The Oasis Centre’s Multi-Tiered Experience Vendor Spotlight: The Oasis Centre

In our Fall Winter 2014 issue look for the full details on The Oasis Centre, Blush’s Venue of the Year. Enjoy this web-exclusive advice session with Anne McLennan, Wedding Director for The Oasis Centre, and see how you can best make your event dreams a bridal reality.

Maximize the Garden

“Whenever we can, we love to treat our guests to our spectacular garden. We have created wedding event plans that allow for taking advantage of this wonderful option. Because the weather here in Alberta can be unpredictable, we always have a back-up plan such as the marble foyer in case the weather isn’t favourable. Our favorite is to open the two back double-doors immediately following the ceremony and invite and delight guests to a champagne celebration in the garden. Everyone can then enjoy a glass of champagne while the newly married couple takes photos with family and friends. After 30 minutes or so, people can make their way back into the marble foyer when the full bar opens for the reception.

Another option is to invite your guests out into the garden for a surprise after dinner to watch fireworks, or for fun, to enjoy some innovative cuisine from one of Edmonton’s trendy food trucks like The Lemon Grass Grill for a delicious and unexpected late lunch snack…”

Capture the Cuisine Element

“The caterers we partner with have been selected because they have proven themselves to be reliable and professional while providing delicious and quality cuisine to our valued clients. We have selected a wholesome variety of catering options that can suit our client’s preferences whether it is for a classic and elegant buffet or something creative or innovative such as family style or passed appetizers. Nowadays, we also get lots of requests for gluten-free or specific cultural types of cuisine that we love to be able to accommodate and offer our clients whenever possible. Presentation is always important with not only the food, but the catering staff and customer service as well. It all reflects on our business and shapes the experience for our clients.”

Lighting is Everything

“We’ve had some amazing lighting arrangements working with our high ceilings, especially over the past year. One that stands out was where floor to ceiling draping was added around the whole room and up lit in a soft incandescent amber. Another event layered striking royal blues and a moving night sky on the ceiling that gave an otherworldly romantic outdoor garden feel. Some of the concerts we’ve had here have brought in some amazing lighting designers that we have of course learned from to add to our repertoire. We discovered a way to project a film of a running 20ft tall waterfall on the wall behind the stage, with soft pink up-lit drapes framing it on either side. It was breathtaking, and provided a stunning and unique backdrop for the bride and groom to sit in front of during speeches.”

Make a Dramatic Entrance

“The Grand Hall and the main foyer lend themselves to dramatic entrances, the best way to take advantage would be to have fun with it and be willing to try something untraditional. Some of the more dramatic, or creative grand entrances came from inspiration from our clients, for instance, coming into the Grand Hall through the double mahogany doors on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. That was a real show stopper. We enjoy helping clients come up with new ways to enter through those doors, such as a wedding ceremony recently where perfectly choreographed bridesmaids burst through the doors all in a row with impeccable timing to Diana Ross singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. It took the crowd by pleasant surprise and added a hip and refreshing contrast to the more traditional elements of the wedding.”