Part 1: Kate & Matt’s Romantic Summer Wedding – June 27th, 2014

There are weddings in every Planner’s career that resonate with you and feel less like work and more like a breath of fresh air. This was especially true while I had the privilege of working with Kate and Matt and their families. On one of the most beautiful summer day’s Kate and Matt were married at the stunning Billings Estate Manor tucked underneath a canopy of trees in the heart of Ottawa. Not a single detail was missed! Kate and Matt poured their heart and soul into the planning of their wedding and it was more than evident on their wedding day how deep and special their bond is. There were tears of joy throughout their ceremony and everyone was swapping between belly-laughs and Kleenexes during the heartfelt and candid speeches. It was very touching to see the closeness of Kate and Matt, along with their daughter Ella and families throughout the entire day.

It was a fairytale ceremony with beautiful acoustic music from MOON FRUITS set underneath the umbrella of Billings Estate’s majestic trees. While the most beautiful rendition of Ellie Goulding’s ‘How long will I love you’ was playing, Kate gracefully walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with both her mother and father wearing none other than Vera Wang. The aisle was draped in white and blush rose petals and Matt had the look of complete adoration on his face while waiting for his bride. Guests dined ‘Al-Fresco’ underneath clear blue skies and danced the night away under the stars. Tulips and Maple knocked it out of the park with yet another perfectly executed meal and Anna Jones Photography captured the entire day with ease and perfection. It was hard to narrow down which photos to choose for this post, so I have chosen to feature this wedding in a double post! Feast your eyes on Part 1 of the beauty of Kate and Matt’s memorable wedding day.

Vendors and Accolades:

PHOTOGRAPHY: Anna Jones Photography • DAY OF COORDINATION: Lianna Mackie and Kelsey Benson • VENUE: Billings Estate • CATERER: Tulips and Maple • EVENT DECOR & FLORAL:  KL Flowers • OFFICIANT: Burt Pohl• STATIONARY: Alex Buttera from The Paper Studio • CEREMONY MUSIC: Moon Fruits • RECEPTION MUSIC: Quality Entertainment • GOWN: Vera Wang • FLOWER GIRL GOWN: Little Dreamers Tutus  • HAIR & MAKEUP: Hair by Victoria Bear & Makeup by Stephanie Jones • SHOES: Badgley Mishka • JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES: All vintage pieces from family • VEIL: Made by an Aunt • BRIDESMAID DRESSES: I LOVE that all bridesmaids were given the opportunity to pick their own beautiful dresses • FORMAL WEAR: Tiptop Tailors • CAKE: Sweet Shop & Bakery Ottawa  • ADDITIONAL RENTALS: Laszlo Szabo Event Decor for chiavari chairs & Edison bulb outdoor lights, Labelle Tents and Chezlili

 

The First Ottawa Wedding Awards

First off, let me congratulate the committee for putting together a flawless evening! It was overwhelming to see the camaraderie and community spirit of the Ottawa Wedding Industry to pull off an amazing event. It was long overdue to get everyone together to acknowledge the excellency and hard work of our peers. The Ottawa Conference and Event Centre was decorated like a celebrity-inspired wedding with a chic lounge to greet you, diamonds suspended from the ceiling, spot-lights and up-lighting and pillar lights – the technology did not disappoint and of course I have to mention that the food was to-die for (apple & maple creme-brûlée capped off a mouth-watering 3 course meal). Guests were treated like royalty with a red-carpet entrance and what event wouldn’t be complete without a Photo Booth! Alison Hunter was the MC Extraordinaire who kept the evening flowing seamlessly, we were serenaded by the angelic voice of Julien Kelland and a silent auction was available in support of the Hopewell Centre. It was an honour to attend this event and even those who couldn’t be with us physically were able to stream the event LIVE from U-Stream Ottawa Wedding Awards Live Stream courtesy of Quality Entertainment.

