Marry Me Productions

At Long Last....Marry Me's New Website is Here ! (featuring our 'team')

2012-03-05T10:11:00.002-05:00

Spring generally symbolizes freshness, rebirth and new beginnings. However, it wasn't just the arrival of Spring that made Marry Me want to redo our website.
I have been working with Stacey for 4 years now and soon after I started, she began mentioning to me how she wanted her website to reflect the growth of the Marry Me team- she wanted her clients and Ottawa to know that Marry Me was run by a team of wedding experts...with Stacey at the helm.

There were a few reasons why Stacey did this. Primarily to give her team the recognition they deserve with all the behind the scenes work they do for her and Marry Me's clients but, it also puts the client at ease knowing that if someone who isn't Stacey is at their meeting or at their wedding or simply returning their call, it is not just an unpaid summer intern that Stacey hired. It is a paid Marry Me employee with an Event Management degree who loves and respects Marry Me's goals and vision as much as Stacey does.

When a team of dedicated individuals makes a commitment to act as one...the sky's the limit !

Please visit our new website and let us know what you think !

Who are you going to "Bust A Move" for?

2012-02-29T21:51:00.000-05:00

A few months ago we were asked join the committee for Ottawa's first ever Bust a Move Event

taking place this April and Marry Me Production happily signed on.

What is Bust a Move you ask??

Bust A Move is a one-day fitness extravaganza.
Each hour participants will be led through a choreographed routine by a certified fitness instructor – Each hour will feature a different fitness discipline including aerobics; Yoga; Zumba; Kickboxing.
If participants do not wish to participate in one of the fitness sessions, they may opt out and grab a snack, stroll the indoor marketplace or grab a massage in our therapy suites.

When is Bust a Move you ask??

Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the Ottawa Athletic Club

What is it for?

100% of funds raised remain in our community to improve breast health;
Funds will go towards the following projects:

o Expansion of cancer services at the Ottawa Hospital; Queensway Carleton Hospital and Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre.

o Clinical Trials and research.

o Cancer Survivorship Care at the Maplesoft Centre.

Our goal: 500 participants – who have committed to each raise a minimum of $1,000 (note: this can be averaged over a team as long as the team meets their total goal).
We have some amazing sponsors who are helping to cover the costs for the event – working to ensure that 100% of the participants funds go directly to cancer care in our community.

How can you help, easy, just pledge me now!

OSCAR DE LA RENTA TRUNK SHOW

2012-02-23T11:44:00.000-05:00

The White Dress is proud to host its first Oscar de la Renta Trunk Show and on the heels of the Academy Awards what better time to slip into that fabulous Oscar dress!

We still have some spots available, so call now and book your private one on one appointment.

Oscar is sending a rep straight from NYC to assist with everything Oscar.

Oh, and did we mention that we will also be carrying their shoe line??

Yes, Ottawa will now have access to some amazing shoes to compliment your dress perfectly.

Can't wait to see you here:

A Whimsical Vineyard Wedding: Janelle & Nick

2012-01-30T15:09:00.002-05:00

Janelle and Nick are the stuff fairy tales are made of. They are one of those couples that have known each other since they were young and although geography and circumstances carried them away from each other for a long while, fate eventually brought them back together again and they never looked back.

The fairy tale continued with the engagement when Nick proposed on bended knee at sunset and flew in all of Janelle's family (they were hiding at an apartment) so they could celebrate the engagement with them. This is a thoughtful couple, so you can imagine the details that were found in their wedding. From the food; representing both French and Italian cultures, to the venue; a Niagara vineyard echoing their love of wine, to the midnight snack; a decadent Dairy Queen bar- a common & favourite treat for the couple. But despite all that, Janelle & Nick will tell you that their favourite part was simply having all their loved ones there, basking in their love, and basking in the warm afternoon sun that filled their tent overlooking the vineyard. A breathtaking day for everyone involved.

The always luxurious Wedluxe Magazine featured Janelle and Nick's entire Niagara nuptials in their 'Editor's Blog', take a peek here

Much love to Janelle & Nick- thanks for letting us share in your 'fairy tale' xo

Extra Extra Read all About it !

2012-01-29T00:13:00.003-05:00

It's that time of year again, the beginning of a new year which brings about new trends in any industry; fashion, home decor and our favourite: weddings. Stacey Price and Jasmine Craig (owner of The White Dress), were featured in the Life & Style section of the Ottawa Citizen today talking about upcoming trends you'll find at modern weddings this year. Take a peek at the entire article here.

And don't forget to join Stacey and Jasmine online from 12pm to 1pm on Tuesday January 31 for a live chat (hosted by The Ottawa Citizen) for all things weddings !

Real Wedding ~ Lauren & Dave: Featured on Style Me Pretty Blog

2012-01-23T21:18:00.005-05:00

We're so proud to be featured on Style Me Pretty's blog once again. And we're happy to share the most adorable couple to Style Me Pretty's readers. Lauren and Dave are so in love and so adventurous- they have traveled to many places all over the world and have recently taken the greatest journey of all marriage ! (mawwwwww)

We loved the rich colours that were involved in this wedding- all chosen to reflect the couple's vibrant personalities- right down to the bride's royal blue Manolos. Mr Big wasn't holding them for her but they were still breathtaking.

To see Lauren's and Dave's colourful love story, read Style Me Pretty's Blog entry here

Your journey is just beginning Lauren and Dave- enjoy every minute of it
xo

Take a peek inside our booth from this weekend !

2012-01-09T22:50:00.002-05:00

The Marry Me team had such an amazing time this past weekend meeting all of you- our past brides-to-be (doing their duty as a bridesmaid bringing their newly engaged friend to the wedding show) as well as all you future bride-to-be's !

Didn't get all your questions answered by us while at the show? .... feel free to email us at info@marrymeproductions.ca and we'd be happy to follow up with you in a more personal and dedicated manner.

In the meantime, take a peek at our booth.... inspired by one of our summer weddings in Sudbury. The soft blue really pops with the crispness of the white accessories. Dreamy. Summer. Romance. Thanks to our good friend Anne Marie Bouchard from AMBPhoto for capturing our booth this year.

Come Visit us this Weekend!

2012-01-04T12:18:00.003-05:00

Marry Me Productions will be at the always exciting Wedding Palace Bridal Show at Ottawa's new Convention Center this weekend (Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm).

Did Santa bring you some new bling? Well, stop by our booth (booth 415) and let us celebrate with you! Our booth and books are filled with wedding inspiration for you brides-to-be not to mention our chic consultants who be manning the booth so excited to meet you !

Every year, Stacey draws inspiration from something simple, a vase, a colour trend even a charger plate to design her booth. This year, we don't want to give anything away but the inspiration for this year's booth comes from this decadent wedding we planned in Sudbury....

Looking forward to meeting everyone this weekend :)

Something White for Something Right

2011-12-13T12:59:00.000-05:00

This years 3rd annual Something White for Something Right was a resounding success and we finally have the gorgeous pictures to prove it! Thank-you to everyone that was involved from our fabulous sponsors to the amazing Marry Me team that made the night run so smoothly.

As most of you know this event is extremely near and dear to my heart and every year that Ottawa comes out in their wedding dresses we get one step closer to living in a world without Breast Cancer.

Please enjoy the beautiful pics from MIV Photography and hopefully we will see you next November!

Special thanks to:

Full Bloom

Bel Fiore

Flowers Talk

Tivoli

The Flour Shoppe

The Candy Store

Groovy Linen

Paper Studio

Barefoot Wine

SWAY Orchestra

Professional DJ

Quality Entertainment

Miv Photography

for helping to make the night such a huge success!

Read all about it! - Corissa and Sean

2011-12-06T18:39:00.000-05:00

Ottawa Wedding Magazine hit the stands today and we couldn't be happier about seeing one of our gorgeous weddings among its pages!

We were lucky enough to travel to the brides home town of Sudbury, Ontario for this wedding and with their playful palette of fushias and lime green, it does not disappoint!

Corissa's donned an amazing Vera Wang gown from the White Dress and paired it with a cascading phalaenopsis bouquet that accented the dress perfectly.

If you haven't picked up the magazine yet, here is a sneak peak:

For the full story browse through the online magazine at:

Ottawa Wedding Magazine

Thanks Miv for the gorgeous pics!

Intimate Summer Love- Allison and Dave

2011-11-29T21:44:00.000-05:00

I figured this stunning post would be perfect for today with the dark, wet day we've had.....
We had the pleasure of working with Allison and Dave in planning their wedding. They are a beautiful couple together- inside and out. Unlike most brides, Allison actually didn't want all the attention on her that warm September day. To her, it was more about the marriage than the wedding day itself. As a result, her decor was influenced by her attitude- understated, elegant and timelessly beautiful; up lighting, candles, white florals and grey linens.

The ceremony and reception was held in the same place- the outdoor tent at the Brookstreet Hotel. The same spider chairs from the ceremony were used for the reception- tables and more flowers were brought in. The room was 'flipped' during the cocktail hour- quite the team effort for myself and the Brookstreet team but the guests enjoyed seeing the same tent transformed not once but twice in one evening.

The most unique thing about their wedding was their guest book. Allison and Dave purchased various bottles of their favourite red wines. Each had a tag on the neck saying various years such as "First Year", "Fifth Year" "Seventh Year" "Tenth Year" etc.. Guests used metallic pens to write their well wishes to the couple directly on the bottles. That way, every wedding anniversary that Allison and Dave celebrate in the future, they will open the appropriate bottle of wine and share their guests' wedding day memories and words of wisdom all over again.

Thanks to our friend Derrick Rice from Union Eleven Inc. for capturing the simplistic beauty of the entire day.

Much love to Allison and Dave xo

Wine bottle guest book

Real Wedding - Tania & Claudio

2011-11-18T17:26:00.000-05:00

The team at Marry Me was lucky enough to work with this next couple for almost 2 years and we can't say enough about them! Tania wanted a calm and serene colour palette so we chose blush and ivory to soften the cement and glass presence in the National Gallery. The results were simply breathtaking and our neighbours at Photolux captured the day perfectly...

Real Wedding - Katrina & David

2011-11-16T07:55:00.000-05:00

We loved working with Katrina and David to help them achieve their Parisian inspired wedding at the Chateau Laurier, this past September.

