Advertising Feature of the Kitchissippi Times • Winter 2014
Marry Me in KITCHISSIPPI
Weddings with local flair
Local businesses add personal touches to wedding plans aving lived in Kitchissippi for five years, it was only natural that when Jennifer and Bryce Crossman got engaged, they turned to a number of local experts when planning their wedding. Having help close to home made organizing their special day so much easier and meaningful for this couple who continue to sing the praises of Kitchissippi, with its friendly atmosphere and unique, interesting businesses. “Bryce and I moved to Ottawa from southern Ontario, and we initially lived downtown,”
Kitchissippi residents Bryce and Jennifer Crossman share a tender moment on their wedding day. Photo: Andrew Van Beek
says Jennifer. “As we got to know the city, we started looking for a house close enough to downtown without being downtown, and the Wellington West area is perfect. We love the Continued on page 10
Is a
CountryWedding in your plans?
visit BrophyFarmEvents.com
10 • January 9, 2014
Kitchissippi Times
Marry Me in KITCHISSIPPI F E AT U R E
Photo: Andrew Van Beek
A D V E R T I S I N G
Your cottage in the city
Local means personal
T he lakeside
atmosphere is tranquil and beautiful, and the grounds are outstanding...
the local shops and restaurants and everything is just a short walk from our house. The parks, schools, and events are great too.” Jennifer is also fortunate to work just blocks from home, as the retail merchandise manager for Thyme & Again Creative Catering and Take Home Food Shop. Like most couples, choosing a date, venue and a caterer were top on their wedding planning list. “Knowing Sheila Whyte at Thyme & Again made that decision a very easy one,” says Jennifer. “I knew we would be in expert hands; I am a detailed oriented person, and both Sheila and the team made sure that everything was perfect. Having exceptional food served in a spectacular venue – The National Gallery – made the day more memorable.” Jennifer adds that when it came to the food, incorporating local as well as personal elements was important. “We had a lot of friends and family coming from out of town and wanted to be able to showcase our beautiful city. A member of Savour Ottawa, Thyme & Again uses a lot of local farmers and producers so we were happy knowing that a lot of our menu selections would be made with local ingredients.” As for the personal touches? “Bryce’s mother is from Wisconsin and we are all pretty big Green Bay Packers fans; Bryce even proposed to me at Lambeau Field during a game. They serve deep fried cheese curds at the stadium so we served some up during our late night menu as well along with pogos, poutine and a beautiful candy station put together by Sheila herself.” For Jennifer, one of the least-stressful aspects of planning the wedding was choosing her dress. “I literally walked down the street and into Laysieng
Photo: Andrew Van Beek
Continued from page 9
Couturier on Wellington. We talked about what I had in mind and they quickly helped me find the perfect dress. It was just so convenient – especially for fittings – and I really like their warm, personal service.” For the Crossmans, their wedding was filled with warm, personal elements. “Bryce’s brother helped officiate and for some of our music we had a couple friends play acoustic versions of songs we had heard performed live by favourite artists including Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Radiohead. Our DJ filled our cocktail hour with TV theme songs from the 80s and played cover versions for our first dance songs that Bryce had recorded with his friends.” “Our day was everything we ever imagined and anything we might have done differently has long been forgotten and ultimately didn’t matter. Many of the guests who attended our wedding still remark on how much they enjoyed a chance to experience some of our favourite things from our part of Ottawa.”
For the Crossmans, their wedding was
on the
O ttawa River
2777 Cassels St. Ottawa, ON
www.byc.ca | 613.828.5167
filled with warm,
personal elements.
Kitchissippi Times
January 9, 2014 • 11
Marry Me in KITCHISSIPPI A D V E R T I S I N G
F E AT U R E
WEDDING TIPS FROM LOCAL PROS
Need to know… It is crucial to choose and hire great vendors who will not let you down. Research is key. Contact and book these vendors early in the planning process to avoid stress down the road. Earlier is always better when planning your special day. Remember, it’s your day and vision. Enjoy it and don’t worry about pleasing everyone else.
Breanna Gray, Events Manager, Britannia Yacht Club
When serving your cake later in the evening usually estimate that only about 2/3 of your guests will indulge in cake. After a meal and dessert, many guests are too busy dancing and are too full to indulge.
Linda Bloomfield, Owner, Artistic Cake Designs
The time spent with your wedding photographer can represent the most intimate of all vendor relationships so beyond the quality of their work, you gotta love your photographer!
