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The Wedding Planner Magazine Style Shoot
What a thrill it was to lead a team of talented creatives for this style shoot which was featured in the pages of The Wedding Planner Magazine. Given it was my first time participating in a shoot, I couldn’t be more proud of how it came together in the end. A beautiful gemstone, aquamarine provided the inspiration behind this style shoot. From the light blue of the sky to the deep blue in the ocean, aquamarine is known for its range of blue hues, sometimes even with a faint greenish shimmer. However, we were inspired to reflect a pure clear blue.
With exposed brick walls and wood floors bringing a natural raw charm, the vision was to create a dreamy and romantic setting by infusing the space with aquamarine, soft peach, pale blush, greens and white. To add a touch of elegance to the vision, we subtly incorporated gold accents into the guest table with mercury votive candles, chiavari chairs, flatware and floral containers. Our stationery tied our look together by bringing in the gold and showcasing soft romantic elegant features in the design. We also featured a peony bloom in all pieces as well. Gorgeous layered linens, a birch arbor with hanging florals and candles along with the sugar crystals adorning the main cake beautifully added extra touches of romantic detail to the sweet table. The high and low florals, filled with lush peonies, garden roses, bleeding hearts and delphiniums, truly breathed romance into the space. A floral trend we are continuing to see in bridal bouquets is the horizontal bouquet. To best highlight this type of bouquet, we opted to pair it with a simple yet stunning lace wedding dress. Our bride’s look was completed with shades of soft blue and blush in her eye makeup and her elegant up-do featured a delicate beaded band.
Make sure you scroll to the bottom for all the vendor love 🙂
CONCEPT & PLANNING | The Wedding Pixie • VENUE | Spice Factory • PHOTOGRAPHY | The Butterfly Photography • FLORALS | Wine Country Floral • CAKE & SWEET TREATS | Sweet Avenue Cakery • MODEL | Vogue Models and Talent (Hamilton Toronto) • HAIR & MAKEUP | MIA Professional Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist • STATIONERY | Alicia’s Infinity • DRESS & ACCESSORIES | Heirlooms Bridal Shoppe • CAKE TABLE LINENS, CHIAVARI CHAIRS, CHARGER PLATES & NAPKINS | Gala Décor Wedding and Event Design • FLATWARE | The Pink Door Boutique • GUEST TABLE LINEN & DINNERWARE | Higgins Event Rentals
TWP Celebrates 3 Years of Business Bliss
Earlier this month, (March 15th to be exact), The Wedding Pixie turned 3 and like a mom, I couldn’t be more proud. Boy oh boy, what a journey these first 3 years in business have been!! My heart is SO full and I’m beyond grateful for the beautiful life I live today.
When I started The Wedding Pixie, the plan was for me to use it as a creative outlet because my day job in the corporate world just wasn’t cutting it anymore. As with anything I do, I gave my all to the corporate job but with each passing day, I was becoming so unhappy and in many ways, the life was being sucked out of me. I thought if I had a creative outlet to balance my analytical demanding job, then all would well in my world. And for a few months, that plan was working well. What I hadn’t expected though was how this business would light a fire of passion within me. I had a business and more then anything, I wanted to see it grow. Tending to the business on evenings and weekends wasn’t cutting it anymore. I so often dreamed of the day I would hand in my letter of resignation and pursue my budding business full time. In May 2015, my dream turned into reality when I FINALLY took the biggest (and scariest) leap of my life. Back then, I remember feeling like I was jumping out of a airplane. That is really the best way I can think of to describe it. Sitting here today, reflecting on this journey, I see the parachute did indeed open. I landed on my feet. Yes, there were rocky days as it’s been quite the journey filled with moments of every emotion imaginable. Never could I have imagined that in the summer of 2016, my first real summer of being booked with clients, a time I really saw my dreams coming true, would also be the time I would have to say goodbye to my mom. Juggling hospital visits, doctor meetings and grief in the middle of wedding season could never be something anyone plans for but it sure did show me exactly what I’m capable of in this life.
To my beautiful couples, inside and out, who have trusted me with their weddings, I thank you for being wonderful and playing a role in my first 3 years of business bliss! To my vendor friends, you are all amazing for your support, replies to my countless emails and showing up on wedding days to do what you do best! I’m so excited for what lies ahead in the next year.
WPIC Code of Ethics
Before I jump into the real intent of this post, I thought I think it’s fitting to share some of the backstory to my journey on becoming The Wedding Pixie. If you are reading this, then hopefully you have already read my Meet the Pixie page and know that weddings have been my passion since I was 7. Well, long before The Wedding Pixie got its wings, when I was just a girl who loved weddings and all things pretty, I’d attend bridal shows just for the pure fun of it (Ok, if I’m really being honest, I’d geek out a little with excitement when one was approaching).
It was at one of those shows where I saw a booth to become a certified Wedding Planner. I still remember my initial thought…”OMG! Seriously? How amazingly awesome and fun would that be?” I took the brochure and tucked it away in my binder full of wedding things. I went on with life because at that time, I was a full-time university student with readings, projects and finals to consume my time. It wasn’t until after graduation and landing a corporate job that I pulled out my binder to find the brochure again. I honestly can’t describe the feeling but just knew, deep down, this was something I had to pursue. I signed up for the course in September 2009 and looking back now, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. When I took the course, I had no idea it would lead to creating this life and business I love.
