The Wedding Ring Magazine | Spring/Summer 2022

Spring/Summer 2022 Vol 15 No 1

Venue Edition

30 PAGES OF FAVOURITE WEDDING VENUES

BRIDAL SHOW CALENDAR

WEDDING SHOWS FROM LONDON TO KITCHENER, GUELPH TO HAMILTON

SIZE, STYLE, CAPACITY, CATERING OPTIONS & MORE!

22 PAGES OF REAL WEDDINGS

YOUR ULTIMATE WEDDING PLANNING CHECKLIST

WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA

BRANTFORD ♥ HAMILTON ♥ GUELPH ♥ KITCHENER-WATERLOO ♥ CAMBRIDGE LONDON ♥ STRATFORD ♥ WOODSTOCK ♥ HURON-BLUEWATER ♥ ANCASTER

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JANUARY 2022 PUBLISHED BY Wedding Ring Inc.

5 Martinet Ave. London, ON team@theweddingring.ca The Wedding Ring Magazine is normally published two times yearly: January and September. This edition is The Wedding Ring’s 29th issue of the magazine. www.theweddingring.ca/magazine

MAGAZINE TEAM

Anne Warren | anne@theweddingring.ca Publisher | Director of Operations Kristen Sullivan | kristen@theweddingring.ca Managing Editor | Layout & Advertisement Design Coordinator Jessica Ferguson | jessica@theweddingring.ca Features Editor

COVER STORY

LOCATION: The Old Court House (www.theoldcourthouse.ca) London, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle A Photography (www.michelleaphoto.com) London, ON

Full story p8-9

The statements, opinions and points of view expressed do not necessarily represent those of the publisher, advertisers or Wedding Ring Inc. Photographs and content are submitted to Wedding Ring Inc. by wedding professionals for the purpose of publishing online and/or in print and are used with permission.

All images are provided by the vendor who submitted the article.

Our best effort has been made to appropriately credit all images. Any errors or omissions are not the responsibly of Wedding Ring Inc. Images with errors or omissions will be corrected or removed wherever possible. © 2022 Wedding Ring Inc. Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any article, photograph or artwork without written permission from Wedding Ring Inc. is strictly prohibited. Printed in Canada. ISSN 1920-499X

FOREVER IN LOVE AT THE RING

At The Wedding Ring, we research, create and curate quality, needto-know wedding content, year-round, alongside our clients, who just happen to be some of Ontario’s most talented wedding experts.

We then deliver it all in print (THE WEDDING RING MAGAZINE) and online (THEWEDDINGRING.CA) to a geographically targeted bride and groom audience. As a result, our clients book more weddings and our readers find it easier to plan the ultimate local wedding.

On the odd chance you ever find Anne, Kristen, Jess, and the team at The Wedding Ring more than a few feet away from their WiFi connections, it’s likely because you’re at one of THE WEDDING RING EXPO events which take place seasonally in 10+ cities across Ontario.

These are couture bridal shows filled with over the top exhibits, live design palettes, and many (many, many!) engaged couples.

If you’re a wedding professional who offers products that every bride or groom should have, raises the bar on service, or rewrites the definition of couture, we’d love to work with you - online, in print, and/ or in person. The Wedding Ring will help you reach your target brides and grooms, share (and show off ) your expertise, grow your business and make headlines.

To find out more about how content marketing, online advertising, or exhibiting at The Wedding Ring Expo's in your city can change the way you approach wedding marketing: contact team@theweddingring.ca & visit www.theweddingring.ca

Contents

p106

p30-31

Bridal Show Calendar p73 Favourite Wedding Venues p75-107

Spring Into Wedding Planning p30-31 Before & After p32 Something Blue p33 Favourite 2022 Bridalane Gowns p34-35 Shed To Chic p36 Our Favourite Veils p37 Cake Trends p38 Romantic Lace Gowns p39 Favourite Backdrops p40 Vintage Forest p44-45 Modern Boho p46 Beautiful gowns p47

