A weekend getaway wedding for Danielle and Zee at Le Chateau Montebello

by Erica Irwin | Jul 2, 2024 | Featured Weddings, Ottawa Wedding Planning

A weekend getaway wedding for Danielle and Zee at Le Chateau Montebello

I am thrilled to share the story of Danielle and Zee’s enchanting wedding at Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello, a stunning venue just an hour from Ottawa. After 18 months of planning with the bride Danielle and her Mom Ann, I am so proud of the wedding weekend we were able to give to this precious family. Danielle and Zee’s wedding was nothing short of a magical weekend getaway for the couple and their guests, filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments. Let me take you through their special day and give you a glimpse of what a weekend wedding at Le Chateau Montebello can offer.

Colourful Summer Wedding | Fairmont Le Chateau Montebello | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events | Scott H Wilson Photography

A Royal Affair by the Ottawa River

When I first started planning this wedding with Danielle and her mom, we jokingly dubbed it a “Lake Como inspired wedding … but on the Ottawa River.” Danielle and Zee envisioned a weekend retreat with their closest friends and family, where Danielle’s family could introduce Zee’s American loved ones to one of their cherished vacation spots Le Chateau Montebello.

They wanted to exchange their vows by the water, surrounded by nature’s beauty, and then celebrate in the grand yet cozy log “cabin”. Danielle’s Dad fondly referred to it as the “Royal Wedding,” and it truly lived up to its name.

The Charm and History of Chateau Montebello

Built in 1930, Chateau Montebello has a rich history and a charming character that makes it not just a venue but a piece of Canadian history. Situated in the forest and along the waterfront of the Ottawa River, it’s halfway between Ottawa and Montreal giving guests the option to fly into either landmark city for a Canadian destination wedding.
As the largest log cabin structure in the world, it makes for a warm and inviting getaway to host your favourite people. Even with a large group, it’s an intimate way to celebrate your wedding weekend with everyone you love all in one location.

The Weekend Begins: Welcome Party on Friday

Some guests began arriving on Wednesday and trickled in until everyone was onsite by Friday, setting the stage for a weekend filled with celebration. There were trips to the spa, relaxing by the outdoor pool, rounds of golf, pickleball and tennis games and drinks by the fireplace in the lobby. Then the wedding festivities kicked off with a welcome party on Friday night, featuring an authentic French Canadian BBQ feast, bonfires, smores and music. Guests mingled and got to know each other, setting the tone for a warm and inviting weekend ahead.

The Wedding Day: Saturday’s main event

Overall Design

Danielle’s vision for the wedding was vibrant and colourful, with pale wood accents and an abundance of florals. Both Danielle and Zee prioritized exquisite food and drinks, complemented by a fantastic band to ensure it was a party not soon forgotten.

We had The Digs from Sole Power Toronto to ensure the musical experience was nothing short of spectacular.

Ceremony by the Waterfront

For the ceremony, Danielle envisioned bright, colourful florals arranged in a semi-circle by the waterfront, light wood chairs, an aisle lined in florals, a white aisle runner and all the people they care about watching them exchange rings and their heartfelt vows. It was a scene straight out of a magazine. We had some weather challenges with a storm brewing and set to hit around the ceremony and cocktail hour time. We had planned for a beautiful outdoor ceremony but knew we had a tent as a backup option, but our bride really wanted the ceremony by the water and I wanted this vision to come to life for our couple. Our floral design would have been nice in the tent but spectacular by the water.

Obsessively checking the radar, conferring with all the vendors on the team and worrying on my end we made the decision to GO FOR IT. The radar was showing a 30-minute break in the rain which is all we needed. It felt like we were gambling a bit, but we won the prize with a beautiful waterfront ceremony. The bride’s Mom Ann said “We had some weather to deal with on the day, they wanted the ceremony to be outside. Without questioning, Erica coordinated with all the vendors, kept an eye on the radar and helped create such a memorable experience for our daughter and son-in-law, for us and for our guests.”

We ended up whisking the couple away in a golf cart afterwards, and getting the guests safely inside before the skies opened up with heavy rainfall! Our couple got their dream ceremony by the water though, and that’s all that counts!

Cocktail Hour Extravaganza with a touch of furry love

During cocktail hour, guests indulged in a luxurious oyster bar and a shrimp cocktail tower, while servers circulated with hot canapes including a nod to our French location with foie gras.

