Feature photo: Klava Zykova makeup with MDRN Photobooth by Catalina Viau
Wedding season is about to kick into high gear and for the bride-to-be the decisions are many.
It’s important to take a step back and look at what’s really important to you both and what overall day-of-look you’re trying to achieve.
Throughout the planning process, you’ll come up against decisions surrounding reception venues to budgeting for your dress and all of these big decisions can often make the whole process seem overwhelming. Thankfully, Ottawa is home to a variety of newcomers and mainstays in the industry that will help make your trip down the aisle a breeze. Whether you’re looking for the latest and greatest that Ottawa has to offer or if you want to rely on the tried and tested, this list should help get you started.
Encore Bridal
Newly opened in 2017, Encore Bridal is Ottawa's newest bridal boutique featuring a curated collection of wedding dresses, designer samples and bridal accessories. Budget-conscious and eco-friendly brides in Ottawa will appreciate Encore Bridal's efforts in bringing beautiful, gently-used wedding dresses and off the rack designer samples at a lower price point. Whether you're buying or selling, you’ll want to see what they have on offer.
Earleen Garbe, Owner of Encore Bridal says their bridal boutique comes to Ottawa at a time in which brides are looking to find a designer dress at a fraction of the cost. “We are a great fit for the Ottawa Bridal Market because we are able to help brides find the wedding dress of their dreams that is also within their budget. By offering off the rack samples and pre-loved dresses we are also able to fulfill the needs of brides that don’t have the luxury of being able to order their dress directly from the designer so they are able to get their dresses right away. We are also able to provide past brides with a way to turn their previously worn wedding dress into money through our consignment program. All in all, Encore Bridal is a unique bridal shop that is able to offer affordable wedding dresses with a wonderful bridal experience.”
www.encorebridal.ca
Addition Elle
Canadian fashion retailer Addition Elle takes fashion from runway down to the alter with the launch of their first bridal collection. Showcasing 5 different styles, the collection offers quality and fit at a great price point. The highly anticipated collection is available exclusively online with sizes ranging from 12 to 26.
www.additionelle.com
Society Salon
A bad hair day on your wedding day is not an option. Hiring and meeting your hairstylist before your wedding will ensure that you’re both on the same page and that you’ll end up with the look you’re trying to achieve.
Start by collecting a bunch of images (Pinterest and Instagram are a great resource) and bring them to your consultation to see if you’ve got the hair to make this look work.
Known for working with some of Canada’s A-listers and Ottawa’s top politicians, Society Salon Owner Stefania Capovilla is well versed in creating ‘perfect’ hair.
“On your wedding day, you want to have as little to worry about as possible so that you can enjoy your special daily with friends and family. Leaving your hairstyling to a professional will help you feel confident and look like a more polished version of yourself!” says Stefania.
http://www.societysalonottawa.
Rent Frock Repeat
Between engagement photos, the bridal shower, your bachelorette party and the rehearsal dinner, you’ll be surprised by how many bridal style outfits you’ll need. It can be tough to balance the wedding budget and look like Cinderella at all of your pre-wedding events, so cut the costs by ‘borrowing’. Rent Frock Repeat is a fashion-forward dress rental website that offers frocks from top designers at a fraction of the retail cost. With rentals starting as low as $50, you can have your cake and eat it too.
www.rentfrockrepeat.com
Wedding Planner Spotlight: Courtney Elizabeth Events
Let the professionals make your wedding a success.
Ottawa Wedding Planner and Consultant Courtney Norris can offer you the relaxed and stress-free wedding planning process you and your fiancé deserve.
With her dedicated and helpful assistance, planning your wedding will become one of your favourite memories as a couple.
“With all the moving parts involved with planning a wedding, it can be super helpful to have the advice and guidance of a professional every step of the way. Planners can save you a lot of time and money because they know who’s who in the wedding industry and which people to trust and who to avoid.
Wedding planners can be that sounding board that you need to make the important decisions and they will relieve so much stress from you and your families during the process and on your big day; which actually lets you enjoy all that you have planned!
"I know for me, being a constant stress-reliever for my clients is one of the best parts of my job. It’s my mission to have the couple enjoy the entire process and all the precious moments with friends and loved ones on their wedding day. You can’t repeat or re-do this special day, so having a pro on hand to make sure it runs better than you ever imagined is truly priceless” says Courtney Norris.
www.courtneyelizabethevents.com
Klava Z Makeup Artist and Educator
Have you ever tried applying makeup while rushed?
The morning of your wedding day will fly by and you don’t want to get caught up in the rush of the events.
Take a seat and let the professionals handle your look.
“There are two main reasons to have a professional makeup artist do your bridal makeup on your wedding day. Firstly, even if you are really good at doing your own everyday makeup, there are ways to apply makeup to make it last all day long. A professional can ensure you look flawless and make your makeup more photo friendly. Secondly, it's the day to be pampered, so why not take the stress off creating a perfect beauty look and trust a professional to do it, so that you can have an extra hour to relax during the day that will be incredibly busy” says Klava Zykova.
www.klavazykova.ca
