Over the course of fifteen years in the decorating industry Linda Lieu and her company, CJ Group Celebrations, have seen trends come and go. Linda takes this expertise to cater to each of her brides. She has also built up a positive reputation among local wedding vendors and couples - which was quite evident to staff at The Ring through the rave reviews we received confirming Linda's personalized service, trustworthiness and integrity in the services she provides.

When we met with Linda and browsed through the massive inventory that she has built up over the years, her mission to 'make it happen' was evident in the unique and custom-made products she offers, her customization to each couple's needs and the attention to detail she puts into your wedding day décor – whether it's simple or celeb-style, full service or just prop rentals.

Linda told us that Celebrations is known for spectacular ceiling drapes and crystal products and can find or make just about anything else you desire – even if she doesn't have it in stock. With a love for unique creativity and working with people, we're not surprised that Linda is said to go above and beyond what is promised for brides and grooms. Let us tell you more...

Personally speaking...

In 1992 Linda decorated her brother's wedding because they couldn't find what they were looking for; so, they decided to create it themselves. "Everything looked great," says Linda. "From that day on friends and family asked us to do the same for their events... then came the idea of starting our own business." Since this first wedding, Linda has decorated many, many more. In fact, until recently she took on about seven events per week; but now limits bookings to two to four per weekend so each one can get the personal attention it needs.

Linda took over the business from her brother in about 2000, though they both say that they were innovators for their backdrops, drapes and ceiling treatments.

Linda has formal training from a florist and a background that stems from fashion design. Her brother is still involved in the décor business so they both visit China two to three times per year in order to design new products or improve on existing lines.

With the recent birth of her son, Linda told us that she is once again focusing her attention on the rental end of the décor business while still keeping her hand in the design end – the end that she seems to have a true passion for. "This job is an outlet for unleashing my creativity," says Linda. "Every event is different and unique and I love seeing the finished product." She adds that she also loves working with people.

Linda personally meets with all interested brides and grooms so she can offer more personalized service. To help meet her clients' demands, Linda hires three to five students each year who she says have artistic flair and training, such as graphic design, interior design and other fashion related fields.

Celebrations of life...

As if what she offers brides weren't enough reason for us to love Linda and see how generous and caring she is, she also donated a kidney to her business partner, Pam, six years ago. "Having experienced first hand the devastation this illness has caused her and her family, I am currently in the process of working together with the Kidney Foundation of Canada to bring to light the need for organ donation as well as fundraising," explains Linda. This means that she offers both her personal time and business services to the cause.

Reputations and connections...

With fifteen years of experience, it's no wonder that Celebrations is well-known in the wedding industry. Linda has made great connections with industry professionals, telling us that she has worked with local flower shops, wedding planners, cake artists and many other related businesses, so she knows who's hot and is happy to recommend these companies to couples who need their services. "I have worked and interviewed each of these vendors to ensure top notch products and services are being offered," explains Linda.

But it's not just she who thinks highly of them as they seem to feel the same way in return. "Linda is punctual and delivers what was promised," says Steve Muncan. Steve told us that he whole-heartedly trusts Linda with his keys to The Romanian Cultural Centre Banatul where he has been the Rental Manager for the past three years. He added, "Linda has a wonderful and keen eye for detail... and a wealth of experience. She takes notes and follows them." Steve also told us a story of a wedding where some décor lights weren't working so Linda called her brother to come all the way from Hamilton to fix the situation even though the light problem wasn't even their fault. Now that's what we call available and accommodating!

Kimberley Aho has been a Wedding & Special Events Coordinator for fifteen years and says that she has always recommended and worked with Celebrations. "I have very high standards for the individual companies I recommend and use, and Linda and her team have always been professional and have completed every job beyond expectation," says Kimberley.

Because Linda has such connections with vendors, including local reception halls, Celebrations works directly with your hall manager so that you don't have to act as a go between. "If couples have a question about set-up and tear down times, they don't have to worry about getting involved. We'll take care of everything seamlessly," says Linda.

