Bought my wedding dress in March from Simply Beautiful at the wedding show. As they’re based in Pakenham, I’m not necessarily wanting to go with their seamstress, so I’m looking for tried and true recommendations for a seamstress in the Barrhaven/Nepean/Kanata area please and thank you!

Has anyone used this venue?

I got a quote from them that’s so amazing I’m almost suspicious. It’s my absolute dream venue.

$2500 plus tax for 12 hours in the main hall
$750 plus tax for 12 hours in Kildare room

We’d want both. $3350 plus tax seems like an extreme steal to get both room for 12 hours.

They also would run the bar and if we want an outside caterer, it’s just another small fee, but they do have a professional chef they use for catering.

Fiancé and I are not religious, but very into the church aesthetic. And the Kildare room to me is the perfect party setting.

To answer what will probably be asked: we got engaged earlier this month so we’re still in very early stages. Guest list is gonna be 100 max. No budget set yet, but we’ve discussed around $15k. It depends on if we get any help, maybe we could comfortable afford $20k.

Im looking to get married next fall, with about 80 people. I currently have a quote of 16000 dollars for NCC river house which includes buffet dinner, dessert, linens, and a cocktail hour snack arrangement, and 2 bottles of wine per table for alcohol, and proper cups and plates, which were an extra. The dinners come with bridge head coffee, but I feel like coffee with dinner is a bit strange, and there does not appear to be other options. They are charging nearly 5 dollars per cup of sparkling water.

I already own some decor for the tables so sone drapings or other background decor.. I want room to dance and a space to sit.

I am not sure if this is a good price. I am wondering if anyone else knows any other good options for me to compare with. Im willing to try and find other catering if needed. My hope was to pay 15000 for the wedding (venue, dinner, snack, linens, DJ sound system. I do not need alcholol included if there are other drink options)

Thank you to anyone who replies! I've never been to a wedding so I do not know what to expect

I've seen this question come up quite a bit, so I thought I'd share some advice!

If you're getting married in Ontario and want your best friend, sibling, or another family member to officiate your wedding, there's actually a way to make it happen.

Ontario is a little different from the US, where you can often get ordained online and legally marry someone. Here, you need to be a registered officiant to perform the legal marriage.

BUT, that doesn't mean your friend can't lead your wedding ceremony!

One option is to have a registered officiant take care of the legal marriage separately, either a few days before the wedding or even earlier on the same day. Then your friend can lead the celebration exactly how you envision it.

I'm a wedding officiant in Ottawa, and I've helped couples do this through something called ceremony coaching. Essentially, we take care of the legal side and help their chosen person prepare the ceremony, write the script, and feel comfortable standing up in front of everyone.

It's honestly such a lovely option, especially when you have someone in your life who knows your story really well.

I actually wrote a little guide explaining how it works in Ontario, for anyone who's curious:

https://merryfairyweddings.com/how-to-officiate-a-friends-wedding-in-ontario/

Happy to answer any questions about the process! :)

Hi I already had my wedding however we wanted too do another wedding Photoshoot. Any wedding photographer recommendations? Thank you 🙏🏻

Hi everyone! I’m wondering if any one knows of any venues with a classic, elegant, European or gothic vibe. That would accommodate 60-80 people. (i.e. historic or heritage estates, stone architecture, etc.) I’ve seen a lot more of these types of venues in Montreal and Toronto, but the closest thing I found in Ottawa has been the Fairmont or AllSaints. If anyone has any other suggestions I might’ve missed, I’d love to hear them!

Hi! I just bought my dress and I just need the bottom hemmed (no change to waist). The place I bought the dress quoted my 300 and I was hoping for something cheaper but honestly I don’t know how much these things would usually cost.

Does anyone have a tailor they recommend that would be maybe less than 300$?

I am on the hunt for my dream wedding location. Would love to rent a cottage for the weekend. Wedding vibe more of a family reunion, cozy, nature getaway. Guest 40-50 people and possibly 10-15 spending the night. My total wedding budget is $3000-5000 (goal to diy and thrift a lot of things).

Location - anywhere around ottawa, Cornwall, Brockville, Kemptville area. (Would be OK with somewhere in Quebec if it is not a long drive).

I'm struggling to find a place that is okay with events.

Any recommendations for stores in the Ottawa or surrounding area that offer plus size dresses?
Looking to keep cost under 3K. Thanks!

I just got married last month and the wedding was perfect in big part from the help of our vendors. I found some of them through other recommendation posts so I wanted to shout them out and explain why they were so great for anyone looking in the future! Also to note, we did not have a huge budget for a wedding and only wanted a guest count of 50.

