Get Married In Ottawa this Summer - Say I Do InStyle!

Summer is "almost" in the air and this brings tourists from near and far to our amazing capital city looking to say "I do" 

We have been receiving alot of calls lately of people looking to say an impromptu "I Do" while visiting Ottawa and have heard that City Hall is booked until the end of the summer. Lucky for both us AND the couple .... City Hall is a place you go to apply for your divorce - NOT start your life as a newly married couple!

Weddings InStyle is nestled in the historic Byward Market in downtown Ottawa. Old-world charm meets modern amenities. Here, your guests will be surrounded with natural sunlight, exposed brick, hardwood floors, and a very New York Loft feel.  Our Wedding Chapel is pre-decorated, private and intimate. So imagine, chic, elegance, style and exchanging vows by candlelight.

We at Weddings InStyle are here to serve you at the highest level. Whether you are 2 people and needing witnesses to make it legal or 100 people looking to enjoy a full blown affair.  We work with local and  international couples who all share one common goal and dream of having the most memorable wedding possible.  

We have our own in-house officiants who are onsite and available at a moment's notice to perform:

•               Religious Marriages

•               Secular Marriages

•               Non-denominational Marriages

•               Same-sex Marriages

•               Inter-faith Marriages

•               Multilingual Marriages

For those couples coming in from out of town: fret not, we can provide you with all of the information that you need for obtaining your marriage license and any documents required to enter Country. Our resident Concierge will also be happy to recommend and arrange accommodations, dining, entertainment and honeymooning suggestion in Ottawa or Canada.  

No request is too big or small ... We, are at YOUR service - Think of us like your own Personal Wedding Concierge.

Wish away .... and welcome to Ottawa.

July Promotion For Our Social Media Friends!!!!

During the month of July our Social Media Friends can get married Monday - Friday 9-4pm for the low price of $299 + HST. That's right! For a limited time offer, you can get married InStyle for less than what City Hall is charging, and without all the imposed restrictions. 

When all you want is something simple. Our offer includes:
·      A private ceremony performed by a Weddings InStyle officiant
·      Pre-Decorated setting
·      Floral Decor & Lit Candles

Gone are the days of thinking that City Hall and Las Vegas are your only options for a quick, uncomplicated exchanging of vows. 

Midweek weddings are becoming more popular with couples who want to save money or avoid having to wait years for their wedding day. Intimate weddings are really hot right now and are the trend for 2011. Brides are going for a more personal and comfortable approach. It’s all about gathering your family & friends and celebrating your marriage InStyle!  “Having a small wedding doesn’t mean having to settle. "Thank you Weddings InStyle for giving us the wedding we never knew we could have! We will be forever grateful to you!” This was a quote from one of our weddings who were booked at City Hall and cancelled upon learning about us.(see website/gratitude section for full quote).

So you see, you don’t need to compromise when it comes to your wedding day. The day of the week you choose to get married on doesn’t dictate whether or not you will live happily ever after … well maybe it does, as a little extra money in anyone’s pocket is reason enough to be happy. 

So now you want to know how do you qualify for this July promotion right? We like to keep things simple, so all you have to do is "Like" us on Facebook - Weddings InStyle or Follow us on Twitter - Weddings InStyle  then call us and see what dates are still available. 613-440-4446

Review us!

Wedding Season is officially upon us and we think REAL testimonials & reviews are the best way for other aspiring couples to learn about Weddings InStyle.  We are so confident about the level of service we offer and the stress we melt away, but  perhaps we are a little bias, so this is where you come in.  We are asking for your help, by asking you to share your thoughts, experience and story for other couples to read.  Whether you recently celebrated your own wedding or a friend’s, are a vendor or perhaps have worked with us, please take a moment and let us know what you thought of our services: Rating Your Experience With Weddings InStyle

Quality Of Service On your biggest day, the quality of service from your vendors makes all the difference! Your vendor's ability to pay attention to details and follow through on their contract goes a long way in making your day one to remember.  Responsiveness It is absolutely important to have a responsive vendor. Unresponsive vendors can lead to unnecessary stress during the overall wedding planning process.  Professionalism Your wedding is a lifetime milestone that will forever be remembered. It is important to have a professional wedding vendor who will fulfill their duties while treating you respectfully.  Value for Cost Weddings are a once-in-a-lifetime occasion so it is natural to push the budget. However, there is still a distinction between value and cost.  Flexibility No wedding ever executes flawlessly from start to finish. Vendors that can work with you and adjust to your schedule can dramatically reduce the strain of the planning process.  Follow this link to review us: Click here to Review Us - Wedding Wire Thanking you in advance for your time & your review!

What an honour ...

Amanda O’Reilly, founder of InStyle & Co which consists of three separate entities; Balance InStyle, Weddings InStyle & Events InStyle was awarded the Ottawa Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award this past Monday May 1st, 2011.

OBJ Article highlights the 2011 recipients and the criteria used to reach their decision.