Vibrant purple was paired with black and ivory to achieve the specific vision Katrina had.

Everything from their antique inspired stationary and bouquet worked together beautifully.

And we have MIV Photography to thank for the gorgeous detail shots!

Real Wedding - Featured on Style Me Pretty

2011-11-14T13:59:00.000-05:00

If you love Style Me Pretty as much as we do, you will love the current home page featuring one of

Marry Me's gorgeous couples, Lauren and Kyle!

Spoken by SMP:

This is one of those weddings that makes us drop everything else for an hour of undivided attention. Because this is so not a multi-tasking, catching up on emails, drinking coffee and watching Matt Lauer all while perusing the gallery kind of wedding. Nope, not in the least. It’s a knock-out crafted by Marry Me Productions where classically gorgeous meets modern museum complete with a bevy of really amazing signage

Before you head over to the link, here is a sneak peak of their special day:

From more pictures take me to:

Style Me Pretty

Let's Hear it for the Boys !

2011-11-11T23:53:00.000-05:00

It's easy to forget about your groom's details during the wedding planning process. Other than his suit, one thing that your groom will be showcasing is his boutonniere. Over the years we have seen delicate boutonnieres wilt in the summer heat, larger boutonnieres weigh down suit lapels or dress shirts and normal-perfect-sized boutonnieres get destroyed as the groomsmen great guests with hugs and chest bumps or simply taking on and off their suit jackets and tossing them aside. It's not the guys' fault ladies- this is most likely the first time they have ever worn a flower on their suit jacket and as a result, they simply forget it's even there. Depending on what type of boutonniere you order and how many groomsmen you have in your wedding party (Father of the Groom, Father of the Bride, Ringer Bearers, Grandfathers all get one too), it can get expensive.
So, I have found some really unique and classy alternatives to floral boutonnieres if you would like to cut down on your floral costs, don't trust your groomsmen to take care of their boutonnieres all afternoon or simply want to add a bit of creativity to the guys in your wedding party. Why should the bridesmaids have all the fun ;)

This boutonniere was made with fabric shaped like leaves. The fabric can come from a beloved source: an old varsity hoodie or perhaps your grandfather's old suit jacket- a great way to include him if he has passed on.

Fabric boutonnieres

This seashell boutonniere has soft ivory fabric glued to the back. The fabric can be matched to the 'colours' of your wedding. This is a great alternative to a floral boutonniere for a beach wedding. This can easily be done yourself.

This boutonniere was made with spark plug and some greenery added in. The groom was a mechanic. What a great way to add some of the groom's character and personality into the boutonnieres.

This boutonniere is one of our favs! Found on Martha Stewart, it may not save you money but it will be an instant heirloom. Have a metal disc engraved for your groom with your initials and wedding date. Sew it to a ribbon and glue/sew the fabric to a flat-back safety pin (found at most craft stores). Something beautiful for him to pull out for Anniversaries or your (eventual) children's weddings.

The White Dress celebrates one year in business - Masquerade Style!

2011-11-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

A big THANK YOU to everyone who came out to join us in ringing in our one year anniversary!

We had an absolute blast dancing the night away and toasting to our one year anniversary behind masquerade masks! We can only hope that the years to come will be as rewarding as our first!

We have met so many stylish, gracious and fabulous clients this past year and have had an incredible support team around us every step of the way!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success! xx

Catering, Tulips & Maple, Photography: Photolux, Decor & Rentals: Partytime/Groovy Linen, DJ: Quality Entertainment, Florals: Full Bloom, Window Models in Monique Lhuillier Collection

Something White gives back even more!

2011-10-05T16:07:00.000-04:00

If you have had the pleasure of strolling down Sussex and perhaps popped your head into Fernando Cellini's you will see a fabulous idea that is helping to make Ottawa a better place. The salon's famous chalk wall is being used to promite local activites in our city with all proceeds going to the

Make a Wish Foundation!

Something White for Something White is proud to be featured in chalk for this great cause.

Thanks to Matt for his incredible artwork, check out these gorgeous pics below:

Tickets for Something White are now on sale, but going fast.

Buy now and slip into that fabulous wedding gown once again!

Buy Tickets Now!

Real Wedding - Colleen & Luc

2011-09-29T09:55:00.002-04:00

Colleen and Luc were married on a gorgeous summer day in early August. Their wedding is a perfect example of effortless beauty. When getting married in a tent, it is easy to go over the top with decor. But Colleen and Luc kept the decor inside the tent simple and classic with clear chivaris, soft florals and glowing pillar candles and that coupled with the breathtaking views of downtown Ottawa from the roof of the NAC's tent and the luxurious draping inside the tent, made their reception look like the inside of a dream. Thanks to Photolux Studio for capturing every romantic detail.

Congrats to the stylish lovebirds- we wish you nothing but the best !

Real Wedding featured on Wedluxe...

2011-09-19T18:14:00.001-04:00

We just love when our gorgeous brides are featured online in Canada's most fabulous wedding magazine!

Stephanie and James were such a great couple to work with and their fairytale wedding sparkled just like their love! Here is a sneak peak of their day...thanks MIV!

Click HERE to see all the glittery details!

Real Wedding - Katrina & Alain

2011-09-12T09:06:00.000-04:00

This wedding, just like the couple, was so sweet and wonderful we had trouble picking which pictures to showcase! Katrina and Alain has a very specific vision for their Hilton Lac Lemay wedding - classic, elegant and slightly Parisian inspired. With gorgeous pinks and ivories, Katrina created an atmosphere that was soft and romantic. Guests were treated to a matching candy bar, cupcakes and cookies and danced the night away before a gorgeous firework display overtook the sky.

See how beautiful everything looked below thanks to our neighbours at Photolux Studio:

Real Wedding ~ Sally & Eric: Featured on Style Me Pretty Blog

2011-08-25T20:55:00.000-04:00

We're always excited to show off one of our 'real weddings' but this one is even more special since it was featured on one of our favourite websites; Style Me Pretty. Stacey met Abby, the brains behind Style Me Pretty at Engage 2011 earlier this year so it was just a matter of time before these two creative minds came together professionally.

Sally and Eric were married July 30 at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau. They were so calm, sweet and very much in love that we counted down the days to any meetings with them during the planning process.

The ceremony was outdoors on the terrace in the late afternoon sunshine and their backdrop was the Ottawa River and the Parliament Buildings. It was so simple but stunning. The reception was held inside the cafeteria which offers the same view as the ceremony thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The room was transformed into a soft & romantic paradise with silver chiavaris, white linens and orchid centrepieces. The details were few but powerfully personalized: a friend played the ceremony music including when Sally walked down the aisle, the place cards were bilingual: English and Chinese and the candy bar (decorated in the wedding's colours) was sugar free since Sally is a dental student.

We may be biased as we work out of The White Dress, but Sally's gown was simply breathtaking- a one of a kind Vera Wang that made her look every bit the princess on her big day.

Thank you for allowing us to help plan your special day Sally and Eric ! We miss you guys already xo

Enjoy all the photos here...and more here.... Thanks to Union Eleven for being able to capture this wedding so beautifully.

WEDLUXE FEATURES MARRY ME AND TEAM

2011-08-17T16:05:00.000-04:00

A box full of Vera's dropped on our doorstep yesterday...can our week get any better?? Yes it can!

The lovely editor and chief at Wedluxe just emailed to let us know that we are currently featured on their website, check out our shop done up wedding style at Marry Me in Wedluxe

Special thanks to:

Miv Photography, Bel fiore, The Girl with the Most Cake, Palettera and The White Dress

Vegas, Elvis but most of all LOVE!

2011-08-15T12:08:00.000-04:00

It is not everyday that you will hear a wedding planner say forget the whole planning sha-bang and elope in Vegas but this weekend we were lucky enough to meet an amazing couple that did just that!

Nicole and Chris have a story like many of our wonderful couples: they met, fell in love and decided to make it official - they just did it on a much speedier schedule!

And we couldn't be happier for them.

At the end of the day, we are in this business because we truly believe in love.

Whether you spend 2 years planning your wedding or 2 minutes picking out the red roses you will carry down the aisle, the outcome is the same:

you are marrying the person you are supposed to be with.

And that we will always support!

Congrats Nicole and Chris, we just LOVED meeting you!

Real Wedding - Crystal & Matt

2011-08-10T12:16:00.002-04:00

Crystal and Matt were one of the nicest couples we have ever worked with. They were both so down to earth, kind, considerate and very much in love. Matt is such a sweetheart that (as we learned in the best man speech), his nickname is "baby Jesus", which made the best man's speech even harder to compose since the speech is generally a roast of the groom and all his faults.

Matt and Crystal were married in their hometown of Pembroke on June 25. They had a specific vision for the wedding that every piece of the wedding was brought in from Ottawa to reflect the couple's style (linens, chairs, even wine glasses). They wanted a soft and romantic look which was achieved with light pinks, creams and crystals.

Take a look at how we transformed Pembroke's dark and standard-'community hall'-looking venue into a soft pink paradise for Crystal and Matt's big day. All the gorgeous photos were captured by our friends at Photolux Studio

Outdoor Wedding Inspiration

2011-08-04T14:30:00.000-04:00

We recently worked a lovely outdoor wedding for Jennifer and Richard at the timelessly elegant Billings Estate here in Ottawa. As the sun set behind the trees, and the guests sipped their fresh lemonade with paper straws in the glowing light cast from candles in hanging mason jars, I thought to myself; outdoor weddings can contain some of the most beautiful elements of weddings in general: simplicity, softness and home-grown personal touches. Jen and Rich's simplicity and softness came from a lack of forced decor and they let the sprawling landscaping at Billings Estate be their decor with just handpicked wild flowers and candles on tables draped in crisp white linens. Their wedding came with countless personal touches but the most obvious were seen in their food as they worked with Thyme and Again Catering. One of the food stations contained Rich's best man's secret meat rub recipe on the baby back ribs and the late night buffet featured delicious family desserts such as "Gram's Apple Pie".

