Though Jessica and Nicholas no longer live in Ottawa, they decided to get married in the city where they met, choosing two iconic places—Notre Dame Cathedral and Venue TwentyTwo at the Westin Hotel—for their special day.
“Notre Dame Cathedral is a grand and ornate space with powerful organ music, which made the ceremony truly magical,” they explain. “The 45-minute-long liturgy allowed us to focus on our union.
“We chose the reception venue for its beautiful view of the city’s major landmarks, waterways and Gatineau hills.…The décor was kept clean and simple to let the view shine.”
The couple opted for a neutral palette for the wedding party’s and parents’ attire, as well as for florals, since that’s Jessica’s preferred esthetic. However, plenty of greenery, including a floral arch, was added thanks to Nicolas’ input. Elements such as geometric lanterns on guest tables and a floral arch for guest photos added to the elegant vibe.
Both the bride and groom zeroed in on the cuisine and refreshments. “As food and wine lovers, our meal and drink choices were a top priority and the venue provided a high-quality cocktail hour, three-course sit-down meal and late-night-snacks. We took advantage of the media screen to display a slideshow with pictures of us and every one of our guests throughout our lives.”
They also took full advantage of another element: a floor made for dancing. “We needed a dance floor that would be large enough to accommodate traditional French-Canadian folk dancing,” they note. “It was a great way to honour our heritage. We complemented the vibe on the dance floor with some foam light sticks for added ambiance.”
In fact, one of the many treasured moments from the day was seeing almost all of the guests take part in a traditional French-Canadian folk dance led by Jessica’s father.
Words of Advice: “Research your vendors and make sure they are a good fit before booking. Then trust their expertise and enjoy the process: the planning takes a long time, but the wedding day flies by!”
The Details:
Venues: Ceremony: Notre Dame Cathedral; Reception: TwentyTwo
Photographer: Palm Tree Studio
Officiant: Father Jacques Kabangu
Bride’s Gown: Never Knew I Needed
Groom’s Attire: Moores
Décor and Flowers: Sage Designs
Hair: Bombshell Hair Design
Makeup: Yelena Perunov
Cake: Wicked Desserts
DJ: DJ Marty
Rings: Paul-Randolph Jewellers, Kingston
Alterations: Imperial Sewing and Tailoring, Kingston