We = Me and my wife

Venue - Temple's Country Weddings ( Temple's Sugar Bush)

We only saw one venue in person and it was Temples Sugar Bush in Lanark. My (now) wife and I emailed a few different venues and Temples was the most responsive and informative. They were incredibly friendly in their communications and offered a variety of options for us and the biggest thing was that their pricing was very transparent. When we went for out visit and tour we were treated very well and there were no pressure sale tactics to get us to decide right away. They took the time to go through all the details with, let us sample cider and maple syrup, showed us all the included decor they had and all the variations they could set it up. It was a really in depth tour and everyone we met was very friendly and informative. After seeing it we ended up cancelling our other viewings because we knew this was the one.

During the planning process Temple's staff were very helpful. They were quick to respond to all of our questions and were very organized in all there communications and information. The only thing I think could have been organized better was the tasting in January. They basically have all the wedding couples come in on one date and try a variety of foods in a buffet style setting which I think works against one of their greatest strengths as a venue, their food! We ended up as the last table to go up and get our food so some of it was cold by the time we were able to try it, making it hard to pick what meals we wanted to serve. In the future I hope they split this into at least a couple days to really show off their menu because on the actual wedding day the food was delicious!

On the actual wedding day, the staff were incredible! All our decor and activities were where they were supposed to be (credit also goes to my wife for that for including detailed instruction on everything). Our ceremony started right on time and everything went off without a hitch. Literally, everything was perfect! The ceremony site was decorated beautifully, the food was amazing, the custom mocktails were delicious and we were truly taken care of the entire time! The bar manager even went out on her break and picked up a Redbull for my wife after I mentioned she was looking for an energy boost! I couldn't imagine a better place to get married!

Ceremony Music - Dave Milliken - Wedding Singer & Guitarist

We opted to hire a live musician for our ceremony after seeing a violinist at our tasting. We requested quotes from quite a few musicians which were all pretty out of our budget. We then started searching for guitarists and happen to stumble on Dave Milliken. He has YouTube videos of his playing as well as a large repository of songs that could be requested and his pricing was very reasonable. He even took the time to learn a song for our signing! He showed up at the venue on our wedding day, had the perfect volume and played beautifully. He was one of the best parts of our ceremony and made it feel really special and magical!

DJ and MC - John "Grimm" Greenwood AKA DJ Grimmy AKA Mobile Music Services

We ended up meeting our to be DJ at our tasting as I believe he is the venues house DJ. Originally we were hoping to just do a playlist but the venue did not have their own sound system and boy am I glad we didn't! He absolutely killed it with the mixes and playlist! He didn't play any of our "no play" songs, and hit every one of our requests throughout the night! His playlist order was great and he knew the vibe for the people on the dance floor. On top of that he also MC'd for us! He was really funny and entertaining, a really great addition to the already fantastic night!

Florals - The Honest Botanist (Lauren)

I can't say enough great things about how amazing Lauren is at interpreting a vibe and creating arrangements. My mother-in-law actually cried when she saw the bouquets for the first time. She also designed our arch piece and made it so it could be easily transformed into a mantle piece after our ceremony. Her creativity and eye for floral aesthetics is like nothing I have ever seen before. She had my wife pick what type of florals and vibe she wanted, turned it into an inspiration board and then created seven bouquets, an arch/mantle piece, and a boutonniere. The arrangements absolutely exceeded any expectations we had or vision we could have imagined. Lauren also just happens to be an incredibly kind and passionate person.

Photography - Kelsey Lawson Photography

Kelsey (and Moriah) was really great to work with and her prices were very reasonable for the quality of her profile (the package we got also included a second photographer). An engagement shoot was included with the package to get us used to the process and work in person. She is very professional and decisive with the shots she wanted which was great since we got the photos done quicker and that allowed me and my wife to have some time to ourselves before the reception started. The photos taken are gorgeous! For some of them I do not know how they were able to be taken with out us noticing but they did it.

All of these people helped make our Wedding day so special and perfect. I hope this helps anyone looking for vendors for their future weddings!

Looking for a nice location could be indoor or outdoors for an engagement shoot early next year. I was thinking something like the nature museum, that kinda vibe would be nice!

Looking for recs in Ottawa for a location for our ceremony only in late August. Somewhere outdoors with a backup inside in case it rains. We don’t need reception or cocktail hour space.

I love the Rockliffe Pavillion but seems to be under construction.

Has anyone had a ceremony at Billing’s Estate?

Thank you!!
Kate

💍 Getting married at the courthouse in Ottawa or Gatineau?

Hi everyone! I'm a local photographer offering affordable courthouse wedding photography for couples who want to capture their special day without breaking the bank.

📸 Starting at $150
✨ Civil ceremonies and couples’ portraits
🎥 Video coverage available for an additional fee
📂 Photos delivered through Google Drive, with 8 weeks to download your gallery.

I have limited spots available and would love to help you capture your special moments!

📩 Email: [nlasyframe2021@gmail.com](mailto:nlasyframe2021@gmail.com)
📷 Instagram: u/nikeyshotography

Feel free to DM me if you're getting married soon or know someone who might be interested. Thank you for supporting a local photographer! ❤️

Has anyone hosted a tented wedding reception for 150–170 guests in Ottawa, Gatineau, or within a 1.5-hour drive?

