Spotlight on our Sponsors!

Hello all! Amy Karlin here, from Splendid Events. For the past several months I've been having a blast working with Wed By Hand producers Krista and Robin and the incredible team of Wed By Hand interns on the nuts and bolts of this year's show. My main task has been building sponsor partnerships with creative businesses around town, so I've been busy meeting with many of the talented entrepreneurs that make Ottawa tick.

At this point you've probably heard about about the fabulous vendors and workshoppers you'll get to see at this year's show, but you may be wondering: what exactly does a Wed By Hand sponsor do? In short, they help us make the show a reality. Some support us by providing coveted samples and special offers for our army of swag bags, while others while others donate amazing gift packages for our charity raffle, and others still provide financial backing to help us buy the things we need to make the show happen. We're so grateful for the team of businesses that are supporting us this year and I'm thrilled to tell you a bit about each of them. To find out more please take a minute to visit their lovely websites!

Platinum Sponsors

kōkō chocolates

Jen Winter is the chocolatier and owner of kōkō chocolates and she'll be the first to admit she's a chocolate snob (I hugely admire her for that, I'm a chocolate snob too). She has loved chocolate for as long as she can remember and has extensive training in the making of artisinal chocolate, including expert level training  at the Barry Callebaut Chocolate Academy with Chef Derrick Tu Tan Pho.

For those of you getting married, kōkō can provide everything from delicious favours (that you can bet will be eaten before dinner) to a towering truffle wedding cake. Jen works with each couple to help them choose the perfect kōkō assortment (even gluten free!) and tiny colour-coordinated gift boxes for a personalized look. Visit kōkō online to learn more about their options for special occasions.

TearDrop Weddings

TearDrop is a boutique online stationery company with some of the cutest designs you've ever seen. I don't think I can sum things up better than they do, so here's the scoop from the source:

Holly Hatam, Founder of TearDrop, started creating invitations when her friend Melissa pleaded and begged her to design her wedding invitations. After countless, enjoyable hours of watching Melissa beg like a baby, Holly agreed to the challenge! The response Holly got from her design brought a warm, fuzzy feeling in her tummy...and from that day on she constantly had a craving for paper! When designing invitations, TearDrop thinks of the "real" bride and groom. They transform a blank sheet of paper into an original piece of artwork that tells the love story of that unique couple.

Splendid Events 

I'm beyond excited to be one of this year's sponsors because Splendid is all about using local talent and creating events with character. In fact, Wed By Hand is my favorite wedding show in town because you won't find any mass-produced gel candles or generic floral arrangements. Instead you'll discover some of the best talent in Ottawa, from letterpress artists independent fashion boutiques to local caterers: these are the very same professionals I call on when I'm planning weddings and events.

For the second year in a row I'll be teaching a wedding planning workshop with tips on how to stick to your budget, stay sane, and enjoy the whole adventure that is wedding planning. Join me this Saturday at 11:00 to learn how to make your wedding splendid!

Bowich: Best Organic Sandwich

A few weeks back, Bowich was the gracious host of the Wed By Hand vendor party, a little get-together that gave vendors a chance to meet each other before the day of the show and an opportunity stuff those swag bags with tons of goodies for the lucky 200 who make it through the doors first this Saturday morning.

During the party, Bowich welcomed us in to their impeccably designed space, served up some truly delicious food, and even let us screen Molly Ringwald and Woody Allen films on the wall. Bowich is quickly becoming one of the hottest lunch spots in downtown Ottawa, and with menu offerings like a Quebec brie, apple & pistachio grilled cheese, gorgeous modern furniture from Mikaza Home, AND local beers and wines by the glass, it's easy to see why.

Great Canadian Theatre Company

The GCTC is one of the best places in town for professionally executed thought-provoking plays, and increasingly, for community events like the monthly Urban Craft Handmade Market. This year the GCTC is proud to be celebrating its 37th Anniversary Season, and it's come a long way since five people at Carleton University with an idea. to become a vibrant independent professional theatre company.

About two weeks ago the GCTC kindly offered up work space for a Wed By Hand crafting party.  The Wed By Hand team and a slew of volunteers set to work DIYing just about all the decor you'll see at the show this weekend -- and their handiwork looks pretty darn amazing. Thank you GCTC for welcoming us in!

Ottawa Wedding Magazine

Ottawa Wedding Magazine is the must-have guide for the city's brides and grooms, providing all the information and options you need to make your dream of a wedding day come true. From news about the latest drop-dead gorgeous dresses to advice about planning, shopping and making the innumerable arrangements, Ottawa Wedding Magazine provides the know-how you need to create a beautiful, picture-perfect occasion that people will talk about for years to come.

Now, just in case you needed another reason to show up early on Saturday morning, let's just say that the first 200 of you through the door may find a little surprise from Ottawa Wedding Magazine inside your swag bags!


urbanite jewelry

Where do I even begin to explain how much I adore urbanite jewelry? The force behind this fantastic local brand is none other than Krista Leben, she of Wed By Hand, Urban Craft, and Craft Co-Op fame. Yes, this is a gal who can't help but keep busy. Each of urbanite's pieces is inspired by a different world city, and here's what Krista had to say about how the line began:

"urbanite jewelry was borne, quite literally, right out of one of my dreams. While living in the mountains of Morocco in 2007, I had a series of dreams about jewelry designs. After returning to the U.S., I began to bring those designs to life in metal and glass. One year later, I released the first piece of my collection: Tangier, Morocco."

 

In addition to being a sponsor, urbanite is also a vendor at the show, so this Saturday you'll have a chance to see Krista's beautiful, affordably priced jewelry first-hand.

Gold & Bronze Sponsors

We'd also like to say a huge thank you to our gold and bronze sponsors for their incredible support. Click the images below to visit their websites and learn more about what they do!

Gold Sponsors 

 Bronze Sponsors