ELECTRIC PROPOSAL
Being brought up with strong traditional values, I had asked Souzan’s parents for her hand in marriage,” says Antonio. “I planned to propose to her at our new house, which we were having built. To my surprise, the evening before Souzan told me that we had an appointment with the electrician at the house. This threw my plan totally off course. We arrived at the house on a cold December day and there were construction workers working throughout. We went through the appointment, freezing, until I took the electrician into the hall and told him that he and his crew had to leave as I was planning to propose. Souzan was in the master bedroom and I went to the car to get her the roses I had purchased. In the middle of the bedroom, I got down on one knee and asked her if she would marry me.”

Their fairy tale wedding took place in Toronto, on July 23, 2011. An impressive boxed invitation suite, designed and produced by Deborah Lau-Yu of PALETTERA CUSTOM CORRESPONDENCES, was sent to each guest. The invitation consisted of a pearl white box, tied with a sleek silver band that featured an ‘S | A’ monogram in white. Inside was a lucite block that suspended a letterpress printed piece with white floral illustrations, crystals and pearls, on premium cotton cardstock. The text was foil pressed in silver.


FASHIONISTA BRIDE
Souzan wore two gowns. The first, worn during the morning and for the ceremony was ‘Sunday Rose’ by Monique Lhuillier from WHITE TORONTO. With it, she wore a laurel-wreath inspired Jennifer Behr headpiece and a simple ivory veil with blusher, both from White Toronto.In the evening, she wore a gown by Vera Wang from VERA WANG TORONTO with an Alan Anderson necklace and bracelet, purchased from HOLT RENFREW. She also accessorized with a crystal flower from Vera Wang Toronto.

Her Christian Louboutin peep toe platform heels were encrusted with thousands of shimmery Swarovski crystals. “They made me feel like Cinderella! I have a Louboutin collection and thought that finding shoes would be the hardest part of the wedding planning, but I saw these and absolutely fell in love! They were a gift from my father and that made them even more special. They were ordered from NET-A-PORTER.COM,” says Souzan. Her makeup was styled by Jackie Gideon of JACKIE GIDEON BEAUTY BAR with Ladylyn Bonifacio (also from Jackie Gideon’s team) styling her hair.

The bridesmaids wore dresses from BCBG.

Antonio’s bespoke Armani suit was from HARRY ROSEN and was paired with Prada shoes.


CEREMONY
The ceremony took place at the Church of the Virgin Mary and St. Anthanasius.

Designer Jeffry Roick of MCNABB ROICK designed the entire wedding day decor, with florals by florist Fiona Liston of STEMZ. The church aisle was flanked with custom-made white pedestals on either side. On each pedestal sat a dramatic display of three varying height glass vases, each displaying one type of flower. The blooms included a mass of striking large calla lilies, an abundance of white phalaenopsis orchids and beautiful large white hydrangeas.

After the ceremony, guests gathered at THE CARLU for the reception which started with cocktails in the west foyer. Adjacent to the elevator, family and friends were greeted by two large tables set with florals and the guest book.
On the tables, custom-made white acrylic boxes were covered with a bed of dendrobium orchids, holding the seating cards. Three lounge areas with couches, white ghost chairs, and tables covered in florals and candles were set up for cocktail hour. There were also white cocktail tables lining the length of the foyer, with crystal chandeliers hanging overhead. Cocktail choices included the ‘Souzan’ martini (a mango martini)—Souzan’s favourite drink—and the ‘Antonio’ (an americano)—Antonio’s favourite beverage. Both were passed around to guests and were available to order throughout the night.


SWEET FAVOR
Each guest received a personalized bottle of ice wine, with customized labels designed by PALETTERA CUSTOM CORRESPONDENCES. The wine was sourced from VINO WINEMAKER. “We had a great time bottling the wine together!” says Souzan. Guests also received white and silver M&M’s in keepsake shot glasses, printed with a picture of Souzan and Antonio.


THE RECEPTION
Following the cocktail hour, guests entered the Concert Hall area of THE CARLU through a dramatic set of drapes, lined with candles along the floor. The cake (by THE CAKETRESS) was displayed at the end of the pathway with the entry doors on either side. The entire Concert Hall was draped with sheer ivory fabric by MICKI’S.

The room was beautifully lit with mood lighting, slowly changing colour throughout the evening. A mix of square and rectangular tables were covered in custom ivory linens and topped with mirrors, to reflect the hundreds of candles floating in crystal candle holders and votives.

The center of the room had a custom-made white dance floor with Souzan and Antonio’s monogram in the center. It was also illuminated with special effect lighting, creating a mirage that stunned guests as they entered the dining room—it made the first dance look as if Souzan and Antonio were dancing on water! The stage featured a white baby grand piano and was fully draped to give the band a beautiful white background. DJ Piers Baker from THIRD FROM THE SUN LTD was in the center of the stage on a riser, with a mirrored DJ table bearing the ‘S | A’ monogram on the front.

The guest book was a custom-made giant lucite slab with florals embossed on the center, along with crystals and pearls.

An elaborate six-course meal was catered by L’EAT. The culinary decadence was followed by late-night desserts, including mango and strawberry cheese cake lollipops passed on silver lollipop trees, and chocolate and blood-orange sorbetto gelato cones, presented in custom plexi cone holders. There was even a yummy Beaver Tail station! (The delicious and classically-Canadian sweet treat is a pastry stretched to the shape of a beaver tail served piping hot with choice of cinnamon sugar, apple cinnamon, maple, chocolate hazelnut, coco vanilla and banana chocolate).

The couple honeymooned in French Polynesia at THE HOTEL SOFITEL in Moorea then THE ST. REGIS in Bora Bora.

They now reside in Oakville, Ontario where Souzan is a pharmacist and Antonio is a retail manager.

Re:SOURCE IT

Location:
Toronto, Ontario

Venue:
The Carlu

Photographer:
Ikonica

Gown Boutique:
White Toronto (Gown #1), Vera Wang Toronto (Gown #2)

Gown Designer:
Monique Lhuillier "Sunday Rose", Vera Wang

Shoes:
Christian Louboutin

Groom Formal Wear:
Armani and Prada shoes from Harry Rosen

Wedding Planner
(Same Day Co-ordination):
Jenny Oostyen

Invitations:
PALETTERA Custom Correspondences

Floral:
Stemz

Decor:
McNabb Roick

Draping:
Micki's

Catering:
L-eat

Cake:
The Caketress

Ice Wine Favors:
Vino Winemaker

Hair and Make-up:
Jackie Gideon Beauty Bar

DJ:
Third from the Sun

Band:
The Graham Howes Band