love the most about being a Wedding Planner is all the amazing vendors I get to meet and work with every day. I am constantly surrounded by inspiring, creative, amazing individuals who are capable of things I could only imagine doing myself! I am just so lucky to get to work beside them. 

I got to work on this styled shoot with some of those amazing vendors. Including Joanna Moss Photography, Capture Productions (Who made this amazing video), Michelle Banich Hair & Makeup, Diana’s DreamCakes, Ode to a Bloom, Valley Weddings, and A1 Party Rentals. 

Check out this sneak peak video of our Styled Shoot! 

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Wedding  Invitation Etiquette

I wanted to give some insight to wedding invitations. Many brides struggle with, when do I send them out? Do I need to send Save the Dates? How important are your invitations? Let's start with the troubling Save the Dates. These have not always been around, they are a new trend. Bride's always ask me if they need to send out a save the date and I always answer. How many guests do you have coming from out of town? If it is a very small amount I don't think it is a necessary expense especially for the tight budget brides. Save the Dates are intended to give lots of notice to those out of town guests to make travel arrangements and take the time off work etc. If you are getting Married in Coquitlam and your friend's mother lives in Maple Ridge, it is not necessary to send her a Save the Date 6 Months to a year before the wedding. If you choose to send Save the Dates you should send them out at least 6 Months prior to the wedding. Any later than that they lose their purpose completely. Wedding Invitations should go out 3-6 months before the wedding. I know brides are excited to get their invitations out early and give everyone lots of notice but if you send them out too early they get lost, forgotten, and RSVP's do not come back. You need to send them so the date is fresh in mind and guests deal with them right away.  Always include a Must RSVP By date. This is very important as you need to tell your caterer and finalize numbers at least 2 weeks before your wedding, but it also gives the guest a timeline to send them back quickly. It also gives you grounds to call the guest after that cutoff date and demand a yes or a no. Invitations do give a preview of what to expect at your wedding. They set the tone for the type of evening. Traditional, Casual, Glamorous, Rustic. Make sure you are happy with your invitation as you are the one who is going to have it as a keepsake.  Here are some samples of wording for your invitations!

Traditional - Bride's Parents Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Request the honour of your presence at the marriage of their daughter

Emily

to

Brian

son of Mr. & Mrs. William Davis

Saturday, the twentieth of April

two thousand and seventeen

three o'clock in the afternoon

Venue Name & Address

Reception to follow

Bride & Groom Hosting

Emily Rebecca Smith

and

Brian William Davis

request the pleasure of your company at the celebration of their marriage

Saturday, the twentieth of April

two thousand and seventeen

three o'clock in the afternoon

Venue Name & Address

Reception to follow

 Both Sets of Parents Hosting

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Mr. and Mrs. William Davis

request the pleasure of your company at the marriage of their children

Emily

and

Brian

Saturday, the twentieth of April

two thousand and seventeen

three o'clock in the afternoon

Venue Name & Address

Reception to follow

 Bride and Groom Hosting with Parents

Emily Rebecca Smith

and

Brian William Davis

together with their parents

Mr. and Mrs. John Smith

Mr. and Mrs. William Davis

request the pleasure of your company

at the celebration of their marriage

Saturday, the twentieth of April

two thousand and seventeen

three o'clock in the afternoon

Venue Name & Address

Reception to follow

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When your venue includes a Day of Coordinator

As a wedding planner I hear this all the time. "My venue comes with a day of coordinator so I do not need to hire one." I feel like this is false advertising! Yes many venues have a coordinator who is there to make sure Canapés come out on time, dinner is served as scheduled. They may even be there to help with your Ceremony to send you down the aisle if your ceremony is at their property. 95% of the time they will go home after dinner. Leaving you without a Day of Coordinator to keep the rest of your night on schedule. When to announce the First Dance. Is your DJ going to play the right song? Is your Photographer/Videographer ready with the right lens to capture this? A professional Day of Coordinator is with you from the time  you wake up in the morning until you leave for the hotel at the end of the night. They ensure your hair & makeup arrive on time, ensure the limo is arriving on time, your cake is delivered and set up properly. They make sure the venue is set exactly as you want it, doing all final touches and setting up all personal items. They will make sure as your guests are arriving that they sign the guest book, and know where to find their seats. Don't be fooled by the Day or Coordinator included in your venue package and make sure you ask exactly what it includes and how many hours they are on site for.

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Nikki & Joel Wedding Video

This video is so special to me! Such close friends of mine and I got the honour to plan their entire wedding. You can see from this video just how special their love is. Video by Kyu Tae Kim at Vancity Visuals. 

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The Best Wedding Shows in January 2016

January is the best time of year to check out wedding shows! There are so many all over the Lower Mainland & Vancouver it is hard to decide which ones are must sees, Here are my favourites! 

January 3, 2016 - BeYOUtiful Bridal Show at the Pacific Inn Resort Hotel & Conference Centre. This show has so many talented vendors. They are mainly from the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley which is fantastic as their prices are usually very competitive. The Bridal Show itself is Free which is a huge selling feature! You and all of your friends can go without breaking the bank! The show organizers do a fantastic job on this show and they have them a number of times throughout the year so if you do miss this one there is sure to be one not to far after it. I am so sad to miss this one due to moving! But definitely check it out for the other amazing vendors! 

January 9th & 10th, 2016 - The Vancouver Wedding Fair at The Westin Bayshore Vancouver. This is the largest wedding show of the year. This two day wedding show has everything you can imagine. You do not want to miss this show! Thousands and thousands of dollars in prizes, hundreds of amazing vendors from all over. You can plan your entire wedding at this show alone! 

