Shell Design Weddings

This year marks 31 years of friendship.  We all started Kindergarten together in 1980 at Howick Central School.  We’ve been friends ever since.  Through highschool & college graduations,  moving to different cities and countries, weddings and now kids of our own who are growing up together and will hopefully maintain the friendship we have over the years.  We had an impromptu photo shoot last weekend while at our summer get-together.  Having a photographer husband is so great!

Trying to get a pose - whose taller, who should be in the front?  Some things never change!

Sally being her super-start self!

Photos Courtesy of Greg Williams Photography

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!

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

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.

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

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.

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.

I’ve started something new!  Another venture, an add-on to Shell Design Weddings.  I’m selling Stella & Dot jewellery.  I start with a launch party in a week and I’m off!  I’m so excited.

Stella & Dot is a company inspired and created for strong women.  With a savvy business model consisting of the power of e-commerce, social networking and personal service behind an amazing product.  The jewellery has been seen in Lucky, InStyle and O Magazine.  It is affordable with plenty of styles under $50.  I know that my bridal clients are going to love it!

Want to host your own trunk show and earn hundreds of dollars in free jewellery?  Contact me today.

Are you interested in becoming a Stella & Dot stylist.  Let’s connect.  You will never look back!

www.stelladot.com/shelley