DESIGN PALETTES P29-48

FEATURES

REAL WEDDINGS P5-27

Rustic Bling p6-7 Warm, Dark And Romantic p8-9 Elegant Sparkle p10-11 Simple Yet Elegant p12-13 From Countless Changes To Dream I Do p14-15 Red Fall Harvest p16 Sunflower Love p17 When Sparks Fly p18-19 Meant To Be p20 A Perfectly Beautiful Day p21 10 Years In The Making p22-23 Diamonds Are Forever p24 Unmistakable Love p25 'Til Death Do Us Part p26 Bright & Festive p27 p66

4 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

EXPERT TIPS P49-62

Your Ultimate Checklist p50-51

Memorable Weddings with Music Central p52 7 Reasons To Hire A Day Of Coordinator p53 p37

p17

How To Find The Perfect Outfit For Your Wedding p54-55 5 Tips For Choosing A Wedding Cake p56 Ring Exchange 101 p58-59 9 Tips For A Flawless Look That Lasts All Day p60 How To Choose Your Cake Designer p61

DESTINATION WEDDINGS P63-72

Serenade Punta Cana p65 Magical Elopement Abroad p66 Ontario's West Coast Love p67 Oakwood Resort p69 Top 10 Reasons To Have A Destination Wedding p70-72 Simply Perfect p72 p24

Real Wedding Stories Real Wedding Stories feature the love stories, designs, and details of some of our favourite weddings. These gorgeous events are the result of alot of planning by local brides & grooms, and the hard work of some seriously talented wedding experts. Curated by The Ring.

PHOTO: LoveSprouts Photography (www.lovesproutsphotography.com) London, ON VENUE: Roseville Estate (www.rosevilleestate.com) Cambridge, ON BRIDE & GROOM: Heather & Ryan Salvatore Full story: p14-15 WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 5

Brianna & Ryan Odette Rustic Bling WEDDING DATE: October 2nd, 2021 LOCATION: Best Western PLUS Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre (♥) (www.stoneridgeinn.com) & The Rose Chapel (www.rosechapel.ca), London, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: LoveKnots Photography (www.loveknots.ca) London, ON "I found them on Instagram and after falling in love with their shots I reached out to them right away! Julie and Wes are amazing. So down to earth and kind. They are both so creative and open. I wanted to include my grandpa's classic car in some of the photos and Julie and Wes loved the idea as well and found a great country road with a barn for the best shots." - B GUEST #: 80 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: "Light soft neutral colors. Girls were in "biscotti" or a light taupe and the boys were in grey tuxes. White and greenery for flowers. Wood/gold accents throughout. Our theme was rustic with a little bit of gold bling, mostly in the detail or small accents. We didn't want to make it too loud as that isn't who we are."

-B BRIDE ATTIRE: Sophie’s Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) London, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David's Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) London, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Collins Clothiers (♥) (www.collinsclothiers.com) London, ON FLORAL: Harris Flower Farm (www.harrisflowerfarm.ca) St. Thomas, ON DJ: Mahervelous Music (www.mahervelousmusic.com) London, ON CAKE: Grandma's Oven (www.grandmasoven.ca) Aylmer, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "Ryan proposed the day before COVID really hit, when it was announced that kids weren't going back to school after March break, back in March 2020. We had no idea the impact COVID would have on our wedding 19 months later. We started planning right away and set the date of October 2nd, 2021. I reached out to the Rose Chapel for information and Natalie was more than helpful even with having restrictions where we couldn't see the venue in person quite yet. Natalie called us once everything opened up to come for a tour and we jumped on the opportunity! Ryan and I were speechless walking into the Rose Chapel. I knew this was the place for us to get married almost instantly. We booked that day and started the planning process.

Our planning process was a whirlwind with COVID. We booked the major vendors like DJ, officiant, photographer and florist. I found the dress of my dreams and hid it in my closet until it was time for it to make its debut.

