All Posts in “Wedding Insights”

Canada’s Bridal Show 2015

May 18, 2015 / no comments

Get your calendars out and ready because this is an event you won’t want to miss! This September Canada’s most prestigious bridal show will be hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in the North Building.

Every year, thousands of brides attend this event hoping to gain inspiration from the hundreds of exhibitors that present everything from dresses to décor.

This year features a bridal reward card, where each bride can earn points on every dollar spent at participating exhibitors! Each bride will also have a chance to win amazing prizes such as $1000 gift card to Hudson’s Bay, Canada’s gift registry or enter the contest hosted by Remax for a chance to win money for a down payment on a home.

Features at the Show:

To be accounted

Show Dates & Times:

Friday, September 11 – 5pm to 10pm

Saturday, September 12 – 10am to 9pm

Sunday, September 13 – 10am to 6pm

Fashion Show Dates & Times:

Friday, September 11 – 7:30pm

Saturday, September 12 – 2pm & 7pm

Sunday, September 13 – 3pm

Admission:

Online – $20 per person

At the Door – $20 per person

*Note: Children 12yrs and under are free

Location:

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

North Building, Hall A

255 Front St. W

Toronto, ON M5V 3L9

Parking:

There is underground parking available at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre at an extra fee.

Sources:

For more information, check out their website and Facebook page:

http://www.canadasbridalshow.com

https://www.facebook.com/canadasbridalshow

Picture Sources:Events in Bloom/ FOS Décor/ Lori Waltenbury

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

For more information please contact US

How to reserve your wedding block

May 8, 2015 / no comments

What is a room block? A room block is when you reserve and set aside a number of rooms at a hotel for your out of town guests. We recommend setting aside a block rooms if at least 20% of your guests are coming from out of town. This is a huge help to your guests especially if you book the rooms at the hotel that you are having the wedding at or something near the wedding venue (ideally walking distance).

Why will your guests thank you?

– It will ease of all the transportation issues

-Some of your guests may not know the area well and will appreciate you looking into hotels for them

-You will be able to have all your guests in one location, this will give them the opportunity to meet and become acquainted with other wedding guests

Things to keep in mind when choosing a hotel for your guests:

– Location is major factor to consider when booking your hotel. As we mentioned above, try to book something near your wedding location or within walking distance. Also choose something near attractions and restaurants to give your guests something to do. Ottawa is known for its many attractions, check out this link with the top 10 things to do in Ottawa!

-Price is definitely the next thing to consider. Book rooms with different room types to give your guests a variety. Family or friends sharing rooms will mostly likely want rooms with double beds or pull out couches. Make sure the price point ranges in categories in order to give more options.

-Room types- As we just mentioned, ensure you get different room types to suit all your guests needs. You can get single rooms, rooms with double beds, suites, handicap accessible rooms, adjoining rooms. Please remember that a hotel will not always guarantee this but will try to accommodate this as much as possible.

Extra services and Freebies:

Most hotels may provide extra services if you block rooms with them. Make sure to ask your hotel.

SHUTTLE SERVICE- Make sure its complimentary
FREE ROOMS- Bridal suites are usually provided to the bride and groom, especially if the wedding is at the hotel itself. If not, most hotels will provide free rooms for every 10 rooms or 20 rooms booked. Find out and use this to your advantage.
BREAKFAST AND PARKING- Find out if your hotel offers complimentary breakfast and free parking for your guests. This is a bonus if they do.
BRIDAL SUITE- Some hotels may offer a bridal suite for the bride and the bridesmaids to get ready in. Find out if this is available to you, and how early you can check in.

Photo credit: Acorn to Oak Photography

Time to book that block

If you are in a large city with lots of hotels around the area you normally would not rush to book the space. We recommend booking your room as soon as you have booked your venue. If your wedding venue or event is located at the hotel, they would normally book the rooms at the same time as you booked your wedding venue.

A city that is as busy as Ottawa, we definitely recommend booking in advance to secure your spot.

