Hello world. ArthurK here. So I am fairly new to blogging and still trying to find my voice. Originally I wanted to post helpful tips and ideas for weddings and although I will still do that I’m changing my angle a bit. First I should give you some background on myself. I started off my career as a musician (saxophone). I helped found the Juno Nominated band God Made Me Funky when I was 17yrs old. We quickly rose in popularity as both an original act with a live show that is unparalleled and as a top wedding band. Over the 10+yrs I have been in the band we have had the opportunity of playing all over Canada and the US and have played with such acts as, Sean Kingston, George Clinton And Parliament Funkadelic, INXS, Divine Brown, Jully Black, JackSoul, Guru, Afrika Bambatta, and have headlined many jazz festivals across Cananda. We also had the honour of representing Ontario at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In 2008 We were nominated for a Juno Award for best R&B/Soul Album. As the bands popularity grew as an original act we became even more in demand for weddings and private events. As a result I made a lot of friendships and connections in the wedding and events industries and discovered that I loved planning events. I didn’t want to live the life of a working musician living paycheck to paycheck (no offense to working musicians…I was happy doing that for 10yrs but things changed for me) so I decided to start my own booking agency, Fusion Events. I already had tonnes of contacts in the music and wedding industries so it seemed like a natural next step. We opened the doors to Fusion Events in 2008 and have been growing exponentially since then. In 2010 we booked entertainment on over 100 weddings.

ArthurK at BC place for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Opening For INXS.

Being the organized (ok I admit..anal) type I often would find myself helping my clients who have decided to not hire a wedding planner. Because I genuinely care for my clients and their special days I have a personal interest in making sure their wedding is above and beyond even their expectations. I have found myself making itineraries, suggesting vendors, and acting as a coordinator on day of to many of my clients. Without someone stepping in it can be a recipe for disaster. So I decided that I would learn more about wedding planning and became a certified wedding consultant/coordinator through The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada (WPIC). The course was very educational and taught by wedding gurus (and sisters) Tracey Andrews Manailescu and Danielle Andrews Sunkel. Taking the course definitely opened my eyes to a lot of different aspects of planning a wedding and gave me access to many resources I wouldn’t otherwise have had…not to mention all the discounts a WPIC certified consultant has access to! Yes I have been in the industry for over a decade and have been to hundreds of weddings but always as a musician, agent or guest. What do musicians or booking agents know about table etiquette, invitation wording, cakes, linens, flowers, and so much more? Not a whole hell of a lot. So needless to say, being an agent that is also a certified wedding consultant, I am now much better equipped to help my clients. Whether they are using me to only book a band or to plan their entire wedding from start to finish they can rest assured that I adhere to the strict code of ethics set forth by the WPIC…and proud to do so!

Having recently received my certification I decided that I would let you all follow me as I work with my first few clients as a certified wedding coordinator. Thankfully I already have made some great relationships with vendors over the years so I am not completely starting from scratch however I admit there is much to learn and I am so thankful to head designer Craig Gruzd from Designing Trendz (Award Winning Decor) for taking me under his wing and already teaching me so much. I have no doubt this is going to be an exciting and educational journey. I also want to thank Adrienne and Catherine from We Bake In Heels for being such good sports (folks if you need cake or cupcakes you have to go visit these ladies…dare I say babes!!).

In the VLOG below you will follow me as I take my client, Anne-Marie (you are a star!!), to meet with various vendors. She has booked the band “Shugga” with me and I am coordinating her wedding from start to finish. This is only the first part. I intend to document the entire process from start to completion so check in regularly to see how we’re doing!

Wishing you all the very best,

ArthurK, WPICC
Certified Wedding Coordinator/Consultant

So I was invited to check out an open house at a new venue in Toronto called the Artscape Wychwood Barns. This is a unique venue smack dab in the middle of a residential area at St.Clair Ave.W and Christie St. Originally a TTC Street car repair facility this 60,000 sq foot space has been converted into a truly unique multifaceted community center where arts and culture, environmental leadership, heritage preservation, urban agriculture and affordable housing are brought together to foster a strong sense of community. There are currently 26 Artists and their families that also reside in the barns. The venue has strict regulation about the waste that vendors produce. They have a handful of of approved vendors that meet their LEED certified status. If you want to bring in outside vendors they will be screened carefully to make sure they meet the green standards of the venue. This venue is ideal for a couple wanting a daytime wedding as there are noise restrictions which prevent loud music past 11pm. The fees for booking the room can start as low as $2500 however this room is a blank canvas and everything needs to be brought in.

I was very impressed with the open house. I am familiar with this venue as I live in the neighbourhood and have been to the incredible farmers markets they have every Saturday morning. All the farmers at the market are organic farmers and their fares are truly out of this world. From home made cheeses and jams, to organic fair trade coffee, and home made baked goods…YUM! I have yet to do an event here so it was it was great to be able to see some of the possibilities. It is a blank canvass.

The event was a whose who of local vendors. I got to catch up with some colleagues I haven’t worked with in some time including Karen Garscadden from Up And Coming Events, amazing wedding photographer Suzanne Merrit from Wedding Day Memories, and the incredibly talented Susanne Carlascio from Wildflowers and Co.

We also made our first attempt at a video blog….so please be gentle on us but please do check it out and leave your feedback. I have to say a big thank you to to Gary Livingston at Presidential Gourmet for his detailed explanation of their uniquely tasty treats (check it out near the end of the video).