Monthly Archives: June 2012

Canada Day Events in Edmonton

2011 Canada Day Fireworks at the Legislature Grounds in Edmonton

This Sunday we get to celebrate our nation as it celebrates its 145th year! One of the things Edmonton is know for are its festivals and events that are held throughout the year and Canada Day is no exception. There are many attractions and activities happening in our city this Sunday and for a full list of events happening in Edmonton click here.

Spend your Canada Day at the Legislature where you will find a free pancake breakfast and can watch a citizenship ceremony. There will also be many performers like the Royal Canadian artillery band and Magician Kent Wong who are sure to keep you and your family busy. Click the link below for more information on all the performers.
http://www.assembly.ab.ca/visitor/PDF/2012/CanadaDayEventFlyer2012.pdf

Celebrate Canada Day at the Valley Zoo where they will also be celebrating their 53rd birthday and Lucy the elephant’s is turning 37! Come down between 11am and 4pm to join in fun activities such as a Canadian animal scavenger hunt, Canada Day crafts and Canadian airbrushed tattoos. For a list of all the activities click here.

One of the best things about Canada Day is the firework show! The final fireworks show will start at 11pm over the river valley parks and North Saskatchewan River. Get the best view from the Telus Field, Alberta Legislature Grounds, Victoria Park, Ezio Faraone Park, Dantzer’s Hill and the Government House Park.

What will you be doing to celebrate Canada Day this year?

Photo Credits: In The War Between

D.I.Y. Canada Day Cupcakes

Holidays are a time for celebration and generally accompanied with tasty treats! Cupcakes are a delicious treat that everyone will be sure to enjoy eating and making them.

Red velvet cupcakes are the perfect cupcake for Canada Day celebrations due to their distinctive red colour, topped with white icing to complete our national colour combination. To add a festive touch, top each cupcake with a Canadian flag like we did or sprinkle red candy maple leafs on the frosting.

Canada Day CupcakesCanada Day Cupcakes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 (1 ounce) bottle McCormick® Red Food Color
  • 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
  • Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 (16 ounce) box confectioners’ sugar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
  2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in sour cream, milk, food color and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until just blended. Do not overbeat. Spoon batter into 30 paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full.
  3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 5 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely. Frost with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting.
  4. Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese, softened, butter, sour cream and McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract in large bowl until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth.

Recipe from All Recipes Canada

Wedding Archways

Wedding archways are a great statement piece for your ceremony as you can incorporate your wedding colours or theme into the style and décor of your archway. Archways assist in creating a beautiful backdrop for all those photos taken not only by your photographer but also by your family and friends.

Most archways come undecorated and in a variety of different styles to give you the ability to create the archway of your dreams. Add flowers and/or tulle to cover the arch completely or leave it bare for a modern industrial feel. To get the most out of your archway use it for your ceremony and then move it to the reception to adorn your wedding cake.

Wedding ArchWedding ArchLa Vie Inspirations- Branch ArchWedding ArchwayThe Secret Life of Invites - Wedding ArchWedding ArchThe Secret Life of Invites - Wedding Arch

If you have a talented handyman in your family this might be the time to ask for their time and skill to create you a one of a kind archway or gazebo. Having an archway custom made for you allows you to move this sentimental piece to your backyard for years of enjoyment.

Will you be using or did you use an archway at your wedding ceremony?

Credits: The Secret Life of Invites & La Vie Inspirations

A Canadian Celebration

Kristina McAnally from Event Planning Headquarters, the event planning division of Special Event Rentals, created a festive tablescape in celebration of Canada Day this upcoming Sunday. She created a modern picnic that is the perfect setting for any Canadian Day celebration as well as a great place to watch the beautiful fireworks display at night.

A mosaic overlay creates multiple shades of red from the holiday red majestic linen underneath resulting in mosaic blocked sections for a modern white and red checkered picnic feel. Highlighting the Canadian colours, red napkins are folded around the white dinnerware with a Canadian leaf ribbon. Small Canada flags adorn the top of a delicious white cake for a patriotic sentiment.

Canada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day CelebrationCanada Day Celebration

The backdrop is kept simple with white voile and this year’s hot trend, paper fans.  For an additional touch, large maple leaves are attached to the left side of each of the white resin folding chairs and striped, paper straws await a refreshing drink.

Gather your family and friends together this Sunday to celebrate our nation as it turns 145! For a list of all the Canada Day activities in Edmonton click here.

A Cherry Blossom Wedding

Jenelle Jamani from Event Planning Headquarters, a division of Special Event Rentals, had the pleasure of bringing a bride’s cherry blossom wedding vision to reality at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald.

Cherry Blossom Wedding CeremonyCherry Blossom Wedding Ceremony

The cherry blossom inspiration was evident at the ceremony in the soft pink chair wraps that matched the registration table. The ceremony was held in the afternoon and a quick room flip was required to create a breath taking wedding reception. The flip took two hours and five people to transform the empire ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald from beautiful wedding ceremony to a breath taking cherry blossom wedding reception.

Cherry Blossom WeddingCherry Blossom WeddingCherry Blossom WeddingCherry Blossom Wedding FavourCherry Blossom Wedding CentrepieceCherry Blossom WeddingCherry Blossom Sign in TableCherry Blossom Wedding

Cherry blossoms were incorporated through a variety of pieces in the reception wedding décor. Pink chair wraps, used for both the ceremony and reception, and coordinating table runners amplify the cherry blossom presence without being over whelming. Wedding Star gift favours, a cherry blossom print fan, are right on point with the wedding theme and tall twisted branches with fresh florals intertwined together create dramatic centrepieces.

