Every small business has a story, and behind every great idea is someone with the passion, dedication, and courage to bring it to life. Our Small Business Spotlight celebrates the local entrepreneurs who are turning their dreams into reality, supporting their communities, and making a difference through what they do. From the inspiration behind their business to the journey that got them here, we’re shining a light on the incredible people, hard work, and heart that make small businesses so special.
Photo Details: Vine & Veil Events
Business: Vine & Veil Events
No one does it quite like you! Tell us a little about your business, what makes it unique, and why you love what you do.
“Vine & Veil Events is a Toronto-based wedding planning and coordination company specializing in thoughtful, beautifully executed celebrations, specializing in multicultural and fusion weddings. We combine detailed logistical planning with a calm, personalized approach, taking the time to understand each couple’s vision, priorities and cultural traditions. Our goal is to make wedding planning feel smooth, approachable and accessible, while ensuring every celebration genuinely reflects the couple. We love creating a seamless experience where couples can feel supported throughout the planning process and remain fully present on their wedding day.”
Photo Details: Vine & Veil Events
What brings you the most joy when it comes to running your small business?
“What brings me the most joy is seeing a couple truly relax and enjoy their wedding day, knowing everything is being thoughtfully handled behind the scenes. I also love helping couples feel supported and confident throughout the planning process, especially when bringing different cultures, traditions and personal touches together in a way that feels uniquely theirs. Being trusted with such a meaningful celebration is incredibly rewarding.”
Photo Details: Vine & Veil Events
If you could describe your business in three words, what would they be and why?
“Intentional, accessible and multicultural.
Every celebration is thoughtfully planned to reflect each couple’s unique vision and priorities. I strive to make wedding planning feel approachable and accessible, while creating meaningful experiences that respectfully celebrate different cultures, traditions and identities.”
What are you most excited about for the future of your business?
“I’m most excited to continue growing Vine & Veil Events while helping more couples create celebrations that feel intentional, personal and culturally meaningful. I look forward to expanding the resources and support I offer, making wedding planning feel more accessible and expanding my trusted team that can serve couples throughout Toronto, Southern Ontario and beyond.”
Photo Details: Vine & Veil Events
Give another entrepreneur one golden piece of advice as they embark on starting their own business!
“Start before everything feels perfect. Your business will evolve as you gain experience, learn from your clients and discover what truly sets you apart. Stay grounded in your values and remain open to feedback.”
Tell our community where they can find you if they are interested in working with you at their next event!
Photo Details: Rae Connell, Wedding Photographer
Business: Lace & Birch Florals
No one does it quite like you! Tell us a little about your business, what makes it unique, and why you love what you do.
“Lace & Birch Florals is a full service wedding and event floral studio based in Hamilton (serving Southern Ontario), specializing in modern, romantic and natural floral design. My background was originally in wedding and event planning, and when I had the opportunity to purchase a flower shop, I saw it as a chance to combine that experience with my love of creativity and weddings. Once I got into the world of flowers, I quickly fell in love with the creative process and realized that floral design was where I wanted to focus my career. I ran the retail shop for over five years before eventually selling it and shifting Lace & Birch into a studio focused on weddings and events. This transition allowed me to put more of my energy into creating thoughtful, custom floral designs for couples and their celebrations.
What makes Lace & Birch unique is the personal, hands on approach I take with every couple. I truly believe flowers are about so much more than how they look. They become part of the memories people carry with them from one of the most meaningful days of their lives.
I love what I do because I get to combine creativity with the opportunity to make people feel something. From helping a couple bring their vision to life, to seeing a bride hold her bouquet for the first time, those little moments never get old. I also love being part of Hamilton’s incredible wedding and event community and working alongside so many talented local businesses and vendors. After all these years, I still feel incredibly lucky that something I started as a creative passion has grown into a business that allows me to make beautiful things for people during some of their happiest moments.”
Photo Details: Lace & Birch Florals
What brings you the most joy when it comes to running your small business?
“The biggest joy for me is getting to create something beautiful and meaningful for people. I love the entire creative process, from taking a couple’s ideas and inspiration and turning them into a floral design that feels completely personal to them, to seeing everything come together on their wedding day.
I also really love the relationships that come with running a small business. Getting to know my couples, being trusted with such an important part of their day, and then seeing their reactions when they see their flowers for the first time is incredibly rewarding. There is something so special about knowing that the work I created will be part of photographs and memories they look back on for years to come.
And honestly, I love that no two weddings are ever the same. There is always something new to create, a new colour palette to explore, or a new idea to bring to life. It keeps me inspired and makes me genuinely excited to do what I do.”
Photo Details: Lace & Birch Florals
If you could describe your business in three words, what would they be and why?
“Creative. Personal. Meaningful.
