one size does not fit all

photo credit: Tracey Heppner
(the girls at East Vanity Parlour!)

Two years ago, when we were playing around the idea of an alternative wedding show with our friends over at Blue Olive Photography, we had no idea what a huge response we would receive!




Indie I Do was started to give wedding couples an alternative to the cookie cutter wedding where one size does not fit all. Our goal is to provide wedding couples to think outside the box and provide alternative options that they can incorporate into their wedding. This may be adding a green touch to their special day.... a handmade twist... or a punk hair do!


Mark your calendars! Our next show will be on January 22nd, 2011.

Etsy Finds Friday

Etsy Finds Friday is a speckle of random things that have caught my eye on etsy.com. Great ideas and lots of inspiration for your upcoming wedding or to add a little handmade love to your life.

photo credit go to the respective shops listed below

(From left to right)
Top: Blanca Monrsgmez Fine Jewelry, Icing 101, Have it Confections

Middle: Red Chair, d.sharp, layer cake shop

Bottom: Party Poms, Girl on a Vine, Hello Victory

lotus events @ indie i do

photo credit: Tracey Heppner

Tracey Heppner is one of the most nicest people in the universe. Seriously. Hand down. She spent the entire day at Indie I Do last January just hanging out and snapping beautiful images of our lovely vendors. Pictured above is our booth set up. Displays are always so difficult for me. I have two concerns: 1) To stay on budget and 2) To not have to transport / move too many things i.e. everything needs to fit in a Toyota Echo Hatchback.



My inspiration for this year... a blue and white checkered table cloth I thrifted from Portland. That white crinkly linen on top? That's an Ikea blanket. The petit fours? Made of felt and glue. The cutlery? That was a wedding present from Robert's sister that has never really been used except for Indie I Do booth displays. Everything else? Thrifted or from around the house. Oh yes... and the background? That's a 4ft x 8ft chalkboard that has hand drawn images of all things wedding planning by phanie.



I love it!

Etsy Finds Friday

Etsy Finds Friday is a speckle of random things that have caught my eye on etsy.com. Great ideas and lots of inspiration for your upcoming wedding or to add a little handmade love to your life.

photo credit go to the respective shops listed below

(From left to right)
Top: Baum Birdy, lalalaurie, Nelle
Middle: Swann and Smerlin, LH Calligraphy
Bottom: Suili, Mi Bazaar Latino, Nest Pretty Things, Artful Beginnings

a life update

photo credit: Julie C.

Oh yes! The Olympics are in town! Vancouver seems like one big crazy party and the world is invited. I am too young to remember Expo 86, so I can't tell if there was a similar feel, but I have never seen the City like this before. Three years ago, we signed our Olympic contracts and the time has finally arrived. Our home away from home is down at the Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion on Granville Street and West Pender Street. I hear that it is the second most popular exhibit in town, so it is no surprise that there are 3 to 4 hour line ups outside waiting to come in and see the Olympic medals and the million dollar coin. I think that the only wait that beats us is the zipline over at Robson square which is 5 to 6 hours wait time.

I'm trying hard to balance everything that we have going and keep the blog up to date, but with us working 14 hour days from February 3rd straight through to March 3rd, it's getting harder. Yesterday was the half way point. This means that we both completed 200 hours in the past two weeks and have 200 more to go. Needless to say, holiday plans are brewing for March!

Don't worry. It's not just work and no play. I did get to visit the Olympic exhibits on Granville Island, Northern House, catch a men's hockey game and ride the new tram from the Olympic Village. Have you made it to Atlantic House? There is a section up at the Arts Club where you can dress up as Anne of Green Gables complete with dress, hat and a wig with pigtails then go and pose in the living room set. Now, that's a souvenir!

what is day-of coordination?

photo credit: ♥ Cherie ♥

As a wedding coordination company, one of the services that we provide is wedding day coordination. So what is this and why do I need it? Here’s a post to help wedding couples decide if they should hire a helping hand.

Wedding day coordination is for the wedding couple that has planned their entire wedding and is looking to sit back and enjoy their wedding day. When you book a Coordinator to assist, we meet the wedding couple to discuss every single detail of the big day including all of your vendors, venue and anybody else involved. We then organize all of the notes and contracts and put it into action. With us, day of coordination also includes attendance at the ceremony rehearsal which gives the wedding party an opportunity to get to know us.

So do you need wedding coordination service? Well, it depends. Do you want the rental company to call you during hair and make up and say that they miscounted and don’t have enough chair sashes? What about the florist calling to say that they can’t find the venue during your wedding pictures? Do you want to be watching the clock the entire time to make sure the MC is cued and that dinner is served on time? Yes, you could get your mom to do it or ask your cousin Sarah since she has offered to plan your wedding. You have to remember the number of hours that they will need to spend prior to the wedding and on their wedding day when they should be enjoying your special moment.
Hiring a Wedding Coordinator is often a minor expense for having peace of mind and know that everything is taken care of the way you envisioned.

