Shell Design Weddings

Tamara & Terry

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:31:10 +0000

It is so hard to believe that it’s September! The summer will soon be behind us and I am coming up on my busiest & most favourite time of year - Fall! Here are a few photos of wedding from last fall that I had the pleasure of looking after the Day-of details. The colours are so rich & beautiful and perfectly Fall!

Photos Courtesy of Trina Koster Photography

Friendship

admin — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:54:30 +0000

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

The Cambridge Mill

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:18:07 +0000

The newest & hottest venue in town! My husband and I had the pleasure of being invited to a site tour of the newly renovated Cambridge Mill. We were treated to a cocktail hour as well as a 5-course meal! We were blown away and the experience far exceeded our expectations. Not a detail has been missed from the fine dining experience with exquisite food, customized chairs to match the room decor, bridal suite and private patio for each room rental, top-of-the-line sound and multimedia systems - the list goes on and on!

I’m so looking forward to planning a wedding in this amazing location! These pictures speak a thousand words. Stunning!

Some industry colleagues - Kate from Little White Dress & Kim from The Creative Bride!

Centerpieces courtesy of Para Ti

Photos Courtesy of Greg Williams Photography

The Beach

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:39:46 +0000

A couple of weeks ago we decided we needed to take a day off and head to the beach. We headed to Lake Huron and it was the most peaceful, calm and sunny day. Amazing! I love the summer!

Oh, to be 10 again! When you don’t feel the cold!

Photos courtesy of Greg Williams Photography

Shell Design Weddings @ Work - Pt. 2

admin — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 20:36:42 +0000

Here is the next installment of the ‘behind the scenes’ with Shell Design Weddings at work. This is Farrah & Andy at their wedding site visit. The final walk-through before the big day and their next visit to Kitchener. I can’t wait for the big day!

The Waterloo Region Museum is a great space for a wedding! It is very unique with beautiful lighting from all the windows, stunning architecture and grounds and it is the gateway to Doon Village Crossroads so there are alot of options for photos & ceremony locations! There is also a theatre that seats over 100 people - a unique option for the wedding ceremony. I’m so excited to see this wedding come together!

Photos Courtesy of Greg Williams Photography

Shell Design Weddings at Work!

admin — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 13:17:59 +0000

My hubby and I decided to do a biz project together! He is a Photographer, I’m a Wedding Planner who never has enough photos of me at work, so we decided to change that!

One of my business challenges this season is to plan a wedding from a distance. I believe that planning my own wedding with my now husband living in Indianapolis at the time gave me all the tools I need to conquer this challenge head on! I’m an expert at skype, have formed an amazing network of industry professionals and my couple gave me full creative control. So, needless to say, it’s been amazing!

Farrah & Andy are journalist living in Qatar. Andy is from England, Farrah is from Kitchener. They’re getting married in July at The Museum in Kitchener. They just had their one and only visit to Kitchener together before the wedding. Greg and I decided to capture the planning process. Here we are at our decor meeting with Lynne from Special Events & Flowers! If you ever get the chance to work with Lynne - go for it - she rocks! Stay tuned for the venue visit and then the wedding day as it all comes together!

Hauser Hall Wedding {Trish & Paul}

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 05:24:02 +0000

Last year was a hectic one with planning our own wedding in 8 weeks and moving my husband & ‘bonus’ daughter from the U.S. to Canada. But, amongst all of the excitement I managed to take part in the Day-of Planning of Trish & Paul’s awesome wedding! It was a simple, elegant wedding and SO much fun. And, it was at one of my favey-fav venues; Hauser Hall. Enjoy a few shots from Kurt Brown of Two Tone Studios.

William & Kate - The Royal Wedding

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:01:35 +0000

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!

Cake Trends in 2011 {Sweet Sweets Cake Art}

admin — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:39:00 +0000

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

Greg Williams Photography

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 03:00:33 +0000

I am thrilled to finally be sharing this exciting news! My husband’s photography business - Greg Williams Photography - is live, launched and in full swing! I couldn’t be more proud of him. After a 13-year career in law enforcement working the streets of Indianapolis he left to pursue his passion - photography. He is an inspiration to me and anyone else who thinks they “can’t” leave the 9-to-5 job that isn’t feeding their soul to pursue their passion and purpose. Anything is possible!

So, now after all the gushing, check out his website, become a fan on Facebook and follow Greg Williams Photography on Twitter! And, the most exciting news is that we are in full collaboration offering couples Full Wedding Planning & Design and Photography services. Inquire about discounts when you book with Shell Design Weddings & Greg Williams Photography. We promise a unique, stress free wedding experience!

Greg is offering an amazing Launch Promotion! All photography services are $100-off when booked by April 30th, 2011!

Gushing…!!