....and the beat goes on.....

Michelle and I have been busy trying to build up our business.
I have very quickly realized that most business today is found using the internet. So we have been spending time trying to get our name out there as well as doing some local business networking.
I am quickly being forced to learn how to use the internet and all its avaliable tools, who knew uploading pictures could be so time consuming.
Since both Michelle and I are full time mothers of little ones, time is totaly NOT our friend. We read emails between bottles, diapers, story time and naps, and our house work........well it can wait...right?
Michelle has been busy busy busy with lots of invitations and paperwork. Her dining room table somewhat resembels Michaels craft store. However she always manages to meet her deadline.
I have had some flower work to do as well as I have lots more coming up for the summer. It often crosses my mind how I could spend hours making flower arragments or bridal bouquets BUT when it comes to my back yard gardens. I like to say I am going for the organic look, which basically is a fancy way of saying there is weeds everywhere!
I just thought I would drop in and make a small post. Michelle and I are off to enjoy a caesar and get some paper work done.

Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

Under a magestic willow tree, water racing down a stream as the background music, and the birds singing the chorus! This is the setting of an outdoor Wedding Ceremony. Months prior to this wedding, many arrangements were made from calling the local conservation authority for the booking of the site, to arranging the chairs for the guests to be seated throughout the ceremony! Having an organized planner will set the pace for this big event in your life.

I just finished making up 30 of these Louis Vuitton inspired hang tags for a bridal shower. They are headed off to Connecticut!

The base is made with 105 lb pearlescent bronze cardstock.

Then the dress is hand-stamped and gold embossing powder is poured delicately over the image. Once the excess powder is tapped off, the image appears and is heat-embossed. The vintage framed 'Thank-You' is also hand-stamped with permanent black ink. This tag has a delicate feature as each corner has been hand-punched with a more elaborate design than a simple corner rounded one. Off they go to 'dress-up' the favors that will be given to everyone at this bridal party! Hmmm a Louis Vuitton bag as a favor?

Designing Diva

I recieved an order from a girl in Ontario to design a pocketfold wedding invitation.

She would like a simple silver and white design with a mongram at the top of the invitation part. Her wedding is in the fall so I have plenty of time. Take it from me...future wedding couples...you need give your invitation designer atleast 6-8 months notice to create AND ship your invitations!!! Even having a designer lined up one year in advance is a good idea.

Now my invites are not your basic, buy at your local craft store, invitations. Everything is ordered individually (cardstock, envelopes, pocketfolds,) then I search for the perfect embellishments to give them 'a little something, something'! That may include the perfect color and width of ribbon, a silk flower, or even hand stamping an image and heat embossing it.

She would like a silver crystal added to the top of the invite and on the 'front monogram'.

Once I get all her wording, I start the process of creating samples and sending, via e-mail, pictures after pictures until she is 100% completely satisfied.

Then eventually we will get to the point of approval and I start printing, cutting, adhering, adding embellishments, and assembling. I will also have return addresses printed on her envelopes as she has requested this upgrade.

Packaging everything is stressful as I don't want to damage one of the completed masterpieces. I invest in layers and layers of bubblewrap for the long travels this package will undertake. She will recieve everything and all that needs to be done is placing the stamps on the rsvp envelopes, and inserting them into the pocket. She will need to address the outer envelope, stamp that also and insert the entire custom designed pocketfold invitation.

Now that you have a better idea of what goes into a design, maybe you will choose and independant designer like me. One thing to add, I had one customer that ordered 125 invitations, I completed the order and shipped them to him in Toroont. One week later he called me and realized that he needed 6 more invites! I just made them up that night and shipped them to him the next day! Do you think a larger company would do that? Not for an additional fee, I guarantee you!

oh what a flower....

I spent the morning with my friend Caryn, tomorow is her daughters first communion so we did what any two proud mothers would do and go get coffee...talk, laugh, talk, laugh and hit up the hamilton farmers market in search of the PERFECT flowers for centerpieces. We went through rows and rows of spring looking flowers, lots of pinks, yellows, and light colours, nothing really caught our eye to say the least. We ended up finding some sweetheart lightly dusted in pink tulips that could do the trick. JUST as we were about to pay we saw "the flowers" soft pink roses sold in bunches.
we took home 5 bunches with 2 bunches of white. As well as some plants for her bathrooms and backyard...obviously.
we got the flowers home and found some matching rocks for the bottoms of the vases. All in All they turned out beautiful and with any luck tomorrow will be a beautiful day to go along with them.
As soon as I get some pictures of the tables I will post them. Until then Michelle and I are retiring to early with popcorn and some spicy caesars...yummmmmmmmm

Paper Bag Princess

I wanted to show you all some of the amazing, crafty and beautiful things Michelle can do with Paper. I am gonna post some examples of some invitations she has done in the past. Michelle is always busy with her beautiful paper work. I recently tricked her into making my daughters adorable 2nd birthday invitations. I am so excited for them. They are adorable. I on the other hand have no idea how she does it. she comes up with such "art" my idea of an invitation is the kind you purchase at a bargin shop and hand write the details in. These invitations are WAY beyond me. If you are looking for someone to do your paper work for you. Michelle is the person you want to talk to. she can make Menu Cards, Thank You Cards, Place Card settings, and basically anything you might need that involves paper and may I add, you wont find prices like hers. Since she is busy doing wedding planning Michelle is now taking fully custom orders. You can basically design your own wedding invites and she will make them for you.....I know awesome right?

April showers bring May Flowers

Well let me take this time to introduce ourselves I (Misty) live in Dundas and I LOVE the wedding business. What a delight it is to see people and help them experience the happiest day of their lives. Now Trust me I know wedding life is stressful...especially when you throw in a bride, a groom, a couple mother in laws and some hysterical bridesmaids.
the other one of "us" Michelle also lives in Dundas, She has worked in the wedding industry before as well....and like me has planned her own wedding and knows what work is involved.
both of us are busy as bees in our day to day life....we both have daughters the same age who keep us on our toes and organization is key to running a succsessful household.
So with the combination of skills, organization and knowledge of the industry we would LOVE to help you plan your day.
Michelle is an amazing "artist" when it comes to paper, she can turn ANY invation into an elegant master piece
and I on the other hand know a thing or two about flowers and decorations, lets just say my kitchen floor has been known to hold up ALOT of stems and petals when I put together arrangements or bouquets.
We would LOVE to meet with you. I know your thinking, I am now engaged and I have SO much to do, where do I start....let us help you with that. We will take the time to sit down with you and find out exactly what you envision for YOUR day and help you acheive that. Just give us a call and we will be sure to help you get on the right path.
You can reach us at atozweddingplanners@gmail.com
cant wait to hear from you.