Our team at Maddy K along with Sylva of Sylva K Makeup were invited to the Preston Bailey Celebrations Book party that took place on January 28, 2010 in NYC - here are some of the highlights of our evening - enjoy!

Preston Baileys Celebration Book Launch Party!

For the few of you that might not know who Preston Bailey is... he is one of the premiere event designers of our time... author of Design for Entertaining, Fantasy Weddings, Inspirations and Celebrations!!! On twitter he describes himself as "event designer, International Traveler and Artist" ... I would add "inspiration" to that list! Preston is so highly looked upon by industry insiders and inspires professionals in the event industry to push the boundaries of their creativity!!

Marcy Blum, is another very highly celebrated event designer who has done numerous celebrity events and happened to be a guest speaker at our first annual Bridal Boudoir,which took place in December of 2009! We had the pleasure of getting to know Marcy better and learnt that Marcy and Preston are very good fiends and their friendship goes way back! Hence it was a no brainer for Preston to ask Marcy to plan the launch party of his new book "Celebrations"

So you can imagine our excitement when we received an invitation from Marcy to Prestons Celebrations Book Launch party taking place tomorrow in NYC!!! So a few of us at Maddy K will be on our way very shortly to NYC to attend the Celebration Party of the year :)

I will be tweeting live from the party so you could follow me to get regular updates www.twitter.com/maddykatelier

oh did I say that the dress code is "HOT" !!! :) LOVE IT!!!

"Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of, There's nothing you can't do, Now you're in New York.
These Streets will make you feel brand new, Big lights will inspire you, Hear it for New York, New York, New York!" - Alicia Keys

We heart New York!

Below are some photos of the space where the party will be hosted... I am sure the transformation will be out of this world!

Recently, I was speaking to a Bride about her experience at the Bridal Boudoir, and she was going on and on about 1 gift in the gift-bag that stood out. She was talking about her Christofle keep-sake. She told me that her jewelry box was so special and beautiful and was inspired to purchase something similar for her bridal party and her future mother-in-law.
We were also very impressed by Christofle’s gifts for our brides at the Bridal Boudoir Affair. So we want to thank Christofle for their elegant and beautiful gift.

We’d like to especially thank Neeti Sharma of Christofle chez OLGIVY’s on Sainte Catherine. Should you or anyone you know be looking for that little something special (Valentine’s is coming up!) ask for Neeti or one of her dedicated and knowledgeable associates at the Christofle pavillion at OLGIVY’s.

For more inspiration and a sneak peak of their collection, visit the Christofle's website or call them at 514-987-1242. Their location is 1307 Rue Sainte Catherine West.


Thank you Christofle for your beauty and elegance! Christofle has been creating products of luxury for 170 years.

Our first Eco Wedding; featured in Chic Magazine!!

I was so excited to see that one of our weddings was featured in the recent issue of Chic Wedding Magazine!!!

Reachel and Ryan were married this past July at the beautiful Hyatt Montreal Hotel. They were a couple from Toronto, that decided to get married in Montreal, because they just loved everything about Montreal!!! Photos of the wedding were captured by our friends at Phototerra (AGAIN!!!).

Below is what Rachel had to say about her wedding... don't forget to pick up your copy of Chic magazine... it's on newsstands now and to see more photos of the wedding you could visit our facebook fanpage!


The summer of 1995 was bliss – it was the summer that me and my husband first started dating. Ryan was 19 years old and I had turned sweet 16. We met in high school in our hometown of Fort Frances, in Northwestern Ontario. We weren’t sure whether or not our relationship would last beyond the summer as Ryan was heading off to university and we’d be a 20 hour drive apart.