Contracts

– Read through the contracts carefully. Some hotels may require your guests to call in to book the rooms themselves under the block. If a room is not picked up, they will release this at no extra charge. Others will have you be responsible for any rooms that were not picked up. A majority of the hotels will hold the spot up to 30 days prior to the wedding and release the rest. In this case you would not be responsible for rooms that were not picked up. READ THE CONTRACT.

Questions to ask before booking

How many rooms can your facility accommodate- for those with large numbers
What is the wedding group rate including taxes and fees?
Is parking included? If not how much is it? -you need to let your guests know
What time is check-in? What are your policies about early check-in? (Remember this is never guaranteed)
What time is check-out?- For those that may want a late check out.
Do you offer a courtesy block? What is the maximum number of rooms?
If we need additional rooms, can we add to the block? What are the fees associated with this? Can I get it at the same rate?
What would the cut-off be for adding rooms?
What sort of amenities come standard (shuttles, breakfast, internet, gym etc?
Is there a bar and restaurant onsite? What are the hours of operation
Is there a minimum stay requirement?
Do you have facilities to host pre- or post-wedding events onsite?

Welcome baskets for the guests

What to include in the bags:

– A list of things for the guests to do while in town

-Some snacks, especially after a long flight

-A nice souvenir for the couples to remember the city by

-A nice beverage (Does not need to be an alcoholic beverage)

-A thank you note

Hope you enjoyed all the information

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

Can you afford to hire an RSVP Event Specialist

July 4, 2014 / no comments

Can you afford to hire an RSVP Event Specialist

Source: Black Lamb photography

It is often believed that only brides with massive budgets and a huge guest list can afford wedding planners. Yes weddings are expensive and yes as wedding planners, we need to make a living. RSVP prides itself in charging market related prices and being transparent about all the costs involved in planning an event. As certified event specialists with WPIC and ABC, we do not pay or charge commission from suppliers, or even mark up other suppliers’ invoices. We work by charging a set of fees for our services. Our clients always know what our fees are from the very beginning. We have no hidden costs.

As a bride, this is your first time planning a large event so how can you possibly know the prices involved in planning events? A realistic budget is a key to successful wedding. We usually ask our brides what budgets they are working with. Some of our bride have an idea of what they would like to spend and others have no clue. What to expect when you come in for a consultation with an RSVP Event specialist:

We will start by going over all costs involved in planning a wedding, so you will have an idea with what to expect
We will make recommendations and provide you with a budget that works for you.
We know a few good ways which will help your budget go further. As planners, we have the knowledge and connections with the best suppliers in Ottawa.
It is in our best interest to make YOUR budget work, provided it is a budget that is based on current pricing structures and that is reasonable.So many factors play a major role one what your budget could be
We understand that every couple is different and the budget for one might not work for the next one
RSVP event specialists work hard at researching and matching up couples with the best suppliers who can accommodate your budget

At RSVP we are known to be creative in finding ways to make your wedding memorable, unique and special for each of our individual clients. We have a great selection of resources at our disposal to make your wedding stand out. One of the many awesome examples, is our remarkable decor stock which adds value to all our clients packages; on a budget and for those who are can afford to splurge. We are big believers of the fact that every bride needs to be educated on all the costs involved in planning a wedding from the beginning stage to avoid unnecessary surprises down the line. No matter the budget, the client should always pay market related prices.

RSVP has designed different wedding packages to accommodate the needs of our brides. Coming to us earlier on, you will be able to avoid stressful and often frustrating quotation obtaining stage, as we will do all of that for you.Get a copy of our wedding package here

Do you think you can afford a planner? Now you can find out. Send us an email or call us and we will make an appointment at our offices to discuss your wedding requirements.

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Wedding Planner
c: (613) 807-7787

Wedding place card Vs Escort Cards

June 28, 2014 / no comments

What is the difference between an Escort Card & a Place Card?

