Posted on February 1, 2012 by Laura K

Prodigy Entertainment is now Michael Coombs Entertainment

I met Michael Coombs at an industry dinner about a year and a half ago and we hit it off right away. To me DJ’s have always seem a bit slimy and in your face (or at least that is the impression many have left me with – especially after seeing them in action at wedding shows). That is not the case with Michael – he’s soft spoken, easy to talk to and extremely good at what he does.

Michael is not located in my neighbourhood so this is a bit of a departure from my tour of Leslieville and Riverside but I wanted to write about Michael because he recently hired me to help with the rebranding of his business. Formerly known as Prodigy Entertainment, he is now Michael Coombs Entertainment. At the end of the day he realised people are hiring him not the business and thus the name change.

We started with the logo design, followed by business cards, letterhead, stickers, postcards and the website.

I’ve enjoyed working with Michael as he takes his business to the next level, I’m also happy to call him a friend. I’ve also has the pleasure of seeing him in action several times recently and let’s just say I’d hire him for any event I was having…except that I’d actually want him as a guest! I guess I’ll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it.

www.michaelcoombs.ca
416.676.7992

Email to a friend
Posted in Wedding Industry | Tagged , , | 1 Comment
Posted on January 19, 2012 by Laura K

Ikonica – Leslieville

I met Jackson Huang (owner of Ikonica) quite a few years ago. Although I’m a bit foggy on the details, what I do remember is thinking how nice a guy he was and imagined he’d be great to work with. I was right.

Jackson actually comes from a science background and even has a PHD from the University of Toronto but he realized that photography was his true love and in 2001 launched his business. He found the world of photography to be more exciting and enjoyed the fact that he got to combine both the scientific and creative sides of himself.

He could see that digital photography was the way of the future when he began so he jumped right into the emerging technology and left film out altogether. In this regard he was way ahead that others in the city. The quality wasn’t even close to what it is today but it helped him to get the most out of the camera and improve the post production work.

In 2007 Ikonica was born as a “Collection of Artists”. There are currently 5 photographers that shoot for Ikonica; Jackson Huang, Gillian Williamson, Michael Grills, Lisa McPeek and Jean-Marc Robin. There are also several people working on the post production side of the business.

Something that I didn’t know before I sat down to chat with Jackson about his business is that they have 3 photographers at all weddings to capture the day. The couple chooses the lead photographer that best fits their style and budget and that person is joined by 2 other shooters.

In 2008 Ikonica moved into it’s current studio in Leslieville. It is a huge, gorgeous space that is perfect this growing business and for in studio shoots. As well as weddings, Ikonica does fashion photography, portraits and family photos and editorial work. Ikonica is an award winning photography studio that has been published in many magazines including Wedluxe, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Toronto Life and Fashion.

It has always been a pleasure to work with Ikonica and I am happy to recommend them to my clients!

Ikonica is located at:
388 Carlaw Ave, until 302B, Toronto
info@ikonica.ca
website

Email to a friend
Posted in Leslieville/Riverside, Wedding Industry, Wedding Photographers | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Posted on January 5, 2012 by Laura K

The Wedluxe Wedding Show – January 8th, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton Toronto

This Sunday, January 8th from 10am-6pm I will be at the Wedluxe Wedding Show at the Ritz Carlton Toronto. If you’re getting married come to the show – where you will meet the best of the best in the wedding industry. I’m at booth P3 – Hope to see you there!

Email to a friend
Posted in Wedding Show | Tagged , , | Leave a comment
Posted on December 19, 2011 by Laura K

Baby Emile

So our little bundle of joy was born on October 21st, 2011 at 6:57pm. His name is Emile Gérard Beauparlant and weighed 6lbs, 13ozs. As I write this is he 8 weeks old and I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone. I meant to write this much sooner to introduce him but there was always something else to be done!

I had mentioned in a previous post that I would have to wait and see what kind of baby he was to know how much work I would take on….we’ll he is an Angel baby and has made life very easy for his mom. I’ve been getting a decent amount of sleep and am enjoying spending time with him when he is awake and working while he sleeps. There still never seems to be enough time but we are getting a good routine going.

He’s smiling now and even rolling over and at last weigh in was almost 11lbs! His big brother Sébastien is so proud and loves his baby brother. It’s wonderful to see the connection they have already.

I’m looking forward to the spending this Christmas with my little family of 4 as well as our extended families. It is sure to be a special year!

Work starts again – full speed ahead – in January when I will be exhibiting at the Wedluxe Wedding Show at the Ritz Carlton on Sunday January 8th and at the Wedding Co Show from the 13th-15th at the Carlu. I hope to see you there!

Here are a few photos we had taken with Emile when he was 11 days old. Laura Jane came back to capture the newest member of our family. Thank you again Laura Jane for the most beautiful photos!

