Well, hey there! Welcome to Vesta Weddings. My name is Shellie, and am so excited you stopped by! Let me share a little bit about myself. I am a very proud mom to 17 & 20yr old boys. I am exuberantly loud and have lost count of the number of times someone has said, “Oh, Shellie must be here…I heard her laugh!” I am inspired daily by people’s love stories.
In 1995 I graduated from RDC with a music diploma and no idea what I was going to do with it. I found myself behind a cash register instead. A few years later, after planning my first wedding, I quickly discovered I had a passion for event planning, but never got the chance to pursue it. Instead, I worked my way up the corporate retail ladder, managing teams and serving clients for 12 years. I left the workforce to start a family and in the years that would follow, I’d work in childcare, finance and administration. When covid hit and I found myself laid off, I did some soul searching and rediscovered my lost love for all things wedding and it was like a lightbulb moment when I realize where my true passion lied. I became certified by the Wedding Planner Institute of Canada immediately and the decision to start Vesta Weddings became a no brainer. I have been sinking my teeth into this wonderful industry ever since!
I truly believe that every single person deserves to have the wedding of their dreams. I believe in community, supporting local and building people up. I believe in equality and protecting people’s rights. I believe there’s nothing a good cup of coffee and a visit with your best friend can’t fix, and above all… I believe in love and I am insanely passionate about the wedding industry!
Weddings are a true culmination of many moving parts all designed to create an atmosphere of excitement and joy. The fact that I get to take all of my years of service, multi-tasking, number crunching and organizational skills and create this magical expression of love blows my mind! At the end of the day, long after your vows have been spoken, if you think back and smile, only then will I have been successful in my mission!
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, all day, every day. Cold-brew, latte, frappe, regular ‘ol cup of joe with cream and sugar… I don’t discriminate when it comes to that delicious caffeination.
What’s your favorite holiday?
Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day. Christmas brings family together and shows us the very best of humanity. St. Patrick’s Day because I’m pretty sure I was Irish in another life.
When you’re not working, what are your favorite things to do?
I am a HUGE cinephile and tv junkie. I have about 10 favorite shows, don’t ask me to pick just one. I love playing games with my boys when they will let me and my boyfriend and I enjoy crib a lot. I am a new dog owner and have never had a pet my whole adult life, so that has been a fun learning curve! I also built a home gym in my garage, so you can find me out there strength training 4x/week.
What’s something people don’t know about you?
When I was in college, I performed in a country band, an R&B band, and was honored to sing the national anthem for an NHL vs old-timers hockey game.
What three things would you take with you on a deserted island?
My cell phone, picture of my family, and my emergency kit!
Share a fun fact about yourself
I will break into song multiple times a day when a word or phrase triggers a song lyric (my son HATES it!).
I also ADORE Bollywood and East Indian culture. I even travelled to Toronto once for IIFA and got to meet famous Indian actors Vivek Oberoi & Shah Rukh Khan. A dream of mine!
What is your biggest accomplishment?
Losing 125 lbs. Need some fitness and nutrition motivation? I’ll be a shoulder to lean on. I almost went back to college to get my kinesiology degree in 2010 but chose finance instead.
Where do you like to vacation?
My first love has always been Ireland, although I’ve yet to make it there (one day!). If I need a getaway that’s more attainable, the mountains fill my soul every time. Also, Mexico!
What is your favorite aspect of weddings?
This used to say something about creating memories, but after 4 seasons of wedding planning I can firmly say building lifelong relationships with my clients. At the end of the day, some clients become like family!
LOVE MAKES THE WORLD GO ROUND… LOVE, AND A KICK-ASS WEDDING PLANNER!
Marriage is like an endless sleepover with your favorite weirdo. Let’s get this sleepover started!!!
