The 5 Best Wedding Planners in Ottawa
Planning a wedding is no easy task. The gigantic hurdles and the small nuances that go into wedding preparation can be intense and should not fall on the shoulders of the couple.
This is where wedding planners come in. They specialize in planning one of the most important days in someone’s life and they’re good at it.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the best wedding planners you can hire in Ottawa.
How Much Do Wedding Planners Cost in Ottawa
A wedding planner in Ottawa will cost you somewhere between $1,500 and $5,000. This depends on the range of services they offer.
In the table below, we’ve listed down the usual services that come together with a wedding planner so you’re able to get a clearer picture of what it’ll cost you.
Top Wedding Planners in Ottawa
Wedding planning requires skills and talent. Weddings are not just some ordinary event that anyone can plan.
We’ve listed the 5 best wedding planners in Ottawa for you according to the following criteria:
1. Kennedy Event Planning
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Range of Services | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Years of Experience | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Availability | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Accreditation and Certifications | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Kennedy Event Planning is a wedding planning service based in 166 Fifth Avenue. Aside from weddings, they also organize high-end events like awardings, special ceremonies, and more.
We’ve noticed in their portfolio that their events usually have a James Bond-esque aesthetic to them that gives them a sleek and elegant feel. Kennedy Event Planning believes that the traditional, fancy-looking wedding is always best and considered a classic.
Their wedding package starts at around $2000 which is a pretty good price knowing the usual aesthetics that they go for. Of course, they also have other packages that can be much more expensive, reaching up to $6,500.
They also offer packages for eloping couples, which is called the Petite Wedding package. This is designed for a more intimate and private wedding that doesn’t involve too many guests.
This is a good choice for couples who don’t want to invite everyone to their wedding and just a few loved ones who are important to both of them.
Kennedy Event Planning has a very reputable image especially in the capital. They have been featured in numerous magazines and even in the news.
Wedluxe Magazine, Weddingbells Magazine, Bride & Groom Magazine, and Ottawa Wedding Magazine have all published articles about their wedding planning services being quite good and from what we’ve seen, this is true.
Overall, Kennedy Event Planning is surely a good choice for both traditional and unusual types of weddings. Although they do lean more on classic aesthetics, they are still offering decent packages for smaller weddings.
Pros
- Petite Weddings option
- Good portfolio
- Free consultation
Cons
- Expensive
- Cancellation policy
2. Erica Irwin Weddings And Events
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Range of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Years of Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Availability | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Accreditation and Certifications | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Erica Irwin Weddings And Events is a wedding planning service managed by, you guessed it, Erica Irwin. She’s a tech-specialist turned wedding planner after finding out that she is more passionate about helping couples get their dream wedding.
Now she has more than 12 years of experience in the wedding planning industry. What we really like about Erica Irwin Weddings And Events’ process is their connections.
Erica has worked with many wedding vendors and venues in the capital so you get numerous options working with her company. In her years of experience, she’s worked with many other wedding-related companies which means she has met a lot of experts in the industry.
Another thing we like with Erica’s company is their portfolio. They have worked with almost a thousand weddings which means they are able to adapt in such a fast-changing industry.
Erica Irwin Weddings And Events also offers Proposal Planning for those who are having a hard time thinking of a good way to pop the question. This service is quite unique and they’re probably one of the few wedding planning services that offers it.
With that said, do check out Erica Irwin Weddings And Events for both your proposal and wedding planning needs. They have a decent amount of experience and have good deals as well.
Pros
- Offers Proposal planning
- Services other events as well
- Coaching services
Cons
- No specific package for non-wedding events
- Pricey
Customer Reviews:
“Erica is amazing and we can’t even imagine what we would have done without her. She made everything so easy for us and all of her vendor recommendations were perfect. She is beyond talented, knowledgeable and was sincerely passionate about making our wedding perfect. We truly felt like she cared deeply about making our day the most special day of our lives and in that she succeeded. Our wedding was beyond anything we could have possibly imagined and all of our guests were blown away with what she created. There are no words to express the gratitude and the appreciation that we have for all of Erica’s hard work. Erica came to us highly recommended by friends and now we highly recommend her to everyone we know.” – Jon T.
“There is no way to fully capture how wonderful Erica is. She puts herself into her work and it shows with the relationship she has with her network of vendors, the beautiful weddings she curates and the connections she makes with her clients. Erica is personable and fun, yet truthful and honest. Her preparedness and ability to read minds are borderline ninja-level and she could easily be branded a superhero, because it better captures the magnitude of her skills and impact on the lives she touches. Everyone needs an Erica.” – Callie T.
3. Frid Events
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Range of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Years of Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Availability | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Accreditation and Certifications | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Brittany Frid was about to become a legal practitioner until she decided that she’s more interested and more passionate about weddings. Now Frid Events is one of the most well-known wedding planning services in Ottawa and has been in business since 2012.
What we like about Frid Events is their very extensive and specific portfolio. The portfolio that she offers to potential clients is so detailed that you might even feel like you’re spying on her.
Brittany Frid’s most basic planning package includes a detailed explanation of the flowers to be used, the wedding’s theme, and possible venues.
What’s good about this is that the venues she recommends are top-tier and are usually fully-booked but because of her connections with them, they are able to adjust their schedule a bit.
The flowers she recommends are also from her other company, Frid Florals, so it’s much easier to make a deal regarding bouquets.
Frid Events also has the Frid Academy where Brittany Frid teaches about wedding planning for anyone who has the same passion as her. The class is only and is very accessible even for newcomers.
Unfortunately, Frid Events is very in demand. They’re only open 3 times a week so it’s best to call them first for consultation.