Services include (customized depending on the couple):

Planning stage:
• detailed consultation
• research any outstanding vendors and services
• confirm all details with vendors
• on-going emails / phone calls for guidance
• prepare a wedding timeline
• final meeting prior to the wedding to wrap up loose ends
• attendance at the rehearsal

Wedding day:
• ceremony and reception set up
• issue final payments to day-of vendors
• cuing the MC and other speakers
• provide a bridal emergency kit
• oversee all vendor commitments and ensure that everything is running smoothly and on time
• assisting any late guests
• supervision and assistance with the take down of any left over items including rentals

For more information or to book a complimentary consultation, contact us at info [at] lotusevents [dot] ca or check out our website.

Etsy Finds Friday

Etsy Finds Friday is a speckle of random things that have caught my eye on etsy.com. Great ideas and lots of inspiration for your upcoming wedding or to add a little handmade love to your life.

photo credit go to the respective shops listed below

(From left to right)

Top: Bueno Style, Bake It Pretty, Bliss in a Teacup
Middle: K is for Calligraphy, lalalaurie, Mister Rob
Bottom: Sweetie Pie Press, D Shop, Lara Lewis

DIY Vancouver

Ta-dah!

I started a new project with Granville Magazine earlier this month called DIY Vancouver.

It's a blog to promote DIY, announce crafty happenings, teach others to make stuff and celebrate crafters and all things handmade with a focus on Vancouver. We will talk to handmade artists, teach you how to incorporate DIY into your life and show you were to locally source your supplies and locally made finished goods.

Interested in contributing to the blog? Do you know of an event that should be mentioned? Maybe you want to see your favourite craft store featured? Leave me a comment and I will let you know how you can be involved!

wed :: inspiration :: random thoughts

Here is another collection of random ideas that you can incorporate to any wedding or event.

photo credit: Martha Stewart

I never really understood the use of egg cups, but look! So pretty!


Paper garlands make everything look festive and they are simple to make. Materials: hole punch, pretty paper cut in any shape and paper clips or string to hold them together. If you have a sewing machine, feed them through or even try this with pieces of felt.

Did you also check out the baking molds holding the tea lights? There is a whole assortment of vintage baking tins for sale over at Ethanollie's Shop.


I have always loved incorporating fruit into decor pieces. What a nice and fresh surprise! Are you having a signature cocktail? Why not add some frozen grapes to a mix.

Need an alternative idea to name cards? They double up as favours and guests can stay green by planting them at home afterwards.

Etsy Finds Friday

Etsy Finds Friday is a speckle of random things that have caught my eye on etsy.com. Great ideas and lots of inspiration for your upcoming wedding or to add a little handmade love to your life.

Celebrate Valentine's Day with these scrumptions delights!

photo credit go to the respective shops listed below

(From left to right)
Top: Bird Haven, My Paper Crane, Something's hiding in here

Middle: Sass Box Classics, Shelf, Hutch Me

Bottom: Smith Letterpress, Whimsy Wire and Wool, Paper Pastries

Etsy Finds Friday is a speckle of random things that have caught my eye on etsy.com. Great ideas and lots of inspiration for your upcoming wedding or to add a little handmade love to your life.

conversation hearts

photo credit: Martha Stewart

Remember when you were little and the teacher used to send you home with a list of names, so that all the kids would get a Valentine's card? Then on Valentine's day, there would be a party with pink heart cookies and candies.

I remember saving the one from my childhood crush and feeling so special even though his mom probably wrote it!

These conversation hearts shout Valentine to me. The ones pictured above are sugar cookies iced to look like the candy you find at the drugstore. If you are feeling crafty and want some of the old school kind, try whipping up some of your own with this recipe I stumbled across.

work spaces

photo credit: martha stewart

Earlier this month, Craftzine started a feature called Craft Spaces. I'm such a studio space voyeur! I love peeking into other people's work areas. I posted about our living area back in November.


photo credit: o bella

With the new year and the promise of keeping things clean, the Etsy Storque also posted an article called Studio Envy : Tips From Our Community's Inspiring Spaces.


photo credit: Dolan Geiman

Check out this amazing wall of crates by Dolan Geiman which was also featured on Design*Sponge's Sneak Peeks.


photo credit: martha stewart

This is the inspiration board for one of the editor's of Martha Stewart weddings. There are tons of images of inspiration boards on flickr.

Oh.. if you know only had the room right?

the many faces of cleo

Cleo is a 14 year old siamese tabby snowshoe that was rescued from the BC SPCA 7 years ago. I'm a pretty crazy cat lady when it comes to taking pictures of random cats I meet on the iphone, so I thought I would upload them here and make a collage.