Guests sipped on Veuve Clicquot and two signature cocktails, perfectly capturing the celebratory spirit. The bride’s Maid of Honour Julie designed a monogram featured throughout the wedding including on three custom wood bars as well as a watercolour of each of the couple’s dogs, Pippa and Rory.

The two signature drinks were named after the fur babies and featured on little stir sticks that went into each “The Pippa” and “The Rory” drink.

The main attraction at cocktail hour though was the oversized seating chart, which was designed by Wedecor and included a large, framed watercolour of Pippa with the words “Pippa’s approved list”, covered in bright florals for guests to find their seats. It was also a favourite spot for guests to take their photos!

Reception Transformation

The reception took place in the Outaouais room, which we transformed from a boring conference room into a breathtaking and inviting space. To give a better blank canvas to start from, rich drapery in a warm champagne covered all the walls. Four dance floors were combined in the center of the room then covered in white vinyl with a large custom watercolour monogram created by the Maid of Honour, Julie.

This gave a large dance area in front of the band’s stage for this fun crowd, but also covered about a third of the room’s busy carpeting. Florals from the ceremony were repurposed to cover the front of the band’s stage and other florals were placed at the ends of the long harvest tables and the bottom of the seating chart.

The pièce de resistance though was the floral ceiling piece over the dance floor, that our couple and their guests just couldn’t stop ogling, designed and installed by Wedecor. This one piece took days of work on skyjacks to complete but was truly a masterpiece and was the highlight of reception space.

A mix of long light wood harvest tables and creamy velvet linen covered round tables, adorned with candles and bright florals, created a warm and inviting ambiance for a beautiful dinner.

Guests were blown away by the tablescape which included not just one but three charger plates, beautiful custom glassware including a blue water goblet, a custom menu in blue with the couple’s watercolour monogram and matching seating cards. The couple and even the hotel staff kept saying “I can’t believe this is the Outaouais room!”

Sweetheart Table

Danielle and Zee chose a sweetheart table to enjoy some quiet moments during dinner. This spot was meticulously designed to ensure all their photos throughout the evening captured the magic. The floral piece that cascaded down was the perfect highlight in all the couple’s candid photos throughout the night.

Decadent Desserts

Skipping the traditional wedding cake, Danielle and Zee opted for a French patisserie table, offering profiterole towers, éclairs, macarons and crème brûlée. Later in the evening, guests enjoyed late-night snacks including poutine, cinnamon sugar donuts, and pizza, adding a delicious and fun twist to the celebration.

A Seamless Experience with Heartfelt Support

I’ve been working with the events team at the Chateau Montebello for 13 years and know them very well. We customize and personalize every aspect of our couples’ wedding, from bespoke menus and signature cocktails to unique decor and themed events to ensure every wedding is unique to the two people getting married. They truly believe in making every guest’s stay one to remember, and their eagerness to please is one that I deeply appreciate.

Our bride Danielle had the sweetest words to say about their wedding weekend.

I don’t even know where to begin! No words describe what Erica meant to our wedding. We worked with Erica from the beginning. She helped us pick our venue and all our vendors. The network she has built in the industry is incredibly valuable, so with her direction, we knew we’d be working with the best of the best. Wedding planning can be very overwhelming, and I often found it hard to make decisions or verbalize my vision, but Erica knew exactly the look we were going for and worked with all our vendors to make it happen. The best part of working with Erica is how kind she is. She treats you like her own family and has your back through the whole process. All our friends and family were obsessed with Erica by the end of the weekend. On our wedding day, neither of us felt stressed or nervous, we were able to completely enjoy the day because we knew Erica’s team had everything covered. If you’re on the fence about using a planner, just do it! It makes everything so much more enjoyable, you will not regret it.

Danielle’s Mom was also an integral part of our planning. I loved that she said

We worked with Erica for over 18 months and she helped us through every detail. Erica was so familiar with our daughter’s vision and style that when it came to the actual day, we felt like we had a family member on our side making sure the day was truly magical.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve grown close to Danielle, Zee, and their families, and my goal was to provide them with the best weekend ever, leaving all the details and logistics to us. Chateau Montebello is a large resort, so I brought a bigger team with me to ensure our couple and their families always saw one of us throughout the wedding day. We pulled it off too, Danielle said

It was truly the best weekend of our lives and we could not have done it without Erica and her team!

I want to thank the Chateau Montebello venue team and every vendor who brought this vision to life, helping make this day one to never forget for our couple. I especially want to thank Wedecor who tirelessly brought all the ideas we had into an actual design and executed it flawlessly. I also want to say a special thanks to Scott Wilson and Jinbon Lau, our photo and video team, who not only captured this beautiful couple’s wedding day, but also helped make it fun and relaxing.

