Janine Sebastian created the bouquet using garden roses, oversize pearls,
lace and a beautiful necklace with a vintage feel.

The Cake:

Annie Dam, owner of Cake Couture - Edible Art, meticulously crafted the wedding cake. It was a stunning four tier cake covered in lace patterned fondant accentuated with edible cameo brooches and flowers. The cake table was kept relatively simple as the cake was such an ornate piece in itself adding only some simple gold candelabras, a ring of flowers and some candles around the base.

The location for the shoot was the historic Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. This exquisite hotel, built in 1915, is perched on a hill overlooking the river valley and is still right in the midst of downtown Edmonton.

Producer: Kendra MacKenzie from Special Event Rentals
Photography By:Kat Gill from Katch Studios - Fine Art Photography
Attire: Delica Bridal House and Derk's Formals
Cake: Annie Dam from Cake Couture - Edible Art
Floral: Janine Sebastian of La Piazza Dasee
Location: Fairmont Hotel MacDonald

Left: A gorgeous cake designed byAnna Elizabeth Cakes, which was featured in a recent Style File seen here,http://www.wedluxe.com/blushingombre. Photography by Vasia Weddings

Right: 'Leave the Room Lovely' Elva Fields necklace.Strands of pink sponge coral, pink lacquered Swarovski pearls and pink quartz are sweetly accented at the side by a vintage pink celluloid and rhinestone flower brooch (c. 1930s).

We're loving pink pastels for this perfect spring day!

'This shoot was inspired by the creations of designer Christian Louboutin.
The trademark red sole of the Louboutin shoe was the foundation of the colour palette for the shoot.
We combined modern elements and clean lines with opulent florals and intimate candle light to
capture both the style and elegance of todays modern bride.' - Ida Thibeh Wiese of The Cake Museum

Producer and Stylist: Jodi Leigh Bernard ofJodi Leigh Designs
Production Assistant:Ida Thibeh Wiese of The Cake Museum
Photographed by: Jennifer Klementti Photography
Floral Design: Rosanne Farano-Romanino of Dizennio Floral
Dress, Hair fascinator, and jewelry: Pearl Bridal House
Venue: Dazzling Modern Restaurant and Bar
Stationery: Laura K Beauparlant of Laura K Design
Cake and Sweets Table:Ida Thibeh Wiese of The Cake Museum
Hair and Makeup: Amplified Soul Makeup and Hair Couture
Furniture Rentals:Contemporary Furniture Rentals
Plates,flateware, and glasses:Chair-man Mills

Left: A bouquet by Flower Parade featured peonies, vanda, mokara and cymbidium orchids,
lavender roses and a few beautiful peacock feathers weaving between.
The bouquet was wrapped in turquoise silk and a thin, shimmering gold ribbon.
This gorgeous bouquet wasfrom the wedding of Noelle and Nicohlas,
which was featured in our WS2012 Western Edition. Photography by Mango Studios

Right: A bold, gold and purple palette for the decor and theme in a home!
Found here.

Another bold colour combo we love!

Spring, a consistent symbol of new life, is the inspiration behind this style file produced by Ginger's Closet, Toronto's newest and only luxury bridal consignment boutique and an incredibly talented team of vendors.

The once worn and sample designer gowns were the stars of the shoot, rife with couture elements such as lace, embroidered beading, floral embellishments and stunning fabric detailing and draping.

Lisa at De Rose Designs created an opulent spring inspired florals with a colour palette of coral and chartreuse. The floral runner, chair swags and floral pillow adds an air of luscious whimsy to the fresh and colourful tablescape. Versace dinnerware, hammered metal pod vases and flatware, an orchid-adorned bust, taper candles and barely there ghost chairs complete this fresh creative vision.

At Ginger's Closet, their goal is to illuminate the potential in each gown and help brides not only see its beauty, but also envision what it can become.

Creative Producer: Patricia Tzikoulis and Lynzie Kent of Ginger's Closet
Styling and Coordination: Lynzie Kent of Love by Lynzie
Photographed by: Elizabeth Kaye
Gowns: Emmeline by Vera Wang, Primrose by Christos, Sierra by Amsale, RK230 by Romona Keveza,
Bee by Melissa Sweet, Estelle by Kenneth Pool, Dahlia by Amsale, Lorena by Christos
Flowers: Lisa De Rose of De Rose Designs and Floral Boutique
Hair and Makeup: Arabella Trasca (Makeup), Dawna Boot (Make up), Mira Botrous (Hair), Ladylyn Gool (Hair)
from Jackie Gideon Bridal
Lashes: Ardell
Venue: The Berkeley Church Field House
Stationery: Sarah Spano of Hip Ink Couture Invitations
Models: Rachelle Ganesh, Rachel Allison, Jacklyn Warmington
Accessory Styling: Alysha Greco of The Fash House
Dinnerware: Versace, Maxwell Williams (Chargers)
Flatware: Oneida
Shellac Nails: French Nails and Co.
Accessories: Haute Bride, Desla Couture, Sara Gabriel, Stella and Dot, Headpieces by Angela Mikhail and The Fash House

Photographer: Daniel Taylor Photography
Event Planner: M. Elizabeth Events
Floral Designer: Dorothy McDaniel's Flower Market
Dress Store: Bella Couture LLC
Cake Designer: Evelyn Criswell
Event Venue: Ross Bridge Resort

Left: A gorgeous Cameo Sash Bow
Photography by Korie Lynn Photography

Right: A Vintage pastel green French patisserie Laduree inspired cake,
with romantic gold hand painted pipingwith cameo accent.
Cake Designed by Eve Lacabanne from Culinary Cakes.
Photography by Red Flash Photography

Photography: Gemini Photography
Gowns from: Riviniand Mignonette Bridal
Jewelry from: Dolorousand My Epiphany Co.
Fascinators from: OhDina!
Flowers: Cathy Martin Flowers
Cake: Vineyard Sweets
Jewelry: loriTrenton Jewelry Designs
Hair: Dorothy Kay
Makeup: Milena Iaizzo
Model: Laura Malaka

Left: A gorgeous bright bridesmaid bouquet by Stemz from the wedding of Daphne and Adrian,
which was featured in our WS2012 Eastern Edition. Photography by lifeimages


Right:Marc by Marc Jacobs Bianca Leather Clutch$300


We're loving this seasons hottest trend, bright bold colours!
Especially the 'PANTONE 2012 colour of the year' Tangerine Tango!

'The design was meant to evoke a European inspired feeling mixed with the Maui island relaxed lifestyle for guests.
We discovered a gorgeous setting in the Haiku Mill; the lush environment and historic structure lent themselves to a more romantic European villa setting and not something you would expect from a typical destination site.

The colour scheme for the table setting was a perfect mix of creamy whites, natural greens along with crisp black and white stationery. We wanted to preserve a very subtle soft feel throughout all of the design elements but mixed in some designer floral pieces and luxurious stationery design. The vintage accents also gave the design a more
intimate look and feel. Most destination weddings aim to create a more intimate gathering and
that's the way we approached the design of this beautiful white table.'

- Soha Lavin from CountDown Events Planning & Design

Photography: Jonathan & Rebecca Adkisson of Tamiz Photography
Design + Production: Soha Lavin of CountDown Events Planning & Design
Flowers: Nicole Bonanno of Bella Bloom
Location: Haiku Mill
Stationery: Wintons Social Stationery

= Forces of Nature =

Photographer: Kunio Photography
Coordinator + Event Designer: Fortune Events
Bridal Gowns: Bisou Bridal
Floral Design: Balconi Floral Design Studio Inc.
Cakes and sweets: Berliosca Cake Boutique
Tuxedo: The Tux Store
Caterer: Savoury Chef Foods
Jewelry: Jeweliette + Elsa Corsi
Make Up Artist: AC MakeUp
Hair and Make up Stylist: Mink Makeup
Location: Hycroft Mansion, Vancouver

Left: Jimmy ChooScalloped Lace Platform Pump

Right:A small touch of black lace was added onto the candles from Shardae & Dan's wedding, which was featured
in our WS2012 Western Edition. Detail design by Forever True Wedding Planning and Design

Oh la la lace!

Left:Stationery from Paper & Poste called 'Designers Garden'

Right: A playful pattern wallpaper found on Bright, Bold & Beautiful

We just love the attention to detail and the intricate patterns!

Above:
Plateware and glassware rentals:
Chair-man Mills,chairmanmills.com

Table furnishings (table and chairs), loveseat, cushions:
Contemporary Furniture Rentals, cfrentals.com

Above:
'Mr. & Mrs.' salt and pepper shakers from Jonathan Adler's
'Muse' collection, $48, jonathanadler.com

Above:

Stationery:
Laura K Design, laurakdesign.com

Above:

Bouquet:
Mimosa Flower Studio,mimosaflowers.com

Above:
Seating chart hanging from three white balloons; and tin favor box with custom label by Laura K Design,
laurakdesign.com

Above:
Mini orange cocktails served in shooter glasses with paper band wrappers, styled by Cynthia Martyn,
cynthiamartyn.com

Above:
Mini cake with sugar moustache
and candy treats by Cake Museum, cakemuseum.ca

Above:
Adler-inspired cake and sweets by Ida Thibeh Wiese,
Cake Museum, cakemuseum.ca

Photographer:Alex Albojer, lifeimages.
Creative Producer: Cynthia Martyn, Creative Director of Cynthia Martyn Events Inc.
Floral Design: Mimosa Flower Studio
Stationery: Laura K Beauparlant, Laura K Design
Cakes and sweets: Ida Thibeh Wiese, The Cake Museum
Location: Airship37, Toronto

Design Objective:

This feature draws inspiration from 'A Midsummer's Night Dream,' with emphasis on a whimsical yet luxurious ambience.

Photographer: Alex Albojer, lifeimages.
Creative Producer and Stylist: Kasia Juras-Azcurra, Prelude to a Kiss
Floral Designer: Tanya List, Pink Twig Floral Boutique
Rentals (furniture, lamps, pillows): Robyn Small, Contemporary Furniture Rentals Inc.
Rentals (table top decor): Sylvia Cutro, Chair-man Mills Inc.
Stationery: Patricia Figueira, Cre8ive Invitations
Vintage signs: Leslie Woods Meyers, My Painted Porch
Favour boxes & wooden stands, mini bird cages, luminery bags, white baroque paper signs: Wedding Star Canada
Cake & mini-cakes: Cakes By Konstadin
Bride's dresses & shoes: Vera Wang, Toronto (shoes are by Alexander McQueen)
Jewellery: Tara Fava Jewellery
Hair Styling: Allison Kam
Makeup Design: Heather Snowie
Lingerie: La Perla, Avec Plaisir
Groom's Formal Wear: Gotstyle
Helicopter: Dean Fex, Chartright Executive Helicopters
Locations: The Miller Lash House and Eagles Nest Golf Club

Photographer: Samantha Erin Photography
Event Designer and Coordinator: Blossom Events
Floral: Little Birdie Events
Cupcakes: Sugar City Cupcakes
Stationery: Paper Damsels
Jewelry/Napkin ring: Mariposa Bead Company
Dress: Helen's Bridal
Veil/Hair Accessories: Blair Nadeau Millinery
Makeup/Hair Artist:Krystie Ann
Venue: Rawley Resort
Vintage props: Vintage Vignettes
Model: Jessica Phillips

Above:
Show plates: Exclusive Affair Rentals, exclusiveaffair.com

Table linens: Around the Table, aroundthetable.ca

Chairs, cutlery, glassware and china: The Ritz-Carlton Toronto,ritzcarlton.com

Above:
Gown 'River',Sarah Houston Bridal Couture, $13,999, sarah-houston.com

Hair and Make-up:
Mira and Arabella, Jackie Gideon Beauty Bar,The Ritz-Carlton Toronto,jackiegideon.com

Above:
The quintessential libation of Russia is vodka! Here, a bottle of vodka with a custom label sits in an ice sculpture along with personalized shot glasses that act as a seating chart. Guests can fill a shot glass, before heading to their seats!