Fast forward to fourteen years later and he we are still together, happy to call the city of Toronto our home. Although we were almost the last of our friends to get married, the timing to felt perfect for us. Ryan and I decided to do a destination wedding in Montreal, Quebec. It has the European flare that we desired, yet still close enough to Toronto that we could take part in the planning process. With the help of our wedding planner, Madeleine Kojakian - That's ME!! :) we were able to create the wedding of our dreams – non-traditional, modern and with an overall eco-organic feel. I know this sounds very cliché, but it honestly was the best day of our lives. The weather turned out gorgeous and we were surrounded by all our friends and family who made the trip using planes, trains and automobiles to get there! Michael Greenberg of Phototerra Studio was our incredibly talented wedding photographer who did the most amazing job at capturing the beauty of every single moment of our day. We are thankful to everyone involved in our special day for all your help and dedication – it could not have turned out more perfect without you!


I can't stop watching our slide show!!! I love it, love it, love it!!! Ryan absolutely loved it too - we are so happy about the way the pictures turned out - Michael is such a fantastic artist. And I LOVE the music you picked out - very cool. It's stuck in my head now:) It's very exciting to show our family - we are getting phenomenal feedback!

 


In Sickness and In Health!

So in the coming weeks we will try to post up some 2009 Real Weddings that we did!! As we take a few moments and look back at all the photos and all the couples that were in our life in the past year, we feel a mixed emotions!! Its hard to move onto a new season of planning when you build such great bonds and relationships with your past brides... we do miss them all and we hope to build the same bond with our 2010 brides!!!

In the meantime, this is a Real Wedding that is very close to our heart!! Our friends from Phototerra were there to capture the beauty of their love ... here is a small video capturing the highlights of the day!

We started working with Nathalie in 2007 to plan her 2008 wedding, however after she was diagnosed with cancer the wedding date had to be pushed up to 2009... Her strength and her grace is something we will never forget ...

This is her story...


It’s ironic how things turn out in life, especially when you’re the only one who shows up. Nathalie had no idea she’d met the person she would later consider her husband when she showed up for a company function where no one, except Dale, showed up. Nathalie and Dale became close, and started dating shortly after. One Christmas, the couple drove to Montreal from Toronto to be with Nathalie’s family for the holidays. They were caught in a horrific snowstorm and turned a 5 hour drive into a 10 hour one. The couple had such great conversations and enjoyed each others company in what seemed to be horrible circumstances, that it was then Nathalie knew he was the one.

They had become engaged and planned to have their wedding October 4th, 2008. That was until Nathalie found out she was diagnosed with aggressive type of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. The couple postpone the wedding, and she began chemotherapy shortly after. She finished chemo and radiation in December 2008, and was declared in remission shortly after. Dale was there for her every step of the way and supported her through this very difficult and emotional time. They rescheduled the wedding to July 2009 and continued planning their wedding.

They are a very down to earth couple, so they wanted a wedding that wasn’t too over-the-top and they kept their theme very clean and fresh felling. Having originally planed for a fall wedding, they kept some of the elements that they had already planned, but toned it down for summer or added more summery elements to the decor. There was one major difference this time around, their wedding favors were not gifts, but the couple made a donation to the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation where Nathalie had her treatment. Based in Toronto, the hospital is a world leader in cancer research and patient care. “I received such good care at the Princess Margaret Hospital that we decided to give something back to the Hospital and help in the fight to end cancer.” says Nathalie.

With the help of Maddy K Weddings, they worked on altering the reception theme and concept from a fall wedding to a summer wedding. The couple took comfort in having someone in Montreal to coordinate their special day seeing as they live in Toronto. Maddy K made sure that everything was exactly how the couple wanted their day to be seeing as it was a tremendously special day. Everything was perfect to the very last detail, including flowers, decor, and stationary.

Nathalie and Dale were married on July 11th 2009, and when they said their vows “In sickness and in health” they knew that wouldn’t be a problem.

We wish them the best in their lives together and nothing but love, health & happiness!

For more photos from their wedding go to our Facebook Fan page!

Kiss My Face!!!

This afternoon we met with one of the brides that attended the Bridal Boudoir Affair. The couple came to see us for conceptualizing the look and feel of their wedding - a beautiful vineyard wedding!!! During our meeting, I asked her what she enjoyed most about the boudoir, she said she loved our 'goodie bags' ... specially the Kiss My Face Organic Lipstick!!!

