Courtesy BarbCameronStudios

I meet my brides and grooms at a local coffee shop about two to three months before the wedding date. By this time, they have figured out most of the big items for their on-location wedding and have considered the example ceremony I’ve sent them. We bounce around concepts and ideas to make their wedding ceremony work in the space and encompass the feeling they want. By the end, we have established a ceremony that they will enjoy experiencing.

In every meeting, I am asked about having a rehearsal. I agree that there should be a rehearsal for the couple to go over the details of the procession and the recession. They need to figure out how long the music needs to be for the bridal party and bride. The order of who enters needs to be considered, along with how everyone is placed on the stage.

I do not need to be at a rehearsal for this. The day of the wedding, I deliver upon the agreed order and wording of service. Once everyone has placed themselves on the stage, I guide them along the way during the wedding. There are three reasons I have found where my presence during the rehearsal is beneficial.

The ceremony is complicated. Some ceremonies contain many rituals. Others have many people walking around the stage during the ceremony. In these cases, some choreography of these movements is needed. I can provide the advice needed to make the ceremony run smoothly.

There are strong family opinions on the wedding ceremony. There are times when, despite best intentions, family dynamics get in the way. One side of the family wants different things than the other side. I can act as a neutral third-party mediator to resolve the issues for the couple. I focus on what the couple wants to happen.

The bride and groom are feeling really nervous. If at the end of our meeting, the couple is still nervous about it all, we will agree to a full run-through of the ceremony. By going through the whole thing, you are assured of the ceremony you want. This is a good point to emphasize. If you, as a bride, are feeling nervous for any reason about the ceremony, you should insist on a full rehearsal. Listen to your gut instinct and go for a full rehearsal with your minister or officiant there.

Identifying the reasons for a rehearsal has helped me work with couples in the lead-up to their wedding. You’ll need to decide what kind of rehearsal you need so that you can approach your ceremony with confidence and enjoy the moment.

The new Museum of Civilization opened in June 1989 with a mission “To increase, throughout Canada and internationally, interest in, knowledge and critical understanding of and appreciation and respect for human cultural achievements and human behaviour…” I perform several weddings there every year and have always enjoyed my experience there.  I met with Francine Lapointe, Facilities Manager who gave me a guided tour.

As we walked around the Museum of Civilization, Francine related that the number of weddings at the museum has increased from only twelve in 2006 to forty in 2012. Their goal is to reach 50 weddings per year. The museum offers a complete wedding coordination and in-house catering to make it easy for brides and grooms.

Many couples make the museum a destination wedding venue as they come to Ottawa for their wedding. She finds that about half of the bookings have both the ceremony and reception at the museum – a trend Francine feels is increasing as Canada becomes more of a mixed culture. She feels this is a positive trend and reflects the mandate of the museum to celebrate civilizations and our culture.

The museum’s architecture is inspired by Canada’s natural environment of Canadian shield rock, glaciers, waters and plains. From our rocks come wonderful diamonds that are cut to have many facets. Similarly the museum has many facets and areas where wedding can be celebrated.

The Grand Hall is the showpiece for the museum. Its large space can easily accommodate 400 people. It is an amazing experience to be among the totem poles overseeing the Ottawa River.

The museum has carefully designed a sound and lighting system for this large space.  It is gratifying to use a sound amplification system that ensures a great voice quality during the ceremony.

Grand Hall showing banks of lights on the left ceiling and speakers hanging from the centre.

The Panorama Room is another popular venue that holds about 100 people.  The advantage of this room, aside the from the glorious view of Parliament Hill, is that you can quickly switch from outdoor to indoors. Since it is separate from the museum’s collections, you can gain access to it before closing.

The Canada Hall is an exhibit which traces Canada’s history from the Normans to this era from the East coast to the West coast.  If a couple is looking for a really unqiue venue – this is it. They have full access to the exhibit. It is a great idea for a 50 person cocktail style wedding. The bride and groom can be married in New France…

and stroll over to Ontario Street for the cocktail reception.

The Northern and Southern Rooms were a surprise to me. They are two rooms with amazing cathedral ceilings that can be custom lighted for the occasion.  The bride and groom can be married in the Northern room and move over to the Southern room for their reception. The Southern room has a dance floor and can accommodate 200 people.

Courtesy Museum of Civilization

Courtesy Museum of Civilization

The Museum of Civilization is visited by over a million people per year. It certainly was buzzing with school kids when I was there. Last year I performed two weddings an hour apart, at the Panorama Room and in the Grand Hall, both flawless executed with the help of the museum staff. As a wedding venue it is a superb location with lots to offer and growing in popularity.

Her sister’s New Year’s Eve wedding was memorable at the Side-Door Restaurant. I performed this wedding at Lagos in the Dow’s Lake Pavilion. It is a wonderful location overlooking the lake. However, on a Friday afternoon, there is a lot of traffic congestion that delayed many guests’ arrival. No worries, the bride was comfortably situated in a bus enjoying some pre-nuptial champagne.