Ice Sculpture, Iceculture Inc., iceculture.com

Shot glass labels and vodka label, Studio twenty-four, studiotwentyfour.ca

Above:
Caspian Pearl caviar, The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, ritzcarlton.com

Photographer: Gillian Williamson, Ikonica
Creative Producer: Angela Zaltsman, A to Z Event Management
Floral Designer and Event Stylist: Todd Kjargaard, Jackie O
Stationery: Joanne Hisey, Studio twenty-four
Cake and mini Matryoshka doll cakes: Cakes by Konstadin
Gown: Sarah Houston Bridal Couture
Hair & Makeup Stylist: Mira and Arabella, Jackie Gideon Beauty Bar
Location: The Ritz-Carlton Toronto

Left: Paloma Pearl Clutch by Coast

Right: Floral Bouquet from Heather & Trevor's Wedding in the WS2012 Eastern Issue by Evan Orion from Flowerz

We just adore the simplicity of pretty pearls!

Our WS2012 cover

Evan Orion ofFlowerz recreated our WS2012 cover for his store front and it looks fabulous! Just in time for spring!

Above:

Replica natural wishbone (with rush seat) chairs: Contemporary Furniture Rentals Inc., cfrentals.com

Dining table: Design2Decor Inc., design2decor.com

Above:

Plates, bowls, glassware, cutlery and napkins: Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com

Invitation and menu design: Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences, palettera.ca

Above:
Headpiece:David Dunkley, KC's Hats, kcshats.com

Hair Stylist and Make-up Artist: Shobana Lakkavally, Amplified Soul Make-up + Hair Couture,amplifiedsoul.ca

Above:

Floral frieze:
Design2Decor Inc., design2decor.com

Above:
Gown: Marchesa, $12,370;
Spiked belt: Jennifer Behr, $1,850;
Crystal bracelet: CTVC, $1,200;
Pav ball earrings: Cathy B, $240.
All available at White Toronto, whitetoronto.com

Savoury table featuring artisanal cheese and breads, grissini and fruits, charcuterie, sardines,
olives, and shot glasses filled with soup:
Christine Ostiguy, Executive Chef, Sarah Locke, President,
Yorkshire Pudding Inc., ypcatering.com

Italian biscotti and cookies:
La Sem Bakery, Mississauga, lasem2006.ca

Glazed pottery pieces and urns:
Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com

Above:
Wedding cake design:
Konstadin Cadeau, Cakes by Konstadin, konstadin.com

Wooden cake base:
Pottery Barn, potterybarn.com

Photography, Editing and Concept by: Krista Fox and Melanie Galbrand-Chen, Verve Photo Co.
Producer, Concept Co-Creator and Stylist: Lisa Allain, Visions of Platinum & Garnet
Concept Co-Creation, Designer, Florals and Styling: Paras Mehta, Design2Decor Inc.
Rentals: Contemporary Furniture Rentals Inc.
Bridal Gown: Marchesa, White Toronto
Headpiece: David Dunkley, KC's Hats
Hair Stylist & Make-up Artist: Shobana Lakkavally, Amplified Soul Make-up + Hair Couture
Cake: Konstadin Cadeau, Cakes by Konstadin
Stationery: Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
Location: Rockwood Conservation Area

Dcor/Floral/Draping: Rachel A Clingen Wedding and Event Design
Planner: Kelly Spinelli of Laura Kelly Wedding Design
Photographer: Studio 2000
Stationary: AktivArt
Gown: Custom gown by Ines Di Santo
Venue: West River Event Centre(Vaughan, ON)
Cake: Susan Trianos Cakes
Limo Rental: Magical Moments Limo

Gown, Theia, $795, theiacouture.com

Triple Flower Eardrops with amethyst, citrine, peridot and quartz, Iradj Moini, $770,
available at ME Style Inc., shopmestyle.ca

Magenta Rose Clutch, Marchesa, $1,290, marchesa.com

Yellow Rhinestone Ring, Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes, $39, fashioncrimes.ca

Magenta Shoes, Casadei, $940, casadei.com

Gown, Ines Di Santo 'Colette,' $4,800, inesdisanto.com

Triple Aventurine Drop Necklace with sapphire and chain, Iradj Moini, $2,970,
available at ME Style Inc., shopmestyle.ca

Gown, Ines Di Santo 'Colette,' $4,800, inesdisanto.com

Jewellery on dressingtable: all Tara FavaJewellery, tarafavajewellery.com

Triple Aventurine Drop Necklace with sapphire and chain, Iradj Moini, $2,970; Sapphire Bud Ring
with citrine and iolite, Iradj Moini, $650, both available at ME Style Inc., shopmestyle.ca

Gown, Vera Wang, 'harlow,' $5,500, verawang.com

'Lady Paris' Headpiece, Blair Nadeau, $175, blairnadeau.com

Gown, Elizabeth Fillmore, 'garbo,' available at MRS Bridal Boutique, $3,968, mrsbridalboutique.com

Rhinestone Bangles, $34 and $24, Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes, fashioncrimes.ca

Woven Pendant, Rita D., $90, availableat Reia Studio
Diamond Ring, 3.01 carat cushion-cut, Birks, $134,000, birks.com

Lemon Clutch, Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes, $129, fashioncrimes.ca

Gown and Shawl, $1,250 and $295,Saja Wedding available at Sash & Bustle www.sashandbustle.com

Rosa Brooch (in hair), Nancy Ciccone, $220, nancyciccone.com

Earrings, $185, Necklace $1,350, both Tara Fava Jewellery, tarafavajewellery.com

Silver Clutch, Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes, $129,fashioncrimes.ca

Diamond Ring, 3.01 carat cushion-cut, Birks, $134,000, birks.com

Gown, Monique Lhuillier 'Candy,' moniquelhuillier.com

Earrings, Tara Fava Jewellery, $395, tarafavajewellery.com

Diamond ring, 3.01 carat cushion-cut, Birks, $134,000, birks.com

Gown, Jim Hjelm, $4,400, jlmcouture.com

Scarlet earrings in starry night, Nancy Ciccone, $180, nancyciccone.com

Caramel crystal bib, Accessity, $445, accessity.com

Shoes, Jimmy Choo, $665, jimmychoo.com

Gown, Valencienne, price upon request, valencienne.com

Earrings, $49, Rhinestone Cuff, $99, both Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes, fashioncrimes.ca

Gown, Ines Di Santo 'Solange,' $6,500, inesdisanto.com

Chalcedony and Citrine Necklace, $1,695, Iradj Moini, available at ME Style Inc., shopmestyle.ca

Photography By: David Hou
Creative Director: Angela Desveaux
Make-up and Hair Styling: Jackie Gideon, The Jackie Gideon Beauty Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Spa Toronto
Filmed for WedLuxe by: Cloud Nine Creative
Location: Thompson Toronto Hotel

The unique venue of the Hacienda Sarria directly inspired this syle file shoot! A stunning shade of rich red combined with gold, black, white and a pop of turquoise (in the lounge area) makes this creative shoot bold yet romantic.

Photographer: Alex Albojer, lifeimages.
Creative Producer: Kasia Juras-Azcurra, Prelude to a Kiss
Tabletop & Florals: Walter Galvao, Decor With Grandeur Inc.
Stationery: Patricia Figueira, Cre8ive Invitations
Shoes: Ron White
Cake: Lori Hutchinson, The Caketress Lori Hutchinson Designs
Jewellery: Karolina Keeler
Location:Hacienda Sarria

Photographer: Christoph Benfey
Photographer Assistant: Kate Harrison
Event Design And Prop Styling: Magdalena From Oh So... Chic Celebrations
Make Up: Justine Mcknight
Hair: Alexandra Jaques
Location: Low Key Studio & Gallery
Jewelry: (All Except Bride To Be Necklace) Passion For Jewelry

Headbands: Quirky Beauty
Dresses And Cage Veil: Pearl Bridal House
Cakes, Cupcakes, Cookies, Small Treat: Connie Cupcake
Sugar Hearts And Heart Marshmallows Dipped In Chocolate: Oh So Chic Sweets
Shortbread Cookies In Favour Boxes: Winsor Road Cookie
Invitations And Stationary: The Little Letter Papery
Vintage China And Napkins:Vintage China Hire
Chivari Chairs: Chiavari Chair Rental
Straws: Brillant Bash

Lesley and Renato actually met on Lavalife, of all places!

Renato, originally from Montreal, was working in Toronto for a project and thought online dating would be a good way to meet people. He found Lesley - with extraordinarily lucky timing - as she was actually in the process of deleting her account from sheer despair of a hopeless dating history! They met in person. One date turned into another and before they knew it, they were seeing each other regularly - each driving over an hour for their dates as they lived in opposite ends of the Greater Toronto area.

Before they were engaged, the couple enjoyed jetsetting toChicago, Cuba, Napa, and Italy. Eventually, Renato's job required him tomove to California and at that point, their relationship deepened as Lesley agreed to move with him. At the time, Lesley had been working at a yoga studio (her passion) as a teacher for six years.

On her last day at the job, the receptionist told her there was a huge leak in the second studio. She further explained that the owner could not make it in and asked her to take a look at it before class.She opened the door, eyes down, expecting to see a flood of water. Instead she saw an aisle of tea lights and rose petals scattered on the floor. Her gaze followed the row of flames to find it spell out 'Will U', and Renato standing nearby. Lesley froze... he took her hand to lead her into the room and up the aisle of candles. Professing his love for her, he asked, 'Sempre con te, sempre il nostro, sempre uno. Will you be my one?' He took out the ring which glimmered in the candlelight and she agreed to be his one... sempre.

On June 4, 2011 they were married in Toronto, Ontario and enjoyed a beautiful reception at the Thompson Hotel Toronto.

(WedLuxe) How would you describe your wedding day?

(Lesley) 'Our wedding day was magical, luxurious, sophisticated and classy... filled with love and laughter and surrounded by our closest friends and family. We only planned it in four months so we wanted to keep it minimal - just dinner and a big dance party to celebrate our love.'

What was your favourite design detail?

'The reception hall literally took my breath away. I love candles and mirrors. The reflection of the flames against the many mirrors, crystals, and grand chandeliers at the Thompson definitely created a romantic ambience. The flowers helped to add beauty and elegance picking up on our colour scheme of fuschia and grey. The candlescape background behind the sweetheart table added the perfect touch of romance as a fuschia ambient light peaked behind the candles.'

How did you personalize your wedding day?

'We personalized our wedding day in many ways. Firstly, we decided to get married in the same church my parents were married in, by the same priest that married them. We also personalized the day with our L&R monogram. We incorporated it tastefully into our invitations, the ceremony leaflets, the reception, the wedding favours, and the thank you cards. Our wedding favours were especially unique as they were a bottle of cooking spices courtesy of Spicy Wedding with a personalized label of our faces juxtaposed on cartoon chef costumes with a background in our colour scheme and with our monogram. We also honoured our heritage with a Chinese tea ceremony before the reception. Renato's parents gifted us with three talented belly dancers to honour his Egyptian heritage.'

What was the most luxurious aspect of your wedding?

'The venue definitely set the air of luxury for our wedding day. The Thompson Hotel recently opened in Toronto as a chic, luxurious, hip boutique hotel in the King West district. Their service was impeccable for us and all our guests. The rooftop showcases the best view in the city of Toronto with an infinity pool and an ultra modern vibe. Their penthouse is top of the line with built-in sound system, billiard table, full kitchen and living room. The entire hotel is bedazzled with extravagant chandeliers and award-winning interior design. The reception hall was a dark grey with mirrored walls, perfectly accenting our colour scheme of fuschia and grey. The mirrored walls reflected the candles and made our intimate wedding of 108 people multiply without actually being crowded. The Thompson definitely helped us set the tone of a luxurious wedding. We were pleased beyond belief.'

What was your favourite moment on the wedding day?

'Our first dance was our favourite moment of the wedding day. It was actually our very first slow dance together. It was also the only time we really had together just the two of us on this hectic day. It felt like we were the only people on Earth. We danced to my favourite song - Sade's 'By Your Side' and I was in heaven. It's probably the moment where I've ever felt the most in love with my husband. After our wedding, all our guests commented on 'how in love' we were and called it the best wedding ever. We couldn't be more pleased that the love between us, our families, and friends was so strong that it emanated through the entire evening.'