Comment below or contact me directly if you want to know more about planning a Canadian destination wedding or specifically a Chateau Montebello wedding. It’s the perfect waterfront wedding option if you are looking at an Ottawa wedding venue but willing to travel just a little bit. It’s luxury wedding meets rustic wedding venue meets log cabin wedding. Plus you would get to work with an experienced Canadian Wedding Planner who knows how to execute a weekend getaway wedding!

Your exceptional wedding and planning experience starts here

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Bonus Video!

On top of all the beautiful photos, Danielle and Zee have wonderful memories captured in video by Films by Jinbon. Enjoy this sneak peak and get a feel for why Le Chateau Montebello was one of their cherished vacation spots.

Up Next!

Next up, I will be sharing Ottawa’s best venue if you are looking for indoor and outdoor spaces with a view to kill! You won’t want to miss this gorgeous venue option!

POST INFO AND CREDITS

Published on July 2nd 2024
Venue Fairmont Chateau Montebello
Photography Scott H Wilson Photography
Videography Films by Jinbon
Décor, florals, rentals and stationery Wedecor
Makeup team One Fine Beauty
Hair team Showpony Hair
Ceremony and Cocktail music Canto Sentimento Strings
Reception Music Sole Power’s The Digs

← National Gallery of Canada - Ottawa’s most prestigious wedding venue

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Fairmont Chateau Laurier – Ottawa’s most iconic wedding venue

by Erica Irwin | Feb 26, 2024 | Ottawa Wedding Planning, Wedding Venues

Venue Review Part 3: Fairmont Chateau Laurier - Ottawa’s most iconic wedding venue

Step into a venue where time stands still, where every room is steeped in history, where generations of newlyweds have walked the marbled floors, danced a first dance under the chandeliers. This is the fairytale castle that brides tell me they dreamed of getting married at since they were little. It’s also the venue where sometimes even their parents were married so it has great meaning to the family. The hotel has hosted all major dignitaries and celebrities and is a true luxury wedding venue.

This historic and iconic landmark is our 120-year-old castle nestled in the heart of downtown Ottawa. Grand ballrooms, high opulent ceilings, luxurious suites with the service level and cuisine that the Fairmont brand of hotels is known for. It’s a statement venue that exudes opulence, but fair warning, its interiors are a bold proclamation of luxury, you either love it or it’s not your thing. This is not a neutral space, less light and airy, more moody castle vibes.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier Adam Room foyer - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

Time for another review with your expert guide in all downtown wedding venue options! Make sure you don’t miss Part 1: The National Arts Centre (NAC) and Part 2: Ottawa Westin’s Venue TwentyTwo! Let me equip you with the information you need to pick the perfect wedding venue for your unforgettable day. I am reviewing a beautiful historical wedding venue today, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Let’s start with all the reasons I love this venue.

The pros

There is only one Fairmont Chateau Laurier, it is a true statement venue. There are no other spaces that have a similar style or the classic heritage look and feel of this beautiful hotel.

Many venues only have one or two spaces for wedding receptions but this venue has four luxe spaces to consider depending on the size of your guest list. The Laurier room, the Drawing room, the Adam room and then the biggest of them all the Ballroom.

Each reception room has their own distinct style and colour scheme and is best for different guest counts.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Laurier room - Agatha Rowland | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

The Laurier room is the smallest of the reception spaces and is perfect for guest counts of under 125 in my opinion. It has its own private foyer for your cocktail hour situated at the end of the French Corridor. The terrace can be used for beautiful golden hour photos. It has 18-foot ceilings with eight chandeliers, candelabra style wall sconces, two mirrored walls and Roman columns around the perimeter of the room that give this reception room warmth and intimacy. It’s likely the most neutral of the spaces at Chateau Laurier, mainly cream with the exception of the burgundy drapes.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Drawing room - Lauren McCormick photography | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

The Drawing room is a beautiful corner room which is due for a full refresh by March 2024 to remove the hints of green you see in this photo. It’s the perfect size for weddings of 125-145. The room has unique alcoves in each corner, a sculpted ceiling with ornate detailing, five chandeliers as well as wall sconces that lend a warmth to this space. One of my favourite parts of the Drawing room is the foyer just outside where you would hold your cocktail hour. It’s a large space that is sectioned off but holds so much of the character of this heritage hotel which makes it a grand space to host your guests while they mingle before dinner.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier Adam Room - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

