by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — Julie Keon has been voted Best Officiant at the 2016 Ottawa Wedding Awards.
This was the third year Ms. Keon was nominated and the first time she has won.
“I’m the Meryl Streep of the Ottawa Wedding Awards,” she said with a laugh, adding, “Third time’s a charm.”
Ms. Keon cannot be nominated next year, but will have the honour of presenting an award at the ceremony.
A resident of Cobden, Ms. Keon said the Ottawa Wedding Awards should add in the word “area” to the event name because there are many people from outside Ottawa who are nominated for the 22 awards, which includes photographer, venue, disc jockey, florist, stylist for hair, stylist for make-up and bridal fashion.
These awards are all voted by people online, Ms. Keon said.
This year, platinum awards were added and these are judged by people, not just online votes. There were 18 platinum awards, which included best catered wedding, best hair style, best couple portrait and best wedding gown.
Since 2012, Ms. Keon has been an officiant, first being appointed by Whitewater Region council.
She recalled the ceremony Cathy Williamson, of Westmeath, performed at her brother’s wedding. She spoke to Ms. Williamson after her brother’s wedding to find out more about what an officiant is, and then decided she wanted to look into even more.
After taking a course, she performed 12 weddings in her first year, which was only between May and September. Now, Ms. Keon said she is busy throughout the year, not only with wedding ceremonies, but various events, as she is now a Life-Cycle Celebrant, which she attained in 2013.
“I specialize in the creation of meaningful ceremonies,” she said.
Ms. Keon makes each ceremony she performs unique to the person or people.
“As a life-cycle celebrant, I apply what I learned to my ceremonies,” she said. “I custom-write every ceremony.”
She meets with the people involved with the ceremony to see who they are, what they are looking for, etc., and then creates a ceremony just for them.
“It’s not just a canned event,” Ms. Keon said.
Ms. Keon recalled the night of the event. She remembers thinking it didn’t really matter if she won, just to be nominated was a thrill.
“I’m confident in what I do,” she said. “I want to know that the couples are happy with the care they received in their own ceremony.
“I am part of someone’s big day and I don’t take that for granted. Wedding ceremonies are pure joy and happy.”
However, when her name was called, Ms. Keon recalled, “I was so excited. It was nice to win. It was fun. It was a positive experience.”