Who was your favourite wedding vendor and why?

'Shutterbrugs went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and to capture every moment of the day, whether we were aware of them or not. From our first telephone meeting to our email updates to the actual wedding day and even afterwards, Mandie was like a close friend we could relate to. She gave us suggestions during our planning process that would enhance our photographs. She and her assistant were on at every moment of the day which was verified by the amazing images of moments we weren't aware of and moments we will never forget. They found creative opportunities everywhere we went - at the church, in Yorkville, at the Thompson lobby, rooftop and reception room.'

Lesley wore a Vera Wang princess gown with eleven layers of tulle! It had a fitted strapless bodice with cross ruching and a deep sweetheart neckline. She accentuated her waist with a crystallized belt (also Vera Wang) which added the perfect touch of bling and glamour to her dress!

Her gold-toned heels with a slight platform by Badgley Mischka were encrusted with gold sparkles. We swoon!

The centerpiece was a mirrored plate topped with a tall skinny vase and acrystal band to dress the rim. The floral arrangement consisted of hydrangeas, peonies and roses in shades of pink and white.A cluster of candles were placed around the base along with a smaller arrangement of flowers. Each table showcased a mirrored crystal frame to present the table numbers.

'Jenny Hong [of Floret] is extremely knowledgeable about flowers - their origin, when they're in season and could suggest alternatives to suit our budget.' -Lesley

Photography by: Shutterbrugs Photography
Reception Venue: Thompson Toronto
Bride's gown and shoes: Vera Wang (from David's Bridal) andBadgley Mischka
Hair Styling +Makeup: Lang Nguyen
Groom's Formal Wear: Thierry Mugler, Versace (from Bossini)
Decor + Floral:Floret (Jenny Hong)
Favours: Spice bottles bySpicy Wedding

Photography by: Vasia Photography
Design, Decor, Planning and Production: L Soires Weddings & Events
Production Assistant: Jessica Minnie from Petite Pearl Events
Bridal Gown: Blush Bridal
Hair Accessories & Bridal Jewelry: Caroline Calvert Couture
Bride's Shoes: Brian Atwood
Florals: The Flower Factory
Cake: Anna Elizabeth Cakes
Stationery: L Soires Weddings & Events
Rentals: Upright Decor, A&B Party Rentals
Makeup Stylist: Charrisse Mae Make-Up Artistry
Hair Stylist: Jade Kugelman
Models: Jessica Noujeim & Talon Moore
Location: Rosewood Hotel Georgia

How did you meet?
(Ashley): I planned a surprise 30th birthday party at a local Toronto venue for my brother in January 2009 and on the invite list was his friend of 3 years, Julian. On the evening of the party 'fate came knocking.' We finally met. (Julian): 'I had my eye on this beautiful blonde the whole night and finally I got the courage to ask her brother if he could introduce us.' (Ashley): 'We spent the entire night chatting and had an immediate connection. We went on our first date the following week and the rest is history.'

The proposal:
Having grown-up in Winnipeg, Ashley had never been to Niagara Falls. Julian knew Ashley had always wanted to visit Niagara to experience the beautiful falls and knew that this was the place he would propose. One Friday in early February 2010, Julian surprised Ashley with a weekend get-away to Niagara Falls. On the Saturday morning, Julian took Ashley on a romantic walk to the waterfalls as tiny, perfect snowflakes fell from the sky. As they reached the picturesque view of the falls, Julian reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring of Ashley's dreams and asked her to be his bride!

Was there a specific theme or mood you were trying to to achieve on your wedding day?
(Ashley): We wanted to it be quite dramatic, filled with glamour, opulence and elegance. The King Edward Hotel has a very 'grande' feeling due to its beautiful architecture. It is the oldest hotel still in operation in Toronto, built in 1903. We wanted to incorporate some of Julian's Persian heritage so we focused on deep red and gold tones. I LOVE flowers ... absolutely love them, especially red roses and peonies.'

What was your favourite design detail?
(Ashley): 'The moment I stepped foot into the ceremony ballroom, I was in absolute awe. Trees draped with crystals and hundreds of red mokara orchids framed the front of the ceremony to create an archway as my parents and I started our walk down the aisle. The aisle runner was lined with a carpet of red rose petals and featured a hand-painted monogram. We got married under a Chuppah dressed with sheer white draping and a stunning crystal chandelier hanging above. Matching trees draped with crystals and red orchids framed the Chuppah, making it feel very intimate and romantic as we exchanged our vows.'

'With canopies draped in rich tones of gold fabrics, the entire Pall Court area of the hotel was transformed into a 'Sultan's Tent.' Guests enjoyed adorning themselves with themed jewellery as they gathered to take group photos on a custom day bed made with luxurious red and gold lace fabrics and monogrammed pillows. Large, ornate Moroccan gold lanterns, filled with gold candles and red rose petals, framed the foot of the day bed and ottomans. Tables overflowing with exotic fruits and nuts completed the transformation. Our guests are still talking about how much fun they had with their friends, and making new friends, while snapping photos and enjoying the Sultan's Tent Nut Bar.' - Ashley

The reception featured dramatic colors and elegance with the added fun of the Sultan's Tent and Cigar Room. The head table and cake table featured 18 feet of dark red floral garlands. Centerpieces featured lush arrangements of dark red roses and peonies (Ashley's two favourite types of blooms).

Who was your favourite wedding vendor, and why?
(Ashley): 'Anne Anderson, our full service wedding planner and event designer! She truly made our wedding day the best day that we could EVER ask for. Her attention to detail, creativity, impeccable organization, her ability to understand our needs, patience and determined focus to make our wedding so special was more than we imagined.'

The cake was dressed with gold fondant and carefully crafted red roses, peonies & crystal accents and a monogrammed emblem by Cake Opera Co.

Photographer: Michael Grills of Ikonica
Venue: Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, Toronto
Event Planner (Full service coordination): Anne Anderson Events Inc.
Wedding Gown: Ines Di Santo
Bridesmaids Dresses: Bill Levkoff
Rings: Simon Imports Ltd.
Formal Wear: Hugo Boss
Makeup and Hair: Jackie Gideon, Jackie Gideon Beauty Bar
Stationery: Pantry Press Inc.
Floral: Royal Orchid Florist
Cake: Cake Opera Co.
Event Design & Decor: Anne Anderson Events Inc.
Entertainment: Live band-Lady Kane, Harpist-Sandra Fann, Pianist-Carol Olson
Honeymoon: The Regent Palms Hotel, Turks and Caicos

'This photoshoot was inspired by the famous novel The Three Musketeers.While discussing the idea of bringing a modern twist to an old 17th century classic, we decided to shoot it in such a way to portray the three dueling it out to win the love of the beautiful Constance Bonacieux.In the end, chivalry wins, and only one takes her hand in marriage.We combined the look of modern influences, and tied them in with 17th century inspirations throughout the piece.' - Carol Rame

The boxed invitation with hand-painted gold detailing and Swarovski crystals, is lined with beautiful suede on the inside, and completed with a small scroll. They matched beautifully with the hand painted monogram in the menus
and place cards.

The linens, Limoge dishes, and antique silver add an intimate touch, combined with the beautiful crystal pieces.

The dress was custom designed with the high neck influence of the 17th century, and was made with raw silk reminiscent of that time period.

The cake reflects more modern, and detailed tiers, while tied in with the gorgeous croquembouche pastries.

Producer/Stylist: Carol Rame
Photographer: Heidi Ram Photography
Flowers: Fleurish Design Studio
Venue: The Elm Hurst Inn and Country Spa-Erin Lister
Custom Wedding Gown: Lisa Van Hattem
Cake: Whimsical Wedding Cakes
Custom Invitations: Jolie Papeterie
Crystal Candelabras and Linens: Latkat Linens
Musketeer Hats provided by Stardust Dancewear & Costumes
Tuxedos provided by Tuxedo Royale
Make-Up: Wina's Aesthetics & Skin Care Clinic
Hair: Allure Hair and Make Up
Bride Model: Melissa Dyer
Musketeer Models: Jason Morrow , Jeff Nowacki, John Nowacki

Photography by: Hong Photography
Reception Venue: Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Tudor Room
Bride's gown and shoes: Manuel Mendoza and Christian Louboutin shoes
Decor: Upright Dcor
Floral Design: Tala Florist
Hair Styling:Mahyar Khoda from 88 Beauty Salon
Makeup Artist:Daryoush Z
Cupcakes: Cupcakes by Heather & Lori
Catering: Rosewood Hotel Georgia

Above:
Paper cube invitation suite that sits in a polished lucite case. The invitation unfolds and refolds
to showcase ten unique sides that together, tell a love story!
PALETTERA Custom Correspondences, palettera.ca

Above:
Jewellery, Swarovski, swarovski.com

Above:
Bouquet and floral purse, Fuscia Designs, fusciadesigns.ca

Crystal backdrop walls, Detailz Couture, detailzcouture.com

Above:
Bubblegum martinis served on a platter of, (what else?) gum balls!

RECIPE FOR BUBBLEGUM MARTINIS:

2 oz. bubblegum flavoured vodka, 1 oz. ginger ale, 1 oz. cranberry juice.
Shake with ice, strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish.

Above:
Assorted macarons served in black and white polka dot wrappers and Champagne sippers with swirly straws
(a great alternative to champagne flutes!), Shop Sweet Lulu, shopsweetlulu.com

Above:
Polka dot cake created by The Wedding Cake Shoppe,theweddingcakeshoppe.com

Photographer: Nikki Charlton, Crimson Photo
Producer: Cynthia Martyn, Cynthia Martyn Events Inc.
Floral Designer: Tamara Mutter-Slagter, Fuscia Designs
Stationery: PALETTERACustom Correspondences
Cake: The Wedding Cake Shoppe
Hair & Makeup Design: Carla Naylor, FacesByCarla Inc.
Location: The Carlu, The Clipper Room, Toronto

twobirds Bridesmaid is flying west to high demand!

twobirds Bridesmaid is thrilled to announce they will be visiting Vancouver to put on a trunk show for some fabulous brides, fromMarch 2nd-4th, 2012 atThe Loden Hotel - 1177 Melville Street from 11:00 AM - 6:00PM.

Brides all over the world (New York, Toronto, Australia and all of the United Kingdom) have been grabbing up twobirds dresses, much to the delight of their bridal parties. An exclusive dress, inspired by Norma Kamali's 1970's 'infinity' dress, the twobirds design can be wrapped in over 15 unique styles to flatter all shapes and sizes. Bridesmaids of all body types and skin tones are thrilled to personalize their dress on the day of the wedding. Our dresses are available in 21 colours, four lengths and two sizes - size A fits 2 to 14 and size B fits 14 to 24.

Additionally, twobirds have created a bandeau (for coverage and bust support), gorgeous flower girl dresses
and silk groomsman ties that are perfectly dyed in the chosen colour scheme - it's a one stop shop for all your
bridal party needs!

For brides interested in seeing these dresses and the many ways they can be wrapped firsthand, please email toronto@twobirdsbridesmaid.com to book an appointment.

On a beautiful summer day in 2005, Jimmy rode his mini-bike down his neighbourhood street and immediately noticed Isabella sitting on her friend's front porch. It was her smile that caught his attention. Later that year they were formally introduced at a mutual friend's farewell party and this is where their love story began.

The Proposal
After enjoying a musical performance, Jimmy waited until a few guests exited the theatre. He told Isabella to watch the screen on the stage for the upcoming messages. Following a few thank-yous and news about upcoming shows, a message popped up and read 'Isabella, will you marry me?' By the time Isabella realized the message was directed at her, she turned to Jimmy who was already down on one knee.

The couple married on March 26, 2011 at the Markham Civic Center and aptly celebrated at The Capitol Event Theatre.

The wedding was a fusion of Western and Eastern world design. Isabelle's western wedding gown by Kim Ironmonger (Valencienne) had a ruffled bodice with a halter style neckline. Her traditional Chinese red wedding gown had exquisite dragon and phoenix beading. The gowns were only two of six that Isabelle wore on the wedding day. Not to be outdone, Jimmy wore three different suits!

