The venue has recently undergone a major renovation which has brought it back to it’s original Art Deco glory (the venue opened in 1929). They had already pretty much sold out every Saturday in 2013 before the immense renovation took place. Needless to say they did a great job, We already have several clients that have booked here and can hardly wait to work at this new and improved venue!

Here is a video tour of the open house:

By: ArthurK, WPICC

If you are a shopaholic like me, you have probably noticed, MINT, is one of the most popular colors for this year. I love mint because  this color has such a fresh and vibrant hue. For couples who are not afraid to step out of their color safety zones, why not consider hosting a fashion forward minty wedding!

The ambiance of this wedding is casual, intimate and nature inspired. I chose the ceremony and reception venue at a beautiful farm where the couple and their guests can get away from the busy city life.

The bride is dressed in an elegant ivory lace gown complemented by an off white rose bouquet with mint accents. She will arrive at the ceremony in a vintage wedding car painted in bright mint. The groom and groomsmen are dressed in light earth tone linen suits. The groom stands out with a white tie and a mint rose boutonniere among groomsmen in mint ties and white rose boutonnieres.

During the cocktail hour, guests will mingle at the backyard of the farm, provided with freshly squeezed mint lemonade and Stacked Tomatoes & Buffalo Mozzarella and Artichoke & Spinach Dip. The catering would be all organic from local farmers. To be more creative with the resources, freshly picked green apples are used as seating cards for the reception! If you can’t resist the freshness of the apple, feel free to have a bite.

The wedding reception is held outdoor and begins just when the sun is about to set. Tables are decorated with flowers and tea lights, and plates are arranged neatly with bags of favours placed on top. Each favour consists of a personalized mint tin with “Mint to Be” printed on the package! The dinner is plated with the choice of local organic Filet Mignon or free range Cornish Game Hen paired with local vintages. To sweeten up the night, a dessert table filled with chocolate truffles, brownie bites, and mini macaroons in mason jars of various colors will impress your guests and add a whimsical touch to the decor.

This color theme will definitely show off  your fun and creative side and make a statement on your wedding day! In love with this wedding idea? Feel free to contact one of our Toronto wedding planners and we will make your big day flawless and unforgettable!

Photo Source: Bouquet,Mint Lemonade, House, Favor, Decor, Salad,Men’s Attire, Mint,Cake,Wine,Bride,Apple Seating Card,Couple with Horse.

Last week we were invited to Toronto Wedding and Corporate Event Venue , Scarpetta Restaurant at the Thompson Hotel, for a tasting of their delicious food and tour the space for our wedding and corporate event clients.

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, this Italian restaurant, which first opened in Manhattan, has topped various “Best New Restaurants” lists. After tasting the food there, this is not surprising at all! Scott Conant, who is the Executive Chef of all Scarpetta Restaurants, runs and overseas the Toronto branch.

Upon our arrival at Scarpetta, we were greeted with a glass of Champagne. Different breads, along with different dips, were then brought to the table. The three dips were butter and Marscapone cheese, citrus olive oil, and eggplant and tomato. For the main courses, our waitress put together a tasting menu of the most popular dishes from the menu so we could get the chance to sample a selection of their top menu items.

Chef’s Tasting Menu

Bread

Dip

After they cleared away the bread, appetizer plates paired with a glass of Feudi Di San Gregorio 2010 followed. This white wine has a rare Italian grape that you will not find anywhere else except in a small region of Italy.

Feudi Di San Gregorio 2010

For the appetizers, we had Crispy Vegetables, Burrata Salad, Braised Short Ribs of Beef over seasonal vegetables and risotto, and Creamy Polenta with shallots, mushrooms & truffle, and chicken stock. Every appetizer we tried was absolutely delicious!

Crispy Vegetables

Burrata Salad

Braised Short Ribs over Risotto

Creamy Polenta

Gigi Rona 2009

For our first main course, we had Duck & Foie Gras Ravioli, and one of their signature dishes, the Spaghetti with tomato and basil paired with a glass of Brecciarolo along with the Spiced Duck Breast paired with a gorgeous red wine by Gigi Rono – Barbera D’Alba 2009. By this time, we were absolutely stuffed, but everything was so good we had to keep going!

