Jennifer Troietto – The Wedding Pixie | Hamilton Niagara Burlington Oakville Wedding Planner

About Jennifer Troietto

Owner and Lead Planner of The Wedding Pixie

The Pros and Cons of a Wedding First Look

First look wedding photos are nothing new but as your big day approaches, this is a decision you will have to make based on what feels right to you both. Before laying out these pros and cons (and these are only some of them), let’s start with the basics.

Image by Birch and Lace

What exactly is a first look?

A first look is a moment between you and your fiancé, before the ceremony, where you see each other for the first time on your wedding day. Traditionally, a bride and groom will see each other for the first time as the bride starts her walk with her escort down the aisle.

Image by Danielle Blancher Photography

First Look Pros

✨ It’s a private moment that’s all for you. Your photographer and videographer will of course be there with you to capture this but no guests, family and friends are watching you. And with that, nobody has their iPhone out trying to snap a pic of their own.

✨ You can stay in the moment longer. When you do the reveal at the ceremony, your officiant will jump right in to the ceremony itself. Wedding days go by so quickly and this time allows you both to soak up the beauty of the day and shifts your focus to the love you have for each other.

Image by Photo House

✨Ladies, if you end up shedding some beautiful tears (and most likely you will), you get a chance to touch up your make up before the ceremony.

✨You get to select the location. If your venue has a stunning staircase or another amazing location, such as along the water, awesome! Or perhaps you want to return to the spot where you met for the first time, doing a first look gives you this opportunity.

Image by HRM Photography

First Look Cons

✨Typically, doing a first look means getting ready in your wedding day fashions earlier and staying in them longer. And brides this may also mean an earlier wake up time for hair and make up for you and your ladies.

✨Your parents, bridal party and guests won’t be part of this moment. Yes, I mentioned this as a pro above, but not every couple will see it the same way. The first time you see each other may be meaningful moment to your parents and missing out on that may not sit well with them. Not sure how they feel? Just ask.

✨If you opt to do your portraits following the first look, you won’t actually be married yet.

Image by Sounds Like Yellow Photography

As a planner, I’m occasionally asked by my couples if they should do a first look. While I’m happy to lay out the pros and cons as it relates specifically to their wedding day, ultimately, they have to make the decision that feels right for them. Remember, you make this decision together! It’s nobody else’s day but yours so you do what feels best.

Happy Planning!

The Pros and Cons of a Wedding First LookJennifer Troietto2021-01-25T09:47:06-04:00

Designing and Organizing a Style Shoot

Are you a new planner? Or are you dream of owning your own wedding planning business one day? Awesome! This post is perfect for you then!

Whether you’re a new planner, just beginning to build your portfolio, or are more established with years of experience under your belt, chances are you’ll participate in a style shoot at some point in your career. After all, style shoots play a huge part in our industry and seem to go along with running a wedding business.

Up to this point, I’ve participated in a handful of style shoots and boy-oh-boy are they fun! While there is no right or wrong way to go about designing and organizing a style shoot, I’m going to share with you 8 tips to keep in mind the next time you’re ready to dream up something pretty and bring it to life.

1. Define your vision

This is where it all begins. Defining your vision is narrowing down what you’ll create for your style shoot. Creative inspiration is everywhere and it can take just one photo or detail to spark your imagination.

We all know Pinterest is the go-to app for collecting inspirational photos but if you’re looking for a new tool to use to create a mood board, I suggest Canva. Canva’s easy-to-use (and free!) platform allows you to not only create any type of visual content by uploading your own photos, but when your mood board is complete you can download it in a PNG file and share it later with the rest of the team.

Whatever your vision is, it needs to be unique. If you’ve seen it done before on the blogs you follow or in your favourite magazine, stay clear of doing it again. This is your chance to shine by thinking outside the box, showcasing fresh ideas, introducing new concepts or adding a twist on a current trend.