Tamara Mutter-Slagter & Kevin Slagter of Fuscia Designs created tall, lush floral arrangements that offered presence, scale and drama. Gorgeous vintage mercury glass centerpieces were filled with Hydrangea, Cymbidium Orchids, Garden Roses, Peonies and Cascading Phalenopsis Orchids in a palette of ivory, lavender, deep purples and a touch of gold.

The menu was pressed with black ink and gold in a stunning design by Palettera Custom Correspondences. Custom Chinese typesetting was also included.

The 'Pumpkin Alexander' ruffled cake (designed to match Isabelle's white wedding gown) was displayed prominently on the stage of the theatre. Each of the six layers were separated by nutmeg caramel buttercream and the entire cake was brushed with a brandy infused milk chocolate ganache.

A signing board with the bride and groom's engagement photo was designed as a movie posted for guests to sign at the entrance to the reception.

Photography: Rhythm Photography
Reception Venue: The Capitol Event Theatre
Bride's gown: Kim Ironmonger (Valencienne)
Hair Styling: Amour Wedding Studio Ltd.
Makeup: Amour Wedding Studio Ltd.
Groom's Formal Wear: Mode Tuxedo
Floral: Fuscia Designs (Tamara Mutter-Slagter & Kevin Slagter)
Cake: The Caketress (Lori Hutchinson)
Stationery: Palettera Custom Correspondences (Deborah Lau)
Catering: The Capitol Event Theatre In House Catering

Photographer: Elizabeth Kaye Photography
Planner and Stylist: Crystal Admir-Benning, Distinct Occasions
Floral Designer, Decor & Styling: Paras Mehta, Design2Decor Inc.
Stationery: Deborah Lau-Yu, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences, palettera.ca
Location: Oliver & Bonacini's Malaparte, Toronto

Ivory Bridal is hosting a Trunk show for Alyne Bridal on February 25th & 26th!

Alyne is a Canadian designed and made collection and is done by the same designers as Rivini. Ivory Bridal
will be offering a Trunk Show special that weekend and are holding the event to encourage brides to buy
Canadian made goods. Alyne is exclusive to Ivory Bridal so if brides are looking for something truly unique
this is the collection not to miss!

Book your apppointment today by calling 778-298-8871 for the Alyne Trunk Show!

Gia and Miguel met in the Spring of 2002.They were both in high school and had shared mutual friends, but did not meet until attending a friend's barbecue. After talking the entire night, Miguel walked Gia home. Ever since that night they have been inseparable.

Years later, they moved to Calgary together for work and school. Unbeknownst to Gia, Miguel had already asked her parents for their blessing to marry. He surprised her with an evening of dinner and relaxation at the Banff Hot Springs. Having the entire hot springs alone for just the two of them that night, Miguel got down on bended knee, and proposed with the most stunning Canadian diamond engagement ring from Birks. Combined with the gorgeous scenery of Banff, Gia could not have imagined a more special night!

(WedLuxe:) Was there a specific theme or mood you were trying to to achieve on your wedding day?

(Gia:) 'We both prefer an elegant, understated style. We wanted a classic, traditional look for the dcor that was modern, yet warm and inviting. We incorporated these preferences into the planning of the details, and overall went for a timeless look.'

What was your favourite design detail?

'Two details stand out for us in particular. First, we chose a neutral colour palette of white, ivory, cream, and champagne, but included hints of one of our favourite colours, navy blue. We wanted to include navy blue into the wedding, without too much emphasis, so we added it to important details such as the bridesmaid dresses, our stationary font, ribbon on the boutonnires and bouquets, and on our monogrammed cookie favours. Second, taking inspiration from the tied bow on my dress, we incorporated bows throughout the wedding, including on our invitations, the ribbon on my bouquet, the favour boxes, and on our beautiful cake.'

How did you personalize your wedding day?

'St. Andrew Church holds a special place in our hearts, which is why we chose it for our ceremony. My maternal nana, who is no longer with us, used to attend St. Andrew. We were very close and it was important to us that her spirit be a part of our wedding day. I could feel her there throughout the day! '

What was your biggest splurge during the planning process?

'We had spent considerable time planning and perfecting every aspect of the day, so we wanted to make sure we had beautiful pictures. Therefore, it was no question that we wanted to have the perfect photographer! Alex from lifeimages was our biggest splurge, but we knew that with him, we would have stunning pictures for years to come that captured not only the fine details and elements of the wedding, but also the emotions and mood of the day.We could not thank Alex enough for all of his hard work on a particularly hot and humid day! He really went above and beyond to capture the day, and we cannot say enough about his professionalism and talent. '

What was the most luxurious aspect of your wedding?

'By far the most luxurious aspect of our wedding was the location of our reception. We had looked at many venues, but knew instantly when we went to the Burlington Golf and Country Club that it was the perfect location to provide a luxurious and serene feel to our wedding. The large windows spanning two walls overlooking Burlington Bay provided the perfect reception backdrop. The view just took our breath away! '

Gia's bouquet was made up of large white garden roses, open white freesia, ivory spray roses and champagne sahara roses. Pauline [of My Bouquet] suggested tying the bouquets with complementary ivory satin ribbon.

'Pauline was extremely professional throughout the planning process, and really listened to what we wanted for the look of our flowers. She exceeded all of our expectations!' -Gia

Bobbette and Belle created a four-tiered vanilla cake with passion fruit buttercream, and it was covered in fondant.Each person was also given two sugar cookies printed with a navy blue edible monogram, packaged in small off-white boxes with fine embossed detailing and tied with a satin navy blue ribbon.

'Allyson and Sarah [of Bobbette and Belle] were so helpful through the planning process, and met with us a couple of times to ensure every detail was perfect! The cake was show-stopping and elegant-exactly what we wanted. It tasted amazing!' -Gia

Photography by: lifeimages.
Reception Venue:Burlington Golf and Country Club
Planning:La Fete Weddings
Bride's gown:'Jewel' by Priscilla of Boston from Pearl Bridal House
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsalefrom Pearl Bridal House
Hair Styling & Makeup:Kori from Mynt Hair Studio in Oakville andSherry Vanstone
Groom's Formal Wear: Hugo Boss
Floral:My Bouquet
Additional rentals:Simply Beautiful Decor (chairs & cushions)
Cake and favor sugar cookies:Bobbette & Belle Artisanal Pastries
Invitations:Plush Invitations (Calgary)
Entertainment:Michael Coombs Entertainment

On May 20, 2011 a star-studded party was held at the Pan Pacific Vancouver for multi award-winning singer(and beloved Vancouver native) Michael Bubl and Luisana Lopilato, to celebrate the occasion of their wedding.The pair had been married a month earlier in Buenos Aires, Argentina where Luisana ('Lu') is a famous actress, model and singer. The Vancouver celebration was hosted by Michael's proud parents Amber and Lewis Bubl with the assistance of Event Planner Pat Rekert of In Any Event Design. The following story is reprinted with permission from the event program which was given to guests at the party.

It was what appeared to be a typical, hot mid-summer evening in Buenos Aires on the 25th of November in the
year 2008. Nothing special. But suddenly there was a moment'actually a series of moments'that would
change the course of two lives. Two beautiful souls would find each other that summer evening. It happened in a flash, in a parking lot of all places. The parking lot of the Teatro Gran Rex, under the Argentinean sky.
The stars above the parking lot would serve as witnesses. Michael Bubl was performing that evening (and the next) as part of his worldwide concert tour. For some unexplained reason, Michael picked up his head and looked far across the parking lot. 'There was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen in the world.' It was over in a second and he moved on, but he didn't forget. What Michael did not know is that his good friend Susan Leon had taken note
of the blonde beauty in the parking lot as well.

'There was something about her. I can't even explain it,' she later told someone. 'I knew that Michael had to meet her.' Susan asked a Warner Bros. Argentinean colleague (Diego) about her.'Invite that girl to the party after,' she told him.

The after-party for the Canadian singer was held at the Hotel Madero. Once there, Michael was asked,'Hey, do you want to meet the most famous actress in Argentina?'

'Why not?' he replied. And there she was again'the beautiful girl from the parking lot. Her name was Luisana Lopilato. 'I was instantly in love with her,' confesses Michael.

And so it began. In a private room off of the main dining room, Luisana's sister and friends (and Diego from Warner Bros.) would all help translate for Michael and Lu since they spoke different languages... a small but not insurmountable problem. They would spend hours that night talking. The next night, Lu came to the show again
and they would spend more time together. Despite being millions of miles away from each other in the weeks and months that followed, the destiny that showed these two people belonged together would come more and more into focus.'When did you know that Michael was the man you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?' a friend asked Lu. 'Definitely when I met his family. I loved them and when I saw how important his family was to him, and how he acted with them, how much he loved them and how much they loved him. It is how I am with my family. That is when I knew for sure,' revealed Luisana. 'And I love his sense of humour,' she added.

'What I love most about Lu is her compassion for all things... her love of all people, animals, everything. I have never met anyone who has a heart like hers,' Michael told a friend. 'She busts my balls all the time but she is funnier than anybody I know.'

Luisana and Michael would actually be married in two ceremonies. The first one'a civil ceremony on March 31st, 2011 in Buenos Aires with their families in attendance'the two families united now into one.The second ceremony would take place as the sun went down on Saturday evening, the 2nd of April, 2011. In a beautiful open field, surrounded by so many who loved the bride and groom, Michael came down the aisle with his mother, Amber and would wait for his beautiful bride at the altar with a look of joy on his face that none of his family and friends had ever seen before. His bride'that beautiful girl in the parking lot'would come down the aisle on the arm of her father, Eduardo. And they would be pronounced husband and wife.

A reception followed with serenades, toasts, joy beyond imagination, and wild dancing on a golden dance floor under huge chandeliers and mirrored disco balls. The party continued with days and nights of celebrating in Buenos Aires with family and friends.

Vancouver decor company Art of the Party, under the direction of owner and principal designer Sandy Godfree handled the concept, decor, entertainment and many of the design details for what could easily be described as Vancouver's party of the year!

The party was designed to be a lounge/standup concept. Every aspect was designed and customized starting with custom snow-white wall-to-wall carpeting (the doors of the ballroom had to be removed to install it). Then, furniture was considered. 'In order to provide seating for 80% of the guests, a huge amount oflounge furniture was needed so we trucked in two semi-trailers from suppliers in Las Vegas and Los Angelesand had several pieces custom made,' says Godfree.

A combination of dozens of tufted white patent armless sofas and benches filled the center of the room while smooth white leather chaise, arm chairs and full sofas were grouped in each corner.

A thousand feet of flowing white drapes lined the ballroom and foyer walls as well as all the hallway areas. Custom-made white walls hung with ornate, white high-gloss mirrors were set around the room to add architectural detail; frame the bar, highlight the dance floor and some of the buffets. A custom-made upholstered bench was built around a specially-made, white high-gloss riser which held the center floral focal piece. The hallway was lined byhigh-back tufted settees arranged with ottomans, tufted and trimmed with Swarovski crystals. Opulent high back curved booth made great gathering spots in the foyer.

A collection of crystal candle globes, crystal lotus pillar holders and votives adorned all of the cocktail tables. Silver sequin, white and pink fur, and other pillows were added to the furniture.

Cast aluminum urns overflowed with massive arrangements of roses, hydrangeas, peonies and tulips, filling the center of the room. Oversized white lacquer vases holding incredible displays of decadent orchids lined the entry hallway. Granville Island Florist designed all of the floral arrangements.

Monogrammed linen napkins and custom tags for cell phone check, shoe check and coat check.

Monogrammed boxes for the candy bar and some of the yummy treats at the candy bar.

Ladies were provided with slippers for dancing and an organza bag for the shoe check. Each guest received a bottle of pink 'Luisana' champagne or a bottle of 'Michael' vodka.

Large giftbags were provided so each guest could easily take their gifts home. Ladies could fill up those bags with eight pieces of make up from the Cargo makeup bar!

'The Cupcake Lady' (who walked around the party offering cupcakes that were displayed on her multi-tiered skirt).