With all the folks accounted for we were ready to start the wedding. I took a quick pic of the bride with her sister before proceeding.

I got the girls all lined up and walked down the aisle to join the groom. He is quite the joker. He yells at me as I am half way down the aisle, “Alan, where have you been all my life!” Of course everyone bursts out laughing and I give the groom a big hug in merriment. There was a bit of a shock as the bride then made her entrance by walking down the aisle to Metallica!

As I start the ceremony I see many familiar faces from the NYE wedding. Their vows were sweet and emotional. We had a champagne toast at the end and off they went for cocktails. It felt good to be around a welcoming audience… like family. I am so humbled and grateful when I am seen as the family officiant for celebrations such as weddings and baptisms. In my small way, I sense that I enhance our feelings… of community… of family.

Most experienced photographers have run into the church minister, who often decrees that no photographs are to be taken during the ceremony. The couple may get one or two furtively taken photos of their ceremony. Unfortunately, some of the best moments where the couple commit to each other and show the emotional bond between them will be lost.

I take the position that I need to work closely with the photographers so that all the best memories can be captured. I want it to be a picture perfect wedding. Therefore, to many photographers’ surprise, I make it a priority to plan the wedding shots with them. They are so grateful that I take the time to include them so that the couple will have cherished photos of the ceremony.

Luc learned to work with jewellery over 35 years ago from his father. He trained to become a designer and has nurtured his love of creating fine jewellery. His shop has been located in the Byward market for the past 15 years. He had just opened for the day and was carefully setting out the display cases when we chatted about his art.

When I asked how business was he said the demand for his unique designs keeps growing. Luc computerized the design and model making with the addition of a CNC digital carving unit six years ago and recently added a state-of-the-art digital phototyper. Going digital not only allows him to have a faster turn around and a perfectly sculpted product. Luc excited exclaims that it has really “expanded his abilities as an artist forever – to go further with designs.”

Most of his clients come in for one-of-a-kind rings made with Canadian diamonds. Luc sits with each client for one and a half hours discussing exactly what they want for their ring(s). He then produces a 3D design on a computer that he shows the bride and groom. Because it is digital, they will get exactly what they wanted as shown.

Using the digital phototyper allows him to etch very fine details into the ring. As a result, he has virtually no limitations for creating that unique ring for a bride or groom. They can come in with any idea and he will make it work. He sees brides ordering a larger band for the engagement ring. This allows him more room carve intricate details into the metal and use various sizes and multiple diamonds.

What does the future hold for Luc? Luc has won awards from the Canadian Jewellers Association for his designs. He hopes to create a line of jewellery and market them internationally.

However, he cherishes the relationships he forges with his clients. It is obvious that Luc has a passion for his art and his wedding clients. “They become friends” he says as we conclude our visit. I agree. Each bride and groom uniquely contributes to the lexicon of our lives. And so Luc loves to create rings that match the uniqueness of each couple.

There are many kinds of wedding planners. Some just do the design. Most will either take care of the whole event or be hired as day-of planners. Many of the better venues will assign a site coordinator to help you for the day. Their mission is to make your life easier. They also make it easier for me to focus on the couple’s ceremony.

The Project Priceless wedding was a well planned event

Here are four key reasons why I love working with planners or site coordinators:

They update me on the current situation. I arrive usually about thirty minutes before the start of the ceremony. It is wonderful to have someone who can tell me what the current status is. They can tell me what the flow of the day is, if the musicians are on time, where the photographers are and any number of details. More importantly, they can tell me if the bride and groom have changed anything since we last spoke. I don’t have to seek out and bother the bride or groom for these updates.

They make sure the site is ready. It is up to the planner/coordinator to make sure that all is set up for the ceremony. They can ensure that we have the flowers for the rose ceremony in place, that the lighting is right, and that we have a nicely placed table for the signing of the license.

Roses ready to go for the ceremony

They are there for the unexpected. The best planners/coordinators intervene when they see a problem. They solve the issues without my saying anything. It makes for great teamwork. If they see that there are not enough seats, they get more. If the wine glass for the ceremony fell over in the wind, they immediately replace it.They help me with the GO. The planner/coordinator will help get the bride to the location on time, line up all the bridal party and help open the door for the start. I love it when they keep things on track.

I highly recommend that if the couple can afford it, that a wedding planner or site coordinator be used for their special day. It reduces their stress enormously. The bride and groom will have a more relaxed and enjoyable wedding knowing that they have someone looking after them.

Tucked away in a little mall in Moose Creek is a glorious wedding dress shop. When you walk into the shop you are greeted by a fairie and butterfly at the door. A decorative tree towers over all the dresses in the middle of the store extending the fantasy theme. I meet Vivian as she concludes a phone call and we go next door to a coffee shop for a chat.