The Adam room is one of my favourites since it’s the perfect size to host weddings of 130-170 guests. Known as the “Wedgwood” or “Oval” Room, the Adam Room was named after the British architect Robert Adam. This luxurious room is a unique start to your wedding design with ornate sculpted ceilings, three massive crystal chandeliers, two mirrored walls and an oval shape.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier Ballroom - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

As the grandest room, the Ballroom has welcomed Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and numerous other famous people and politicians. With an 18-foot ceiling, the ballroom is decorated in a Renaissance-style making it a luxury reception room easily hosting up to 250 guests. Soaring windows along one wall are reflected in the numerous mirrors surrounding the room and provide natural light for daytime events

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Canadian room ceremony - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

For ceremony spaces we have generally seen couples use the Canadian room which is located on the lower level. It’s a space that is very long and narrow with no windows. Though it does carry some of the character of the rest of the Chateau Laurier it isn’t as opulent of a space.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Laurier room ceremony - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

A better ceremony option is to consider booking for example the Laurier room or the Drawing room. This is for couples who want the grandness of the Chateau Laurier to extend to their ceremony as well as their reception. The higher ceilings and chandeliers in these rooms lend to this.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, cuisine - Agatha Rowland | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

The Chateau Laurier offers an elevated culinary experience truly living up to the Fairmont brand of excellence. They have white glove service which is an elegant touch for your guest experience. The wedding packages I prefer are the ones that include restaurant-style ordering which means guests choose their main course in the moment and it saves you from having to track guest meal choices in their RSVPs. It’s also nice for guests to be able to choose what they are in the mood for then, not having to decide months before. The Chateau Laurier is the only venue I know of offering this option. They are also willing to create specialty menu items and collaborate on how to elevate the guest dining experience with innovative presentation. At one fall wedding, I worked with their pastry chef to create a unique dessert display featuring a few of the couples favourite sweets.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Couple getting married - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

I can tell you from personal experience that supportive staff makes all the difference in ensuring you have an enjoyable, stress-free wedding. From pre-sales to the banquet team, the Chateau Laurier staff is focused on serving their couples. With years of experience, and a commitment to going that extra mile, my experience is that weddings just run smoothly at Chateau Laurier. As a Planner, I appreciate how there is always someone on hand during your wedding day or they are a text away. At one recent wedding, our couple wanted guests to feel like true VIPs. The Chateau team and I collaborated to create a very formal guest entrance with several white gloved servers with trays of Veuve Clicquot champagne lining the hallway as guests moved from ceremony to cocktail. Guests were so impressed!

Fairmont Chateau Laurier, Prime Minister suite - Grey Loft Studio | Erica Irwin Weddings and Events

Lastly, the Chateau Laurier is not just a venue, it’s also a hotel! Imagine the convenience of having easy access to your honeymoon suite for those moments of freshening up, changing, or simply catching your breath. Your out-of-town guests can enjoy your wedding to the fullest without the hassle of timing or transportation and your wedding party can take advantage of beautiful and comfortable rooms for getting ready.. If you opt for an on-site ceremony, a secondary getting-ready location is also included. This allows you to seamlessly transition from photos to ceremony to reception, all in one location.

The cons

If you’re considering hosting your wedding at the Chateau Laurier, there are some important details to keep in mind. As one of their preferred wedding Planners, I can assist you in navigating these intricacies.

While the venue’s team is fantastic to collaborate with, similar to many other venues, they do not provide a ‘day-of coordinator.’ Therefore, having your own Planner who has guided you this far will also greatly benefit you on your wedding day, as numerous essential tasks fall outside the scope of the venue’s events team or banquet manager.

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Having a Planner who is well-versed in the Chateau Laurier’s event procedures and team dynamics will ensure seamless execution, prompt resolution of any last-minute issues, and ultimately ensure an experience you, your families, and your guests would enjoy to the fullest!

Next, the Chateau Laurier is a statement venue that offers a very distinct “look” that you will either love or it’s not your thing. If you seek a blank space to make your own that is flooded with natural light, Chateau Laurier is not the ideal choice, as it’s known for its unique aesthetic. So ensure it would fit with your style and vision for your wedding before you get too attached.

While it’s wonderful that the Chateau Laurier offers four stunning spaces, it’s crucial to understand that each reception room has a minimum spend requirement, typically associated with the number of guests. It’s always better to work with Planner early on to ensure the room you desire aligns with your budget and guest count. Don’t start falling in love with the Ballroom and then not be able to meet the minimum spend requirement. This can be very disappointing. Trust me.