An outdoor wedding means you have to give up a lot of your wedding control to Mother Nature and some brides just aren't willing to do that so consider having just your wedding ceremony outdoors or if you're still a bit too protective over your one special day, how about hosting the rehearsal dinner or post-wedding brunch outdoors at a local park, a nearby cottage, an NCC-owned venue or a family member's large backyard ?

Take a look at the images below from some of the most fabulous outdoors weddings we found. Maybe you'll consider adding one more guest to your wedding guest list- Mother Nature.

Real Wedding - Ottawa Wedding Style!

2011-07-13T10:12:00.000-04:00

Read all about it!

Chelsea and George's fabulous wedding hits stands today and Marry Me was honoured to be a part of it all this past May. We have been keeping these photos to ourself for a while and now all you have to do (besides read this blog!) is pick up a copy of Ottawa Wedding Magazine to see all the gorgeous details.

The Marshes in Kanata provided the perfect back drop for the evening celebration complete with fireworks! Every detail was carefully chosen by the couple, from their serene colour scheme to the thoughtful African touches at the reception, where the couple was engaged.
Congratulations to you both, xo

Thanks to kathirobertsonweddings.com and mikelupine.com for the great images!

Wherefore art thou Social Media?

2011-07-04T18:59:00.000-04:00

Right, you're EVERYWHERE!

If you are anything like me sometimes the social media scene gets a little overwhelming.

With so many Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc... how can anyone keep up?

And every now and then we even get to read what people in business are drinking in their coffee, who they are meeting tomorrow or what their weather wishes are...

All interesting things I am sure, but who has time for all that?!

The team at Marry Me knows that you are busy and we respect that.

Starting today, Marry Me is launching their WEDDING TWEET OF THE DAY.

Everyday we will be using our twitter feed to relay a wedding related tip or trick to help you with your wedding plans.

Quick, simple, easy.

Oh and just incase you are interested, we take our coffee with Bailey's ;)

Follow our twitter feed here

Real Wedding - Jen hearts Josh

2011-06-27T21:38:00.000-04:00

In May we had the pleasure of working with a wonderfully unique couple that put amazing touches all over their wedding! From their engagement shoot, where they donned matching heart t-shirts to the end of the reception, where guests toasted the couple with cookies & milk shooters we knew this love was meant to be. The National Gallery provided the perfect backdrop for their vows underneath a cherry blossom chuppah. Live music filled the air while the guests dined at chef attended stations provided by Tulips and Maple. And lucky for us, Miv Photography was on hand to capture all the fabulous details we love so much, enjoy...

40 Under 40 Awards

2011-06-19T22:42:00.000-04:00

What a great night for Ottawa and it's Top 40!

“New beginnings” may have been a theme of Thursday night’s Forty Under 40 awards gala but, for many recipients, remembering the lessons of the past are the keys to continued success.

This year’s event, held at the Hilton Lac-Leamy, was the 15th anniversary of OBJ’s Forty Under 40 awards, which have evolved from a newspaper feature to one of the premiere events of the year for Ottawa’s business community.

And Marry Me Productions was an honour to be a recipient of this wonderful award.

Recipients were selected based on their business achievements, expertise and community involvement.

Even better, the event raised $8,986 for the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health.

Read full article from the OBJ here

HELP MARRY ME RUN FOR THE CURE!

2011-06-15T09:04:00.000-04:00

As you all know Marry Me Productions is a proud supporter of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and this October we are once again participating in the Run for the Cure.

The Breast Dress Project has raised over $30,000 since 2009

and last year the entire team ran in wedding dresses!

We have set a goal this year for our team of $15,000 and are confident we can beat that amount!

This year we have also decided to use our Facebook fan page to raise our entry fee.

For every fan that signs up between now and the race Marry Me will donate $1 to our entry goal.

So we need 300 fans to sign up now.

Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your colleagues and help Marry Me Run for the Cure!!

In addition to our fundraising initiatives, monetary donations can be made on behalf of Stacey Price to the following link:

Donate to Run for the Cure

Here are some of our favourite moments from last years event:

Hot off the Press !

2011-06-13T22:41:00.001-04:00

As most of you know, our very own Stacey Price has been recognized by the Ottawa Business Journal for business excellence in Ottawa as a recipient of their annual 40 Under 40 awards.

The OBJ formally released stories and photos about all the fantastic business leaders our great city has to offer (aka the winners!). Our very own Stacey Price is on page 23. Pick up your copy from your downtown street corner (it's free) or read it online here:

The awards gala is this Thursday so the next blog post will be a behind the scenes look from Stacey herself !

2011-06-03T13:34:00.000-04:00

For those of you who just cant get enough Engage11 (and we count ourselves among those!),

here is an amazing video from Cloud Nine Creative that shows off all the fun and activities perfectly:

Engage 11: Grand Del Mar // Wrap Film from Cloud Nine Creative on Vimeo.

Can't wait for next time!

ENGAGE 11 PHOTOS DAY 1

2011-06-01T19:11:00.000-04:00

Today I had to thesaurus the word "WOW" to see how else I can explain the wedding industry brilliance that has been a part of this event in San Diego:

Admiration, Applause, Appreciation, Esteem, Praise, Regard, Respect

are all words that don't even begin to describe the incredible people I have met so far.

The wedding industry as a whole is in for some big changes in the next few years and

Marry Me Productions promises to be at the forefront of those changes.

We are committed to pushing the envelope with regards to design, we are committed to executing our clients vision with 100% accuracy and we are committed to bringing our clients a fresh perspective that makes their wedding day uniquely theirs.

Here are some images from the fabulous Jessica Claire of how our first day looked:

iPropose - FROM GIRLFRIEND TO FIANCE

2011-05-27T14:40:00.004-04:00

What a night!

First off, I have to say a heart felt thank-you to everyone who attended, you make my heart smile.

Marry Me is so lucky to be surrounded by such an amazing network of wedding individuals!

For those of you who were not able to attend last night's service launch here is a few images of how the night unfolded:

Oh you mean you want to know what happened???

Marry Me is proud to announce its partnership with Media Ball and our new service

iPropose - EXCEPTIONAL PROPOSAL PLANNING

That's right not only did we announce our new fabulous service to assist Ottawa's grooms (and bride-to-be's!) with all their proposal needs but my partner and dear friend Jasmine got engaged last night!

Her fiance Tom really showed us what this service is all about:

finding the one and giving them that night to remember.

We were so honoured to be a part of it.

Special thanks to:

Tulips & Maple for the FABULOUS food and burgers

The Flour Shoppe for the amazing cupcakes

Quality Entertainment for the sound and video needs

Full Bloom for the gorgeous floral arrangements

Paper Studio for our stationary needs
Groovy Linen for the lovely linens

Miv Photography and Melissa for the amazing pictures captured last night

and of course our wonderful partners

Media Ball for all the RIDICULOUSLY AMAZING cinematography

We can't wait to meet all the men (and women!) who are ready to take the next big step in their relationship.

THE DAY WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

2011-05-25T15:35:00.002-04:00

The big day is finally here, well, it will be here...TOMORROW!

After weeks of mystery we will finally be revealing our new service to all of you.

Party starts at 7pm and our new video release will happen just shortly after 8pm.

If you haven't RSVP's yet, please do so at info@marrymeproductions.ca

We want to make sure we have enough sweets and eats for everyone!

WHAT'S IS AN INFOSTRIPE?

2011-05-22T09:19:00.002-04:00

We love when our former clients get in touch with us, especially when it is about such a GREAT idea! Harold, our groom from 2008, has invented quite simply an amazing digital business card. Some people even use it as an online notebook and planning tool!

In Harold's words "...an Infostripe is a free and easy way to expand your presence online and more importantly make it ready for the rapidly growing mobile space. Infostripes work in any browser but are designed to provide a cross device compatible turn key mobile web application for any subject."

"It's mobile version of your businesses and is tied to your websites for content but an infostripe could also be a standalone event invitation or a wedding site for a couple to communicate with their guests. Even better news its easier for readers to click through everything and it will help Google make the association between your site!

Harold graciously made Marry Me Productions a beautiful infostripe to keep all our social media together: http://infostripe.com/marrymeproductions

For more information check out their website at: http://infostripe.com/

Thanks Harold and best of luck with this!!

YOU COULD BE HER LAST FIRST KISS...

2011-05-18T17:39:00.001-04:00

This weeks teaser is brought to you by Miv Photography,

just 8 more days until we reveal our new service...

IT'S TIME...

2011-05-11T15:29:00.000-04:00

Another teaser video to help with our new service puzzle...still don't know?

Show up at 191 Preston St, May 26th at 7pm.

Again, this will knock your Louboutins off!

??? from Media Ball on Vimeo.

Fascinator Fever- our latest blog giveaway !

2011-05-09T22:12:00.004-04:00

So, we figured we are long overdue for another giveaway ! We love getting free stuff and we love all our Facebook fans and Twitter followers. So, we wanted to combine these two loves and give the fans we love something that we love- Fascinators !

Fascinators had been picking up steam in the wedding industry (in lieu of veils) in the last few years;

Sara Gabriel Headpieces: available at The White Dress

However, the surging popularity of the lovely Kate Middleton has brought fascinators across the pond to North America for non-wedding related events as well.

Tart Hair Fascinators is a locally owned company here in Ottawa. Naomi creates every piece by hand and accepts custom orders meaning if you don't need a fascinator for your wedding day, she'd be happy to make you one to wear with your favourite LBD (little black dress).

Here is the gorgeous piece Naomi is offering up for grabs- one of her most popular pieces valued at $85.

However, if these colours don't work for the winner, Naomi is happy to take a custom order for the same value.

We're going to make this giveaway very easy (another thing we love- simplicity); become our 'friend' on Facebook or 'follow' us on Twitter. We'll be picking a random person out of all our Twitter followers and Facebook fans using random.org. If you're already connected to us via Twitter or Facebook, then you don't need to do anything- you are automatically entered into our contest.

We'll announce the winner on our blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts shortly and once again play the role of 'matchmaker' this time, matching you up with a stylish fascinator.

For anyone interested in contacting Naomi for custom orders, she can be reached at tarthairfascinators@yahoo.com or 613-858-5347. Or if you're in the neighbourhood, stop by The White Dress where her creations are featured and available for sale.