We really weren't 100% sure what our wedding day would look like until August 2021 after the majority of the restrictions were lifted but we never gave up on having it at the Rose Chapel. Ryan and I said since day one that we wouldn't postpone or cancel our date, we would just roll with whatever restrictions were in place. And that we did and we danced the night away." - B ADVICE: "The best advice I got that never left my mind 'remember to not be stressed out on your wedding day.' You don't want to look back and think about how stressed you were, you want to look back and remember how full of love and happiness we both were." - B • 6 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 7

8 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

Amanda & Alexandra Bell Warm, Dark and Romantic

WEDDING DATE: October 30th, 2021 LOCATION: The Old Court House (www.theoldcourthouse.ca) London, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Michelle A Photography (www.michelleaphoto.com) London, ON "We found Michelle A Photography on Instagram and immediately fell in love with her bio and the natural beauty of her photo gallery. We loved the way our dresses looked together and Michelle was able to capture several pops of colour with the natural elements that surrounded us. We had lots of compliments from our friends and family about how easy Michelle made the photo session. By the end of our wedding night, Michelle didn't feel like just our photographer, she also felt like our friend." - A&A GUEST #: 117 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: "Our colour palette was different shades of rose gold, gold, bronze and silver for our Maids of Honor, Bridesmaids and Bridesmen. We had accents of peach, merlot and sage in our floral arrangements, bouquets and boutonnieres. The overall theme for the wedding was warm, dark and romantic with a touch of elegance. We added white pumpkins and lots of dark greenery to bring in the touches of a fall evening." - A&A ALEXANDRA'S ATTIRE (WHITE): Sophie’s Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) London, ON AMANDA'S ATTIRE (BLACK): Elizabeth Noel (www.elizabethnoel.com) London, ON ALEXANDRA'S HAIR: Soul Shears (www.soulshears.com) London, ON ALEXANDRA'S MAKEUP: LDN Makeup Artistry (www.ldnmua.com) London, ON AMANDA'S HAIR: Studio Couture London (www.studiocouturelondon.ca) London, ON AMANDA'S MAKEUP: Samantha Blatnicky Makeup + Lash Artist (www.samanthablatnicky.com) London, ON DÉCOR/FLORAL: Simply White Weddings (www.simplywhiteweddings.ca) London, ON CATERING: Culinary Catering Service (www.culinarycatering.ca) London, ON OFFICIANT: Team Dias Ceremonies (@TinaNMikeyDias) London, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "We met in college in 2010 and quickly became the best of friends. We thought about each other in almost every spare moment. When we were apart, we felt like we should be together. We became closer and closer with each other's friend groups, and families. It wasn't until the Fall of 2013, we had surpassed what we thought was friendship, and realized we were in love. We expressed our feelings to each other, and decided to start a relationship. We moved in together a year later and bought our first house in 2018, adopted some cats, and a dog. We also went through some hard times together, a few life changing events but it only made us stronger.

We always knew we wanted to be together forever, but we were never sure about what marriage or a wedding would entail. It wasn't until the Fall of 2019 that we got engaged - Amanda proposed to me with her grandmother's ring.

I proposed back to her in the Winter of 2020, with a ring I designed all on my own that I knew she would love. We picked our wedding date - the date of our unofficial anniversary, October 30th. We went back and forth about wedding ideas, and we knew that we absolutely could not get married without

all of our loved ones. We, including our families and friends, love food, drink and dancing - so we knew a big celebration was what we wanted and we would not have done it any other way.

Our best ladies and guys stood with us, one of our bridesman's daughters doubled as our flower girl and ring bearer, our moms were escorted down the aisle by our amazing officiant, and our dads walked each of us down the aisle. The weather held out for us, and the day could not have turned out any more perfect." - A&A • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 9

Morgan & Ryan Brander Elegant Sparkle

our style. Jessica’s photography was romantic and classic so when we saw her website and read all the positive reviews, we were really excited to talk with her. When we met Jessica, her calm demeanor made us feel comfortable. We did our engagement photos with her and loved them. She was flexible and kind throughout the process of rescheduling our wedding multiple times."

