MARRIED SEPTEMBER 15, 2018
Adam and I aren’t your typical high school sweethearts, although that’s where we met. At a young age, I remember knowing that Adam was my person. We started out as friends, but by grade 10, he became the only man on my mind – and from that point on, I was pretty much on a mission. It took a few years, but right before I was about to make my big to move to Toronto for college, we made it official. Obviously, I was thrilled that we finally took the leap, and I spent the next three years coming home every weekend to visit him. Most of our friends still tease me about all of the extra things I did just to see him, but clearly all of that hard work was worth it in the end. Seven years after we started dating, we were at St. Marys Golf & Country Club getting married!
After purchasing our first home and settling into steady jobs, Adam surprised me with a cruise for my 24th birthday. He set it all up with my boss in advance and we headed to the Bahamas. It was convenient that our week away also fell on our dating anniversary, and on the night of our six-year celebration dinner, Adam ended up popping the question! He had hidden my beautiful Vera Wang ring under his dessert plate, and before he could even say anything, I reached over to lift off his plate cover to see what he had ordered. Immediately, I slammed the cover back down, as I knew that it was NOT a dessert. He laughed, got down on one knee, and proposed.
Wedding planning started soon after we got back from our trip, and the venue selection came first. After one full day of venue searching, I was feeling defeated, as everything I seemed to like was out of our price range. As fate would have it, that same day, a friend of my mom’s had recommended to her that Adam and I check out The Hideaway at St. Marys Golf & Country Club, and I was immediately intrigued. At the time, the room wasn’t finished being built yet, but I saw the renderings online and immediately felt a connection to the space. I remember calling SMGCC from the car, asking if they could take us on a tour right away! We made a trip out to St. Marys the following week and booked the venue WITHOUT being able to see the finished room in person. The venue was stunning, stylish and affordable, and we had full confidence that the space would provide the elegant yet cozy ambiance we were after. Mixing rustic, industrial, classic and modern details, it embodied my vibe of ‘Industrial Moody Modern’ perfectly.
Décor was never a worry for me, as we are lucky to have an incredibly talented family. Brenda Rounds, my aunt and the owner of Wildwood Designs, came up with a design for the space. We knew that we didn’t need to go overboard with the decor, since the space was already so beautiful, so we used minimal décor to make it feel unique for our wedding. Brenda brought in mixed metals, custom rustic accents, styled vignettes, and greenery – and instead of having a backdrop at the center of the room, we became the first to hang ferns from the ceiling above our head table, which really enhanced the earthy feel of the Hideaway. SMGCC sourced our table linens and napkins for us, in tone-on-tone ivory, to keep with the crisp theme of minimalism. My sister, Jenna Hutchison, who is also a super talented graphic designer, created my invitations, table cards and event signage using a minimalist design. And my Aunt Denise was kind enough to bake an assortment of custom-flavoured cupcakes (including whisky vanilla!), for everyone to enjoy.
Drawing from the moody side of our theme, I knew I wanted my bridesmaids in black. We found their chiffon Hayley Paige A-line bridesmaid gowns at Petrov Bridal – located in London, Ontario – and, to mix things up, we convinced the men to get bold burgundy suits at Collins Formal Wear. The mix of burgundy and black tied together perfectly and created a striking contrast against our gorgeous bouquets, which were designed by Stratford Blooms.
When it came time to find my dress, I went with my mom, aunt and sister on a girls’ trip to Toronto, where I found my Maggie Sottero Hadley gown at Kleinfeld. It started out strapless, but after my first fitting, I knew I wanted to add some straps for a classic touch. Paired with the lace mermaid bodice, the spaghetti straps perfectly finished the dress, and made it feel one of a kind.
Bright and early, at approximately 6:00am on the morning of our wedding day, hair and makeup began. My makeup artist, Melanie Viger, and my long-time hair stylist, Sandra Kiertucky, created the ‘Hollywood glam’ look I had envisioned. Complete with a pop of red on my lips and the vintage curls I had always dreamed of, my vision came to life.
After a beautiful (and hot!) ceremony, we enjoyed our dinner (the salmon dish was bomb!), sneaked outside for sunset shots, and then played our version of Ellen’s ‘Never Have I Ever’ game. During the game, our emcee asked questions about Adam and I that the whole wedding party could vote on, such as, “Who spends more money?” and “Who eats more?”, and we had the whole crowd laughing! As we moved into speeches, things became more emotional. Let’s just say there were a few f-bombs amidst the tears, as Adam cried his way through his speech.
Our photographer Nina Polidoro captured our day, and all of the candid moments, so perfectly. Her presence felt incredibly natural, and she had everyone genuinely smiling throughout the day. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my dad smile so big on camera!
One of the best investments I’ve ever made was for our wedding videography. Solely Love Films produced a beautiful 5-minute highlight video and full-length recap film. We now get to relive, over and over, the most special moments of our day in motion, from hearing our friend Jacob Payne sing Shania Twain’s ‘From This Moment On’ during our first dance, to watching the moment Adam and I both walked down the aisle, and of course exchanging our vows. There are so many moments we were able to experience on film that we missed the day of the wedding!
And at the heart of it all, the ladies at SMGCC were the reason our day was exceptional. Our wedding planner, Ashton, was there every step of the way, helping us with our initial inquiry and booking, keeping us organized and on-track throughout the planning, and even being there in person to support us on the day of our wedding. Our day-of coordinator, Taryn, was our go-to-girl on September 15th, ensuring everyone was where they needed to be and that everything was running seamlessly. As the bride, who normally would stress about all the details coming together, I didn’t have to think about a thing and was able to truly let loose and enjoy myself. The team here is top notch, detail-oriented and ensures you aren’t worried about anything. The beauty of the venue, paired with the care and kindness that the team at St. Marys Golf & Country Club possesses is something we’ll always be grateful for.
One of the most memorable moments of the day for me was waiting to walk down the aisle with my dad. During one of the most nerve-racking moments of my life, Ashton was there to feed me water through a straw, helping to calm my nerves (and ensure my lipstick didn’t smudge!). The team here truly cares about you and your wedding experience. Thank you SMGCC, from the bottom of our hearts, for making our day so unforgettable.
Story by Megan Fontaine
Photography by Nina Polidoro Photography