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, NEVER A BRIDE?

2011-05-04T13:33:00.003-04:00

We have been working hard to keep our new service under wraps, but every once in a while things heat up so hot that we just have to let a little teaser spill out.

If you have been at the edge of your seat, stay there.

May 26

7pm

191 Preston St.

It's time...

??? from Media Ball on Vimeo.

A dream realized....

2011-05-03T09:30:00.001-04:00

This blog post is very important to Marry Me Productions because it is the acknowledgment of a goal Stacey Price had when she started the company over 6 years ago from her basement; to create a business that betters her clients and betters the community.
Stacey Price, owner and founder of Marry Me Productions has been awarded the Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award from the Ottawa Business Journal.

In the article that was released yesterday on Ottawa Business Journal's website explains the recipients and the judging system:

“This year’s list of 40 recipients proves Ottawa has the talent, creativity and the ‘jazz’ that goes along with moving a city forward into a vibrant place to work and live. The city is alive and well,” said Michael Burnatowski, OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre manager and one of the panel of judges determining the awards. The committee included Mr. Burnatowski, University of Ottawa Telfer EMBA director Terry Kulka, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce executive director Erin Kelly, CellWand Communications CEO Nick Quain, OBJ editor Peter Kovessy and OBJ publisher Michael Curran, who also chaired the process. The judges collectively spent around 100 hours reviewing and ranking each of the submissions.
All nominations were assessed according to a 40-point system: 20 points for business achievement, 10 points for expertise and 10 points for community involvement.
“I really like the way the award itself is structured. It is a balanced scorecard, with a slight tilt to business achievements. It is a great way to think about what it takes to be a business leader in the city. It’s not just about business expertise – it is about being a part of the community,” said Mr. Kulka.

Working side by side with Stacey Price for over 3 years has given me great insight into her work ethic. Her clients come first and always have. Every business decision she makes is always with her clients' vision in mind. Her most recent venture being a partner in bringing The White Dress to Ottawa was for her clients. The only thing that comes close to her passion for her clients is her passion for charity within our community. From her involvement to The Breast Dress Project to Something White for Something Right and most recently, Engage. Stacey's events and businesses have donated over $10,000 to Breast Cancer research in the last 2 years.

9 out of 10 new businesses fail in their first two years. Not only has Marry Me Productions survived but it has thrived. The entire team at Marry Me wants to thank every vendor we've worked with who has recommended us to their clients, every client who has hired us for your big day and of course the judging panel from Ottawa Business Journal Journal Forty Under 40 Awards for recognizing the important part that Marry Me Productions has played in bringing vibrant style and opulent elegance to Ottawa.

Hello Alexander McQueen

2011-04-29T15:27:00.000-04:00

Finally the wait is over and it only took a matter of minutes for images of Kate gorgeous gown to be posted everywhere!

"Kate Middleton and an army of highly skilled seamstresses wowed fashionistas around the world Friday with an Alexander McQueen wedding gown that experts called a timeless classic.

After months of secrecy about what she would be wearing, Kate Middleton entered Westminster Abbey in an intricate McQueen wedding gown designed by Sarah Burton, a nearly-three-metres-long train and a decades-old Cartier tiara borrowed from the Queen"

HOLY KATE!!

2011-04-27T21:41:00.000-04:00

We were thrilled when we got the call today that The Ottawa Citizen has chosen their look-a-like for the Kate Middleton Princess Make-Over contest. And we are even more thrilled to be dressing her in a fabulous creation from The White Dress for her fairytale photoshoot!

And can we just say that the lovely Julie looks SO much like Kate!

Stay tuned to our blog for the make-over pictures at Rinaldo's and to see what dress we choose.

I know!?!

This is Julie, not Kate ;)

Something White for Something Right Video Released

2011-04-25T22:41:00.002-04:00

Our friend Bridget from { First Kiss Films } documented all the fun we had at Something White for Something Right 2010. Bridget has uploaded the film and made it available for sharing. The video is beautifully shot on vintage film which was perfect for our event since this type of film really captured the magic and romance of the entire evening.

For more information on { First Kiss Films } and the magic they create, read my blog post here when we featured them in our "vendor Spotlight" series.

Thank you to Bridget for her beautiful eye for detail and making this video available to our guests of Something White for Something Right 2010.

Green your Wedding: Tips and Ideas

2011-04-23T19:50:00.000-04:00

The month of April is associated with paying extra attention to Mother Earth.

Although in our opinion, this is something we should always be mindful of. In honour of Earth Day on April 22, we wanted to suggest some eco-friendly wedding tips. Now, don't get nervous, we are not suggesting wearing a hemp-wedding dress and have your wedding guests help clean up a local park during cocktail hour. We are simply suggesting some ideas that could make your wedding even more unique and memorable all while leaving a reduced eco (yet very chic) footprint on our environment.

Flowers:
Your flowers are a huge part of the decor of your wedding so we would never suggest not having them. But, ask your florist to buy locally grown flowers. Inquire with him/her about which flowers are in season: Spring welcome boronias, tulips, hyacinths and lily of the valley. You can even grow your own. We know of one bride whose sister grew 200 tulips in her large backyard for the reception centrepieces. Once your wedding is done, consider donating the flowers to a hospital or rest home.

Favours:
Some of these ideas we have seen for years, they are nothing new but even more appreciated in this day and age. Consider giving your guests organic cookies (baked by you or a local bakery). Bestow them with seeds, plant bulbs or tree saplings ready to be planted when they arrive home. Not only are they helping the environment but they will always have a piece of your wedding day right in their backyard. Or if you prefer traditional favours just add an environmental twist on them like giving soy-based or beeswax candles, natural soaps or fair-trade coffee. Prefer to donate to charities instead of handing out favours? Consider the WWF or Friends of the Earth or let your guests know you have offset their travel costs to attend your wedding at http://www.nativeenergy.com/

Invitations:
Look into using recycled, handmade, tree-free paper or plantable papers. Sometimes, you fall in love with a type of paper that may not be environmentally friendly- no worries, maybe just opt not to include the RSVP cards with your invitations and ask that your guests RSVP at an email address instead or a wedding website if you have one. Bonus? You save on the cost of postage stamps!

Decor:
If you are having Christmas white lights decorate your tables, trees or anything else, buy ones with LED lights. Be warned, we find them not as bright so maybe buy more than you think you need. Or if you want a softer look, think about using (beeswax) candles in mason jars.

Add a chic, eclectic look by mixing thrift store plates glasses, and serving ware (think vintage-inspired) for your reception. Donate them back when you're done.

Food:
Speak with your chef about serving locally grown or organic foods and ensure the venue has a good recycling program. For example, Michael Blackie head chef at the NAC's Le Cafe and one of the most respected chefs in Canada, is very environmentally conscious with his menus. Proving that you can have delicious food while respecting the environment.

Dress:
We understand that buying a brand new dress is something that every bride dreams of since she was a little girl. But consider donating your dress after your big day. The Breast Dress Project is a project Marry Me started with Groovy Linen (here in Ottawa) to raise money for breast cancer research from the sale of every gently used wedding dress.

Honeymoon:
Giving our environment 'the love' doesn't have to end after the wedding reception; check out http://www.sendusoff.com/ which is a website that educates travelers on how to reduce their carbon footprint and travel eco-friendly. Or a quick way to search an eco-friendly hotel you want to honeymoon at is to visit http://www.greenhotels.com/

As you can see, the ideas are endless. You can go full tilt and ensure every aspect of your wedding is 'green' or just pull one or two ideas from this list to make you feel good about doing your part.

AN AFTERNOON WITH JEANNE BEKER

2011-04-21T16:26:00.000-04:00

For those of us who aren't able to travel to London to witness The Royal Wedding first-hand, St Laurent Centre took the reigns here in Ottawa and created an event worthy of the Queen herself where Marry Me Productions & The White Dress were lucky enough to receive a personal invite.

The "Royal Partea", presented by St Laurent Centre, is one of the biggest events of the season, with a royally inspired afternoon tea with delicious treats, fabulous swag bags, a stunning spring fashion show, and an in-depth chat with Canadian fashion journalist, author, and celebrated TV personality; the one, the only, Jeanne Beker.

Beker gave a dynamic and personal speech to all the guests in attendance and it is easy to see how she gives all of us Canadian fashion-lovers hope with her strong and significant voice in the industry. She has accomplished so much in her years of reporting and we look forward to what she will be doing in the years to come!

Not only did she share her talent, Beker also gave us inside scoop on the royal wedding, right before she flies out to cover the event herself!

And that's not all. The best part of the event is that ALL proceeds of the tickets go to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

Thanks again to Knock on Wood and St Laurent Centre, it was an honour to be a part of such a wonderful event.

THE ROYAL WEDDING IN OTTAWA!

2011-04-21T08:53:00.003-04:00

Everything is coming up Will and Kate and here is how you can be a part of the Royal Wedding...

Marry Me Productions and The White Dress is proud to be a part of The Ottawa Citizen Kate Middleton Look-a-Like Contest. One lucky winner will be selected for a Kate Middleton wedding day makeover. She’ll travel to Rinaldo’s for hair and makeup transformation shortly after the prince and his beloved bride say “I do” she will be fitted in a wedding dress provided by The White Dress similar to Kate’s seen at her wedding on April 29th.

And of course, there will be a glamourous photo shoot after the makeover so you will have your royal memory forever.

Here’s how to win:

Send your photo (a before image) and tell The Citizen the reason why you should win a Kate Middleton makeover to princessbride@ottawacitizen.com

Real Wedding - Easter Edition

2011-04-19T12:49:00.001-04:00

With Easter right around the corner (and hopefully spring not far off!!!)

we wanted to share one of our April wedding couples with you.

Here are some fabulous images of Keisha and Lindsay with their spring inspired palette at the Chateau Laurier. With purple still being a hot colour this season, it was nice to see Keisha's lilac take on things, especially paired will all the rich gold in the chairs and charger plates.

Thanks to Miv for all the images --we love and hope you do too!!

DOUBLE WEDDING WEDNESDAY!

