From Corporate Operations to Wedding Planning: Shir Buslovich of Were Getting Married Weddings Co.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

Hi, I’m Shir Buslovich, the founder of We’re Getting Married! (WGM) Weddings Co. — a boutique wedding planning and coordination company based in the Greater Toronto Area. We specialize in full-service wedding planning and high-touch coordination for couples who want a deeply personal and beautifully executed celebration, while partnering with a planner who treats their day like it’s her own.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Yes, but I never knew what I wanted to offer the world at the time. In my early career, I always pictured myself as a business owner, however I stayed in a more traditional administrative or operations role because I wanted to make the transition once I knew what my business would be. Once I started helping couples plan weddings, something clicked: I found the freedom to design my own path, build something that’s entirely mine, and give people a deeply meaningful experience. That realization pushed me to take the leap to start WGM Weddings Co.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

When I launched WGM Weddings Co., I leaned heavily into relationships. I started by planning weddings for friends and family, and many of my first clients came through word-of-mouth referrals. I also made a point to network in the local wedding industry with venues, florists, and photographers to build referral partnerships. I also got very active on Instagram, sharing behind-the-scenes planning moments, real wedding stories, and helpful planning tips.

It didn’t all go perfectly. Some early marketing felt slow; building a portfolio takes time, especially when you're just starting out. But over time, as weddings came together beautifully and friends-of-friends heard about us, the momentum picked up. The authentic, service-first approach resonated deeply, and that word-of-mouth flywheel became one of my strongest drivers.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

I’m most proud of the weddings that feel deeply personal. There was one in particular where we integrated traditions from both families in a way that felt seamless, heartfelt, and completely “them.” Seeing the couple (and their families) moved to tears, feeling that every detail reflected their story, and that’s when I know I’ve done my job. Beyond that, building a strong team and structure so that I could confidently support multiple couples without compromising on quality has also been a huge milestone.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

You don’t need to have everything perfectly built to begin. Starting before I felt “ready” would have saved so much stress. The clarity comes from doing; from real clients, real weddings, real conversations. I wish I had trusted that earlier.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

My favourite question is: “Tell me about a moment when you took ownership of something that wasn’t technically ‘your job’, what motivated you, and what happened?” It tells me everything from their initiative, problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence, and their natural approach to teamwork. Hiring tip: Trust patterns, not promises. How someone talks about past responsibilities is usually how they’ll handle future ones.

What did you go before starting your own business?

Before launching WGM Weddings Co., I worked in corporate administration, customer service in highly structured environments, and bridal gown design and tailoring at Kleinfeld Canada. These roles taught me how to manage logistics, juggle multiple stakeholders, and communicate clearly under pressure. As you can tell, I've always loved the wedding industry.

At the same time, I was deeply involved in musical theatre, which cultivated my sense of storytelling, performance, and emotional resonance, all skills that are surprisingly transferable to wedding planning.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I’ve always loved weddings because of the joy, the details, and the meaningful traditions it brings. But more than that, I saw a gap in the market: couples who were willing to invest in an elevated, personalized planning experience, yet still wanted warmth, authenticity, and a true collaborator.

I realized that by starting my own planning company, I could offer something that felt deeply personal, but also run with a high level of professionalism. The more I supported friends planning their weddings, the more I knew this was where I was meant to focus.

Do you have any recent wins?

Yes! Over the past year, WGM Weddings Co. has booked several couples who found us through referrals, which feels like a validation of the relationship-driven work we do. I also launched a month-of coordination package, making our high-touch planning more accessible to couples who don’t need full planning, but still want professional guidance.

On a personal level, we received glowing testimonials from clients about how supported they felt, and I finally expanded my vendor network to include a few more top-tier partners who share our values.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Google Calendar! Everything in my world runs on timelines. Between wedding schedules, vendor meetings, rehearsals, and family life, having an organized and color-coded calendar keeps me grounded and on track.

Who are your customers?

Our clients are engaged couples (and their families) who value thoughtful design, high-touch service, and emotional support throughout their planning process. Many are busy professionals who want more than a “set it and forget it” coordinator: they want someone to guide them with expertise, empathy, and a refined eye for detail. They appreciate a partner who is professional, detail-oriented, and emotionally invested; someone who can handle both the big-picture vision and the granular logistics so they can enjoy the process just as much as the day. We also work with clients who prefer hourly consulting for guidance without full-service planning, making our offerings accessible at different investment levels.

What's your top productivity tip?

I schedule my day around energy, not hours. I do client-facing work and creative tasks during the times of day when my mind is the clearest, and save admin or low-lift tasks for later in the day. I also rely heavily on micro-systems; small, repeatable processes that save me time later. For example, I have template responses for common client questions that I always add some personalization to for each client, I have a consistent workflow for onboarding clients, and I have a checklist for every new wedding. These tiny systems compound and eliminate so much decision fatigue.

What's your favorite business tool?

Google Workspace. It keeps everything streamlined and accessible, from timelines, to planning sheets, client documents, and workflows. My business lives in Google Drive, and it makes collaboration (and version control) effortless. It’s the hub for almost every moving piece in the planning process.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

I think of it as a rhythm rather than a balance. Weddings naturally come in seasons, so my work life and personal life shift accordingly. Some months are fuller; some months are slower. I prioritize quality time with my husband and family, which keeps me grounded, and I make sure my calendar reflects the life I want, not just the work I need to do.

How do you avoid burn-out?

I set clear boundaries about when I’m available and when I’m not, especially during peak wedding season. I give clients extremely reliable communication windows so they always feel supported, without compromising my own capacity. I’ve also learned to build in intentional recovery days. After a wedding weekend, I schedule lighter work, slower mornings, and space to decompress so I can show up at full strength again.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Start before it’s perfect, and stay close to the heart of why you started. Build relationships with intention, treat every client like they’re the only one on your roster, and remember that slow, steady growth is still growth. Most importantly, give yourself permission to evolve. Your business will grow as you grow, and that’s part of the beauty of entrepreneurship.

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