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

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! 

Event planner canada

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

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

5 Ways to use Burlap in your wedding

December 15, 2015 / no comments

Are you thinking rustic as your wedding theme? Thinking of incorporating burlap into your rustic theme? There are so many budget friendly ways to add a little touch of burlap into your wedding décor without going over the top. For an elegant look, don’t over do the burlap. Use it in little ways around the room and ensure everything is neatly placed. We have rounded up a few great ideas on how you can use burlap into your wedding design.

Your table design & Centrepieces 

burlap wedding decorations

Burlap wedding centrepieces ideas

 

Wedding bouquets and Boutonnieres

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burlap-wedding-bouquet

Stationary – Invitations and Table numbers
Burlap table numbers ideas elegant

Wedding invitations burlap

Wedding Cake

Lace and burlap wedding cake

Wedding Ceremony Arch
burlap-ceremony-backdrop

Do you need help planning a rustic wedding with touches of burlap? Contact us today

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

Event planner canada

Happy Planning

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

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

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

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 

Wedding Invitations with Paper Divas

November 12, 2015 / no comments

Wedding invitations are known to set the tone for your event! From the save the date cards, wedding invites, reply cards and Thank you cards, make sure that the invitations are well branded and reflect the theme of your overall day! Not sure where to get your invites from? Wedding Paper Divas is the place for you! They have every layout available to suite any personality!

Wedding invitations

Paper DivasOttawa Wedding planner

Wedding Paper Divas

Once on the website, you have the options to use the pre-set wedding invitation or create a new invitation completely from scratch. The options are endless.  You can be assured that all the orders are reviewed, proofread and retouched by one of their in house wedding invitation specialist.

Don’t forget to like them on Facebook: Wedding Paper Divas

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

For more information please contact US 

RSVP Events Presents: Wedding-in-a-Box Winter Edition!

September 10, 2015 / no comments

As seen in Vogue, winter weddings are a new glamorous trend this year, which is why RSVP Events is excited to announce the NEW launch of our “Winter Wedding-in-a-Box” package. Now for a limited time, we our offering all the major elements of planning a stylish chic wedding at half price! Contact us today to find out how RSVP Events can help you plan the most luxurious Winter Wonderland Wedding this coming season!

Book your Winter Wonderland Wedding NOW!

Book your Winter Wonderland Wedding NOW!

Always & Forever Wedding Show

August 21, 2015 / no comments

RSVP Events is excited to announce one of our favourite cake artists Jacqui Stanzel (owner of JS Creations) and Barbara Willoughby  (owner of Personal Pampering Esthetics) will be hosting Smith Falls first ever wedding show happening Saturday October 24, 2015, at The Gallipeau Centre, 361 Queen St, Smith Falls, Ontario.

What Does the Always & Forever Wedding Show Entail?

  • Many exhibitors from all over the capitals region will be attending the Always & Forever Wedding show, including many of Ottawa’s leading wedding professionals from every sector of the industry. From elite photographers to the most luxurious stylists, you can expect to find these top vendors on site offering helpful tips and tricks to get you inspiration for your big day!
  • A fashion show, featuring Smith Falls BRAND NEW bridal store Swiss Miss Bridal, who will be opening their doors for the first time ever this August- and will be taking over the title as being one of the biggest bridal boutiques in the Ottawa Valley! The fashion show will show case the new Swiss Miss bridal collection along with many other exclusive 2016 pieces.
  • Be one of the first 75 guests to arrive and you and your bridesmaids can receive a free gift bag!

Some of the top-tier luxury companies you can expect to see:

Magnolia Catering & Event Creations

save the date

The Dill Flower Studio

save the date 8

Chelsea Mason Photography

chelsea

AND many more!

save the date 5png save the date 6

Additional Information:

  • The Always & Forever Bridal Show will take place at the Gallipeau Centre and will be divided into the two main ballrooms.
  • Free admission for all!
  • When: Saturday, 24 October 2015 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (EDT)
  • Where:361 Queen St Smith Falls, ON K7A 3L1 CA

It’s time to save the date and come join the many wonderful wedding professionals who will be on site giving out samples and live demonstrations. Not to mention you have a chance to win some amazing prizes!

REGISTER NOW!

 

Your Wedding-in-a-Box

August 18, 2015 / no comments

Overwhelmed by the idea of planning your wedding? Don’t know where to start with so many things to think about? Let RSVP help make your dream day unfold seamlessly with our specially designed plan, “Wedding-in-a-Box.”

 

We offer two packages: the Regular Package starting at $14,500 and the Gold Package, $24, 500 for those couples who want a more extravagant wedding, as you will get to partner with some of Ottawa’s most luxurious vendors.

The Regular package includes a dedicated wedding planner to help you every step of the way, as well as the essentials like one of our 13 venues, a photographer, the decor, flowers, DJ and of course, the cake!

The Gold package goes even further to offer you one of our five finest venues in Ottawa. In addition couples receive floral centerpieces, hair and make-up services, a videographer and the food. A premium choice to make your special day even more perfect.

RSVP recognizes that it’s the little touches that really matter! Therefore, upgrades such as flowers or décor are not a problem – we’re there to help create your vision.