Looking for a wedding planner for your special day? Contact Event Planning Headquarters to set up your one on one consultation today. www.epheadquarters.com

DIY Wheat Grass

This week we hosted an ISES event at our Edmonton location with catering from Bridges Catering. For the event Bridges Catering created an adorable dessert pop display. We loved the display concept so much that we wanted share with everyone how to make it themselves!

Grow your own wheat grass to display place setting cards, tasty treats such as cake pop or use them as your centrepiece!

Bridges Catering Wheat Grass Dessert Stand

You will need the following items:

  • Wheat grass seeds
  • Pot
  • Soil
  • Plastic bag

Step 1: Fill your pot with soil

Step 2: Place the wheat grass seeds in a bowl of water. Cover them about an inch over the top seed 12 – 24 hours before you want to plant them.

Step 3: Remove the seeds from the water an 1 hour or 2 before you plant the pots

Step 4: Cover the soil completely with the seeds.

Step 5: Place a plastic bag loosely over each pot.

Step 6: Place the pots in a sunny window

Step 7: After 3 days remove the plastic bags

Step 8: Your wheat grass should be ready in a week’s time

If the wheat grass gets too long for your liking you can trim the grass until it’s at your desired length for your event!

Top 10 Father Daughter Songs

The father daughter dance is an emotional and touching moment between the two and can bring tears to guests’ eyes. The song that is chosen can both bring forward fond memories and touch on the aspect of daddy letting his little girl go.

Hailey Erickson Photography - Father Daughter Dance

Top 10 father daughter songs:

  1. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
  2. When Angels Fly by Tony Ransom and The Heavenly Light Orchestra
  3. I Loved Her First by Hearland
  4. Through The Years by Kenny Rogers
  5. Always Be Your Baby by Natalie Grant
  6. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) by James Taylor
  7. The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra
  8. Unforgettable by Natalie Cole
  9. Lullaby (Goodnight by Angel) by Billy Joel
  10. 10. My Fathers Eyes by Amy Grant

What song will you or did you and your father dance to at your wedding?

Photo Credits: Bridal Guide

Fathers Day DIY BBQ Sauce

Don’t know what to get your amazing dad for Fathers Day this upcoming Sunday? Try making a homemade BBQ sauce, recipe from All Recipes Canada, for the dad who has everything and loves to BBQ.

Once the sauce is made put it in a mason jar or a container of your choice, add a personal note tag and tie it around your container with some twine or ribbon. All dads who love to BBQ will love that you took the time to create a special BBQ sauce just for him.

DIY Father's Day BBQ Sauce

Ingredients

  • 2 cups ketchup
  • 2 cups tomato sauce
  • 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
  • 4 teaspoons hickory-flavored liquid smoke
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

 Directions

  1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, mix together the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, wine vinegar, molasses, liquid smoke and butter. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, celery seed, cinnamon, cayenne, salt and pepper.
  2. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for up to 20 minutes. For thicker sauce, simmer longer, and for thinner, less time is needed. Sauce can also be thinned using a bit of water if necessary. Brush sauce onto any kind of meat during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Bachelorette Cabin Getaway

Last Tuesday we suggested a fun Go-Kart bachelor party but what about the ladies? Do something a little on the wild side by renting a cabin in Banff, Jasper or at a local lake to enjoy the fresh air and tranquil atmosphere. A cabin getaway will allow you to spend quality time with your girls before your big day.

Banff Log Cabin

Roast marshmallows, tell tales around the fire and have a slumber party with your girls while reminiscing about the past and talking about each other’s hopes and plans for the future.

A cottage by a lake will allow you and the girls to relax and get some sun on a lakeside beach.  But, if you are a little more outdoorsy and enjoy hiking along trails rent a cabin in the mountains where you can enjoy the calming nature of the wilderness.

We hope that however you choose to spend your bachelorette weekend or evening that you have a wonderful time!

Credits:

Banff Log Cabin

Wedding Entertainment

With instant access to games and videos on any smart phone or computer it’s no wonder people are starting to have a short attention span and want to be wowed on a daily basis! So it is no surprise that more and more couples are incorporating some type of entertainment during their wedding reception.

Quick SketchStudio BoothFunkified Entertainment

There are three popular wedding reception entertainment trends that are sure to keep your guest entertained. The first is a live band; find a local talent or if you have some musically inclined friends let them perform for you and your guests. The second is to hire a cartoon artist to create entertaining caricatures and the third option, one of our favorites, is a photo booth! Make your own photo booth by creating or renting a fun backdrop, have fun props such as silly hats, a digital camera on a tripod and a printer. If you don’t have the desire to create your own photo booth you can always hire a local photo booth company who will supply everything you need.

Cirque De SoleilOne WedRock N Roll Bride

If the above options seem a little too tame for the wedding atmosphere you want to achieve why not hire professional belly dancers? If you have a large reception space amaze your guests with a flamethrower or aerial artists. Before you book your elaborate wedding performer be sure to run it past your venue to insure that there will not be any issues with the type of entertainment you choose.

Will you be having any entertainment at your wedding?

Credits:

Quick Sketch, The Studio Booth, Funkified Entertainment, Cirque De Soleil, One Wed & Rock N Roll Bride