It's these connections and word of mouth referrals that Linda says are what bring most of her bridal clients to Celebrations. "Brides hire us based on our experience in the field of event design..." says Linda. "Many brides are sisters, friends or bridesmaids of past events that we decorated and have seen our work first hand." She adds that brides also come to her for her reputation of trustworthiness and integrity.

Sue Forbes was a mother of a bride in June 2007 and a groom in September 2008 and hired Celebrations to take care of several décor needs for both weddings because she saw how Linda transformed a wedding space ten years prior at her niece's wedding. Sue says that she would definitely recommend Celebrations to other couples planning their wedding. "Linda can almost plan your wedding for you and give you suggestions on the best places to hold it and other aspects of your wedding."

A style for every celebration...

Whether you're a down to earth bride with traditional style and a desire for simple white or ivory or a bride who is more adventurous and daring with vibrant colours and designs, Linda stands by her mission to 'make it happen' – your wedding day décor, that is. She adds that she treats every bride like family because she is just as passionate as you about wanting everything to look as beautiful as possible. That's also why she is very hands-on and focused on details to make sure that a perfectly finished and polished look is created.

Because Linda says that Celebrations' décor ranges from simple to high style and everything in between, their target bride is high energy and outgoing, "one who is open to new ideas and designs; improving on an existing trend or starting a new trend altogether," says Linda. "They want trendy but different, which allows a lot of freedom in terms of using non-traditional elements."

Celebrations bride, Zoya Ipek Moellenkamp, really liked that there were so many options to choose from, this included linens, centre pieces, lighting, decorations and more. "... there were also so many colour choices to choose from... Some of the structural background piece decorations we [chose], I had never seen at any of the other decorating companies, or at any other weddings." Zoya used Celebrations for the decorating of her August 30, 2008 wedding, from ceremony decor and chair covers to table linens and accent pieces throughout the venue such as trees that were lit througout the entrance.

More often than not, Linda is asked for celeb-style weddings, especially with the recent popularity of wedding shows on TV. Couples want to draw inspiration for their own events from these shows for a décor style that Linda says is possible to achieve, but on a more budget-friendly level.

Sue told us that guests at her daughter's wedding went on and on about the wedding décor after all was said and done. "It was top notch style," says Sue, "right up there with the celebrities." She adds that Linda had tons of options to choose from and was very flexible and accommodating with what she was offering. "She's a really nice woman and gives you the time you need... She took us into her home and got to know us on a more personal level."

Linda and her team design all of the décor items themselves from chair covers to backdrops and ceiling treatments, so you're bound to find unique products resulting in a one of a kind look. But if Celebrations doesn't have exactly what you're looking for, Linda is willing to offer her customized service to have a specific item or colour made for your event.

Kimberley told The Ring, "Linda offers full production services with the most creative and cutting-edge ideas while maintaining comparable prices." She adds that Celebrations is always adding to their product line, which is fantastic for brides who don't want what every one else had at their wedding. Plus, "the high customer service and ease of working with someone like Linda (and her team) has made my job and my brides' experiences extremely enjoyable and stress free!" adds Kimberley.

Products and prices for your productions...

In short, Celebrations can offer couples everything from full service event décor to simple décor rentals to polish off the finishing touches. But with their attitude towards customization and bi-annual trips to China to design new products and improve on existing ones, the options for your wedding day décor are limitless here. "It's all about getting what's hot but for a great price," says Linda.

Because Celebrations creates most of their décor designs, accents and accessories themselves, they say that they have things that aren't available anywhere else. Linda adds that they are particularly known for their spectacular ceiling drapes and crystal products, such as centrepieces, chandeliers and broaches, which is perfect and fitting with today's trends. "Currently, anything crystal or ‘bling' seems to be what brides are searching us out for," says Linda. Celebrations just happens to have a ton of crystals available. "We can add crystal to ceiling treatments, centrepieces, backdrops, chair covers and linens." The same is true for their unique colour inventory. "We see very little of the white with a splash of colour anymore," says Linda.

