Samantha Goldberg & Sandra Aaron on Savvy Living With Marcinho Savant

Thank you to Marcinho Savant for welcoming Samantha Goldberg and myself into his radio home.

If you would like more information about the seminar happening in Toronto March 16-18th mentioned during Marcinho's show feel free to click this link The Sassi Entrepreneur with Samantha Goldberg

If you missed the show; here it is:

Listen to internet radio with Marcinho Savant on Blog Talk Radio

Sarah Houston Launches Her First Canadian Store

Video by James Frodyma with music by Ravishers

On March 3, 2011 my colleague, wedding planner Erin Bosak of Exquisite Affairs and I had the immense honor of attending the ultra-exclusive launch party of Sarah Houston's new flagship store.

If you don't know Sarah, she is an internationally renowned wedding gown designer who is based right here in Canada. Sarah is known for creating each gown with the highest quality of silks. Her gowns each have their own unique personality. Formally I had only viewed photographs of her collections. I can honestly say that not only are her gowns more beautiful in person; but for the first time in my life I walked into a bridal salon and literally fell in love with almost every dress. 

Sarah Houston Couture Bridal is located at 24 Hazelton Avenue in the Yorkville area of Toronto. Appointments can be made by calling 416.921.8882

To view the collection online please visit her web site at http://www.sarah-houston.com

Our New Web site

We've been going through a complete re-branding as you can see by the changes in how the blog looks.

The new re-branded web site is up. Please take a look. The new web site.

We've also hosting a Bridaluxe store where you can get everything from free wedding web sites, invitations, bling, etc. Pretty much anything you need to purchase to make your wedding a success you can find in this online marketplace. Bridaluxe hosts American companies so shipping might be an issue with some products. Companies like MyUs.com can help you with that

Feel free to visit the Bridaluxe store.

Soul Blogger - Shana Tova & Happy New Year

In the spirit of the Jewish High Holidays being just around the corner here's a fun little video from the good people at jewishtweets.org

To all my fellow Jews I wish you all a Shana Tova, a sweet New Year, an easy fast (if you fast) and everything else in life that is good. To all the non-Jews you there I wish you all the best in life too. It's going to be a great New Year.

Enjoy the video,

Sandra

PAY NO HST

HST is going to be painful for couples planning their weddings. That's why for the rest of the 2010 wedding season Mindless Sophistication will be covering the HST on all our non-travel related services. We can't control what other vendors do; but we wanted to make things a tiny bit easier on our wonderful couples.

This offer is valid on all Canadian based wedding/event planning, hourly consulting, day of coordination and our exclusive Wedding Concierge service.

You relax and let us worry about the tax man.

Niagara Falls is an unexpected Destination Wedding location

One of my greatest passions in life is traveling. I fully admit that I am not the type to stay on a beach resort lounging around. I like to discover the unique aspects of every country and culture. As a weddings and event planner there is nothing better then being able to combine my love of travel with my love of creating a fabulous event that people will remember for years.

Canadian planners sometimes forget the natural wonders we have in our own backyard. While Canadians are flying off to places like Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Vegas to have destination weddings many people are recognizing Canada as a dream destination location. Banff, Lake Louise, and Mont Tremblant are all amazing locations that people from all over the world travel to in order to get married.

A destination a little closer to home; for me at least; is Niagara Falls. Yes, I said it, Niagara Falls. You know, the place with the giant waterfall and then you turn around and "OH NO, WELL ISN'T THAT TACKY". For years the image below is what I thought of when I thought about Niagara Falls, Canada. Add some hotels, a couple of Casino's, an indoor water-park, a lot of American restaurant chains that oddly enough you can't find anywhere else in Canada and you have a virtual theme park created years ago to lure tourists to the Canadian side of the border.

Imagine my relief a few months ago when I was reminded that Niagara Falls, Canada has so much more to offer then the picture seen above. I actually did know there was an amazing park run by the Niagara Parks Commission. I knew there was a butterfly conservatory, a couple of enchanting golf clubs, a hot springs, and I knew the amazing history that surrounds the region. I guess living in Canada I knew all these things; but took it for granted so it wasn't top of mind. As an events planner I have a renewed enthusiasm for the place. I'm now in love with the venue's owned by the Niagara Parks Commission. I'm also in love with the the range of weddings that can be created in such a beautiful location.

You can have everything from a traditional romantic wedding surrounded by trees or overlooking the falls to a unique intimate ceremony in an air trolly over the Niagara Gorge. If that isn't good enough how about being married surrounded by butterflies or in their amazing floral showcase? I was told about a wedding that will be happening there soon where the bride is arriving on horseback. The staff is dedicated and absolutely not afraid to work with each individual couple to create the wedding that is right for them.

The Air Trolly over the Niagara Gorge where a couple will be married this summer. In this picture are myself with Sue, the Airtrolly operator, Tiana from the Niagara Parks Commission, and Selena Jamieson from Events...I Do! Photo taken by Gregory Jamieson.

I highly recommend everyone take a look at the Niagara Parks Commission web site to see many of the amazing venues they have to offer brides. Let me assure you each venue also has amazing food. Each has it's own unique features. One of the other things I love is their generous willingness to open up all aspects of the park to accommodate the desires of each couple. Can you imagine providing your guests with favours bought at the Niagara Falls gift shop? Not only can you do that; but the price is very reasonable. Gift shops have really improved over the years so there are some lovely items to choose from. They also make available the services of their famous candy shop Pop & Lollies. If a bride and groom wanted to create a Willy Wonka experience for their guests Pop & Lollies is definitely the place to go. It's the ultimate Candy Buffet. If providing the wares of the entire store is a bit out of reach how about allowing them to set up a Chocolate bar where staff will assist your guests in creating their very own custom chocolate bars? Still to much? How about providing your guests with especially made monogrammed hard candies created specifically for your wedding? It seems elaborate; but it's really not.

