The team at The Ring is always on the lookout for gorgeous new décor and design ideas. So, when we met Almeia and Samuel Balla, owners of Wedding Dream, we were beyond excited to share this incredible decorating duo with Southwestern Ontario brides (take a look at the fabulous photos to the right to see what we mean!).

From stunning décor options and contemporary decorative ideas to full installation and a large selection of do-it-yourself rentals, Wedding Dream has something for every style, theme and budget.

Here's more on this fresh and innovative Kitchener-based decorating team...

Personally Speaking

It was six years ago while planning her own wedding, that Almeia realized her passion for decorating, "My own wedding gave me the inspiration to start my own decorating business. I wanted to purchase my linens and equipment so that I could own them and also rent them out to brides who are on a budget and want to DIY."

With the success of her own wedding, friends began to ask Almeia for help with their wedding décor and soon, Almeia had the experience and expertise to open her own business. Thus, in January of 2009, Almeia and her husband Samuel opened Wedding Dream.

Today, Wedding Dream averages about fifty wedding per year, and after so many weddings, Almeia says that she still has the same passion that she had six years ago. "I have always loved art, and find that decorating is another way to show off my talent and come up with new ideas to wow the newlyweds and their guests...I bring new ideas to the table. Making my brides happy and stress free is very important to me.  I take it to heart when I see them frustrated on their wedding day, which gives me initiative to do the best I can each time."

Décor for any style

When it comes to décor, Almeia and Samuel each have their areas of expertise, Almeia explains, "I usually focus on the backdrop and head table décor, where Samuel usually focuses on the ceiling panels, lighting and chair covers. Wedding Dream staff usually does the sashes and favours."

From "bling" to "vintage" and "modern" to "simple," Almeia says that she sees several trends, all of which Wedding Dream can use to create a bride's perfect wedding day vision. Popular colours this year include black, eggplant, turquoise, tiffany blue and red.

While Almeia leans towards a contemporary style for herself, she's flexible when it comes to her brides.  "I can do anything the bride wants. I like to work with all brides. I have a variety of different brides and all brides are unique and different. Some brides like one thing and others hate it.  So whatever they like, I go with the flow."

And although Almeia has ample experience in the wedding industry, she is always on the lookout for fresh ideas and new items to bring to the table.

Brides Love...

One of our favourite things about Wedding Dream is that they give their brides the opportunity to try out different linens in their show room. It's the perfect opportunity to get an idea of how your décor will look on your wedding day. Almeia explains, "My show room allows my clients to play around with colours and styles of my linens, to give them an idea of their wedding day décor."

Scott and Ana MacDonald, hired Wedding Dream to decorate their September 17th, 2011 wedding reception. Ana says that she often recommends Wedding Dream to future brides, "I liked the fact that Almeia had a lot of options for us to see. Some decorators have pictures, but things look much different when you can see it in person and touch the materials."

Almeia says that Wedding Dream is best known for their large selection of rentals and their great prices. "I have quite a bit of stock, giving brides options, and I always work with their budget to make them happy. I am good with understanding my clients’ budgets and needs, and am always willing to work with them to make their wedding décor dreams come true."

And while Almeia says that brides are often drawn to her unique and contemporary décor, she isn't one to force her own style or opinions on her brides. "I find it's appreciated by them because every couple has their own view of their wedding décor and what style they like. Therefore, you can say I am very easy going and easy to get along with."

Pricing out your décor

For the hands-on bride, Wedding Dream offers DIY linen rentals, a popular option for brides on a budget. To give you an idea, chair covers and a sashes are $1.99 each. Table cloth rentals range from $10 to $20 for specialty linens.

Chair covers are the most popular option, followed by tablecloths. "They are popular because I carry them in many colours and styles, giving the couple many choices.  My satin skirting with bling is also very popular because it makes the main tables (head table, sign in table, cake table, gift table) pop."

If you'd like Wedding Dream to take care of the installation, prices can range depending on the bride's budget and vision. Almeia works with varying budgets and is able to accommodate a wide range of clients.

Scott and Ana MacDonald appreciated that Almeia was conscious of their budget throughout the entire process, "Almeia is very pleasant and easy to do business with. She was also very accommodating and went over and above my expectations. The prices were very reasonable and we worked together to find the items I wanted within my budget."

Walking you through it...

To get in touch with Almeia, send her an email or give her a call. You can also make an appointment to drop by her showroom in Cambridge.

During your initial meeting, Almeia will show you different linen styles, colours and décor to get you inspired. From here, she will give you a quote for your rental as well as installation pricing, so that you have some great options.

If you decide to book, you'll put down your deposit and start to correspond with Almeia through email. You'll talk about new ideas and any changes you might have since your initial meeting.

Two weeks prior to your wedding, Almeia will follow up with you to find out if you have any final changes. At this point, some brides like to re-visit the showroom to see the setup again.  Almeia says that brides are welcome to make multiple visits to the showroom if they'd like to take another look at their options.

Depending on your venue, Wedding Dream will set-up either the night before the wedding, or, the day of.  Both Almeia and Samuel are there on the wedding day unless it’s an event that Almeia can handle alone.  If the wedding is large, Wedding Dream employees will also be on hand to  help tie chair covers.

For Wedding Dream brides, this is all part of the piece of mind that comes with hiring a decorator. Almeia offers some invaluable advice to future brides, "Let someone else take care of the details on the day of your wedding...picking up the flowers, decorating, etc. Remember that setting up the décor  seems fun, but you'll have to tear it all down at the end of the night."

After your wedding, Almeia and Samuel will be back to take down your décor, either that evening or the following day, depending on the venue rules. After your wedding, Almeia will post photos of your décor on her website and facebook for other brides to see!

Wilma Balvert, Catering Supervisor at University of Waterloo has worked with Wedding Dream on several weddings, including a July 28th, 2012 at Victoria Park Pavilion "I have worked with Almeia since she started her company. Wedding Dream has a good variety of linens which my brides appreciate very much. She is always set-up in the planned timeline. That is not always the case with many decorators which can interfere with catering set-up timelines. I have recommended Wedding Dream to many of the brides that I work with as well as non-wedding clients."

Details, details, details

•    The average bride spends $1000- $2500 with Wedding Dream.
•    Taxes apply.
•    Half of your quoted price is required to secure your booking with Wedding Dream. The second half is due two weeks prior to your wedding.
•    In the event of a cancellation, $150 of the deposit is non-refundable.
•    A damage deposit is required for rentals. Your deposit will be refunded after your wedding, provided that items remain in the appropriate condition.
•    Most brides book with Wedding Dream one year in advance.  To ensure that your date is available, Wedding Dream suggests that you book as soon as you know what type of décor you'd like for your wedding day. It's never too early to start planning your dream wedding!