MARRIED SEPTEMBER 7, 2019
THE PROPOSAL
How did Kevin pop the question?
Kevin proposed to me while I was attending a yoga class in downtown Toronto, hosted by a well known yoga instructor. It was an important weekend for me, as the instructor was one of my biggest mentors. I had just gotten up to teach my portion of the class, and next thing I know, Kevin walked in! This was VERY WELL played by him, as not much gets past me.
I had absolutely NO idea a proposal was coming and was completely shocked! It was already going to be such a memorable weekend for me, but he made it that much more special. As an added bonus, we got the entire thing on video, which is such an amazing memory to have and look back on.
THE PLANNING
What made you choose St. Marys Weddings as your wedding venue?
We were looking for a whimsical and rustic vibe for our wedding venue and instantly fell in love with the Hideaway at SMGCC. We also loved the quaint town of St. Marys. Knowing that our family and friends would be coming from over two hours away, St. Marys and Stratford made the perfect getaway for all our guests. The venue was stunning, stylish and affordable, and we had full confidence that the space would provide the vibe we were after!
Who did you work with for your decor and floral design?
We had the privilege of working with SMGCC’s A-team of preferred vendors for our decor and florals. Kim from Above & Beyond Event Design made our lives so easy by understanding exactly what we envisioned, right from our first meeting. Simple and minimalistic yet elegant - and she absolutely nailed it! Kim included sheer draping behind our head table to soften the brick walls and add a romantic feel to the rustic elements in the space. We opted for a sweetheart harvest table, slightly raised above the king’s style harvest table where our wedding party sat. Our family sat to either side of us at harvest tables, and we loved that they were a focal part of our reception as well. For a subtle glow throughout the room, Kim suspended lanterns and glass globes along the backdrop design, and incorporated floating candles into all guest table centerpieces.
Lanny and Jay from Lyric Flowers complicated Kim’s design plan so well. We asked for white florals and loads of greenery, and then let them work their magic. I remember walking into the Hideaway on the day of our wedding, and being completely blown away with how well everything came together. Even our outdoor ceremony space was everything I had always dreamed of, with romantic sheer draping along the pergola, and white rose petals forming our initials down the aisle. It was all so perfect!
What other vendors were involved in your big day?
When it came to photography, Streetcar Design Co. was a decision I had actually made years prior. We attended a wedding they were shooting at, and I let them know then that when we got engaged, I wanted them to shoot our wedding!
Your Day by Lucas was our videographer, and he captured our day so beautifully! Kevin and I went back and forth about whether or not we should get a videographer for our special day, and WOW - am I ever glad we decided to go ahead! We watch our video just as often as we look at our photos.
We hired Music Central as our DJ, and they took care of music for the ceremony all the way through, keeping the party going all night long.
My makeup artist, Jacha Beauty, and hair stylist, Jess Ward, created a natural, classic look for the ladies. For my hair, I went with a relaxed, low ponytail, which allowed the lines of my dress to really stand out.
THE ATTIRE
Tell us about that gorgeous dress of yours!
As soon as I tried on my dress at Bliss Bridal Boutique, I knew instantly it was the one! My gown was a Paloma Blanca, with a plunging neckline and double beaded bands across my midriff and waist. But the BEST part was that it had pockets! The dress fit my personality, the venue, and the vibe for our day so perfectly.
What did the wedding party wear?
We found the bridesmaid dresses at David’s Bridal, and stuck with the same full length style for all the girls, since I loved the classic look of having them all match. As soon as the girls put on the rose gold option, I knew it was the pop of colour that we needed. The suits for Kevin and the groomsmen were custom from Indochino, and the fit was spot on. All the guys looked amazing on the day of the wedding!
THE BIG DAY
What are some of the moments from your day that stand out?
We booked the Bridal Suite for the whole day, and right from the moment we arrived onsite, everything felt so relaxed. Hair and makeup came to us, which allowed my bridesmaids and I to have the full morning together before the ceremony. We knew that the SMGCC team was taking care of everything behind the scenes while we got ready, and the whole day just felt so easy and carefree.
Our ceremony was SO magical, and marrying Kevin was a dream come true. Walking down the rose petal covered aisle was exactly what I had envisioned. During our reception, we were able to sneak out and capture some sunset shots. Not only are those some of our favourite wedding photos, but it allowed us to have a few special moments just to ourselves!
How would you describe your wedding experience?
The best way to describe our day was truly magical! Right from the beginning, the wedding dream team (Courtney, Taryn and Ashton) helped to make every decision so easy and effortless. For the entire planning process plus the big day, we honestly felt like we were one in a million. From the moment the day began, everything was done perfectly and handled professionally. Having all our family and friends in one room to celebrate our love was so special. We can’t say enough about SMGCC - your team truly made all our wedding dreams come true!
