Eliminate the stress of planning for your spring wedding, whether it’s next month or next year. While the dress, cake, venue, and bridal shower might be at the top of your list, it can often be the smaller details that get left to the last minute.

Thankfully, we’ve curated a guide of everything you need to know for this wedding season to ensure your special day runs as smoothly as possible.

Make it Official

Marriage Licenses

Don’t let the paperwork put a damper on the wedding planning process. Deciding who will officiate the ceremony is the hard part–purchasing your marriage license shouldn’t be. At London Drugs, we’ve made it simple. Just bring your ID to our insurance department and we’ll take care of the rest!

Taxes

Confused about how to alert Canada Revenue Agency of your status as newlywed? Don’t be! Follow these helpful steps, fill out a Marital Status Change Form, and navigate to your CRA account online or on your mobile to check on any tax information and benefit or credit payments.

Look Flawless

Whether you’ve hired a professional to make the whole bridal party glamourous or have enlisted your most savvy friend to the task, there’s no denying how important hair and makeup are on your wedding day. If you’re stumped for ideas, check out the London Drugs Beauty Blog for inspiration and new products to give your look a chic update.

Chignon, Updo, Twist—Oh My!

For brides, figuring out what to do with your hair can be daunting: you’ve got to consider the dress, your current style, and the rest of the bridal party. But have no fear: we’ve done the research for you and found a list of this season’s hottest hair trends, as well as a good primer on the classics. Whatever style you pick, make sure it feels like you!

A major decision may be whether to go with an updo or keep your hair down. While there are many ways a professional can twist and pin your hair into an editorial style, if you’re going the DIY route, one great spring trend for 2017 includes hair accessories with flowers and feathers. Whatever you choose, make sure you can rock it all night with minimal fuss, and—more importantly—that you feel comfortable and beautiful.

Makeup Tips

Professional or not, your makeup will have to withstand the occasional happy tear and hours of mingling and dancing. Before you even get to the colour selection, take the steps to prime your face, use a setting powder over your face products, and finally invest in some heavy-duty setting spray to keep your look fresh and weather-proof throughout the night. A good tip for preventing flashback in photos is to make sure your products contain no SPF.

You can choose from an endless array of makeup looks out there, including romantic or glamourous. If you’re doing your own, get help by following a step-by-step guide.

Record Your Memories

One of the lasting mementos of this important day are the memories you capture on film. If you’re on a budget or love the DIY approach, there are plenty of ways to capture all angles of your wedding without hiring a professional.

If you like the idea of a photobooth with props, or a designated photo backdrop, pick up a Fuji Instax Mini for instant photographs that anyone can use. These can be assembled for the couple in a scrapbook, or kept by the guests as a wedding souvenir.

A classic interactive approach during the reception is to purchase as many disposable cameras as there are tables, and have your guests fill them. Not only will you get a wide variety of angles, different faces, and scenes of the wedding, but you can have the photos developed and assembled into a wedding photobook. Make it a coffee table book, mini, or express book for display. Another option for bridal party souvenirs or for your own home is to make magnets, mugs, ornaments and other gifts of your favourite photographs.

Hassle-Free Honeymoon

If you’ve planned on celebrating your marriage after the fact, you may already have a good idea of what your honeymoon entails. But if you’re a last-minute planner, or are waiting for the perfect vacation spot, here are some honeymoon hacks to make it a little easier.

First, make sure you know how much your honeymoon will cost and how you’ll be budgeting. Are you planning a week-long spa getaway, or three-month backpacking adventure? If you’re looking for the best spring honeymoon destinations, consider a city like Charleston, South Carolina to avoid too long a flight, or Jamaica after spring-break has passed. If you prefer something budget-friendly, consider staying in Canada, or an all-inclusive on a beach in Mexico.

Before you book, consider tips on when to find the most affordable airfare for your destination. Finally, understand exactly what you need to pack so you don’t forget any essentials before embarking on your romantic getaway.

And make sure to pick up travel insurance at one of our stores if you plan on leaving the province!

It’s our honour to be a part of your wedding, at any stage. Here’s wishing you a day  filled with family, friends, laughter, and love.  

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
In the quiet village of Carriveau, Vianne Mauriac says good-bye to her husband, Antoine, as he heads for the Front. She doesn’t believe that the Nazis will invade France…but invade they do, in droves of marching soldiers, in caravans of trucks and tanks, in planes that fill the skies and drop bombs upon the innocent. When a German captain requisitions Vianne’s home, she and her daughter must live with the enemy or lose everything. Without food or money or hope, as danger escalates all around them, she is forced to make one impossible choice after another to keep her family alive.
Vianne’s sister, Isabelle, is a rebellious eighteen-year-old, searching for purpose with all the reckless passion of youth. While thousands of Parisians march into the unknown terrors of war, she meets Gaëtan, a partisan who believes the French can fight the Nazis from within France, and she falls in love as only the young can…completely. But when he betrays her, Isabelle joins the Resistance and never looks back, risking her life time and again to save others.
With courage, grace and powerful insight, bestselling author Kristin Hannah captures the epic panorama of World War II and illuminates an intimate part of history seldom seen: the women’s war. The Nightingale tells the stories of two sisters, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion, and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France – a heartbreakingly beautiful novel that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the durability of women. It is a novel for everyone, a novel of a lifetime.

