5 Unexpected wedding expenses

January 5, 2016 / 2 comments

As you are planning your wedding budget, they may be a few things that you may or may not have considered. Brides and grooms are mostly concerned about hidden costs but forget the little things that could just pop up as you may have forgotten or just simply not considered.  To help you avoid these unexpected surprises,  here’s a few extra things to remember when setting your budget:

TAXES

This is an easy one but is usually forgotten by a lot of my clients. They see one price and the moment HST is added they second guess the budget. That is because they did not think about this added cost. Have you ever called a venue and asked them what their menu prices are? You are provided with a $50.00 per person rate. And you think great! I can work with that, only to realize you did not think about the added taxes or the next one gratuities that goes on top of that?

GRATUITIES

Gratuities are usually added to almost any company offering a service.  They are a few vendors that you definitely have to tip and this includes the venue (the servers and bartenders), usually hair and Make up artists, transportation and anyone really that you felt went above and beyond at your wedding. These are all added costs. Most venues automatically add a 15 to 18% fee to your bill no matter what- so keep this in mind when planning. Don’t assume.

WEDDING PARTY FOOD

As you are getting ready in the morning with your bridal party, it is always great idea to have food in the room to munch on. Something to drink as well is great, during summer, over lots of water handy. Both wedding parties need to be fed. This could easily be another $100-$150.

FEEDING THE VENDORS

Any vendors working 6/8+ hours should at least be fed.  We wrote an article here about feeding vendors. Mostly wedding planners, DJs/MC, photographers/videographers and bartenders if outsourcing. Some venues do offer vendor meal pricing.

DELIVERY FEES

Are you ordering specialty chairs or specialty furniture for your event? You definitely want to think about delivery fees  and this could range from $80 – $100 depending on where the delivery venue is located.

Other fees to consider:

Socan fees, corkage fees, licenses (alcohol, marriage), food minimums, rehearsals (Food, officiants), cake cutting fees, hair and make up trials, in some cases food tasting fees and bridal alterations.

TO GET A COMPLIMENTARY QUOTE, FILL OUT OUR

WEDDING FORM HERE

Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US

Muskoka Wedding planner

December 25, 2015 / no comments

Did you recently get engaged? Congratulations on your engagement. Are you thinking of planning your wedding in Muskoka Ontario? RSVP Events now specializes in Muskoka Weddings. We will be happy to sit with you and discuss your wedding plans and needs in detail. We love the feel of cottage weddings and Muskoka provides the perfect setting. For a list of places to get married in Muskoka, read our Muskoka wedding venue guide here.

We recommend our Out-of- Town wedding package for out of town brides!

What is involved in this wedding package?

  • Regular scheduled meetings (over our RSVP Skype account or over the phone)
  • In-person venue video walk through with an RSVP specialist to allow you to visualize the event space
  • Vendor recommendations with our in-town vendors, communication with vendors, facilitation of vendor bookings/payments/contract
  • Simplification of in-town vendor meetings if you visit prior to the wedding
  • 12 month wedding planning schedule
  • Budget development and payment schedules, management of budget
  • Theme and style development & Wedding etiquette
  • Contract review, development of detailed wedding day itinerary
  • Hotel and transportation management with preferred hotel

TO GET A COMPLIMENTARY QUOTE, FILL OUT OUR WEDDING FORM HERE

Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US 

 

 

La Grange de La Gatineau Open House

December 19, 2015 / no comments

Know anyone still looking for a wedding venue? Pass this on to them! La Grange de La Gatineau located in the Quebec area is a perfect venue for those looking to host a rustic wedding. If you would like a few ideas on how to decorate this, read our lovely blog: Using burlap to decorate your wedding venue or rustic and vintage decor ideas.

La Grange de la Gatineau would like to take this opportunity to invite you to view their new venue and facilities:

Open House details: 

80 ch. Summer in Cantley, QC.

Sunday January 31st,  2016 from 11:00 to 16:00

Refreshments will be served

La Grange de la Gatineau is a distinctive meeting and event center located only 20 minutes from downtown Ottawa/Gatineau. For ultimate privacy, each wedding has exclusive use of the historic facility in its idyllic woodland setting.

Spring, summer and fall outdoor wedding ceremonies are romantic and beautiful on the lush lawns overlooking the Gatineau River. Any season of the year, the magnificent Great Hall, with  a cathedral ceiling and panoramic windows is also available for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

The Executive Chef offers an imaginative, fresh menu served by their accomplished servers.

The breath-taking La Grange de la Gatineau will make memories for a lifetime!

Please confirm your presence to 819-827-3164 or at info@grange.ca

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE- LIKE, SHARE & COMMENT! 

