Where is the best location to elope in Newfoundland? Just about anywhere:) Seriously, we love Newfoundland and its people that much. But if you are looking for scenery that will take your breath away, elope in Twilingate during iceberg season. It is, after all, the Iceberg Capital of the World.

When we arrived in Twilingate in early June (the best time to go for viewing icebergs) we instantly fell in love with the quaintness of this small town – population 2,196 people. Like many towns in Newfoundland, it was a historic fishing community, but because of the decline of the fishing industry, its economy now relies more on tourism.

We stayed just outside of Twilingate in Crow Head (population 177) at a vacation rental called The Viking Vacation Home we found on VRBO. The rental was cosy and provided an incredible view of Notre Dame Bay, complete with ice bergs.  A picture window strategically placed in just the right location is one of the best features of the Viking House. Sit in front of the window and linger over your morning coffee or evening wine. You won’t find a better view – anywhere!

As avid sea glass collectors and beachcombers, we loved the fact that we were only steps from the shore. The Viking House is also within walking distance of fantastic hiking trails, Crow Head (saw the best sunset of our lives there) and a lovely café that serves excellent coffee.

The owners were so fantastic that we quickly became friends. They even let us in on some of their best spots for collecting sea glass! (Ann, Mike and Karma, we miss you!)

An elopement at the top of Crow Head would be incredible! I almost wish I could get married all over again just to experience it!

We did lots of hiking while we were in Twilingate; one of our favourite trails was Little Harbour Trail. We did get lost a couple of times along the way, but luckily found out way back to the beaten path before panicking.) Long Point Lighthouse is another fantastic hiking spot, with incredible views of glaciers in Notre Dame Bay.

If you head to Twilingate during iceberg season, a boat tour is a must. We took the Iceberg Quest tour and got up close to the majestic icebergs. Until you are up close, you really can’t appreciate the sheer scale of some of the more massive icebergs. While on the vessel we got to taste 10,000 year old bergy bits (pieces of glacier ice) and heard compelling stories from the fisherman guides on the boat.

If you decide to make Twilingate your elopement destination,  fly into Gander International Airport which is 116 kilometres or 1.5 hours from Twilingate. It’s an easy drive, but the highway in some areas is in rough shape, so there will be areas where you will need to slow down. Which is exactly what you do when you arrive in Newfoundland, anyway:)

If there’s one thing about the wedding ceremony that I failed to recognize until my wedding day it’s how quickly it flies by. All that planning, all that anticipation, all that excitement – and in 20 minutes it’s over.

But that doesn’t mean the time, energy, and creativity that go into planning it, aren’t worth it. They’re more than worth it. Twenty minutes may not seem like a big chunk of time in the grand scheme of things – but it’s still enough time to create a bundle of wonderful memories. You can bet that mental snapshots of those few sacred moments will linger for a lifetime.  Especially, if you’re ‘present’ enough to take it all in. And cutting your guest list will help you do just that.

Countless brides we’ve featured on Intimate Weddings said that having a small wedding allowed them to be more relaxed during the ceremony. The fact that they were surrounded by only family and friends – instead of mere acquaintances or even strangers, allowed them to truly be themselves.

Instead of being in a stressed out wedding day haze, they were calm enough to experience the day with clarity.

But having a small ceremony doesn’t mean that all wedding day nerves will be banished. At least not for everyone.

I’m not crazy about being the center of attention, so I envisioned myself being a bit of a wreck.

Thankfully, my nervousness didn’t get in the way of allowing me to enjoy every moment, nor did it get in the way of me being able to remind myself to really notice everything, and everyone around me. I was ‘present’ enough to let the love within me, and the love that surrounded me fill me up. I continue to bask in those sweet, warm memories 18 years later!

Having a small wedding gave me more opportunity to be ‘present’ during our ceremony, and looking back I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

My wish for you is that you will be thoughtful about your guest list and include those who you really want to be there. Are you inviting certain guests only out of obligation? Knowing that everyone in attendance has a special place in your heart will go a long way to making you feel at ease during those precious few minutes at the altar.

If you want help with scaling back your guest list read 10 Ways to Slash Your Guest List.

