Shell Design Weddings

This isn’t the first time that I’ve featured Ida from Sweet Sweets!  She is my ‘go-to girl’ in the world of wedding cakes and I was lucky enough to have her design our wedding cake last summer.  Our guests are still raving about it!  And, she is an all around lovely person and friend.  She is giving us the low-down on the 2011 trends in wedding cake!  Here’s what Sweet Sweets is saying:

It’s YOUR day and YOUR wedding cake. I always tell clients that there are NO rules when creating art.  So, break away from the traditional ideas and styles of cakes. Remember,  you are going to be serving the most important dessert in your lifetime so make it something unique and memorable!   In saying that,  the trends for 2011 are very much about uniqueness and having fun.  It’s such an exciting time to be a cake designer!

1.  Vintage is STILL going strong and I’m still getting a lot of requests for it. In the first photo,  I’ve used a vintage rose bouquet as my inspiration.  The second photo is the final design with pearls, vintage inspired fabric, feathers and soft colours.

2. Personalization & Uniqueness.  Couples are opting to add unique elements to their cakes instead of being inspired by a generic cake from a magazine.  When commissioning an art piece it’s important to me that the piece is unique, customized and one-of-a kind.  I ask clients alot of questions that may have nothing to do with the cake,  but to learn more about them!   This will assist  in creating a piece that is unique to them.  This cake is Shelley’s - I had to feature it on her blog!   The writing on the cake is a poem that Shelley’s husband wrote for her.  Awww!

3.  Artwork. Many of my clients book with Sweet Sweets because they want something different! And many are asking that I create something that “doesn’t look like a wedding cake”.  I offer a unique and artistic way of showcasing the art pieces on stands surrounded by up-lighting.  The effect is stunning and adds to the art gallery feel.  This cake was inspired by Canadian floral designer Hitomi Gilliam.

4. Thinking outside the “Wedding” box! Surprisingly, I do my best work when I’m thinking beyond the wedding box kit - the invites, colour schemes or themes.  I love being inspired by non-traditional wedding ideas.  A lamp shade, vintage china, artwork and nature.   This cake was inspired by this birch wood arrangement.

5.  Cube-cakes! I’m so excited to introduce the original cube cupcake.   I’d like to think that it’s the first of it’s kind in Canada, but I don’t know for sure!  These are truly a cubed cupcake, with crisp squared corners and a paper wrapper that you get to unwrap. Not a round cupcake wrapper in a square muffin tin and not a cake cut into squares.  The cub-cakes are customizable by the square wrapper made for each individual cake.  Fun!

It is important that you, the client, likes the styles of the cake designer. It’s even more important that the designer listens to what you have to say, takes the ideas and creates your vision.  Be sure to have the designer sketch out the cake as well, so you both know you’re on the right track.   A tasting is important and a must during the process.   Yummy!  Most of all, have fun and enjoy the process!

For more information, contact Ida at:  www.sweetsweets.ca or sweetsweets@rogers.com

I’m so excited to announce that Shell Design Weddings will be carrying a line of beautiful, digitally designed wedding invitations by Apples 2 Oranges!  Ted & Lisa Treleavan of Big Orange Designs have launched a retail line and I was thrilled when they contacted me to see if I was interested in carrying it.  I’ve always admired their work and have sent numerous clients their way.

The full size catalog is stunning!  There are many colours and styles to suit every couples design needs. Please contact Shell Design today to talk about the discounts I can offer.  Another great business connection a perfect way to start off 2011.   Here is a sneak peek!

Thanks to my husband for the photography!  Greg Williams Photography.

Vintage is such a hot wedding trend right now and I LOVE it!  If you’re looking for the perfect vintage piece for your event look no further than Hazlitt Vintage Rentals.  I was so excited when my friend and colleague Erin Samuell of A Simple Photograph told me about Selena Hazlitt launching her business.   In fact, when my husband and I had our e-session with Erin back in July, she used some of Selena’s items for the shoot and it looked amazing!

