Shell Design Weddings

If you haven’t heard about Etsy you’re missing out! It’s a website that is everything homemade and trust me, you can get lost on there.  I’ve had to peel myself away from the computer while on the site because hours can go by without even realizing!  The website has become very popular in the wedding world, so much that Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2010 edition had a whole page dedicated to Etsy finds!

I’m not much of a DIY bride at all.  In fact, I’m not really DIY-anything! But I so appreciate anything handmade and just wish I had even  a tiny bit of that talent.   As a kid growing up, I was blessed that my Mom could knit, sew, cook and everything else domestic.  I on the other hand did not inherit much of the talent but I atleast give it a try!  So Esty is a perfect place for someone like me!

My first find was vintage lace and embroidered handkerchiefs to give all of the women at our wedding.  LaModage is a shop that seeks out “eclectic, handmade accessories and fun nostalgic finds to decorate your life.”  I was so happy with what they found.  The handkerchiefs came washed and pressed.  And from there, I went Etsy-crazy!   It has all the bonuses of handmade without the DIY part!  I really do heart Etsy.  Here is what I found for my wedding.

This is a customized facinator by RadoKri.  She makes custom wedding and event accessories.  Electric blue is our colour, so the subtle blue feathers will look fabulous!

Our niece and flowergirl Jayla will be wearing this dress from Fairy Wonderful and shoes from Small Beans ‘Baby’.  So cute!

We will have these luminaries by Paper Acorn in ‘Shelley & Greg’ on our sign-in table.    They were featured in Martha Stewart Weddings this summer!

These bags by My Personalized T-Shirt will be personalized and filled with goodies for the children at our wedding.

And one of my favourite finds: vintage map cuff links from DLK Designs.  This is a wedding gift to Greg which represents the long distance and how far we’ve come.  One cuff link is a map of Kitchener-Waterloo and the other is of Indianapolis.  Such a neat keepsake!

I’m so excited to share our engagement photos!  We had such a great time with Erin Samuell of A Simple Photograph.  If you’ve been reading my blog over the years you will have seen Erin’s work quite often!  We couldn’t imagine anyone else photographing our upcoming wedding.  She basically determined our wedding date with her availability!  She has photographed many of my friends and families life events over the years and is not just a colleague but a friend.  She is an amazing talent and I can hardly wait to see our wedding photos!   It’s hard to believe that during all the events leading up to the wedding we even had time to fit this in.  I’m so glad we did.  It was a blast!  Enjoy.

Short engagement + Small Wedding  = Flexibility in venue choice!  This is advice I’m always giving my clients, along with “do what YOU want, it’s your wedding day!”  The first way to cut costs and to have flexibility in just about everything related to their wedding is to have a small guest list.  I know this is not always possible especially with large families and cultural obligations.   In fact, I have a small family but a large social circle and my fianceé Greg has a larger family and has been a police officer for the Indianapolis Metro Police Department for 13 years, so therefore has a large professional and social circle as well.  I wasn’t sure a small guest list was possible for us. So, we sat down, talked it out and we did it!  A guest list of 70 people!  Okay, to some, that doesn’t = small wedding, but for us, it’s perfect!

I just recently read a Facebook status update by an industry colleague, Crystal Adair-Benning of Distinct Occasions.   She said:  “It’s not the quantity of people you have at your wedding, it’s the quality that counts.”  I love that!   It wasn’t an easy decision to not invite family members such as my first cousins or people that have been a influence in my life and great friends over the years.  But, the reality is,  life can change and paths go in different directions.  So, for us, it was about having the people who have been constants in our lives, who are here with us now through our journey and next big step.   It surely doesn’t mean that the others aren’t important to us.  We have a vision for our wedding - a small intimate affair, close family and friends, a celebration of us!

So, with that decision being made, we had alot more venue options.  We went back and forth between many great venues that Kitchener-Waterloo has to offer for under 75 guests and settled on The Tannery.  The Tannery District is an up and coming area,  a commercial space that will give the same vibe to downtown Kitchener that The Distillery District gives to downtown Toronto.  We are having the ceremony, dinner and reception in The Showroom. It’s an urban space with concrete floors, exposed brick walls, lounge area, and paraphernalia showing the history of The Tannery building.  It’s chic and cool!  We couldn’t be happier!

So, my advice to clients will remain the same.   To stay true to what they want as a couple!  And if it’s possible to have a small guest list - go for it!

This is a drawing of what the area will look like upon completion.

Lounge area - view back to front

So, if you’re on Facebook or Twitter and following Shell Design Weddings, you will know that I’m getting married! I’ve been on a cloud for the last month and when I’m not on the cloud, I’m on a planning frenzy. This has been an amazing ride and I have to share it!

