Planning a wedding is no small feat—especially in a city like Ottawa and when you’re likely in a partnership where you’re both working full-time. From finding the perfect venue to juggling vendors and timelines, there are countless moving parts. That’s why hiring a wedding planner can be one of the best decisions you make in your wedding journey. To kick off my new blog series spotlighting Ottawa’s top wedding professionals, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Amelia Carleton, the founder of Amelia Carleton Weddings, a bespoke wedding planning service specializing in deeply personal, stylish, and unforgettable celebrations.

Meet Amelia

Amelia’s path to becoming one of Ottawa’s most trusted wedding planners wasn’t traditional—but it’s what makes her so unique. From organizing events at a skateboard shop in her teens to planning her own wedding during the pandemic, Amelia’s love for event logistics and eye for design has been decades in the making.

After working as a venue coordinator and realizing she wanted to be more hands-on with the full wedding planning process, she founded Amelia Carleton Weddings. Today, Amelia leads a small but mighty team, working with couples across Ottawa, Wakefield, and beyond, offering everything from full-service planning to day-of coordination.

“I like to do things that are really personal to the couple… not just recreating something they saw on Pinterest.” – Amelia Carleton

Why hire a wedding planner?

You might be wondering: do I really need a planner? Amelia has seen it all and shared why hiring a wedding planner—or at minimum, a coordinator—can actually save couples time, money, and stress:

✨ Save Money Through Vendor Connections – Many of Amelia’s preferred vendors offer exclusive discounts to her clients.
✨ Avoid Costly Oversights: Small oversights (like forgetting a water source at a tented venue!) can add up fast.
✨ Time is Money: Planning a wedding takes over 500 hours. For couples working full-time, that can be overwhelming.
✨ Stress-Free Wedding Day: Without a coordinator, tasks often fall to the couple or a stressed-out relative. Amelia’s role ensures everyone can simply be present.

As Amelia pointed out in our interview:

“As much as your wedding is for you, it’s also for your guests. Let them be guests—don’t make them the event staff.”

Amelia’s signature style

Amelia is known for her luxury-meets-personal planning style. Her ideal weddings are filled with thoughtful design touches, sentimental details, and creative use of space and budget. She works with all wedding sizes but especially loves intimate weddings (50-80 guests) and micro weddings (under 40 guests).

She also thrives in non-traditional venues and restaurant weddings, where her design experience can shine:

• Riviera Ottawa: “It feels so chic, elegant, and elevated—with incredible food and service.”
• Little Victories Coffee (paired with a reception at a nearby spot)
• Le Peaches & Cream (a Wakefield-area gem with on-site accommodations and incredible gardens)
• Side Door and Arlo for restaurant weddings with character

Amelia shared:

“I’m drawn to venues with built-in charm—restaurants and private estates—where less decor is needed, and more personality can shine.”

Amelia’s top tips for planning a wedding in Ottawa

Whether you’re getting married downtown or just outside the city, Amelia had plenty of wisdom to share:

1. Venues vs. Backyard Weddings: Backyard weddings might seem budget-friendly but often cost just as much, once you factor in tents, bathrooms, power, and backup weather plans.
2. Book Early: Reach out at least 12 months in advance. Popular Ottawa venues and vendors get booked quickly!
3. Choose Vendors You Actually Like: Especially your photographer—you’re spending your whole day with them. As Amelia put it, “Make sure you like their energy—not just their photos.”
4. Don’t DIY the Day-Of: Even if you don’t book full planning, at least invest in a day-of coordinator. It’s worth it.

What sets Amelia Carleton Weddings apart

Amelia isn’t trying to fit into a cookie-cutter mold. She attracts couples who want something thoughtful, soulful, and stylish. Her ability to creatively stretch a budget and elevate simple elements into meaningful design is what her clients love most.

She also brings a calm, grounded presence—perfect for navigating wedding-day surprises. From rerouting shuttle buses in Prince Edward County to handling last-minute vendor changes, Amelia is exactly who you want in your corner.

Amelia’s creativity doesn’t just end with helping clients with weddings. She also organizes creative workshops for photographers where she collaborates with other vendors to create styled shoots. Her ability to bring creative minds together is a strength that benefits others in the Ottawa wedding community.

Final thoughts

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, stylish, and supportive planner to bring your Ottawa wedding vision to life, Amelia Carleton Weddings is a name to remember. Her design-first approach, vendor relationships, and calm, capable presence make her a standout in the Ottawa wedding community.

You can learn more or inquire about working with her at acarletonweddings.com or on Instagram @acarletonweddings.

Stay tuned for more interviews with Ottawa’s top wedding vendors in this series!