In an effort to showcase how technology can help consumers simplify large personal projects and events, Microsoft Canada staged a wedding—complete with a hired bride and groom—at the Palais Royale on Wednesday morning. "When we think about technology, we really want to talk about a marriage of different types of technology," Owen Sagness, Microsoft Canada's vice president of online services, said during a speech at the Wired Wedding event. "One of the big opportunities for consumers is how they can use all of these technologies together ... so this is a perfect event to illustrate that."
The bride and groom exchanged vows during a brief ceremony on the Palais Royale's lakeside patio. Afterward, guests—mostly media—sipped mimosas and viewed a series of demonstrations highlighting Microsoft applications including Windows Live, Windows Mobile, Windows Vista, and Microsoft Office. Microsoft also promoted products like the new Zune digital media player and the Xbox video game console—on which the bride and groom played Rock Band during the reception."The reason we chose to do this was to showcase how you can put technology to work in ways you maybe haven't imagined before," said Sue Borden, Microsoft Canada's consumer audience manager. "Technology can de-stress major events in your life, like planning a wedding." Borden noted that basic office tools can be used to create invitations, to manage the guest list, and to map the route from the ceremony to the reception hall. "It's really just talking about the integration of software and services. It's about Microsoft helping you simplify your life," she said.
Kari Smith of Magical Moments and Elite Party Rentals dressed the venue for a wedding reception. Simple floral arrangements, courtesy of Pink Twig Floral Boutique, topped tables draped in white linens. The bride and groom sipped cocktails at a head table set up on the stage. A three-tiered wedding cake—complete with figurines of a bride and groom talking on cell phones—sat to one side.
Microsoft carried the wedding theme through the entire event, with guests receiving name tags adorned with small red roses upon their arrival. Attendees also received printed pictures of themselves, snapped by a photographer during the reception, in frames embossed with the date of the event. And, in lieu of gift bags, Microsoft handed out Zune MP3 players to guests.
The bride and groom exchanged vows during a brief ceremony on the Palais Royale's lakeside patio. Afterward, guests—mostly media—sipped mimosas and viewed a series of demonstrations highlighting Microsoft applications including Windows Live, Windows Mobile, Windows Vista, and Microsoft Office. Microsoft also promoted products like the new Zune digital media player and the Xbox video game console—on which the bride and groom played Rock Band during the reception."The reason we chose to do this was to showcase how you can put technology to work in ways you maybe haven't imagined before," said Sue Borden, Microsoft Canada's consumer audience manager. "Technology can de-stress major events in your life, like planning a wedding." Borden noted that basic office tools can be used to create invitations, to manage the guest list, and to map the route from the ceremony to the reception hall. "It's really just talking about the integration of software and services. It's about Microsoft helping you simplify your life," she said.
Kari Smith of Magical Moments and Elite Party Rentals dressed the venue for a wedding reception. Simple floral arrangements, courtesy of Pink Twig Floral Boutique, topped tables draped in white linens. The bride and groom sipped cocktails at a head table set up on the stage. A three-tiered wedding cake—complete with figurines of a bride and groom talking on cell phones—sat to one side.
Microsoft carried the wedding theme through the entire event, with guests receiving name tags adorned with small red roses upon their arrival. Attendees also received printed pictures of themselves, snapped by a photographer during the reception, in frames embossed with the date of the event. And, in lieu of gift bags, Microsoft handed out Zune MP3 players to guests.
The setting for the ceremony
Photo: BizBash
Guests joined the bride and groom in playing Rock Band on Microsoft's Xbox during the reception.
Photo: BizBash
Displays highlighted the ways software applications like Microsoft Office can be used to help plan large events such as a wedding.
Photo: BizBash
Floral arrangements from Pink Twig Floral Boutique stood on either side of the head table.
Photo: BizBash
A brief ceremony took place on the lakeside patio.
Photo: BizBash
The bride, dressed in a traditional white wedding gown, walked down the aisle to "Here Comes the Bride."
Photo: BizBash
Kari Smith of Magical Moments and Elite Party Rental supplied the wedding cake.
Photo: BizBash