Delightful Appetizers! Plexi cone-holders held seared ahi and gourmet fish and chips. Mini tacos (Michael's favourite) were also available!

Candy bar designed by Art of the Party, with floral arrangement by Granville Island Florist.

Macaron tree by Vancouver chocolatier Thomas Haas.

STARRY NIGHT

The star-studded guest list included (from top left)

1.Brian Burke and Pat Quinn (Burke's wife Jennifer Mather-Burke was also in attendance). 2.Red Robinson (who read a toast from Paul Anka). 3 Michael's sister Brandee. 4. Music agent Bruce Allen and his
daughter Claire Allen 5. Music producer David Foster and his girlfriend Yolanda Hadid.
6. Comedian Russell Peters (who gave a hilarious toast to the newlyweds).7.Jann Arden (pictured with Michael's two sisters Brandee and Crystal) having fun in the photobooth. 8. Celebrity Gossip
Maven Elaine 'Lainey' Lui of etalk.9. Songwriter Amy S. Foster (daughter of David Foster and singer B.J. Cook). Amy penned three number one hits with Michael (Home, Everything and Haven't Met You Yet).
10. Entertainment Tonight Canada reporter/producer Angela Smith and her partner (and host of Entertainment Tonight Canada), Rick Campanelli.11 (See 1). 12.Sandee Bathgate and Marilyn Denis.

Luisana and her brother (Argentian actor Dario Lopilato) show off their latin dance moves.

Photography: Sweet Pea Photography
Video and Cinema Company: Cloud Nine Creative
Ceremony/Reception Venue: Pan Pacific Vancouver
Event Planner: Pat Rekert of In Any Event Design
Decorating Company: Art of the Party
Florals: Suzanne Lee from Granville Island Florist
Cake: Macaron Tree by Thomas Haas

Song in video: 'Paradise' by Coldplay

Buy it here:http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/paradise/id471339278?i=471339288

The Proposal
Echo and Joel first met when they were in their final year of school in China. After a year of dating, Echo moved to
Los Angeles to study English and Joel moved to Vancouver to go to business school. 'Living apart was too much for Joel so he finally called me and convinced me to move from the sun of Southern California to rainy Vancouver,'
says Echo.

The Chairman's suite at Vancouver's Fairmont Pacific Rim HOTEL was the scene of the proposal. He hired Cristina Samper Pearl from Forever True Wedding planning and Design to plan the event and Camille and Chadwick Bensler from Jonetsu Studios to capture the engagement. 'I thought I was going for a photoshoot, but little did I know that Joel had planned a catered lunch with champagne and dessert' Echo says. Just before lunch, Joel got down on one knee with a gorgeous diamond from Tiffany & Co. The photoshoot turned into an engagement shoot complete with a dinner reservation at Oru,where Joel had invited friends to join them to celebrate. 'He also surprised me with an overnight bag, to be pampered at the Pacific Rim for the night,' remembers Echo.

Jet Set
Before the wedding ceremony, photographers Camille and Chadwick Bensler of Jonetsu Studios took the couple to an airplane hangar for a dramatic photoshoot. The Benslers-recently listed among the 'Top 10 wedding photographers in the World' by American Photo Magazine had pre-scouted the location to achieve some dramatic portraits.

Also on hand to film the wedding day was the videography team from Cloud Nine Creative
who created a highlights trailer of the 'first look' for Joel and Echo to watch online immediately after the wedding.

Fashion Notes
Echo wore three fabulous gowns for the wedding day. The first, which she wore for the ceremony and first part of the reception, was a full-length Monique Lhuillier gown which was flown in from the boutiquein Beverly Hills. The second was a beautiful black and white cocktail reception dress from Oscar de la Renta. The third-a fuchsia Marchesa cocktail dress in which to dance the night away.

Joel wore a bespoke Dior suit.

The ceremony was held on the deck of the Brentwood Bay Resort. Evan Orion from Vancouver-based Flowerz helped transform the natural woodland feel of the resort into the glamourous seaside setting that Echo and Joel requested. 'With different vases and crystals, he really achieved the glamourous feel that we were going for. The flowers were also a huge part of our decor and they played a large role in creating a beautiful and luxurious atmosphere for our guests,' says Echo.

The Details
After organizing the perfect proposal, Christina Samper Pearl was enlisted by Echo and Joel to plan their June 18, 2011 wedding (in only three months)! 'When we hired her we didn't even have a venue booked. She helped us with every single aspect of our wedding including finding me three beautiful wedding dresses and booking accommodations for our families for the two weeks that they were in Vancouver,' says Echo.

The Brentwood Bay Resort in Victoria, BC was the location for the ceremony and reception. In fact, the entire resort was rented out by the couple for the entirety of their wedding weekend.

Transformed Space
Evan also designed the reception which took place in the main restaurant of the resort. Since their guests had been staying at the resort for a day prior to the wedding (and enjoying meals in the restaurant) it was important toJoel and Echo that the space be 'transformed' from it's usual appearance in order to make the guests feel like they were in a totally different place.

Design Details
Large square tables and white Chiavari chairs were brought in to replace the standard furniture. Each table featured
a lavish all-white centerpiece comprised of hydrangea, peonies and orchids, placed in varying heights of cylindrical vases. The vases were adorned with glittery crystal bands. Candles glowed all around the centerpieces. All linens
and chargers were brought over from the mainlandfrom Pedersen's. Tie The Knot provided the draping and lighting.

Cakes Galore created a four-tier confection with a pink and white design. M&M's personalized with the couple's initials were given to each guest along with macarons from Paris.

Final Note
A few months after their intimate wedding, the pair honeymooned in the Maldives.Echo and Joel plan on having a second (albeit slightly less intimate celebration) in China for 1000 guests later this year.

Photography by: Jonetsu Studios
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa
Bride's gowns: Monique Lhuillier and Oscar de la Renta
Bride's shoes:Christian Louboutin, Miu Miu and Valentino
Planning Company:Cristina Samper Pearl from Forever True Wedding Planning and Design
Groom's Formal Wear:Dior
Event Designers:Evan Orion from Flowerz & Cristina Samper Pearl
from Forever True Wedding Planning and Design
Floral: Evan Orion from Flowerz
Decorating Companies: Pedersens Rentals and Tie the Knot Events
Stationery Company:Michelle Mark from Envelopments
Cake: Debbie Turner from Cakes Galore
Video and Cinema Company: Cloud Nine Creative

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.'

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.

Photographed by: John Edgar Photography
Venue:Château des Charmes Winery
Wedding Gown and Bridesmaid Gowns:Vera Wang, Toronto and J. Crew
Hair & Makeup by:Allure Hair & Makeup
Decor:Simply Beautiful Decor
Florals:Mimosa Flower Studio
Rentals: The Ultimate Wedding Project
Stationery Company: Palettera Custom Correspondences
Cake:Cake Opera Co.

Moroccanoil Gift Set with $400 certificate to Exit Salon

Winner: Rhea Theleritis

A Three-Tier Cake from Patricia's Cake Creations

Winner: Diana Wu

$2000 Gift Certificate towards custom weddig bands from Linda Penwarden Jewellery

Winner: Brian Wong

Floral Prize Package from Dizennio Floral

Winner: Rachel Bellotti

The Luxe World Grand Tour Box Set fromLuxe City Guides

Winner: Denisse Parra

Japanese Cherry Blossom Gift Basket from Bath & Body Works

Winner: Cristina Gulla

Fall/Winter Nail Polish Set from CND

Winner: Keren Elmalem

Crystal Pendant Necklace from Tara Fava Jewellery

Winner: Ami Kilner

Crystal Drop Earrings and Necklace from Lolo Jewellery & Accessories

Winner: Elsie Macdonald

Set of Silk Clutches from Davie & Chiyo

Winner: Amy Chow

Lingerie Wash Gift Set from Soakwash

Winner: Marilyn Davis

Hydra3 Regenetic Concentre Activateur D'hydratation and
Hydra3 Regenetic Creme D'hydratation Prolongee from Valmont Skin Care

Winner: Natalie Repoie

Set of Crystal Strand Bracelets from Nancy Ciccone Jewellery

Winner: Eden Haywood

Two Custom Garters from La Gartier

Winner: Melissa Caria

Five Pairs of Pearl Drop Earrings from Elva Fields

Winner: Clara NG

'Whimsical Lace' Fascinator with lace and Swarovski crystals ($150) from Blair Nadeau Millinery

Winner: Erin Brownlee

Red Robe and Cable Knit Matching Slippers, Blush Pashmina, Grey Cable Knit Hat, Scarf and Glove Set
all from The Cashmere Boutique

Winner (Robe & Slippers): Kinmon Low

Winner (Pashmina): Nicole Day

Winner (Hat, scarf, glove set): Christie Johnson

Couture Handmade Silk Dupioni and Taffet Bouquet from Emici Bridal

Winner (Silk Dupioni): Emmalee Brown

Winner (Taffet Bouquet): Nicole Bolton

Gift Basket fromJurlique

Winner: Dawn Brear

Gift Bag from Pretend Tan

Winner: Natalie Elmalem

Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque from Dermalogica

Winner: Elaine Shiff

Pearl Bridal House will be dressing a party of four bridesmaids up to $350 per girl/dress

Winner: Joanne Hui

Design, Planning + Coordination: Petite Pearl Events
Photographer: Vasia Photography
Makeup: Charrisse Mae Makeup Artistry
Hair: Sarah Braim
Dresses: Blush Bridal
Shoes: Valentino
Earrings: Elsa Corsi
Cookies + Cupcakes: Joyful Confections
Flowers: Celsia Florist
Stationary: Design Spectacle
Tabletop Decor Rentals: The Cross Decor + Design
Chairs: Furnishings by Corey

West Vancouver's Hollyburn Country Club is pleased to host a boutique 'Bridal Party'.
You are invited to this free bridal event which caters not only to brides-to-be, but also
their 'entourages' - bridesmaid, mothers, mother-in-laws and flower girls.

Help put the finishing details on an upcoming wedding, rehearsal dinner or stagette that you are planning.
Meet and socialize with vendors in a relaxed and intimate setting.

WedLuxe Magazine will be handed out at the event so RSVP now!

RSVP is required. RSVP at bridalparty@hollyburn.org

After a romantic dinner atone 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 & diamondring out the glass and bent down on one knee.Four years to the day of the night they first met, they were engaged.

Then onJuly 30, 2011, the two were married and celebrated atthe 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.'

Ashlyn wore anA 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. Herdrop 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 Mischkaon the morning of the wedding.

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.

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

Photography by: Barefeet Photography
Reception Venue: Dante Club Sarnia
Bride's gown and shoes: Vera Wang andBadgley Mischka
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale
Hair Styling and Makeup Artistry: Ashley Ruckle at Ruckle and Hair Company (Sarnia, ON) andKelly Bloxam, (London, ON)
Groom's Formal Wear: Ralph Lauren from Holt Renfrew
Decor & Floral: RL Designs Inc.
Cake: Cyndie Caudle

Anna who was featured on our blog pairs this crystal sash with her gown both by
Vera Wang both purchased at Blush Bridal in Vancouver.

Shardae and Jessica who were both featured in our latest WS2012 issue also added some sparkle to their waists.

Shardae added a crystal belt purchased from Carolee to her Lazaro ivory silk satin organza mermaid style gown
which she purchased from Bisou Bridal.

Jessica added an ivory Vera Wang belt that was encrusted with dark toned Swarovski crystals.
It worked perfectly with her Pattis dress. The belt and dress were both purchased from Blush Bridal.

Our last bride Laura who was also featured in our latest WS2012 issue purchased this Kenneth Pool gown from
Blush Bridal in Vancouver. This particular dress didn't need a belt because it had already
came with a beaded waist to match this trend.

Laura's bridesmaid dresses had a beaded belt and were fromBCBG.