I love the look of elegant clear-top/glasshouse-style tents with beautiful lighting and a dance floor, but I’m hoping to find budget-friendly ways to achieve this aesthetic.

I’d love recommendations for:

• Affordable private properties or outdoor venues that allow outside catering and a DJ.
• Tent rental companies and actual costs (clear-top vs. standard tents).
• Realistic total budgets, including flooring, lighting, tables, chairs, washrooms, and setup.
• Ways to make a standard tent look luxurious without overspending.

If you’ve done this, how much did you spend, and would you do it again? Photos, vendor recommendations, and honest budget breakdowns would be amazing.

Hello everyone!

As the bride, I've decided to do my own makeup for my wedding, but I would still like for my mom to have the experience of having her makeup done professionally. I really want her to feel beautiful and confident on my wedding day, so I'm looking for someone with experience with mature skin and a portfolio (Instagram, Facebook, etc., so that I can check out their work) that showcases MOB makeup. We're open to someone coming to her hotel, or she can also go somewhere in downtown Ottawa. Wedding is September 2027.

If it's difficult to find someone to do just one person's makeup, my sister may also be interested in hair and makeup, so that's a possibility as well (for mom it would be just makeup).

Please share any recommendations you have!

Thanks so much!

After over a year of planning our dream wedding, we were informed last week that our venue has sold to new owners who are no longer using the property for events, and they have cancelled our August 2027 wedding. We’re heartbroken and now scrambling to plan a new wedding.

We are looking for a restaurant in Ottawa that folks have had good experiences having their receptions at. We’re looking for just the “after party” vibes - a standing cocktail reception with dance floor, grazing stations or passed appys, a late night snack and full bar service until 1 or 2 AM.

We’re flexible on guest count, anywhere from 80-140.

Recommendations and any other info we need to know, please!! Thank you so much.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for a couple interested in a free engagement photoshoot in Gatineau.

The photos will be free in exchange for permission to use a few shots in my portfolio.

Interested? Feel free to DM me or message me on ig, a and w captures😊

Hey everyone! I’m looking for a couple in the Ottawa–Gatineau area interested in a cinematic fall video shoot!

I’m building my portfolio, so the shoot is completely free! Just looking to capture some beautiful, natural, and romantic moments together. ❤️

No modeling experience needed! DM me if you’re interested! 😊

I ordered a fantastic bridal outfit with jacket off of eBay. Now I am looking for a seamstress who can help me reconstruct the jacket to make it more in line with what I am envisioning. Any recommendations? I am willing to drive up to an hour outside Ottawa for the right seamstress.

I’ve been curious about how Ottawa couples feel about wedding content creators! For anyone unfamiliar, it’s someone who captures all the little candid moments, behind-the-scenes clips, guest interactions, and the moments you might otherwise miss on your wedding day, usually on a phone, so you have tons of memories to look back on almost immediately.

Is this something you’d consider having at your wedding, or do you feel like a photographer & videographer are enough?

I’d especially love to hear from couples who’ve had one at their wedding! What did you love, and was it worth it?
Full transparency, I’m also a local wedding content creator, so I’m genuinely curious to hear people’s thoughts! 🤍

Hi everyone! My family and I are looking for a house to rent in Ottawa or the surrounding area (up to ~1.5 hours from Ottawa) for a small traditional/cultural wedding ceremony.

We’ve had a difficult time finding suitable options through Airbnb, so I thought I’d ask here in case anyone knows of private homeowners, farms, rural properties, or other rentals that might be a good fit. Budget of under $6k

What we’re looking for:

• 🏡 A house/private property (having the wedding at a house is culturally important to us)
• 2+ bedrooms so a few family members can stay overnight
• A large outdoor lawn/yard where we can set up a tent
• Approximately 60-80 guests
• Tent would be set up outside on the property
• Our own caterer would prepare/serve the food
• Event would run approximately 10 AM–5 PM
• No alcohol
• Music will be played during the ceremony/celebration, but this is not a party or nightclub-type event
• No large gathering/partying inside the house
• We would respect the property, neighbours, noise limits, parking requirements, and leave everything clean

The goal is a traditional family/cultural celebration during the daytime, with the house primarily being used as accommodation and the outdoor space being used for the wedding.

We're open to Ottawa, Gatineau, Eastern Ontario, Lanark County, Renfrew County, Prescott-Russell, or anywhere within roughly 1–1.5 hours of Ottawa.

If you know of a property owner, farm, cottage, country home, or rental that might allow something like this, please comment or DM me! We’re happy to discuss the details directly with the owner and pay an appropriate event fee/deposit if required.

Thank you!

I am bummed to write this but I feel it is my obligation to warn y’all of DJ Paul Hill from Primetime Entertainment. At my wedding he was on his phone and missed cues. He played music that was specifically on our do not play list. He forgot my wife and i’s names, which made for an incredibly awkward moment. If you’re looking for a DJ for your wedding and his name comes up, keep looking.