Otium Weddings + Events

07/05/2024

Has this ever happened to you?? Collab made it so easy to collect memories from my wedding day!

When the Mull River Shuffle comes on at your wedding dance but you miss Uncle Mike & Aunt Mary doing a Jig, Collab can save the day!

Download our app now and capture your most memorable moments from everywhere!

06/24/2024

06/20/2024

06/16/2024

Happy Father’s Day ❤️

06/13/2024

I'm dedicating this blog post to the wonderful Venue Coordinator, Cheryl, I had for my wedding last week, and of course to my wonderful Day Of Coordinator, Tammi, who I'm sure put out fires I didn't even know about.
Having both of these people on your team makes for an unforgettable day!
Another shoutout to all of the Old Orchard staff for their quick change to move our cocktail hour indoors and their assistance with everything we asked for all weekend. Highly recommend Old O if you’re looking for an all-in-one venue in a picture perfect location 😍

https://otiumweddings.wixsite.com/otium/post/understanding-the-role-of-a-venue-coordinator

A day-of wedding coordinator and a venue coordinator play distinct yet complementary roles in managing a wedding.

06/13/2024

06/11/2024

In wedding planning and in life- don't forget to lean on family, friends, and (this one might be wedding-specific) your vendors when needed.

06/07/2024

Wedding Planning can be exhausting and stressful- if you space out your planning into bite-sized pieces, it leaves space for enjoying being engaged, or when big life events come up and you need to focus elsewhere for a season.

I am so grateful for the time I had to spare in May, even with my wedding approaching, to take time to be present and be with family when it was needed the most.

06/03/2024

And at the end of the week, that's what I'll be doing! It's my wedding week! I'll be back in action June 15th.

05/31/2024

Did you know I've started a blog on my website?

In honour of my wedding week(!!!), I've created a checklist of items to do in the week before your wedding.

https://wix.to/W2ncvNP

A checklist for the week leading up to your wedding

05/30/2024

05/23/2024

05/21/2024

Wondering how you're going to look after all those small details you thought out for your wedding day? The answer is- you're not! Your wedding day should be a time for you to relax and enjoy the day you've put together.

All those small details are now the responsibility of someone else... and I'd love for that somebody to be me!

Let me help you sit back and experience Otium, a time of leisure, on your wedding day. Comment "help me" to learn more about our services!

05/19/2024

05/16/2024

05/14/2024

Picture this...

It's your wedding day and everything is flying by so fast. You don't want to forget a single moment of it, from the start of the day getting ready with your best friends, to the end of the night watching your family and friends all together on the dance floor.

Your wedding day content creator is there to capture everything so you can relive this day over and over again, starting the day after your wedding when your content is delivered right to your inbox.

Send this to your fiance(e) to show them why you need a content creator!

05/07/2024

Are you lying awake wondering what emergency items you'll need on your wedding day?

Often referred to as the "oh s**t kit" in the wedding industry, this is my secert weapon to ensure I can solve any problem on your wedding day. Every summer it's expanded based on the needs of couples I've worked with to ensure it's got anything a person could want.

The most requested items in my kit are:
Corsage pins: every boutonniere should have 2 pins for a super solid hold, often they only arrive with 1 pin
Scissors: For anything and everything
Zipties: I've used these to install floral pieces on an arch, put up a greenery backdrop for a photo booth, and so much more! Any decor install needs zipties.
Tape: Double sided, usually, used for a bit of everything
Phone charger: Sometimes for me, sometimes for others
Advil/Tums: Nothing worse than a headache or heartburn on your wedding day!

Comment below with something you might need and I'll tell you if I have it :)

04/30/2024

Wondering what songs you need to plan for?
As a client of Otium we walk you through all of these steps during your timeline meeting, but here are some song selections to start thinking about:

Wedding party processional- walking down the aisle
Presentation of the bride- some people keep this song the same as the wedding party
Signing the documents-it's always good to have a couple songs planned for this time just in case it runs long
Recessional (back down the aisle)-an upbeat, happy song to celebrate- you just got MARRIED!
Grand entrance- the couple (sometimes with the wedding party) entering the reception space
Cake cutting- often overlooked, this is great to have so it's not an awkward silence while you cut your cake
Parent/other special dances- lots of tear-jerkers to choose from here!
First Dance- no explanation needed :)
First song of the night- something to get your guests on the dance floor to break the ice
Last song of the night- a crowd pleaser to get everyone back on the dance floor one last time.

If you're working with a DJ or musician they can often suggest songs for each category if you're feeling stumped.

Would you like to see a list of popular suggestions for each category?

04/18/2024

Some of you guessed it- Zoe has joined the team for wedding day content creation!