A bit of background: My fianceé (still getting used to that!) and I have been dating long-distance for over a year. He lives in Indianapolis, IN and I’m in Kitchener-Waterloo, ON. The last year for us has consisted of many 7-hour drives, a couple of 13-hour bus rides and a few flights. And we’ve been on a couple of trips together - Turks & Caicos and Florida. So, needless to say, we’ve racked up the airmiles! We started “the talk” about marriage and re-location a few months ago as we both felt we were ready to take the step and decide on how and when we would close the gap. Although we’ve talked, the engagement still blew me away, left me speechless and crying my eyes out a half-hour later when I got over the initial shock and emotions. It was more than I ever imagined. I’ve met the most incredible man and can’t wait to call him my husband. So there’s the lovey story! Now onto the planning and what we’ve been up to for the last month!

The decision was made - no waiting! It’s a short engagement. We decided on the location to be in K-W so I could access my industry connections and try and pull it off in two months. We knew the photographer & officiant we wanted, found out their availability and they determined our wedding date! And here we are, knee-deep in planning, immigration lawyers, house-hunting….the list goes on. We’ve decided to blog about our experience - the highs and lows. We will feature the venue and the vendors that will be a part of our special day and talk about real-life, unscripted wedding planning experiences from a Wedding Planner! I hope you enjoy.

Stay tuned for the next installment: Venue choice & Keeping the Guest List Small.

Here is a fun, silly shot of us on Canada Day weekend!

Shelley & Greg.  Engaged.  Love. Happiness

Shell Design Weddings had the pleasure to be a guest blogger on the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC) blog!    A new category called Real Weddings by WPIC Alumni featured the African Lion Safari Wedding of Tereza & Gerrit.  This wedding was such an amazing experience and one that will be remembered for years to come!

Thank-you to WPIC for the opportunity to keep talking about it!   Enjoy.

Photo courtesy of Heather Fritz Photography

Catrina & Todd had an amazing ‘vintage glam’ themed wedding.   Here are a few more shots courtesy of d&g Photography.   Better late than never - the first post was in September!   The photos were worth the wait!  Thanks Naghmeh.

Todd & Catrina’s children (so sweet!)

Sand ceremony - representing the joining of two families

Grey Silos Golf Course - décor by Hollywood Weddings

vintage microphone

Wishing Tree

I had the absolute pleasure of taking part in the 5th annual WPIC Conference in Turks & Caicos in November 2009.  Wow!  What an amazing, fabulous few days at the Beaches resort.  The conference was fun, well planned and SO inspiring. I’m not sure I’ve left a conference feeling so excited about the possibilities for my business. And, to be in a beautiful location, warm sun and white sandy beaches.  Well, I can’t say enough.

I had the opportunity to meet and hear speakers such as Joanne Brown - Owner & Managing Director of Celebrations a luxury event design company located in the Cayman Islands.  Simon & Ciara Daykin of Firefly Occasions & Rockstar Wedding Planner - awesome Canadian inspiration!  As well as the keynote speaker Sasha Souza of Sasha Souza Events.  All of their personal stories and business advice has been instrumental in the decisions and changes that I’m executing in my business right now.  It’s a very exciting time!  So, a HUGE thank-you to Danielle & Tracey of WPIC and the planning committee on a job well done.  I’m counting down the days until the next conference!

Amazing food!

Yummy chocolate! (Yes, there was a Chocolate Extravaganza!)

Joanne Brown

Sasha Souza with Danielle & Tracey

I came across these photos and realized that after being in the wedding business for the last few years I’ve never actually showed off them off!  They’re the two people who I’ve looked up to in the industry as leaders and I was so excited and privileged to meet them both at a conference in Toronto in 2006 - Preston Bailey and Grace Ormonde. It was the year I received my Wedding Planning certification and the year before I launched my business. Divine timing?  I believe so!   Enjoy.

I’m super-excited to be taking part in the only show of it’s kind in Canada - The Gay Wedding Show!  The show premiered in London last year and had such great success, they’ve added another show in Kitchener.   The show will be held on Sunday, February 28th at the Delta Kitchener from 12 - 5pm.

My friend Erin Samuell of A Simple Photograph and I will be joining me!  And, I will get the chance to speak to guests on ‘Ways to bring the WOW factor to a Wedding by Designing like a Pro!’  I can’t wait to support same-sex couples in their planning needs.  It’s something I feel passionate about and so lucky to live in a country that supports gay marriage.   Yay for K-W on the first Gay Wedding  Show!

Check us out this weekend!  You won’t be able to miss the Photobooth backdrop designed by Erin.

Valentine’s Day is the official day of love.  A day when we pledge our love with chocolate, flowers and maybe an evening out.  I have mixed feelings about Valentine’s Day, but in the wedding industry, it’s one of the most popular days to get engaged!

For the month of February, in honour of Valentine’s Day, Shell Design Weddings is offering 15% off any co-ordination package.  Let’s help you get a head start on all of your wedding planning needs.  It’s time to create the wedding of your dreams.  A unique event that represents you as a couple. A wedding your guests will talk about long after the day has ended.  Shell Design Weddings is here to help!  Call today 519.504.6367.