People tend to get confused about the difference between an escort card and a place card. What is the difference? Should we have both? Which one is important? An escort card is usually displayed and set up in the cocktail area while the guests are waiting to go in to the reception area. It tells the guest what table they will be sitting on once they move into the dining area (Reception). A place card tells you exactly where a guest is to be seated once they get to the table.

A place card typically also has a meal identify, which lets the servers at the venue know what the guest is having for a meal. A place card is a must if you are having a plated meal. Sounds confusing? Opt to have one instead. You can have the escort card only, but ensure that the meal identify is on it. Once they get to the table, they can decided which seat they want. If you chose to have a place card, we typically suggest having a seating chart.

Source: Etsy via Pinterest

Source: Ruffled

Place Cards

You can definitely get creative with place cards and escort cards. Follow us on Pinterest for awesome ideas!

Cheers!
RSVP Events | Ottawa Wedding Planner
c: (613) 807-7787

Destination Wedding Ottawa

May 16, 2014 / no comments

Destination Wedding- Ottawa is a great place

If you’re thinking of having a destination wedding, why not get married in Ottawa, Canada’s nation capital? With its beautiful heritage buildings, landmarks and friendly people why not turn the whole experience into a great holiday gateway for all your guests? RSVP Events has partnered with countless venues for you to choose from to ensure your wedding day is a memorable event.

Destination weddings can be overwhelming at times, especially if you have no idea how to get started with the planning. The distance, the time difference and other factors can make it difficult to plan a wedding from afar. Don’t get us wrong, it can also be a very exciting thing, a spontaneous move and a truly romantic experience if you know exactly what you want. Your guests will have the time of their lives with the different events offered around the city. Join us in the summer around July and enjoy a true Canada day celebration downtown with fireworks or have a winter wonderland wedding and take advantage of the moment to skate on the Rideau Canal. Anything goes here. Let the team at RSVP help you plan a wedding of your dreams by adding a true Canadian feel to it.

With our all-inclusive wedding package, “My Wedding in a Box”, you can rest assured that you will be well taken care of. This package is designed to offer all the major elements of planning a high-end wedding at an affordable price with no hassle giving you more time to enjoy your visit in Ottawa and to also entertain your out of town guests.

Whether you are looking at having a rustic wedding in one of our partnered venues, Orchardview wedding & conference centre or prefer to have an amazing evening with the view of the City, Ottawa Marriott offers a 360 degree view of the capital. Whatever way you wish to go “My Wedding in a Box” will make this possible.

The package includes venue and food for your guests, wedding photography for your wedding day,wedding limo for the bridal party, wedding cake, wedding decoration, hair and make up for the bride, wedding DJ, floral and a fully certified wedding planner to take care of all the details.

This is truly a one stop shop approach to all your major wedding needs. We would be happy to set up an in person appointment should you be in town or a Skype session if your are planning from afar.

Your one stop shop approach to all your major wedding needs at a fraction the price without relinquishing the beauty and quality of your dream wedding.

Contact our Event Specialists today

PLANNING A BACHELORETTE PARTY?

Attention Maids of Honour – Planning a Bachelorette Party is tricky because you not only have to plan around what your Bride wants, but you also have a group of people that you need to ensure have a blast too. The trick is variety. We have some great ideas to help you plan the perfect Bachelorette Party in Ottawa with the objective of making the Bride feel as special as possible surrounded by the people she loves the most.

Is your Bride the Quiet Type looking to spend the night with a delicious meal, good conversation and Mojitos? Or is she the Outgoing Type, wanting to try something new, go hiking for a weekend or take a dance class with all her favourite people? Is she a Wild Type looking for a night that she may not remember? Nostalgia often fuels a Bachelorette Party and she may want to kick it on the town at her favourite clubs, with her bests and her dancing shoes (or no shoes at all!). The bottom line is, the night must be one to remember and a night to remind the Bride about how loved she is, not only by the person she is about to marry, but by those who have supported her along the journey.

