Wedding ReferralsThe following wedding referrals have been provided by couples who have celebrated their weddings here at the Ark. So far we have a 100% referral rate! Hi Mike, I've been meaning to write a gigantic thank you email since thewedding in August, but as you know, time can escape us. As not onlyour venue host, but also our officiant, you truly had an integral partin making our day spectacular. You always responded to the emails Isent (and I sent a lot!), you were always there when I needed you.You had the kind and caring and 'do whatever you want!' attitude thatwe needed as a host and officiant. The Ark is a beautiful place andour guests loved every inch of it, especially the animals, teepees andcamping. Although we had torrential rain in the evening I know ourguests had a blast. We didn't look at any other venue once we saw theArk in the fall, in all its glory. I don't think there is any othervenue that would have been able to suit our wants or needs as well asthe Ark did. If you would like to use any of the photos for your website from ourwedding photos, please feel free to do so. Kristin and Mason Dear Mike and Monique, We cannot thank you enough for making our wedding the most incredible day of our lives. Your venue creates the most amazing atmosphere for a wedding and reception. Our guests were quite impressed with the beautiful scenery and the out-of-towners felt that they were able to gain an authentic view of the picturesque Quebec countryside. Everything was absolutely perfect and we are so happy to have chosen this venue. We not only had the freedom to organize the wedding of our dreams but we also saved a ton of money, which would have been next to impossible anywhere else. Mike and Monique are both great hosts and make the day run smoothly. We highly recommend Mike to officiate the wedding as his subtle humour was perfect to calm our nerves. You truly get the best of both worlds with this venue, having the reception & dance party inside and the campfire outside for those who just want to chill under the starlit sky. Again, we cannot express enough how amazing this venue is and highly recommend it. All the best, Jenn & Andrew (August 27, 2011) Dear Mike and Monique, A simple "Thank You" does not seem enough to express all the gratitude we have for you guys! Eric and I, and all our family and friends, had the most wonderful day on our Wedding at the Ark. I think Magic should be the first word to describe the atmosphere that day. And creating such an atmosphere was possible because of many factors : A gorgeous, gorgeous venue, Mother Nature, a smart and funny and entertaining celebrant (i.e. Mike!) and all the freedom we needed to have our wedding our way. It is really not just a catchy marketing slogan: we really had our wedding our way! So basically by choosing the Ark, we saved a whole lot of money, impressed our guests who were absolutely pleased and comfortable and happy; we also are able to say we stood by our values with a most green wedding. We chose Mike as a celebrant and that was really the thing to do: everybody loved him and the original ceremony! We went with Bytown Catering and the food was just perfect! And, again, that was the less expensive option in all the Ottawa/Gatineau area. The decor allowed our photographer to take absolutely beautiful pictures that we are going to cherish for the rest of our lives, together. Also, one of the most awesome things, some of our guests stayed at the campground with us. It made the day last a little longer; having a campfire and songs all around, for more wonderful memories. We're so pleased to have chosen the Ark. We couldn't have done better anywhere else. Wishing you all the best of life, Mélanie et Eric (August 6th, 2011) Dear Mike and Monique "Our wedding day was perfect and a big part of that was thanks to Mike and Monique and their beautiful venue! As we all know weddings can be stressful but as soon as the day started Mike put everything at ease with his easy-going manner and also with his ability to get things done and find simple solutions. Mike was also a great officiant and delivered the ceremony with light-heartedness. He knew exactly what we wanted for our wedding day. We were also really happy when we got back to the venue in the morning, dreading the cleanup, to find everything collected in boxes all ready to go into the cars. The venue itself is beautiful and magical, from the horses and llama, to the woods, to the the building itself that Mike has worked on since it was three walls of an old mill, to the beautiful tippee that we stayed in on our wedding night. We were able to have most of our wedding outdoors which is exactly what we wanted with a campfire and all! We also chose to go with Mike's suggestion of Bytown Catering and were impressed with their professionalism, and their fantastic service and food! Special thanks to Rita who was extra helpful on the day we were setting up the venue. All of our friends and family had a great time and everyone was glowing afterwards. Big thanks again!" Joel and Kyla Hi Mike, I just wanted to express our thanks again for Saturday. The day was wonderful and you were a very big part of that. I noticed all the work you behind the scene, as well as your superb officiating. You made the day stress-free and beautiful, enjoyed by all from newborn to 92 years old! Thanks again, Mike and Monique, Guy and I sincerely thank you for helping us of host an amazing wedding at The Ark. You were very accommodating at every step of the process, and didn’t shy away from any request that we had. From helping to set up and tear down, making an emergency trip for more drinks, and even caring for one of our guests who was sick, nothing was a problem for you. The ceremony that you officiated was light-hearted, like I wanted, and touching, like Guy wanted. All of our guests had a great time, and nobody minded the 40 minute drive. The Ark was the perfect venue for our day, and we certainly recommend it to others. Thanks again, ~Ian and Guy Dear Mike and Monique, Thank you for making our wedding day the best day of our lives. We were so happy to have chosen the Ark for our special day. The planning was laid back and easy, Mike did a fantastic job at our ceremony, making it a personalized and unique marriage. Thanks Mike and Monique for your help with the reception, and we'd also like to thank to Bytown Catering for great service and excellent food. We will absolutely reccommend The Ark to friends and family - everything was perfect and we really were able to do everything our own way. Merci!! Emily and Ben August 28th 2010 Dear Mike and Monique,
Vu and I can’t thank you enough for making our day so perfect. We got married at the Ark on Sept 26, 2009 in the morning with a lunch reception. The outdoor setting with the fall colours and nature surrounding us was stunning and suited our vision of our wedding perfectly. The hall is so versatile and looked absolutely beautiful once it was all set up. We had an abundance of comments from our guests on how you have the perfect wedding site.