I could try to explain each venue myself; but it's really something that needs to be experienced. Maybe I'm a bit geeky for getting so excited about wedding venues; but hey I'm a weddings and event planner; wouldn't you be worried if I didn't have venues that I loved? If you're contemplating a wedding in the area give me a call. I'll hook you up with the best wedding you could ever imagine. With help from the wonderful staff of the Niagara Parks Commission of course. Best of all; compared to some Toronto prices a wedding at one of the Niagara Parks venues is cost-efficient.

For more details on how I can help make your Niagara Parks wedding dreams come true call 416-251-3278 or e-mail info@mindlessSophistication.com

Booking Travel

I've created a quick 10 question survey on booking travel and destination weddings. Could you please take 30 seconds out of your day and share with me your responses.

Click here to take survey

I thank you in advance for all your help.

Sandra

Ketubahs - A Jewish Marriage Contract

As many of you know an added element to a Jewish wedding is that both parties sign a marriage contract called a Ketubah. What you may not know is what on earth does all those funny looking words in another language mean. Ketubahs are actually written in Aramaic so many brides and grooms have no idea what they are signing either.

Below is a very rough translation of what this document says. When I was in school the ketubah class actually taught about 2 goats also being part of the divorce settlement. I didn't see that in the text that was translated. Which is a shame because I have always loved the idea of my husband being forced to give me a goat.

The blank lines are usually filled by hand by the Rabbi and the groom during the wedding, including the names of the couple, the date and location of the wedding, and the signatures of the witnesses. It's important to note that a non-virgin would be promised half the amount mentioned. Someone from a distinguished (such as the daughter of a king, a priest, or the tribe of Levi) family would be offered more.

Translation of the Orthodox Ketubah text

On the ______day of the week, the _________day of the month ______ in the year five thousand seven hundred and ______ since the creation of the world, the era according to which we reckon here in the city of _________________ that ________ son of _________ said to this (virgin) _________daughter of _____.

"Be my wife according to the practice of Moses and Israel, and I will cherish, honor, support and maintain you in accordance with the custom of Jewish husbands who cherish, honor, support and maintain their wives faithfully. And I here present you with the marriage gift of (virgins), (two hundred) silver zuzim, which belongs to you, according the the law of Moses and Israel; and I will also give you your food, clothing and necessities, and live with you as husband and wife according to universal custom." And Miss_____, this (virgin) consented and became his wife. The trousseau that she brought to him from her (father's) house in silver, gold, valuables, clothing, furniture and bedclothes, all this ________, the said bridegroom accepted in the sum of (one hundred ) silver pieces, and ______ the bridegroom, consented to increase this amount from his own property with the sum of (one hundred) silver pieces, making in all (two hundred) silver pieces. And thus said __________, the bridegroom: "The responsibility of this marriage contract, of this trousseau, and of this additional sum, I take upon myself and my heirs after me, so that they shall be paid from the best part of my property and possession that I have beneath the whole heaven, that which I now possess or may hereafter acquire. All my property, real and personal, even the shirt from my back, shall be mortgaged to secure the payment of this marriage contract, of the trousseau, and of the addition made to it, during my lifetime and after my death, from the present day and forever." _______, the bridegroom, has taken upon himself the responsibility of this marriage contract, of the trousseau and the addition made to it, according to the restrictive usages of all marriage contracts and the additions to them made for the daughters of Israel, according to the institution of our sages of blessed memory. It is not to be regarded as a mere forfeiture without consideration or as a mere formula of a document. We have followed the legal formality of symbolic delivery (kinyan) between ______the son of _______, the bridegroom and _______ the daughter of _______ this (virgin), and we have used a garment legally fit for the purpose, to strengthen all that is stated above, and everything is valid and confirmed.

Attested to________________________ Witness
Attested to________________________ Witness

Conservatives and Reforms often choose to include something called the Lieberman Clause. (in Jewish law a divorce can only be granted if the husband agrees; so this is a VERY important clause that gets around that problem.

The Conservative and reform Text uses the same text as the Orthodox (as shown above), but adds at the end a paragraph. This additional clause translates as:

And both together agreed that if this marriage shall ever be dissolved under civil law, then either husband or wife may invoke the authority of the Beth Din of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary of America or its duly authorized representatives, to decide what action by either spouse is then appropriate under Jewish matrimonial law; and if either spouse shall fail to honor the demand of the other or to carry out the decision of the Beth Din or its representative, then the other spouse may invoke any and all remedies available in civil law and equity to enforce compliance with the Beth Din's decision and this solemn obligation.

Angus Glen Bridal Show

I just thought I would share a couple of pictures of the Mindless Sophistication table at this weekends bridal show that was held at the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario. The venue was great. I met lot's of amazing brides and vendors. I wish I had time to take photo's during the show but; that shows you what a great event it was.

The booth was designed by the talented Carol Rame. She absolutely captured the essence of what Mindless Sophistication stands for. The materials used were all top quality. The design was elegant. She was able to blend my functional items; such as computer and banners with a design that was mindlessly sophisticated.

We accepted raffle entries for a draw to take place later this week. The prize is a beautiful Michael Kors handbag that is filled with:

- Godiva dark chocolate pearls
- A Complimentary Day of Coordination from Mindless Sophistication
- A gift certificate for a complimentary massage & personal training sessionc at the exclusive Shape Health & Wellness in Toronto
-Mikasa wine bottle stopper
- Swaravski crystal heart pendant necklace