A strong vision also reflects your brand, inspires (and ideally excites!) the vendors you wish to collaborate with and most importantly, appeals to your ideal client. Whoever your ideal client is, keep them in mind because your style shoot needs to speak to them. If you haven’t clearly defined your ideal client or you aren’t currently attracting the right type of client to your business, I recommend sitting down now and make it part of this planning process.

2. Establish your end goal

Why do you want to create this style shoot? Is it to build your portfolio? Flex your creative muscles? Do you just want to have more content for social media? Or maybe you want to be featured on a blog or in a publication?

Having a clear end goal in mind from the start keeps you on track and helps to set you up for a successful shoot. If your end goal is to be featured, particularly on a blog, do your research ahead of time. Most blogs clearly outline their guidelines so get familiar with their submission requirements before you actually shoot. Take note on what image size and file type they are looking for, how many images they want and how you go about sending them in. No matter how stunning your professional images end up being, if you don’t follow the rules you run the risk of rejection.

3. Make sure you have the time to do it well

Before you start reaching out to vendors, take the time to consider your current workload. Designing and organizing a style shoot is fun but let’s keep it real. Style shoots are almost as much work as a wedding. As the planner, don’t underestimate the time commitment involved. You’re the one leading the team and much of the organization and logistics will fall on your shoulders.

If your schedule is full with other commitments, consider doing the style shoot at a different time. I’ve always found spring to be a sweet spot for style shoots. Coming out of winter, I’m full of ideas, excited to create something pretty plus my schedule allows the time needed to focus on the project and be there for my team.

Style shoots are a perfect opportunity to bring your A+ game so vendors see what it’s like to work with you. Your personal goal should be to have every vendor wanting to work with you again, either on another style shoot, or even better, on a real wedding where they have referred you to their client!

4. When building your dream team, start with the photographer

There is no shortage of talented photographers in our industry and like all creatives, every photographer has their own skill set. Choosing your photographer needs to be done carefully because they can make or break your style shoot.

For example, if you want your style shoot to have a deep, bold and moody look, choosing a photographer whose style is light, bright and airy is going to completely miss the mark in the end regardless of how beautiful the images are in their own way.

It’s also worth noting that a well-rounded style shoot includes a variety of images showcasing the smaller details too such as jewelry, menu cards, seating chart and invitations. With this in mind, the photographer you choose should be just as good at capturing the smaller details as they are when photographing models.

5. Write a style shoot contract

Ok, I know this may sound a little bit much. You may even think it’s unnecessary, but hear me out. Having a signed contract in place with each vendor is vital to ensuring everyone is on the same page at the start of the process. Every team member needs to understand what they are getting into and having a contract in place goes a long way to avoiding surprises down the road.

What should a style shoot contract include? Your lawyer is the best person to advise on what needs to be included to protect yourself however, if you aren’t ready to invest in one, a basic contract template should clearly define the following:

Date and location. Since many style shoots take place outdoors, having a back-up date or an alternative indoor location in mind is something to consider in the planning stages just in case there is rain in the forecast on shoot day.
Theme/vision/colour palette details
A list of items the vendor will provide
Expectations on shoot privacy and exclusivity

A great platform to use for obtaining electronic signatures is HelloSign. I started using this platform last year for securing new clients and I love it! Not only is it user-friendly and convenient but you can send up to 3 documents every month without a paid subscription.

6. Create a timeline for shoot day

Just as you would for a wedding day, create a timeline. This is essential to keep you focused and to value everyone’s time. Be sure to include when each vendor should arrive, what time will you start shooting and when you expect to wrap up so teardown can begin.

I suggest working in breathing room (i.e extra time) as well. Loading in rentals and setting up vignettes can take longer than anticipated and of course there’s always a possibility of other unforeseen hiccups and delays.

7. Prepare a vendor contact list

As the planner, you know who is who on the team and who is providing what for the style shoot, but that doesn’t mean everyone else on the team does.

Show your professionalism by taking the time to ask each vendor how they would like their business to be credited. Take it one step further by organizing the information so it can easily be shared with the rest of the team after the shoot.