Turns out that she is allergic to lipstick and she's been looking for lipstick for years... and after spending so much money and trying all lipstick brands, she had come to terms with the fact that she may never be able to wear lipstick... even on her special day!! So when she was going through the boudoir goodie bags and came across the 'kiss my face' lipsticks, she was a bit hesitant to try them, but finally she did and to her surprise, her lips did not react!! She tried again the following day and once again, nothing happened... and finally after numerous times of trying, it was clear to her that 'Kiss My Face' lipsticks were the answer to her prayers!!!

'Kiss My Face' sheer organic shimmers & shines contain natural mineral color, vitamins A&E to repair and protect lips and come in a variety of luscious organic flavors . They All are earth friendly products containing no parabens, SLS, phthalates, synthetic colors or flavors, and use of animal ingredients or testing. They are good for the lips because they contain organic Shea Butter, Tocopherol and Organice Sunflower Oil, which improves skin's moisture retention and is rich in Vitamin A&E.

Kiss My Face offers a variety of skin and body products. You could learn more about the company, founders and their products by visiting www.kissmyface.com

I am so happy that we were able to help our bride find 'lipstick' that she will end up using for her wedding day as well as many years to come!!

Thank You Kiss My Face for caring about us!!!

Announcing two great Trunk Shows...

Ottawa Brides:

Mia Bridal will be hosting a Lea-Ann Belter Trunk Show on Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17, 2010 (10am-4pm both days). Appointments will be necessary and space is limited.

Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to view the entire 2010 collection; and, some of Lea-Ann's more popular gowns from past seasons that are not available in the salon.

In addition, Mia Bridal is offering a 10% discount on Lea-Ann Belter gowns ordered during this event.

You can see the full Lea-Ann Belter collection here...
Call Mia Bridal at 613-723-7233

Montreal Brides!

Jenna les Collections will be hosting a Trunk Show:

January 15-17, 2010. As the exclusive supplier of this collection, Jenna les Collections will feature the latest collection from Blue by Enzoani Bridal Gowns. It’s by appointment only.

1307 rue Ste. Catherine West (Ogilvy 3rd floor) Call: 514-842-7711 ext 364

To propose or not to propose...

Tonight we had plans to go out with my brother and his fiance for dinner and movies! Initially the plan was to watch the movie "nine" however after announcing the plans to the guys, then both refused and asked us nicely to pick another movie... so we picked "Leap Year" ( I know that was mean!)

Amy Adams and Matthew Goode star in Leap Year, a romantic comedy that follows one woman’s determined quest to get married to the perfect guy…despite what fate has in store for her. When their four-year anniversary passes without a marriage proposal, Anna (Amy Adams) decides to take matters into her own hands. Investing in an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men on February 29th, Anna decides to follow her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin and get down on one knee herself. But airplanes, weather and fate leave Anna stranded on the other side of Ireland, and she must enlist the help of handsome and surly Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. As Anna and Declan bicker across the Emerald Isle, they discover that the road to love can take you to very unexpected places.

I must admit... the movie at times was quite cheesy, but the "hopelessly romantic" in me couldn't help but think it was "really cute"!!

The real question though is... if you were in her shoes, would you propose or would you wait??? I

Do you think it's ok for women to propose or should they just accept the fact that if a man doesn't propose, it means they just don't want to propose!!

What would you do? Would love to hear your thoughts... and because I am in the mood to be nice, I am announcing an official contest! Submit your proposal story (it has to be the girl proposing) and the best 'female' proposal will win a "Maddy K Decor Package".

Good luck!!!

To all 2010 and 2011 brides - Welcome to Maddy K and a Happy New Year!

New Years is the most popular day for proposals followed closely by Valentines day... so all of you that were proposed to on New Years day... Congratulations and welcome to the Maddy K blog! For those who don't know me, my name is Madeleine Kojakian (that's me in the photo) and I am the founder and head designer of Maddy K Weddings + Events Atelier! We at Maddy K are dedicated to bring you everything you need to make your special day, truly unique and outstanding!!! We love beautiful things, and can't help but design beautiful weddings ;)

After having a very hectic November and December, we are now back to our planning and back to researching and designing upcoming weddings!! Many things have changed this year, and we're excited to share everything with you!!