THE QUIET BRIDE

The Buzz, is a fantastic intimate restaurant located at 374 Bank St, Ottawa. Known for their Martinis and Mojitos, The Buzz offers an intimate space, with a beautiful ambiance and perfect energy for everyone in your party. Start your night at The Buzz with their delicious dinner menu featuring items such as their Ahi Tuna Nachos or their House Specialty Buzz, Steak Frites! Once you’ve indulged, you have the option of simply hopping across the street to Babylon or Barrymore’s to dance you little hearts out. The Buzz is open late and has a variety of beverages, so if dancing is not in the cards, stay and enjoy the wonderful service, music and drinks. It’s a perfect spot for the Brides looking to catch up and socialize with her closest buds in style.

Photos Courtesy of www.villageottawa.com/www.thebuzzrestaurant.ca

Other unique spots for your Bachelorette Soirée:
Oz Kafe – 361 Elgin Street
The Black Tomato – 11 George Street

THE ADVENTUROUS BRIDE

Okay, so you don’t just want a quiet night eating and drinking, you’d prefer doing something together as a group activity. This is a great idea, but can be tricky depending on how many people you have in your party. Pole Dancing has become a very popular Bachelorette Party option. It is an activity that is fun for all shapes and sizes and gives everyone the opportunity to let go, learn something new, feel sexy and most of all laugh. Ottawa Pole Fitness, located at 1066 Somerset St. West, offers a fun and comfortable experience with 2 beautiful studios and professional teachers. OPF is no stranger to hosting unique, sexy Bachelorette Parties.

Photo Courtesy of Ottawa Pole Fitness

Other unique ideas for your Bachelorette Adventure
Hiking at Gatineau Park
iNSiDE Out STUDiO Barre – 1412 Wellington Street W.

THE WILD BRIDE

Finally, if you just want to go out and let loose with your party, Chinatown’s Shanghai Restaurant always guarantees a blast! With Saturday night Karaoke, hosted by Ottawa’s very own and very famous China Doll, Shanghai is the place to be if you’re ready to party, laugh and sing your heart out. Not many singers in your group? Zaphods, at 27 York Street in the Byward Market, guarantees an awesome time playing a variety of your old-time fav songs to dance to and some obscure but totally danceable Indie hits. Zaphod’s dance floor is made for those ready to break it down and go wild.

Photo Courtesy of Pinterest

Other spots for your Wild Bachelorette Party:
Barrymore’s Music Hall – 323 Bank Street
Whiskey Bar – 12 York Street

Now that you have some great ideas, go ahead and start planning! Combine dinner and dancing or hiking and sing Karaoke, and make her night memorable. Make reservations well in advance and ensure everyone in the party knows the plan. Remember this night is for the Bride and her friends to celebrate friendship and love! Happy planning!

Choosing your wedding colours

March 17, 2014 / no comments

CHOOSING YOUR WEDDING COLORS

Recently engaged? Your friends and family are without a doubt happy for you and you are now extremely excited to get the planning started! What’s on your mind? Wedding décor, wedding colours and venue! The color and style of your big day will play a big role on determining your wedding location. If it doesn’t, it should! The colors you pick will set the tone for your big day. You have fantasied about this day since you were a little mini you, and you pretty much have a good idea of what colors you want to use. Some of you may not have a clue, we suggest using the tips below to get you started.

SOURCE: Pinterest

WHAT IS YOUR BRIDAL STYLE?:

First thing you need to do is determine your bridal style. Modern & Minimal, Casual & Relaxed, Classic & Timeless, Romantic and Soft, Bold and vibrant, Chic and Modern, these are just a few words that should help describe your wedding style. Let the time of year help you determine the colours as well. Another way of you determine your colours is to look around you, your environment, your wardrobe (not your standard black work outfit), the place you like to hang out (Bookstore, coffee places). This will definitely make it easy for you. Once you have pinpointed your style, work with it. Use a mood board to pin all your ideas (Hint: use Pinterest as a start). Look at your mood board and see how you feel. Get help from a wedding stylist!