Email to a friend
Posted in Baby, Baby Announcements & Invitations, Wedding Photographers, Wedding Show | 3 Comments
Posted on October 12, 2011 by Laura K

Sash and Bustle – Leslieville

Sash and Bustle is a fantastic Wedding Dress boutique in Leslieville – owned by Cynthia Martyn. It was started in 2009 as a bridesmaid dress shop with a very small selection of bridal. However, due to demand, Cynthia has increased the  selection of wedding dresses and will be no longer be carrying bridesmaid dresses as of November 1st. The reason why the bridal gowns have been so popular is that they are affordable and not your typical designs.

There are punches of colour, lace and simple dresses with less boning, pinning and crinoline so they are lighter in weight and less structured. Perfect for destination or outdoor weddings or for brides who are just looking for something different. Many of these dresses are simple in their design and because of their price point you can add personality with accessories and shoes. They also have clutches, veils and hair accessories available which are all from local indy designers.

Don’t completely discount Sash and Bustle if you are looking for a more traditional dress as there is a selection of dresses that have more structure and might just fit the bill.

The collections range in price from $1000-$3500. If you are interested in checking out the gorgeous dresses at Sash & Bustle – you need to set up an appointment and while you are there you have the boutique all to yourself (and whoever you choose to bring with you).

Cynthia goes to the Bridal Market in New York City twice a year to follow the trends in bridal wear and also to meet the designers. The boutique often secures an exclusive with a designer for the Toronto area and in some cases all of Canada – so these aren’t dresses you will find anywhere else!

I’m actually dying to renew my vows (hopefully in 3 years when we celebrate our 10th anniversary) and buy a dress from Sash and Bustle….I’ve already got my eye on one in particular. It’s funny because it really couldn’t be more different from the dress I wore at my wedding. Mind you – who knows what my style will be 3 years from now! :)

Sash & Bustle
233 Carlaw Avenue, unit 2
Toronto, ON
416.414.3617
www.sashandbustle.com





photos by Rebecca Wood Photography

Email to a friend
Posted in Leslieville/Riverside, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Industry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
Posted on September 28, 2011 by Laura K

Rebecca Wood Photography – Riverside District

It’s a funny story how I was first introduced to Rebecca Wood. We live a couple of streets from each other and had the same dentist and hair dresser – when both of them found out I was in the wedding industry they said – “oh do you know Rebecca Wood?” And apparently they did the same to her about me! It was quite hilarious actually. Finally one day I called her up and introduced myself. It turns out we had even more in common – we are both from Guelph and a very close friend of her’s is someone I went to school with since about grade 4! Small world isn’t it?

Rebecca started her photography business in 2006 after the birth of her daughter Scarlett. She had studied Fine Art at the University of Guelph focusing on Painting and Photography and moved to Toronto after graduating. She got a job working for Visual Arts Ontario – a non profit organization helping visual artists with their businesses. She loved the job but quickly realised that she didn’t want to just help other artists with their businesses, she wanted to be an artist herself!

She had never expected to get into wedding photography but while photographing a friends small backyard wedding she was told by the wedding party and guests how good she was and that she should do this for a living. The couple LOVED their photos and she quickly got a call from a friend of the bride insisting that she photograph their wedding – and wouldn’t take no for an answer! So – what followed was her first paid job as a wedding photographer. She left the wedding on a high! It was this wedding that made her decide to start her own wedding photography business.

She had the full support of her husband Chris to take this leap and through a government program received a grant that included business classes, a mentor and in the end she had to write a business plan. Because this was a paid program – it allowed her to have part-time daycare for her daughter to work on the business plan. She told me that this experience was invaluable and that without the business plan – she’s not sure she would have been successful.

All that hard work has paid off because now Rebecca is well respected in the industry and is a highly sought after photographer. Her style is gorgeous – light, airy and romantic. I just love the feeling of her photographs and worked with her last year on a shoot with my invitations. Rebecca is definitely one of the photographers I recommend to my clients.

To balance work and life – Rebecca only takes on 15-20 weddings per year. She also does portraits – many of which are for her former wedding clients who come back for maternity, baby and family photographs.

Rebecca’s Studio is located at 9 Davies Ave • studio 400, Toronto.
phone:  647.880.9669
website: www.rebeccawood.ca
tumblr:   rebeccawoodphotography.tumblr.com
twitter:   rebeccaskyewood

Rebecca (right) together with one of her brides.

Here are a few photos from Rebecca’s Studio.





And last but not least – here are some of her gorgeous wedding photos.



 

Email to a friend
Posted in Leslieville/Riverside, Wedding Industry, Wedding Photographers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment
Posted on September 26, 2011 by Laura K

Baby on the way!

