Meet Michelle McMurray de Luces | Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michelle McMurray de Luces and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michelle, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
I owe my success to the unwavering support of my husband, Erick Luces, who has consistently stood by me, endorsing every business decision I have made. His steadfast commitment has not only preserved our family unit during my travels but also contributed significantly to the initial and continuous overall success of our entire company.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I take immense pride in having established a company dedicated to heirlooms, including personal narratives, love stories, and day-of wedding items that are reusable. As the first person in the world to have done this, I feel I have a responsibility. I love assisting individuals and families to craft family stories intertwining their love stories, with a particular passion for the latter. The knowledge that future generations will possess this information brings me immeasurable joy that most people cannot comprehend. Drawing from my own experiences as a genealogist within my own family, I can assert that discovering stories about individuals long since past is an arduous task, if not downright impossible. Why does this challenge persist? Perhaps it is due to the lack of documentation or the historical absence of most family members. Regrettably, it appears that only the most renowned families have a wealth of stories to share. Most people have no idea who their great-grandparents were as people, much less anyone further back in history. I want that to stop!

The task of conveying the profound significance of chronicling one’s life experiences in written form has been the most challenging, by far.

Younger generations tend to dismiss its importance, sometimes assuming an infinite life span for themselves and their family, with an abundance of time to document it all. They fail to realize that the moment of “later” never materializes because life is busy. And so, tragically, the absence of these written love stories and family history perpetuates the erosion of historical knowledge.

I have consciously embraced one of the most demanding vocations known to mankind. The preservation of personal history, a noble pursuit in our eyes, often finds itself eclipsed by other wedding day priorities. Some couples decide they would rather have a dedicated dessert bar, which is delicious and guests will love, but they will be consumed and immediately forgotten. While personal choices vary, it is important to consider that little remains of the celebration the following day to commemorate the cherished memories of a day planned out often over a year’s time.

To overcome the challenge, we strive to provide guidance to all prospective clients regarding their choices but oftentimes it falls on deaf ears. This challenge has persisted since our inception, and I’ve lost count of the number of brides who have approached me post-wedding to ask me to retrospectively craft their story. Regrettably, this presents an obstacle to my work, as my storytelling process relies heavily on sensory immersion. I need to be there to acquaint myself with guests in order to grasp the couple’s essence and then write about it.

Our ability to recount stories from the past is a skill we do employ, but it’s the immersive experience of being present that breathes life into a wedding story. When captured within the pages of a hand-bound book, your story becomes a treasured historical artifact owned by your family, destined to be treasured and passed down for generations to come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There is so much to do in Atlanta.

I would start our adventure in Buckhead, where we would visit the retail haven of Lenox Square. Shopping is one of my friend’s favorite things to do, so I have no doubt that it would be a several-hour experience.

Lovers of architecture and history, we both would enjoy walking the grounds of the Atlanta History Center (Swan House), an architectural marvel from the early 20th century with serene gardens and employees filled with information about the structure.

There are so many great restaurants, coffee shops, and bars that I could suggest, but my top few would include Eleanor’s to indulge in a Brown Thrasher libation complemented by a charcuterie board. On that note, we would also stop by the enigmatic Red Phone Booth, entering with a secret code.

At least one evening during her visit we would enjoy a steak at Tesserae with the amazing view of Buckhead, and another night at Dorian Grey for their acclaimed brussel sprouts.

Coffee shops for our morning (and afternoon) needs would include Sheep & Meadow with their lovely green velvet chairs and extensive coffee selection, and Finca to Filter for their delicious chai lattes.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Throughout our journey, numerous individuals and organizations have played pivotal roles in our achievements. While it is practically impossible to name them all here, I would like to acknowledge a select few who have made notable contributions to our success.

The esteemed entities: Saks Fifth Avenue and Jo Malone

My brand specialists: Kathryn Porritt of Icons Inc. and Astrid Mueller, design consultant
Our letterpress mentor: Brian Allen
Cherished clients: Nicole & Ian Brown and Peyton & Brian Sayer
and last, but not least, the invaluable guidance provided to me by my personal trainer and lifestyle coach, Robbi Jenkins.

Website: https://www.weddingstorywriter.com

Instagram: @weddingstorywriter

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wedding-story-writer-cary

Image Credits
Catherine Threlkeld Photography | Mary Kate Steele Photography | Tulle & Grace  | Rebecca Yale Photography