Top five tips on how to plan your big day the easy way
April Northcott, Casablanca Winery Inn & Spa’s primary wedding planner, has helped hundreds of couples plan their big day, including Santi and Dave Olsen. Santi and Dave recently held their wedding ceremony and reception at Casablanca, located in the quaint rural town of Grimsby, Ontario, in the gateway to Niagara’s wine region. In 2016, Casablanca was recognized by WeddingWire.com as one of the province’s top places to get married, and it’s easy to see why. Below, April and Santi, armed with fresh wedding-planning tips and years of experience, share their best advice for how to successfully start the wedding planning process: Check the “big three” items off your list first — date, venue, officiant Planning a wedding can be overwhelming for any couple. That’s why April recommends focusing on three key items first: “Book a date and venue first, followed by a wedding officiant,” she says. “Your wedding can’t go ahead without someone to marry you and a place and date to do it. All other vendors can follow from that point on.” Choose a venue where you can envision your dream wedding What’s your preference — intimate and elegant, or grand and extravagant? No matter what type of wedding you want, the venue should cater to your needs. For Santi and her husband, Dave, they found their perfect reception setting at Casablanca’s Panorama Restaurant and Wine Bar. “We wanted an intimate setting for a wedding of about 60 people, and Panorama was suggested to us,” explains Santi. “We loved it as soon as we saw it and we could both envision how the day would come together.” Santi also wanted a venue that offered convenience. “At Casablanca, I did everything in one place without leaving the building: prewedding massages, ceremony rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, hotel stay, ceremony, photo opportunities, reception and even brunch the day after wedding!” Read online reviews When you need help making a decision on a particular vendor, search outside of your immediate circle of family or friends and go online to see what other couples are saying. “Look on WeddingWire.com and WeddingWire.ca for great reviews from happy couples,” April recommends. Work with a wedding planner who is supportive and knowledgeable “You’ll be planning the big day for up to a year with your wedding planner, so you want to make sure you like working with that person and that they are knowledgeable,” April explains. Santi confirms that April was by her side throughout the wedding planning process and also on the day-of. “April was always friendly, professional and able to patiently answer any questions or concerns I had. I would feel completely lost at times because there are so many details to go through, but she would help me stay focused.” Attend a “wedding open house” and discover trusted vendors “A wedding open house provides guests with a variety of products and services available to help them plan their special day,” says April. The next wedding open house at Casablanca Winery Inn Sunday, & Spa is happening on February 26 from 12 to 4 p.m. “You can find an officiant, DJ, florist, decor provider, photographer, cake baker, hair and makeup artist and more that day. You can also see what’s popular and on trend for linens, decor, flowers and more.” “Dave and his parents attended Casablanca’s last wedding open house, and they thoroughly enjoyed it,” says Santi. “They collected brochures and business cards from the many vendors. Because these vendors are invited by Casablanca, you know they are reliable and can be trusted.” For more information on Casablanca Winery Inn & Spa and to register for the open house click http://casablancawineryinn.com/seasonal-overview/ wedding-open-house/