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Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 883-5745

For more information please contact info@rsvp-events.ca

How To Plan A Glamorous Wedding

December 19, 2015 / no comments

Do you love pretty things? Is glam and extravagant your style? Then you will love the tips we have put together on how to achieve a glamorous wedding style that will leave your guests wanting more. As much as we love new trends, we love to look back on some wedding ideas that happened 50 years ago. Tie in the old and the new for a glamorous romantic vintage styled wedding.

  1. Serve champagne to your guests. Want to make a wow statement and double it as your focal point? Why not set up a champagne tower. It looks great and tastes even better. As much as the champagne can double as entertainment, have real entertainment for your guests for the cocktail hour or in between meals. Think, acrobats, live statue performance, belly dancers, drummers, live bands- the possibilities are endless.

serve champagne

live statue performance

2. Everyone by now should know that invitations really set the tone for your event. Make sure your wedding invitations reflects the type of event you are setting out to have. When your guests receive the invitation they should be able to tell how formal the wedding is by the type of paper you used, the font used to write the wording and the packaging (envelope in this case).  Your wedding planner and invitation specialist should be able to help determine this.

3. Table design! It’s all about the little details and how to make it work.  Nothing says glam like gold! Don’t over do your table. Touches of gold here and there will make your wedding look extremely elegant. A nice charger plate with gold rims, glassware and flatware that are gold and gold votive candles will do the trick.

For a more classy look, I would suggest using all white linens. This represents pure, clean and elegant. The accessories that you use to dress up the table will compliment and tie it all in. For chairs I would suggest renting white/gold chiavari chairs or ghost chairs.

elegant wedding decor

Source:   {via:Chandelier Weddings}

elaborate wedding decor

Source: Via Style me pretty 

4. Flowers and candles. Flowers and more flowers is the key to romantic glamorous wedding. Tall centrepieces is the key but low flowers on the table works just as well. A candlelit atmosphere will definitely set the intimate vibe for any wedding. Don’t be shy, use lots of candles. Ideally use different styles of candle holders to give depth and originality (some venues do not allow wedding candles, please ask)

luxurious wedding

As seen on Wedluxe

5. Your wedding ballroom. With all your beautiful glam wedding decor you need a gorgeous elegant wedding ballroom room to go with it. A room that has details, crystal chandeliers and gorgeous window. Don’t limit your searches to only ballrooms, think museums, mansions, industrial wedding venues  and luxurious wedding venues. Read our blog on some awesome wedding venues in Ottawa.

GET YOUR OWN WEDDING QUOTE HERE

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IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE- LIKE, SHARE & COMMENT! 

Take a look at our wedding in a box gold package here!

Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US 

HOW TO USE PINTEREST TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING

December 8, 2015 / no comments

Pinterest is a very popular tool for planning weddings, as long as it is used the right way, you have nothing to worry about! A lot of brides are addicted to Pinterest and so are wedding planners/stylist & photographers. You can easily bookmark and categorize all your wedding ideas and inspirations into different boards that makes it extremely easy to visualize your wedding.  Pinterest is definitely the hottest thing around!

You need to define your aesthetic and if color palettes are not your thing, your wedding planning can seem like a nightmare. What style of wedding are you envisioning for the big day? Are you going for a rustic look, a vintage feel or a more intimate wedding feel? What colors will your bridal party be wearing? Feeling overwhelmed? This is where you can find Pinterest extremely helpful. It’s easy, efficient and you can download the app on your phone- Pinterest on the go! We love it!!!. Here are our easy steps and guide to using Pinterest to plan your wedding. If you are not already following us, do so now- click here and you can also follow us on Instagram here!

How to plan a wedding using Pinterest

Get the AppThe first step is to download the app! Once you create your account, it will give you simple instructions on how to use it. Trust me, it is very easy. Once all is set, start pinning away. Pin ideas and inspiration of what you envision your wedding will look like. Don’t just pin wedding items, home décor or your style of clothing can really say a lot about what your wedding style will shape up to be. For example, if you pin a lot of restaurant items, or great wines etc., you could be a Foodie. You might want to host your wedding at a fancy restaurant to reflect this with good wine. At the end of the day you want a wedding that will reflect both you and your new hubby to be.

Using Pinterest to plan your wedding

Create your boards.Create different boards for different ideas. This will make it easy to really see what you are thinking. And it makes it easy to reference a particular board when you need it really fast. Examples of boards that you can create: Wedding décor, hair and makeup is a big one, wedding dress ideas- show this to your bridal consultant, and photo ideas for the day. Take a look at our boards for ideas and things to pin.

Share a secret board with your wedding planner/designer, florist and even your bridal party Pinterest has the ability for you to create a secret board. If you are not the type to share your ideas the world just yet, this is a great tool to use. Any one you collaborate with, will also have the ability to pin to your board. Cool?

Pinterest Ottawa Events

Don’t forget to follow wedding venues, magazines, bloggers, planners and stylist. The more you follow, the more inspirations will open up to you. And because planning can be time consuming, you are able to pin on the go!

