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Gorgeous bridal gowns aren't hard to find if you're a Kitchener-Waterloo or Cambridge bride

It's no secret that the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge area has some of Southwestern Ontario's finest and highest-reviewed bridal gown shops.

Brides from all over come to K-W specifically for the high-end designer lines, realistic prices, tons of sizing (so that every bride can not just browse but actually try on - imagine that...) the gowns they see. So if you're a bride on the hunt for a fabulous bridal gown or bridesmaids gown, thank your lucky stars you're in the Kitchener-Waterloo/Cambridge area.

From décor items to unique bridal fashion, La Crème’s boutiques are a favourite with brides

A unique, boutique experience without boutique prices has brides heading to Elegant Affair Bridals

Urban Bride brings stylish accessories, favours, shoes, flower girl gowns and more to the Galt area

Local online boutique offers raw silk & couture designs for the little ones

Charmanté becomes one of the hottest bridal salons in Waterloo Region by making shopping fun and pressure-free

Custom-made attire from flower girls to brides allows local brides to turn imagination into reality

Shoppers Drug Mart® Laurelwood offers free makeovers, DIY workshops, and tons of products for brides

Shoppers Drug Mart® is that one shop where you know that, whether it’s eight in the morning or eleven at night, the lights are on and the doors are open. It’s where health, life, beauty and budget magically come together under one fabulous roof, giving you the assurance that if you stop in during a time of need, there’s a 99% chance you’ll find exactly what we’re looking for - from cough syrup and O.J. to a free five-minute makeover and your favourite lipstick. And yet, knowing all of this (and having probably walked through their doors and into the beautyBOUTIQUE™ hundreds of times before) it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that The Ring realized the full, bride-savvy potential that exists in the store we already know and love.

Custom jewellery designers focus on accessories you can wear on and after the wedding day

Carriage Trade Custom Jewellery is a family-run, all-about-the-accessories company that's operated by mother-daughter team, Colleen and Randall. Carriage Trade offers custom made jewellery in just about any colour or style, and they’re catering to brides and their entourages in the Tri-city area. Working with wedding styles and budgets that range from conservative and elegant to daring and extravagant, this duo provides a fun, creative option for the entire wedding party to get involved. Carriage Trade hosts open houses at their in-home studio, throws custom jewellery parties at the bride's home (great for a girl’s night-in event or a shower) and sells their pieces at select shops and boutiques in Southern Ontario.

A unique, boutique experience without boutique prices has brides heading to Elegant Affair Bridals

For Fegus-based Elegant Affair Bridals, running a bridal gown shop isn’t just about helping brides find gowns. Owner Natalie Airdrie and her team of Bridal Consultants say it’s about listening to each bride’s love story, wedding details, and style, and then using that knowledge to make sure they find their dream wedding gown. Natalie says Elegant Affair Bridals will not only fit a bride with the right dress for her body, but also one that fits her personality and individual style. "You're limited only by your imagination."

Officiants find inspiration offering personalized ceremonies at their chapels or your own location

Patricia Fretwell, Owner and Officiant at Feelings From the Heart Wedding Chapels & Officiants, loves to go to work every day, finding inspiration in the couples she marries. Feelings From the Heart is conveniently located in Kitchener City Hall, just underneath the Clerk's Office where you get your marriage license. Pat says the chapel and officiants cater to brides of all ages and financial backgrounds, having performed a few hundred weddings since she began in 2002 and marrying people as young as seventeen and as old as ninety-three.

Renowned for food and service, Charcoal Group is destined for fame for intimate, low stress weddings

With a world class reputation already built up in the community, the Charcoal Group of Restaurants has been catering to celebrities, business meetings and family gatherings for over fifty years. Ask anybody, and they’ll tell you how amazing the food is at the Charcoal Steak House, del Dente, Martini’s and Wildcraft; but what not everyone knows, is that this group of restaurants also caters to brides and offers a low stress, non-traditional and contemporary atmosphere for weddings.

Elegance and simplicity meet exquisite cuisine and traditional décor at this ceremony and reception space

You’ve probably seen The Holiday Inn Kitchener-Waterloo Hotel & Conference Centre numerous times as it’s been a fixture in Kitchener since the 1960s, and perhaps you’ve even set foot inside or spent the night. But what you may not be aware of (and what we recently discovered) are the elegant ballrooms within and the option for an on-site ceremony that have catered to about thirty-five weddings per year. Hivi Yasin, Catering Manager, along with Executive Chef, Dave Goodwin and Banquet Manager, Yoga Santhaneswaran, are part of the professional team who say their main focus is providing fantastic and unparalleled customer service, amazing cuisine and a beautiful end product for each wedding – a feat that several local brides seem to agree they pull off well. But brides aren’t the only ones recommending the Holiday Inn K-W as the Inn was also the Reader's Select Winner for favourite K-W hotel for six years in a row and favourite K-W Chef for three years in a row.

