TIS' THE SEASON... TO GET ENGAGED!!

While many lucky girls found themselves spending the Christmas season (also known in the wedding industry as engagement season), eyes glued to the new rock on their finger and celebrating their newly acclaimed title of bride-to-be, engagement season is not over yet.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have both always been popular times for marriage proposals. Family and friends are usually gathered together providing the perfect opportunity to share the moment with them. New Years Eve of course is also a favourite. You're already in the celebratory mood and really, can you think of a better way to start off the New Year? But there's still one day left. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and completes the list of most popular days to get engaged!

Guys, are you ready to propose to that special little lady in your life but missed the boat over the holidays and are now hoping to redeem yourself on the 14th? Here are three reasons why Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to pop the question.

♥ Unlike Christmas and New Year’s, Valentine’s Day is an intimate holiday allowing couples the privacy to enjoy the moment alone together.
♥ It’s the most romantic day of the year.
♥ Most restaurants, hotels, spas, etc plan something special for Valentine’s Day so it’s guaranteed to be a great day/night.

Viva la wedding would like to send out an early Congratulations! to all the couples who will be celebrating their engagement this Valentine's Day.

Josie (zipper, without wood)

Charlie Flower (spring 2010 colors- Florenza, churchill bronze and cobalt detail)

Nikola (white "hair on" cowhide)- front view

Nikola- under front flap

Nikola- back side

THE KLEINFELD EXPERIENCE CONTEST!!

One lucky bride-to-be will get a chance to take part in this once in a lifetime experience!

Your love story could win you:

· a $5000 gift certificate to Kleinfeld
· a private store opening in Manhattan, New York
· personal styling services provided by Randy Fenoli and a Kleinfeld Bridal Consultant
· free airfare and five-star accommodations

Entering the contest is easy!

Submit your engagement or romance story to TheRingBearer.ca before February 14 2010. The Top 10 love stories will be posted online on February 19 2010. You, along with the rest of Canada, will have one month to vote for your favourite! The winner of The Kleinfeld Experience will be announced on March 20 2010 after the nationwide vote has been tallied!

MOVIE DAY

Whether you're hiding out from the cold at the art gallery or embracing it skating on the canal, there are a ton of fun things to do and great ways to spend a January afternoon in Ottawa. But sometimes it's nice to just stay home, snuggle up on the couch with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea, and have a movie day. A wedding movie day of course! Here are a few we love. What's your favourite wedding movie?

VÉRONIQUE & ANDREW GET MARRIED!!

Véronique & Andrew were married at the Crowne Plaza on Saturday January 30 2010. Their entire winter wedding took place on the Penthouse level. The ceremony was held in the Panorama Room, cocktail hour in the Foyer, and then dinner was served in the Pinnacle Room. The view from each area of the Penthouse was just breathtaking. It truly was a magical night! Viva la wedding wishes Véronique & Andrew all the best in their new life together!

Here are a few images captured by Blair Gable. Visit his wedding blog to see more of his amazing work.

Venue: Crowne Plaza
Linen: Groovy Linen
Flowers: Mood Moss
DJ: Quality Entertainment
Cake: TJ's Cake Design
Hair: Anne Marie Rooney
Makeup: Sarah Walsh
Photographer: Blair Gable

EMBRACE THE COLD

Some couples choose to get married in the winter months, seeing it as an excuse to plan a destination wedding down south and get out of the cold. Other couples choose not only to embrace the cold weather our winter months are famous for, but head even further north to celebrate. If you're planning a winter wedding and fall into the 2nd category, Viva has the perfect place for you!

Since 2001 the Hôtel de Glace has wowed over half a million visitors. Open from the begining of January to the end of March, every year the hotel is redesigned and rebuilt in its entirety (which takes approximately five weeks). From the moment you enter the hotel, you'll be blown away by the amazing decor made entirely of ice and snow. Chandeliers (made of ice of course!) hang from 18 foot ceilings, artwork emerges from the walls of snow, and all the furniture is made of sheer ice.

There are 36 rooms and theme suites for guests to spend the night - yes, your bed is a block of ice but a wood boxspring and matress lie on top. There's an interior courtyard, an Ice Cafe, hot tubs, saunas, functional fireplaces, an ice slide (9 feet high and 53 feet long) and a reception room known as the Ice Bar - the perfect place to enjoy a little live entertainment and a cocktail or two.

And for those of you planning your wedding, there's the Chapel (pictured below) - a unique and simply beautiful place where couples exchange their vows each year. There are three wedding packages to choose from - The Romantic from $2199, the Exotic from $3899, and the Magical from $6199. Arrival in a horse drawn carriage, fireworks and open bar are all optional add-ons to help personalize your day.

The Hôtel de Glace is at Station touristique Duchesnay on the shores of Lac St-Joseph, just 30 minutes from Québec City.

TAKE ME TO THE BEACH!

Brrrr! While Viva loves winter weddings, we don't love winter. It's darn cold in Ottawa and after blogging about a hotel made of ice, we need a little something to warm us up! Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming! to the rescue!

Lisa was the creative mind behind this rustic beach wedding. Not the typical wedding we may invision when we think of a destination beach wedding but that's what got our attention. There isn't a detail here we don't love.

Photo Credits: Elizabeth Messina

SNEAK PEEK AT VÉRONIQUE & ANDREW'S WEDDING

Véronique & Andrew were the 1st place winners of Viva la wedding's Inspiration Board Contest back in July 2009. Details of their wedding to come but in the meantime, here is a teaser of the fab photobooth they created.

The photobooth was set up for guests to enjoy during the cocktail hour and throughout the night. Around the two framed cut-outs hung pictures of Véronique & Andrew's parents and grandparents on their own wedding days.

Needless to say, it was a big hit and made for some wonderfully unique photos!

TURQUOISE WEDDING

With Turquoise being declared the colour of the year by Pantone, we thought it was only right to provide you with a little inspiration.

The Schultzes took some amazing pictures of Jenn & Brad's wedding including this one of the gorgeous bride and her stylish groom in his turquoise blazer. Jenn's turquoise hair accessory provided the perfect touch of colour to complement Brad's blazer and complete their look.

Dying to see more? Here you go...