Photo One: Dmitri and Sandra Photography; Photo Two: Paige Nelson Photography; Photo Three:One Eleven Photography;

DIY beeswax wraps make the perfect eco-friendly wedding favors!

As more and more of us move away from single use plastic, the demand for eco-friendly alternatives has grown by leaps and bounds. Beeswax wraps are the perfect alternative to single use plastic wrap! Your guests will love these eco-friendly options, and you can feel good by promoting a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.

We used second-hand fabric to make these beeswax wraps even more environmentally friendly! Search second hand stores for cotton fabric that you can use for these favors.

Tips for Making DIY Beeswax Wraps

• We recommend using cotton fabric that has a pattern. We made a few beeswax wraps with solid colors and they did not turn out as well as they turned out ‘splotchy’. Cotton vintage bed sheets work perfectly!
• If you are using a solid chunk of beeswax, place it in the freezer first so it is easier to grate.
• If you can get your hands on a rotary cutter, it will make the process of cutting the fabric much quicker.
• Keep beeswax wraps looking new by placing them in the oven at 150 degrees. Let wax melt and remove wraps from oven. Let cool on hard surface.
• Do not use the wraps to cover meat. You don’t want any funky bacteria growing on your wraps.

DIY Beeswax Wraps Recipe

(Makes four sets of beeswax wraps)

2 Cups  (150 grams) Shredded Beeswax or Beeswax Pellets

12 tbsp (40 grams) Food Grade Pine Rosin

60 ml Organic Jojoba Oil

You will also need:

An iron

Parchment Paper

Scissors or Rotary Cutter

Cotton fabric

DIY Beeswax Wraps Instructions

Cut your fabric. If making groups of three, cut the following sizes:

Small – 8 x 8 inches

Medium – 11 x 11 inches

Large – 14 x 14 inches

Grate beeswax.

Measure jojoba oil.

Use a rolling pin to grind pine rosin into powder. The finer, the better!

Place beeswax, jojoba oil and pine rosin in a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.

Place a piece of parchment paper below your fabric. Sprinkle mixture onto fabric.

Place another piece parchment paper on top of fabric. Iron (on low) over your parchment paper until wax is melted. Add more wax mixture to fabric so that the fabric is evenly coated. You will only need to do this to one side of the fabric.

Remove parchment paper and let cool.

Leave to set for several hours before folding and adding your labels.

Open the 3″ x 11″  DIY Beeswax Wraps Wedding Favor Labels in Canva.

Click on File found on the status bar.

Select Make a copy. This will open a new window with the copy of your design saved to your account.

Now you can go ahead and edit the text in in Canva.

Add label to beeswax wraps. Use two sided tape to adhere label.

Now your wedding favors table will be ‘buzzing’ with happy wedding guests!

*post includes affiliate links.

If you love the idea of having children at your wedding, that’s awesome! Go ahead and invite as many kids as you want! You can bet they’ll look adorable all dressed up, and they’ll probably bring an element of sweetness and spontaniety to your wedding that only kids can offer.

We had kids at our wedding – there were only three – but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. That said, I understand why some couples opt for a ‘no children wedding.’ Couples generally spend months orchestrating their weddings – not to mention saving for them. Along comes one tantruming toddler during the wedding ceremony, and Kaboom! the vibe is turned upside down. Some couples can roll with it, others not so much.

Kids are unpredictable. They cry. They make messes. They bump into things and are known to stick their fingers into places that they shouldn’t (i.e. cake, nose, you get the picture.) And the fancy pants dinner in front of them might just go untouched.

Also, sometimes adults just want to be with other adults. And that’s okay. So many parents don’t allow themselves to take a break from their kids they forget what it’s like to let loose with other adults. An adult only event will give them permission to let their hair down and have some kid-free fun.

This is all well and good, you say, but how can I break it the people on my guest list? It’s true that as soon as you mention that kids will not be permitted at your wedding, some of your invitees might secretly scorn you. Namely, the ones on your guest list who can’t imagine leaving their little ones back at home with a babysitter. Some of your guests will be perplexed about your decision and they might even challenge it. They might even argue that it’s anti-family not to invite children and that weddings are all about family.

