We recently connected with Tiffany Burling and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany , thank you so much for making time for us. We’ve always admired your ability to take risks and so maybe we can kick things off with a discussion around how you developed your ability to take and bear risk?
I think a better question is how did I unlearn the need to play it safe? As kids we naturally take risks and learn from success and or failure. But as we age society molds us to follow the path of least resistance, the path that is expected, the path that is safe as we seek the comfort that comes with fitting in with peers. We are constantly bombarded with societal expectations and “group think”. I spent a lot of time learning how to filter out fear based barriers to my own success. Taking risks feels a lot less daunting when I stay focused on what I know I CAN do rather than what those around me think I SHOUD do.
A very successful entrepreneur once told me that the key to success is two things…”Luck, and having the balls to take a risk when presented with an opportunity”. That has always stayed in the back of my mind. During my early career, I also worked in Fundraising for Not For Profits where I realized another valuable lesson that would stick with me into entrepreneurship. This key piece was not to be afraid of hearing the word “NO”. Fundraising was full of rejection, but so what?! You have to move on and find a new donor, or a new approach because the cause you are raising money for still needs you.
When it comes to business I think of the big picture! Always having a vision for multiple directions we could take things down the line so that when opportunities that could foster this growth pop up we recognize them. I approach every opportunity with a yes mentality. That being said, our team also sits with every new opportunity and thinks about all of the worst case scenarios that could play out as a result of taking it. Is the pay off worth the risk? Not every opportunity or idea is a good one, there may in fact be very good reasons why something is in fact too risky. It’s about trusting your gut, doing your research and being honest with yourself. Learning to remove emotions and assess the risk objectively.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Tiffany Burling, I am a mixed media Visual Artist and Floral Designer. Together with my husband, mother and brother I run Toronto Micro Weddings. We are a family business specializing in Intimate All-Inclusive Luxury Wedding Experiences. My background in hospitality and the arts made the transition to weddings a no brainer.
Life has become so expensive and couples are finding themselves struggling to afford being able to get married. We were talking to so many people debating if they could afford to get married and buy a house, or get married and have kids. People are also very busy working, balancing career, family and life. Planning a wedding can be overwhelming at the best of times. Toronto Micro Weddings offers an affordable, stress free alternative to the traditional wedding as well as the planning process. We want our couples to be able to invest in their marriage not in their wedding, but still see the vision they had for their big day come to life.
Our $7999 luxury all inclusive Micro Wedding Package is a one stop shop which includes:
– A half hour legal or commitment ceremony INCLUDING YOUR OFFICIANT – we will connect you in advance so that you can make sure the ceremony reflects your values and taste, this is after all the most important part and should feel personal. We can accommodate any religious or cultural requirements.
-Ceremony to be followed by a two and a half hour cocktail reception for 50 guests – You can upgrade to a larger guest size and the length of your event can be extended.
-Wedding planning including all vendor procurement/management as well as wedding itinerary creation/implementation
-Day of coordination services including all set up and tear down – you are not working on your wedding day!
-Venue (we work exclusively out of our own west end event space, TCE on Sterling located in the Junction Triangle)
-Custom Decor design/installation – we absolutely want to customize this decor as much as possible to reflect you as a couple and the vision you have
-Florals for your ceremony altar as well as bridal bouquet and boutonniere
-Digital invitations
-Guest Favours from Baby Sweet Coffee
-Guest book, card box, etc. are included and can be customized
-Basic photography package including 40 edited shots non watermarked is included – you can upgrade your photography package as well as add videography.
-Entertainment including DJ for ceremony and reception included – additional entertainment can be arranged (for example, live music during ceremony)
-Basic AV package with custom ceremony and reception lighting, wireless mic for speeches and MC duties
-Welcome Glass of Sparkling Wine for everyone, 3 passed canapes, wedding cake
-Bartenders/Service staff
Our all inclusive package includes a Sparkling wine toast, 3 different passed canape offerings that will last throughout the event (these are seasonal and chefs’ choice).
-WEDDING CAKE IS INCLUDED and we are able to accommodate all dietary needs such as sugar free, vegan, etc.
Looking for additional food? We can also add food stations, buffet or formal coursed meals to your package.
We can accommodate any requests but the idea is that even if you don’t upgrade anything you still have an unforgettable experience with all the bells and whistles included!
It is so fulfilling to be able to help couples celebrate their love! To assist them in starting the next chapter in their lives in a way that is comfortable and easy, for both their wallets and their mental health. Breaking the industry norms because wedding planning should be fun!
As mentioned above, our package includes guest favours. We used to outsource our favours to local artists, however my husband Jeff is a coffee roaster and a few years ago we decided to start our own roastery to supply coffee for custom coffee guest favours. This not only allowed us to bring back those profits that were being paid out but also allowed Jeff to incorporate another passion he had into our business. The favours were such a hit that we opened Baby Sweet Coffee as an online brand selling retail coffee bags but also guest favours to weddings that we weren’t planning. We also offer coffee at all of our weddings and it was great to be able to serve our own product. We are very excited to announce that the first Baby Sweet Coffee brick and mortar cafe will be opening early 2025 in the new Mirvish Village development in Downtown Toronto.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Creativity is key! As a creative director my ability to tap into my own creativity and imagination of course serves me well with regards to things like the design elements of our venues, our marketing and our weddings or products themselves. But creativity is more than that…it’s about finding new ways to approach situations or road blocks. It’s about problem solving in relationships with clients and employees.
Flexibility has also been invaluable on my journey. Even though I am a big picture thinker, you never know what is going to be thrown at you along the way. Or how consumers will respond to a product or service you put out. It is important to know your brand and believe in your vision but also to respond to the market or the times. I am never to proud or to stuck in my ways to make changes that will serve the business’s overall success down the road.
Perseverance! Success rarely happens overnight. It is very easy to quit when things get tough but building a business takes hard work and TIME. You have to keep going for the things you believe in.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I think this is a really important question and I am open to collaborations if and when they are mutually beneficial. As a venue owner I am often approached by other businesses or creatives who are looking to “collaborate” when in fact what they are actually looking for is free space to further their own goals.
There is nothing I hate more than someone reaching out wanting to collaborate for “exposure”. We have invested years of time and money into growing what we have built. I understand that new businesses need a leg up, but there has to be an exchange of equal value. If not monetary funds than in product or services. But the days of free things for “exposure” are behind us!
I encourage people who are thinking about starting a business to really examine if their idea is actually viable or not. If you can’t afford to rent or barter for the cost of a venue to launch your business what do you need to do to make that happen? Because relying on other businesses to give you things for free is not a real business plan.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.torontomicroweddings.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torontomicroweddings/
Image Credits
Jaqueline Silva, Michael Gozum, Prito Reza
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