When I participate in style shoots, I create a simple chart detailing the name of the business, their role in the shoot, their website and their exact social media handles. Social media handles are particularly important to include as multiple businesses can have very similar account names and of course, you want to ensure everyone is tagging the correct business.

Doing this work upfront will not only be appreciated by the team but it’ll save you time later since a full vendor list is needed if you intend on submitting to a blog or publication.

8. Don’t Share the Images Online

You may be thinking, “But Jen, we’ve worked so hard and we are super excited to share what we created!” I hear you and believe me, I get it. It’s tempting to share your hard work, however, if you plan on submitting your style shoot, keeping the professional images off social media is best.

Each and every blog or publication has their own set of submission procedures but exclusivity does tend to be a common requirement. This means it can’t be found online anywhere, including your website. It’s also a good idea to only submit to one at a time and wait for feedback before submitting elsewhere.

Although the professional images should be kept off line until you receive feedback on your submission, snapping a few behind-the-scenes photos to share on social media on shoot day is something I encourage. I personally love sharing teasers that don’t give away too much of the details through stories on Instagram. This gives your followers a tiny glimpse into what you are working on, it gets them excited to see more and the best part, after 24 hours, it’s gone.

There you go, 8 tips for designing and organizing a style shoot! The next time you’re ready to dive into the world of style shoots, I hope these tips come in handy. Style shoots are certainly a lot of work, and can be stressful at times, but the lessons you learn from the process will make you a stronger planner in the end.

Note: This post was originally written for and featured on WPIC.

Images by The Butterfly Photography, Tamara Lockwood Photography and Sounds Like Yellow Photography

Designing and Organizing a Style ShootJennifer Troietto2020-12-08T11:58:55-04:00

Wedding Styling Tips for the Groom

Let’s hear it for the boys! When it comes to wedding fashion, let’s be honest…much of the focus and attention goes to the bride and her dress. I’m definitely guilty of this. However these days, now more than ever before, a groom has endless suiting and colour options, which makes his wedding day style just as exciting as the bride. Here are 3 styling do’s for a flawless and dapper groom:

DO go for a 3 piece suit, if you opt to go the full suit route.

Wedding days are long and I often find my grooms itching to ditch their suit jacket once the ceremony and pictures are done. Completing your suit with a matching or complementing vest will go a long way in still making you look put together, sleek and stylish for the rest of the evening during dinner and dancing!

DO pay your tailor a visit for the perfect fit.

Remember, it’s all in the details. Just as the bride does dress alternations with a professional seamstress for her perfect fit, grooms need to do the same. Fit and comfort are key and only a tailor will be able to customize the most flattering fit based on your build. Or if you have a little more room in your budget, and want to invest in a suit that you will wear after your wedding day, consider a custom made-to-measure option.

DO be bold and stand out from your gents.

More and more often, I see grooms distinguishing themselves from the gents by choosing a different suit colour or subtly switching up their look. Yes, a groom’s attire should complement what his gents are wearing for a cohesive look but that’s not to say he needs to be 100% matching. There are plenty of options available out there for the groom to play off the gent’s look while showcasing his individual tastes.

Post images by Danielle Blancher Photography, Goody Cambay and Silverlight Photography

Wedding Styling Tips for the GroomJennifer Troietto2020-12-02T10:32:27-04:00

Event Insurance and Why You Need It For Your Wedding

So, you’ve finally picked your date, you’ve found the perfect venue, and you’ve selected your bridal party. What’s next? While it’s exciting to get wrapped up in all the details of food and decor, one thing should be crossed off your list before you start to get too far into the planning process.

Purchasing wedding event insurance might not seem like your main priority as you get ready for your special day, but it’s a crucial step to ensure you remain protected throughout your event.

Wedding insurance provides you with an extra slice of comfort as you start to get everything in order for your big day. Still unsure what wedding insurance is even for? Let’s explain!

So what exactly is wedding event insurance?

Purchasing event insurance for your wedding day provides you with liability coverage, which means your policy is designed to protect you in the event someone gets injured during their time at your event. For example, if one of your guests accidentally slips and falls on the dancefloor and sustains injuries, you and your venue are at risk of being sued. Wedding insurance is meant to protect you in case any legal fees arise out of an accidental injury.