With that said, Frid Events is definitely one of the best wedding planners in Ottawa. They offer a good amount of services and their portfolio is very impressive.
Pros
- Extensive and specific portfolio
- Also offers rentals of wedding decor
- Frid Academy provides wedding planner lessons
Cons
- Closes early
- Only open 3x a week
Customer Reviews
“I have always wanted to have Brittany and her team style and execute my wedding, and I’m so glad I did. The pandemic made planning a wedding hell, but I always knew what I was supposed to be doing in terms of planning because of Frid Events. Brittany is well organized and highly talented. From my bouquet, to the venue, I cried when I saw it all for the first time! Hire them! You won’t be sorry.” – Amelia Swanson
“Brittany & Team were incredible!! They helped us create the perfect wedding. Team Frid helped to plan the wedding, design the wedding, create the florals, manage day of, and so much more. Through every covid related change they were calm and positive, and made the wedding happen even when it seemed like it would be impossible. I could not recommend them more!!” – Julie W.
4. Courtney Elizabeth Events
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Range of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Years of Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Availability | ★★★(3/5) |
| Accreditation and Certifications | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Courtney Elizabeth Events is another good choice for your wedding planning needs. They are especially good for couples who like unique celebrations because these wedding planners love a crazy and weird idea.
Courtney Elizabeth Events is a great option if you really want your wedding to stand out and become unique. They’re willing to do a lot of personalization options just to meet your requirements.
Of course, these customizations will cost you but if you’re willing to spend, it should be all worth it. Another thing we like about Courtney Elizabeth Events is their willingness to plan a wedding out of town and even out of the country.
Their planners are willing to travel with you to make sure that your wedding outside Ottawa or abroad is going well! This is especially good for couples who want a different scenery during their wedding.
Their international weddings and the fact that they are encouraging you to think outside the box in terms of themes is what makes Courtney Elizabeth Events great for couples who want a one-of-a-kind wedding.
Like we mentioned above, Courtney Elizabeth Events is a bit more expensive than the others on this list. They’re also very in demand as they are only able to accept a number of clients per year.
If you plan on hiring them, you better call them as early as you can so you can book the date you want with no conflicts with other clients.
Pros
- Open all day
- Unique themes, specific to you
Cons
- Only accepts a few selected clients per year
- Expensive
Customer Reviews:
“Courtney is an unbelievable wedding planner! She was so patient and helpful as we planned our wedding during the pandemic. I don’t know what we would have done without her expertise. Our day was absolutely seamless and everything we dream of because of her. Highly recommend! Thank you Courtney!” – Emily Fitzgerald
“In the beginning of our wedding planning, my husband and I were so hesitant in getting a day-of coordinator. Courtney was the first and only coordinator we met for our special day. At the end of our meeting, we had a good feeling of getting her as our coordinator and decided to chose her. We couldn’t be any more thankful for having her there! Courtney and her team were so organized and patient with dealing with everything that went on at our wedding. They were so committed in making sure all the important stuff were covered from the start of our day to the very end. With the help of Courtney, we were able to FULLY enjoy every single special moment with our guests! We can truly say that Courtney will go above & beyond to have your special day smooth sailing and the way you want it to be! Thank you so much Courtney!!” – Zein Ahmed
5. Heirloom Events & Decor
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Range of Services | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Years of Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Availability | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Accreditation and Certifications | ★★★★★(5/5) |
Heirloom Events & Decor is a good choice for couples who want to have their wedding outdoors. They offer three main packages: Full Planning for $2500, Design for $600, and Coordination for $850.
Full Planning is basically for couples who want to entrust everything to their planner. This package makes them available anytime for your spur-of-the-moment ideas and epiphanies.
This package also includes everything from catering to decor. Basically, with this plan , the client will barely lift a finger.
The Design Package on the other hand is for those who just need a bit of assistance in planning their wedding. In other words, Heirloom Events & Decor will provide the blueprint but the client will still be the one to build something based on it.
Factors like decor and catering are not part of this package and the client will be the one to look for these services on his or her own.
Lastly, they have the Coordination package that is a bit of a combination of both the previous deals. In the Coordination package, the planner will book the venue but the decor will still be done by the clients themselves.
With all three packages, Heirloom Events & Decor gives their clients different options to choose from. The clients will be able to adjust based on what they want and how much they can afford which is always a good thing for customers.
Overall, despite the lack of customized packages, Heirloom Events & Decor is another good choice for your wedding planning needs. Their prices for their 3 main packages are different enough to make an impact on someone’s budget and preference which is highly appreciated.
Pros
- Creative theme suggestions
- Great choice of packages
Cons
- Pricey
- Main package
Customer Reviews
“Marianne fully planned my wedding this past September. We worked together for over a year and from the start she was easy going, so creative, and the nicest person to work with! She kept us on schedule for all of the planning details and helped us to navigate the uncertainties that Covid brought. She was always available to chat and answer any questions that I had. She knew exactly what I wanted before I even showed her any elements that I liked for the wedding theme and colours!” – Katie M.
“I honestly cannot thank Marianne enough for the incredible job she did planning our wedding. She was organized, kind, accommodating, and went above and beyond in every way! She managed to put on the perfect event despite being at a venue with no water, electricity, or washrooms. She is a true DREAM to work with!!” – Stelle Speigel
FAQs about Wedding Planners in Ottawa
We hope this information was useful in your search. Your big day will undoubtedly be unforgettable if you hire the best wedding planners.
Thinking of having your wedding in the capital? Check out this list for the best wedding venues in Ottawa.