Sugar Plum Events
EDMONTON Edmonton, AB, Canada

Giddy Up the new Sugar Plum logo is here. The other night (at 3:16am to be exact).. i was still working and my skin started to crawl. My logo was bugging me. Did it say i was a high end international planner?... That i manage and balance massive budgets? That i am an award winning producer? That im Certified, insured, reputable + credible?! That i take my role in producing, very serious? Was it saying that we were approachable, friendly, welcoming and here for everyday people; looking to create a signature experience to celebrate something huge in their life?! Did it say that this was my full time profession and not a "side hustle"? Did i need to take my logo uptown? Or was it just 3:16am and i needed to go get sleep? Either way, this girl and I went uptown and we took our best shoes. PSST @engravablesdesign.. imma need a new sign

Our home burned to the ground a few years ago. We lost everything. Every photo. Every doll. Every macaroni craft ever made in elementary school. This is one of the only photos I have. It means everything for me to see a stamp in time where otherwise there'd be another gap in my history. With both parents passed on, im constantly watching my daughter- wondering what i was like at that age, what i looked like, how i laughed. I have no one to ask and no photos to interpret. ... For the couples who "don't feel photos are a necessary expense" at an intimate wedding or sequel celebration.. these are not an expense. An expense is the toll it takes on you when you'd do anything to go back and see a loved one, just one last time. Or when times are tough and you just need to be reminded of what pure joy looks like and that you felt it before and WILL feel it again. Its when you look back in 75 years and see a life well lived and well celebrated, regardless of a global crisis. Photos are not an expense they are your narrative. And you only get one shot to snap that second where life will never be as it was the second before. OUR 3 PRO TIPS: 1. Choose a photographer that not only has a pretty IG, but someone you WANT to document your story, be apart of that story, shares the same values and therefore anticipates the next stamp in time that will become your cherished heirloom. 2. Find a photographer that will weave the details of your guests stories, your aesthetic and energy with your own. 3. Get to know photogrpahers by following their stories. From there, the decision who to pick will be one of the easiest decisions you can make. Its an art, but its also about the artist. Photographers are not a "preset" button.

TRYING TO GET BACK TO LIVE EVENTS LIKE...

99 problems but your tiny cake ain't one! OUR PRO TIP: turn your cake table into an environment of its own! The cost is minimal and its a unique stage for your cake cutting photos! You've spent all that money on a wedding cake (big or small).. make it a statement piece ... Photo: @hmpphotos Cake: @wildrosecakes Venue: Trestle's Edge Wedding & Events Lovers: Jessica + Josiah

#weddingwednesdays Wedding Tips for the Engaged Soul. BOOKING YOUR PLANNER | On average, we book 15-18 months in advance. This allows us time to source the venue, the right vendors who have an affinity to your vision and a design plan that will be thoughtfully curated. If you’re outside of this window- don’t you fret! Reach out to see if we have the flexibility! ADVICE FOR THE NEWLY ENGAGED + PLANNING | 1ST - hire support if you can. A well connected and @wpicinc certifie...d planner will typically offset their fee with industry discounts, contract negotiations & the skillset to streamline. They will also be your most important asset in protecting your investment. 2ND- if you’re in a position of narrowing down your guest list, there’s a very simple formula. STEP 1: Review your list. Do you know them? Do you LIKE them? Have they been a part of your love story? Will they be there in 10 years? If challenges were to arise, would they pick a side or remain neutral? Would you take them out for dinner for the same per/person budget? STEP 2: Remove. Your list just became very small, very fast. ALL TIME FAV WEDDING SONG | At Last- Etta James. Its unique in every situation and carries its own story for each couple. BUT- there was one couple this past summer that left a mark on me that I’ll never forget. We were nestled in the forest, a glowing canopy behind us and a candle lit path in front of us that led through the forest path up into complete darkness. Their closest family and friends were lighting the path with sparklers and soft smiles, lost in the romance of the moment. At Last begins playing. Its echoing eerily through the woods. Janelle + Todd enter the lit space and have one final send off dance under the moonlight. Then, a completely unplanned exit. The two, hand in hand, slowly melt away from the crowd, walking up the light path and fade into the night. Etta James still echoing in the night. The two were completely lost in each other and just stayed with it. It was jaw dropping and the most romantic thing I’ve ever witnessed. At Last took on a whole new life that night. Prompted by- @janelledudzicphotography

