I’m planning my Ottawa wedding right now, and wow, are things unaffordable. As an active military member here in the NCR, I found myself searching high and low for a venue my fiancé would love without breaking the bank. With my work as an wedding photographer for many military weddings here in the capital region, I came across the old army mess downtown on Somerset, now known as the NCR Officers Mess.

For military mess members, access to the venue is extremely affordable compared to most other wedding venues in the city. Just to put things into perspective, my finacé and I were quoted $56.65/person for a 3-Course Dinnner, with and alcohol priced ever-so slightly above LCBO rates. Since the mess isn’t looking to make a profit, just stay open, it really is an awesome option military members and veterans should seek to take advantage of. A $300 venue fee vs. a $5000 fee is just a no-brainer. The bar and it’s staff are extremely welcoming, supportive, and will even coordinate with you to stock specific items. If you’re a fellow serving member or veteran looking to save money while having an incredible reception that your friends, family, and partner will remember, this is definitely a spot to check out.

I hope this helps and saves you a ton of money when it comes to planning your wedding in the NCR, celebrating love in this economy shouldn’t be at the cost of a downpayment. If you’re looking for a high-quality photography that delivers incredible photos, I offer exclusive rates to active military members and veterans. Please fill out the form below to contact me and book your wedding date. Availability is open but limited at this time due to current bookings. I’m just looking to help out those who’ve served beside me at home and overseas, and I would love to do the same for your upcoming wedding.