2011-04-13T19:54:00.000-04:00

We love sharing pictures of our past couples and their beautiful weddings with you and today we get to share more than just photos! We were lucky enough to work with Media Ball on a few of our big weddings last season and the cinematography is ready for the world to see!

Remember Amy and Fil? How could you forget, she is one of our beautiful home page brides!! Here are a few pics of their day followed by the amazing wedding film Mark and the team at Media Ball put together:

Remember to have your kleenex close by when you watch this one!

Amy & Fil from Media Ball on Vimeo.

And later in the season, there was Alia and Kenan and what a wedding they had at the National Gallery!

Here are some of their pics to remind you of the fabulousness an then the video so you can really see how the day came together.

And again our pleasure to show you the fabulous work of the team at Media Ball:

Can Hardly Wait for This...Alia & Kenan's Wedding from Media Ball on Vimeo.

We're Hiring !

2011-04-10T22:07:00.003-04:00

Do people often make comments about how OCD organized you are? Are you often complimented on your style and attention to detail? Are people jealous of how easily you get along with everyone you meet?

And most importantly...do you love all things weddings??

Well, great news..... Marry Me Productions is having an open casting call and you could be the perfect cast member to join our ‘Productions’ team !

We’re heading into our busiest season and we’ve received numerous resumes over the years but we feel the best way to determine if you will be a right fit for Marry Me would be to meet everyone in person at once. Resumes sometimes can’t convey your awesomeness in person. So we’ve organized a fabulous evening at our offices at 191 Preston Street on Wednesday April 20th from 5-7pm. Bring your resume, your charm and arrive on-time. The earlier you arrive, the more time we have to get to know you. Please note, this is an unpaid internship with the possibility of the position becoming permanent.

What we are looking for:

A genuine love of all things wedding: We want someone who is outgoing, extroverted and loves working with people but able to think on their feet and problem solve on the spot. Keep calm and carry on.

Slightly Type A and obsessed with details:You will be responsible for coordinating weddings with Marry Me Productions’ senior event planners which can include anything from research to on-site wedding coordination to meetings with clients & vendors to basic administrative duties.

Hard Workers: On the outside, you see the beautiful bride, handsome groom, proud parents, happy guests, good food, awesome music, beautiful decor, and gorgeous venue. On the inside: 14 hour work days, timelines, climbing stairs, ladders, putting floors together, moving tables, bustling dresses, crying flower girls, unpaid vendors, bridesmaids, drunk groomsmen, tired feet, and that’s only the half of it. All the details that we love about our job but if you’re worn out just reading it, we need not go any further.

Knowledge of our company: If you can’t tell us anything about our business, how can you tell our clients? Do your research. We are not asking for a book report, but at least show us that you can absorb information and speak intelligently about the industry.

You got style: We sell style. Plain and simple. We sell style and security. When we meet, we need to see how you would meet with our clients and vendors. So yes, we are checking you out: your clothes, your hair, your makeup, your accessories….all of it. Do you look like you stepped out of a magazine or that you should be hit with one?! Have you come professionally dressed or could we mistake you for hanging out at the mall with your friends? First impressions are not just everything, they are the ONLY THING.

What we aren’t looking for:

Social Media Queens: We don't want to know where you were last night, who you were with and what you were doing. We don’t want to hear about or see where you were for reading week on Facebook. If we can google you and find you in a bikini or some other compromising position– trust and believe that our clients can too.

Dreamers: Please don't tell us this is your dream. We are not looking for dreamers. We are looking for someone who can work hard, laugh hard and make it happen. We absolutely want you to be passionate about what you do but realistic about what it takes to succeed.

You think you can do it because you saw it on TV or planned your own wedding: We are not looking for a human PVR machine. We don’t need you to spew every line from The Wedding Planner or the hottest new wedding show. That’s like you going on a medical rotation at a hospital and telling the doctors about what you saw on Grey’s Anatomy! We are glad you’ve planned your wedding. It was fun, wasn’t it? Now do 25 simultaneously. (Why are you crying????) Realise that you have to bring something to the table, as well as being ready to learn and do some grunt work.

At Marry Me Productions, we love what we do, but we also love each other. Every time someone new has joined our team, we have grown both professionally and creatively. So we’re just as excited as you are about this opportunity and we cannot wait to meet all you fantastic people on April 20th.

First Glimpse of Reece's Wedding Gown

2011-04-07T15:59:00.000-04:00

If there is one thing we like almost as much as planning weddings, it's wedding dresses!

And we finally get to see what Reece decided to wear down the asile at her marriage Jim Toth. No surprise that Reece looked breathtaking. L.A. based designer Monique Lhuillier was in charge of custom designing Reese’s gown, a blush hued delicate Chantilly lace corset bodice with full tulle A-line skirt. The waist was accented with a double-face silk satin ribbon with cascading silk flowers to match Reese’s daughter Ava’s dress (who was her flower girl), also designed by Monique Lhuillier. Reese’s son Deacon was the proud ring bearer. The Oscar winning actress complemented her romantic look wearing Jimmy Choo’s ‘Macy’ satin platform sandal. William Golderberg designed her pave diamond band matching her 4 carat Ashoka-cut engagement ring. Various VIP celebrities attended the wedding including Mathew MacConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Pean, Renée Zellweger and Tobey Maquire to name a few. They had 120 guests at the private ceremony held at Witherspoon’s ranch. Reese wowed everyone at the reception party when she arrived wearing a different dress, also designed by Monique Lhuillier, which was a white mini dress with corseted lace bodice and hand cut organza party skirt accented at the waist with a jewel embellished belt.

Thanks People Mag!

The really great part, we carry Monique Lhuiller right here at The White Dress!

Your Stella & Dot Jewelry Has Arrived !

2011-04-01T14:49:00.000-04:00

Were you at our Stella and Dot Soiree last Thursday evening? Did you order something from Patty? Well, we just wanted to let you know your stunning pieces have come in. We had to take a picture of the chic packaging of all the items!

We are keeping them safe at our offices at 191 Preston Street. You can come by today; Friday before 7pm or tomorrow (Saturday) anytime between 10am and 5pm. Our offices are closed on Sunday.

Hurry- we don’t know how long we can keep our hands off this fabulous stuff ;)

Spread the Love: Attention Past Marry Me Productions Brides !

2011-03-30T15:41:00.000-04:00

Have you heard? We're throwing a party for you !

Marry Me Productions is at the top of our game in the industry because of you- our past brides who have helped us grow with your creativity, energy and of course recommending us to your trusted family and friends.

The only bad thing about wedding planning is we have no return customers and to be quite honest, we miss our brides once the wedding has come and gone.

We wanted to take an evening to catch up with you, thank you and honour you.

Please join us on Friday April 1 anytime between 5-7pm at our offices on 191 Preston Street to enjoy all things sweet: champagne, cupcakes and each other.

We'd love to showcase some of your gorgeous wedding photos during our party in a silent slideshow. If you wouldn't mind, please send us some of your favourite weddings pictures to karen@marrymeproductions.ca

Fine art photographer Natasha Moine who specializes in capturing tender moments between children, families and expectant couples will be joining us. She'll have some of her previous work showcased for you to take a peek at if you're interested in speaking with her to photograph your new fabulous post-wedding life :)

Also, we're going to be giving away a $100 gift certificate to Fratelli's restaurant for a night away with your sweetheart.

We hope you can make it because we're looking forward to seeing everyone (again) !

~ Stacey, Karen, Chriss and Tiziana

xo

SPRING INTO OUR NEW LOOK!

2011-03-28T20:54:00.001-04:00

One of the things I love most about my job is that things constantly change - new trends, new colours and new personalities in which to create dream weddings. And with all that change comes the look of our brand. Marry Me Productions is the result of hundreds of behind the scene hours and countless improvements to ensure our brides have access to the very best in the industry. As with planning weddings we take our website, its look and content very seriously. Over the last 6 years we have been fortunate enough to work with some AMAZING couples who have let us get inside their heads and their hearts and our new look is a salute to them! Launch date is midnight tonight and we can't wait for you to take a tour, so for now a little teaser...

Tune in to see Stacey on Rogers TV this Monday

2011-03-24T12:40:00.002-04:00

Stacey will be a featured guest expert on Revivelife which is a show hosted by Naturopath Dr. Joel. Dr. Joel focuses on health, wellness and balance topics. Stacey will be talking to Dr. Joel about eco weddings and how to go 'green' for your wedding to benefit both yourself and the environment.

Tune in Monday March 28 at 3pm on Rogers TV (channel 22)

Lucky in Love

2011-03-16T10:33:00.000-04:00

With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, and my Irish heritage, I decided to dedicate this post to something Irish.

Now, in Ottawa, mid-March isn't a popular time to get married, but even if you're not getting married around St. Patrick's Day, if you or your fiance is Irish, heck, even if you're not, this is a cute idea to incorporate into your wedding day.

Other than being able to put back a few beers, the Irish are most recognized by the lucky four leaf clover. Why not have your florist incorporate that into your bouquet or your bridemaid's bouquets? Because they are green, they can match any bouquet's colour as most florists add in greenery anyways.

You don't even have to be Irish to appreciate this idea because the 4 leaves of a shamrock represents luck, hope, faith and love- essential elements for any wedding- and successful marriage.

Real Life Wedding.... featured in Wedding Bells Magazine

2011-03-13T23:25:00.000-04:00

Two of our favourite blog posts in one- featuring a 'real wedding' and announcing that we've been featured in another bridal magazine.

Wedding Bells Magazine recently featured our sweet bride Michele and her husband Robert from their June 2010 wedding. The story's title "all in good taste" says it all. An elegant black and white themed wedding with bold fuchsia and lime green colours peppered in. Elegant but fun- just like Michele and Robert.

Take a look at their slide show on the Wedding Bells website. But first, here are some teasers from our friends at Photolux Studios.

All the best Michele and Rob !

Congratulations to MIV Photography

2011-03-09T15:51:00.000-05:00

We know MIV Photography is one of the best photographers in Ottawa but it's nice when others recognize his talent as well (we're biased of course). We worked with him on Belinda and Tim's wedding which was two of the photos that were recognized.

Check out his blog to see which photos were recognized for excellence.

Congrats Miv !!