This may come as a shock to you.. But at 2am, there’s no magical vacuum that shows up and sorts through the left over cups, half sipped wine bottles, lip glosses, random purses, phones, the odd stray shoe, the rogue earring, grandmas cake topper from 1932 or gifts left tucked under a table. This slice of heaven just became a splash zone. Who’s rolling up their sleeves and tackling it?! ... I've come to realise that very few, if any, realise this! I’m certainly not above it and as a matter of fact, i find it to be one of the most important parts of the day. Why? Because Wedding Day Management protects your investment, and this post-wedding clean up partayyy plays a MAJOR role in how I protect your investment! If at the end of the night your crew taps out, here’s what you’re risking: 1. Loss of damage deposit 2. Paying upwards of $500/hr (depending on the venue) to have their staff clean up/dismantle.. sometimes you'll just be charged the full rate to cover the next day. 3. Incurring the hefty expense of your décor company packing up when they arrive and its not done (this includes stacking the chairs the exact way they need to be and folding tables) 4. Absorbing the expense of lost rentals (including napkins, votives, flatware and linen) 5. The loss of sentimental items, like grandmas cake topper from the 1930’s or your memory table photos 6. And all those rogue earrings, stray shoes, purses, jackets, phones, Kylie Jenner lip glosses and random gifts from under the tables? That’s a wild card. God speed. So- when you see your wedding producer out and about give them a nod, will ya?! That angel transformed ground zero into a whole new world, then walked away at the end of the night without leaving a trace. My #weddingwednesdays tip Review #1-6 then hire a management team to protect your investment.

Here's how we weathered the 2020 storm.. thanks to all of you

I am a Wedding Producer. I am NOT a Jack of all trades or the 2nd half that follows. I have always been a creative. When asked about my closet fake food hobby, I refer back to the time in grade 9 when I was in the play, Oliver, and in one scene I needed to walk around with a Turkey Dinner on a platter. The night I learned this was my role, i went home and made an entire turkey dinner out of paper machete. I became small town famous. ... When I was 10, my dad bought me my first calligraphy book and authentic set of pens (check out my stories for the OG). I could see these were expensive, an art way outside of our social standing AND that he was proud to give them to me. I appreciated the sentiment and confidence he had in me, more than the art itself at the time; only because I knew how far the rest of our money would have to stretch for that month. Nearly 30 years later, I still have it. In pristine condition and one of the only childhood items in my home. A subtle reminder that perhaps my career journey was written in the stars long before I even knew what my dreams were. A reminder that I could accomplish whatever I damn well pleased. 2021 is the first year that I have decided to be unapologetic with my creative skills. Whether its flat lays, design boards, building sets, artfully curating decor, trouble shooting rigging, jumping on a scissor lift, installing design lights, fixing a bouquet with nothing but a paper clip, creating intricate logistical schedules and timelines or enjoying the art of pouring a perfect wax seal; I was born a creative first, not a wedding planner. And I fully own this. On that note, hear me when I say; there is a HUGE difference in the role of a Wedding Planner vs the role of a Wedding Producer . Even IF the algorithms don’t allow us to succeed in business without labelling us as wedding planners only and regardless of the stigma that comes with being very good at a multitude of creative aspects and holding certifications in a number is industry specialties. All of the wedding support roles are crucial in protecting your investment. However, being creative is not a dirty word.

Edmonton based and world-wide produced.. Sugar Plum HQ is in full tilt with a new designation in progress, our website relaunch- TODAY and we’re working on a dynamic pintrest account to sort through our designs, themes, palettes, seasons and countries to help you discover the endless possibilities in planning your dream wedding within a realistic budget! For our team, 2021 will be a year of hardy love stories and reimagined designs and locations. If you should find yourself ...with a glass half empty- come on over and let us top it up! There are so many meaningful ways to bring your dream wedding to life, you don’t need to face this alone. When Jasmine from @successfulparenting & @speventsyeg reached out to discuss her new #shesabossyeg campaign where she was highlighting 30 dynamic women in business, I knew that I would be surrounded by some of the most incredible movers and shakers in this city. Women who were defying the odds even during a pandemic, women who weren’t taking no for an answer and women who cared deeply for their community. To be included in this group of 30 has meant the world to me. The power that comes from a group of women leading in their fields is a force to be reckoned with. I encourage you to reach out to Jasmine if you are looking to level up your business this year because she’s got connections and the skill set to turn it up a few notches reallll fast, and she is one of the nicest, hardest working, most insightful and powerful woman you’ll ever meet.

