Kiley Jamieson and her team at Opportunity Knocks Events are next up in my Q & A showcase of Ottawa wedding planners you can call on to help plan your day.   (If you missed the first feature on Erica Irwin of Erica Irwin Weddings & Events, you can find that feature here.)  These planners are truly a treasure trove of tips, information and TRUST.  It’s my pleasure to recommend these reliable women to you in your wedding planning process.  Read on to learn about Kiley, Janet and the team of Opportunity Knocks Events.

 

 

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE AT OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS EVENTS – 33 Years & Counting

Kiley and her right-hand person, Janet, have over 33 years of combined experience in the event industry:  Kiley has 13 years of wedding planning under her belt; Janet has over 20 years experience managing events.  They love all weddings – big & small – and don’t limit themselves to any specialty of weddings.  You can hire them for Wedding Planning & Coordination, Destination Weddings and Event/Corporate Planning.  They also offer Month of Coordination & Partial Planning with custom packages and décor consultations.

I love that, no matter the type of event – I’ve worked weddings and corporate events with them – I can trust that they are on top of everything, making sure things are unfolding as planned or they are problem-solving the unexpected with smiles and good cheer.  They truly bring a sense of comfort and reliability to everything that is entrusted into their hands.

 

STICKER SHOCK ADVICE

I asked Kiley and Janet what is one thing couples are absolutely shocked about when they’re wedding planning – and am finding a consistent response amongst Ottawa wedding planners.

Opportunity Knocks Events says, “[Couples are shocked about] the cost and time needed to plan a wedding! As the cost of living goes up, so does the cost of planning a wedding! You need to be realistic with your budget. If you are going to have 20 people you will have lots of room; if you are going to have 300, you need to be open to suggestions on how to help save costs!”

Couples take heed:  budget is the recurring theme here.  An experienced wedding planner can help.

PREFERRED WEDDING VENUES & VENDORS

Opportunity Knocks Events has worked events all over Ottawa and in so many different venues.  I asked which Ottawa venues are easy for them to recommend to couples and Kiley and Janet offered the following recommendations:

• National Arts Centre – not only is the NAC a beautiful venue that needs little décor, the staff is also great to work with!
• Stonefields – Stephanie, Steve and their team at Stonefields are great to work with! Not only do they have a gorgeous property, you can do little or lots to make your wedding your own!
• Parlour Place – the new hidden gem in the city! The team at Parlour & DISH have created a diamond in the rough! This venue has so much personality & is so versatile
• Museum of Nature – this is another one of our favorites! The staff is great & you can do so many different things at this venue.
• Horticulture Building – this is a city run venue that has cool aesthetics. It is very versatile & offers lots of space!

 

Opportunity Knocks Events has the following tip for choosing vendors:  “[We] suggest looking at the date (or dates) that you would like to get married on as a start. Then evaluate your style in regards to photographer (light or dark), venue (industrial, modern or rustic) and then find vendors that fit within your style.”

KILEY & JANET’S SUPERPOWERS

I’ve seen these women in action at events, and let me tell you, nothing stops them – not even a missing caterer and DJ at the start of a wedding reception.

Kiley explains, “As planners, we set specific times for vendors to arrive to ensure ample time to setup, etc. On this given wedding, the DJ & caterer did not arrive on time for the reception. The caterer arrived as guests were arriving for cocktail and the DJ did not arrive until 15 minutes before the reception was going to begin. Our saving grace was that the couple were running behind for their photos so we were able to delay the start of the reception. The venue had a portable speaker that we were able to use to play music during the cocktail hour and the bar was being run by the venue so we were able to offer guests drinks as we waited for the caterer. In the end, the guests & couple were not affected by this issue as we were able to make adjustments! Without us on site, this may have gone differently!”

And, I’m confident the couple was none the wiser this was happening behind the scenes!  Hopefully you won’t have a MIA caterer or DJ, but that’s the kind of magic, problem-solving and peace of mind you get when you hire Opportunity Knocks.

 

 

THEIR #1 PIECE OF ADVICE FOR COUPLES

Kiley says, “Enjoy your day and take a moment to yourselves!”

She also says to anyone who currently doesn’t have a planner, “Manage your time wisely and speak to your vendors about your day of timeline. Your vendors are pros at what they do and can give you advice on how long you need to set aside for each aspect of your wedding day.”

And, most of all, “Don’t be afraid to hire or talk to a wedding planner! Not only are we here to help make your wedding planning and day less stressful but we are also here to offer advice. We see the ins and outs of weddings and can help you along the way!”

 

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS EVENTS

So, if you’re in need of a planner, Kiley and Janet are down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is, I’ve-got-this women you can trust to serve you with your wedding vision.  Big hearts, trusting hands.  They are your wedding’s best friend.

You can best reach Kiley, Lead Planner at Opportunity Knocks Events, through the contact form on their website.

See more helpful Ottawa wedding content and tips at the links below:

• Wedding Day Tips for the Best Getting Ready / Ottawa Bridal Portraits
• Ottawa Wedding Dresses: 3 Bridal Boutiques You Need To Check Out

And, stop by own photography website here if you’re still in the market for a wedding photographer!

Happy Planning!