With Love, From Toronto

Last month, Style Me Pretty, featured this "Bohemian Romance" photo shoot styled by Toronto wedding planner Cynthia Martyn, with the assistance of a talented group of Toronto vendors. I love the colours - very apropos for a Valentine's Day themed wedding or engagement party. For those are you getting married in the Toronto area, this gives you an idea as to what this city's vendors can offer! To see more photos, visit Style Me Pretty or Cynthia Martyn's blog.



Concept Design & Styling: Cynthia Martyn Events Inc. www.cynthiamartyn.com
Photography: Mimmo+Naz www.mimmoandnaz.com
Cake & Sweet Table: Cake Opera Co. www.cakeoperaco.com
Stationery Design: Bella Invites www.bellainvites.com
Floral Design: Fuscia Designs www.fusciadesigns.ca
Vintage Gown: Cabaret Vintage www.cabaretvintage.com
Hair & Makeup Styling: Faces By Carla www.facesbycarla.com
Rentals: Chairman Mills www.chairmanmills.com
Linens & Chair Overlays: Susan Murray International www.susanmurray.com
Favor Boxes and Packaging: Liloo www.liloo.ca
Caramel Apples: Bruce Co. Nut & Fudge www.nutandfudge.com
Calligraphy: Calligraphy By Diane www.calligraphybydiane.com
Venue: Fermenting Cellar, The Distillery District, Toronto www.fermentingcellar.ca

Cutest Cake Topper Ever

via Kevin Lam Photography

I saw this adorable cake topper on Toronto photographer Kevin Lam's blog the other day and had to share. I've never seen anything so fun! To see how true the resemblance of the cake topper is to the bride and groom, click here.

Before becoming "The Professional Bridesmaid," I had no idea the vast variety of cake toppers out there. Are you a fan of the cake topper? What are you having/did have as your cake topper?

*Update: The cake topper was made by a friend of the couple's!

Weekend Lowdown

Happy Monday! Ok seriously, are Mondays ever really happy? ;) Anyways, I hope you all had fun and restful weekends. I had a million things on my 'to do' list but probably completed about five of them. Is it it just me or are weekends flying by even faster? Anyways, here are some highlights from my too-short weekend.

The Professional Bridesmaid, The Amateur Sewer
I have been meaning to make a yoga mat bag for the longest time. I first started to sew (not including grade 8 Home Ec. classes) about a year ago when I signed up for a beginner course at The Sewing Studio. Denise Wild, the founder, first started giving her friends sewing lessons in her aprartment and eventually she opened up The Sewing Studio.

During The Sewing Studio's eight week introductory course, I made three projects: 1) A Zippered Pouch; 2) A Drawstring Bag; and 3) A Skirt. I've decided against showing you photos of such projects because I am WAY too embarrassed. However, know that I had so much fun taking the course that I'm taking another one next week called Ready to Wear. I'm very excited as I'll be learning how to copy a favourite item from my wardrobe. Cool, no? I mean, how many times have you said, "Oh, I wish I could just have this <insert faded item of clothing, hanging by its last thread, literally> made?"

Anyways, I digress. Back to the yoga mat. I found this awesome print at macfab.

Then, found this easy yoga mat bag tutorial over at Bored & Crafty. And voila...

My Yoga Mat Bag!

Do you love it?!!!? (I won't mention how I sewed on the strap on the wrong side of the bag or how I forgot to finish the seams on one fabric piece.)

The Professional Bridesmaid Meets The Queen of Tarts
The Queen of Tarts is about a 10 minute drive from me and about a 25-30 min walk and today was the first time I visited. Tsk, tsk. What kind of foodie am I? Opening its doors in 1998 by pastry chef Stephanie Pick, The Queen of Tarts is well-known for its tarts (of course) and its hand decorated gingerbread cookies. For those of you familiar with the Weddingbee, this pastry shop is where Mrs Hummingbird ordered her Mario Brothers inspired gingerbread cookie favours!


I bought a 7 inch Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Ganache tart for one of my co-worker's birthday tomorrow, and of course I had to buy a little treat for myself. Meet Wild Blueberry and Lemon Cheesecake Mousse tart. Delice.


My visit to Queen of Tarts led me to think that tarts would be an excellent addition to any cake or dessert buffet. What do you think?

Have a good week!

Two Toronto Weddings on SMP!

In case you haven't seen them, just wanted to let you know that Style Me Pretty recently featurds two Toronto area weddings, both planned by Distinct Occasions. I've listed that vendors in case you are considering them or have hired them! If neither, enjoy the fabulous eye candy anyways!

Venue: Bellvue Manor
Photography: Rowell Photography
Flowers: Rachel A. Clingen

Venue: Miller Lash House
Photography: HRM Photography
Flowers: Rainflower Company
Caterer: Daniel & Daniel
Cake: Allyson Meredith Cakes

Introducing Le Petit Cupcakery!

If you're a frequent visitor of my blog, you know that I LOVE cupcakes. (Especially red velvet ones with cream cheese frosting.) The cupcake lover in me is SO excited for the latest entrant to the Toronto cupcake market, Le Petit Cupcakery! Le Petit Cupcakery is the sweet brainchild of Margarita, better known in the blog-o-sphere as the Fab Brunette. Today, Margarita graciously allowed me to feature her and her yummy cupcakes.

What was the inspiration behind starting Le Petit Cupcakery?