Duck & Fois Gras Ravioli

Spaghetti with Tomato & Basil

Spiced Duck Breast

Brecciarolo

After a few minutes of digesting, it was time for dessert. We had a glass of Trockenbeerenauslese (or TBA for short), a German dessert wine with a sweet fruity and honey taste. Dessert was absolutely divine. We had the Chocolate flourless cake with burned orange gelato, the Caramel with whipped cream and salted peanut butter waffles, and the Petite Forest Platter.

Various events can be held at the Scarpetta Toronto, from Corporate events, to Rehearsal Dinners, to Private Parties. The capacity of this restaurant is 120 people total with an additional private party room that seats up to 20 people. The uplighting of the restaurant can be changed to the colour of your choice to suit your event theme colours or company colours.

We did not have a single complaint about the food, the service or the ambiance. Everything was absolutely fantastic.

A huge thanks to the Manager, Robert Faichney, Chef Michael Hunter, and the unbelievable wait staff who were nothing less that amazing.

The Fusion Events Team – Melissa Sobotka, WPICC, ArthurK, WPICC, and Dana Mattar,WPICC

For more information regarding booking Scarpetta for your next event please contact Scarpetta or call (416) 601-3590.

Today’s blog post is all about wedding venues. We have had the opportunity to plan events at many of Toronto’s finest establishments however there are a few that really stand out. The following venues have been selected because they offer something unique to couples getting married. Whether it be breathtaking views, unique atmospheres in unique locations, history or exceptional customer service these are some of our favourite Toronto Wedding Venues.

Thompson Hotel:

550 Wellington Street W

416.640.7778

The Thompson Hotel is one of Toronto’s newest and most modern venues to hold a wedding. It is located in the middle of Toronto’s artistically driven King West Village. If you are interested in holding an event at the Thompson, there are a few different options in the Thompson Hotel to hold it, whether it is a wedding, a corporate event, or any other special event.

They have the Wellington Ballroom, which is a 3,100 square foot ballroom that can be divided into two sections. The decor in the room is rich and dark wooden tones, which are accented with glass chandeliers.

The next option is the chic and exclusive Rooftop Lounge. With breathtaking 360 degree view of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario, the Rooftop Lounge is surely not one to miss.

Finally, there is 1812. If you are looking for a lounge experience, 1812 is the place to hold your event. For those of you looking for a sophisticated and intimate feel, 1812 offers you just that.

Palais Royale:

1601 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

416.533.3553

Overlooking the Lake Ontario, the Palais Royale is designed acoustically for live music and has a great history of well known singers who have performed there such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. With that said, this venue is surely like no other.

The most common room used to hold weddings at the Palais Royale is the Ballroom. this 8000 square foot room can gold up to 350 guests for a seated dinner, and up to 880. The decor in the Ballroom is contemporary, with earth colours such as cream, gold taupe and chocolate brown.

Overlooking Lake Ontario, the Patio is perfect for holding wedding ceremonies or cocktail receptions.  With the ability to fully tent the patio, there is access right to the Ballroom from the deck, which is perfect for couples holding their ceremony and/or cocktail hour on the patio and their reception in the Ballroom. With a 318 person capacity, this patio is perfect for the summer to fall months.

The Lower Lounge is a quiet space at the Palais Royale, and is ideal for holding Cocktail Hour. Clients also have the option of having a portable bar.

Eglinton Grand:

400 Eglinton Avenue West

416.485.5900

Old Hollywood Glamour is always in style. For those clients who like art deco decor, the Eglinton Grand is a great location. Formerly the Eglinton Theatere, this venue has been restored and renovated and is now used as an banquet hall for weddings and events.

The Gallery is perfect for holding a wedding ceremony. Seating up to 220 guests, its art deco decor perfectly compliments the style of the main ballroom.

As for the reception, it is held in the Main Ballroom.  Since it was a former theatre, it is equipped with a stage and great in house A/V and lighting. The Balcony level can be used as a private Cocktail Hour space, which is very convenient for the guests as it is just above the Main Ballroom.

 Liberty Grand:

25 British Columbia Road

416.542.3789

55 Mill Street

416.203.2363

Located in the heart of Toronto’s Distillery Historic District, the Fermenting Cellar is an urban space with an industrial chic setting. This venue can hold up to 600 guests for a stand up event, and up to 400 guests for a seated dinner. They provide great decor and production by in-house A/V and decor company, 5th Element Events.

The space at the Fermenting Cellar can be divided so that clients can hold their ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception in the same room. From the heavy timber beams and trusses to the original Kingston limestone walls, the Fermenting Cellar offers your event a memorable atmosphere.