Table scape

Orchard View Wedding & Conference Center

Ottawa Wedding planner

Orchard View Wedding & Conference Center

So why is everyone picking our “Wedding in a Box” package? You receive wedding planning/services valued at over $23,000 but for $14,500 + HST based on 80 guests. An amazing deal!

Choose from one of our 13 partnered venues in Ottawa. Each different venue offering a unique menu.

slider-pavilion

Brookstreet Hotel

You receive a 2 hour hair and make-up trial from one of our two renowned salons for the bride and bridesmaids plus the wedding day itself.

Genevieve&Patrick-10[1]

The Capelli Club

Ottawa Wedding

The Capelli Club

The Capalli club

The Capelli Club

Not to mention the services of a high quality wedding photographer for 8 hours as well as a CD/DVD of 300 images taken on the day (50 edited) 2 hour engagement shoot /50 images from the engagement (10 edited)…

Genevieve&Patrick-130

Mike & Ness Photography

Genevieve&Patrick-189

Mike & Ness Photography

AlisonandMatthew-Wedding-Ceremony-June15-53

Brittany Lee Photography

Jocelyn&Jonathan_wedding_105

From among our decor designs you get 15 table covers and runners, matching napkins, 15 centrepieces, Head table/ cake table treatment, table numbers and illuminated princess lights.

AlisonandMatthew-Wedding-Reception-Jun15-15

Ottawa Marriott – Summit Room

Orchard View Wedding & Conference Center

Orchard View Wedding & Conference Center

In addition, you will meet with Beaudry Florist to pick 4 bouquets and boutonnieres of your choice.

Wedding Bouquet

Love & Laughter Photography

flowers

Ashley Notley Photography

As well as a top notch pastry artist for the cake and cupcakes!

cake

Cake Artist: Sweet Songs

JS Creations Cake Emporium

JS Creations Cake Emporium

Most importantly, one of our knowledgeable wedding planners is there to assist you every step of the way! She will be on hand to deal with the venue and vendor meetings, wedding etiquette, guest and seating plan arrangements, creation of the wedding day itinerary and so much more.

help

It’s easy to see why there is a buzz about RSVP’s “Wedding-in-a-Box” couples have been known to spend over $10,000 for the wedding venue alone! But when choosing the Wedding-in-a-Box package all of this is taken care of, the choices can be fun and headache free, not to mention the money you will save!

This package is designed to be simple – simply follow these steps:

  1. Explore the expertise of fabulous vendors & their offerings involved in this package at www.myweddinginabox.ca
  2. Book your free wedding consultation with an RSVP event specialist online by emailing Planner@myweddinginabox.ca
  3. Confirm with your planner that your date is available with your chosen venue; choose your Photographer, Pastry Artist, Décor, Flowers and more.
  4. Relax & Enjoy the wedding planning process

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

For more information please contact US 

 

 

Fall 2015 Wedding Trends: From Vintage Classic to Cool

August 14, 2015 / no comments

Fall has always been a fun time to play with a colour palette. Like the leaves floating down from the trees, there are so many hues of red, green, yellow and purple to choose from.

But what stands out this year is the trend towards soft antique shades such as dusky rose and sage green, coupled by the punchier ones of navy or teal.

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Source: stylemepretty.com

Let’s take a look at what some of the brides with a theme in mind will be wearing:

A Rustic/Vintage look might mean you can go with a sage green and white combo. Bouquets will add the accents to this muted palate.

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Source: magnoliarouge.com

RSVP Bouquet suggestion:

 White hydrangea, Ranunculus, Roses and Eucalyptus

Or

Asters in burgundy and pink,  Cala lilies with similar coloured roses and green

accents.

For a Vintage with an added sense of fun are jewel-toned gowns. Each maid gets to shine in her own 1920s or 30s original gown. Hair bands, boas or fascinators complete this look, while the bride glows in her own retro white lace.

Source: southboundbride.com

Source: southboundbride.com

Source: intimateweddings.com

Source: intimateweddings.com

magnolia-rouge

Source: magnoliarouge.com

 Bouquet suggestions:

Large White and Pink Peonies, Roses, Russian Lavender with Ivy pieces, Ferns and ribbon pieces.

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Source: modwedding.com

A Classy look for fall is the pairing of midnight blue or blackberry with white. Not only is this a classic look, but it is easy to work with and the contrast between bride and wedding party is dramatic.

Source: www.eugenegrace.com/

Source: www.eugenegrace.com

Source: lovemydress.net

Source: lovemydress.net

RSVP Bouquet suggestions:

White hydrangea as the base, add Sonia roses, a dusky pink or a more sassy red. Again eucalyptus ties this together nicely.

Source: www.elizabethannedesigns.com/

Source: www.elizabethannedesigns.com

A wedding in Teal and Gold is as eye-catching as an autumn afternoon. The rich tones of both of these colours lend themselves well to satin and silk fabrics. Decor-wise: Small lamps and candles hung from branches or in the trees cast a warm glow with this kind of palette

RSVP Bouquet suggestions:

Asters, Calendula, Sunflowers, Zinnia, Cala Lilies and Sumac leaves. 

Source: www.elizabethannedesigns.com

Source: www.elizabethannedesigns.com

From Rustic/Vintage to Classic – to Playful, Romantic or Chic, the trends of 2015 are as individual as you are.

 Have fun creating your ideal wedding!

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