Photography by: Elle Studio
Reception Venue: Casa Loma
Bride's gown and shoes:Jasmine Bridal from Ritch Bridal and silver peep-toes from Jimmy Choo
Makeup Artist: Kris Wares for Chanel
Hair Styling:Gina for Vidal Sassoon
Groom's Formal Wear:Zenga from Harry Rosen
Floral:Cliff Haffeneli
Cake:Cakes by Christine
Stationery:StylishWeddings
Catering:Pegasus Hospitality Group

Above:
Glassware, plating, cutlery, Crate & Barrel,crateandbarrel.com

Wraparound couch: Divine Furniture Rental, divinefurniturerental.com

Table, candlesticks, charger plates and martini glasses: Design2Decor Inc., design2decor.com

Above: (On 'bride')

Gown 'Chalmers Street' Carol Hannah, available at Sash & Bustle,sashandbustle.com

Hair + Make-up Stylist,Shobana Lakkavally, Amplified Soul Make-up + Hair Couture,amplifiedsoul.ca

Custom Jewellery Designer Linda Penwarden, Linda Penwarden Jewellery,lindapenwardenjewellery.com

Bouquet andBoutonniere,De Rose Designs & Floral Boutique,derosedesigns.ca

Above:
Wedding invitation, Paper & Poste, paperandposte.ca

Above:
Lemonade station cold beverage jar, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com

Glass cube seating chart, Design2Decor, design2decor.com

Above:
Sweet table with desserts, Truffle, truffletoronto.com

Couture custom wedding cakes, Lori Hutchinson, The Caketress,thecaketress.ca

Above:

Custom guestbook, Paper & Poste, paperandposte.ca

Photographer: Dave and Charlotte Biesse, Dave & Charlotte Lifestyle Photographers
Planner and Stylist: Crystal Adair-Benning, Distinct Occasions
Decor and Stylist:Paras Mehta, Design2Decor Inc
Floral:Lisa De Rose, De Rose Designs & Floral Boutique
Cake: Lori Hutchinson, The Caketress
Sweets Table Desserts: Christina Wong, Truffle Toronto
Stationery:Heather Sauer, Paper & Poste
Hair and Make up Stylist: Amplified Soul
Location: Oliver & Bonacini's Malaparte, Toronto

Photography By: Jana Vackova Photography
Getting Ready Venue: Fairmont Pacific Rim Vancouver
Ceremony Venue: Holy Rosary Catherdral
Reception Venue:University Golf Course
Brides Gown: Paloma Blanca
Bridesmaid Gowns: Alfred Sung from Isabelle Bridal
Florals: Floral Wedding Designs by LMW
Cake: Cake Tease
Hair and Makeup Stylist: Ashley Gesner

Moroccanoil Gift Set with $400 certificate to Exit Salon

A Three-Tier Cake from Patricia's Cake Creations

$2000 Gift Certificate towards custom weddig bands from Linda Penwarden Jewellery

Floral Prize Package from Dizennio Floral

The Luxe World Grand Tour Box Set from Luxe City Guides

Japanese Cherry Blossom Gift Basket from Bath & Body Works

Fall/Winter Nail Polish Set from CND

Crystal Pendant Necklace from Tara Fava Jewellery

Crystal Drop Earrings and Necklace from Lolo Jewellery & Accessories

Set of individual Silk Clutches from Davie & Chiyo

Lingerie Wash Gift Set from Soakwash

Hydra3 Regenetic Concentre Activateur D'hydratation and
Hydra3 Regenetic Creme D'hydratation Prolongee from Valmont Skin Care

Set of Crystal Strand Bracelets from Nancy Ciccone Jewellery

Two Custom Garters from La Gartier

Five Pairs of Pearl Drop Earrings from Elva Fields

'Whimsical Lace' Fascinator with lace and Swarovski crystals ($150) from Blair Nadeau Millinery

Red Rose and Cable Knit Matching Slippers, Blush Pashmina, Grey Cable Knit Hat, Scarf and Glove Set
all from The Cashmere Boutique

Couture Handmade Silk Dupioni and Taffet Bouquet from Emici Bridal

Gift Basket fromJurlique

Gift Bag from Pretend Tan

Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque from Dermalogica

Pearl Bridal House will be dressing a party of four bridesmaids up to $350 per girl/dress

Above:

Table china and chargers, table crystal stemware, table flatware, all silver William Ashley China, williamashley.com

Ghost chairs, Detailz Chair Couture, detailzcouture.com

Table linen, Have A Seat, haveaseat.ca

Above:

Napkin place card and Lucite menu,PALETTERA Custom Correspondences, palettera.ca

Above:

Lucite invitation and framed seating chart, PALETTERA Custom Correspondences, palettera.ca

Above:

Bouquet, Fuscia Designs, fusciadesigns.ca

Above:
Group of wedding cakes, Lori Hutchinson,The Caketress, thecaketress.ca

Above:
Ace of Spades champagne Armand de Brignac, armanddebrignac.com

Photographer: Corina Van Sluytman, Corina V. Photography
Producer: Cindy Johnson, Platinum Events Group
Photo Shoot Assistance: Jen Hsu and Kyle Iannuzzi, Platinum Events Group
Floral and Decor Design: Tamara and Kevin Slagter, Fuscia Designs
Cake & Mini-cakes: Lori Hutchinson, The Caketress
Stationery/Invitations: PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
Hair Stylist:Ming Justin Cheung, Puzzle Creations
Photographed on location: Le Meridien King Edward, Toronto

Venue: Capilano Golf & Country Club
Brides Gown: Vera Wang
Bridesmaid Gowns: Nordstrom
Wedding Planner & Decor: Tricia Dalphond Events
Florals: The Flower Factory
Stationery: Meant To Be Sent

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

A Jet Set Proposal
Two years after they began dating, Mark and Donna were spending the weekend at a seaside bed & breakfast, relaxing in a hot tub and drinking a glass of wine when suddenly, a plane flew overhead with a romantic message
for Donna! It wasn't a surprise to Mark, who had arranged for the small plane to fly above at that exact time to
reveal an aerial banner in the sky that read, 'Donna, will you marry me?' With that, Mark presented Donna
with an engagement ring. To make it even more sentimental, he had traded in his prized Triumph TR6
to put towards the beautiful shiny diamond.

Quaint Ceremony
The quaint, intimate ceremony was held at the romantic and historic Christ Church in Surrey, BC.
The ceremony was officiated by Roxanne Thorton. Flautist Justine Blicq of JB Music Performances
performed along with a harpist from her company.

The church bells chimed as the couple made their recessional. As guests exited the church they were given cones filled with pink rose petals (Lori created the cones from gorgeous paper sourced from Essential Packaging). When the bride and groom appeared on the church steps, they were showered with petals. 'It's not very often that you find a church that will let you throw petals, so it was nice they allowed us to do so here,' Lori says.

Perfectly Planned
Lori Fraser of Lori L. Fraser Signature Events was commissioned to plan their September 10, 2011 wedding
from start to finish. 'We left it in Lori's hands'she's a pro. The decor, the theme, the mood etc. was entirely
up to her and she did an amazing job,' says Donna.To start things off, luxe invitations were created
using Envelopments stationery products sourced from Essential Packaging. Lori and stationery designer
Colleen Winton collaborated on the design, which featured a graphite pocket-fold envelope. Inside, was an ornate invitation with a monogram motif. Dark silver satin ribbon finished off the set which
was enhanced with a large crystal embellishment.

Floral Notes
Florist Rosalba-Fasan Buffat of Fiorire-Custom Florals by Rosalba (previously known as Roses Flowers and Gifts) provided all of the floral for the wedding including Donna's bouquet. The bouquet was a traditional tear-drop style but maintained a modern feel with the use of compact flowers in shades of white. A crystal brooch gave the bouquet a luxe finishing touch. Donna's one attendant carried a statement piece bouquet featuring gorgeous Cattleya orchids finished with a crystal brooch and a band of crystals around the handle.

Cocktail Hour
The reception was held at The Northview Golf Course in Surrey, BC. Donna's one request was that the reception
have '...lush florals and sparkling crystals.' Decorator Sandy Godfree from Art of the Party created the theme design, room layout and decor to match that request. The theme was 'high-end glam.' 'Uptown', 'downtown' and 'midtown' were fun sub-themes. Crystal, mirrors, florals and jewels brought the theme to life. Fiorire provided all of the florals
and Lori was in charge of all of the personalized details. The ballroom was divided into three areas with white fabric. One for cocktails, one for the dinner, and one for dancing. Two lounge areas with silver furniture provided lots
of areas for guests to mingle, dance, socialize, watch the sunset or simply relax outside.

Guests started in the cocktail area. The area featured a white leather bar, tall glass tables with chameleon bar stools and a large floral centerpiece styled as a lamp! The signature drink, aptly named the 'Diamond TR6' was a nod to Mark's beloved car he sold just before the proposal. The recipe was printed on gunmetal silver napkins.
A master seating chart was etched into a beautiful mirror and then placed a silver easel. 'I had an idea to give the couple something to use as a keepsake for their wedding,' says Lori. 'I found a beautiful mirror and had Colleen Winton design the chart with all the names of the guests who attended the wedding. The seating chart could then be hung by Mark and Donna in their home after the wedding,' recalls Lori.

Crystallized Reception
When it was time for dinner, the drapes were pulled back to reveal the reception room. Three sections of tables named 'uptown,' 'midtown' and 'downtown' were dressed with custom linen, mirrored chargers and fun crystal accessories. The table name signs (created by Flourish by Colleen Winton) were laser-cut in a script font then covered in dark silver sparkle and mounted onto mirrors. Each guest's name was placed in a mirror frame, and sat in front of a mirror charger plate. Large pink crystal napkin rings added extra 'bling.' Little mirrored boxes filled with grey, pink and white candies finished off the place setting as favors.

Academy Award Connection
Chameleon chairs (provided by Art of the Party) featured three different kinds of luxury chair covers but the chair covers that were paired with the head table were particularly notable. The covers had been made for the Academy Awards gala dinner and were brought in from an American rental company. Donna and Mark were the first wedding party to use the covers! They were dark grey suede with a band of crystals running down the back of the chair.

Later in the evening, a sweets table with 'designer munchies' was brought out for guests to snack on. 'The cones of popcorn, cotton candy, mini pies and sugar cookies (in the shape of high heel shoes, designer purses and $$ signs) were a huge hit, and added to the theme of the wedding,' recalls Lori.'Designer purse', 'lingerie' and 'shoe' cookies were sourced by Lori from Elyse Wahle of Sullivan & Bleeker. Joyful Confections made cookies in the shape of dollar signs. Cakes by Meg designed a pink, silver and creamy white six-tier confectionery masterpiece in a delicious chocolate mudslide flavour. In keeping with the'downtown' theme, she also created an assortment of mini cakes designed to look like martinis (with appropriately named flavours like limoncello, cosmopolitan, and milky way). Each cake was individually presented in a crystal martini glass, on floating beds of sparkling sugar with a sugar-crystal embellishment. Each glass had a mirror charm with the name of the martini flavoured cake. Two keepsake forks engraved with 'his' and 'hers' were a cute addition to the cake-cutting ceremony.

Laura Lavender penned all of the calligraphic signs, pie flags, and a thumbprint tree for guests to sign.

End Note
At the end of the evening, guests were pampered with complimentary shuttle service from Country Lane Charters who provided door-to-door drop off service! Donna and Mark now reside in Surrey, BC where Donna is a media relations director and Mark works in corporate security.

Photography: Jasalyn Thorne Photographers and Bantilleon Weddings
Reception Venue:The Northview Golf Course
Wedding Planner: Lori Fraser of Lori L. Fraser Signature Events
Decorating Company: Sandy Godfree from Art of the Party
Florals: Rosalba-Fasan Buffat of Fiorire - Custom Florals by Rosalba
Seating Chart and Signage: Colleen Winton of Flourish
Cake: Cakes by Meg
Designer Cookies: Elyse Wahle of Sullivan & Bleeker

An event Vancouver brides won't want to miss! Preview the Oscar de la Renta 2012 Bridal Collection at
Bisou Bridal on February 4th and 5th. You must make an appointment so RSVP today!

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 dcor, 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. '

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

'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

Large classic style vases stood on white pillars on either side of the church's altars and filled withlarge 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.

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 dcor, as a reminder of the groom's mother.