Firstly, we have moved into our beautiful atelier where all the planning, designing and consulting will take place!!! We will bring everyone to you, which means that you will not have to move or go anywhere, you just come to our loft, sip on your martini and we will do the rest :) We also realize that last year has been a tough year to some of you... with the economy and the budget cuts, we have created a special package for those brides that still want to have a glitzy wedding, but on a budget... it's our 'Decor Package' and yes even our dear brides from the US would now be able to use this package!!! Contact us for more info!

Finally, we wanted to end the note by saying that we had a blast in 2009... our brides were all fabulous... they were all a pleasure to work with and we will miss them dearly! We wish them all the best for 2010 and hope to be in touch!! In the meantime, we haven't updated our gallery yet, so you could refer to our facebook fanpage to check out the 2009 weddings we did last season!!! Much more to come your way in 2010! Enjoy :)

For all of you that could not make it to our Bridal Boudoir back in December you could see some of the photos here... video will come soon! Yes we will have another boudoir in 2010... it will be bigger, better and Fabulous!!!

Just because you can't make it, doesn't mean you'll miss it! The Bridal Boudoir Affair will be going live on our Bridal Blog bridalboudoiraffair.blogspot.com all day sunday december 6th! You'll see all the action as we do!

don't forget, it's bridalboudoiraffair.blogspot.com

SIM Minerals is a premium quality natural make-up made from finely milled, pure mineral pigments, pharmaceutical grade freeze dried vitamins and natural extracts to enhance, nurture and protect your skin. Reveal your inner beauty with optical diffusing minerals for a luminous, lightweight, long lasting, water resistant complexion.

The longer you wear SIM Minerals, the more flawless your skin will look and feel!

For over a decade, as a professional make-up artist working for fashion, commercial and corporate clients, Lisa Sim, the creator of SIM Minerals, has recognized for her creative, educational and motivating approach to empowering women and beauty. Lisa’s passion for beauty goes beyond the camera, with the belief that all women can look smart and beautiful everyday with “Simple. Intelligent. Make-up” that is actually good for you!

SIM Minerals is giving 200 free make up applications for the gift bags at the Bridal Boudoir and a gift for the Bridal Boudoir Raffle.....

The SIM Mineral Prize to be won is:

SIM Minerals universe with this introductory package including:

- A SIM Minerals Shaker Jar Foundation, our star product, a 4in1 powder, foundation, concealer & sunscreen, that can be applied wet or dry either with our SIM Mineral Mist or your favorite toner or moisturizer;

- A Luscious Kabuki Brush for a perfect application;

- A private consultation & application with Lisa Sim at Illusions, Westmount’s Eco-Concept Salon.

Facebook Fan Page

Lisa’s blog

Website

A Sexy Tradition in Wedding Garters!

Julianne Smith began designing and hand creating simple, stylish wedding garters in 2005. Her couture creations are chic, modern and unique, causing brides to rethink the wedding garter tradition. Brides can choose from over 40 different wedding garters in Julianne’s collection, which includes the first-ever eco friendly line of wedding garters. Julianne specializes in custom designing wedding garters that perfectly fit the bride’s personal sense of style. Julianne’s stylish wedding garters have been featured on the Today Show, Lifetime’s Get Married, Daily Candy, Martha Stewart, Brides.com and many other publications and blogs. Whether brides flaunt it, toss it or keep it as their little secret, Julianne’s fresh designs are all about embracing the wedding garter tradition...with style!

Julianne is excited to be a part of the Bridal Boudoir! This event will be all about the chic, stylish Montreal bride, which fits right in line with her collection of stylish wedding garters. Her stylish wedding garters are modern, fresh and stylish, just like today's brides!

To see the latest Garter Girl Trends, visit Julianne Smith's Garter Girl Blog.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're happy to introduce you to our newest cover girl... Winter/Spring 2010! She'll be making her newsstand debut on December 14, 2009 on newsstands across Canada." Says Angela Desveaux in the WedLuxe Editor-in-Chief Blog.

