February 2012
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Lynn and Michael had been dating for over four years before getting married on June 18, 2011 at the romantic Château des Charmes Winery. For the proposal, Michael planned a “surprise” vacation to New York right before Christmas in 2009. In their room at the Plaza Hotel, he got down on one knee and asked Lynn to marry him. She burst into tears right away and said yes!
(WedLuxe): How would you describe your wedding day?
(Lynn): "We wanted our wedding day to be all about the things we love most – spending time with friends and family, celebrating our different cultures and enjoying good food and wine. We hired a live band who performed our first dance song, 'No One' by Alicia Keys and then kept everyone dancing until the very end of the night. The whole day passed by in a flash, but it was everything we had hoped for!"
How did you personalize your wedding day?
"Deborah from Palettera was amazing and helped us create invitations and day-of stationery that fit perfectly with our theme colours. She designed a special L&M monogram in cursive font with peony flowers and branches that was used on our wedding day stationery. Each guest had a placecard with their name, table number and our initials and date on the front, with our monogram pressed in gold foil on the back. Our gold chopstick bonbonnieres were personalized with a small teal sticker that said 'L&M, Love and Thanks' also with our wedding date. Deborah was so incredibly talented, efficient and accommodating throughout the whole planning process. Every time I asked her for something, she had an immediate idea of what I wanted and I trusted her vision completely. It was a total pleasure working with her for our wedding."
What was the most luxurious aspect of your wedding?
"I think the most luxurious aspect of our wedding was the food and wine. Good food and great wine is something that Mike and I both enjoy so much, so we wanted to treat everyone to a nice night out. We really enjoy the wine from Château des Charmes and wanted our guests to reap the benefits of attending a wedding at a winery."
What is the most important info you think readers should know about your wedding day?
"I think the most important thing that our guests should know is that our wedding was great because of our guests. Our officiant, who was also a friend and guest, had gotten to know us well during our pre-marriage meetings, and delivered a personal and sincere message during the ceremony. My bridesmaids were beautiful and so supportive throughout the day and our groomsmen were great sports in spite of sweating it out in full tuxes in the hot weather. The MCs were hilarious and played some pretty racy games, but everyone really enjoyed the entertainment! The speeches were amazingly heartfelt, and we were able to express our deepest gratitude toward our families for their love and support. The dance floor was always packed and the band kept everyone going way beyond last call. We felt so blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who were truly happy for us and seemed genuinely excited to be at our wedding. So many people told us how much they enjoyed our wedding during and afterward, but it was really our guests that made the whole experience so wonderful."
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Cake Opera Co. created an original 5-tier cake of square and circular layers and covered with a gradient fondant of deep green at the base to peacock blue at the top. Hand-painted gold foliage, branches and edible peonies detailed the cake. 300 macarons in different shades of teal were made to complement the cake. "Our guests really loved the design and thought that the cake and macarons were delicious!", recalls Lynn.
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After a romantic dinner at one of the finest restaurants in town, Ashlyn began to settle down for the night when Patrick came in with a glass of wine. As she began to sip she noticed something in the bottom of her glass. Quickly Patrick lifted a gorgeous 2.4 carat aqua marine & diamond ring out the glass and bent down on one knee. Four years to the day of the night they first met, they were engaged.
Then on July 30, 2011, the two were married and celebrated at the Dante Club Sarnia.
(WedLuxe): How would you describe your wedding day?
(Ashlyn): "Our wedding day was everything we could have dreamed of and more. From the moment each of us woke up to see the sun shining, we knew it was going to be a perfect day."
Was there a specific theme or mood you were trying to to achieve on your wedding day?
"We really wanted to achieve a romantic, elegant theme for our wedding day. I have always loved ivory and soft colours and we thought that they would assist in creating a romantic, elegant theme."
What was your favourite design detail?
"Our favourite design detail was the four canopies that our decorator created for our event. They were draped in ivory sheer fabric and tied with the same satin ribbon that was incorporated into my bridal bouquet. We loved how Ryan [of RL Designs Inc.] surprised us with chandeliers suspended over top of each table inside the canopy."
What was your biggest splurge during the planning process?
"Our biggest splurge during the wedding process would have to be the decor. Our decorator, Ryan Longo was absolutely amazing. He met with us several times to get a feel for what theme we were going for, and went above and beyond with capturing the romantic theme and mood."
Who was your favourite wedding vendor and why?