Creative because I’m constantly inspired by flowers, colour, texture and the endless possibilities of floral design. No two weddings are the same, and I love creating something that feels fresh and completely unique to each couple.
Personal because I believe the best designs come from really getting to know the people I’m creating for. I want every wedding to feel like an extension of the couple, rather than simply following a trend or recreating something I’ve done before.
Meaningful because at the heart of it, I’m creating flowers for some of life’s biggest moments. Knowing that something I designed will be part of a couple’s wedding photos, memories and story for years to come is what makes the work so special to me. And just how meaningful it is to me that couples trust me and include me on one of the most important days of their lives. I am so grateful that I get to turn something I love into a career that allows me to be part of such meaningful moments.”
Photo Details: Cass Overholt, Niagara Wedding Photographer
What are you most excited about for the future of your business?
“I’m most excited about continuing to grow Lace & Birch while staying true to the personal, creative approach that has always been at the heart of the business. I’m excited to take on more unique and creative wedding designs, collaborate with other talented local vendors, and continue building relationships within Hamilton’s incredible wedding and event community.
I’m also excited for the next chapter of the business as I continue to grow my studio and create a space that allows me to take on even more of the work I love. There are so many ideas I’d love to bring to life, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Lace & Birch takes me next. Most of all, I’m excited to keep creating beautiful, meaningful work while building a business that feels genuinely like my own.”
Photo Details: Selina Whittaker Weddings
Give another entrepreneur one golden piece of advice as they embark on starting their own business!
“Don’t be afraid to let your business evolve, but also be prepared to work hard for it. When I first started Lace & Birch, I had a very different vision for what the business would look like, and over time I learned what I truly loved, what I was good at, and what kind of business I wanted to build. It’s okay if that changes along the way.
Starting a business takes a lot of hard work, patience and sacrifice, and there will be seasons where you have to put in more than you get back, both financially and personally. There will also be setbacks and moments when you question yourself. Keep going, keep learning, and trust that the work you put in will add up over time. You don’t have to have everything figured out from the beginning, and your business doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be successful. The best thing you can build is something that feels genuinely like you.”
Tell our community where they can find you if they are interested in working with you at their next event!
Photo Details: Jessica’s Sweets
Business: Jessica’s Sweets
No one does it quite like you! Tell us a little about your business, what makes it unique, and why you love what you do.
“Jessica Sweets is a home-based bakery that’s a little bit of everything—and that’s what makes it unique. I’ve never wanted to be limited to just one type of dessert, so I love creating everything from classic treats to custom creations, while constantly finding new ways to make each order special.
What I love most is that I get to be a small part of so many important moments, whether it’s a celebration, a special event, a corporate gathering, or simply someone treating themselves. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with so many amazing local small businesses along the way, which has become one of my favourite parts of owning a business.
Being my own boss and building something completely my own has always been a dream of mine, and getting to do what I love every day while creating connections within my community makes it even more meaningful.”
Photo Details: Jessica’s Sweets
What brings you the most joy when it comes to running your small business?
“What brings me the most joy is knowing that there really is no limit to how creative I can be. Every order gives me an opportunity to think outside the box, try something new, and find ways to go above and beyond for my customers. I love being able to create new products, experiment with ideas, and constantly push myself to see what I can come up with next. Having a business where I can turn an idea into something real—and make it completely my own—is honestly one of the best parts of what I do.”
Photo Details: Jessica’s Sweets
If you could describe your business in three words, what would they be and why?
‘”Local Sweets Dealer”
Because that’s exactly who I am. I’m a local, home-based bakery bringing a little personality, creativity, and a whole lot of sweets to my community. It’s playful, it’s memorable, and it represents the kind of business I’ve built—local, personal, and completely me.”
Photo Details: Jessica’s Sweets
What are you most excited about for the future of your business?
“I’m most excited to simply see where this path takes me. I’m excited to continue growing and expanding Jessica Sweets while meeting new people, connecting with other small business owners, and building new relationships within the community. I love that I never really know what opportunity, collaboration, or connection could be around the corner, and I’m excited to keep saying yes to the possibilities that come my way.”
Photo Details: Jessica’s Sweets
Give another entrepreneur one golden piece of advice as they embark on starting their own business!
“Just start. Don’t let other people’s opinions, doubts, or expectations convince you that you can’t do something. If you have a passion for something, follow it. Be uniquely you—you don’t have to follow the same path, patterns, or rules as everyone else. Trust your instincts, listen to your gut, and most importantly, do what you love. You’ll never know where it can take you until you take that first step.”
Tell our community where they can find you if they are interested in working with you at their next event!
Connect with my by Website, Instagram or by Email: [email protected]
Photo Details: Jessica’s Sweets
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