So you found the one! And he/she/they/you popped the big question! Now what?!
Wedding planning. Yikes!
If you are going through this process, you know the pressure (from within and without) to make the day fun, organized and special for our guests, our families and ourselves. It’s not just about traditions anymore, it also must be personal, creative, artistic and eco-friendly while somehow not breaking the bank or creating a world of stress.
I’m planning my own wedding, and know I want the perfect combo of personal touch, a great party and affordability. To those of you in the same boat, or to the betrothed, the super organized future-planners, the wedding obsessed, and all those crafty types who just love a hand-made good time: you’re in luck. Ottawa’s fourth annual Wed By Hand Show is back. There will be DIY workshops ranging from budget planning, designing the perfect dessert table, ceremony prep, and my personal favourite: how to use screen printing to personalize your wedding.
But wait! Just like a proper wedding buffet, that’s not all. There will be over 40 local and eco-friendly vendors and goodies (Emulsify, Tartine Paperie…) You can sample tasty treats both savoury and sweet (Hearty Bakery, Thyme & Again Catering, Havana Café, and more), pamper yourself with a mini spa treatment (for men and women), check out local photographers of varying prices and styles, try on new and consignment wedding dresses, and practice your dance moves to the sounds of Ballroom Blitz, a real wedding DJ who will be spinning on scene. And if you are seeking thematic shelter from the prevailing Arctic air mass, you’re in luck… this year’s motif is “Paris in the Spring”.
And if eco-friendly, handmade and DIY is not enough to convince you, consider this: a portion of all proceeds go to the Venus Envy Bursary Fund, a local charity that supports the continuing education of local women and transgendered individuals.
It’s all happening this Sunday, February 10 from 11 am-4pm at the Glebe Community Centre (175 Third Ave). We have two tickets for Wed By Hand to give away to a lucky reader! Simply email apartment613@gmail.com with ‘Wed By Hand’ in the title by noon on Friday, Feb. 8. We’ll then choose our winner in a random draw.
