Welcome to my first vendor profile! I decided in this new year that I wanted to share with you some of the fabulous vendors I am priviledged to work with. In the upcoming months, I would like to introduce you to a number of planners, photographers, florists...well, you get the idea. My hope is that this may help you find the vendor that is the right fit for you, no matter what you are planning! There are so many choices these days that sometimes it can be hard to know you are making the right choice.
 
I wanted to start it off with someone who is not only one of my favourite vendors, but one of my favourite people too :) Rebecca Fisher-Swarbrooke is the brains behind each and every gorgeous detail created when your event is designed by High Culture: Weddings & Special Events. Her passion for creating unique and beautifully styled events are an elegant representation of the dream you express to her in your consultation. Not only is she a leading event designer, but she is also an accomplished writer who has seen her work published as far away as Lebanon; she is also involved locally with Edmonton's own Blush Magazine and she has also been added to the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald's preferred vendor list. I have had the opportunity to work with her on some of my most creative shoots and I look forward to many many more! 

I first met Rebecca when I did her hair and makeup for a shoot with the fabulous Jennifer Williams Boudoir Photography. It didn't take long for us to see how famously we get along and, as an added bonus, we have similar values in how we run our businesses. She is always on the go and never stops looking for inspiration to wow her clients with. I always look forward to working with her and her clients, because I know the event will be a stunner!


 



Photo Copyright: Nathan Walker Photography

I had the chance to ask her a few questions and I would love to share them with you!

How long have you been in the event planning industry?
Well, this is slightly complex as I have been in the hospitality industry my entire life.

Most children grow up playing in sandboxes and watching cartoons; however, while I was not deprived of this childhood, some of my fondest memories from growing up are of the weekends I spent smelling the aromas of freshly baked wedding cakes in my mother’s kitchen and being my father’s shadow at the Conference Centre and Hotel where he remains the Food and Beverage Director. I grew up immersed in the hospitality industry, yet I do not want to remain in it because it is something that I am familiar with, but rather in order to explore and enrich my education in this area; I am absolutely in love with what I do! I reminisce of watching ‘Behind the Bash with Giada De Laurentiis,’ a television program that my mother and I would watch religiously. I would sit and stare in awe; I would ogle at the glitz and glamour and dream of being there. The Oscars also quickly became a favourite annual event. We would dress up and admire the fashion, the spectacular programme, and the after parties. I have always had a passion for books, and the wedding and event section of the local bookstore quickly became my favourite.

My dedication to becoming educated in the field of wedding and event planning has proven my interest in this area. While in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in grade ten, I completed a six month personal project of my choice based on weddings. As another six months followed, after completing my project, I felt like something was missing. As a result, in the fall of 2007, I decided that I would pursue my desire to learn more about wedding and event planning and I also considered the idea of potentially pursuing this as a career and business endeavor. I completed a two and a half month night course, to obtain a wedding planning certificate. Six months later, in the summer of 2008, my first wedding took place. The same year, I enrolled as a student at the University of Alberta, where I completed my Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Comparative Literature in 2012. As I entered my academic career, my initial intentions were to “dabble” in wedding planning and only do a couple a year, but my passion got the best of me and I am proud to share that High Culture has grown immensely since 2008

 
What type of events do you plan?
Since 2007, my primary focus has specifically been weddings and the events that are distinctly associated with them—showers, rehearsal dinners, day after events—however, I have also enjoyed the opportunity to work on other events such as baby showers and birthday celebrations. While my primary focus is weddings, I do provide my services to clients who seek a planner and designer for any momentous occasion. If there is a reason to celebrate, I hope to hear from you!
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Photo Copyright: Detour Photoraphy


What is your favorite part of planning an event?One of my favourite things about planning and designing an event is that they are all so different. Although they follow, to a certain extent, a formula of sorts, weddings and events are completely customizable and unique, based on each individual client. With regard to weddings, by far, I enjoy the creative aspect of the design process the most; being able to take my clients’ inspiration and love story to design something that conveys who they are is something that I am proud of and view as a great privilege.