Source: Pinterest- Blush wedding

WEDDING LOCATION

Consider your wedding location. If your wedding venue has rich colours, you need to consider colours that will compliment this. Look at the curtains if any, the carpets is a big one, do they have neutral decorations around the room? Can you move these decorations or are you not allowed to touch them. You might have to work with what the venue has in order to make it work. The last thing you need is having the colours over powering each other.

AVOID TRENDS

There is absolutely nothing wrong with following wedding trends. We ultimately want you to create something that reflects you as a couple. You need to pick something that screams YOU but also creates a fun environment for all your wedding guests. If you really want to follow a trend use something that you have seen from a past wedding, wedding magazine, wedding blog and add a spin to it to reflect you and make it uniquely yours. Do your research and find something that works for you.

CHOOSE A MAXIMUM OF THREE COLOURS

We suggest using three main colours for your wedding. Pick one colour to dominate, the other to support and the third colour to be used as an accent colour. The dominant colour is the colour that stands out and is the most obvious colour. The supporting colour can be a different shade of your main colour, such as red and a dark orange. The accent colour is used to highlight your main colour by giving it contrast or by giving your main colour more emphasis.

With this in mind, you can add different items to your wedding to make it work. Use different textures, lighting, and flowers to add to your overall look. Use a mood board to make it easier.

Source: Munaluchi bridal

Love this bold yet romantic mood board by Munaluchi Bridal!

INCORPORATE YOUR WEDDING COLOURS

Now that you have your colours all figured out, it’s time to tie all this together to produce something out of this world (Hopefully :)). Lighting around the room is a great way to use the colours, your bridesmaids’ dresses and even your wedding cake. Your wedding flowers- make this your dominant colour or the accent part of your colour choice. Wedding invitation, table numbers, ribbons are all great ways to tie in your colour scheme to work. The grooms men – The waist coat, boutonnieres or the ties will need to have the wedding colours incorporated.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

– Do the meanings of certain colours matter to you? For example, Lavender symbolizes femininity, grace and elegance. Does this describe your wedding style?

– Are they any cultural or traditional consideration that might play a part in choosing your colour scheme? For example in China, red is the color of good luck and is used as a holiday and wedding colour whereas in most parts of Africa, it is considered a colour of mourning and represents death.

– Wedding season- Keep in mind the different seasons. For winter seasons, blues, silver and whites tend to work well. For a fall weddings- the gold, browns, reds and dark oranges are great colours.

These are just guidelines. You are allowed to pick any colour of your choice. Your colours should flow well. If you require more help, do not hesitate to contact our planners.

Happy Planning! Contact us for more details.

Cheers! | Ottawa Wedding Planner

RSVP Events

c: (613) 807-7787

Luxury gift bag for the VIPs

February 1, 2014 / no comments

LUXURY GIFT BAGS FOR THE VIPs

What do you get with your VIP ticket?

For the LADIES

Fake Eye Lashes

Guess Earrings

Lip Gloss

Facials

AND MUCH MORE…….

For the Men:

Bow Ties

Cufflinks

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Don’t miss out on this great Event! Purchase your ticket today!

To purchase your VIP tickets in person please contact us at info@rsvp-events.ca or 613-807-RSVP (7787). You can also go through Eventbrite!

Happy Planning! Contact us for more details.

Cheers!
Della & Divine | Ottawa Wedding Planner
RSVP Events
c: (613) 807-7787

ALTERNATIVE TO A WEDDING BOUQUET

January 10, 2014 / no comments

ALTERNATIVE TO A WEDDING BOUQUET

We love flowers, don’t get us wrong! We still know a lot of brides out there that would prefer not have a bouquet. Not feeling traditional? Don’t want to carry a wedding bouquet down the alter? Here are a few wedding bouquet alternatives. One good thing about these alternating options is that you can still take them home – and they wont die!