So with 3 weeks to go until my due date the question I am asked most often these days is – will I be taking time off when the baby arrives? And it is a good question! The short answer is that I will be slowing down but that I will still be working. How much will depend on the kind of baby I have. If he’s challenging or colicky then I may not be as available as I’d like – but if he’s relatively easy and sleeps alot then I’ll have a bit more time on my hands. I guess you could say my plan is to play it by ear – if you can call that a plan!

For those of you whom I am already working with and for those that are interested in working with me – here is what I promise:

  1. I will check and respond to emails, I just might not be as quick as I usually.
  2. I will make appointments for wedding invitations consultations if the wedding is within the next 6 months – If the wedding isn’t until next Summer/Fall I would prefer to wait to meet until early in 2012 when I am back to work on a more full time basis.
  3. I will take on small corporate projects – so if this is something you are interested in – contact me and we can discuss your needs and I will let you know if I have the time to complete the project.
  4. The quality of my work will not be compromised.
  5. I will be forthcoming about my availabilty and about timelines.

What I’ve come to realised as I approach my due date is that Laura K Design is my first baby and because I love what I do – the health and vitality of it is just as important to me as my boys. I will let you all know when the new addition arrives so stay tuned…. :)

I thought I would end by sharing some photos we had taken recently by the very talented Laura Jane. Enjoy.

















 

Email to a friend
Posted in Baby, Leslieville/Riverside | Leave a comment
Posted on September 22, 2011 by Laura K

Cynthia Martyn Events – Leslieville

The latest stop on my tour of the wedding businesses in Leslieville and Riverside brought me to the studio of Cynthia Martyn Events. The space is also home to a bridal gown boutique called Sash and Bustle which Cynthia opened 2 years ago. I decided to keep these as 2 separate posts so today I will be starting with the event business.


photo by Rebecca Wood Photography

I first met Cynthia many years ago and we actually started our businesses the same year -  2004. She had previously been working at a large bank in Toronto doing corporate events and needed a change. At the time there were not many wedding planners and she feels that much of her original success is because “It was just the right time”. That may have been the reason in the beginning but without being good at what she does she wouldn’t still be successful almost 8 years later.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Cynthia on several photo shoots and weddings and I have to say she is one of the calmest, most easy going people I’ve ever met. (And I’m not the only one who thinks this – clients and vendors feel the same way) She makes everything look effortless, when in reality I know her job is full of obstacles and stress. The reality is she is amazing at staying calm in stressful situations which in turn keeps the bride, groom (and anyone else at the wedding) from being stressed out! Honestly I think her personality is one of the biggest reasons for her success. You mix that with her organizational skills and talent for designing fabulous events and you have a winning combination.

Cynthia has really developed her own style over the years and loves to create
“the whole package” for clients – that being wedding design and planning. Due to the high demand for each event and the scale, Cynthia takes on about 12-15 weddings per year. This way she has the time to give each client the attention they need and deserve.

Her events are spectacular for so many reasons and I would recommend her whole heartily to anyone getting married!

Cynthia Martyn Events Inc.
233 Carlaw Avenue, Unit 2
Toronto, Ontario M4M 3N6
Tel. 416.651.6600

Here are a few photos from one of Cynthia’s gorgeous weddings. Photos by Jodi Renee



Email to a friend
Posted in Leslieville/Riverside, Wedding Industry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment
Posted on September 15, 2011 by Laura K

Sébastien’s 4th Birthday

About 3 weeks ago we threw a 4th birthday party for our son Sébastien. We decided to do a small affair in our backyard with just a few of his close friends. We had perfect weather, 6 kids and a few parents. This was so much more manageable than the kids parties we’ve thrown in the past – having all the kids the same age really helps!

I contacted Maria from Little Party Goers for some ideas on activities that would work for 4 year olds and she gave me some great suggestions! We had a water balloon race, a water balloon toss and each child made a t-shirt with fabric paint and sponges in different shapes. I was going to do musical chairs and dance freeze but we ran out of time!

Patricia of Patricia Cakes created a fantastic cake and cupcakes that matched the design from the invitations. Not only did they look fantastic but tasted amazing! Everyone was impressed.

Here are a few photos of the invitations I created, the cake and of course the kids!





Email to a friend
Posted in Birthday Parties | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment
Posted on August 29, 2011 by Laura K

Flower Delivery

Today I received a very special delivery from a client – a gorgeous flower arrangement and a lovely thank you note! I recently worked with Shannon Jukes of Curly Girl Flowers to create a promotional piece for her new business. I also helped give her some insight into the wedding industry as well as some great contacts. I wish you  loads of success and looking forward to seeing you at the Wedluxe Show Wedding show on January 8th, 2012 Shannon! Thanks again for the flowers.

Email to a friend
Posted in Wedding Industry, Wedding Show | Tagged , , | Leave a comment