Testimonials
In 2013, she was instrumental in helping me bring to light the vision I had for my October wedding. With an autumn theme, Darlene decorated the hall, for our ceremony and reception, with hay bales, corn stalks, mums, pumpkins and gourds. She had every detail covered and we were able to relax and enjoy our special day.
I would highly recommend Darlene of Vase and Votive as your event planner for any occasion.
—Trudy
Darlene decorated the Lions Hall in Elgin for my wedding in June, 2013. My husband and I were initially just going to put tablecloths and flowers on the tables but my Mom was not having it and called Darlene and team to help. She asked what I wanted it to look like, so I told her a summer rustic feel but without the cost of an outdoor wedding. She got to work and found old sap buckets from my great grandfather's farm, birch tree branches, mason jars of all sizes, and the day before the wedding her team went out in the hot sun to pick lilacs (my favourite flower) all over Rideau Lakes. When I stepped inside the hall that day it was just like the outdoor wedding feel I was originally wanting.
And if it wasn't for Darlene my wedding pictures would have been ruined because it started to downpour just as we left the church for pictures, so at the last minute we had to do our photo-shoot inside. We ended up taking all of our pictures in front of the backdrop of the head table that she had set up, which I never would have thought to do.
I would recommend Darlene and her team to anyone because she has amazing attention to detail, is very artistic, and has a great way of freshening up something old to give it a new and better purpose.
Darlene and her team worked hard and were very professional, making sure everything was set up and taken care of. They will go to great lengths to make your dreams a reality. Thank you ladies, you made my wedding day!! (And saved my mom the stress!)
— Jessica
Regardless of your event, there is no one better suited to provide the perfect ambiance than Darlene. Her attention to detail, creative ideas and fastidious work ethic is unparalleled and every time she has helped me with decor over the years - my wedding, anniversary parties, at a benefit dance - so many positive comments were made about how a simple hall or room was transformed by such unique and thoughtful decorations. I recommend Darlene to enhance your event without hesitation and know she will be called upon by my family and I in the years to come for all of our important events that need that extra special touch.
—Amy
I married into a rather large family and with large families come bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, milestone birthdays and anniversaries. In our family there have been an abundance of these events and every one of them have been planned and executed by our very own planner, Darlene Lake. This woman has been a god send to all of us because without being asked she is ready with pen and paper in hand to start to do what she does best, provide you with ideas you would have never considered or even thought about.
For me personally, when my husband died in 2014 after a very hard fought battle with cancer, my children and I made the decision to have a celebration of life as opposed to a wake. Making necessary decisions at that time was beyond difficult let alone having to decide how to handle a hall with potentially hundreds of people coming by to pay their respects. The only thing I had to do that day was show up. Darlene handled every aspect, food, set up of tables, decorations respectful of the situation and cleanup. Worst time of my life and what would have been an impossible undertaking for me was completely taken out of my hands.
I would recommend Darlene Lake for any event, in a heartbeat.
— Sue
Darlene decorated for my November wedding reception & I couldn’t have been more pleased with how it turned out! Over the few months prior to the event, she took the time to get to know my personal style and curated items and decor that fit perfectly with my vision. She spent several hours the morning of the event setting up and making sure everything was perfect. Would highly recommend!
— Caitlin
Having Darlene’s help decorating and coordinating the flow of my wedding was beyond a blessing. I couldn’t imagine what the day would have looked like without her. She thought of everything, and her ideas are always original and creative. And if you’re a bride on a budget like I was, Darlene is a pro at finding the best deals. On the day of, she ensured everything ran seamlessly, so I could sit back and enjoy each moment. I would recommend Darlene 100 times over. She made the best day of my life that much better!
— Kaitlyn
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