To check out some of the fun, take a peak at Quality Entertainment’s Pinterest page to see a few captured moments from last night’s festivities 

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners of the Awards. Over 10, 000 votes came through! Here is a recap of last night’s winners:

Officiant: Lynne and Keith Langille

Videographer – Photography and Films by Eduardo

Live Music – Sway Band

Photobooth – Flashpoint Photobooth 

Florist – Ottawa Flowers 

Limousine Service – East Coast Limos

Hair and Makeup – Madisons Studio Spa

DJ Services – Dynamix Productions 

Supplier – Mastermind Events

Cakes and Sweets – Sugar and Spice

Hotel and Banquet Venue – Sala San Marco 

Unique Venue and Golf Club – Museum of Nature

Outdoor Reception Venue – Strathmere 

Beyond Ottawa Venue – Chateau Montebello 

Caterer – Thyme and Again 

Wedding Planner – Starfish Creative Events and Inspiration

Photography – Barbara Ann Studios 

Bridal Fashion – With Love Bridal Boutique 

Décor – Sage Designs

Wedding of the Year – Stonefields Heritage Farm along with Thyme and Again, Kandid Wedding Photography, Mastermind Events, Gord Marriage, Simply Beautiful Bridal Boutique, Cakeland Creations and of course Quality Entertainment

A very special nod to Dominque Levesque Bridal who won the first-ever Tsirmpa Award, in honour of Eugenia Tsirmpa-O’connor of Details Ottawa. Dominque has raised over $42, 000 since 2010 and is an inspiration to us all for her fundraising initiatives and selfless devotion to giving back to the community.

Thank you Brian and your hard-working team at Qualtiy Entertainment for bringing this event to life and to all who were a part of a memorable night!

Make sure YOU want to ‘Say Yes to the Dress’

One of the most anticipated and best things about planning your own wedding should be picking out THE dress. I say ‘should’ because when you actually think about shopping for the most beautiful and expensive piece of clothing that you will only wear for one day, it can be slightly daunting – yet exhilarating. When do you ever give yourself the chance to go and drop over $1000.00 on a garment of clothing for yourself? The wedding dress shopping experience can be an emotional roller coaster and some women who feel excited about the idea of buying their wedding dress feel rather disappointed after their first appointment. The best thing a bride-to-be can do is be prepared.

If you are the least bit indecisive – like myself – having someone ask you ‘what do you want’ can make you want to run for the hills when faced with a sea of white, shiny, sparkly, poufy, lacey, yet beautiful gowns. Ask yourself what it is that you want before you try your dress on. And I mean what YOU want, not what Mom wants, or your bridesmaids or what will give the best ‘ooh and ahh reaction‘ as you walk down the aisle. You would hope to have a ‘love at first sight’ meeting with your dress and when you find it you will ‘know’, right? Not always (to those that have I applaud you). My advice to those bride-to-be’s who have yet to go shopping is to do a little research beforehand because trust me, they are all beautiful, but you need to find what is right for you. Women want to pick the perfect dress because after-all this is going to be the image left with your betrothed of you, as their bride, for the rest of your lives together (no pressure). Be sure to pick a dress that will leave you with the anticipation to wear it again on your one special day. Yes, budget is important but treat yourself and yes public opinion may matter, but if you fall in love with a dress that doesn’t get the best reaction from your entourage, trust your gut. You know what looks best and feels right on your body.

The bridal fashion market is overwhelming and with so many TV shows and Pinterest boards the selection process can be intimidating. Where does one start? Let’s go straight to the source. Hot off the runway take a look at some beautiful inspiration from Bridal Fashion Week in NYC last week where designers unveiled their Spring 2015 collections. Take some of these styles as inspiration at your own dress shopping experience. I have tried to include a variety that reflects the 2014/2015 bride, IMO. You will see my #1 favourite below and surprisingly it is nothing close to what I wore on my wedding day. Happy ‘pinning’ ladies

Christos Bridal Spring 2015

Carolina Herrera Bridal Spring 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Spring 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Spring 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Spring 2015

Marchesa Bridal Spring 2015

Oscar de la Renta Bridal Spring 2015

Oscar de la Renta Bridal Spring 2015

Oscar de la Renta Bridal Spring 2015

Oscar de la Renta Bridal Spring 2015

Reem Acra Bridal Spring 2015

Reem Acra Bridal Spring 2015

Reem Acra Bridal Spring 2015

Reem Acra Bridal Spring 2015

Reem Acra Bridal Spring 2015

Rivini by Rita Vinieris Bridal Spring 2015

Rivini by Rita Vinieris Bridal Spring 2015

Romona Keveza Bridal Spring 2015

Theia White Bridal Spring 2015

Theia White Bridal Spring 2015

 

Out of all the beautiful gowns it was surprisingly easy to pick out my favourite. I love the champagne hue of this enchanted gown. Romona Keveza designed this with details every bride can love. The lace overlay on the bust, the modest princess skirt and embellished belt make this dress a clear winner for me. Source

Sources: http://www.wwd.com/runway/bridal-spring-2015 and https://www.facebook.com/OfficialRomonaKeveza