All tablecloths, chair covers and all other linens are dry cleaned after every use. Celebrations uses the services of a well respected local dry cleaner and they personally inspect every linen before reusing them to make sure that nothing got missed.

Linda says that her prices aren't cheap, they're affordable – meaning, you get what you pay for. "We can work with almost any budget and know all of the ways to make sure that you stay within your set budget" – even if that means putting sashes on every other chair. Linda says she can do wedding décor from $1200 to $14,000 (or more); but the average 2009 bride is spending about $2800.

"You get the quality for what you pay," says Sue of Celebrations' prices, "and you get the latest razzle-dazzle." Linda even gave Sue a discount on chair covers because she ordered 300 and offered money-saving tips and ideas. Sue adds that Linda was worth every penny as "the hall was just gorgeous – when we walked in there it didn't even look like the same hall."

Walking you through it...

Your best option to get a hold of Linda is to email or phone her first to check availability of your wedding date. Linda recommends contacting her about six to eight months ahead of your date, or even a year or more, though she does take last minute bookings whenever possible. If she's still available, then book a time to meet with her either at her 800 square foot home studio or your reception hall. Linda says most clients prefer to meet at the hall; this way, she can give you an accurate estimation of what Celebrations can do, what your options are and anything else that needs to be covered. At this first meeting you discuss with Linda your budget, colour, theme, options, ideas, likes, dislikes, etc. If you have no idea where to begin, Linda has many before and after pictures of most of the local halls to help give you an idea of what you can do with the space.

At your second meeting with Linda, she can (and often does) set up some samples on the spot so you can see what your décor could look like while you're working through some ideas. Linda has a ‘no pressure' booking philosophy – if you're comfortable with her, her designs and her prices, then book; but she won't pressure you into anything. Once you've decided to go with Linda, you'll complete the contract and pay a 30% non-refundable deposit (which is applied to your total balance). Your remaining balance is due two weeks before the wedding.

There is an optional third meeting for brides who want to discuss certain things, but Linda says only about 15% of brides want to meet. "They're busy people, so we try to take care of everything in the first two meetings." However, she does allow as many personal meetings as is needed either at the venue or in her studio. Sue told us that she visited Linda's house many times throughout the planning process and Linda also dropped off samples to her. "She's really artistic and really talented... I totally trusted her to take care of everything," adds Sue.

The final meeting takes place two weeks before the wedding. At this time you and Linda go over every single detail: placement of centrepieces, broaches, final number of guests attending, last minute changes, etc.

On the day of (or the day before) your wedding, Linda has her team of three to five people help her set-up and take down all of the décor. But even with this team to help her, Linda says she makes it her "priority to be at every job sight to ensure that we go above and beyond what is promised to the bride..."

Expert Tips

• Linda advises that when planning your wedding day décor, start with your colour, then work in your theme. After that, select elements that compliment both of these - like chair covers, centrepieces, overlays, ceiling coverings, etc.
• If you're planning on renting your décor and DIY, make sure you work with only one decorator. "It's important to have an overall unified look... if there is only one decorator, there is one vision."

Details, details, details

• Linda offers everything from full décor to individual décor rentals.
• Call or email to book an initial meeting 6 to 8 months before your wedding.
• A non-refundable deposit of 30% is required to book with the remaining balance due 2 weeks before the wedding.
• A final meeting 2 weeks before the wedding finalizes details.
• The average bride spends around $2800 on their décor from Celebrations.

In other words...

"Dave and I wanted to thank you for all of your assistance in decorating both the ceremony and reception for our wedding. You did a beautiful job, and everything was perfect!!! We got so many compliments from our guests on the decorations. All of the fine details you included in our backdrop, head table, and entrance made for a very modern and elegant look. Again, we both appreciate your hard work in making our wedding look absolutely stunning! I will also be passing along your contact information to all of my friends planning their weddings." - Zoya & Dave

For all of your décor needs...

Contact Linda Lieu at CJ Group Celebrations to book a meeting with her. She can be reached by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and by phone at 519-591-9507. You can also check out pictures on her website of all of the décor options she has available at www.cjgroupcelebrations.com.