Darren Brown, Weddings by Brown
Always ask your caterer to supply a “non-staining” healthy snack and plenty of fluids for your photo shoot. This will avoid the bridal party getting dehydrated and lightheaded during the photo period. Always remember to include gluten-free options for cocktail reception and main course.
When choosing a location for a rural wedding, discuss the layout possibilities with the venue owners including important things like parking, reception and ceremony layout, access for suppliers, electrical access, heating, lighting and the area for catering set up. Also ask them about ways to give your guests the best experience such as strategies for inclement weather and suggested footwear.
Brophy Farm Events
Artistic Cake Designs
C O P P L E Y AP PA R EL CO L L E CT I ON F /W 20 1 3/ 14
Sheila Whyte, Owner, Thyme & Again
Wedding Cake Fair 2014 January 18th - February 15 Order your cake and be entered into a draw to win your cake (maximum value $500, non-refundable $50 deposit required)
Pay in full for your cake and receive
10% off
Come view all our new designs Cake and coffee served on Saturdays during the fair ASK ABOUT OUR CLASSES!
1390 Clyde Ave. (south of Baseline Rd before Merivale) • 613-722-4801 www.artisticcakedesign.ca
Make sure your suit or tuxedo coordinates well & compliments the level of formality of the wedding gown. Choose a vest for the outfit to keep the look tidy all night long. 199 Richmond Road (at Kirkwood Ave.), Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 6W4 . 613.829.8313 Monday – Friday 9–6, Saturday 9–5, Sunday 11–4. F R E E PA R K I N G O N S I T E / A P P O I N T M E N T S W E L C O M E www.erfisher.com
12 • January 9, 2014
Kitchissippi Times
Marry Me in KITCHISSIPPI A D V E R T I S I N G
F E AT U R E
Professional wedding photos offer timeless joy lthough trends come and go in the wedding industry, one thing that has never fallen out of fashion is professional wedding photography. Having an expert capture images of love and joy is an investment many couples are happy to make, knowing that these photos are likely to be the
Miv Fournier has been a professional photographer for sixteen years, operating for the last ten out of a Westboro studio. “I specialize in photographing people so weddings are an important component of my work and a nice contrast to the commercial projects I often do,” he explains. “I love working with brides and grooms; they are always in a great mood so it’s fun to be able to create images that reflect their happiness.” Fournier says he has numerous preferred locations around Kitchissippi for both photo shoots. Two of his favourite areas are Maplelawn with its adjoining walled garden and a number of different spots along the Ottawa River. “I have been able to produce some spectacular images shooting near Remic Rapids,” he adds. “Inuksuk artist John Ceprano’s work provides a stunning backdrop and because of the flat rocks there, I’ve had couples who were willing to stand in the water, thus enabling me to make great use of the light and the reflections off the water. The nearby woods offer lots of possibilities as well.”
Photo: MIV PHOTOGRAPHY
most enduring keepsakes of their big day.
Many of today’s brides and grooms are willing to put themselves in the hands of the photographer as artist.
He notes that while parents of the happy couple are sometimes interested in more traditional poses, many of today’s brides and grooms are willing to put themselves in the hands of the photographer as artist. “Most clients come to us because they have seen other work we’ve done and they like the style. I favour a sort of documentary or journalistic approach where the majority of the shots are both candid and artistic, often playful and relaxed, which is what our clients seem most eager to enjoy.” “Developing a relationship by working with a couple on engagement photos is really fun,” adds Fournier. “With these, I try to tell a story about their journey together and incorporate some of their shared history into the shots. For example, I did a shoot on the Ottawa River not far from Westboro Beach with a couple who love to sail. The shots of them in action out on the water are really wonderful.” Fournier notes that while some people try to save money by having a friend or relative take wedding photos, the results may not have the lasting appeal of professional work. “We are able to shoot at an extremely high resolution which then gives us total flexibility in terms of how we work with the images later, adjusting the lighting, for example, which can add so much texture to an image.” Another benefit of working with a professional is archiving. “We store the digital files indefinitely, both at our studio and backed up at an offsite location, so couples have peace of mind knowing they can order prints whenever they want.” Fourner says that he never tires of watching couples get their first look at their wedding photos. “We put their top one hundred photos together in a slide show, set to music, for them to watch together and the newlyweds are always so excited and emotional. It makes my job so satisfying.”
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PHOTO: BYFIELD-PITMAN
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