Selena will be holding a workshop in April for brides & grooms, photographers and planners to talk about everything vintage - I just signed up.   A great way to learn more about the vintage rage, how to design for clients and accessorize in photo shoots. I can’t wait!  Check out the details on her blog. And, If you’re in Toronto this weekend January 14th-16th stop by and visit Selena at The Wedding Co. show featuring an elite group of Toronto vendors.

Photography by A Simple Photograph

One of my blog entries before we got married was about my LOVE for Etsy!  I spoke about all of the details that Etsy helped me with.  From stationary (Invitations, menus, place cards, table numbers & programs), my hairpiece,  luminaries in our names, my niece’s flower girl dress to the handkerchiefs that were hand embroidered by my Mom with all of the guests initials.  I really do heart Etsy!

All stationary by Studio G Designs

Facinator by RadoKri Designs

Our niece’s dress by Fairy Wonderful

Luminaries by Paperacorn (as seen in Martha Stewart Weddings - Summer 2010)

Vintage handkerchiefs by LaModage

All photos courtesy of A Simple Photograph

I was so excited when I sat down with Lisa Littlefield of Les Fleurs Floral Boutique to talk about our wedding flowers.  I have admired her work and style since I got into the wedding business and from the first time I walked into her former shop located in downtown Kitchener.  Unfortunately,  I have never had the opportunity to work with her on any of my clients weddings.  But, I knew exactly who I would be hiring as a florist for my own wedding!

Lisa has a very unique shop now located in Vincenzo’s in the new Bauer Lofts in Uptown Waterloo.  It’s a busy spot and perfect location for her.  She immediately saw our vision and I felt completely comfortable letting her do what she does best - create beautiful flowers! She added colour to my bouquet with a small bit of “vintage” inspiration by using feathers & dusty miller.  And, she created beautiful centrepieces with succulents (Greg’s favourite!) with a neutral colour palate.  She rocked it!

All photos courtesy of A Simple Photograph

I met Ida Thibeh Weise two years ago when she contacted me regarding her cake business. We sat down, had a coffee and talked business.  And, she even brought me samples of her cake to try!  I was sold.  Anyone who brings me sweets on the first meeting will always win me over!  I knew that Ida and I would be working together often.  I was quick to feature her on my blog and let everyone know that her cakes truly are “edible works of art!”

Working with Ida starts off by sitting down with photos and inspiration and talking about details of the wedding.   She then does up sketches and the difficult process of choosing what you like begins - her sketches & designs are amazing!  From there, she will come up with a final design.  I wanted the cake to be a surprise for Greg - Ida had elements of my dress in the cake so I didn’t want him to see any of the sketches. When Ida e-mailed me a couple of weeks before the wedding and asked if  I had any letters, poetry or e-mails from Greg, little did I know that the final cake design was going to be a surprise for both of us.  And, the final result made me cry!

Not only was the cake displayed like a piece of art complete with an edible broach bouquet, but the bottom tier had the very first poem that Greg ever wrote to me.   It was very hard to cut into that cake!  Ida goes the extra mile for her clients and is truly an amazing artist.  Her passion shows through in the final product.  A huge thank-you to Ida for creating a wonderful memory for us!

Photos courtesy of A Simple Photograph

It’s been WAY too long since I blogged but to say that I’ve been busy the last couple of months is an understatement!  We were married on August 28, 2010 - it was the most magical day of my life. Not only did I marry the most amazing man but I gained the most awesome 10-year old “bonus” daughter!

As a Wedding Planner, I had high expectations for our day, especially where vendors were concerned.  I was NOT disappointed. I will be featuring every one of them on my blog because I want to send them my praises.  Our wedding could not have been what is was without them all!   So, life is getting back to normal and now it’s time to re-live the day.  Along with featuring all the vendors, there will be a great collection of photos courtesy of my colleague and friend Erin Samuell of A Simple Photo.  Enjoy!

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!

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