Reviews
The Nightingale is a story set in France during World War 2. It tells the story of two sisters who while surviving the horrors of Nazi occupation also helped, each in her own way, with the resistance movement. I have read a lot of World War 2 based novels but this was the first that focused on a woman’s role in the war. I would highly recommend this book with the warning that sometimes it’s pretty brutal and hard to imagine that it’s based on what might have actually happened during the war. It’s a book that will stick with me for some time to come. – Review by Carolynn

I’ll be honest, I started reading The Nightingale thinking I would hate it (war-themed novels are not my thing). It’s a story about two estranged sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, who live in France during the Second World War and how they are brought together and put aside their differences in order to survive. As I delved deeper into the story, I found myself immersed and intrigued by the descriptions of 1939 France, the rich culture and the well-developed characters. Each character had so many layers that it made you understand their actions, state of mind and relationships with those around them. As well, there are strong themes of feminism and love conquering hate throughout the novel. It not only gives one a greater appreciation of the hardships women endured in trying times but it also symbolizes the beautiful strength and unbreakable bond of sibling love. – Review by Samantha

Book of the Month
Every month we will be featuring a new book to be showcased in our Book of the Month. Staff members and friends will be reading the book and posting their reviews. We’d love to hear what you thought of these books as well. Post your comments and let us know.

The Nightingale is available at London Drugs along with many other great titles and is on sale for the month of May.

Spring in Western Canada is a welcome change from the snow and sleet of the winter months. The days are longer, the weather is warmer and cities brighten with springtime events and activities. Whether you’ve been looking forward to spending time outdoors or discovering new restaurant patios, this is a season for everyone.

1. Take a hike

Image from Go Live Explore

It comes as no surprise that Western Canada is known for having some of the best hiking trails in the nation. With a milder climate and access to ranges like the Rockies, the arrival of spring on the mountains beckons to many avid hikers and trail runners. Of course, the highest peaks are best avoided without appropriate snow gear, but many mountains are perfect for a springtime climb.

Deep Cove in North Vancouver, B.C. is open year-round, while Mt. Seymour is a popular option in late spring because of its breathtaking snow-capped peaks. In Alberta, skip tourist season and have Johnston Canyon to yourself in Banff, or find a trail in family-friendly Kananaskis.

2. Dine on a patio

Image from @jillian.harris

Many restaurants will open their patio doors for covered outdoor dining even during a chilly day. Patio heaters are usually available year-round, but for those lucky enough to experience a warm streak in their city before summer, the availability of patio dining is the perfect reason to socialize or hold a company event. Always call ahead to make sure patios are available, and make reservations if needed!

Choose the best patios in Vancouver, from most dog-friendly, best brunch spots and prime people-watching. In Kelowna, find patios overlooking sprawling vineyards and waterfront views. Keep your eyes out for these Calgary restaurants as soon as the sun comes out, and don’t miss out on Winnipeg’s top rooftop spots.

3. Train for a race

Image from BMO Vancouver Marathon

You may have started training for your next marathon in the fall or winter in preparation for spring, which is prime racing season in Western Canada. Whether it’s a marathon or an obstacle course that’s up your alley, there are dozens of races to choose from.

Assemble a team for Tough Mudder in Whistler, participate in the longest running marathon event in Canada at the Calgary Marathon, get colourful at Color Me Rad in Winnipeg, or qualify for Boston at Gopher Attack in Regina.  

4. Hit a hole-in-one

B.C. golf courses can open as early as February. The Okanagan is a beautiful and popular attraction for golf-lovers, and Vancouver Island is also renown for year-round golf due to it’s mild climate. For the rest of Western Canada, golf season starts mid-April, and it’s best to plan ahead if you’re looking for a sweet vacation spot. Saskatchewan is the perfect place to land a hole in one, and Alberta provides spectacular glacial scenery to accompany your swing.

5. Have a mountain adventure

Image from @courtlynf

You don’t have to be a hiking enthusiast to appreciate a day on the mountain. There are endless activities for everyone in the family that will keep you preoccupied once ski season has ended but your favourite walking trails and lakes are not yet accessible.

If you’re looking for a thrill, take a zipline across the peaks of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver before tackling the Grouse Grind in the summer. Love heights, but want to bring the kids? The Grouse skyride is popular at all times of the year, and sports gorgeous views of the mountain and city. In Canmore, try your hand at ice climbing before the season ends, and then take a rock climbing course to use your new skills. For a family day or adventurous date, play paintball or sign up for a high ropes course in North Battleford.  

6. Stroll in a garden

Image from @carlymla

Spring is the season where we’re inspired to rejuvenate our gardens and appreciate new blooms. In Canada, we’re also fortunate enough to be surrounded by beautiful public gardens and parks.

Take the day to explore some of the 55 acres of the Butchart Gardens in Victoria, or stop to smell the roses at the Rose Garden in Stanley Park in Vancouver. In Lethbridge, get a taste of Japan at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden or explore the botanical garden pyramids in Edmonton at the Muttart Conservatory. See specimens from the 1960s at Patterson Garden Arboretum in Saskatoon, and Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg for its 450 hectares of forest, gardens and conservatory.

7. Escape on a road trip

Image from @bskphoto

For those itching for a quick weekend getaway or spur-of-the-moment day trip, spring is the perfect season to escape from the city. Not too hot and not too cold, many roads are clear of snow and ready to be explored.

Discover a hidden hot spring in B.C., or brave the waves in Tofino — Canada’s surfing capital. Take a long weekend off in Alberta and make the drive from Calgary to Lake Louise for prime camping or luxury accommodations. Set up a yurt in a Manitoba provincial park, or rent a camper and find your way to Prince Albert for historic tours. Be sure to map out your route, and pack sunscreen and snacks for whichever spring adventure you choose.