This month, we are thrilled to shine the spotlight on Alisha Chadee, WPICC who was certified by us, in July of 2012, and is the creative force behind Events by Whim. Known for her vibrant personality, impeccable organization, and thoughtful approach to wedding planning, Alisha has built a reputation for turning her couples’ visions into meaningful, beautifully executed celebrations. She brings a unique blend of artistry, strategy, and heart to every event, making her a true inspiration in the Canadian wedding industry.
With over a decade of experience in luxury wedding planning, Alisha Chadee is the co-founder and creative force behind Events by Whim. Her approach blends thoughtful design with seamless logistics, ensuring each celebration feels as effortless as it is elegant. Alisha’s background in adult education and project management, combined with years of corporate event planning, informs her meticulous attention to detail and commitment to delivering personalized, high-touch experiences. She leads with heart, crafting weddings that are not only beautiful but deeply meaningful.
Your brand, Events by Whim, is known for blending creativity with structure. How do you balance artistry and logistics so couples feel both inspired and reassured throughout the planning process?
At Events by Whim, we believe artistry and logistics are two sides of the same coin. Inspiration without structure can feel overwhelming and chaotic, and structure without creativity can feel rigid and emotionless. Our process is designed to merge both seamlessly. Our team is comprised of planners who manage logistics and designers who manage the aesthetics. We start by listening carefully to our couples and understanding what matters most to them, then shaping those ideas into a branding design that feels authentic and inspiring. From there, we follow a solid planning framework with timelines, budgets, checklists, and regular communication that keeps everything on track. Couples often share that they feel both excited and reassured, knowing their vision is supported by strong logistics. For us, success is when they can fully enjoy their wedding day, confident that both the beauty and the details are taken care of.
Wedding planning is an ever-evolving industry. What shifts or trends have you noticed in what couples value most over the past few years, and how have you adapted your services to meet those expectations?
We’ve started seeing couples shy away from tradition for tradition’s sake, and lean into wanting celebrations that reflect their shared values. Many are choosing non-traditional elements such as modern ceremony formats, creative menus, or unique entertainment, while still prioritizing hospitality and inclusivity to ensure every guest feels cared for. Our market heavily features busy professionals and overseas couples marrying in Toronto, and their time is limited, which is why our team is digitally enabled, using collaborative tools and clear communication strategies to manage the planning process efficiently. This approach allows us to combine strong aesthetic style with meticulous logistics, ensuring every wedding feels deeply personal, grounded in the couple’s values, and styled to reflect both their personalities and the character of the space.
Nadtochiy Photography
You’ve worked with a wide variety of clients and cultures. What lessons have you learned from planning multicultural or fusion weddings that other planners could benefit from?
Planning multicultural or fusion weddings has taught us that understanding the couple’s heritage is just as important as executing a beautiful event. It is critical not to assume that couples want to include all or any cultural elements simply because they are fusion couples. Getting to know what resonates for them personally and understanding the role their families play in decision-making ensures both the couple and their loved ones feel seen and represented. Clear communication, flexibility, and attention to detail allow us to integrate meaningful traditions while creating inclusive experiences for all guests. As fusion wedding planners, we take the time to really get to know our couples, exploring what they love about their cultures and what to share with their guests and why, so we can put together a plan and design that artfully reflects this.
Many planners struggle with setting boundaries while maintaining excellent client relationships. How do you ensure healthy communication and protect your time without compromising the client experience?
Maintaining healthy boundaries while providing an excellent client experience starts with clear expectations from the very beginning. At Events by Whim, our service level agreements are outlined in our contract and discussed during onboarding, so couples know how and when we will communicate at each stage of planning. We provide multiple touchpoints for questions and updates, but we are also transparent about our working timelines for each major phase of the wedding. We view wedding planning as a people business, and part of building a strong relationship with our couples is being open about the fact that we have lives, families, and commitments outside of work. Our clients are busy professionals themselves, and this transparency allows them to trust that we are managing the details in the background. They can focus on their own schedules, confident that we are keeping everything on track and maintaining the high level of service they expect.
If you could give one piece of advice to new wedding planners entering the industry today, what would it be, and what do you wish someone had told you when you first started Events by Whim?
If I could give one piece of advice to new wedding planners, it would be to invest early in building your processes. Success isn’t about follower count, whose Instagram looks the best, or who seems busiest; real success comes from having repeatable systems, templates, and structured workflows for every stage of your service, from inquiry to offboarding. Without these, it’s easy to become quickly overwhelmed as bookings grow. You cannot create more hours in the day to keep reinventing the wheel; the only way to gain time is by creating efficiency in how you work. One of the most invaluable ways to do this is through courses or mentorships that teach you how to design your own processes. Coupled with building relationships with experienced planners and vendors, these resources provide the guidance and structure needed to manage your business confidently. Learning from others and creating a strong framework allows you to scale, stay organized, and consistently deliver an excellent experience for your clients.
Thank you, Alisha, for sharing your wisdom and perspective with us. Your commitment to balancing creativity with structure, while always keeping your clients’ values at the core, is a wonderful example for planners everywhere. We can’t wait to see how Events by Whim continues to evolve and inspire couples and fellow professionals alike.
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