January 16 & 17, 2016 - It’s My Wedding Show at The Tradex in Abbotsford. I am so excited to exhibit at this show this year! It has such an amazing reputation and great features. You can win your Honeymoon! You can meet Monte Durham from Say Yes to The Dress! There will be an amazing fashion show by Everything but the Groom! This is a great show for brides in the Fraser Valley!

January 24, 2016 - Biggest Little Bridal Show at The Pitt Meadows Golf Club. This show I am extremely excited about as I am planning it! We have partnered with the Pitt Meadows Golf Club to create a relaxing laid back bridal show experience. We have 25 vendors only 1 or 2 of each type of vendor so you can really get to know them and see what they have to offer without being overwhelmed. There will also be wine tasting and a cash bar. Make sure to stay for our Fashion Show that will happen at 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM. The grand prizes are amazing including a Full Day of Photography by Joanna Moss and a Weekend in Harrison for you and your partner. 

January 31, 2016 - All Dressed In White at The Sheraton Vancouver Guildford. All Dressed in White is known for putting on fantastic, innovative bridal shows. They have great experience and always have the best vendors & location. They have amazing prizes and great swag bags! Make sure you get out to this show! 

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Why YOU should hire a wedding planner!

I have been attending wedding shows trying to connect with brides for the 2016 season. It is so much fun, and exciting! I love meeting newly engaged couples and hearing about all their ideas for their wedding day. Getting to be a part of someone’s special day is the most amazing feeling. Finding inspirations and creating new ideas for each couple is the best. While attending these shows I also meet a few brides who, when I ask if they considered hiring a planner or day of coordinator they get almost offended and say. “I planned everything myself, I don’t need any help.” For these brides I wanted to explain what our role of Day of Coordinator means. You have planned your entire wedding. You have had many sleepless nights stressing, creating, and planning your entire wedding on your own (We know how much work it is!). You may have had some help from family members or friends but odds are you have done pretty much everything yourself. As a Day of Coordinator I am not going to take any credit away from you and all of your hard work. I am there to pull all of your hard work together so you can ENJOY your wedding day. You have spent countless hours creating your centerpieces or favours, why stress about relying on your cousin, or family friend to put them out when you can hire someone who is professional and trustworthy! We make sure all of your hard work gets executed and nothing gets forgotten. Clients who have been on the fence about hiring a day of coordinator and then decided to hire one, do not regret it! We promise that :) So while you continue to plan your wedding keep us Day of Coordinators in mind. We would love to help you on your special day.

Photo Credit: Wilson Lau Photography http://www.wilsonlau.ca/

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Nikki & Joel - September 12, 2015

Nikki & Joel are great friends of mine! It was an absolute honour to be hired to plan their wedding. They hired me for my full service package and we worked together for many months to get everything perfect for the day! A wedding at Triple Swaan Nursery never disappoints. The venue is stunning on it’s own. Valley Weddings came in with gorgeous decor. Oceana Florists created these breathtaking center pieces and bouquets. Happy Cakes made the delicious cup cakes. Absolute DJ Had the party going all night long! 

We couldn’t have asked for a better September day. Kyu Tae Kim from Vancity Visuals was the fantastic Photographer and Videographer for the day. 

Pam’s Cookies in Abbotsford made the favours! She is so talented and makes the best tasting cookies.

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Nichole & Dan - August 22, 2015

Nichole & Dan have a love story from a movie. Nichole from Canada, Dan from England, met working on a cruise ship. They had both been working on the ship for a number of years but never crossed paths. They had all the same friends and knew of each other but never actually met. It was Nichole’s last year working on the cruise and just like fate. They met. A few years later they are tying the knot in Nichole’s parents beautiful backyard. This vintage, rustic themed wedding came together absolutely wonderfully. They hired me for my Full Service Wedding Package and we worked on this wedding together starting in January 2015. Nichole & Dan are such a fantastic couple and working so closely with them and their amazing families was an experience I will never forget. I am so grateful to them for hiring me. 

Video by: Treven Lepage https://www.facebook.com/treven.lepage?fref=ts

Decor: Valley Weddings https://www.facebook.com/Valley-Weddings-117672704913223/

DJ: Absolute Entertainment https://www.facebook.com/AbsoluteDJEntertainment?fref=ts

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Fraser Valley Food Truck Festivals 2015!

We had so much fun this year with our Fraser Valley Food Truck Festivals! This year we went to the following communities:

April - Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Cloverdale,

July - Surrey

September - Port Moody & Maple Ridge! 

We had such great turnouts at every event and we couldn’t have asked for a better year for weather. Make sure you stay tuned and see where we are headed in 2016! We are heading back to the same locations with a few new ones to add to the list! Check out this awesome video that shows perfectly what you can expect at a Fraser Valley Food Truck Festival! 

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Melissa & Justin - October 3, 2015

Melissa & Justin were married at Minnekhada Lodge in Coquitlam. This venue is so whimsical & romantic. Melissa truly was out of a fairy tale. An intimate wedding including decor handmade by Melissa’s mother beautifully accented by the wild flower bouquets created by Elderberry Florists. 

Melissa & Justin were so relaxed right up until the ceremony. All they could think about was marrying each other. It was so beautiful.

Catered by the amazingly talented Sugar Mountain Caterers. https://www.facebook.com/SugarMountainCatering?fref=ts

Cake done by Cake by Annie https://www.facebook.com/CakeByAnnie?fref=ts

DJ/MC & Video by Dynamic Weddings https://www.facebook.com/DynamicWeddingsVancouver?fref=ts

Amazing Photos done by Jayme Anne Photography  https://www.facebook.com/Jaymeannephotography?fref=ts