15 Winnipeg Wedding Vendors You Need to Know
Okay listen. I’m a little anxious about publishing this blog post because there are a LOT of great wedding vendors in Winnipeg (and the surrounding areas). It pains me to not include everyone that I love working with because there are MANY of you. I thought about breaking this out into vendor categories, or doing it as more of a list style, and when it came down to it, I thought:
I’m going to include the vendors who I feel go out of their way to consistently elevate their work, and thereby elevate our industry as a whole.
Brittany Mahood Photography
This is a huge point for me. The wedding industry and Winnipeg are kind of the same in that they’re “big small worlds,” if that makes sense. There’s not many of us, but there’s also a lot of us. There are automatically different levels of professionalism, different levels of service, different groups of vendors who frequently work together, different styles and aesthetics. I’m always seeking excellence in my own work, and I want to be surrounded by other professionals who also seek a similar excellence.
We have an incredibly talented industry. These are simply vendors who I love and have noticed doing amazing, amazing work.
I also need to give the caveat that I have next to no interaction with many vendors whose work happens DURING the wedding — caterers, bar service, DJ, etc. As a result, I have not included these types of vendors.
There are so many other incredible wedding professionals in this town and if you need a referral for anything, don’t hesitate to ask! For example, photographers and videographers. There are easily 5 other photographers I could have included on this list, who I love working with and always do an amazing job. I say it again, if you need a referral, ask away!
If you’re searching for your wedding venue, you can find a list of all my favourite Winnipeg and area wedding venues here.
Brittany Mahood Photography
Event Light
Event Light is PHENOMENAL. And they do a lot more than just lighting (though they do that exceptionally!). Here’s why I love Event Light:
They are behind most of the rigging that I’ve created hanging installations on. Cam, the owner, is just brilliant and has done such an amazing job of figuring out what is needed to create a structure for me to work on. I trust him implicitly. And he didn’t make fun of me when I terribly drove around a scissor lift for this tent wedding (at least not to my face).
The Event Light crew is pretty decently large, and they’re all so great! They’re efficient, kind, hard working, and they always know what they’re doing. They also seem to always be having a great time and to genuinely enjoy working with each other.
Lighting. Obviously. As well as the audio visual side of things. They just know what they’re doing, how to do it, and they do it all REALLY REALLY WELL. And what they do, always elevates the event in question.
Brittany Mahood Photography
Planned Perfectly
It’s very rare when I work on a wedding that Planned Perfectly isn’t. There are a lot of reasons why.
First, Kylee and her team are awesome. They’ve always got a smile on their faces and a joke at the ready. They’re also courteous and aware of what’s going on around them, so they do their best not to hold up anyone else’s work, resulting in a much more streamlined day for you (whether you know it or not!). Their day-of service is unparalleled.
Planned Perfectly’s inventory is really lovely — they’re the best at draping, their linens are high quality and current design styles, and they regularly update their products (though they’re not always reflected on their site — be sure to reach out to them for all of the details on what they have). For example, they have a fantastic collection of glassware, flatware, and dishware, along with their linens, chairs, and finishing touches.
Their smoke glassware is my personal favourite and I cannot tell you how many times I’ve used their taupe panama table linen!
Brittany Mahood Photography
Paper & PalM
Really fantastic custom wedding stationery has always been hard to consistently find in Winnipeg. We’ve had a number of great designers over the years, but for one reason or an other, they’ve left the industry. We’ve also got a lot of great stationers who will take your idea and replicate it really well, but searching for truly custom, with inspired ideas and elevated taste, has been a harder find. When I came across Paper & Palm at the Wonderful Wedding Show last winter, I got so excited. I’d seen Paula’s work on instagram beforehand, but seeing it in person was fantastic.
Paper and Palm’s work features high end details, creative touches, elevated style…it’s everything that you want. I’ve only worked with her a couple of times, but I hope for many more opportunities to tag team weddings and events together!
Michael + Melanie Photography
Beyond the Lounge
Beyond the Lounge doesn’t have an enormous inventory appropriate for weddings (lots of great options for corporate events and trade shows), but what they do have is awesome. Their smoke grey acrylic Lotus dining chair is one of my favourites.
Even better, they do an incredible job of maintaining the quality of their inventory. They take such careful care so there are no scratches, dents or dings.
An extra note — I’ve seen and heard Kari and her team during setups and tear-downs. She speaks so kindly to them, training them well and treating them with respect. It doesn’t always seem like that’s a guarantee these days, so this is an extra perk of Beyond the Lounge in my opinion. The photos below are from one of my favourite weddings I’ve ever done.