Get Married On A Tuesday- hear me out. #weddingwednesdays Prompted by @janelledudzicphotography ADVANTAGES OF BOOKING ME FOR A WEEKDAY WEDDING... Before I shifted exclusively to weddings about 3 years ago, the majority of my days were producing large scale corporate events, not-for-profit galas and community events. What I learned- That whether you have an event on a Tuesday or Saturday; the guests still show up for a good time! Attending an event on a Tuesday means that their weekends are not effected, the program is condensed- they won’t need to stay for a long time, to have a good time and for the organisers themselves (in this case, YOU)- a shorter day = less expensive without compromising the quality. We still fill the room, people still make it to work the next day, it’s still one heck of a night! BUT the WAY we produce this day changes- and that’s my edge. I know how they respond to timelines, when they need to eat, what they want to eat, what they’re going to drink, what they want to do and when they need to leave! A weekday wedding does NOT mean that the guests take the day off OR the next. CHOOSING WINTER WEDDING ATTIRE 1) Sleeves! Gorgeous and you won’t look out of place in those winter wonderland shots if you aren’t loving the idea of a bridal coat taking away from the detail of the gown or the contour. 2) If you’re trying to save money, this is not the time to buy a polyester gown- walking through the snow and having that snow melt throughout the day will show up as massive dark circles. Your photos will look more like a trash the dress sesh. (and its very difficult to clean). 3) Shoes- Its tough enough freezing those toes for the sake of a great photo, why lose a shoe along the way in the slush or snow?! Wear a pair with an ankle strap so you can freely move along throughout the day. MY BUSIEST MONTH- October! This is when we do the majority of our design sessions for the following year. We are also producing our fall + winter weddings (which for us, is just as busy as summer because we produce a limited amount per/ month throughout the year). We are also attending conferences, continuing education + preparing for onboarding

Hawt damn friends, we made it! Ever since i was in high school, I've religiously written down my goals for 3 years ahead. I've always believed that "what you think about, you bring about". I was always called a daydreamer- as adults we call this manifesting. ... At 21, a mentor challenged me to stop playing safe and to start writing down my audacious goals. So I did. I was going to be known Internationally as a high end, high achieving, immersive Wedding Producer who produced for celebrities and high profile couples while still creating experiences for grassroots couples with a story to tell. Yesterday, I opened my goal book right before a mentorship call with Megan at @plannersvault to a serendipitous discovery. My goals had stopped at 2020- I don’t know why. But I became curious about what my younger self may have intuitively known. Today, I truly believe that the successes throughout the year were possible because I was gifted the most incredible friends, colleagues and community that just happened to be manifesting right along with me. Turns out that what we were manifesting for, was for each other. 2020 was the magnetic year for us. Maybe that’s why the goals serendipitously stopped. Because I didn’t have the pieces yet to set goals for the next chapter or the capacity to understand what audacious goals would look under the glow of aligning stars. Featured in | The KNOW Women 2020-21 Photo | Gabriela Cruz Boudoir & Photography

Love isnt about listening; its about understanding. It isnt about how to let things go; its about how you hold on. 2021 is going to test us all again. Choose love. Photo | @akeenphotography HMU | @thedressloungeyeg LoversBecca + Matt

Intimate Weddings Gone Wild ~ 2 more weeks in lockdown just added another layer to these tenacious love stories. I promise that no matter how small the guest list, your focal point won't change Photo@gcphotoflorals Venue @gcstudiosyeg

Back in my day, kids... i walked up hill in +45C with buckets of whipped cream, praying there would be no curdling. Those were the good ol' days. Snap | Moments in Digital Photography

Hi new friends! If you're looking for the BTS, find me on insta https://www.instagram.com/nicole.sugarplumevents/

Nevvvvverrrr have i ever seen the @fairmontmac fountain look so beachy!! Photo + Video | LM Photo + Film Soulmates | Kaylee + Brandon Venue | Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

2020 Summed Up: Kiss like you thought it would be the last time you ever could, then kiss again like you thought you never would. Photo + Video LM Photo + Film Venue Fairmont Hotels (Hotel MacDonald)... Lovers Kaylee + Brandon See more

20min before this ceremony, the wind came in FULL.FORCE. I literally sewed this fabric to the arch with floral wire while: briefing the pastor searching for the missing bartender... locating the videographer on route relighting 262 candles. Yes. 262 AND running inside to steam the wedding gown. Im gunna bet this bride reading along will have had no idea... just the way we like it. "The swimming duck". 20 min. Could you imagine having to do that on your wedding day? No? I've got you. The Dream Weekend Oasis | @trestlesedge

The roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors... its been a slice, 36 On to chapter 37. Photog | Amanda Marie Photography The Space | Lakeview Events

Remember when rain on the wedding day seemed like the worst case scenario?! I look forward to those "problems" again Recipe for Canopy Magic | just add water Venue | @trestlesedge... Photogs | @alyselakemanphotography + @hmpphotos See more