Do you travel?
I absolutely do travel! I have a passport that is always ready to be used, but I will go near or far. While I have completed consulting services for clients who have held their events outside of Alberta, my focus has mostly been on The Canadian Rockies.
Blush Magazine S/S 2013

What is the most important thing to remember when planning an event?
Do not stress about the little things; permitting you’ve hired a team of professional vendors who excel in their field, you will have a flawless event. With weddings in particular, remember that it is yours and your fiancé(e)s day, so create the wedding of your dreams. Of course, be open to the suggestions of others, but ultimately, make the decisions that make you happiest.

What do you think is the most common misconception about hiring a planner?Well, there are two things that come to mind: cost and the idea that a planner may take away from the experience as a whole.

I will be the first to admit that a planner is not a necessity, it is a luxury; a wedding planner isn’t for everyone. With that being said, many planners do offer services at various levels: full coordination, wedding day management, and hourly consultations; therefore, anyone seeking the knowledge or advice of a professional may be able to find a service that is suitable within their requests and their budget. If it is not within your budget to hire a full service coordinator, I would advise hiring a planner for a few hourly consultations to ensure that you are on the right track; after all, for many brides and/or grooms, this will be their first time planning a wedding, so seeking the advice of a professional who is knowledgeable and experienced in their field may save them time and money. While the investment may be anywhere from 10-20+% of your wedding budget, a well-informed, professional planner may save you money because they are already aware of options that will best suit your requests and budget.
Blush Magazine A/W 2012

What a Professional Wedding Planner Can Do For YOU
1. Save you time
Did you know that the average wedding takes 250+ hours of planning? Who has that kind of time? A professional, experienced wedding planner has done this before, so they will be a great asset in ensuring that none of the details are overlooked.

2. Save you money
A wedding planner either has strategic ways of saving you money, receives exclusive industry discounts, or knows of the best businesses to take you to for the best prices — of course, without compromising quality.
3. Alleviate unnecessary stressIn no way should a planner take away from the experience, but rather enhance it by making the planning of your wedding a more enjoyable process.
Photo Copyright:Cassie's Camera
How far in advance should clients book their planner?If you look online, six to nine months is often recommended and is relatively adequate, with the latter being preferred; however, couples must keep in mind that the wedding industry is quite competitive, so if you have your heart set on a specific date with specific vendors, you really must book far in advance in order to obtain everything you wish for. Many couples will reserve their planner about a year to even a year and a half in advance which is highly recommended. For month of/day of services, one to three months is often appropriate; also, many planners will not book this service until within this time frame, unless reserved with additional services i.e. design and/or hourly consultations. Of course, it is good to inquire about your wedding date and the type of service that you will require as early as possible.

How many hours does is typically take to design a wedding?
To plan and design the average wedding often takes an average of 250 hours. Hiring a wedding planner will often save you a lot of this time, because it is the responsibility of the planner to plan and design the wedding of your dreams, as you have translated to them; of course, levels of service vary based on the package or custom quote that you receive. A knowledgeable wedding planner will already have a majority of the research completed which will come as a great advantage to you as a client.

What's your favourite holiday?
My favourite holiday is Christmas, because I enjoy partaking in all of the traditions that are associated with it.

What is your favourite thing to do in your off time?
I find solace in “me time” by going for walks and enjoying the fresh air; I also greatly enjoy reading, as well as watching movies. I adore the opportunity to entertain and be entertained; spending quality time with my family and friends over delicious food and conversation is something that is also very important to me.

Where do you find your inspiration?I find my inspiration in the beauty of every day; of course, much of my inspiration comes directly from wedding related mediums such as websites, blogs, and books, but I am also inspired by travel, architecture, and art, amongst other things. I enjoy following the work of designers Preston Bailey, Colin Cowie, Mindy Weiss, Marcy Blum, David Beahm, and David Stark, as well as the work of Martha Stewart, Ron Ben-Israel, and Sylvia Weinstock; after all, who says you can’t bring the luxury, or the inspirations, of New York City (one of my favourite places!) to Edmonton?
 
 
Thank you so much Rebecca for taking the time to let us get to know you better! If you would like to see more of her work you can do so here or here :)
 
Have a great week everyone!!


Photo Copyright:Cassie's Camera