Joel & Justyna Photography
Soiree Event Planning
I’ve been working with Soiree since my very young days, when I was working at a local wedding magazine and not even in flowers yet! From Soiree’s inception, owner Andrea has set the standard in Winnipeg for event planning. Her team is constantly upping the game, with very high touch service and are highly regarded in our industry.
While I appreciate all things logistical that they excel at (and they certainly do excel at the communication and logistics side of their job!), one thing I noticed consistently this year more than ever before is their team’s creative designs. I’ll be honest with you, it’s not the easiest job to design amazing wedding after amazing wedding and still keep things fresh (especially when you’re working in a smaller market with a smaller rental inventory available at your disposal, like ours!). I’m constantly amazed at how great of a job they do taking the same pieces but reinventing them to create a completely unique design. They’re not interested in giving their clients something that other couples have had before, so they work really hard in this regard.
Brittany Mahood Photography
Rae & Dot
Hello fun and modern design!! I don’t know why the wedding stationery world seems to favour trite, dated, and quite frankly, tacky invitation styles. Lexi and Robyn have a current, fresh design style and know what little details to use to create an invite suite that just looks good.
Rae & Dot offers both custom design and a semi-customizable collection, each with different colourways and paper shapes, so even if you don’t have it in the budget to do a custom suite, you can create a custom-feeling piece. A few years ago, they designed a custom suite for one of my couples and we included stickers and they were just the fricking cutest things.
Then they’ve also got all the little stationery pieces that really tie an event together, like signage and menus and so on.
I actually designed Lexi’s wedding flowers this past summer, and she did such a fantastic job of curating the entire event design, and you know when a vendor has excellent personal style that they’re going to be able to hone in on something amazing for you, too.
Kass Donaldson Photography
Big City All Star Band
So I don’t ever actually get to be part of the reception, and have no idea what goes on once the evening starts. BUT I’ll tell ya this: if I were getting married now, a live band would be a priority for me. And then I’ll tell ya this: I get to listen to a lot of warmups and sound checks, and I always have the MOST fun when Big City is on the stage.
Carlin and his crew do an awesome job of basically any type of music. They’re also friendly, fun, and high energy, which is exactly what you want from a band.
Photos by Brittany Mahood / Planning by Harlow Events
Brittany Mahood Photography
I don’t think any of you would be surprised to find Brittany’s name on my list here, because I absolutely love her (both as a person, and as a photographer) AND because she’s amazing.
Brittany’s skill is incredible. Her galleries never miss. You’ll fall in love with her portfolio and the way she captures people, places, and things (especially light), and then you’ll be so thrilled to find out that all of her work is of the same high calibre.
Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally, and it’s always well-deserved.
Brittany shot my maternity photos, she’s taken our family photos, she came to Hawaii for my sister’s wedding…basically I love Brittany. You will, too.
Brittany Mahood Photography
Feast & Festivities
I love Emily from Feast & Festivities, and have so much admiration for both how she does her work, and the final product. I know it’s kind of strange to hear your wedding referred to as a “final product,” but when you have a creative at the helm who pours herself into conceptualizing every single element and detail, it’s the right phrase. Your wedding is the result of a LOT of hard work.
Emily is really easy to get along with. She’s got a fantastic and surprising sense of humour and a really nice energy. She’s calm and kind, a necessity for couples who are feeling stressed out and need someone to lead them in their planning.
Another of Emily’s strengths is her ability to design a wedding. Dang, is she ever good at this. She truly does think of every single thing, and really excels at bringing YOU into your wedding design. It’s not just a good looking event; it’s YOURS. She also works on a lot of custom projects for her weddings, particularly in personalizing stationery and signage elements.
Emily only takes a small number of weddings each year, and she just pours her heart into each of them. I know she’s booked for 2024 but if you’re looking for 2025, you should reach out asap.
Megan Steen Photography
Lovenote Bride
Excuse me — Canadian designed and made wedding dresses? And they’re stunning?
While not based in Winnipeg, Lovenote opened a Winnipeg store about a year and a half ago. It’s in the Johnston Terminal at the Forks, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. Modern, chic, filled with natural light, TONS of space in the fitting rooms.
Their gowns are stunning. That’s all I can say.
OH and the store manager just so happens to be a friend of mine, Erika. She’s a truly wonderful person, and does an amazing job of making women feel as beautiful as they deserve to.
Aimee De La Lande Photo
Jenna Rae Cakes
Do I have a slight bias because I’ve been close friends with Ashley for almost 15 years, or because I was Jenna’s first part-time employee when she opened the bakery? Yes. Does it matter? No. And here’s why.