Each room boasts a particular style, which significantly influences your design options. For instance, the Laurier Room features a more neutral colour scheme, but if it’s too small for your guest count, you’ll need to explore other options.

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Each reception space has different carpet, paint colour, chandeliers, ceiling architecture and other unique elements that when considered early on can be worked into and enhance your decor decisions. I have planned weddings in all of the spaces and know how to work with each of them.

Lastly, as the Chateau Laurier is conveniently located in downtown Ottawa, parking is limited and is reserved for hotel room guests only due to the current expansion of the hotel. It is important to add parking information with your invitations or your wedding website. There are many options but guests should be aware of the parking situation ahead of time. Often, I hear that couples are having a hard time starting their ceremony on time due to guests who didn’t leave enough time to park. As a Planner familiar with this venue, I have some tricks to make sure your ceremony starts on time!

Recap

R Historic luxury venue
R Diverse reception spaces
R Exceptional cuisine
R Experienced staff
R On-site accommodations
Q Very distinct design to work with
Q Limited parking

Having done countless weddings at the Chateau Laurier, I am very familiar with their team and their spaces. Let me guide you from your first venue tour to the day your fairytale wedding vision comes to life, enjoying every step along the way.

Please feel free to ask questions in the comments.

Your exceptional wedding and planning experience starts here

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Book a consultation

Bonus Video!

I was fortunate to have Grey Loft Studio at some of my favourite Chateau Laurier weddings in 2023 and they produced these fabulous room tour videos for me! You’ll also find some room reveal videos in the Couples section of the site along with the couples’ testimonial. Enjoy!

Adam Room

Up Next!

Next on my blog is the National Gallery of Canada, my last downtown wedding venue review in this series!

POST INFO AND CREDITS

Published on Feb 26th 2024
Photography by Grey Loft Studio, Agatha Rowland Photography, Lauren McCormick Photography
Videography by Grey Loft Studio
Décor, florals, rentals and stationery by Wedecor

← Ottawa Westin TwentyTwo – Downtown venue with the best view National Gallery of Canada - Ottawa’s most prestigious wedding venue →

If you liked this post …

Be sure to read my other posts in this serious on our fabulous Ottawa wedding venues!

National Gallery of Canada – Ottawa’s most prestigious wedding venue

The National Gallery is for couples who really want to WOW their guests with a luxury wedding venue. Housing Canada’s most treasured works of art, this is a true guest experience that will not be easily forgotten. Let me take you through everything you need to know about hosting your wedding here.

Fairmont Chateau Laurier – Ottawa’s most iconic wedding venue

Fairmont Chateau Laurier is Ottawa’s most iconic downtown wedding venue. It’s our castle in the city with the amenities of a hotel. A true luxury option to host your wedding day and wow your guests. Let me take you through everything you should consider before saying “yes” to this Ottawa treasure.

Ottawa Westin TwentyTwo – Downtown venue with the best view

An elegant glass box perched on the top of the Ottawa Westin, TwentyTwo offers the best views of our Nation’s Capital skyline. With the convenience of an upscale hotel, floor to ceiling windows, excellent service and food there are many pros, but as always there are things to consider.

National Arts Centre (NAC) – A Downtown Ottawa Wedding Gem

The NAC is located right in the heart of downtown Ottawa. It’s proximity to Parliament Hill, the canal, and our beautiful hotels makes it a true downtown wedding venue. With light-filled ceremony and reception areas, its one of the prettiest, neutral spaces in the city but there are a few things to be aware of if you are considering this wedding venue.

Ultimate Pricing Comparison of the Top 5 Downtown Ottawa Wedding Venues

The biggest question when choosing your venue is usually around pricing. Since all venues have different packages and line items, it’s not easy to make a true comparison. Let’s get started with our Top 5 downtown Ottawa venue price comparison!

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Sophie & Andre

by Erica Irwin | Feb 18, 2024 | Kind Words

Sophie & Andre

Luxury white summer wedding at Fairmont Chateau Laurier Adam room with ceremony at family church in Quyon

We could not have imagined a more perfect wedding day and no words can truly describe the happiness we felt.

Bride and groom in the Adam Room at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier - photo by Grey Loft Studio

We had a vision for our wedding and Erica made it happen, she is truly exceptional! We could not have imagined a more perfect wedding day and no words can truly describe the happiness we felt. She exceeded our expectations and working with her was one of the best decisions we made! Erica is thoughtful, kind, affable, professional, organized, reliable and efficient. She has her clients best interest at heart and our family & friends loved her.