Guest Blog Post- Tulips & Maple Catering

2011-03-09T14:59:00.000-05:00

Guest blog by Kristine van der Pas-Norenius, Co-founder of Tulips & Maple – The Art of Catering.

Frills – The Hottest Trend from Vegas...

Weddings were featured prominently at the international catering and event conference and tradeshow last week in Vegas. I was excited to join the 4000 caterers, wedding planners and event designers this year along with 3 colleagues from Tulips & Maple and we are all brimming with new ideas!

Frills were abound at the tradeshow. We saw gorgeous linens that would be lovely for the head table. Delicate rosette tablecloths in soft pinks, ivory and white and easy-to-place matching chair covers were featured at several table decor booths. I loved the playful choice of chair covers (below) also featured, to offer the bride fun options to express her personality.

Creativity, communication and collaboration were mentioned as the key ingredients wedding planners seek in caterers and we agree. It’s all about an open, respectful and inspired partnership of professionals - the ‘A’ team for the bride and groom!

See pics of the Vegas table-setting contest on the Tulips & Maple facebook page

Introducing....

2011-03-05T15:44:00.000-05:00

We have something else we'll be adding to to our Stella and Dot jewelry soiree on March 24. Tart Hair Facinators is a local company owned and operated by Naomi Legault. Her facinators are all handmade and can be custom designed as well. They are currently available at The White Dress but for our Stella and Dot soiree, Naomi will be there herself to showcase her designs. Facinators are not just for your wedding day- just ask Kate Middleton, they take your outfit from drab to fab in minutes.

Thanks Naomi for agreeing to make your funky facinators available to all our guests at our Stella and Dot Soiree.

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME...

2011-03-04T17:45:00.000-05:00

We just received some fabulous pictures from our neighbours at Photolux detailing a wedding where we had the privilege of working with a wonderful couple that loves roses almost as much as we do!
Thanks to Teena from Bel Fiore for the gorgeous floral work, the peach and ivory roses complemented the Chateau Laurier perfectly.
Congratulations Christine & Kevin!

Stella & Dot Jewelry Soiree

2011-03-01T13:32:00.000-05:00

This is your invitation to STYLE.....

Marry Me Productions and The White Dress are hosting a stylish Stella & Dot jewelry soiree on Thursday March 24 starting at 6:30pm.
Stella & Dot carries some chic pieces that have even been spotted on the most fashionable celebrities. They have recently expanded their line to include bridal jewelry and flower girl jewelry. Already have that covered for your big day?... what about gifts for your bridesmaids, or just some fun pieces for yourself for the new spring season- you deserve it.

Another great reason to attend... we'll be giving out this swoon-worthy "Colette" necklace (see above) valued at $150 to one lucky winner.

Join us in our offices at 191 Preston Street the evening of March 24, surrounded by cupcakes, champagne, friends and style. Does shopping get any more fun than this ?

To attend, please RSVP Karen at karen@marrymeproductions.ca to reserve your spot. Space is limited so don't wait.

Hot off the Press

2011-03-01T11:12:00.001-05:00

Take a peek at an interview in the Ottawa Citizen with one of our sweetheart brides; Janelle.

Happy Tuesday everyone !

Fun with Fuchia Factory last Monday

2011-02-27T16:33:00.001-05:00

Marry Me Productions was proud to host Fuchia Factory's last 'speed' networking event on Monday February 21 at our office on Preston Street. We met so many fabulous women and look forward to following up with them in the weeks to come. Thank you to everyone that came out and thank you to the tireless organizers of Fuchia Factory who continue to provide a valuable service to busy yet savvy business women in our city.

Anna Epp from Anna Epp Photography was on hand that evening networking and documenting the evening for everyone. Great work Anna !

We're looking forward to the next fantastic Fuchia Factory event.

The lovely Jasmine Craig (owner of The White Dress) and Stacey Price

A Winter-Themed Wedding

2011-02-23T11:05:00.001-05:00

So, I woke up to -20 this morning for what seems like the 75th day in a row. Winter seems to be wearing on everyone. So I thought, this would be a great opportunity to feature a recent winter wedding we planned with a wonderfully-creative couple: Matt and Janice. This is a great way to see the positives in winter- a beautiful winter-themed wedding.

Matt and Janice were one of the most unique couples we have ever worked with. They wanted themselves represented in every aspect of their wedding- large and small. And I'm happy to say it came together beautifully.

Their wedding took place December 4, 2010 at the National Gallery in the always stunning Great Hall. A perfect choice as their backdrop was our beautiful city covered in sparking ice and soft snow. The December 4 date was significant as it was the day of their first date 10 years ago.... then married in the year 2010. Very nice (and very lucky that December 4 was a Saturday!). Although the National Gallery is a popular choice for many couples, Janice and Matt just had to have it because it was also the location of their first date 10 years ago.
Their stationary at the wedding was art-deco themed which fit in perfectly with their venue and spoke to their passion: as artists.

For the table arrangements, we did a mix of rounds and longs for visual interest and to fall in line with the art-deco undertones. Silver linens and ghost chairs echoed the ice and snow outside.

Janice and Matt are also passionate about food and sustainable farming and worked with their caterers Tulips and Maple to offer their guests food from their family's garden: carrots, leeks and onions to name a few. Their wedding cake made by one of our fav people (and neighbour's on Preston Street), Joe from Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana. He created the cake with buttercream (not fondant) with no colouring or additives. Not only did it still look stunning but it tasted even better.
Flowers Talk provided the gorgeous blooms and one the flowers they chose were amaryllises (a vibrant red for the holidays and a flower that is actually in season in December) which the guests were able to take home and the actual bulb of the flowers were brought home by Matt and Janice to plant in their garden. An annual reminder of their winter wedding when winter is the furthest thing on their mind this summer.

The talented Andrew Geddes was on hand to capture Janice and Matt's unique and thoughtful day. Enjoy some the photos- now that you know the story behind it all.

We wish Janice and Matt years of 'date nights' at the National Gallery. Congratulations to you both xo

Fun with The Fuchsia Factory this Monday Night

2011-02-18T15:33:00.000-05:00

Marry Me Productions is happy to be hosting Fuchsia Factory's next Networking soiree this Monday evening (February 21) at our office located at 191 Preston Street.

Its express networking for the fun, fresh and savvy businesswoman.

These soirees only happen every few months and this one is almost sold out so buy your tickets now !

See everyone Monday evening.

A Foodie's 'take' on ENGAGE

2011-02-18T13:36:00.000-05:00

We were so excited that the brains behind Foodieprints.com (Don and Jen) popped into ENGAGE on February 2. If you haven't ever read their blog before, you should. A lot of people use their reviews to plan nights in or out centered around food available in our great city. Their reviews are fair, honest and varied.

I'll redirect you to their blog post about all the (food-related) vendors we had featured at Lago and who could be a part of your wedding day.

Disclaimer: you will get hungry reading this. Have a snack nearby.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T23:53:00.000-05:00

Are you stuffed from a delicious dinner with your sweetie? no sweetie as of right now? well, maybe you enjoyed some horror movies with your girls tonight for "singles awareness day". Maybe you are reading this blog as I am posting it live minutes before midnight because you just got engaged and are too excited to sleep... Congratulations, we are so happy for you....the best is yet to come !!! The gals at Marry Me plan weddings for a living because we are hopeless romantics and love...well, LOVE ! So Valentine's Day is naturally one of our favourite days.

No matter what you did today, we hope that you had a wonderful day. Think of Valentine's Day as a day to celebrate love....the love that you have for yourself and your ability to share that love with everyone who means something to you.

Inside....ENGAGE !

2011-02-13T16:58:00.000-05:00

We're back to blogging ! And what better way to get back to posting than with an insider's look at ENGAGE. You've heard us talk about it- bringing together Ottawa's elite wedding planning experts to engage with the stylish brides-to-be of our city. No more than 2 vendors per category so brides really had a chance to speak with each and every vendor while sipping champagne and nibbling on some delicious apps.

We're happy to say the snow did not slow down our guests and we were so happy to meet everyone that came out. We had such positive feedback from our guests and our amazing vendors that we are happy to announce that we will be hosting ENGAGE again next year.

As for the Jubilee diamond anniversary band that was up for grabs to everyone that came through Lago's front door, the winner has not been selected yet- but stay tuned to this blog where we will announce the winner (the winner will also be contacted directly of course!)

For now, take a look at how we, with our vendors, transformed Lago Bar and Grill into a luxurious world of wedding planning inspiration. Thanks to MIV Photography that took some time before our guests arrived to take these shots.

SPREAD THE LOVE PARTY

2011-02-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Over the last few years we have been fortunate enough to work with some of the best brides in the city and because of these wonderful relationships our brides have chosen to "spread the love" and tell their engaged friends all about Marry Me Productions. And in our minds, that deserves a party!
Friday, April 1st from 5pm-7pm we invite all past Marry Me brides to come to our offices for some catching up, champagne and munchies. Bring your wedding pictures, bring any new family additions (we love hugging babies) even bring your husbands! It is just our way of saying thanks for the kinds words you say about us. We look forward to seeing you all again!

"A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contributions to praise the skills of others" ~ Norman Shide

Shelter From the Storm....at ENGAGE !

2011-02-01T18:59:00.012-05:00

Have you heard about the snow storm tomorrow? Goodness, it's like Ottawa has never received snow before the way the news is reporting it. But keep in mind the 'storm' news is coming from Toronto- and Toronto is getting much more snow than we are.

But nonetheless, we are looking out for our ENGAGE guests. A lot of guests have contacted us today to say they want to come and buy the early bird tickets (for $15) now but may be deterred by the snow tomorrow and may not be able to show up in the end. Or if they do make it to Lago, they would rather buy their tickets today for $15 instead of tomorrow for $20 at the door.

So what we've decided to do is this; if you email me at karen@marrymeproductions.ca telling me your full name and how many tickets you need (before midnight tonight), we will honour the $15 early bird rate at the door when you arrive tomorrow- for all your tickets.

Also, for those of you that are downtown already for work tomorrow watching the snow fall, why sit in traffic for hours trying to get home in the snow? Head over to Lago Bar and Grill (5 minutes from downtown), and have some free drinks and apps with a friend and wait out the storm. We'd love to see you !