I want her to know what the "helpers" look like in the face of tragedy, adversity and chaos. I want her to choose what her legacy will be. So imagine how much respect and pride i had in this 2 year old yesterday: I was wrapping a pile of kids gifts that are going out as donations. Of course, Lemon saw me and wanted every toy in sight. I told her she couldnt because these were gifts for other kids that might be sad without them. ... .. she went around the house and collected her toys and put bows on them and gladly added them to the pile Our kids are watching. Photo | @amandaartistixphotography

I'm not going to pretend for a second that I'm not excited about this change of plans. This started as a lush 2020 tropical wedding in Guatemala where the grooms met and now has taken an equally jaw dropping shift to the most gorgeous Rocky Mountain estate (belonging to a friend in the industry who saved the day .. go community!) We shall call this Rocky Mountain Tropicana. ... June 2021, don't fail us now! See more

I've said it so many times that the thing I am most proud of in my business, are the people. From couples to vendors to the guests. I am truly surrounded by some of the most kind spirited, fun, genuine and authentic people. Thank you for your trust, respect and for relentlessly supporting me. You are all some of the best people on earth and I couldn't be more proud of the stories we've been telling ~ Happiest Thanksgiving

@artofcharcuterieyeg is the Queen of Grazing and intentional design. Her attention the flow, detail and consumption is out of this world. Covid doesn't mean you can't experience Charcuterie, it just means the experience shifts a bit to (if youre lucky), a fireball server who adds another layer of experience. So thankful that the event industry stood relentlessly for one anther so that we can still produce incredible moments... regardless of how different they were from the ...OG plan. Venue | @deucevodka HQ Event | @ccmaofficial with 4 time winner, @brettkissel Photographer | @gabrielacruzphoto

Walk together through life & you'll have everything you need for your journey... The magic happened Trestle's Edge Wedding & Events Captured in time @mintedphotography Boutonniere | Cerise Floral Studio

"You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That's where I'll always love you. That's where I'll be waiting." ~ Peter Pan Magic @trestlesedge Pic | @minted.photography That gown altering! @yara_the_tailorette ... HMU | @avenuesalons Videographer | @jaydla.photo Warm Glow | God's stamp of approval See more

Okay. Here's the thing.. this year was bananas. In 13 years, this was by FAR the busiest year of my career. "Busy" isnt a medal of honour, its a lack of balance. I hate the word busy and a it implies. I strive for the "sweet spot". But in 2020.. "busy" became our daily routine at Sugar Plum HQ because we needed to (+still are) adapting to our environments to create a seamless, fluid, powerful and meaningful love story for every single lover that walks through our door and p...uts their trust in us. I wouldnt change this for the world and I would NEVER say that I wish 2020 had not happened. The relationships I have built this year (with clients, vendors and the gen pop) has lit a fire in me, inspired me and validated me like no award ever has. This was the year of relationships. I love that more than I can express in 2200 characters. This is the year that has defined my next chapter and I am so excited to be right there along side some of the best this industry has to offer. ...BUT this year was still bananas. So, there are 2 reasons why this flat lay is so important to me: 1) It reminds me of the most romantic and connected couple I have ever been blessed to support. 2) it takes the 2020 edge off and no matter how many times I look at this, I feel at peace. A perfect reflection of the steadiness of this couple and their core values that will endure anything life tosses their way. Only @minted.photography can manage to capture the heart + soul of the couple, in a flat lay. Venue | @trestlesedge

Hey. It's us, Nicole+ Ashley Some of YOU will lucky enough to experience this ray of light at your wedding next year as the onsite certified coordinator. Want to know more about @ashleykacruz ? Check out her own Event Planning firm @ashleycruzevents and follow her journey as she creates events that change lives with full on health and wellness experiences ... Where | @lakeview_venue

I met this family while we worked together for a Brett Kissel event and i was blown away by their integrity and sustainability practices.. please take a minute to see the impact these two are making. And support them while you're at it, will ya?!

Too pretty not to post.. go check out the stories from the wedding last night on IG @nicole.sugarplumevents, @minted.photography and @trestlesedge

I realllyyy need to post here more! If you're feeln' it, head over to my IG @nicole.sugarplumevents and follow the stories for the daily peeks! For now, THE TRUCKS ARE LOADING!! Who do you think this epic (+safe) tent event is for? Head over to my IG story to find out

Thisssss is how i think i will remember these two for my whole life. He's the kind of steady you only see in movies and she loves so deeply... and THESE FACES is how they affect eachother. Its because of these faces that we will always be all in at 150%. I couldn't imagine any other emotion weighing on their hearts Photo | @gabrielacruzphoto

Thanks, 'rona, for showing us that tiny cutting cakes can be the new, most adorable "normal". Photogenius | @janelledudzicphotography Cake Designer | @wildrosecakes Venue | @trestlesedge