The new cover of WedLuxe looks absolutely stunning, and we know the entire team at WedLuxe put the best of the best in this upcoming magazine! The magazine does not hit stands until December 14.... but every guest attending the Bridal Boudoir Affair at the Opus Hotel is getting a copy! Now that's exciting!

Visit WedLuxe for all things designer when it comes to weddings & don't forget, the fabulous Angela Desveaux will be at the Bridal Boudoir Affair.

When it comes time for you to choose a honeymoon location, the options are seemingly endless.
Today people are overwhelmed by information on travel and tourism services and need more guidance from someone they can trust.
Maddy K Honeymoons services will play an important role in helping you make intelligent choices based on your individual needs.

This week, I will talk to you about one of the biggest honeymoon trends, cruises!

Cruising is a perfect honeymoon retreat! With onboard spas, fine dining and stunning places to visit, a cruise makes for a perfect honeymoon.

From the soaring volcanoes of the Azores, to the beauty of the Panama Canal, the charm of Hawaii to the fun and color of the Caribbean, the wilds of Alaska or the cities of Europe, cruise lines companies visits some of the world's most amazing and exotic locations.

With breathtaking scenery, ancient sites and cultural splendor, the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean have so much to offer. From Gaudi's stunning architecture in Barcelona and the canal city of Venice on Italy's Adriatic coast, to the glitz and glamour of the Côte d'Azur and island hopping in Greece, there’s so much to discover.

Why not visit the jewels of the orient including Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Hong Kong. Discover many fascinating cultures, sample mouth-watering cuisines and enjoy relaxing days at sea on the turquoise waters of the South China Sea.

The best part is that you can see all of this on one trip!

The Caribbean, Mediterranean and Hawaii are particularly popular

Come and meet me at the bridal boudoir and we will schedule an appointment together to spend time to talk about your interests for this once in a lifetime vacation.

If you have any questions regarding cruising or any other honeymoon destinations, you can always reach me at Alexandra@maddyk.com.

Marcy Blum & Angela Desveaux

These two women are powerful, exciting, and experts when it comes to wedding planning & wedding fashions! And they'll be at the Bridal Boudoir Affair!

Marcy Blum

Celebrity Eventista

Marcy is a world-renowned event planner, entertaining expert and author, Marcy Blum , crafts every event with her own distinctive brand of unpretentious elegance, and an almost-preternatural ability to visualize space. With a flair for imagining the unimaginable, Marcy creates events that stimulate the senses, delight with unexpected details and make clever use of even the most traditional venues. In 1986, Marcy launched her eponymous company, Marcy Blum Associates, beginning with corporate events and evolving into social events, including weddings, birthdays, bar mitzvahs and more.

Angela Desveaux

Editor-in-Chief at WedLuxe Magazine

Angela Desveaux, Editor-in-Chief at WedLuxe Magazine, will be speaking and answering all your questions at the Bridal Boudoir Affair on December 6th in Montreal! WedLuxe is your ultimate Canadian wedding resource for planning a high-style, decadent soirée. They proudly feature the design and style behind the most breathtaking weddings in the country–including the work of elite and award-winning wedding purveyors. Angela's Blog is by far one of Canada's most sought after "go to place's" for all things luxury and high-fashion when it comes to weddings!

Be sure not to miss Angela & Marcy at the Bridal Boudoir Affair on Sunday December 6th, 2009 @ KOKO Restaurant + Bar & Suco Resto Lounge!

Hello Sunday!

This is Valerie, Maddy K’s public relations and publicity specialist, and I’m really excited to announce that we will be blogging LIVE from the Bridal Boudoir on Sunday December 6th @ The Opus Hotel!

This is me - enjoying the month of December. I'm a social media nerd and have been embracing all I kind find about "what's new" for a while! My passion for weddings and beauty is what makes working with Maddy K so much fun - i'll be blogging live from the Boudoir along with Jackie and Kelly!