Everything that JRC does, including but not limited to their weddings, is done with excellence. The production value is incredibly high, and while I know that “production value” of a wedding is not (and should not be) the most important thing to you on your wedding day, it should also be an incredible relief to know that you absolutely do not need to micromanage, worry, or concern yourself about anything where Jenna Rae Cakes is concerned.
Unfortunately, I have a gluten allergy. That means I haven’t been able to eat anything of Jenna’s in about 9 years. But back in those days…woah baby. Was I a happy girl! If I were getting married now, and I didn’t have a gluten allergy, I’d promptly be ordering a lemon raspberry cake from JRC — that lemon curd is SO GOOD.
Izabela Rachwal Photography
Cathy Wiebe Clothes
Custom wedding gown and accessory design unlike anything you’ve experienced before. And I guess if you haven’t had a custom made gown before, then of course you’d have no experience to compare it to, but I can tell you from personal experience: Cathy’s level of service and her skills are incredible.
Many many years ago, Cathy made my high school grad dress. I loved it. And I’m telling you, it was a really really long time ago. In the almost 2 decades that have passed since then (☠️), she’s refined and practised her skills and really come into her own. I can always tell a Cathy gown when I see one. She’s not afraid to tell you about the late nights and the chaos that comes with her job, which I actually really appreciate — the art of a true artist isn’t necessarily completed in a typical 9-5 working day.
One of Cathy’s amazing skills is embroidery. Several of my past clients have had her embroidery work on their veils and dresses, adding flowers (including specific flowers I was using in their bouquets to tie it all together!! Talk about that customization!!) and even words and monograms into her bride’s pieces. These are literal works of art.
Also, and this may sound strange (I’ll have to hear what Cathy says about it!), I find Cathy’s work on sleeves to be really amazing. Look at Vanessa’s belled sleeves below and tell me this is anything short of divine and I won’t believe you.
Kass Donaldson Photography
Megan Steen Photography
Megan is one of those people who can see the beauty in anyone and everything around her. She’s refreshingly true and kind, and I think that filters through her camera. She’s welcoming, and not in your face, and isn’t going to make you pose awkwardly. All perks :) She’s down to earth and comfortable to be around. And she often has a pretty quick turnaround time on photos!
Something that’s unique about Megan is the way she loves the world. She loves people, yes, but she also loves the earth and she’s pretty vocal about it. I’m always seeking to work as environmentally-friendly as possible (it’s surprisingly hard in the floral industry!), and Megan prioritizes a very low-waste approach to life and work. She also loves being in nature, and that translates through her photos. You can just SEE her love for the natural world in her imagery — even if you’re the focus of the photo.
Megan and her partner also run another business, Wild Skies Resort. It’s an eco-friendly glamping resort that is incredibly beautiful and cool. I’ve had multiple couples take their honeymoons here, and have absolutely loved it. She’s another one of those professionals who only take on a few weddings each season, and she travels widely, so be sure to get in touch.
Alli Mae Events
I LOVE working with Alli. When clients ask me about her, I often describe her as the tiniest person who gets the most done. She’s this tiny bundle of incredible energy and strength.
Alli and her team are fun to be around (a vendor team who has a good time working on your wedding is a major plus! That’s the kind of atmosphere you want) and they’ve always got an “I can do this” attitude, no matter how big the task is.
I appreciate how organized Alli Mae Events is. You’d think, “shouldn’t all wedding planners be organized?” And the answer is yes. But Alli’s got a really great system, which empowers all your vendors to be able to do their job to the fullest, while also freeing up her own time on the wedding day so she can focus on what SHE needs to get done, and not just answer questions from everyone else.
MYUZ Artistry
Winnipeg has a lot of phenomenal makeup (and hair!) artists. Like, so so many. One of my favourites is Myuz.
If you’re a skincare aficionado, or if, like me, you have struggled with acne (or something else skin related) for most of your life, then Myuz needs to become part of your regular budget. Whether you’re getting married or not, healthy skin makes a person feel so much more confident and Myuz is the top for skincare. But if you ARE getting married, then you also need to check them out for makeup.
My clients who’ve chosen to work with Myuz are often the happiest with their makeup, and very frequently I have asked someone, “who did your makeup?!” and the response has usually been, “Tina!”
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Call me biased, but flowers are the best way to make a statement at your wedding. Whether you already have a specific vision or want me to dream up something custom just for you, reach out to Stone House Creative for stunning bridal bouquets, truly unique ceremony backdrops, and beautiful floral centrepieces to create the perfect ambiance for your wedding!