JESSICA & MARTIN - SNEAK PEEK!!

Jessica & Martin were married at The Westin Ottawa in what was a truly breathtaking ceremony and a fun, fun, fun reception! Deciding to have their formals taken before the ceremony, Derrick Rice of Union Eleven captured the moment they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day. Want to see more? You're in luck! More of Jess & Martin's amazing images coming soon!

TREND OR HERE TO STAY?

When Viva first started coordinating weddings back in 2006, one of the fabulous couples who took a leap of faith and booked a new to the industry wedding coordinator helped to confirm not only my love of weddings but my love of couples who aren't afraid to do something a little different.



While hiring a food truck to feed your guests late night has become a staple for most backyard weddings, back in 2006 when candy buffets were the rage a food truck at your wedding was definitely not the norm. Seeing the jaws drop and the anticipation mount when 11pm rolled around and a food truck pulled up on the back lawn was priceless.



Five years later hiring a food truck for your backyard wedding is as common as hiring a florist to create your centerpieces, a dj to play your music, and a photographer to capture images of your day. Five years later I still love seeing the jaws drop and the anticipation mount when 11pm rolls around and a food truck pulls up on the back lawn.



As new ideas grow in popularity and become more and more common however, people start to wonder if they will survive the test of time or slowly fade away. How do you feel about the late night food truck? Whether it’s pogos and poutine, beaver tails or ice cream, are food trucks just the latest trend or are they here to stay?



Photo Credits: Justin Lee Photography

TICKETS, TICKETS, GET YOUR TICKETS!!

It's that time of year again! Time to attend the Ottawa Wedding Palace Bridal Show. Taking place on September 10th and 11th 2011 not only is this Ottawa's premier wedding show, it's home is now one of Ottawa's newest premier venues - the Ottawa Convention Centre.



Each year Viva posts a Wedding Show Survival Guide to help make your day an enjoyable and productive one. This year, the Ottawa Wedding Palace Bridal Show has come up with their own so we thought we'd share their tips with you.



1. Register online and enter to win the Bride's Night Out prize package!

Make sure you also register when you arrive at the show. Registering at the show will enter you into all of the grand door prize draws.



2. Create a temporary email address to be used while you are planning your wedding.

This way you can delete it when you no longer are interested in receiving special offers or hearing from the vendors.



3. Bring adhesive address labels.

This will save you a lot of time when you enter for prizes at individual booths. Most exhibitors will want to know your wedding date so make sure to add this information to your label along with your email address.



4. Don't forget your pen!

You're going to see so much at the show and talk to so many wonderful vendors that your head will be spinning by the time you head for home! Make sure to write notes on brochures or flyers from your favorite vendors while you're at the show, as you're about to drop them into your bulging goody bag - it'll help you sort out who all was who once you get home and start taking stock of the day! Collect any information you are interested in - take it home to look over again when you have some quiet time.



5. Make it a girl's day out!

Bring your friends, your wedding party, and your mom along to enjoy the big show! This gives them all a chance to feel more involved in your Big Day, and you'll be glad to have objective friends or family there to help you with your planning. Plus - it also means extra hands to help share carrying home all of the loot you're going to gather! (Want to bring the groom? Remind him that there will be delicious samples of all sorts of things, like BBQ and luscious wedding cake!). It is nice if your fiancé attends with you so that you are both involved in the planning process.



6. Make it a weekend event!

The show is open from 11am - 5 pm both days over the weekend - so if you get a bracelet for re-entry (available at registration), you can return for free on Sunday! Visit on Saturday with all of the gals in your wedding party, and then come back with your groom on Sunday to show him what you have discovered! (This works especially well if the groom has a limited amount of time or if your man is allergic to wedding shopping!). Don't forget to take in at least one of the two fashion shows that will take place each day (12:30 & 3:30).



7. Ask lots of questions, that's what the exhibitors are there for!

This is your big chance to talk with all kinds of wedding professionals - so don't be shy! Talk to the vendors and ask questions about their services, get the details on the wedding packages they offer, and how they can best serve you on your very special day! (A great tip: bring along ribbons or swatches with your wedding colors! This can help our vendors best help you!)



8. Bring your cheque book or credit card in case you decide to book services or hold dates with a deposit.

Many vendors will offer special day-of-the-bridal-show discounts, and many vendors or wedding venues book fast, so if you find the perfect photographer or your perfect wedding spot, you will want to be prepared to put down a deposit! Be sure to check on refund policies before giving any money, and read the contract carefully before signing.



9. Wear comfortable shoes (opt for your running shoes instead of the Jimmy Choos) and have a great time!



10. Relax and have fun - this is your wedding. Enjoy every moment - the day will be here and gone before you know it!



Don't have your tickets yet? Viva la wedding has 5 pairs of tickets to give away to the first 5 brides/grooms-to-be that email us. Some of our favourite exhibitors you won't want to miss... Barbara Ann Studios, Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, Groovy Linen, Melissa Jonston Photography, Mikaza, Photolux Studio, Quality Entertainment, Restaurant E18hteen, Stonefields Heritage Farm, The Westin, and With Love Bridal Boutique. Enjoy the show!

Victoria Wedding

AMBER & JASON'S WEDDING AT THE PARKSIDE RESORT & SPA, VICTORIA, BC

Amber & Jason had an absolutely breathtaking wedding, set on a rooftop patio overlooking the city at sunset. Amber disarms you with her sweet-natured personality and Jason is the one who gets the party going. As you can tell by the photos, these two were extremely photogenic and they allowed lots of room for experimenting. We even went around for some extra night-time portraits around the resort after the reception, which meant they could spend more time with their guests. I had such a great time getting to know Amber & Jason, plus everyone at the wedding. I wish them all the best in their new life together.

Belize Wedding

DENISE & DAN'S WEDDING AT THE MATACHICA, AMBERGIS CAYE, BELIZE

I have so much to say about Denise & Dan's wedding in beautiful Belize.  Although they hadn't met yet, they were seated side-by-side on a hill with their fellow frosh classmates for the Emily Carr University yearbook photo. After they fell in love they looked back at the photo and couldn't believe their eyes. Fast forward to 2011 at the Matachica in Belize, surrounded by their closest family and friends. Beaming doesn't even come close to describing how happy everyone was to be a part of their day. In the days leading up to the ceremony it had been storming so hard that my own door sounded like someone was banging on it all night. But, on the day of the wedding the wind died down and the sun appeared. I'm so happy that they had the perfect wedding. They are currently on a huge adventure backpacking through Central America for their honeymoon (people after my own heart) and I was thrilled to hear such nice words after they saw their sneak peek slideshow (which they viewed from Lake Atilan, Guatemala): "Christina this is beautiful! We are over the moon! Thank you so so much for taking the most moving photos I have ever seen. I honestly cannot thank you enough. I am very excited to view it all on a better monitor than I have right now. This is so great." Yaay! Denise & Dan thank you for including me in your awesome celebration.