-M&R BRIDE ATTIRE: Taylor’s Bridal Boutique (www.taylorsbridal.com) Elmira, ON GROOM ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Makeup Worx (www.makeupworx.ca) Hamilton, ON DÉCOR: Devine Wedding Design (♥) (www.devineweddingdesign.ca) Mitchell, ON FLORAL: Buds and Blooms (www.budsandbloomskw.com) Kitchener, ON DJ: Nitro Music (www.nitromusic.ca) Cambridge, ON CAKE: My Little Bakery (@MyLittleBakeryTavistock) Tavistock, ON VIDEOGRAPHER: Glassworks Creative (www.glassworkscreative.com) Waterford, ON OFFICIANT: Dean Kennedy (www.deankennedyofficiant.com) Toronto, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "We met at a Brad Paisley concert in Toronto seven years ago. We ended up exchanging numbers at the end of the night and have been together ever since. We spent that summer getting to know each other and started officially dating that fall. Our mutual love of music turned into years of going to concerts together.

We got engaged 3.5 years later and it was a complete surprise. Ryan took me on a surprise birthday getaway for the weekend. Our first stop was the helicopter experience over Niagara Falls. I was getting my picture taken in front of the helicopter before boarding and when I turned around, he was down on one knee. I don’t think either of us remember the helicopter ride or the view because we couldn’t stop smiling at each other. It truly was the most amazing day.

We spent the next almost 2 years planning our wedding and enjoying being engaged. I love planning so we had a lot of fun researching vendors, selecting a venue and designing all the small details. Little did I know we were about to plan this wedding 3 times.

A few weeks after sending out our wedding invitations, COVID-19 came along, completely not invited, and decided it had different plans for us. We made the difficult decision to cancel our June 13th wedding and the SCC (Stratford Country Club) kindly let us choose a new date in 2021. We were so heartbroken. We thought rescheduling to June the following year would be the safest and best decision. Fast forward to May 2021 and sadly there were still so many unknowns and so much uncertainty. We realized we were going to have to go through the entire rescheduling process again.

We felt like we had so much of the wedding experience taken away from us that we really didn’t want to have to go through it all again. We wanted to celebrate with our family and friends but we were also ready to be husband and wife.

WEDDING DATE: August 27th, 2021 We decided we would get legally married on June 4 and speak to the SCC once LOCATION: Stratford Country Club (www.stratfordcountryclub.ca), Stratford, ON again about postponing in hopes that we could still have the “real” wedding GUEST #: 40 experience that we had planned and dreamed of for years now. Everyone was so COLOUR PALETTE: "Our vision was to have an elegant style with a bit of sparkle while supportive of us getting legally married and understood why we still wanted to remaining timeless. Our colour palette was white and gold with hints of light pink." - M have our wedding at the SCC as we originally planned. The SCC, being flexible PHOTOGRAPHY: Jessica Lauren Photography (www.jessicalaurenstudios.com) Kitchener, ON and amazing again, worked with us to figure out a date to have our wedding "We spent what seemed like days going through photographer profiles/websites online. It celebration later in the summer and we chose our third and final date – August was important to us to find someone that was local to the area and who would complement 27. - M • 10 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11BEGIN! • 11

12 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Barbara & Michael Campos Simple Yet Elegant

WEDDING DATE: August 28th, 2021 CEREMONY LOCATION: St. Marks Catholic Church (www.stmarkcatholicparish.org), Kitchener, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: Concordia Club (♥) (www.concordiaclub.com), Kitchener, ON "We chose the Concordia Club because of the rustic attributes of the inside of the building. It is wood with cast iron chandeliers, and the height of the ceilings drew us in. The rustic vibe gave us a sense of warmth and being home." - B PHOTOGRAPHY: Peter B Photography (www.peterbphotography.com) Kitchener, ON "We found Peter through Instagram. A friend of ours used Peter for her wedding. What stood out to us was Peter's 'dreamy photos'.

We also loved his editing abilities, creating bright and natural photos.