Le Petit Cupcakery started as a very small side project for me. I'm a wedding and events coordinator, so it's no surprise that I love entertaining as well. I began making cupcakes for every occasion, for friends and family, and eventually people started paying me to make them! I also have a huge love of all things French, and so voilà, Le Petit Cupcakery was born!


Have you always loved baking?

Baking is a new found love for me. I’ve always played around in the kitchen, but last year was when I really started learning about the baking process and what goes into each step.

Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

Which cupcake is your best seller?

Right now I'm tied with Red Velvet Cupcakes and Chocolate Salted-Caramel Cupcakes. People can't get enough of these!

Chocolate Salted-Caramel Cupcakes

Which cupcake is your personal favourite?

I'm a big fan of a French vanilla cupcake with a mocha buttercream frosting. I think I'm drooling!


Tell us the truth. Is there such thing as ‘healthy’ cupcake?

I wouldn't go as far as 'healthy', but you can definitely cut calories and unnecessary fats. There are vegan cupcakes, cupcakes with real fruits and vegetables added, and mini-cupcakes usually come in at around 100-150 calories, which isn't too bad to indulge in every once in awhile!

Snow-Capped Lemon-filled Cupcakes

How often do you indulge in cupcakes? And where do you go?

About once or twice a month I'll really indulge in a cupcake or two. I will usually eat ones that I’ve made, but for truly yummy desserts I love heading into Dufflet Pastries on Queen West!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Are you hungry yet? In additional to more 'traditional' cupcake flavours, Le Petit Cupcakery also carries specialty flavours such as Meringue Bouquet Cupcake and Buttercream Rose Cupcakes. These would be perfect for special occasion such as weddings, bridal showers and birthdays. Have visions of customized cupcakes dancing through your head? Don't fret. Le Petit Cupcakery will help you create your perfect cupcake. For more information, visit Le Petit Cupcakery's website. A huge thank you to Margarita for letting me interview her. I also highly recommend you visit her personal blog, Ramblings of a Fab Brunette.

Let Them Eat Cupcakes!

I'm obsessed with cupcakes. It all started with having my very first taste of red velvet cake at a wedding last August. That let me to hunt down the cake vendor which turned out to be Vanilla Bake Shop, famous for its cupcakes and cupcake babies. As soon as I found out that Vanilla Bake Shop was located in Santa Monica ('my part of town' as the BF says), I dragged the BF to its quaint store with damask awning. Once inside I 'oohed and aahed' over the rows upon rows of cupcakes - red velvet, vanilla bean, banana chocolate chip, toasted coconut. Yummy! Since my first visit to Vanilla Bake Shop, the BF and I have tried almost all 20 something cupcake flavours - red velvet being my ultimate fave.

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When I told my cousin Dottie about Vanilla Bake Shop, she told me that I had to try Sprinkles. Claiming to be the 'original cupcake bakery,' Sprinkles is seen by many as the leader of the cupcake invasion (well, at least on the west coast). Celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Katie Holmes to the domestic goddess herself, Martha Stewart have endorsed Sprinkles as a favourite. So of course, I dragged the BF to Sprinkles' Beverly Hills location, and waited 15 minutes in line (apparently, there is often a line, especially on weekends) before we took a bite of the famous cupcakes. We tried the red velvet (of course!) and the special Halloween flavour, apple caramel. The red velvet was good but I still prefer the one from Vanilla Bake Shop. The apple caramel was sooooo yummy. I'm sad that it isn't a regular flavour. I'd like to go back and try some other flavours like: ginger lemon, chai latte, pumpkin and brown sugar praline (this year's Easter special). The only one downside to the Sprinkles menu, no mini cupcakes. I love my baby cupcakes!

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This past Valentine's Day, my cousin (yes we share a mutual love of cupcakes) bought me cupcakes from Dot's Cupcakes, which just opened a store in Old Town Pasadena. Dot's has the usual suspects, red velvet, vanilla, chocolate and carrot but it also serves some unique flavours such as pina colada, strawberry lemonade and PB & banana. I have to say I was impressed! I tried Dot's red velvet, and vanilla cupcakes, and both were delicious and moist. The icing on the cupcake? They have mini cupcakes!

How cute is the Valentine's Day frosting?

And you can't discuss cupcakes without bringing up NYC's Magnolia Bakery. Magnolia first opened its doors on Bleecker Street in 1996, originally selling bread, cakes and other pastries. Magnolia's foray into cupcakes started with its vanilla cupcakes with thick vanilla buttercream icing, tinted pink. According to Wikipedia, Magnolia owes its cupcake success partially to the many people walking by the bakery late at night who would see the cupcakes being iced by the owners, and begged to have one. And who could forget Carrie and Miranda devouring Magnolia cupcakes on Sex and the City? Magnolia cupcakes are amazing..... especially at 12:00am on a Friday night/Saturday morning after a few drinks. ;)

Fresh from the oven!

I have yet to attend a wedding which served cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding cake; but I already know I would love it! Look at these wedding cupcake towers. Serving double duty as both a wedding cake and decor (or even as favours), wedding cupcakes are sure to tantalize your wedding guests' sweet tooth.

From left to right: Martha Stewart Weddings, Dot's Cupcakes, and Vanilla Bake Shop

Interestingly, I havent' really explored the cupcakes of Toronto (perhaps research to do for a later post). My friend Christine makes amazing ones and it's hard to believe anything else could be better!

She made these for our friend's 30th birthday.

So where is your favourite cupcake place? Your favourite flavour?