Creating beauty in life’s uncertain moments
Elizabeth Mywaart has spent over 13 years immersed in the wedding and beauty industry. After working for MAC Cosmetics, she launched her own freelance make-up artistry business, working on high-end weddings, events, and photoshoots around the world. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt. As she listened to growing frustrations about wedding venues (particularly around deposits and rigid policies), Mywaart saw a new opportunity. After visiting the historic Pendennis building, she knew it had the potential of providing something unseen in the wedding industry in Edmonton, and Pendennis Weddings and Events was born.
One year after signing the lease for space in the building, her dream took an unexpected turn. Mywaart’s story is more than the launch of a business—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the strength it takes to keep building something beautiful, even in the face of life’s most difficult challenges.
You signed the lease at The Pendennis in March of 2023 and in April of 2024, you received life-changing news. Tell us about that.
I was in Mexico, wrapping up a wedding with my husband, and we were about to start our own vacation when my doctor called with a shocking diagnosis: I had an aggressive form of breast cancer. He urged me to return home as soon as possible for treatment.
The cancer had spread to my lymph nodes, and I was given a 56% chance of surviving another 10 years. Despite the surgery, they couldn’t guarantee that all cancerous cells were gone. I was advised to undergo chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments. I was faced with undergoing aggressive treatments that would make it hard for me to go to work every day.
I asked my team if they could step up, and I hired another full-time employee to support the business. I also promoted my 22-year-old administrative assistant, who had been with us for a few months, to run the company in my absence. She accepted, and under her leadership, we had our busiest year yet, managing 100 events. The entire team went above and beyond to keep the business running smoothly. It was a humbling experience to see how much they contributed, ensuring the company’s success during such a challenging time.
What have been the biggest challenges and joys in opening up your own business?
Owning a business brings so many challenges, but I find a lot of beauty in those hardships. As a business owner, you’re constantly receiving feedback, and while it can be exhausting, I love it. When you’re in charge, it’s a gift when someone is honest with you because it gives you the chance to improve constantly.
What makes me proud is how our team handles feedback. It’s tough at first, but once they see the value of making changes right away, it becomes second nature. They learn to reset relationships quickly, apologize when necessary, and grow from mistakes. The culture of open, direct communication has transformed the way we work together.
One of the unexpected joys of owning my business is the incredible team I’ve built. We have a culture where everyone’s focused on creating an excellent experience for our clients. We prioritize direct feedback in every aspect of our business. We want to know what worked, what didn’t, and most importantly, what could be better. Every staff member is responsible for giving feedback after each event, and I encourage them to be honest, especially about the tough stuff. If something’s wrong, we fix it fast.
We get together after hours to hang out, celebrate birthdays, and enjoy each other’s company. What started as impromptu sushi and wine nights has turned into regular bonding moments and dance parties, where the line between work and friendship blurs. It’s something I never planned for, but it’s been one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey.
How has the experience of opening a business while fighting breast cancer changed your perspective on life?
Opening the business was much more challenging than I’d anticipated. Mentally, I was not prepared for how overwhelming it would be. There was so much at stake—the company was a huge investment, and many people, including myself, had their savings tied up in it. Every decision I made had massive financial implications, often impacting the business for years to come. The workload was enormous, and no matter how much I worked, I never felt caught up. The pressure was constant, and the responsibility weighed heavily on my shoulders. Simple decisions, like whether to invest in higher-quality or cheaper equipment, felt like they could make or break us.
Around this time, someone gave me a piece of advice that stuck with me: “Don’t hold before yourself an engraved image of how your life should be.” The concept of releasing the rigid expectations I had for my life resonated with me. Three months later, when I found out I had cancer, this advice came back to me. Instead of focusing on the life I thought I would have (like being healthy, running my business, and having kids), I realized I needed to accept my reality. I was 36, with cancer, and my life wasn’t going according to plan.
When I stepped back, I saw that my life was still beautiful. I had a wonderful business, a lovely home on a beautiful acreage, and a supportive network of people around me. Yes, there were challenges ahead, but I knew I was lucky in many ways. I had access to healthcare, supportive cancer treatments, and the chance to fight through this.
As I prepared for surgery and chemotherapy, I reminded myself to stay grounded. Life is unpredictable, and while this wasn’t the life I’d imagined, I was still incredibly fortunate. I was in a country where chemo was free, and I had the resources and support to face my diagnosis. Ultimately, I learned that even in the face of difficult circumstances, perspective is key. Just because life isn’t going exactly as planned doesn’t mean it isn’t still full of blessings.
What brings you joy these days?
A few years ago, I reached many of my career goals—magazine covers, a downtown studio, travelling the world for work—but it left me feeling empty. That realization pushed me to dive deeper into books and personal growth. I learned that true fulfillment doesn’t come from financial success or career achievements. Instead, it’s about finding meaning beyond those goals.
I chose to open my business in a historic building, not just because of its charm, but because I want to be part of revitalizing this community. I also want to help in meaningful ways, like supporting those who are unhoused in our area with dignity and care. What brings me joy now isn’t about how much I achieve or how much money I make. It’s about creating something meaningful, building a community, and continually growing in ways that go beyond just career success.
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