The dining tent was set up justfive feet from the vines at Chateau des Charmes Winery featuring stunning picturesque views! Crystal chandeliers hung from the white ceilings andteardrop 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 Dcor (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)

A Coffee Encounter
Jessica and Matt were married on August 13, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. The first time they laid eyes on each other was while waiting in line at a Starbucks. A coffee turned into a walk, which led to dinner that same night.

'One morning last August I awoke to find a box tied with ribbon on our coffee table. Inside the box
was a custom-designed plane ticket with hints about the destination (climate, appropriate attire, etc).
Two weeks later Matt flew me to Spain. Our first stop was the island of Ibiza. On our first evening there we
shared an amazing dinner overlooking the ocean. After finishing a bottle of champagne, Matt suggested we take a midnight walk along the beach. A short distance later, we turned a corner to find a circle of pre-lit candles on the beach. Before I knew what was happening, Matt knelt down on his knee and proposed to me.
Once my tears subsided I was finally able to say 'of course!' ' recalls Jessica.

Jessica wore two gowns on her wedding day. Her wedding gown was 'Freida' by Vera Wang
which she paired with a Vera Wang Swarovski-encrusted crystal sash. A pair of grey Manolo Blahnik heels
peeked out from underneath. She changed into a second gown (the 'Dotty'- a strapless party dress from Betsy Johnson) for dancing at the reception. Her hair and makeup were styled by Nadia Albano.

Matt, an RCMP officer, wore a tuxedo by Ermenegildo Zegna with a shirt by Armani
and shoes by Churches England. He briefly changed into his Scarlet Serge (the dress uniform
of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) for a few photos at the reception.

'Our favourite moment of the day came when we saw each other for the first time. We chose to do so
in privacy so that we could enjoy the intimacy of the moment. Before the ceremony Matt waited for me at the
center of the hedge maze in Van Dusen Gardens. My bridesmaids helped me carry my gown through the maze
and shortly before I reached Matt, they stopped and let me go on alone. As soon as I stepped into the center of the maze, he turned around and I forgot everything and everyone else and my heart just melted.'

Matt: 'When I first saw Jessica step around the corner, she looked so incredible that time really did
seem to stand still. It was truly the most perfect moment I have ever experienced.'

Bridesmaid Style
Jessica's bridesmaids wore strapless sweetheart dresses in rose, tied with black sashes. Each girl carried
a bouquet of soft pink roses, tied with silver ribbon.

A Milestone Event
The couple hired Tanya Peters from Milestone Events to plan their wedding. Tanya also provided full-service design, decor and floral services for the wedding and reception.

Jessica and Matt were married in front of Heron Lake in Van Dusen Gardens (complete with swans in the lake
and willow trees swaying in the breeze). Crystal chandeliers and dangling Swarovski crystals hung from
of the willow trees. The aisle was lined with a carpet of pink and coral rose petals and ended with
two large floral arrangements to frame the ceremony. Jessica carried a bouquet of
pinky-coral large-bloom garden roses, tied with silver ribbon.

Reception Details
The reception was held in the ballroom of the Vancouver Club. 'We wanted our reception to be like a
dinner party so we opted for long reception tables. Each table was covered in steel grey linen made up entirely
of roses. On each table there were five silver candelabras and low-lying floral arrangements consisting of corals
and pinks. Each table also had a large number of silver candles and silver chargers. In order to add a modern twist, guests sat in clear Louis Ghost chairs from Salmon's Rentals. Lounge areas complete with low-lying silver couches and coral-coloured decorative pillows were placed in front of each of the bars,' details Jessica

Each guest had a menu card which was created out of pages from vintage books.

The vintage book theme started with the invitations, which were created by Kerri Efendi Designs. 'We wanted the invitations to be romantic and whimsical with just a hint of fairytale. Kerri was amazing. She went to antique bookstores and hand-picked the books. She turned each book into a beautiful invitation and then wrapped them in specialty brown craft paper and sealed them with wax, using our initials,' Jessica says.

For Jessica and Matt, both foodies, the meal was a very important part of their celebration.
'Our favourite past-times include dining out, wine tasting, shopping at Granville Island marketplace and
creating meals in the kitchen together. All of our guests understand how important food and wine are to us
and we wanted to treat our guests to an extravagant five-course meal complete with wine pairings.
Each dish was hand-picked by both of us and so were the wines. (We are very proud of the wines produced in our province and thus all of the wines were chosen from BC.)'

Evening Entertainment
Even the music was chosen by Jessica and Matt to represent the type of music they each listen to on a daily basis,
as well as what type of music they listened to in Ibiza when Matt proposed.

RediviVus Photography supplied a photobooth to provide entertainment (and souvenirs) for guests!

Bruce Patterson of Cloud Nine Creative filmed the event.

As guests departed from the party, they were given warm cookies and milk. The cookie choices included gingersnaps, coconut and Jessica's famous mint chocolate cookies (upon a special request from Matt). 'I specifically requested that the Club use Jessica's recipe so that I could enjoy my favorite cookies that she makes at home),' Matt recalls.

The pair honeymooned in New York City at the Plaza Hotel. They now reside in Vancouver.

Candy in vintage glassware was displayed on the cake table with a cake by Anna Elizabeth Cakes.
The glassware and desserts were placed upon stacked antique books.

Photography: Bebb Studios
Ceremony Venue:Heron Lake at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Reception Venue: The Vancouver Club
Wedding Gown: Vera Wang from Pricilla of Boston
Brides Shoes:Manolo Blahnik Satin Pumps from Nordstroms
Wedding Planner/Decorating Company: Tanya Peters from Milestone Events
Florals: Milestone Events
Stationery: Kerri Efendi from Kerri Efendi Designs
Cake:Anna Elizabeth Cakes
Cinema Company: Cloud Nine Creative
Hair/Makeup Stylist: Nadia Albano

So It Begins...
Jessica and Vince met through mutual friends when they were both students at the University of British Columbia.
'It wasn't until our fourth year, while at a UBC Alma mater Society BBQ event (where I was volunteering) that Vince decided to approach me. We had a great conversation and sparks started to fly between the two of us,' says Jessica.

The conversation would lead to a proposal eight years later. Their wedding took place
on August 6, 2011 in Vancouver, BC.

Jessica wore a Pattis gown paired with a Vera Wang sash, from Blush Bridal. Her earrings were
custom-made by Elsa Corsi to match the dark-toned crystals on the sash.Her hair comb was handmade by her best friend (and Matron of Honour). 'She knew how much I loved the Vera Wang belt and
made the haircomb to match from marquise cut crystals,' Jessica recalls.

She paired the gown with not one, but two pairs of designer heels. The first pair were champagne-coloured
satin peep toe pumps with a jewel-encrusted heel by Prada. They were a special purchase from one of the
Prada boutiques in Paris, France. The couple had visited the European city just after their engagement.

Her second pair were black sheer lace with a bow embellishment and satin slingbacks with a towering 5.5' heel,
by Christian Louboutin, from Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas.

Vince wore Hugo Boss from Harry Rosen. Each of his groomsmen were given custom- tailored suits
to wear on the wedding day as a gift. The bridesmaids each received jeweled statement necklaces.

The wedding, which took place at the Vancouver Club in the UBC/SFU room,was planned by
Lisa Gregory of Lisa Gregory Special Events, who also provided all of the floral and decor.

Candlelit Ceremony
On each side of the aisle, white square columns held what appeared to be clouds of all-white baby's breath.
A fabric aisle runner was rolled out just before the bride and bridesmaids walked down the aisle. The ceremony
took place in front of the fireplace mantel which was decorated with pillared candles and vases of baby's breath in varying heights. A tray of pillar candles in all heights and sizes was also placed on the ground directly in front of the fireplace to give a beautiful glow. Immediately following the evening ceremony, guests were greeted with trays of wine, cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Live musicians were also on hand to serenade the guests with classical music.

Reception Details
The reception took place in the ballroom. A seating chart, made by Jessica's sister (and bridesmaid) was placed in a large white antique frame. The seating chart was made to match invitations created by Sweet Peony Press.
'Our wedding invitations were designed to look like vintage postcards (I had seen them in the Summer/Fall 2010 issue of WedLuxe),' says Jessica. The ornate table numbers were also made by Sweet Peony Press.

The ballroom was arranged with a combination of banquet-style and round tables, draped in white. Baby's breath centerpieces and hundreds of white pillar candles added a dreamy feeling of romance to the room.

Guests enjoyed a lavish buffet and dessert bar catered by the Vancouver Club.
Then, they could pose forfun shots in a photobooth from Photobooth Vancouver
(complete with silly props) and take home their souvenir photo.

'With careful planning and the use of the right vendors, our wedding vision came to life,' remembers Jessica fondly. 'We ended up with exactly what we had in mind: a simple yet elegant, classic vintage wedding with an ethereal feel. It was fun, incredibly emotional, filled with hilarious and love-filled speeches and ended with an awesome night of dancing and partying. Guests even stayed long after the music ended as they were having so much fun.'

Immediately following the wedding, Jessica and Vince went on a 'mini-moon'
to BC's Sunshine Coast where they stayed at the Rockwater Secret Cove Resort.
In December of 2011, they head to Oahu, Hawaii for their actual honeymoon.

The pair now reside in Vancouver, BC where Jessica is a public health inspector and Vince is a chartered accountant.

Photography: Pelaez Photography
Ceremony/Reception Venue: The Vancouver Club
Wedding Gown: Pattis from Blush Bridal
Wedding Planner/Decorating Company:Lisa Gregory of Lisa Gregory Special Events
Brides Accessories: Vera Wang belt from Blush Bridal, earrings by Elsa Corsi fromJeweliette Jewellery
Brides Shoes: First Pair,champagne colored satin peep toe pumps, Prada
Second Pair,black sheer lace and satin slingbacks,Christian Louboutin
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bari Jay
Florals/Cake: Lisa Gregory of Lisa Gregory Special Events
Stationery:Shelley Weir of Sweet Peony Press
Hair Stylist:Win Liu
Makeup Stylist: Negar Hooshmand from Lip Gloss & Lashes
Photobooth: Photobooth Vancouver - The Hit of the Party

Carina and Ray were married on May 14, 2011 at the Paramount Conference and Event Venue in Woodbridge, Ontario.

(WedLuxe:)How would you describe your wedding day?

(Carina:) 'Amazing. Romantic, whimsical and entertaining!'

What was your favourite design detail?

'Our centerpieces; which were highlighted by spot lighting. We opted for minimal flowers at our wedding. Instead, we used silver faux manzanita trees which we decorated with fresh orchids and strands of running crystal.'

What was your biggest splurge during the planning process?

'Photography. Weddings go by so fast... we wanted to have amazing photography to help us remember our day forever.'

Who was your favourite wedding vendor and why?

'All of them were amazing, accommodating and made our vision to come to life. But if we have to pick one, we'd have to say the Paramount. People forget how beautiful a hall is decorated and how good the entertainment is, if the service and food at your wedding are sub-par. The menu was excellent and their service was outstanding.'

Carina wore a beautiful white San Patrick gown with a modern twist on a Spanish mermaid style with crystals and ruffles. Herbridesmaids each wore a different style dress by Dessy (to suit their individual body types) in sapphire blue and accessorized with custom jewellery by Tara Fava Jewellery.