Photos Courtesy of:

http://www.thompsonhotels.com/hotels/toronto/thompson-toronto

http://www.palaisroyale.ca/

http://www.lisamarkphotography.com/2011/nadira-andrew-palais-royale-wedding-toronto/

http://www.eglintongrand.com/main.html

http://www.libertygrand.com/

http://www.fermentingcellar.ca/

Last February I was contacted by this lovely couple, Anne-Marie and Alex, for their upcoming wedding at Sunnybrook Estates (Vaughn Estate). They were interested in booking one of our top Toronto Wedding Bands, Shugga. Upon meeting them to discuss booking the band, we instantly hit it off. They are our ideal couple; young, modern, tech savvy, and fashion forward. Not to mention they were planning the wedding themselves without any of their parents involvement in the planning process – can anyone say dream client?! After meeting with them to discuss the band, and asking the normal questions we ask in an initial consultation, they started to realize that they needed help in planning and executing their vision. Which led them to their next decision – to have myself and the Fusion Events team on board to make it happen.

The wedding was in mid-November in that grey area between fall and winter weddings. The inspiration for their design was neither winter nor fall, but rather festive, yet not over the top Christmasy! They wanted their colours to be Red, Black and White with hints of Damask. For florals the bride fancied red roses so that’s what we went with as the main theme for Centerpieces and Bouquets courtesy of Designing Trendz. They wanted a sophisticated, upscale wedding that was also a fierce party. Not too many formalities and lots of dancing!

Here is a video of the event as seen through the perspective of the wedding planner…me! This wedding went very smoothly and on time to almost the second. I even had enough time to sit down at the beautiful grand piano at Sunnybrook Estates for a moment of Zen before the storm, as seen in the video…I also sat in on the saxophone with the band for a couple numbers (see the video):

The Beautiful Couple

The Dress

Mini Red Cake Topper, Red Velvet Cupcakes, and Decor

Table Setting

The head table with hand made giant roses. Each rose can take up to 2-3hrs to make.

Toronto Wedding Singer – Alana Bridgewater and Shugga.

Suppliers:

Wedding Planner – ArthurK, WPICC – Fusion Events

Wedding Planner Assistant – Melissa Sobotka, WPICC

Venue – Sunnybrook Estates – Vaughn Estate

Decor/Flowers – Craig Gruzd, Designing Trendz

Band – Shugga

Photography – Jamieson Dean

Video – WeDo by Daniel Royer

Wedding Dress – Ritche Bridal designed by MiKaella

Grooms Attire – Saks Fifth Avenue designed by Hugo Boss

Shoes – BCBG

Hair and Make Up – Kristjan Hayden

Cupcakes and Mini Cake Topper – We Bake In Heels

Invitations – Stephita

Officiant – Sarah Bunnet Gibson

My inspiration for the “Golden Petals” theme was “East meets West”. As a wedding planner I enjoy fusing cultural themes together, and in this case I added some Middle Eastern flavor with some of the Western culture. I incorporated the Middle East through the colors and the  grandness of the venue and the decor, yet kept it very Western and modern by using contemporary furniture. I used two bold colors, orange and purple, to create a grand and rich feel.

The Ceremony would be held outdoors under a tent with orange flowers hanging from the ceiling, and purple petals along the aisle. After the ceremony, guests will then go to the terrace right outside the reception space for cocktails and Middle Eastern finger foods, where they will listen to the sounds of the Middle Eastern Sitar and Tabla. The cocktail space is adorned with lots of purple and gold candles.

The guests make their way into the reception space, as they wait for the Bride and Groom to make their grand entrance. The reception space is bold and filled with bright colours such as purple, orange, and gold. For dinner, there are different food stations such as the salad station, Middle Eastern station, the fish and sea food bar, children’s station, the carving station, the dessert station, and the espresso bar.

This theme is definitely for the couple who is willing to be bold and take a risk with this dramatic color combination and setting, yet still likes to keep it classy and sophisticated.

GOLDEN PETALS

Inspiration Board by: Dana Mattar, WPICC.

Photos Courtesy of: Bridal Canvas

My inspiration for this board was, as you can tell, lace! I love lace, I think it is so classy and elegant. It gives a vintage feel, which I also love.

I chose to use black lace to add a bit of an edge and make the setting a little less traditional.