"Ryan Longo from RL Designs Inc. was amazing to work with. He took all of our ideas and incorporated his own to create a magical venue. From the draping of the walls all the way down to him making customized ivory chandelier chain covers - he created a mesmerizing environment and went the extra mile for us!
J.R. [from Barefeet Photography] is an amazing photographer. We knew from the moment we met him that we would choose Barefeet Photography to photograph our wedding. His involvement throughout the entire wedding process was far beyond anyone else we have ever heard of. The talent J.R. possesses shines throughout all of his work. J.R. does everything it takes, from crawling on the floor to jumping on roof tops, to get the most unique, accurate shots of the day."
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Ashlyn wore an A Line off-white strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline by Vera Wang. There was one pick up at the front of the dress that came up just to her knee. She paired the dress with a delicate Vera Wang belt which was later swapped out for a black wrap around belt (also Vera Wang!) for the reception. Her drop diamond pearl earrings were a surprise gift given to her by Patrick on her wedding shower day, prior to the wedding. Ashlyn's mother surprised her with 4-inch ivory heels with feather detailing by Badgley Mischka on the morning of the wedding.
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The bouquet was whimsical and romantic. Filled with Hydrangea, Garden Roses, Spray Roses and Lisianthus in various ivory and blush tones, it was finished off with ivory ostrich feathers and an ivory satin ribbon.
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The venue walls were covered from ceiling to floor with ivory sheer fabric, on each side of the room were four ivory draped canopies tied back with satin ribbon. Crystal chandeliers were suspended over top of each table that were placed in the four canopies. All of the chairs were covered with a tightly fitted ruched cover. Tables were covered with a dove gray satin table linen.
"Walking into the reception hall literally took our breath away. We had an idea as to what the hall would look like; however, it is always hard to imagine the way everything looks when it is all written down on paper. The moment we both walked in and saw the decor was one of the best moments of the entire day. The romantic, candlelit room with all of the ivory flowers was stunning." -Ashlyn
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Photography by: Barefeet Photography
Reception Venue: Dante Club Sarnia
Bride's gown and shoes: Vera Wang and Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale
Hair Styling and Makeup Artistry: Ashley Ruckle at Ruckle and Hair Company (Sarnia, ON) and Kelly Bloxam, (London, ON)
Groom's Formal Wear: Ralph Lauren from Holt Renfrew
Decor & Floral: RL Designs Inc.
Cake: Cyndie Caudle
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Currently featured in the WS2012 Toronto/Eastern Canada issue, "Old Shanghai Glam" is a stunning Glitterati Style File inspiration feature which captures the beauty during a complex time of the legendary Chinese town, in the new setting of modern Toronto.
DESIGN OBJECTIVE
“Showcasing the diversity that Toronto celebrates, we brought together the east and west, and the old and new in a fashionable industrial twist. Every element in the florals, stationery, cakes, clothing and jewellery elude to a modern perspective of the industrious image of Shanghai—vintage record players, beautiful train stations & everything
hand–crafted. Delicate imagery of florals and silks, dramatic sparkle from the dance clubs, combined with a dollop of European-influenced art deco architecture, design in Shanghai is full of exuberance that can be incorporated into weddings today. There are complimentary parallels between art deco design of the era and classical Chinese architecture which plays on symmetry and the elegance of geometric shapes.
We designed a high-style tablescape, as well as some dramatic & romantic vignettes centered around Chinese traditions such as the tea ceremony, 24K gold bridal jewellery and favours, & gifting of cakes when invitations are handed out.
The shoot presents a luxe wedding-scape that any couple of any culture would find to be a stunning inspiration for their big day.”
– Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
Above:
Red goblets, martini glass rental from: Exclusive Affair Rentals
Table accessories, Chinese chairs, place mats, lanterns, dishes, floral etc are all the concept of the EventDecorator.com team and are all inventoried items. Chinese details sourced from Dai Dai Crafts & Imports.
Below:
Antique dressing table and mirror, Chinese tea set, Chinese mural and dressing table accents, inventoried items from EventDecorator.com.
 
“The invitation (shown above and below) is inspired by vintage jewellery cases of the 1930s era, but we’ve also given it a modern punch of colour and gold studs that we set into the wooden case. Hand-painted details are only the prelude for the luxe satin cushion on the inside, where the main invitation sits. It’s removable from the box, like a detailed family gem. It’s understated, but yet dramatically luxe as it is also gold-studded and foil-pressed in gold, on a backdrop of traditional red and black. It was inspired by traditional brush calligraphy on red paper for good luck.”
– Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
 
Above Left: A wooden Chinese screen (from EventDecorator.com) creatively displays mooncakes which double as escort/placecards.
Above: Mini mooncakes with red lotus paste inside (for good luck). Each mooncake is presented in a red box with
foil-pressed art deco detailing, with guest names and table assignments handwritten in black ink.
     
“Lucky money pockets are deeply rooted in Chinese tradition. They come in pairs (just as anything else for special occasions), to represent ‘double the happiness.’ In this case, these are custom die cut and designed to match the rest of the stationery with the tiny red plum blossoms (representing the coming of love) and pressed in gold with the couple’s initials that have been abstracted into a relatively Chinese-inspired shape. Couples give them out to their helpers and parents give them out to their children to be wed. Specifically, during the tea ceremony, the new couple serves tea to each of their elders and each elder hands them a pair of lucky money pockets as a gift of good luck in their marriage.”
– Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondence
(Above) Cake and Mini Cakes: Konstadin Cadeau, Cakes By Konstadin
NOTE OF TRADITION
In traditional Chinese culture, both families made wedding announcements to their relatives and friends by sending out cakes along with wedding invitations. These cakes are known as “Dragon & Phoenix Cakes” and they usually are baked with dragon and phoenix imprints on the surface. Some styles have fillings made of lotus seed paste, red bean paste or green bean paste. The quantity of cakes to be sent would depend on the seniority of guest or relationship with the family. The tradition has since been modernized with bakery cards in lieu of actual cakes but we love the idea of reviving the time-honoured custom.
– Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondence
Photographer: Claudia Hung, Claudia Hung Weddings
2nd Photographer: Justin Wong, Claudia Hung Weddings
Concept, Art Direction & Co-Producer: Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
Co-Producer, Floral & Decor Design: Elizabeth Johnston, EventDecorator.com
Stationery (Invitations, Placecards, Menus, Lucky Money Pockets): Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
Cake & Mini-cakes: Konstadin Cadeau, Cakes By Konstadin
Make-up Artist & Hair Stylist: Joan Huang, Aglow By Joan
Custom Suits: Garrison Bespoke
Gown: Romona Keveza, Legends by Romona Keveza
Traditional Chinese Wedding Dress: Tian Art Asian Culture, Hazelton Lanes, Toronto
Bespoke feathered fascinator: David Dunkley, KC's Hats
All diamond & 24k gold jewellery: H&F Jewellery & Jade, First Markham Place, Unionville
Shoes: Casadei from Hugo Nicholson, Hazelton Lanes, Toronto
Red Goblets & Martini Glass Rentals: Exclusive Affair Rentals
Photographed on location: The Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto
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Cameron planned the perfect proposal complete with a surprise weekend getaway to Paris on Valentine's Day; BUT there was a glitch. At the last minute, he found out the ring wasn't ready! Midway through a cozy, romantic dinner, Cameron confessed to the mishap. After that, he was on a mission to catch Kristen off-guard. He spent the next six weeks planning romantic-event-after-romantic-event to keep her guessing. Then, bright and early on a Saturday morning, in the comfort of their condo, Cameron woke her up to 'Paris at home' – freshly baked croissants and Champagne. Barely awake, she was totally taken by surprise to see him down on one knee, holding the ring that he had custom designed just for her. Out of shock and elation, she almost forgot to say yes!
But she did say yes, and the two were married on September 25, 2010 at the Fermenting Cellar in the historic Distillery District in Toronto, ON.
(WedLuxe:) How would you describe your wedding day?
(Kristen:) "Our wedding day was a big celebration. We were surrounded by everyone we loved on what was the happiest day of our lives. We combined an air of romance, with elements of fun. It was a black tie event, but we wanted to make sure people let loose. Cameron and I had been planning the day for 18 months, and we wanted everyone to have as great of a time as we knew we were going to have."
Was there a specific theme or mood you were trying to to achieve on your wedding day?
"Our theme was romance. We wanted to effectively juxtapose the raw beauty of the Fermenting Cellar with romantic design elements that paid homage to our love for Paris. Lots of candles, warm aubergine and orange flowers complete with Lucite candelabras everywhere."
What was your favourite design detail?