All of Vivian’s family members are entrepreneurs, she explains. She opened her first high end shoe store in 1979 and found her passion for helping people. Whenever a bride comes into her shop, she is treated as a somebody. Juliannah’s core value is excellent customer service. They follow a bride through their initial visit, first fitting, second fitting and pick-up to make sure that everything goes smoothly. From beginning to end, their experienced staff make sure that visits, appointments, alterations, storage and caring for a bride’s beautiful gown is done with professionalism and sincere care.

Vivian wants to show brides what looks good on them and ensure that it fits perfectly. She wants to help brides sort through the experience of finding a dress that makes them glow with happiness. Vivian’s carries at least a dozen collections of bridal dresses from size 2 to 30+ so that a bride can find a style that compliments her. In addition, she retains highly talented seamstresses to adjust the dress to fit the bride. I can vouch for that. A properly styled and fitted dress makes a bride confident and gorgeous.

What is Vivian seeing from brides these days? Lace is making a comeback partly due to Kate Middleton. Dresses described as Fit and Flare with corsets and lace-up backs are popular. Ivory coloured dresses are softer on a bride’s complexion. Vivian quickly adds that flowers, crystals and fascinators are great embellishments. As far as bridemaid dresses, navy and plum are most requested with yellow gaining in favour.

Vivian has a passion in what she does. She truly believes that everyone is beautiful. She seeks to help a bride please herself and feel absolutely gorgeous for her wedding.

Filed under: Ottawa Wedding Scene and Heard Tagged: Bride, Clothing, Dress, Formal wear, Kate Middleton, officiant, ottawa, Shopping, Wedding dress, wedding dresses, wedding ideas, wedding planning, Women ]]> http://weddingchaplain.ca/2012/04/18/juliannahs-dress-and-bridal-making-brides-feel-confident-gorgeous/feed/ 1 weddingchaplain Vivian & Me Statue Dresses&Tree http://weddingchaplain.ca/2012/04/10/prepare-and-then-focus-on-whats-right/ http://weddingchaplain.ca/2012/04/10/prepare-and-then-focus-on-whats-right/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:54:25 +0000 Alan Viau http://weddingchaplain.ca/?p=3418 ]]> You have spent many hours preparing for your wedding. You can get all caught up in the details and become upset when they don’t all come together. In focusing on what is right – your marriage – you can ride these out and have a fondly remembered day.

There have been countless times when I’ve seen stressed out brides just before a ceremony. They have worried about the color of the rose petals that the flower girl will carry and a never ending list of small things. Unfortunately, they can lose sight of what is important – their marriage.

I arrived at the golf course in Montreal to perform the wedding ceremony. They had hoped to have the wedding outdoors. The weather had not cooperated and the grounds master would not allow it to occur on the grass. This was the beginning of many challenges with this wedding. When I checked in with the groom, I found him so nervous that I thought he would faint at any moment. She had forgotten a get a glass for the “Breaking the Glass” ritual and reached around and gave me a standard wine glass from the bar. I needed to hunt around and haul a table so that we could do the signing. By the time the ceremony began, two water column vases had been knocked over and broken. As the bride walked down the aisle, she almost tripped over the runner. Her bridesmaids were not in the right order at the front and her parents got confused in where they were to sit. All this before I started talking at the ceremony.

I love this bride. She could have freaked out at any time. Instead, she took it all in stride and focused on what was important – she was marrying her man. It was fitting that one of her readings was the following:

“Treat yourselves and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficult and fear assail your relationship – as they threaten all relationships at one time or another – remember to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the sun in your lives – remembering that even if you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be marked by abundance and delight.”

I later received an email thanking me for all the laughs and tears on her big day – a day that is now a fond memory.

Mark maintains total creative control of the art. A new ‘2nd shooter’ must train with him for at least a year before he will allow them to be a ‘1st shooter’ representing his company. They must accompany him on the busy fifty weddings a year that Mark personally photographs. Photo editing is processed by one person so that the Mark Cooper dramatic fashion look is consistently applied. A bride and groom can be assured that they will get the photos they imagined when they chose him to capture their important event.

Brides and grooms get what they want, Mark affirms, great pictures, a great experience at a great value. Mark Cooper Photography aims to make wedding photography simple. He offers an all inclusive package which includes the majority of services and products requested by clients as an alternative to selecting from numerous a la carte options.
“This is a great business,” says Mark, “You get to hang out with happy people.” I found the same thing. On one day, you make a big impact on a couple’s lives. His advice to brides and grooms considering wedding photographers is to consider that there is only one shot for your wedding photography. A professional wedding photographer is expected to deliver high quality images every time under any circumstances that arise. Therefore, you should look for a photographer who has depth, diversity, style and the right “feel” in the images.
We go back to figuring out the new display technology. It is part of keeping on top of a quickly moving industry – honing new skills while keeping an eye on delivering great photos.