Contemporary style combine with chic atmosphere at Opus Banquet Facility

If you’re looking for an uber contemporary, gallery-style venue with high ceilings and design possibilities to die for, Opus Banquet Facility in Kitchener-Waterloo is going to blow you away – or at least have you asking yourself how you didn’t know about this location before… With space for up to 220 guests, a second location in Guelph, plenty of menu options via the Opus Executive Chef, this venue is incredible. Opus weddings and events are coordinated and run by KW Guelph Weddings, the same team that handles the many wedding, event and concert details of this and other clubs (including both Kitchener and Guelph Opus locations, Elements, Wax and Dallas in Kitchener).

KW Guelph Weddings turns Elements and Wax into the hot spots for glam-style weddings

Like many Kitchener locals, the team at The Ring knew Elements and Wax to be hot spots on the night club scene. They open to the public on Saturday nights and then play host to chart-topping celebs like Lady Gaga, Our Lady Peace and Collective Soul at select dates throughout the year. It wasn't until we were scouting locations for The 2009 K-W Brides' Ball that we saw for ourselves how fabulous these locations could be for a multitude of different types of events - including weddings. From the dark, almost-vintage style space of Elements (which was once a theatre, complete with neon marquis in front), to the multi-level, more intimate space of Wax, the doors are open for glam-style wedding receptions, after parties, engagement parties and more. In fact, both Elements and Wax already host corporate events (from Manulife to Rogers), fundraisers and charity events - one of which, in the summer of '09, was The Brides' Ball. We sat down with Stephanie Van De Ven, Marketing & Events Coordinator at the company behind the club-style wedding locales, KW Guelph Weddings, to find out exactly what a bride can and will love about Elements and Wax. Check it out…

KW Guelph Weddings turns Dallas into a rustic venue for local weddings and stag & does

For close to twenty years, KW Guelph Weddings has been planning and coordinating weddings and events through their unique venues – one of which is Dallas. Having catered to big time celebrities, huge local companies, fundraisers and charities, the team at KW Guelph Weddings already has the knowledge, experience and passion to host weddings, saying that events are what they do, and what they do best.

A Universal Limousine offers luxury transportation & service to local brides

When the staff at The Ring visited with A Universal Limousine Service on their expansive grounds located between St. Thomas and Aylmer, we were blown away by what we thought, originally, might have just been another limousine company. We knew that A Universal has been among the 'who's who' in luxury transportation for over a decade, but now we know why. By focusing on providing tons of options, customizable packages, quality service, and excellence in both their vehicles and their chauffeurs, it's no wonder that business managers, brides and prom queens alike, repeatedly choose this company to get them to their destinations in style. A Universal knows their business inside and out and only gets bigger every year, because of it.

The Leith Quartet's expert musicians know how to stay in-synch with brides

The Leith Quartet has been playing right into the hearts of local brides for the past nine years. The four musicians use their expertise and rich string quartet sounds to set the stage for wedding ceremonies and receptions in the community. This tightly knit, well rehearsed and obviously talented quartet has their own way with weddings, and it looks like brides can hear the difference. Staff at The Ring sat down with Violinist and Quartet Representative, Bruce Skelton to find out more...

After thousands of weddings, Don Perron's love for ceremonies never fails to inspire

It must take an extraordinary person to perform thousands of weddings without losing emotional involvement or intensity over time. But Don Perron of Pastoral Services of Guelph, has never lost his love for weddings, nor his power to perform them. Don has performed ceremonies all over Southwestern Ontario, from The Medieval Times Dinner & Theatre and reality weddings on the Slice Network to just about every local ceremony/reception site.

Kettle Creek earns popularity by helping couples plan their personalized wedding ceremonies from scratch

Kettle Creek Weddings is a well-known, well-loved name for many brides across Ontario and in the local area. They specialize in performing wedding ceremonies that are made from scratch by their brides and grooms, and giving the flexible, personal approach that couples want.

In the salon and at your home, Synergy's bridal services are destined for your wish list

From in-salon 'mani/pedis' to on-site bridal make-up the morning of your wedding, Synergy Esthetics is a favourite for many brides on their wedding days (if not before). In fact, quite often staff at The Ring can be found indulging in Synergy-style in French or colour Bio Sculpture Gel Nails, putting our skin and nail care in the hands of Owners Cindy Fraser and Jenna Abate.

