A photo booth, a pajama party, and no boys allowed. What more could women want?
A local boudoir photographer, based in Gatineau, is bringing the ultimate girls’ night to Centretown on March 8.
Blush 2014 will be held at the downtown Marriott hotel in conjunction with International Women’s Day, according to Bri Anderson-Jackson, Blush organizer and owner Voulez-Vous Boudoir Photography Inc.
She says the event will include pampering, dancing, food, and photographs.
Anderson-Jackson moved to boudoir photography after years of wedding shoots.
She says she wanted to give back to women after years of support for her business.
“As a mother myself and a wife, I find that sometimes I focus on my children and my husband, and of course my work, and not necessarily myself,” says the 35-year-old mother of seven.
Anderson-Jackson says they changed locations this year to double the capacity to 300 women after last year’s event at Westboro’s Cube Gallery sold out in six days.
Kevin Pellerine says he enjoys running his photo booth at the event because of the relaxed atmosphere.
As one of the only men at the event, he says it’s a nice way for women to have fun without men looking over their shoulder.
Emily Lindahl says she first found out about Blush because she has followed Anderson-Jackson’s work as a photographer for some time.
“I really appreciated her take on body image and beauty,” says Lindahl.
“As a plus-size woman, anywhere you see positive reinforcements about beauty is really appealing.”
Lindahl says she is looking forward to the new midnight pajama party.
She bought her ticket early after experiencing the 2013 event.
“It’s a great time to hang with your girlfriends or meet new friends,” she says.
“Some of the women there are just amazing. They’re from every age, cultural background, size, and shape.”
She says the event provides a safe environment to go out with the girls.
Linda Manziaris, 14-year-old founder of Body Bijou, was excited when the Blush team reached out.
“International Women’s Day is about women uniting to help women,” says Manziaris.
Manziaris’s online jewelry boutique donates 50 per cent of its profits to Girls Helping Girls, an organization her 17-year-old sister started in 2012 to provide scholarships to girls who would have otherwise not been able to afford an education.
“I think events like this remind women of their own worth and that’s so important,” says Manziari.
“Women are undervalued in the developing world but let’s face it, they are undervalued globally, even in progressive countries like Canada.”