Photographed by: Mark Anthony Studios
Venue:Paramount Conference and Event Venue
Wedding Gown and shoes:San Patrick - Eresma (Mona Richie Boutique) and XoXo shoes (Town Shoes)
Hair & Makeup by:Francine Lescure and Stephanie Cruz - MAC
Brides' day-of jewellery and bridesmaids jewellery:Tara Fava Jewellery
Decor:Have a Seat Inc.
Florals:Designs by Angie
Stationery Company:Mark Anthony Studios
Cake:Irresistible Cakes

Bouquet featuring purple phalaenopsis orchids. Bouquets Floral, bouquetsfloral.ca

Acrylic baroque chair, Mint Interiors, shop.mintinteriors.ca

Bouquet with white roses, dusty miller and orange mums, Roa Floral,roafloralandeventdesigns.com

Cake with clover motif in Royal blue accented with orange sugar roses and an orange sugar ribbon base,
Culinary Cakes, culinarycakes.com

Acrylic baroque chair, Mint Interiors, shop.mintinteriors.ca

Four-tier cake with hand-painting and pale pink sugar peonies, Anna Elizabeth Cakes, annaelizabethcakes.com

Ceramic cloud table, Peridot Decorative Homewear, peridot.ca

Cake in soft green fondant with a geometric pattern cut-out. Accented with pink blooms,
Ganache Patisserie, ganacheyaletown.com

Bouquet with calla lillies, dahlias, ranunculus, and succulents, Flowerz, flower-z.com

Isabella daybed, Persian velvet pillows, Mango wood stool, Mongolian throw, Mother-of-pearl inlay trays,
and Indian throw mat, All Peridot Decorative Homewear, peridot.ca

Jewellery jars and turquoise books, The Cross Decor and Design, thecrossdesign.com

Yellow fondant cake with a beaded Moroccan key pattern, The Uncommon Cake, theuncommoncake.com

Bright yellow bouquet with mokara orchids and button mums, Fiorire-Custom Florals by Rosalba, fiorire.ca

Peruvian Roots
Liliana and Luis Felipe were married on June 25, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. The couple originally met in the summer of 2007 at UBC, when they took a psychology class together. 'Meeting each other felt like it was meant to be;
two Peruvians living in Vancouver and sharing so many things in common, even though Luis had moved to
Vancouver with his family in 1992 and I only moved here in 2005. We became close friends very quickly
and a month later we were an item. We have been inseparable ever since,' recalls Liliana.

Luis moved to Toronto for work in May of 2010 but returned to Vancouver every month to see Liliana.
'My parents came from Peru to Vancouver the first week of September. Luis thought that was the perfect time to propose since he knew I am very close to my family and I would want them to be there to celebrate when it happened.
I didn't know he had gone to Peru a couple of months earlier to ask for permission to propose,' says Liliana.

One night during that first week, of September, Luis called Liliana. He asked her to look for some important
papers that he urgently needed with him in Toronto. He told her he thought he had left them in her room
(in Vancouver). 'I went to my room very worried and as I looked for the papers, Luis entered with a huge bouquet
of my favourite flowers'tiger lilies'and he proposed. I was so surprised, I was still looking for the papers
as he was proposing! When we came out of the room, my friends were all there with a
chocolate cake and champagne, ready to celebrate.'

Liliana's Vera Wang gown was purchased at Blush Bridal in West Vancouver.
She added a grapefruit-pink sash for a pop of colour. Grapefruit-pink, Liliana's favourite colour,
became the main colour inspiration for the entire wedding day design.

Peonies, Peru and Paper
Floral designer Evan Orion of Flowerz created Liliana's lush bouquet.
It featured English roses, peonies and calla lilies.

All of the stationery was designed and purchased in Peru. It was created by a Peruvian artist and
featured a peony motif to tie in with the wedding day flowers. Peonies were featured in all of the wedding stationery; including the invitations, seating charts, name cards and reception programs.

The Ceremony
The ceremony took place at Vancouver's Holy Rosary Cathedral.

'Evan placed three pedestals on each side of the altar, with multiple vases on each one.
The result was a Jeff Leatham-inspired look that Liliana had asked him to achieve.

'My favourite moment was definitely walking down the aisle. Seeing the most important people in our
lives there, and finally meeting Luis at the end, was the best moment ever.
Seeing that one tear when he saw me made the day,' says Liliana.

Reception Design
Evan from Flowerz made Liliana's floral dreams come true. 'Six months before the wedding, I showed Evan some photos from the famous flower artist Jeff Leatham. I let Evan choose the flowers and colours, I just told him the theme was grapefruit-pink. The rest was up to him and I am so glad I let him be creative;
the result was pure magic,' she says.

'Having my mother as my wedding planner definitely helped me personalize all aspects of the wedding. She came from Peru for two months last November and we planned the whole thing together. One of my favourite personal touches were the wedding favors. We gave away Peruvian handcrafts. They were hand-painted and engraved dried pumpkins, typical from Peru. They had pure silver details on them as well. We also printed little thank you cards to go with the favors. They featured a picture of Luisand from our engagement photo session,' says Liliana.

Goldilocks Bake Shop created the whimsical three-tier cake. Each tier was made from
sheets from white chocolate that overlapped sideways. There was also multicolour
marzipan fruit scatteredon each layer of the cake.

Liliana and Luis will honeymoon in Bora Bora in the Spring of 2012.

Photography: Sweet Pea Photography
Ceremony Venue: Holy Rosary Cathedral
Reception Venue: Hart House Restaurant
Wedding Gown: Vera Wang from Blush Bridal
Brides Accessories: Brooklyn Designs from Fine Finds
Bridesmaid Dresses: Ann Taylor Bridal
Florals: Evan Orion from Flowerz
Cake: Maj Gee from Goldilocks Bake Shop
Hair/Makeup Stylist: Kelly Liang from K-arts Liang

1. Leather iPad case, Reed Krakoff$590, net-a-porter.com 2.Layla printed silk dress, Milly$395,net-a-porter.com 3. 'Plan an Adventure' Blackberry pouch,Kate Spade$25,katespade.com 4. 'Jami' Sunglasses,Velvet Eyewear $159,velveteyewear.com 5. Marine linen flat cap,Eugenia Kim$160, net-a-porter.com 6. 'Reeve' sunglasses, Kate Spade$128,katespade.com 7. Silk-trimmed stretch-jersey dress, Jason Wu$1,100,net-a-porter.com 8. Leather ballet flats, Lavin $550, net-a-porter.com 9. 'Erin' Stripe Pouch, Rebecca Minkoff $68.78, nordstrom.com 10. Paillette-embellished leather sandals, Marni $525, net-a-porter.com 11. 'Anchors away' long necklace, Kate Spade $228, katespade.com 12. Tiered silk crepe de chine dress, Miu Miu $1,790,net-a-porter.com

1. 'Franca' sunglasses, Kate Spade$128, katespade.com 2.Max feather-embellished straw fedora, Eugenia Kim $285,net-a-porter.com 3. Intrecciato satin knot clutch,Bottega Veneta $1,380,net-a-porter.com 4. Dreamer ruffled swimsuit,Zimmermann$320,net-a-porter.com 5. Weber crystal-embellished suede ballet flats,Jimmy Choo $495, net-a-porter.com 6. 'Dumont' necklace, Tom Binns$875,tombinnsdesign.com 7. Stretch-jersey peplum top, Stella McCartney $525,net-a-porter.com 8. Silk-chiffon bustier gown, Alexander McQueen $3,295, net-a-porter.com 9. Hamilton trompe l'oeil cotton-canvas tote, MICHAEL Michael Kors $80, net-a-porter.com 10. Caf capri in waterfloral, J.Crew $272, jcrew.com 11. Vintage Gucci sunglasses, Retrosun $325, net-a-porter.com 12. Filigrana 9-karat rose gold lace earrings, Laurent Gandini $2,155,net-a-porter.com 13. 'Fella' ivory satin with silk flower sandals, Kate Spade $298, katespade.com

Legally Wed
Laura and Kinji were married on June 18, 2011 in Vancouver, BC. The first time Kinji laid eyes on Laura
was at the Vancouver Law Courts Great Hall. Laura was there for her call ceremony (to become a lawyer).
'She looked beautiful, intelligent and poised,' Kinji fondly recalls. Over a year later, the two were briefly introduced
at a fundraiser. After several attempts by Kinji to make a date with Laura, she finally said yes.
Kinji made agreat impression and the rest is history.

Event Planner Soha Lavin of Countdown Events was a guiding force for the couple in the planning of their wedding. 'We were able to completely trust her with all aspects of our wedding. Both of us have very busy legal practices
and we simply could not execute the wedding we wanted without her help,' says Laura. Soha set about to create a wedding day that would meet their wishes: they wanted an elegant day, with an old-world European feel.

Laura wore a Kenneth Pool bridal gown from Blush Bridal which she accessorized with crystal earrings by Elsa Corsi and a crystal comb by Jenny Packham. Her rose-gold shoes by Kate Spade (purchased at Nordstroms) featured a fabric rosette on the toe. Her hair and makeup were done by Brenda Bakker from TheyRep.

The bridesmaids wore pink dresses from BCBG. The skirts matched Laura's gown so well that several guests commented and assumed the same designer had created all of the dresses.

Kinji wore a Dolce and Gabanna suit, shirt and tie, with shoes and belt by Prada,
all purchased from Holt Renfrew, Vancouver.

The stationery was designed by Wintons Social Stationery. 'They used soft, double-thick blush-coloured paper
with a flourished font and soft bird and floral graphics for a vintage feel,' says Laura.

Memories of Italy
Flowers were a key element in the planning of the entire wedding. The couple even chose their June wedding date
to ensure they could incorporate peonies into Laura's bouquet and the reception decor. The summer before,
while travelling together in Italy, Laura and Kinji came across a chapel covered in wreaths of baby's breath.
The image made a huge impact on Laura. When it came time to plan their own wedding, she asked florist Suzane Lee of Granville Island Florist to create something special for the ceremony using baby's breath. Suzane used the
delicate bloom to create large spheres that were placed on tall silver candelabras. The ceremony
took place in the British Ballroom at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.

Romantic Reception
The reception was held in the Pacific Ballroom of The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. The decor was a
joint collaboration between Upright Decor and Granville Island Florist, under the design direction of planner Soha Lavin. As soon as the doors opened for dinner, the hallway filled with the scent of the incredible flowers inside
(which included hundreds of fragrant peonies).

The baby's breath from the ceremony was reused at the reception to line the dance floor, and the sides of two lounge areas on either side of the dance floor. Garlands of baby's breath surrounded the head table, including a decadent swag on all the chairs. Guest tables were draped with gold brocade tablecloths. Crystal Chiavari chairs, candelabras and vases filled with oversized bouquets of peonies gave the room an old-world European feel.

The lace appliqu was a design theme used throughout the day on everything from stationery to the cake.

The Night Unfolds
The hotel's Executive Sous Chef Joseph Schefer created a meal that was met with rave reviews. 'We have many foodie friends and all of them commented on how good the food was, particularly given the size of the wedding. For the late night buffet, we asked for 'junk food' mini-burgers, yam fries and grilled cheese sandwiches,' recalls Laura. Chef Joseph even made mini-cannoli with pink-tinted filling as a special surprise. (Laura's family is Italian).

The cake was created by Peter Fong of Ganache Patisserie. 'Some elements of the cake were taken from my dress'the soft fans at the bottom of the cake and the silver beading around each layer. We used a lot of lace in our
decor and some of the cake had a lace appliqu on it. Given our love of flowers, Peter created a large,
off-centre blooming rose that opened down the side of the cake.

There was also a large whimsical candy bar at the back of the room (which housed the 'sweet' portion of a
sweet and savoury late night buffet), with bags and customized stickers for the guests to select from.

Another fun touch was coasters, created by Photographer Jana Vackova and Planner Soha Lavin,
that featured photos from the engagement shoot. The wedding day was filmed in high-definition video
by Bruce Patterson and his team from Cloud Nine Creative.

Laura and Kinji had a wonderfully relaxing wedding day. On the day of the wedding neither they, or their families,
had to worry about a single detail. 'Our wedding was wonderful for a lot of reasons, but everything was executed
so well because of the professionals that we had assisting usthroughout the planning process, and on
our special day,' recalls Laura.The pair honeymooned in French Polynesia at the Four Seasons Bora Bora
and Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa. They now reside in Vancouver where they both practice law.

Photography: Jana Vackova Photography
Ceremony/Reception Venue: The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Wedding Gown: Kenneth Pool from Blush Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG
Grooms Attire:Suit, Dolce and Gabanna and Shoes, Prada
Event Planner:Soha Lavin from Countdown Events
Florals: Suzanne Lee from Granville Island Florist
Decorating Company: Colin Upright from Upright Decor
Cake: Peter Fong fromGanache Patisserie
Stationery:Wintons Social Stationery
Hair/Makeup Stylist: Brenda Bakker