Most venues will actually require you to purchase insurance before they allow you to host an event in their space!

Does wedding insurance cover alcohol-related incidents?

Most wedding event insurance policies offer host liquor liability coverage for an additional cost. This additional coverage was created to protect you if an accident occurs as a result of alcohol, for example, if your uncle has a few too many glasses of champagne and accidentally causes damage to the venue. With host liquor liability, you can enjoy your bubbly without worrying about the “what ifs?”.

So how do I purchase wedding insurance?

Our partners at Duuo provide online wedding insurance that can be purchased in minutes! Simply visit their website and answer a few quick questions about your event, and you’ll be able to purchase coverage in less time than it takes to say “wedding liability insurance coverage”. Plus, if you need to cancel your coverage for any reason, you can do so without acquiring any cancellation fees!

A BIG thank you to Rachel Devitt of Duuo for helping to prepare this post!

Image via Shutterstock

Event Insurance and Why You Need It For Your WeddingJennifer Troietto2020-09-03T18:39:16-04:00

Real Wedding: Meaghan + Mike

Each and every wedding day is special. No matter which service offering the couple has chosen to hire me for, I love being part of a day that celebrates love. Meaghan and Mike’s August wedding was elegant, intimate and it came with an unique twist for me because I was also a bridesmaid. That’s right, I traded in my binder and flats for a bouquet and high heels and boy-oh-boy, it was SO. MUCH. FUN!

Edgewater Manor, located in Stoney Creek nestled along the shore of Lake Ontario, provided the picture perfect setting for their I do’s. From the stone staircase in the lobby to the manicured grounds, Edgewater Manor is a spectacular venue. Meaghan and Mike’s ceremony (performed by Beverly King of All Seasons) was short and sweet and afterwards guests mingled on the terrace for cocktail hour before heading inside to the Morris Room for dinner and an evening of dancing.

Meaghan and Mike entrusted Shelley from Wine Country Floral to create magic and well, she NAILED it! The bouquets were full of texture and a perfect blend of soft and bold colours. The stunning arbour installation, with blush and ivory drapes, was later repurposed after the ceremony to the head table. To compliment the opulant features of the Morris Room, the long rectangular guest tables were completed with simple arrangements in clear small vases, tealights and accented with Italian ruscus, which is always a classic choice to add fresh greenery.

Tony and Danielle of Little Blue Lemon kept the bridal party laughing all day while effortlessly capturing all the simple pretty details and heartfelt moments perfectly.

A BIG massive thank you is needed to my biz bestie, Dianna of Amavi Event Planning and Design, for holding it down that day by overseeing set up and coordinating all the activities planned so I could actually take off my planner hat, pick up a drink and fully enjoy the day watching my best friend marry her love.

Happy One Year Meaghan and Mike!

Real Wedding: Meaghan + MikeJennifer Troietto2020-08-18T09:55:56-04:00

Real Wedding: Andrea + Mike

With the summer wedding season brought to a halt due to COVID-19, I’ve been reminiscing lately – alot actually – about all the weddings I have been fortunate and truly blessed to be part of over the past 6 years. This has been helping keep my spirits high during this time of uncertainty and serves as a gentle reminder not to give up hope that we will celebrate love in big beautiful ways again.

All weddings leave me with heart prints and one of my favs from last season is Andrea and Mike. Oh my heart, what a fabulous couple to work with! From the first time I sat down with Andrea and Mike, I knew we were a match made in planning heaven. Andrea was organized, thorough in her details, had a vision for the day, which I immediately connected with, and was looking for a wedding pro to oversee set up and help with making the events of the day run smoothly.

The day started off with a sweet ceremony at Miller’s Chapel (Ancaster Mill) and was followed by photos at McMaster University. This campus, with its architectural features and lush grounds, always provides a picturesque backdrop and I have to say, not only did Andrea and Mike bring their A+ game for their photo session but so did their bridal party. Everyone looked natural and comfortable in front of the lens with the ladies flawless and stunning in soft blue while the gents dapper and GQ ready in their dark suits.