They were great to work with and had great knowledge of different photo locations in the region." - B GUEST #: 85 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: "Our overall colour scheme was navy and champagne gold. The theme was simple but elegant." - B BRIDE + BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Sophie’s Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) Kitchener, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Stars & Strauss (www.shop.stars-strauss.com) Kitchener, ON DJ: Complete Weddings and Events (www.completewedo.com) Kitchener, ON CAKE: Nidha's Treat (www.nidhastreat.ca) Cambridge, ON MIDNIGHT BUFFET & ESPRESSO BAR: Bella Vista Catering & Events (www.bellavistacateringandevents.ca) Kitchener, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "Michael and I define destiny. We were meant to be from the very beginning. It only took the universe a few fun ways of bringing us together for us to figure it out. Whenever we tell our story it still amazes us how many times our paths crossed, only to end up together and married now. The reason it amazes us is because our lives, even before we existed, were intertwined. Our story transcends oceans where our moms both grew up in the same tiny village in Northern Portugal. They both immigrated to the same city; out of all the places they could have picked in Canada they chose Kitchener. Michael is three years older than I am, so we weren’t so much in the same circle of friends, but we were always around each other. Whether that be functions at our local Portuguese club, being in the same Portuguese credit course together for two years or just finding their family randomly at Victoria Park and spending the afternoon with them. At one point we were even neighbours for a couple years. I was the girl next door and he was the boy next door. Still, we didn’t figure it out. All it took was for the universe to make one last move. It was Cuba 2015. We both ended up there in the same city, at the same hotel, at the same time. It was that week where Michael went from the boy who was always around, to Michael the boy who I needed to be with. After that trip he never left my mind. He left for China a few weeks after Cuba and when he got back, I used the excuse of meeting up on campus (we both went to the University of Waterloo) to catch up over a cup of coffee to get his number. We never went out for coffee… But a few months and scattered messages later he finally took me on a date. What makes our love story so incredible is we have never really spent too much time together in the same city or even country for that matter. Whether it be him living in different cities like Toronto and Hamilton, or us travelling to different countries without each other for months at a time.

We ALWAYS came back to each other. No amount of distance, time or time zone changes could keep either one of us away. It only made the time we had together that much more magical.

Our story has been filled with years of adventures, love, memories, happiness, and surprises.

On December 19th, 2019, in front of hundreds of people and the massive Christmas tree at the Toronto Christmas market during the most magical time of the year, he asked me to be his wife.

I thank my lucky stars that he is mine and will be mine for a lifetime. We went from friends to best friends, to husband and wife. Now you tell me if destiny doesn’t exist." - B & M • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 13

14 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

Rebecca & Scot t Keller

From Countless Changes To Dream I Do WEDDING DATE: July 31st, 2021 LOCATION: Rebel Creek Golf Club (♥) (www.golfnorth.ca/rebelcreek), Petersburg, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: LightOut Photography (www.lightout.ca) Hamilton, ON "We prioritized 3 things for our wedding – great food, great music, and great pictures. We spent countless hours looking up reviews on Google and Reddit for local photographers and finally found ‘our guy’ Joel from Vangaaard Photography. In the fall he took us for an engagement shoot and the photos turned out wonderful. Fast forward a few months and we have to postpone our original wedding date (thanks COVID), and Joel was already booked for our new day. Lending a helpful hand, Joel connected us with another photographer he knew, Simao Tome to take over the contract.

After an initial video chat, we knew this was a match made in heaven and a perfect fit. On the wedding day he captured every moment while dual wielding cameras strapped to his shoulders like a character from James Bond. Simao always made us feel comfortable and was the right balance of charming and assertive with everyone he snapped pictures of. He captured some amazing candid moments and the pictures turned out stunning!" - R GUEST #: 50 COLOUR PALETTE: Mauve and Cream BRIDE ATTIRE: Sophie's Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) Kitchener, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) Kitchener, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Azazie (www.azazie.ca) FLORAL: HiWay Flowers (www.hiwayflowers.ca) Kitchener, ON DJ: CM Entertainment (www.cmentertainment.net) Waterloo, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: KW Mobile Hair and Makeup (www.kwmobilemakeupandhair.ca) Kitchener, ON SHORT JOHNS & BUTTER TARTS: Sittler's Home Baking TELL US YOUR STORY: "Scott and I met uptown Waterloo at a bar in 2014, back when you could actually meet people face to face. Our love story went like this: countless games of mini golf (I won most, of course), vacations to Mexico and Montreal, bought a house, got engaged, started to plan a wedding, COVID, got a puppy named Youppi, postponed wedding because of new restrictions, whatever – we’re having our dream wedding no matter what!