We were first attracted by the price, but the beauty of the Gatineau hills and the calm, relaxed atmosphere are what made us fall in love with your site. Vu of course was enamored with all the animals! The most unique feature of the Ark is that everything is off the grid. We were quite impressed that this did not detract from the activities at all: we were able to play Rock Band on a projector with the music blaring out loud along with the usual electrical devices. And in fact your technology became quite the conversation topic for our guests.
Mike, during the planning phase, you were always prompt and very helpful with replies to our questions. You and Monique were also very accommodating with your schedules, allowing us all the time and visits we needed to plan our special day. And showing my family around when they dropped in for an unexpected visit went above and beyond your duties.
Everyone was impressed with how helpful you were. When we arrived on the Friday, everything inside and outside was already set up; we just had to decorate. And you stuck around for that process, helping where you could, giving suggestions, and lending things that we had forgotten. The morning of the Wedding, we had the use of your lovely big room upstairs for the girls to prepare in. From the window, there we could see Mike outside setting up flowers, sprinkling leaves about and doing final decorations! You were gracious enough to allow for the use of your personal bathroom for members of Vu’s family who came up from Montréal. The ceremony itself went off perfectly with you officiating. Your great sense of humour and easygoing nature helped to calm nerves and kept it a joyful occasion. And in the afternoon, after all the guests had left, you were there once again to help my family take down decorations and clean up. Where else could you get that kind of personal service?
As Vu and I were leaving, you had one more special gift for us: a copy of all the pictures you and Monique took over the course of the two days. It was so special to be able to go home and relive events that took place only hours earlier.
So thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing the Ark with us and for the outstanding service you provided. It truly was the best day of our lives. We would do it again in an instant.
Vu and Rachel Le Mike and Monique, Marc and I would like to thank the both of you for all your help and support in the planning of our wedding. From the minute we arrived at the Ark, we knew it was the perfect place for our wedding. The grounds are beautiful with all the fall colours, and the building had the warm cozy feeling we were looking for. Since we both have a love for camping, the fire made our day complete, and we enjoyed our dance by it! All our guests commented on the incredible location for our wedding, and the drive up was picturesque. All our dreams came true that day! Thanks again for everything. Jodi and Marc, October 3, 2009
Dear Mike, We wanted to let you know how much we loved our wedding at the Ark! Your house was the perfect country venue that we were looking for.. no frills, just a beautiful natural setting for our amazing day. All of our guests couldn't stop telling us how unique and down-to-earth our wedding was! We were especially glad that Bytowne Catering was so amenable to catering our lunchtime ceremony at the Ark... the outdoor buffet was a great addition to the afternoon. Bringing the food inside to eat was no problem, and everyone loved the dining hall - especially the unique canoe shelves! All of our pictures are just beautiful, with the lush green grass and trees and pretty wildflowers in your backyard making a wonderful backdrop. Thanks for making our day perfect, Jon and Rebecca,August 30th, 2009 Dear Mike and Monique, We would like to thank you for sharing the Ark with us on our special day. Many people have thanked us for choosing such a beautiful place. The relaxed atmosphere and natural surroundings definitely matched our and our guests’ style. Having a bonfire was very much appreciated by many as an alternative to, or break from, the dance floor. Any hesitations about driving the distance to the Ark disappeared as the smiles and good cheer were in great abundance throughout the day. We thank you again for giving us a memorable start to our life together. Best Wishes, Jerry & Mercédes P.S. The soap on the magnet in the bathroom was a creative touch! We very much enjoyed our day at the Ark. It was very relaxed and the day flowed from one phase to the next with little effort. The Ark is not your traditional banquet hall and for us that fit our image of what we wanted very well (not many ties were seen that day and I think the only suit was worn by Mike). The natural surroundings added an air of peace and calmness to the day. Mike was very flexible in adapting to our needs and desires through the planning stage and through the day as well. Would I recommend the Ark as a place to get married...absolutely.Cheers, Jerry Mike and Monique, Katherine and I would like to thank you for your services and for providing us with such a great place to be married! The Ark was the ideal setting for our country wedding! We've gotten a lot of great feedback about what a memorable day it was and what a beautiful location it was. It was a great feeling to see the months of planning and preparation come together perfectly that day. We really couldn't have done it without your help and feel very fortunate to have found you. You saved us a lot of money and it was a pleasure working with such great people. We look forward to just showing up sometime when we're in that part of the continent!! Thanks Again, Chris and Katherine Dear Mike & Monique, Pat and I would like to thank you immensely for everything that you did for us on our day and even everything you did the months and days leading up to the wedding! We were looking for a laid back and relaxed day and that is exactly what we got! It was perfect. I was really impressed with how great the place looked after the caterers set up too. All of our guests are still talking about our how beautiful the wedding was and how we chose the perfect spot! Everyone said that the 45 minute drive was completely worth it and the bon fire added a great touch. You both made the day flow so smoothly and were *SO* accommodating! Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I wish we could do it again…maybe our 25th Anniversary? Take care, Elsbeth and Pat Farrell Dear Mike & Monique, Thanks once again for helping to make our wedding day such an amazing event. You're attitude of "have your day your way" was a welcome change and really let us do exactly what we wanted for our wedding and reception. We appreciate all the quick responses to our questions as well. Your last minute problem solving skills were also greatly appreciate and helped things go very smoothly even when dealing with unexpected challenges. Our guests really appreciated the beautiful setting of The Ark for our wedding venue. We also had several people comment that it was the best wedding they'd ever been to. The bonfire in the yard was a great touch too! It was really the perfect celebration for us, our family and friends. Thanks again, Kevin & Erin Harper Good morning Mike, My son Neil and his new wife Anna were married at your site on Saturday, October 11th. The day was beautiful and the comments from our family and friends who attended the wedding were all so positive. They thought the location was beautiful, they loved the personal feel of the ceremony and the reception area was warm and inviting. Thanks so much Mike, Kathleen Schiemann Hey Mike, here's another testimonial for your website. Thanks for a great day! We couldn't have asked for a better place to have our wedding than the Ark. The area is stunningly beautiful, warm and homey feeling. Though we had purposely gone for a no-frills kind of event, all our friends and family couldn't stop talking about how gorgeous it was, and how it was the best wedding they'd been to, period. Mike was really helpful. If you're going for a medium-small wedding with a beautiful, back to nature vibe, you can't do better than the Ark. Hello Mike, sorry it took so long to get this too you. Kelly and I just wanted to thank you for exceeding all of the expectations we had for our wedding day. The stress and tension began to build right from the moment of our engagement. But luckily we found the Ark and met you. From then on, everything seemed to flow easily and fall into place. Thank you so much for responding to all our questions and concerns in such a timely manner. You always seemed to have the exact answer we were looking for and your calm demeanour ensured we never had to worry about anything. Again we couldn't believe how great our actual wedding day was. You were right, most of our guests did come up and tell us that our wedding was the best wedding they had ever been to. And thank you so much for recommending we travel down the road to have our pictures taken on the shore of the Gatineau River. They all turned out terrific, and are also the best wedding pictures we've ever seen. Now that our wedding is over and done with, I've got to tell you you're not charging enough for your services! We shopped around before finding you and we know how much more the other places are charging for far fewer services and a less spectacular venue. The Ark really is the best kept wedding secret in the region, but I don't expect that will be the case much longer. We're certainly telling everybody we know how great your place is! Good luck, I'm sure you'll see us again. Kelly already wants to renew our vows just so we can have another party at the Ark! Chris and Kelly Joseph Dear Mike and Monique, Thank you so much for being a big part of an unforgetable and all-round spectacular wedding day for us. The Ark is just breath taking and will always hold a special place in our memories. May and Phil, July 25, 2009 The following is a letter we received after a wedding I officiated at Billing's Bridge Estates: My husband and I wanted to let you know about the fantastic wedding ceremony that Mike Caldwell did for us. Prior to the wedding, we knew that we had the right guy to officiate for us!! He is so easy going and funny and open to suggestions about the ceremony. He made everything seem really light and fun!! The day of the wedding was exactly the same. He was there waiting when the limo pulled up to the Museum, offered us his good wishes, and then went to wait with my husband before the ceremony began. Everyone was very impressed!!! He made sure that everyone was at ease, and made us laugh!!! A sign of a truly gifted speaker!! He was constantly smiling and made sure to look at everyone there, as if everyone were old friends. Remarkable!!! We couldn't be more pleased with Mike and with your company. Our day wouldn't have been the same without him. Tanya and George And here's another "Thank You" email I received after officiating a wedding at the Courtyard Restaurant in Ottawa: Hi Mike, We just wanted to send you a little note to say thank you so much for being a part of our special day! You definitely made us feel more at ease - with your humour placed at exactly the right moment. You were also correct that once we were underway that everything would be fine – in regards to all those nerves. We have only had good comments about our ceremony and we wanted to express to you how grateful we were/are that you helped it feel how we had hoped it would – like a fun, not overdrawn, intimate experience. Thank you so much again! Nancy & Michael J |