From pole dancing bachelorette parties to first dance waltz lessons, Impact Movement Studios isn't just for brides

Over the years, bachelorette parties have earned a reputation for being naughty. For some, that means painting the town red in plastic tiaras and drinking far too many martinis, and for others, that means lining up for seats at the local male revue. But today's brides aren't taking a seat at any revue except their own. Since opening in downtown Kitchener in 2005, Impact Movement Studios Inc. has hosted hundreds of bachelorette parties. The studio, which is owned and operated by competitive dancer Leanne Giilck, teaches entire wedding parties how to do their own chair, pole and floor dance routines. The classes are an affordable alternative to the traditional bachelorette. They give girls a chance to find their inner flirt, laugh until their stomachs hurt and be almost guaranteed to remember the night forever.

Flying Dance Company brings out the talent, spark and rhythm in every bride and groom

The Event Firm offers music, lighting, ultra contemporary design and a chic reception space

The Event Firm doesn't just provide music, décor and food for your wedding; they stage your wedding day experience, mood and style. This company treats each event in many dimensions - with ultra-contemporary décor, exclusive lighting, a chic venue with delicious food and a fresh style that delivers a definite wow-factor.

From 'English Garden' to 'Renaissance' décor, Paris decorator sets the scene for weddings

The first time that we visited the Now & Always showroom, Cindy Hefferan had dozens of candles and lanterns lit, all of her twinkle lights were sparkling throughout the room, and her portfolio was arranged to showcase a large collection of events she's decorates. Cindy does this for every client because it introduces them to the Now & Always style of decorating. It also hints at what's to come for the bride and groom, should they hire Cindy to create a mood for their reception. What all of this really says to us, though, is that Cindy cares about presentation and details.

Les Fleurs specializes in offering flower designs that are hip, unique and in your price range

Operating out of the new Vincenzo's location in the Bauer Lofts in Uptown Waterloo, Les Fleurs Floral Boutique has easily become a favourite floral design shop for local brides, as well as for local community and charity events in a short period of time.

Sheila Braam's training and creativity gives your wedding images a captivating style and the promise of a fun-filled shoot

Seasoned photographer, Sheila Braam, has devoted herself to creating compelling photos that capture the celebration of your lifetime. Just by looking through her online gallery, you know she can tell a wedding story with remarkable images: a tiny ring bearer with tousled hair clutching a satin pillow encircled by a sea of ushers, two heads bowed together under a bridal veil, a crisp certificate of marriage signed with fresh ink, a table of guests laughing wildly at wisecracks by the master of ceremonies, and a favourite uncle cutting loose on the dance floor... Sheila isn't going for mere snapshots. She's focusing her lens on offering high quality, creative images that she says are inspired by her own love of weddings and photography.

Captured Soul is about fun, romantic memories and never charging a bride to shoot her wedding

From before she was even in high school, Michelle Kauntz has been a photographer at heart. And she's been a wedding photographer even longer than she, herself, realized. Michelle shoots in what her brides call "a natural, easy" style, and she uses her photography talents to serve up wedding memories that couples can love for a lifetime – both locally and abroad.

Award-winning barebonephoto offers alternative to traditional photography by capturing moments, not creating them

When The Ring met Emma years ago, it was obvious to us that before long, she'd be winning awards, shooting across the globe and accumulating her own fan base within our local community. And we were right. Emma Smallbone of barebonephoto comes to your table as a photo-savvy, experienced (over fifteen years of experience - the last eight of which have been in the Cambridge/K-W area) professional photographer whose mission in life is to capture the most stunning, candid, artistic moments of your wedding and events as she possibly can.

A Cinderella wedding in an intimate, castle-like venue with personalized service

The Best Western St. Jacobs Country Inn is a castle-like, romantic and intimate venue for your wedding ceremony, dinner, reception, and overnight accommodations, making it a convenient one-stop shop for everything on your wedding day. A well-known fixture on the edge of Waterloo for almost 12 years, this location's peaceful environment and surroundings is conveniently located close to the shops of St. Jacobs, local theatres, antique shops and great restaurants to entertain out of towners. The Verandah room, with its high ceilings and picturesque views from the floor to ceiling windows, is a perfect choice for an elegant reception for brides and grooms who want a small wedding with out of town guests.

Brides and grooms are loving the intimacy of St. Jacobs Country Inn for themselves and their guests

Whether your friends and family are coming from Guelph or Collingwood, it is the bride and groom's responsibility to reserve a group of rooms at a discounted rate at a place where they know their family and friends will be comfortable. The newly renovated guest rooms at the Best Western St. Jacobs Country Inn are just that, and the hotel happens to offer a discounted rate of up to 20% when you book the rooms in groups of ten or more.