Also, we will be taking down the early bird pre-payment Paypal link on our website tonight at midnight (this 'midnight deadline' also applies for anyone who wants to email their ticket request to me). We have a lot of setting up to do tomorrow (it's going to look soooo good) so the guest list has to be finalized tonight since we won't really be on our computers tomorrow. So, get your tickets tonight for the most stylish, high-end bridal show Ottawa has ever seen.

See you all tomorrow night !

Win a Ritani Diamond Eternity Band at ENGAGE !

2011-01-26T19:47:00.011-05:00

As if you needed another reason to be at Engage.... Well, our friends (and Engage participants) Jubilee Jewellers have graciously donated a beautiful Ritani lady's 'Endless Love' eternity band that will be given away to one lucky Engage guest.

The drawing will take place at the end of the evening at Engage. This timelessly elegant ring can grace your finger just by coming to Engage and filling out a ballot.

Engage is a week away, so buy your early bird tickets now, or at least make the arrangements with your girlfriends, fiance or mom for Wednesday February 2 between 4pm and 9pm. Little Italy is a buzz at night (we know because our office is on Preston Street) so pop by Enagage for some free wine, apps and wedding inspiration from Ottawa's top wedding pros. Then talk about your new found matrimonial possibilities with your gang over drinks somewhere on Preston Street. We think that would make an otherwise boring Wednesday evening absolutely electric.

Thanks Jubilee ! Looking forward to seeing everyone at ENGAGE.

Update re: early bird tickets to Engage

2011-01-24T16:55:00.005-05:00

Hey excited Engagers ! (yup, I just made up that word, English grammar rules be damned)

We announced that Sunday (yesterday) would be the last day to buy tickets online for ENGAGE and that was simply to ensure that they would be mailed to you well before the event. Well, we realized that some people may be waiting to hear back from their girlfriends or co-workers about switching shifts at work (Engage is on a weeknight), so we are going to leave the Paypal option up on our ENGAGE webpage but anyone that buys it after today (Monday), your name will be recorded on a separate guest list and you will be able to pick up your tickets at the door (like will call).

The early bird ticket option will be removed from our Engage website on Tuesday February 1 in order for us to prepare the final 'early bird' guest list.

We want to make ENGAGE as easy and affordable as possible for everyone to attend because it's an event that is not to be missed for brides to be. By the way, we recently had our wine tasting meeting from our wine sponsor- so delicious. One of my favourite vineyards in Niagara on the Lake actually. It will soon become yours too ;)

Stay tuned for more Engage news as this unique event is fast approaching.

Look who else will benefit from Engage !

2011-01-19T15:49:00.008-05:00

We're proud to announce that a portion of our ticket sales from Engage will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

As you may already know, this is a charity we are strong supporters of with our involvement in The Breast Dress Project and Something White for Something Right.

It doesn't get any better than this- come to Engage, get some luxurious inspiration for your wedding and help find a cure for breast cancer.

Thanks for Visiting !

2011-01-17T15:31:00.011-05:00

Were you amongst the crowds of wide eyed brides-to-be at The Wedding Palace Bridal Show this past weekend? Record numbers were seen on Saturday and we can confirm that!

It was such a pleasure meeting everyone that came by our booth. We hope we get a chance to work with some of you in 2011 to make your wedding day as fabulous as you clearly are !

In case you didn't make it by this weekend, we wanted to give you a peek at our booth. Stacey's inspiration for the royal purple look was drawn from one charger plate she got from a bride she is currently working with. Everything else fell into place from there.

Melanie from M Photography was kind enough to come by our booth and take some great shots !

Look who is now part of ENGAGE !

2011-01-14T10:15:00.005-05:00

We're so happy to announce that we have partnered with Metro Ottawa (The world's largest global newspaper) and Hot 89.9 (Ottawa's #1 hit music station) to help us spread the word about the most exciting bridal show to come to Ottawa- ENGAGE.

It's coming up quickly (Wednesday February 2) so don't forget to buy your tickets early since we've crammed all the luxury into one delicious evening.

Buy your tickets on our website now. If you can't buy a ticket in advance- fear not, they will be available at the door as well- for $20.

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for our ads. Thanks a lot to the team at Metro and Hot 89.9- we're so excited to be working with you both :)

Kellie Pickler's Elegant Wedding Gown

2011-01-13T12:55:00.006-05:00

So as you may have known, country cutie Kellie Pickler got married in Antigua on New Year's Day. Despite getting married on a beach against the sunset, she chose to wear an elegant couture wedding gown- and she rocked it! We're so thrilled to hear that not only did she wear a Badgley Mischka dress, but one that is carried in The White Dress !

I'll throw you over to Jasmine, owner and blogger extraordinaire of The White Dress to her blog post about Kellie Pickler's gorgeous wedding gown.

Oh, and while you're there, check out Jasmine's blog post for wedding dress trends of 2011 !

Jen & Richard's Sweet Skype Success

2011-01-12T14:06:00.016-05:00

Jen and Richard were such a great couple to work with. They were younger than me but their maturity blew me away. And despite their age, it looked as though they had been dating for their entire lives- so supportive and respectful of each other during the planning process- which makes my job much easier.

The coolest thing about their wedding that I just had to blog about was how one of their most important guests joined them.
Jen's sister was unable to make the trip to Ottawa for the wedding- this was heartbreaking to Jen and Richard and their families since Jen is so close to her sister. So, the family and myself put together a plan to bring a laptop to the wedding and Skype-in her sister. In case you have been living under a rock, Skype is a free software application that lets users make (video) phone calls over the internet. Oprah is a huge fan :)

Unfortunately, the connection didn't work in time for the ceremony at the Chateau Laurier but it was working perfectly immediately following the ceremony. I set up a small round table near the head table and decorated it so it didn't stand out. Setting it up where we did allowed Jen's sister to see/listen to all the speeches, see the guests at their tables and the watch the dance floor for the bridal party's entrance as well as all the guest's dance moves following dinner.

The great thing about Skype is when there are webcams used, both parties can see everything on the other user's end. So Jen's aunts and uncles and family friends were coming up to the laptop to say their "hellos" to her. It gave everyone a chance to connect with her sometime throughout the evening.

The Skype connection was non-stop for over 8 hours. Jen's sister just came and went (in front of her own computer) as she pleased depending on what was happening during the wedding.

There was a fee to this service as we were using The Chateau Laurier's internet. But it was a small price (a flat fee) to pay to make Jen's sister a part of Jen's most important day. If you are looking at doing this for your wedding and have a bit more money to spend, you could look at arranging professional video conferencing systems by AV companies in our city.

Of course, we can't sign off without posting some photos of the rest of Jen and Richard's beautiful day. Thanks again to Miv Photography for sharing these moments.

All the best Jen and Richard xo

Come and Visit Us Next Weekend !

2011-01-07T16:37:00.005-05:00

Marry Me is proud to be a part of the Wedding Palace Bridal Show next weekend: Saturday January 15th and Sunday January 16th. On both days the show gets underway at 11am and runs until 5pm at The Westin Hotel.

We're booth #230 - I know this means nothing to you now, but when you arrive and get your floor plan/map, it'll all make sense ;)

So come and visit us- we love meeting everyone in person-it's so fun to get surprise 'drop ins' from our current brides who are there meeting vendors as well as meeting newly engaged couples.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there and filling your head with the delicious possibilities that could await your wedding !

~Karen & Stacey

Missed Stacey on the A-Channel ?

2011-01-04T23:42:00.002-05:00

Did you hit the 'snooze' button too many times this morning and miss Stacey's appearance on the A-Morning chatting about ENGAGE? Not to worry, thanks to You Tube, we've uploaded the clip here for you:

We're on TV (again)

2011-01-03T17:05:00.004-05:00

Our very own Stacey Price will be on the A-Channel Tuesday morning (January 4 2011) around 6:50am talking about Ottawa's first and most exciting boutique bridal show: ENGAGE with the energetic A Morning team.

Also, if you haven't already heard, tickets are on sale for you early birds ($15) on our ENGAGE website. Don't worry if you don't buy them before the show- they will also be available at the door for $20.

Happy New Year !

2011-01-03T16:50:00.004-05:00

Bring on 2011 ! For some, this is the first workday of 2011 so start it off right. This power you feel in you now to make changes, don't let that fade by February when most people have completely forgotten about their resolutions.

Here is today's affirmation courtesy of Mastin Kipp from The Daily Love:

I tell empowering stories about my past, present and future.

I welcome challenge with a smile.

From now on, I choose to get better.

Happy New Year- may it be everything you hope for.

Early bird tickets for ENGAGE now on sale

2010-12-31T15:56:00.004-05:00

Consider it a late Christmas gift from Marry Me to you; and quite appropriate for our last blog post of 2010. Originally, we were only going to sell ENGAGE tickets at the door but we had quite a large number of people requesting to buy them in advance so we figured we'd give the public what they want!

On our ENGAGE website, we have a Paypal option to buy your early bird tickets for $15 instead of $20 at the door. They will be mailed right to your home so remember to bring them to ENGAGE in order to gain access to Ottawa's first boutique bridal show !

Here is the original blog post to explain more about what ENGAGE will be offering Ottawa brides.

Start your wedding planning off right in 2011 and get your early bird tickets now. This event is only for one evening- not an entire weekend so don't miss out.

Have a safe and happy New Years Eve !

'Photogs Got Talent' Contest Closes Tomorrow

2010-12-30T12:29:00.003-05:00

Hello again- just a quick reminder to let you all know that tomorrow is the last day to vote for your favourite photos in our "Photogs Got Talent" contest. The photos with the most votes will be incorporated into our new website home image.

Here is the original blog post to give you all the details:
http://www.marrymeproductionsblog.com/search/label/photos

We're so excited to see if you love the same ones we love :)

Celebrity Engagements

2010-12-29T17:39:00.009-05:00

May and June are the most popular times for engagements but Christmas and New Year's are becoming just as popular. Case in point, Reese Witherspoon and LeeAnn Rimes just got engaged to their sweethearts.

Here is some info about the 'ice' they received this winter season...