Choosing only one word to describe their reception, it would have to be romantic. Winona Vine Estates in Stoney Creek hosted Andrea and Mike along with 250 of their family and friends for the evening. The elegant ballroom was filled with high and low centerpieces of white and cream florals, touches of greenery and had plenty of gold accents throughout. The high ceilings also allowed for an oh-so-pretty backdrop installation by A Night to Remember

Big love to Silverlight Photography for capturing all the moments and details of this day so perfectly and to Goody Cambay for creating a delightful same-day edit video, which all guests were treated to before getting their groove on and dancing the night away. To watch Andrea and Mike SDE video, click here.

Andrea and Mike, cheers (and hugs) to your 1st year as Mr. and Mrs!!!

Real Wedding: Andrea + MikeJennifer Troietto2020-05-29T08:40:10-04:00

Planner’s Lounge – Day in the Life Feature

For wedding planner pros like myself, Planner’s Lounge, is one of the top go-to places for resources, tools and just being part of a greater community of like-minded individuals. I’m an avid follower of their Instagram and you can always find me reading up on their latest blog posts. Needless to say, when I saw the opportunity to possibly be featured on their blog as part of their “Day in the Life” series, I jumped at the chance!

While you hope for your submission to be chosen, I truly didn’t know what to expect because I can only imagine the number of submissions they receive. I still remember thinking “well, let’s just see what happens” when I hit the “Send” button. I found alot of joy just completing their questionnaire because it gave me a chance to reflect on my journey so far in the industry and for me, that was enough right there to be grateful for, regardless of if my submission was chosen.

Fast forward to the day I received the email saying they would love to feature me!! ME?!? AMAZING! WOO HOOO!!!!

Wondering what a typical day looks like for me? Or how I got my start in the industry? Then be sure to check out the full blog post here.

Thank you Planner’s Lounge for the feature!!!

Image via Planner’s Lounge

Planner’s Lounge – Day in the Life FeatureJennifer Troietto2020-05-15T10:22:11-04:00

Real Wedding: Lindsay + Karthik

I love celebrating love and new beginnings. Every wedding I have the honour of being part of creates beautiful memories to look back and reflect on. When I think of this wedding from my past season, I feel it holds an extra special place in my heart because Lindsay, the bride, is often seen by my side on wedding days as one of my rock star assistants. It’s always a privilege to be chosen by couples to help coordinate their special day but when you are chosen by an industry peer, there really is no greater compliment a planner can receive.

Lindsay and Karthik’s I Do’s took place on the grounds of Dyment’s Farm in Dundas, Ontario. Looking back at all the beautiful moments captured that day by the talented Zekar Photography, none bring a bigger smile to my face then the moments captured from the ceremony. I mean, come on! Exchanging vows overlooking the town of Dundas? How picturesque! What a perfect backdrop! So utterly dreamy and romantic. I suppose a big thank you to Mother Nature is needed for her part in making this peak ceremony happen. The dark skies of the day certainly had me on my toes and when we were minutes away from starting the processional and I do mean mere minutes, could you believe rain drops could be felt? Eeek!!! But Mother Nature miraculously pulled through and held that rain off. Every couple wants bright and sunny skies on their wedding day but look at the stunning beauty that can be captured when the skies are moody.

One of my biggest loves from Lindsay and Karthik’s wedding is how they beautifully weaved each of their cultures throughout the day. Lindsay’s dad being Scottish, wore a traditional kilt and of course no Scottish wedding would be complete without a bagpiper. Doug Wickham provided the recessional music and played the Bridal Party in for the Grand Entrance. Karthik’s Indian background was highlighted with Mehndi designs on our bride’s hands.

Another love and stand out for me from this wedding are the florals. Lindsay and Karthik entrusted the task to Colleen from Petal 2 the Metal Mobile Flower Shop and she NAILED it. Being in this industry, I certainly have a weakness for fresh blooms but the combination of textures, rich shades and light tones found in the bouquets, centrepieces and other various elements like the welcome sign were simply magical.

