Meet Michelle McMurray de Luces | Founder & Creative Director

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

Hi Michelle, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
At age three, I fell in love with my mother’s wedding dress. I asked her to put it on, and from that moment forward I was smitten with bridal attire. I grew up drawing wedding gowns and even planned a faux wedding for a high school assignment my junior year. Concurrently, as my family’s genealogist, I learned from a young age the importance of storytelling.

Once I received my master’s degree, I saw a gap in the wedding industry that needed to be filled. There are so many ways to capture one’s wedding day. We need photographers and videographers for the visual story, but we need Wedding Story Writer to fill in all the gaps, to tell the story about what actually happened on a couple’s wedding day, as well as before that date.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Lots of things keep me busy professionally. I’m constantly learning to do new things in between clients like calligraphy and bookbinding. I sketch potential new designs weekly.

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Being the industry leader in writing wedding stories has been difficult. We compare it to having a newborn baby in the sense that everything we created had to be designed and built from the ground up. There were sleepless nights. Lots of money has been poured into this child. Building the company required us to wear a lot of hats. We had to learn to simultaneously work on writing and drawing, understand the relationship between fabric, glues, and bindings–all multiple facets of design work that end up compiled into a storybook, as well as manage marketing, PR, and all sorts of other jobs. We wear many hats in this company.

For instance, being present at our clients’ wedding is just one part of our job. However, the work starts months before the wedding day. We interview the couple and family and friends, piecing together a story from each side to form a unification of both sides of the new family unit, which culminates at the wedding ceremony. Bonds are forged, two sides become one. It’s quite fascinating to watch from a different angle.

We illustrate our books, so we require scenes from the past–usually photographs, but sometimes a memory forms a good illustration. Because each couple’s story is unique, everything about the book is, too.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way:

Understanding the value of the unique service and products we create. What we provide our clients is priceless.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
As lovers of history and architecture, we would likely start our itinerary off by visiting The Atlanta History Center, otherwise known as The Swan House. I’d give them a tour of the museum’s surrounding area, as the homes there are stunning.

We would likely hit Masterpiece at some point during the week, Bacchanalia, West Egg Café, Brash Coffee, and E. 48th Street Market for wine. I love flowers. I would suggest spending an afternoon touring the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

I would take my movie lovers to SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film. As a former costume designer, I particularly love to see costumes other people have created.

And, if there are kids in tow, Six Flags would be a good bet for a day of fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The success of Wedding Story Writer comes from the dedication of family and other talented wedding professionals who have sacrificed countless hours of their lives to create inspiration, provide input or education, create artwork, fly to New York City for Bridal Market, work trade shows, take product photos, offer advice or a warm hug, and the list goes on and on.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the following people for believing in, supporting, mentoring, and encouraging Wedding Story Writer for the past ten years:

Family members first: Erick Luces, Jaqueline Poole, Dorian Luces, Adrian Luces, Ericka Luces, Patricia Wixson, and Dan McGinnis

Our countless creative “friendors”

Mentor Kathryn Porritt of Business Bravery who inspired us to own our genius and to never be mediocre.

Preston Bailey–because with one single descriptive word, “brilliant” he inspired us to go above and beyond from the very beginning.

Astrid Mueller, brand strategist–for helping me understand branding from the get-go and leveled us up before we launched the company.

Photographers–Kim Hymes Photography, Tulle & Grace, Rebecca Yale Photography, and so many more for referrals, inspiration, consideration, and use of beautiful photos.

Gown Designers–Sarah Jassir and Matthew Christopher Sobaski for welcoming me into their realm with open arms and lots of love.

And last, but not least our brides and grooms who have trusted us enough to invite us into their private lives, share their love story, and treat us like family. We love and appreciate you all.

I would also like to posthumously thank my grandparents in writing, that from a very young age, instilled in me core moral values. They taught me that the heart of every story is family-related and that the value of service to others is priceless.

Website: www.weddingstorywriter.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/weddingstorywriter

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellemcmurraydeluces

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wedstorywriter

Facebook: facebook.com/weddingstorywriter

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

Image Credits
Tulle & Grace IWP Photography Mary Kate Steele Photography Kismis Ink Photography