From the aisle runner, to the flowers, to the bride’s dress, everything is traditional with a major twist.
I chose to have the ceremony and the reception at Toronto Wedding Venue, Casa Loma Castle because it exudes a sort of mysteriousness and darkness, especially at night. The ceremony will be held in the beautiful Conservatory of the Casa Loma Castle as the sun is setting. After the ceremony, the guests will then proceed to the Garden Terrace, where they will be served cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. As for the reception, it will take place in the Library. This room is the focal point of the castle.

This theme is for the couple with an edge and is not afraid to experiment with the colour black for their wedding day!

BLACK LACE

Photos courtesy of: Bridal Canvas

Why Should I Hire A Wedding Planner?

Well, tis the season to get married! Of course I’d say that, Im a Wedding Planner; in my eyes its ALWAYS the season.

Lets see, where do you start. WHERE do you start? (That question alone would stress me out as a bride or groom). Which is why there is a simple, logical, and morally genius response to that question. Two words: Wedding Planner (or Wedding Coordinator/Wedding Consultant – whatever floats your boat).

You know what they say: The average couple could spend up to 250 hours planning their special day without the assistance of a Wedding Planner. Do you know how much that is? 250 hours is equal to 15,000 minutes. And if you want to get REALLY specific, 250 hours is equal to (WARNING: THIS NUMBER YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ MAY CONTAIN WAY TOO MANY ZERO’S FOR ONES LIKING. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED) 90,000 seconds!!

Here is another example; let’s say you made an average of $30 per hour at work, multiply that by 250 hours. That would equate to approximately $7,500. The average cost of hiring a Toronto Wedding Planner is approximately $1500 – $4000 – you can see the benefit of hiring a Wedding Planner immediately. Your time is money!

Hiring a Wedding Planner is probably the best thing a couple can do. A lot of people might think that it is just another added expense to the already possibly traumatizing wedding budget. Fear not, my love birds! That is only but a myth.

Its quite the opposite actually. See, a Wedding Planner usually has “connections”, if you will, in the industry, and could, a lot of the times, negotiate a better deal for you and your honey – deals and discounts that are usually not available to the public.

A Wedding Planner isn’t here to make decisions for you, but rather to help you make informed decisions. Not only that, we’re pretty “super-human”, if you will. Not ONLY will we be your Wedding Planner, but we can also be a family counselor (for those of you who know you are bound to have family feuds regarding wedding details), or we can even become as close as your best friends during the Wedding Planning period!

*Reasons to hire a Wedding Planner:

1) Time - As I mentioned previously, it takes about 250 hours for the average couple to plan their wedding without a Wedding Planner.

2) More value - Hiring a Wedding Planner can help you get more value out of your vendors. We’ll make sure to get you the most value for your hard earned money!

3) Stress Reliever - Wedding Planners can take a lot of stress off of your shoulders. We handle all the pressure of planning your big day to make sure everything runs smoothly and perfectly.

4) Dreams Turned Into Reality - Most brides (and many grooms) have been dreaming about their wedding day since they could remember. A Wedding Planner will work for you to ensure that all your dreams are met, and often surpassed!

5) Advice Gurus - Wedding Planners have worked on countless weddings, so we know what works and what doesn’t. We are able to recommend appropriate vendors, according to our clients wants and needs.

6) Create Schedules - It is often hard for a couple to keep track of all the events leading up to the big day, along with all the things happening during the wedding. A Wedding Planner can! We are experienced in making detailed itineraries for everybody involved (including vendors), and making sure that everything happens according to schedule.

7) Handling a Crisis - Most big events, such as a wedding, come across some sort of crisis, from the flower girl throwing a tantrum to the cake not being delivered on time. A Wedding Planner knows how to handle these unforeseen circumstances and make sure everything gets taken care of so and that you don’t even know about it!

8) Orchestrates From Rehearsal Until End of Reception - A Wedding Planner is responsible for organizing the rehearsal and making sure the bridal party is lined up correctly. Wedding Planners orchestrate from rehearsal through to the end of the reception, making sure everything goes off without a hitch.

9) Mediator - It’s a known fact thats it is almost impossible to make everyone happy when planning a wedding. A Wedding Planner is a safe and neutral person to point to for direction. It is MUCH easier telling your future mother-in-law, “My planner thinks we need to…” rather than “I think we need to…”

10) Minimize Stress and Maximize Fun! - Hiring a Wedding Planner ensures that you will have a worry-free and stress-free day, allowing you to enjoy your day like your guests!