If you are sure you want a ‘no children wedding’, how do you ensure that your adult guests won’t bring their offspring?

Whether your motives for going kid-free are a limited guest list, or trepidation that crying babies, tantruming toddlers and playful preschoolers will wreak havoc on your wedding day, here are some ways to get the message across to your guests that kids aren’t invited:

• Prior to sending out invitations, give friends and family who have kids a call to let them know that a wedding invitation is on the way and that you have opted for a ‘no children wedding’. That will give you them opportunity to field questions and you the chance to let them know that you are having a small wedding and that your guest list is limited. It will also give them the time to line up babysitters.

• Wedding etiquette experts say that it’s tacky to write ‘no children’ on the invites. Instead, state on the RSVP card that it will be an ‘adult reception’. Another way of saying this is to write the following on the RSVP card: “We have reserved_ seats in your honor” and just include the number of adults.

• Be firm. If you cave at your sister’s request to bring her toddlers, and your friend’s preschoolers were forced to stay with babysitters, this could be a recipe for disaster. Ultimately, someone will view this as unfair and will consequently feel hurt!

One way to please your guests with children is to hire babysitter or two at the wedding venue. Have the children in a separate area, where they can do fun activities such as crafts and games. One word of caution: some kids get severe separation anxiety and will not take to this idea very well. Keep this in mind when you are pursuing this option.

Wedding planning can be intense. Like, really intense. Many to-do list items are crossed off months before the actual wedding date, yet details big and small have to fall into place in a very narrow time frame. Venue set-up, flower deliveries, out-of-town guest arrivals- the days and hours before your wedding day can feel hectic.

It’s important not to lose sight of what truly matters on your wedding day: you’re about to marry your one and only. To keep calm and focused, follow these 10 ways to de-stress before your wedding day.

1. Eat well

Whoa there, brides. Please do not start a juice fast the day before your wedding. You do not want to spend the hours before your walk down the aisle feeling hangry! Plus, juice fasts can have some not-so-fun side effects (we’ll spare you the details…). Stick with foods that you know make you feel nourished and energized, whether that means stocking up on cookies from your favorite bakery, or harvest salads from your go-to cafe.

2. Treat yourself

It’s almost your wedding day. You deserve to treat yourself to some much-needed spa time! Book a massage, get a facial, have your nails painted, or do a DIY spa day at home… Whatever suits your fancy!

Spa-in-a-box from My Weekend is Booked

3. Limit phone use

This is a very important one. Once you have your wedding all planned out, it’s time to stop with the 1 A.M. Instagram and Pinterest scrolling, comparing yourself to other brides.

4. Meditate

In the time leading up to the wedding, you will likely have some stressful what-ifs on your mind: What if the best man decides to give an off-script NSFW speech? What if the cake tastes terrible- the baker was questionably affordable…

We highly recommend a short five or 10-minute meditation before your walk down the aisle to help ground you, and turn your focus to what’s truly important.

5. Plan a night out with your partner

With no wedding talk. Nuff said.

6. Tap into your creative side

Put your creativity to work on something non wedding-related. Painting, crafting, writing- get lost in your favorite art form.

7. Exercise

Movement, whether in the form of a brisk walk, easy jog or yoga class, helps the body and mind. If you’re used to a specific workout routine, be sure to continue it through all of your wedding planning. You may even find that a quick workout or calming yoga class is needed on the morning of your wedding day.

8. Light a scented candle 

Inhale lavender, exhale stress. Simply lighting a natural candle can put you in a calmer frame of mind. Check out My Weekend is Booked’s line of naturally scented soy candles to find the perfect scent for you (psst… the coffee candle is our fave!).

9. Delegate, delegate, delegate 

Have your “five-minute” DIY wedding favors turned into an all-day project? Call your ‘maids! From running errands to resolving minor mix-ups, your bride squad, family members and friends are there to help.

10. Get your beauty sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep before your wedding day is crucial. Turn off your screen, grab a book and brew yourself an herbal tea- whatever you need to get a good rest!