Hope you all had a great Easter. We had an egg [and present] hunt. It was lovely weather and we ate in the garden which has got to be an Easter first. Also did some Easter decorating as hadn't done any at Christmas as we were away.
Now it's back to work although on Friday we'll be watching the Royal Wedding - which obvioulsy counts as work when you are in the business of wedding planning! Can't believe the amount of media interest the US is generating for the event. BUT it's one thing the UK does better than anywhere else - pomp and ceremony! Don't you just LOVE our soldiers in full ceremonial uniforms?
We've had a little flurry of enquiries over the weekend for weddings in Niagara. Not sure why they all came at once over this particular weekend but I can see why the location is popular. The area provides something for everyone ... from the thrill of The Falls, the serenity of the historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake to the lush, green acres of vineyards.
Choose a location for the perfect outdoor wedding ceremony – in the garden of an historic Inn, surrounded by grape vines, on the edge of Lake Ontario in the Gazebo or be daring on board the Maid of the Mist approaching the Falls. If you're a fan of winter, go for all things frozen during Niagara-on-the-Lake’s annual Icewine Festival where there is even an ice bar in the main street. Obviously, there are plenty of indoor locations available ranging from a traditional North American colonial style through to modern sophistication.
Locally sourced food is of the highest quality and some of the best chefs in Ontario are found in kitchens here. The vineyards produce world class, award winning wines not to be missed!
Here's a taste - if you want to know more, email or phone us. We're happy to help.
For the past few weeks, I have been considering a random comment made by my daughter that most wedding cakes are designed to appeal to the bride and what about the groom as it's as much his wedding. This obviously doesn't take into account an additional cake for the groom but she does have a point. At least she has a point if the groom involves! I was speaking with someone today who is 2 months away from being married. He has been given a book with all the groom's responsibilities. Has he read it? No! Will he read it? Yes, he tells me, about 2 weeks before the wedding! Perhaps if he is reading this, the website staggered [men's wedding blog / men's wedding website] may be of interest to him? (We do advertise our site on there focusing on weddings in the snow with winter sports.)
Anyway, back to cakes - I have concluded that a lot has to do with flowers and colour. Paler pinks and corals will always be girly although brighter pinks not so much. Adding flowers also seems to make a feminine statement. However I have found some cakes from a couple of sources - real simple/tara donne and delissious cake studio.
I've shown them in a video as I'm enjoying playing with my new found skill ? !
This is the first video I've made - think it works; I hope you like it. The images are from some of our favourite photographers working in Muskoka and also some fab cottage country venues.
For those who don't know Muskoka, it's all about the great outdoors where Ontarians get back to their roots surrounded by nature and water! It's an easy journey a couple of hours north of Toronto and is known as 'cottage country'.
The photography is by Elizabeth in Love, Heather Douglas, Images by Paulo, Lemon Fresh, NightinGail and Kelly Holinshead - The Shutterbug Gallery.
The venues are
Hidden Valley Resort where the gracious lifestyle of a bygone era is recaptured. Originally built along rugged shorelines in the late 1800s when the area’s resorts were sumptuous retreats for the very wealthy and their friends, you’ll experience the authentic Muskoka when you arrive at the new Hidden Valley Resort.
and
Domain of Killien which you'll find nestled in an idyllic setting of forested hills and lakes near Algonquin Park. It's a unique oasis of rustic magnificence, waiting to welcome you. The estate is more than 5,000 acres and features a small, historic inn on a lakeside as well as private cabins.
This will keep me happy for HOURS! I've just found out that the BBC have launched an online archive for Desert Island Discs. Not all episodes are playable - don't know why - but the information is there for you to search. By castaway, by music, by luxury, by other guests who liked same/similar tracks. The BIG question is who to listen to first. I have 2 all time favourites Dr Gwen Adshead who was on last July - I listened to the Sunday programme on the way to Leeds - and Joan Armatrading who I was staggered to find was castaways in 1989! Her music choices are there but not the recording which is a shame as I just remember thinking it was an amazing choice of music, totally unexpected but one of the tracks I am sure she said she always played when she did the hoovering! Listening now to Martin Sheen as I arrived in Leeds yesterday before it was finsihed. Guess you'll have worked out when I usually listen.