Like any other relationship, (or in this case, your marriage), it can’t happen if there is no trust. Which is why you should definitely have full faith and trust in the Wedding Planner before you hire them. Comfort is key. Now, this can apply to buying a pair of shoes (although, some people will use the whole “it hurts to look good” thing, but you get my point), to hiring a Wedding Planner. You should definitely feel comfortable with your Wedding Planner and guarantee that he or she really understands what your wants and needs are.

Hiring a Wedding Planner used to only be thought of as a “luxury”. Things have changed – thankfully. Nowadays, it is an asset to hire a Wedding Planner, to ensure that the entire process, from the day you hire a Planner, to the day you get married, runs smoothly.

Photo Credit:

http://blog.newhorizons123.com/links-not-working-in-outlook/bride-pulling-her-hair/

My inspiration for this board was a Rustic Vintage kind of elegance. There is something about a rustic vibe that I personally find very romantic (if it is pulled off well, of course).

The ceremony would  be held outdoors at dusk under the open sky. Guests would be greeted upon arrival by gloved servers with signature cocktails for a short pre-ceremony cocktail reception. The ceremony itself would be held under a tree with gorgeous off-white kissing balls, and lanterns hanging form the tree. The aisle would be heavily adorned with candles and branches to give it that rustic feel.

The reception is held indoors in a barn. An antique window is used as seating plan. To add the to the vintage element a special table would be set up and decorated for the guestbook. An antique desk with pictures of the bride and groom in vintage frames will be set up at the entrance to the barn. On the desk a vintage typewriter where guests can type their messages to the newly married couple. A projection on the side of the barn of the couples favourite black and white movie would be playing throughout the evening.

The decor is very simple, yet says a lot by using its simplicity to portray a romantic feel. Custom draping would accent the vaulted ceilings of the barn which would be further accented by using soft up lighting. There would be accents of green and pastels to add dimension against the champagnes and off whites of the Brides dress and general decor.

This theme is for the couple who likes simplicity to speak for itself, and who wants everybody in the room to feel the romance and the love in a truly unique and classical setting.

RUSTIC ELEGANCE

Inspiration Board by: Dana Mattar, WPICC.

Concept and Design: Arthur Kerekes, WPICC AND Dana Mattar, WPICC
Photo Courtesy of: Bridal Canvas

I am now convinced. We, at Fusion Events, are the chosen ones! Why, might you ask? Well let me tell you. We were lucky enough to get to taste the divine creations of Toronto Catering Company, Pepperberry

In-House Tasting at your home or office.

Peperberry is a Toronto based green catering company that specializes in corporate events, cocktail parties, weddings, and pretty much whatever tickles your fancy! They cater to meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans alike! They incorporate many natural foods, organic ingredients, fair-trade products, whole grains, and organic cooking wines into their menus at no additional cost to their clients. How amazing is that?! By request, they can accommodate to their clients who prefer to have a menu that is strictly 100% Organic or locally grown seasonal produce (extra charges apply). They have breakfast, lunch, dinner, sandwich, and even barbecue menus! In addition to that, they also offer buffet menus and much more.
Pepperberry pretty much caters to everybody’s taste buds. They are so diverse in their menus, and are unique and inventive with their gorgeous presentations.
Take a look at some photos of our lovely little rendezvous we had at the office with Pepperberry.

The Fusion Events Tasting Menu consisted of a Fruits & Cheese Platter,

Herbed Chevre Mousse with Shallot & Rosemary filled Filo Cups,

and California Vegetable Rice Paper Rolls as well as Chicken, Mango & Pickled Lime Rice Paper Rolls, which were served with Soy and Sweet Tamarind Chutney.

It’s not over yet, my little lovebirds! Obviously you knew I was going to save the best for last. DESSERT! Oh yum, where do I start. Let me give you a quick little riddle here: What do you get when you introduce, chocolate, cheesecake, and a stick to each other? If you guessed a DELISH cheesecake pop, you guessed right!!

Here is the menu Pepperberry prepared for us.
Fusion Events Tasting Menu

Table with goodies!

Looking back at these photos are making my mouth water all over again.

Fusion Events would love to thank Pepperberry for allowing us to indulge in their delicious creations!

Follow Pepperberry on Twitter and like them on Facebook today!
Contact them here