"The extensive use of candles. Rather than flowers, candles dominated the décor-–on the tables, in the window sills and adorning the candelabras. It created an air of romance and incredible warmth, enhancing the natural raw beauty of the Fermenting Cellar."
How did you personalize your wedding day?
"We incorporated numerous personal details. For example, my 'something borrowed' was a charm bracelet that had photos of Cameron as a child that wrapped around my bouquet. Cameron wore custom cuff links, designed for him by my mother and father as a gift, that displayed our wedding date in roman numerals. We ended the night with a colour coordinated candy bar complete with custom M&Ms with our wedding date and monogram. However, the most personal element of the evening was a surprise I prepared for everyone. I grew up dancing competitively, but Cameron and his family had never really seen me dance. I changed out of my dress, and my brother and I surprised all of the guests, performing a choreographed duet to Proud Mary!"
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Kristen wore a luxurious, strapless, dropped-waste A-line Atelier Aimee gown, adorned with Swarovski crystals and hand- painted flowers, purchased from Studio Sposa. Her beautiful shoes were blush coloured peep-toes by Christian Louboutin.
Her bridesmaids wore long, organza, one-shouldered aubergine coloured Amsale dresses purchased via the Wedding Library in New York City. Each bridesmaid accessorized with her own shoes and jewelry, and carried an aubergine embossed leather and gold accented clutch designed by Jenny Bird - a gift from the bride.
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At the top of the aisle, a purple sofa on either side for their immediate families were placed to add a pop of colour and extra comfort. Behind the sofas, ghost chairs were lined as to not compete with the rest of the decor. Silhouette candlesticks placed on floor lined either side of the aisle, with larger Lucite candelabras serving as the backdrop for the ceremony.
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For the ceremony and reception, Freak Rea of Forget Me Not Flowers used a combination of orange roses and dahlias to offset the aubergine tablecloths and other design elements.
There were two table decor styles, to maintain some variety and create varying levels throughout the dinner reception area.
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Sarah Belle and Allyson Meredith Bobbitt from Bobbette & Belle Artisanal Pastries created an equally romantic 'love letter' cake. Each tier of the three-tier cake was customized with words from French love poems, with the couples' names incorporated.
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Photography by: 5ive15ifteen photo company
Reception Venue: Fermenting Cellar (Distillery District)
Planning & Decor Assistance: Naomi Serkin & Associates
Bride's gown and shoes: Atelier Aimee from Studio Sposa and Christian Louboutin from Barney's (NYC)
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale from The Wedding Library (NYC)
Hair Styling: June Lindenfield Salon
Groom's Formal Wear: Gotstyle and Harry Rosen shoes
Floral: Forget Me Not Flowers
Additional rentals: Chair-man Mills and Contemporary Furniture Rentals Inc.
Cake: Bobbette & Belle Artisanal Pastries
Invitations: Smudge Designs
Name cards, programs and menus: Juliana Rucchetto
Catering: L'eat Catering
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January 2012
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On the weekend of September 10th 2010, Janelle and Nick flew to Toronto (from Ottawa) to visit Nick's sister. Upon their arrival at the Westin Harbour Castle, they went for a walk on the boardwalk, along the water. Alone, on a lookout point at sunset, Nick got down on one knee and proposed. When they reached Nick's sister's apartment, her family, Nick’s family and some family friends were all there waiting for Janelle. Nick brought them in from different cities to surprise her and celebrate with them. "It was perfect!" -Janelle
Janelle, an elementary school teacher, and Nick, an NHL player with the Ottawa Senators, were married on July, 15, 2011.
(WedLuxe:) How would you describe your wedding day?
(Janelle:) "I would describe it as an incredible celebration. It was a special day filled with love – the love we have for each other, the love we have for everyone in our presence that day, and the love they reciprocated to us. It was a very elegant yet fun setting."
Was there a specific theme or mood you were trying to to achieve on your wedding day?
"We wanted to achieve a romantic and elegant mood by having it in a vineyard, which tied into our love of wine."
What was your favourite design detail?
"Our favourite design detail was our centerpieces. They had a great presence in the tent and in our opinion, they were stunning. We added purple ostrich feathers to them which helped give the mostly white decor a punch of colour and touch of whimsy."
How did you personalize your wedding day?
"We feel that every aspect of our wedding, from the location, to the food, to the music and the décor, represented who we are and what we enjoy. We also incorporated our Italian and French cultures through our choice in music and foods. Those who know us well would echo the fact that our Dairy Queen Bar definitely represented us, as it is our favourite treat."
