Cathy MacRae

Lead Wedding Planner / Event Choreographer / Design Coordinator / Destination Wedding Specialist

Cathy MacRae loves being in the business of making dreams come true! As far as she is concerned, working with couples to plan the most important day of their life, and being able to share in the experience with them, is the best job ever!

Originally, she didn't start out on this career path. After completing her Bachelor of Music and her Bachelor of Education, she spent 15 years teaching band and choir to middle school students for the Calgary public school system. During this time, she fine-tuned her planning and organizational skills while coordinating and orchestrating student performances, band camps, multiple-day music tours for large groups, stage musicals, and mid- to large-scale fundraisers, all in addition to her regular teaching responsibilities. Deciding on a career change, she left teaching and signed up to do her wedding planning certification with the QC School of Wedding Planning. Since then, she has also completed further wedding planning coursework with the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada and the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Since beginning her company, Creative Weddings and Occasions, Cathy has become even more aware of the increasing need engaged couples have for hiring a wedding planner. Few couples have the real time or energy that planning a beautiful wedding requires. Her expertise and ideas are not only saving couples time and money, but allowing them to have a truly fabulous wedding experience! With business partner, Muriel, they specialize in planning romantic weddings and event décor with personalized style designed exclusively for couples in and around the Calgary area, and nearby Rocky Mountain resort towns of Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise. Over the past couple of years, they have also been able to expand their business internationally to accommodate couples who want that same unique and customized wedding experience at various destinations throughout the world.

Always an avid traveller, Cathy has enjoyed seeing the world. She has travelled extensively throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Australia, and numerous ports in the Caribbean. Her travel adventures, personal contacts, and resort experiences allows her to advise couples on some of the most romantic destinations in the world, just perfect for a destination wedding or an ideal honeymoon.

Currently living in Calgary, Cathy enjoys spending time with her two bichon shih tzu puppies, Ally and Jazz. She also enjoys reading, scrapbooking, card-making, music, and travelling to warm destinations.

Cathy is proud to be a member of the Association of Bridal Consultants, WPIC Alumni, and Rockstar Wedding Planners. Currently, Cathy and Muriel are both coaching with international events marketing consultant and ABC Master Bridal Consultant, Tonya Shadoan.

Muriel MacRae

Wedding Planner / Destination Wedding Specialist / Travel Agent

Muriel is the other half of Creative Weddings and Occasions. She became involved in wedding planning by assisting Cathy with many weddings and event décor. She liked it so much that she decided to become a certified wedding planner and a destination wedding specialist through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada.

She loves weddings ...all kinds of weddings. Her enjoyment comes from finding out what is unique about each couple, and then helping them plan the wedding of their dreams. She feels honoured when brides let her help them with their wedding plans and allows her to share with them one of the most important days in their lives. It is exciting to do all of the planning, and then see everything come together on the wedding day. She enjoys the challenge of solving problems that arise, and has had plenty of experience in organizing many details at once.

With a love for travel, Muriel is also a certified travel agent, helping couples plan their wedding and/or honeymoon in tropical locations. She has first-hand experience with both cruising, as well as travel to numerous countries and resorts, allowing her to advise clients in planning their perfect wedding or vacation get-a-way. She and Cathy have travelled extensively to become familiar with destination wedding and honeymoon locations, including Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. They attend conventions to keep up with the latest trends in the wedding industry.

Before becoming a wedding planner, she spent many years as a teacher, working for many years in Calgary, West Vancouver, and Airdrie with special needs students. Muriel has a B. Ed. from the University of Calgary and a Masters of Arts in Education from San Diego State University with majors in Administration and Special Education. She also took time out from teaching to own a successful fabric store in Calgary.

Muriel has been married to husband Don for over forty years! They have two adult children and a lovable bichon shih tzu puppy named Molly. Muriel is an avid photographer and traveller, always looking to experience new destinations. She also enjoys watercolour painting, scrapbooking, reading, and walking. Currently, Cathy and Muriel are both coaching with international events marketing consultant and ABC Master Bridal Consultant, Tonya Shadoan.

Adeline Schickedanz

Associate Wedding Planner

Adeline Schickedanz is the newest member of the Creative Weddings and Occasions Team. She is a recent graduate of the Wedding Planning Institute of Canada and excited for her new journey into the wonderful world of weddings. With a History and Business degree from the University of Calgary, Adeline gained corporate experience in both Oil & Gas and Building & Development. Her passion for design soon took over however, and she enrolled in the Visual Design program at the U of C part time while working. She graduated with an Interior Design designation last June. Becoming engaged a year ago is what really ignited Adeline's love of planning weddings. She planned her own Destination Wedding in May 2010, and enjoyed every detail! Adeline loves to travel, scrapbook, and design pretty much anything in her spare time. She would be honoured to be a part of your special day!