And i’d like to introduce them to you:

Jackie is a journalism & PR student at both Concordia & McGill universities, respectively. Her weaknesses include feathered accessories, baking cupcakes and cookies (and eating them, too!), beating her boyfriend at Monopoly and over-priced designer shoes. While Jackie is not yet a bride, she can easily tell you what her dream wedding would be - this week. Jackie has two blogs that she casually maintains in between juggling school and life.

Her blogs are:

The Anecditz [ http://theanecditz.blogspot.com ]: An anecdotal blog chronicling the misadventures of Jackie - the AnecDitz - through shopping, sample sales and the like.

Craft with Jackie [ http://www.craftwithjackie.com ]: Where Fashionista meets DIY - Craft with Jackie shows how to make trendy accessories by recycling household items, all without breaking the bank.

Kelly is a born and raised Montrealer whose varying interests range from fashion to professional sports to food and wine. She studied Journalism at Concordia and Public Relations Management at McGill, and once worked for the Montreal Alouettes as Game Day Reporter for the official team website.

She is currently developping a Montreal fashion/culture/dining blogzine.

Both of our bloggers are really excited to indulge in all things weddings!

You'll be able to go to http://bridalboudoiraffair.blogspot.com/ on the day of the Affair & afterwards.

So put the link in your favourites and we'll see you then!

How to Plan a Dream wedding with Marcy Blum! This is a great little tid-bit about how to plan a wedding and the work involved with planning the wedding.

Marcy Blum is definitely one of the best Eventista's out there!

Enjoy the video, and don't forget... Marcy will be at the Bridal Boudoir on December 6th, 2009.

EMBED-How to plan a dream wedding - Watch more free videos

We've worked with Bravo for quite some time, their service and their helpful staff have always made our experience with them absolutely amazing.

Weddings can be overwhelming ...so many details, so many options...they try to make the brides feel comfortable & relaxed as they listen & try to understand the bride's vision of this very special day.

And what's more, they are the only party rental company open on the weekends which has helped the Maddy K Team once or twice!

We have had the opportunity to work closely with Bravo in many instances.

Louise Apa, of Bravo tells us about a story she remembers from last summer:

"I remember an event in June where Maddy K came in on the Saturday of the

wedding to select some linens, because the "Eco - CHIC look she wanted to achieve was not working out with the lienens supplied by the venue. Cool as a cucumber, very professional & calm, she made this last minute selection on some cotton /linette toppers that really cinched the look. It was the perfect accent and we came through for her & her client with hours to spare."

That wedding was for Rachel & Ryan and those lines really helped finish the look!

We wouldn't have our Bridal Boudoir Affair with Bravo! We can't wait for you to speak with them at the event!

Buy your Bridal Boudoir Affair Ticket now!

Michelle Wall doesn't just make cupcakes, she creates little pieces of heaven that can be considered as wonderful pieces of art.

Clever Cupcakes is for brides who opt for the cupcakes instead of the traditional wedding cake. Clever Cupcakes specializes in creating wedding cupcake towers that are both breathtaking and unique. Michelle prides herself on working closely with both brides and grooms to ensure each cupcake tower is perfectly tailored to the couples' tastes both in appearance and flavour. Using only the finest ingredients and allowing for the highest degree of customization her goal is to not only meet but exceed all expectations.

What trend is Michelle seeing when couples are looking for cupcakes.....

"Brides have really gotten into creating custom cupcake flavours just for their weddings. We have taken this trend one step further and we will soon be offering wedding cupcakes made with the bride and groom's favourite wine!" Says Michelle.

So why choose a cupcakes over cake?

"There are many reasons to choose cupcakes over a cake. One is that wedding cakes have to be baked days before the event while our cupcakes are always baked the morning of so they are a lot fresher than cakes. With cupcakes you don't have to worry about cutting a cake or figuring out portion sizes. They are also often a more economical option. Best of all you can have your cake and cupcakes too! We offer 5" cutting cakes to top our cupcake towers!"We love Clever Cupcakes and we know all our brides will too! Clever Cupcakes is happy to be part of the Bridal Boudoir Affair, get you tickets now and get a 10% discount off your Clever Cupcakes!

Get your Bridal Boudoir Affair Tickets Here