I personally initially was very hesitant to hire a wedding planner since I’m quite organized and wanted to be very involved in the decision making/planning. However, my husband encouraged me because we are so busy. Am I ever happy I listened to him!! I can say that Erica will seamlessly adapt to your style and cater to your individual needs. She knew when to ask our input and she knew when to make some decisions without us. She also knew how to triage the urgency of various decisions to make. She had various tools and timelines to keep our planning on track through out the process. She has a lot of experience so she knows when things aren’t feasible and doesn’t hesitate to reach out to other vendors when needed. She also has great recommendations for vendors that suit your vision. She is very well connected and respected within the wedding industry and can get replies very quickly. I had a last minute hiccup on the day before my wedding and Erica managed to solve it without any issues. She has an excellent team on her side which also offered behind the scenes help during the planning process and wedding day.

This goes without saying that we 110% recommend Erica and her team! Our wedding day would not have been the same without her. With her on board you can rest assured that you will be well taken care of, you will have an amazing day and any crisis you have will be solved!

Sophie & Andre

Venue: Fairmont Chateau Laurier – Adam Room – Ottawa, Ontario
Photo and Video Credits: Grey Loft Studio – Ottawa, Ontario

← Shirley & Stewart Stephanie & Mike →

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Shirley & Stewart

by Erica Irwin | Feb 16, 2024 | Kind Words

Shirley & Stewart

White and blush summer wedding at Fairmont Chateau Laurier ceremony in the Canadian room with reception in the Laurier Room

Erica was our Fairy Godmother and choosing to work with her was the best decision we made when planning our wedding. She became someone we could truly trust and rely on. I knew that whenever Erica stepped in, everything would be okay.

Bride and groom in the Laurier Room at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier - photo by Grey Loft Studio

Erica was our Fairy Godmother and choosing to work with her was the best decision we made when planning our wedding.

Right from the start I knew Erica was different from other planners. She spent an hour on the phone with me talking through my vision, dream wedding, priorities/ how we’d want to spend our budget, and every other detail. After our initial call, Erica went ahead and booked a series of venue tours of our top picks JUST IN CASE we’d say yes to working with her! She was so organized and proactive that it made me feel like I could really lean on her (especially important since my husband and I do not live in Ottawa/ know anything about weddings/ vendors).

Throughout the entire year and a half of working with Erica, not only did she allow us to actually enjoy our entire wedding planning process by taking on all the hours of planning and coordinating, but she did everything with our best interests in mind and had our backs throughout all the ups and downs. She became someone we could truly trust and rely on. I knew that whenever Erica stepped in, everything would be okay. To top it all off, she was so obviously amazing & on top of everything during our actual wedding weekend that so many of our friends and family even commented to us saying “WOW Erica is incredible!!”

All that being said, if you are on the fence about choosing Erica as your wedding planner, do yourself a favour AND SAY YES!! She is the best and I’m so sad we don’t get to spend more time with her now that our wedding has happened.

Shirley & Stewart

Venue: Fairmont Chateau Laurier – Laurier Room / Canadian Room – Ottawa, Ontario
Photo and Video Credits: Grey Loft Studio – Ottawa, Ontario

← Chloe & Lars Sophie & Andre →

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Chloe & Lars

by Erica Irwin | Feb 15, 2024 | Kind Words

Chloe & Lars

Summer wedding at Fairmont Chateau Montebello with a ceremony by the water and reception in the Canada room

From start to finish, Erica made the event planning for our wedding weekend so easy and fun. Having her there meant we could both truly enjoy every single moment of our day with 100% confidences – which was absolutely priceless.

Bride and groom in the Canada room of Chateau Montebello photo by Union Eleven Photographers

From start to finish, Erica made the event planning for our wedding weekend so easy and fun. She had advice and a suggestion for every little aspect, brought together our random ideas in a gorgeous cohesive way and fixed anything that went wrong, always with a smile on her face. Throughout the process, Erica kept us organised and made our time as efficient as possible while also making every step fun, and we always looked forward to our calls with her. She is an incredibly positive and professional problem-solver and you can rest assured that with her on board, absolutely nothing will go wrong (because she’ll sort it out without even telling you what happened!). Having her there meant we could both truly enjoy every single moment of our day with 100% confidences – which was absolutely priceless. Plus, all the vendors she suggested were complete rock stars. Our venue Chateau Montebello was also OBSESSED with Erica which tells you everything you need to know. She is just the best!

Chloe & Lars