Note: Pinterest is a source for inspiration. You might find very extravagant weddings on the site, this might not reflect your wedding budget. Discuss your options with your event specialist.

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US

A Beautiful Zambian and Canadian Wedding in Ottawa

December 6, 2015 / no comments

We had the pleasure of planning a beautiful Zambian and Canadian Wedding here in Ottawa this past September. Kay and Ryan were married at the Lady of Fatima Parish Church, a gorgeous Church located in Ottawa. Their fusion wedding displayed their love for their family and it was important to both Kay and Ryan to reflect traditional Cultural elements as part of the wedding.   The  beautifully decorated reception took place at the St Elias Banquet Hall located on Riverside were they enjoyed great food, amazing music and more drinks!

Thanks to Dominique from 3Stems Photography for capturing the amazing day!

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Thanks to all the Vendors

Reception Location: St Elias Banquet Hall

Photographers: 3Stems Photography

Cake & Cupcakes: Milos Pastry

Flowers: Beaudry Flowers

DJ : Quality Entertainment

Hair and Make up: AMC Hair Studios

Planning and Decor styling: RSVP Events

To find out more about how we can assist with your wedding, please do not hesitate to contact us!

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE- LIKE, SHARE & COMMENT! 

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Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US

Pantone Color of the Year 2016

December 4, 2015 / no comments

introduced the colour of the year 2016 as Rose Quartz & Serenity! It is described as a softer take on color for 2016: For the first time, the blending of two shades – Rose Quartz and Serenity are chosen as the PANTONE Color of the Year! What are your thoughts on this. See our Wedding Inspiration board below!

Pantone Color 2016

For more information visit the Pantone website.

Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US

 

RSVP Events Reviews

November 30, 2015 / no comments

We would love to share with you the beautiful words we received from our clients. If you would like to give us a review, please do not hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you.

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RSVP Events Reviews

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We would like to thank all our lovely couples and clients for the lovely words. Looking forward to working with more wonderful clients.

Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US

Ottawa Wedding Venue

November 28, 2015 / no comments

Today we focus on the different spaces and areas you can get married in the Ottawa/Gatineau and Surrounding areas. This blog is for those that are finding it difficult to find the perfect wedding venue in Ottawa. Don’t forget these venues can host other special moments such as birthday celebrations, baby baptisms, engagement parties, graduation parties, fundraisers, company retreats, galas and any other special event that you can think of.

I will start with banquet halls. With a little help of lighting and the perfect décor, you can transform any room into anything you can dream of.

Banquet Halls

Think the RA Centre, Tudor hallSt Elias and the Marconi Centre! The good thing about hosting weddings at a banquet hall, is that they come equipped with their own caterer, staffing and all the necessary items you will need to host a great event. You also have the great advantages of decorating them how you want! Some newer venues to also consider is the likes of the Century Planning & Events located about 15 minutes South of Ottawa, the Center is one of Ottawa’s premier wedding and reception venues that you could use to create an unmatched wedding experience.

RA Centre

RA Centre wedding

Source: RA Centre- Photo by Mike & Ness Photo, Wedding décor by RSVP Events

Ottawa wedding venue

Century Wedding & Events

Source: Venue Century Weddings & Events, Photographer: 3Stems Photography, Décor & Planning by RSVP Events

Farms and Tents

Orchardview weddings & Events, Bean Town Ranch, Temple’s Sugar bush and Strathmere are a few of our farm -like venues that we love. Stonefileds heritage farm can host up to a 120 guests. They offer exclusivity access to their historic farm for your wedding. This venue can offer you the rustic look and its a plus if you are looking for a rustic wedding venue style as you wont need much in terms of decor.

Stonefields weddings

Ottawa weddings

Source: Stonefields- Photo: Mark Cooper Photography

Museums

Looking to spend a few more dollars, consider getting hitched in the newly-renovated Canadian Museum of Nature ! You can do a lot with this gorgeous venue. The Museum offers in-house catering, but you are also more than welcome to choose from a list of their preferred caterers which include Gourmet Cuisine (The in house caterer, Thyme and Again,  Tulips & Maple, By Town Catering and Creative Kosher Catering. Another favourite is the War Museum and the Museum of History. They offer a choice of 3 caterers: Distinction (amazing company- the in house caterer,  the Westin and the East India Company for all the South Asian Weddings.

Other museums worth mentioning include Canada’s Cold War Museum, the gorgeous National Aviation Museum and the National Library and Archives! We love to work with Museums as you can do so much with the space by styling it well. Ottawa offers the best Museum wedding venues in my opinion.