What was the most luxurious aspect of your wedding?
"In our opinion, the most luxurious aspect of our wedding was the setting. Being in a vineyard, surrounded by beautiful vines, added a sense of luxury to the celebration. It made for a stunning backdrop and incredible pictures for our guests and ourselves. You really felt secluded in this gorgeous setting and we felt it allowed everyone to be in the moment and take it all in."
What was your favourite moment on the wedding day?
"Our favourite moment of the wedding day was seeing each other for the first time. We took our pictures before the ceremony so we had a ‘First Glance’ moment in a vineyard. This was special because it was a time just for the two of us, before all the events of the day happened. We were able to share each other’s excitement and spend time alone before the wedding."
Who was your favourite wedding vendor and why?
"I have to say that our favourite vendor would have to be our photographer, Bernie Aho from Sudbury, Ontario, because he was able to capture all of the details and the special moments throughout our wedding day. At the end of the day, all we are left with are the pictures and we feel he did an incredible job at displaying all of the aspects, for us to remember. He and his wife Lisa were so great to work with and we felt comfortable with them from day one. "
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Janelle wore a stunning strapless mermaid style Monique Lhuiller gown (2011 Collection) in light ivory with a sweetheart neckline, Chantilly lace, tulle bottom, and a button-down back.
She accessorized it with a Vera Wang crystal sash, purchased from The White Dress in Ottawa, Ontario. "Jasmine, a co-owner of The White Dress, suggested I try the Vera Wang sash with the gown and it made up my mind right away that it was the one!" -Janelle
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"On my bouquet, I had a diamond cross brooch pinned to the lace tied around the stems. This brooch was leant to me by Nick’s sisters Cara and Lisa and belonged to Nick’s mother who passed away two years ago. It was a way of having her close to us and holding her in memory that day." -Janelle
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Large classic style vases stood on white pillars on either side of the church's altars and filled with large round arrangements of ivory hydrangea, white peonies, white garden roses, ivory spray roses, white phalaenopsis orchids, purple phalaenopsis orchids, black vanda orchids and purple mokara orchids.
Pewter colored candy boxes filled with wine gums (in keeping with the vineyard theme), were tied in a pewter ribbon with a gift tag created by Paper Studio. Shimmery ivory paper with a purple watermarked vintage graphic was designed for the ceremony program.
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Clarinet vases with a silver crystal band around the throat of the vase, filled with large round lush textured arrangements designed with ivory hydrangea, white peonies, deep purple lysianthus, white garden roses, deep purple freesia, off white spray roses and purple ostrich feathers incorporated. Strings of crystals hung down from the sides. Each vase was surrounded by small clear cylinder candle holders with ivory candles. In addition, purple tulips were set on the head table décor, as a reminder of the groom’s mother.
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The dining tent was set up just five feet from the vines at Chateau des Charmes Winery featuring stunning picturesque views! Crystal chandeliers hung from the white ceilings and teardrop candleholders with ivory candles hung on the sides of the tent.
"Stacey [of Marry Me Productions] came highly recommended to me from some of her past clients, and I would definitely highly recommend her to others! She not only kept us on task but provided fantastic suggestions for decor throughout the planning process." -Janelle
Photography: Bernie Aho Photography
Reception Venue: Chateau des Charmes Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Planning: Stacey Price, Marry Me Productions
Bride's gown: Monique Lhuiller with a Vera Wang sash from The White Dress (Ottawa, Ontario)
Bridesmaids' Dresses: ‘Belsoie by Jasmine’ from With Love Bridal Boutique (Ottawa, Ontario)
Bridesmaids' Jewellery: Stella & Dot
Hair Styling: Enrica Dewar, The Grateful Head Salon (Sudbury, Ontario)
Make-up Artist: Paje Pojowy, Be.You.Tiful Brides Hair & Makeup (Niagara Falls, Ontario)
Groom's Formal Wear: Domenico Vacca, Giovanni Clothes (Montreal, Ontario)
Floral: Pauline Vanderkuip, My Bouquet Floral Design (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
Decor: Angelica Sala, Simply Beautiful Décor (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
Cake: Vineyard Sweets
Stationery: Cheryl Cogan, Paper Studio (Ottawa, Ontario)
Catering: Queen’s Landing Hotel (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario)
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