Reese Witherspoon received a 4-carat Ashoka diamond stunner set on a pave diamond-and-platinum band from her sweetie Jim Toth. Apparently the co-owner of the store that designed the ring said that "the elegant cut has an old feel to it". As you may have noticed, retro inspired engagement rings have become very popular these past few years.

LeeAnn Rimes was seen showing off a 5 carat oval diamond engagement ring set in platinum. The ring also features single cut pave diamonds and tiny rose cut diamonds set in rose gold fleur-de-lis that are connected to the band. Apparently LeeAnn wanted the fleur-de-lis incorporated into her ring but gave her fiance Eddie Cibrian no other direction than that. So Eddie designed the ring by himself with his childhood friend who happens to be the jeweler that created the stunning ring that echos an antique feel but as a new ring.
Which brings forth another emerging trend in engagement rings- men seem to be doing the ring designing/shopping on their own again. Good for you guys !

And like LeeAnn and Reese, Marry Me says congratulations to anyone else out there who got a little something 'extra' from Santa this Christmas !

A Fête to Remember: Marc and Elise's Romantic French Wedding

2010-12-24T00:31:00.017-05:00

Elise and Marc are some of the most elegant people you will ever meet. In fact Elise was 8 months pregnant on her wedding day and still one of the most beautiful brides we have ever seen. They are francophones so their wedding obviously paid homage to their French roots through a simplicity that only the French know but they threw in their own modern twist.

They had their reception at the Museum of Nature in the upstairs loft in October 2010. They chose not to bring in much decor or lighting, instead letting the modern beauty of the room softly mingle with the traditional French elements of their wedding. They kept their wedding colours muted (lattes and mochas, blacks and ivories) since the room itself is white. This was key or else the entire room would look unbalanced as 'edgy' battles 'classic elegance'.

It was stunning to see Elise dance a traditional waltz with her father against the backdrop of the funky leather lounge furniture we rented from Mikaza Home.

Here are just a few of some of the stunning shots of their wedding from our friends at Photolux Studios.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-24T00:21:00.004-05:00

The staff at Marry Me Productions want all our brides to take a break from the wedding planning and enjoy the warmth and love that the holiday season brings.

We'll get you back on track with your planning in the new year. For now, enjoy a glass of wine with family and friends.

Happy Holidays !

Nicole Ritchie's Extravagant Wedding

2010-12-22T09:35:00.015-05:00

If you're like me, you love a great Hollywood wedding. It's so fun to see what flowers, venues, entertainment and (of course) wedding dresses brides choose when money is no object. Nicole's wedding was no exception. She didn't really go the vintage-bohemian wedding route, she went magical and big- elephant big. And good for her. Her wedding really represented her- fun, but elegant. You only do this day once (we hope) so stay true to who you really are and don't jump on the wedding trend of the year. You want to look at those wedding photos for years to come and be proud of your big day. Even Sarah Jessica Parker (a style icon to many) admitted (in 2002) that she regrets wearing a black cocktail dress on her wedding day back in 1997.

Nicole and Joel got married on December 11 at her father Lionel Ritchie's palatial Beverly Hills home.
Apparently, ever since she was a little girl, the only two things she wanted at her wedding was a dress inspired by Grace Kelly's famous gown and an elephant- for good luck. Nicole's father surprised her with that elephant! Nicole and Joel's son was the ring bearer and their daughter was the flower girl (nothing more heart warming than seeing a couple's children involved in the wedding ceremony).

Under an outdoor tent, a magical 'French Garden' theme housed the guests all evening. Nicole and Joel wanted an 'old-Hollywood glamorous' feel for the wedding and apparently they went all out for the decor- can't wait to see those photos.

Nicole wore 3 custom-made Marchesa gowns including one featuring a ball-gown skirt crafted from more than 100 yards of hand-draped silk organza and tulle petals.

Some of the most beautiful aspects of the wedding involved no money at all: Nicole walked down the aisle to her father's song "Ballerina Girl" and during the reception, Lionel Ritchie sung "You Are" to his baby girl and his new son-in-law. Wow.

Here are some photos for you to enjoy.

And the Oscar goes to...

2010-12-15T11:27:00.016-05:00

Christmas came early for the Marry Me team when 2 weeks ago we got the news -and honestly, I can't believe that we have kept it a secret this long - but we couldn't post any photos until the magazine was released.

So finally, we're proud to announce that 2 of our weddings have been featured in back to back issues of WedLuxe - one of Canada's most luxurious wedding magazines. Last issue: Summer/Fall 2010 where Jennifer and Jason Spezza's lavish wedding was featured and the Winter/Spring 2011 issue (in stores now) featuring another fabulous couple's elegant Ottawa wedding: Monika and Brendan Bell.

However, the great news is not just that Brendan and Monika's wedding was featured, but that WedLuxe declared that this wedding was one of Canada's Top 10 "Haute-est Weddings" and Marry Me was awarded 2 "Best of 2010" Awards for Event Planning.

The email we received from from Angela Desveaux (editor in chief of WedLuxe) explains these awards:

"This year, WedLuxe is EXCITED to debut our first ANNUAL “Best of WedLuxe Awards” to recognize the individual contributions and extraordinary talent of the INCREDIBLE event professionals whose work has been showcased within our featured real-life weddings this year!

Since 2006, the mandate of WedLuxe has been to showcase the VERY best of the Canadian Wedding Industry.

Every issue, we receive hundreds of real-life wedding submissions and narrow them down to the top 7-10 in each region. We publish the most beautiful, most stylish, most creative and most exclusive weddings produced by Canada’s top-notch wedding professionals. The results? Truly, ‘award-winning’ work from everyone involved in each chosen story! So, we decided it was time to recognize the individual vendors accordingly! :)

These awards are to honour and celebrate your work as featured in the Toronto and Eastern Canada Edition(s) of WedLuxe – Canada’s luxury wedding magazine in 2010. Congratulations!"

To be acknowledged by one of Canada's most respected wedding magazines is an honour for us and a goal that Stacey Price set for herself when she began Marry Me back in 2005. We thank Angela and the Wedluxe team who continues to raise the bar for elegance in Canadian wedding magazines.

Monica and Brendan's drool-worthy wedding album will been uploaded to our 'gallery' on our paparazzi page early next week, so make sure you check it out.

Next stop.... planning Kate and William's wedding ;)

Thanks for all your support over the years- we're so happy.

A Little 'Teaser'

2010-12-14T16:36:00.008-05:00

Love these pics? So did one of the most respected wedding magazines in Canada. Stay tuned to find out which magazine and if we won any of their awards.

Photos provided by MIV Photography

So exciting....

The White Dress is Online !

2010-12-08T11:41:00.016-05:00

We're happy to finally announce that The White Dress is online ! Although we've been open since late October, we wanted to make sure the website was fabulous and really got across the 'feel' of our new store- chic, elegant and luxurious !

By partnering with Danica Redden and Jasmine Craig (fellow owners with us), Marry Me has now extended our brand to include The White Dress. Our Marry Me offices are now conveniently housed in this gorgeous boutique located in the heart of Preston Street. From your initial consultation surrounded by Vera, Monique and Badgley, the energy from the boutique only helps to elevate the wedding planning process.

We know you love reading our blog so we're happy to announce that Jasmine has also started a blog for The White Dress where she will be keeping you up to date about all things wedding dress and fashion-related... Gossip Girl style ;) xo

The White Dress is also on Facebook so become a 'fan' and hear about all the latest news and specials we're offering at The White Dress (hint: there is a special we just launched for December).

Vendor Spotlight: { First Kiss Films }

2010-12-08T09:51:00.030-05:00

It's very rare that we devote an entire blog post to a fellow wedding industry vendor (not because we don't love our vendors, but we work with so many that it's impossible to include everyone) but we will feature someone when we think they are revolutionizing the wedding industry. { First Kiss Films } has escalated your typical 'wedding video' to elegant lifestyle cinematography.

Brief background; they are a production company owned by award winning filmmaker Bridget Redmond. The company is based in Ottawa (lucky us!) specializing in producing fine art wedding and lifestyle films entirely on 16mm and Super 8mm film (real film!) on vintage cameras. Perfect for couples looking to capture a more heirloom, vintage and reminiscent feel for their wedding film.

Your wedding film is then edited and set to carefully selected music that perfectly complements the moments Bridget captures . Your final 5-15 minute film delivers an experience that transports you back to all the emotions you experienced providing an artful retelling of your wedding day. Bridget's eye for detail extends past the camera lens and to the final product. She delivers your wedding film in a chic DVD tin wrapped with a bow.

We have to take a moment to talk about Bridget herself. Your wedding film is only as beautiful as the artistic eyes behind that camera; and trust us, you are in good hands (or more accurately; eyes) with Bridget. We have worked with her side by side at many weddings as well as our Something White for Something Right gala this past November and she sees unique film opportunities in moments that you wouldn't think twice about. She is able to turn the chaos at the bride's house the morning of a wedding into a compilation of tears, laughter and precious tender moments between a bride, her maids and her parents. It will give you goosebumps.

Bridget explains her process; "To ensure your wedding film reflects your personality and tells your unique story, I enjoy meeting with the bride and groom before their big day in order to get to know them, their tastes and expectations. Meetings allow us to discuss the film, plan locations, talk about your specific requests and any must have shots you would like in the final edit. Each film is unique and the more I know about the couple, their family and wedding day details the better I can create a film that captures their unique story."

Now Bridget is applying her 15 years of filmmaking and photography experience to capture the beauty of once-in-a-lifetime moments. A graduate of both Film Studies and the Photographic Arts, her numerous award-winning films have been screened over 100 times at international film festivals and events on all five major continents. Her photography has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world and on numerous touring exhibits including Oprah's "Live Your Best Life" Tour. Whether she's working as Artistic Director of the Burundi Film Center, teaching 16mm filmmaking classes to women in Ottawa or cuddling up with her filmmaker husband to watch and discuss film, Bridget's passion for cinema touches almost every aspect of her life.

We can go on about { First Kiss Films } forever, but at this point we think it's best to let Bridget's work speak for itself. Click on the images below to be brought directly to the video's homepage. Or visit Bridget in person at Engage this February.

Tina & Bola's wedding at the Chateau Laurier

'Rock the Frock'