When I’m meeting with potential couples, it always gives me great pride to say The Wedding Pixie, and day-of assistants, are proud graduates of The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC). While this sounds all dandy and lovely, many couples don’t know what it actually means so I thought it was fitting to do this post and share their Code of Ethics. As WPIC Certified Wedding Coordinators, we have been formally educated in Wedding Coordination and must abide by the following Code of Ethics. Failing to abide can result in losing our Certification and being disbarred from the WPIC Alumni Association.
Code of Ethics:
- We do not accept kickbacks (money for referrals) from vendors. Vendors must know that the clients are the recipients of any discounts given.
- We treat each client fairly, and we will be honest and upfront in the representation of our clients.
- We uphold our ethics. We will not take or attempt to take clients from, or discredit, other vendors with gossip or slander.
- Every client will receive a detailed contract for Wedding Day Direction, Destination or Full Wedding Coordination services.
- We will provide all services agreed upon in the contract that must be signed by both the client and Coordinator at the commencement of service.
- We believe in continuous education, networking and training within the Wedding Industry.
- Our pricing is upfront and industry comparable.
- We will make every effort to return calls and emails in a timely manner. (Within 48 hrs.)
- We always endeavour to benefit our client and not ourselves. Vendors are suggested on merit, in the best interests of the client, not ourselves or the vendor suggested.
- We cannot guarantee your wedding will be perfect, but we can guarantee we will do everything within our power to make sure it is as close to perfection as it can be.
If you are recently engaged, show yourself some love by hiring a wedding planning pro. For more information on services and to enquire about our availability for your wedding date, send a note here. Don’t be shy, we can’t wait to hear from you!
Source: Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC)
Cherish Workshop Experience
While this post is definitely not my most timely, as the saying goes better late then never.
Earlier this year, May to be exact, I was fortunate to have been able to nab one of the limited seats to the Cherish Workshop. Hosted by the lovely Laura Olsen of Laura Olsen Events and held at the Graydon Hall Manor (an elegant estate in the heart of Toronto’s city life), Cherish was a two-day interactive learning experience focusing on the how-to’s of styling and photography.
Bringing together industry creatives with guest speakers Wedding Sparrow, When He Found Her, Caribou Lab and Tiffany Pratt, Cherish really did feature the very best of the wedding world. Beyond the guest speakers, Cherish also included intimate classes and my favourite part, styling sessions, to provide hands-on learning and coaching. As I look back on this time now, it was really a playing haven to have been surrounded by all the pretty goodness from All Things Lovely Paper Co., Plate Occasions, Blush and Bloom and Susan Murray Linens. To have all those goodies at your finger tips to experiment with was a wedding planner’s dream…it was like waking up on Christmas morning. I was totally inspired and motivated to be surrounded by these established industry professionals who provided me, and all the attendees, with nothing but kind guidance, encouragement and support.
To cap off the two days of learning fun, all attendees and sponsors were invited to an amazingly delicious dinner prepared by Graydon Hall Manor’s Executive Chef and beautifully styled by Laura and her team. I may not be able to even begin describing the yummy feast we all enjoyed that night but I can tell you it was the best meal I have ever had in all of my 31 years. While I was sad for the experience to end, the friendors (i.e vendor friends) I made in that time are ones I still remain in contact today with. I guess you could say, I still cherish them to this day 🙂
Be sure to check out the beautiful images by When He Found Her of the Cherish Workshop as featured on Wedding Sparrow Blog
An elegant table setting created by yours truly and captured by my Cherish roomie, Esther Funk.
Post image by Esther Funk Photography
Caught in the styling act..if you follow me on social media (if you don’t then what are you waiting for?) this pic will look familiar
Post image by Nina Polidoro Photography
Here are a few other Cherish highlights as captured by moi through my iphone…
Pantone Colour of the Year – Rose Quartz and Serenity
Happy Holidays Everyone!!
It truly is the most wonderful time of the year 🙂 Yes, the holiday season is in full swing with all the cheer, eggnog and shopping going on but earlier this week, Pantone, the world’s colour authority, announced the 2016 Colour of the Year. Or more accurately Colours of the Year.
That’s right! Pantone went rogue this year by announcing not one but two shades to share the title with this year. As always, these will set the trend in design from furniture to appliances and of course, weddings. So here it is, 2016 Pantone Colours of the Year (drum roll please)…Rose Quartz and Serenity!
Post image via Pantone: Introducing Rose Quartz and Serenity
I really should give you a minute or two to swoon over and take in these colour beauties. So feminine, pretty and soft for a gorgeous wedding palette. I couldn’t help myself in gathering some wedding inspiration focusing on these lovelies. These hues of soft pink and muted blue remind me of everything calm, peaceful and tranquil like yoga, meditating and a picture perfect sunrise.
Post image by Alice Swedenborg via Love My Dress Wedding Blog – A 60s Chic Rock n’ Roll Bride On Her Jetset Honeymoon
Post image via Frieda Theres: Hochzeitsdeko in Kupfer
Post image by Mark Davidson via The Cake Blog: 10 Sea-Loving Nautical Cakes Cake Design by Erin Gardner of Erin Bakes
What do you think? Want to know more about Rose Quartz and Serenity? Check out Pantone’s site here
Happy Planning!