“This year’s list of 40 recipients proves Ottawa has the talent, creativity and the ‘jazz’ that goes along with moving a city forward into a vibrant place to work and live. The city is alive and well,” said Michael Burnatowski, OCRI Entrepreneurship Centre manager and one of the panel of judges determining the awards.  The committee included Mr. Burnatowski, University of Ottawa Telfer EMBA director Terry Kulka, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce executive director Erin Kelly, CellWand Communications CEO Nick Quain, OBJ editor Peter Kovessy and OBJ publisher Michael Curran, who also chaired the process. The judges collectively spent around 100 hours reviewing and ranking each of the submissions. All nominations were assessed according to a 40-point system: 20 points for business achievement, 10 points for expertise and 10 points for community involvement. “I really like the way the award itself is structured. It is a balanced scorecard, with a slight tilt to business achievements. It is a great way to think about what it takes to be a business leader in the city. It’s not just about business expertise – it is about being a part of the community,” said Mr. Kulka.

Amanda has a lot in common with her clients and understands the need to have things done quickly and without compromise. “To do” lists are a constant in people’s lives; it seems that as quickly as one list is checked off, another list is started. “Understanding our clients’ individual needs, building long-term, trusting relationships, and valuing client confidentiality are the standard at InStyle.

Balance InStyle opened its doors in 2006 and was the first in Ottawa to provide lifestyle management solutions from leisure to luxury all the way down to the routine and mundane. In 2007 Balance InStyle opened it’s second location in Naples Florida catering to snowbirds. 

Also in 2007, Amanda co-founded the Canadian Concierge Association to offer support and advice to those wishing to start their own Concierge Business after learning the ropes the hard way.

After running her business out of her home for the first few years Amanda decided it was time to take her game to the next level and took up residence at 107 Murray Street in the heart of the Byward Market.

In 2009 Weddings InStyle was created to offer couples opting for an intimate glamorous affair an alternative. "Budgets might be tight these days, but that doesn’t mean that style and romance are going away."

Civil weddings or bigger than “BIG” Sex in the City weddings were the options at hand, before Weddings InStyle. There were no turnkey full service options available in the downtown core that could accommodate 2–90 guests without compromise. In 2010 Amanda also became a licensed wedding officiant thus having the privileged to also perform ceremonies.

Events InStyle completes the trio. Offering premier event planning solutions that are a reflection of personal style that are customized to meet individual needs. 

Amanda is so passionate about her business and her clients and this is evident in everything that she puts her InStyle signature to.

Amanda and her team give back on a regular basis through the generosity of their clients. When re-organizing, purging or staging client homes, they often come across unwanted clothing, toys, and household items which they in turn donate directly to various women & children based shelters.

In 2005 Amanda co-founded the 100 Man Run and has helped raise over $100,000 for The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation a cause which is near and dear to her heart.

Amanda maintains that this award is a collaborative effort and is very thankful for her team, her vendors, friends and family who never lost faith in her vision, passion and determination to bring something new and InStyle to Ottawa.

New wedding trends shake things up

CNN is reporting on the trends we can expect for weddings for the coming 2011 season. Andrea Correale, owner of Elegant Affairs in New York, shares tips on wedding trends that will be making a buzz in 2011 and ones that should be avoided altogether.

A major trend with wedding receptions is mixing the shapes and sizes of tables. It's one of the quickest ways to switch things up at a wedding, yet it's a rather unique trend.

The days of just doing round tables of 10 are pretty much over.

So mix them up: Have a triangular table, raise some up, throw in different types of chairs and stools that complement each other. Also, people are getting rid of assigned seating. If you want to make it one big fab extravaganza, create a setting that allows for people to get up and move around, like a lounge, and allow people to sit where they want to sit. Ditch the nameplates.

Wedding planners are in for 2011 and its about time! An average wedding takes about two to three hundred hours to plan. Wedding coordinators used to be a luxury, but now it is essential to a well-planned event.   Hiring one saves you both time and money not to mention your sanity.

Another trend that are up and coming is holding a wedding reception at brunch time, you can get away with having a fabulous event without really breaking the bank. Brunch food items are less expensive, and you can always have a nice easy morning punch, like a cocktail or passion fruit juice mix. Couples can do this in lieu of having a nighttime reception.

With money being tight these days there are alternative trends for the wedding gifts. More people are being environmentally friendly and charity-friendly these days and asking for donations instead of gifts. I believe it has something to do with the economy. With all the recent events going on, more people are being driven to give, and they want to share that feeling with their guests. Donations to charities are becoming another trend that seems to be replacing the traditional wedding gift and reduces pressure on guests and their decisions of what to give.

Couples are thinking out of the box for locations to get married. The trendy places to hold a weddings, are venues that create a setting of togetherness. A place where people are breaking bread together, be it serving dinner family style on long tables, having salads in the center and drinking fine wine while being in a place that feels like home.

One trend that couples should avoid at their weddings, is don't be predictable. Stay away from the traditional timing of a wedding. Typically, you have the first dance, people sit down for the flower-throwing, and so on and so forth.

Take away some of the rigidness. Mess it up a little. Maybe you do the toast before you cut the cake, or as a couple, you can do the toast yourselves. You can move around the room to break up the strict formality of the event. Just keep it a little loose and clean so that the wedding itself becomes a surprise.

Happy Planning! We at Weddings InStyle are here to serve our couples at the highest level and look forward to meeting you someday soon.