READING TIME: 2 min 55 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/18/2024
UPDATED: 08/29/2024
In the enchanting world of wedding planning in Toronto, few tales are as captivating as Lexi Haslam's, the maestro behind Lexington and Co. Inc. Lexi's journey in this realm is a mosaic of passion, dedication, and an unwavering love for crafting fairy-tale weddings. Her career, spanning over a resplendent nine years, started with her affinity for events. She fondly recalls her early days, "I always loved events and did a lot of my event training while working multiple jobs."
Her career truly took flight at The Drake Hotel, where she honed her skills in the hospitality sector. It was here that weddings captivated her heart, "While working at The Drake Hotel, I also worked with a wedding planner that planned high profile events - I learned most of my training from them and realized how much I loved weddings."
Lexi’s first foray into wedding planning was a testament to her resilience. A quaint backyard wedding in Toronto, challenged by relentless rain, became her inaugural project. Amidst the chaos, a pivotal moment with her mother under a rain-laden tent became a defining memory. Lexi reminisces, "I remember standing under the tent with a broomstick with my mom pushing the water off the top of the tent and her saying, "Are you sure you want to do this for the rest of your life?" And my response as I enter my 9th year of business is "Yes Ma'am!""
Lexi's approach to wedding planning transcends mere coordination; it's an art form driven by emotion and personalization. “I love getting to know our couples and their family and design an event for them that represents who they are," Lexi shares. This philosophy is the cornerstone of her company, Lexington and Co. Inc. Lexi believes in creating weddings with intention, guiding her clients through decisions that break the mold of traditional expectations. "I love planning weddings with clients who are not afraid to make some risks, because high risk (when it comes to design and the day-of schedule) is high reward!" she explains.
The most memorable wedding for Lexi? Unsurprisingly, it's her own. "My husband and I were either crying or laughing - there was no in-between. I really understand when my clients say " It was the best day ever!"" she exclaims. This personal experience enriches her understanding of her clients' desires and emotions, shaping her approach to planning their special day.
Lexington and Co. Inc. offers a spectrum of services, from Full to Partial Planning, and the flexibility to tailor packages to each client's unique needs. "We also customize packages a lot for clients that are getting married on private residences or would like us to plan all their wedding festivities like Bridal Showers, Rehearsal Dinners, Welcome Parties, Wedding Day, and Wedding Brunch. We do it!" Lexi asserts. Her company's philosophy is to create weddings that are an authentic reflection of the couple, steering clear of conventional templates.
Lexi's advice for couples is clear and heartfelt, "Hire a wedding planner, it's the best investment!" She emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and making choices that reflect the couple's individuality.
Her dream venue? "Private property weddings, so much freedom to be creative!" she says, her eyes sparkling with the thought of endless possibilities.
Every wedding comes with its unique set of challenges, and Lexi has faced her fair share. The Covid pandemic presented unprecedented hurdles, but Lexi's ability to thrive in chaos shone through. "Covid weddings presented us with the most challenges because everything was changing so quickly. However, we do thrive in chaos and were able to help our clients navigate," she recounts.
The key to her success lies in her personal approach to client relationships, "I love getting to know my couples and I am interested in them. I want to know who they are, what they love doing, who their families are - as this helps me understand their expectations and how we can collaborate to display all the important parts of them in their wedding day."
Lexi's team, managing around 30-40 weddings a year, starts with setting a budget and carefully selecting vendors that align with the couple's vision and financial constraints. “We ensure that we are all on the same page so that we are spending on the right areas,” she concludes.