For now, this service will only be available as an add on with day of coordination bookings but we are excited to see how this service grows in the coming years. Interested in learning more? Send us a message!

Exclusive rates available for current 2024 bookings :)

04/16/2024

Meet Zoë! The newest member of Otium Weddings. Can you guess what she'll be doing with Otium? Special announcement coming Thursday!

Hi! 👋 My name is Zoë Irvine. I graduated from NSCC in Digital Marketing in 2023 and then one week later gave birth to my daughter, Lucy. I work as a personal trainer at Evolve Fitness where I love helping clients reach their health and wellness goals.

I am a true homebody at heart and enjoy spending time with my husband Will, my daughter and two cats. I love organizing my home and creating a beautiful environment for my family. Since getting married and having my daughter I’ve realized the importance of capturing special life moments in a raw, unfiltered, fly on the wall kind of way. These moments are so special and I really “love, love”.

Fun Fact - I was Otium's guinea pig! Christine coordinated my wedding in 2022 as her first wedding coordination.

As usual, photos by Sandra Adamson Studios Halifax Wedding Photographers

04/14/2024

Hi, I'm Christine! Let me introduce myself...

I am the owner of Otium Weddings & Events. In addition to being a day of coordinator, I am also an animal lover, chocolate fanatic, an executive assistant and a 2024 bride.

My favourite thing about weddings is the way they can be personalized to suit each couple's unique story, and I love seeing all the creative ways the couples I work with make this happen.

When I'm not at your wedding, you can find me hiking with my dog, binging TV with my fiance, or dabbling in an assortment of craft projects. I'd love to work with you on your wedding or upcoming event!

📸: Adamson Studios Halifax Wedding Photographers

04/13/2024

The goal with this table was to play with lots of textures, I think we nailed it 😍

Photography: Sandra Adamson Studios Halifax Wedding Photographers
Rentals: MacFarlands Events
Venue:
Design:

04/07/2024

If you’ve been following my content for a little bit, you’ll notice a big theme is that I love weddings where the couple has made it perfectly their own.

S&J are champions of this, and tailored every little detail to suit their tastes and the result was a perfect day that represented them so well. And just look at that dress!

It was such a treat to coordinate your day and these highly anticipated photos from say it all 😍

04/04/2024

I had a fantastic time working on my first styled shoot last week! We had an awesome team and got some amazing shots which you'll see over the next few weeks.

Love this vibe and want a similar look for your wedding or event? Check out the list of vendors below and reach out if you want to chat!

Venue: Studio Privy
Rentals: MacFarlands Events
Photos: Sandra Adamson Studios Halifax Wedding Photographers
Stationary: Budding Lilac
Design & Planning: Otium Weddings

04/02/2024

Tip Tuesday: How to Nail the Mismatched Look

There are so many ways to pull off this look! This post is for brides who are concerned their bridesmaids won't match enough- if you don't want your bridesmaids to look the same, absolutely do what makes you happy because it's your day to style however you choose, don't let me box you in :)

Some tips:
1. Only change 1-2 variables, such as keeping the same fabric and length, but different colours or shades of a colour palette
2. Mix up the lengths and shapes for everyone's dresses so each bridesmaid's dress is a distinct dress (lengths, silhouettes, fabrics) while sticking to the same colour palette.
3. The opposite of this would would also work- everyone has the same dress, but different colours.
4. Have the maid of honour's dress stand out slightly- I've seen this done with a different length (see slide 4) and with a different fabric (she was the "mom of honour" and wore satin instead of chiffon)
5. Direct your bridesmaids to go with a vibe instead of strict guidelines- colourful boho, elegant and timeless, or base it around the season with "spring floral".

Photos 📸:
Slides 1&4: , dresses from David's Bridal
Slide 2: Called to Surf
Slide 3: Baltic Born (my favourite option for a mismatched look)
Slide 5: Photo from Green Wedding Shoes, dresses from assorted brands

03/26/2024

Tip Tuesday: My top tips for nailing the rehearsal.

Do I need to have a rehearsal?

Yes! This is a great opportunity for your wedding party, you and your partner to get out any wedding jitters, and go over who should be where and when. It makes everything go smoother on the day of.

I always include rehearsal coordination with your day-of package because it’s also a great chance for me to meet your wedding party.

Here are some of the tips I share with my couples during their rehearsal:
For those holding bouquets: your bouquet goes at your belly button, not higher
Be sure to walk VERY slowly down the aisle- it’s slower than you think
When you’re exchanging rings with your partner, just gently put it on their finger- they can put it all the way on subtly afterwards.
If you’re doing a dip or a kiss halfway down the aisle, practice it!

For those who are married: what do you wish someone told you during your rehearsal?