Happy Canada Day

It's our country's 143rd birthday tomorrow and we hope you'll be enjoying the sun and celebrations with family and friends. There is no better place to be on Canada Day than in Ottawa- all eyes will be on us.

So we thought in honour of Canada Day, we'd inspire you with some red-themed weddings.

Happy Canada Day !

Hot off the Press !

Marry Me is featured in WedLuxe Magazine for their Summer/Fall 2010 issue. Which fabulous wedding caught the exclusive magazine's keen eye ? You'll have to pick up your copy on newsstands now. Or if you can't wait, check out the feature online:

http://www.wedluxe.com/index.cfm?pagePath=Features_Gallery/Real_life_Weddings/Summer/Fall_2010/Jennifer_Jason&id=23430

Enjoy !

A Jeweller's Daughter

Diamonds and weddings go hand in hand right? So what a perfect match for Marry Me when the heiress to Howard Jewellers allowed us the privilege to plan her May 23 2010 wedding.
The wedding was beautiful as you would expect, but it couldn't surpass the happiness that seemed to be resonating from our bride and groom Stephanie and James. It was such a pleasure to work with them and see the little kisses they tried to steal when they thought no one was looking.

The decor was obviously inspired by Stephanie's eye for finding all things elegant and classic. The room's architecture (at the Chateau Laurier) and was so ornate that one had to be careful what they added to the room to ensure it wouldn't look 'over the top'. Stephanie and James did it perfectly. Their centrepieces of roses and hydrangeas were white, short yet intricate. They rented china with gorgeous pattern work that perfectly complimented the soft gold overlay table linens and opulent gold pattern on the room's dramatic arched ceilings. And of course, the crowning touch were the huge crystal candelabras that were dripping in venetian crystals which looked like....of course...Diamonds ! .... the perfect touch for a jeweller's daughter.
We brought a lot of the decor in from Montreal companies. If it can't be found here in Ottawa, it doesn't mean your wedding can't have it. The items are shipped here and they easily take any wedding to the next level.

Congratulations Stephanie and James ! The team at Marry Me wishes you all the best and thanks to the fantastic work of our friends at MIV Photography http://www.mivphotography.com/miv.htm, we can all share in the evening's magic through these stunning photos.

Guest Post from Andrew Geddes Photography

Ottawa may lack some of the features that larger cities can offer your wedding day but one thing we're not lacking is professional photographers.

In our line of work, we work closely with the photographer the day of the wedding and we're always surprised with the jaw dropping shots they can create (sometimes it takes forever to choose what photos to use in this blog!).

When it's all said and done, the only thing that you have left over from your wedding day are your photos, so we can't stress enough how important it is to hire a professional for the job.

This week, we were lucky enough to have one of our city's incredibly talented photographers Andrew Geddes from Andrew Geddes Photography http://www.andrewgeddes.com/ stop by and do a guest blog post for us from the eyes of a wedding photographer. Listen up brides- this is fantastic advice entitled "Five Things Wedding Photographers Love"

The wedding season is in full swing! I thought I'd share a few quick tips on how to get the best possible photos on your big day. I can't speak for every wedding photographer, but in my experience the following five items can help make your wedding images outstanding.

Engagement Shoots
Once you have booked your wedding photographer, doing an engagement shoot is a great idea. Not only do you get beautiful pictures of you and your fiance, but it's also an excellent way to get to know your photographer, and to see how he or she works. We're all a little camera shy, and your they will no doubt give you tips on how to look and feel more comfortable in front of the lens. Also, your photographer can put together a fabulous guest signing book, featuring the engagement images, which makes for a beautiful addition to your reception.

Wedding Planners
An experienced planner can make a huge difference in the quality of your wedding photos. I've found that they help us photographers out in three major ways:

1 – They make venues look great.

2 – They help weddings run on time. This ensures that the time set aside for photos doesn't slowly disappear due to scheduling problems.

3 – They make for happier, more relaxed brides (and grooms and mothers-of-the-bride...). Stressed out people look, well, stressed out, which isn't especially flattering.

Lots of Time for Photos
Wedding photography is likely one of the larger investments you'll make for your big day. In order to get the most bang for you buck, you should discuss your itinerary with your photographer before you finalize it. They can provide valuable input on how to maximize shooting time and get you back to your friends and family ASAP.

In my case I'm shooting candidly most of the day, however, brides often book me because they're after artistic couple shots. Wedding photographers are used to working fast, but the more time you give us, the better, and more varied your shots will be.

Family Photos List
Photojournalistic wedding photography is the way to go (in my humble opinion), but you might be disappointed if you don't get some family group shots. To save time, alleviate unnecessary stress, and make everyone happy (including your wedding photographer) be sure to have a list of family groupings ready to go.

Cage veils and Other Standout Items
I'm far from an expert on bridal fashion, but I have seen enough weddings to know what makes great weddings great - attention to detail. Whether its help from your planner in selecting an awesome venue and decor, or your own unique fashion sense and style, photographers love things that help make a wedding stand out. Unique accessories, colours, themes, and anything else that personalizes your wedding, will ultimately make for fresh and exciting photos.

If you have any questions about this post, or about wedding photography in general, feel free to get in touch with me over at my website: http://www.andrewgeddes.com/

You can also see what I've been up to lately over at my blog: http://www.andrewgeddes.blogspot.com/

Open Meet and Greet for Engaged Couples

Marry Me Productions met so many wonderful engaged couples during the Diamond Dash and recent bridal shows- too many to actually talk to for any length of time. So, we decided to host a 'Meet and Greet' at The Standard at 360 Elgin Street http://www.thestandardtavern.com/on Sunday June 6 2010 (this Sunday) from 1pm to 4pm.

We want to open up the 'Meet and Greet' to any engaged couple who wants to see what Marry Me Productions can offer you and your wedding. This consultation is of course free of charge.

It gets even better! Any engaged couple that stops by to meet us can fill out a ballot to win a stunning Stella & Dot heirloom bracelet (picture below) from our Stella and Dot representative Naomi http://www.stelladot.com/sites/naomi/my-business



So come on down to The Standard, grab a cocktail, meet Stacey and Karen and let's talk about your fabulous wedding ideas and how Marry Me can make them happen.

Can't wait to meet you !