Make sure you scroll down for all the vendor love!

Real Wedding: Lindsay + KarthikJennifer Troietto2018-02-07T16:59:28-04:00

So This Is Love Featured Style Shoot

Oh boy friends!!! 2018 is off to a beautiful start for so many reasons and THIS is one of them as last week this moody and utterly romantic creative shoot was featured on So This is Love. Cue the happy dance! The opportunity alone to simply be involved as planner/stylist and collaborate with this team of amazing woman was enough to make my heart beam with happiness but to have it recognized by others in the industry…well, it truly leaves one with such a rewarding feeling.

There are so many elements to fall in love with that I honestly think it’s impossible to pick a favourite. Originally our vision for this creative shoot included freshly fallen snow but of course Mother Nature had a different idea in mind that day giving us overcast skies and plenty of fog. And you know what? That’s ok because those gloomy foggy skies were so much of a better fit to highlight our colour palette of rich and bold shades. Who knew fog could create so much beauty! Seriously? Have a look at those to-die-for images in the field it created. Totally swoon worthy!! That fog paired with lush greenery created the ultimate fairytale forest setting for our couple. Accenting with soft lit lanterns, a white wooden rustic table and long glass vases with floating votives added the perfect finishing touches to our natural setting. Our wedding cake featuring gold foil and a fresh floral arrangement is beautiful enough to stand on its own but we chose to complement it with a fun sweet treat for any age…s’mores!

As always, I am so grateful and tremendously proud to have this creative shoot in my portfolio and to finally be able to share these dreamy photos with you all is SUPER exciting.

Make sure you scroll down for all the vendor love!

Click here to visit So This is Love blog feature

So This Is Love Featured Style ShootJennifer Troietto2018-01-29T16:36:12-04:00

WedLuxe.com Featured Style Shoot

Oh friends! My heart is bursting with gratitude and I am beaming with pride as this magnificent team and I are finally able to share with you a style shoot we collaborated on back in May. Never could I have imagined the experience that was waiting for me when Shelley from Wine Country Floral emailed me in on a drury cold December day asking if I wanted to participate in a spring 2017 style shoot with her and Tamara Lockwood (Side note: I adore Shelley as a human being and to say I LOVE her gorgeous creations is an understatement so without any hesitation I was in!!). A few creative meetings later we set our shoot date for May 3rd and started assembling our dream team. Everyone on this team brought their A game and I can honestly say I have never had a project come together so effortlessly.

For this style shoot, we were inspired by Mother Nature’s magnificent beauty during blossom season, fresh fruit and the picturesque grounds of our Niagara region location. We loved the idea of incorporating a red sangria station complete with a mini-tower of mini-pies in addition to our lightly textured cake trio, which we of course topped with berries and blooms. The dress we featured and draping of the harvest table with a sheer linen were chosen specifically to add touches of soft, flowy elegance to our setting. Our romantic intimate tablescape with gold accents, rustic chairs and a long floral centrepiece, was the perfect complement to the striking red and white barn exterior.

As the date of the style shoot was getting closer, we all started looking at our weather apps, just as every bride will do leading up to her wedding day. Every report was the same – gloomy rainy weather for the whole week with even thunderstorms on Wednesday, the day of our shoot. Fantastic! Not! I now found myself giving myself the same pep talk I give my brides about not being able to control the weather and even if it rains the day will be beautiful. Except I truly didn’t know how we would pull this one off in the rain. Given how effortless everything was up until this point I should have had better faith in Mother Nature because as it turned out, even she on our side. That particular week in May saw a record breaking amount of rain and it came down every single day that week except Wednesday! And friends I do mean rain every day and all day – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Wednesday however, brought sunshine and clear skies so much sunshine and clear skies that I ended up with a sunburn on my forehead, nose and the top of my feet!

I am so proud to have this shoot in my portfolio and I cannot tame my excitement that today it is featured on the WedLuxe blog!!

Make sure you scroll down for all the vendor love!