Shell Design Weddings

It’s finally here!  Two days away from witnessing history in the making - The Royal Wedding!  Although I can’t say that I’ve been a real “Royal watcher” over the years, I can say that like most people around the world, I was a “Diana watcher.”  Her tragic death was felt around the world and her legacy lived on through her two boys William & Harry.  The world has watched as the boys have grown into men and now witness William moving into the next chapter of his life by marrying the stunning Kate Middleton.

To say that I’m excited to be able to take part in this event is an under-statement!  I vividly remember as a 6-year old getting up VERY early to watch the nuptials of Prince Charles & Lady Diana.  So now, as a Wedding Planner, I’m thrilled to watch this event unfold.  What new trends will begin in the wedding industry because of this day?  What will Kate be wearing?  What will the decor in the Abbey look like?    All the details, the vows….the list goes on and on!

So, get to bed early on Thursday night, and set your alarms for 5:00 am or 3:00 am if you’re really keen!   And turn your TV to any of these networks, along with many others, to get full coverage of the event.

Global - Coverage starting at 4:00 am ET with Global National Dawna Freisen & ET Canada’s Cheryl Hickey

CTV - Coverage starting at 3:00 am ET .

Check back to the blog for the ‘After the Wedding’ coverage to talk about everything Royal wedding.  This is going to be SO much fun!

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

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 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.