Museum of Nature

Source Museum of Nature / photo by: Brittany Lee Photos

Restaurants

Planning on hosting a wedding at a restaurant, consider a few of these great options- The Courtyard, Restaurant E18htten on York street, NeXT  (AMAZING FOOD) in Kanata &  Lagos bar and grill which over looks the river. These venues are really modern and require little décor. I would use lighting and flowers to get the extra elegant needed touch to make it work. A few honorable mentions include the Urban Element which is extremely elegant, SidedoorMillstreet Pub and Le Cordon Bleu Signatures.

millstreet pub weddingsSource: Millstreet pub Weddings/ Photo Laura Kelly Photography

Galleries and Theatres

My two favourite places to host weddings are the  National Gallery of Canada and the National Arts Centre also popularly known as the NAC.   The Cube, Wall Space, and the Great Canadian Theatre Company all offer wonderful open spaces to plan any event.

Outdoor Spaces

Ottawa is definitely a gorgeous city with lots of green spaces. Most locations allow for you to host weddings with a special events permit.  I love, love the Herb Garden Centre! The Herb Garden is Ottawa’s most enchanting and unique location and it is located twenty minutes west of Scotiabank Place (at the corner of Old Almonte Road and Upper Dwyer Hill Road). Keep in mind that planning a wedding at such venue, requires you to bring your own caterers.  Another favourite is the Billings Estate. They do not have restrictions on what caterer to use which is a big plus in my books. The venue is pretty secluded which gives a very private feel to it.

The Herb Garden WeddingsSource: Via Herb Garden Website

Ottawa Tented venue wedding

Billings bridge estate

Community Centers

Community centres offer large spaces and are ideal for huge weddings. I love to work with the Glebe Community centre located in the Glebe.  Take a look at this gorgeous wedding captured by Laura Kelly Photography!  Another popular venue is the Wabano Centre located in the Vanier area. Other halls to consider would be the Ottawa University Tabaret Hall , Ukrainian Banquet Hall and the Visitation Banquet Centre !

The Wabano Centre

Hotels 

If you are thinking of hosting your wedding at a hotel, think Le Chateau Laurier, The Brookstreet in Kanata and the Ottawa Marriott with it’s 360 revolving room over looking the Ottawa city.

Le Chateau Laurier

Source: Le Chateau Laurier Website

Gatineau Venues

Gatineau Wedding venues – The Gatineau wedding venues that we absolute love is definitely Le Belvedere . Le Belvédère is located a short drive north of Ottawa, nestled on a magnificent cliff near the historic riverside village of Wakefield Québec. It can host about 200 people. This venue is absolutely breathtaking and you would need to pay it a visit yourself to believe it. The ceremony location  over looks the Gatineau Hills-WOW. Have a wedding at the Mill. The Wakefield Mill is located in the Gatineau parks and this makes for beautiful enchanting wedding photos. The price point is very reasonable. Give it a try! Another new location is the Vignoble de Chelsea! I am dying to plan a wedding at this location.

Ottawa wedding venue

Le Belvedere. Photo from Love and Laughter Photography

vignoble chelsea

The Vignoble de Chelsea

Ottawa’s Newest Wedding Venue 

Think Aquatopia water garden conservative! Aquatopia is an elegant, glass-enclosed conservatory, home to a dramatic events venue, on-site café, completely immersive aquatic garden retail experience and the largest indoor water garden open to the public. Evermore Weddings & Events is an elegant country style wedding venue located on 45 acres of farmland close to Almonte!

Aquatopia weddings Ottawa

Source: Aquatopia- photo from website

I hope this gives you a great idea of venues that are located in and around the Ottawa area. Did we miss anything? Tell us in the comments below. If you need help planning weddings, please do not hesitate to contact us. Take a look at our partnered venues here!

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE- LIKE, SHARE & COMMENT! 

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Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US 

 

3 Simple ways to determine your wedding budget

November 27, 2015 / no comments

Today we give you three simple things to keep in mind when determining your wedding budget. They are 3 main factors that will really determine your wedding budget.

Mitch Lenet Photography

1. Number of guests–  It’s no brainer that the more number of guests you have, the more money you will spend.

2. Time of year– The summer months are certainly the most popular time to wed. With only so many Saturdays in Summer, most vendors try to make the most out of this. . Consider getting married during the week days or the off peak seasons. Be prepared to pay more during summer.

3. Style of wedding- Planning a glamorous wedding can definitely up the budget a little. Are you planning on focusing more on the overall look of your wedding? Planning on using lots of flowers? Do you want a lavish wedding cake?

You can certainly have a gorgeous wedding with the right budget. Having a 60 person wedding with gorgeous flowers everywhere, great food and open bar will have better quality than planning a 300 person wedding with bad food. You need to know what it is that is important to you.

Don’t forget to take a look at our popular Wedding in a box Package

Happy Planning

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Corporate & Event Planners
c: (613) 219-3552

For more information please contact US