We had to cut our original guest list down from 130 to 50 people (sorry again cousins, great uncles/aunts, we still love you). Regardless of all the curveballs thrown at us thanks to changing restrictions, we knew one thing was for sure: nothing was going to stop us from getting married and having the best day of our lives." - R BEST MEMORY: "Seeing her for the first time when she walked down the aisle. We had an outdoor ceremony and there was a bit of a hill that she had to walk down between some trees before getting to the aisle.

I was given strict instructions to NOT look until she hit the aisle. Boy, was that ever tough! Once she made it down, which seemed like an eternity to me, our officiant gave me the nod and I looked up to see her in her wedding dress for the first time. WOW. She literally took my breath away, she looked so beautiful. I remember keeping it together (though she says she saw a tear), and I couldn't wait any longer to say "I do". - S

ADVICE: "The day goes by REALLY fast, so be sure to take some alone time to enjoy it with your new spouse. We made sure to have a last dance at the end of the night with just us on the dancefloor. This was an intimate moment and a great way to end off our wedding." - R • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 15

Hannah & Allan T imbers Red Fall Harvest

WEDDING DATE: October 23rd, 2021 LOCATION: Best Western PLUS Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre (♥) (www.stoneridgeinn.com) & The Rose Chapel (www.rosechapel.ca), London, ON "We weren't originally planning to have our reception at a hotel, but Natalie had impressed us when she showed us around.Natalie took all the time in the world with us, had booklets with all the information one may need ready at her fingertips. She answered all of our questions with photos, and real wedding examples. We said we would be in touch and went to look at another two venues in London. After those tours, we knew Stoneridge was right for us. We called Natalie from the car and booked our day. Through all the meetings, phone calls and emails Natalie never failed to make our wishes happen. She's willing to accommodate, and she understands the importance of this day for you. She will never treat you like a number or just another wedding." - H PHOTOGRAPHY: TMC Weddings (www.tmcweddings.com) London, ON "We found them on Instagram. Their skill in capturing so many variations in types of couples they worked with and the all-inclusive pricing was amazing. I knew I loved them with the pre-calls, calling twice to make sure we are all on the same page prior to the big day - H GUEST #: 70 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: "Navy and Red. The theme was Red Fall Harvest Truck, with 25 red trucks placed throughout the reception." - H BRIDE ATTIRE: Sophie’s Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) London, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Collins Clothiers (♥) (www.collinsclothiers.com) London, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) London, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: The Beauty Brigade FLORAL: Judy Nicholls Flower Studio (www.judynichollsfloralstudio.ca) Hanover, ON DJ: DJ Heather Hill (@djheatherhill) Owen

16 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Sound, ON CAKE: Denyse’s Specialties (www.denysesspecialties.com) London, ON MAPLE SYRUP FAVOURS: Sauble River Farms (@saubleriverfarmsmaplesyrup) Allenford, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "I was living in Toronto, absolutely hating it and he was living in Flesherton, and he suggested I come up there. So, I decided to move to Owen Sound about 40 mins away to continue my studies to be a nurse. During that time, we stayed friends and hungout weekly. We still just claimed to be friends, but everyone was asking. We then went swimming. As we got out of the water this sweet lady kept raving about how cute we were together, and how she hasn’t seen a couple just laugh and talk for hours like we had and that she truly enjoyed watching us. That's when I turned around and was like thank you but we’re just friends. I turned to smile at Allan, only to see he was heartbroken (I'm permanently scarred by this look on his face, knowing I had just broken his heart) but we had always just referred to ourselves as friends.

The next weekend we were at a big BBQ, and he referred to me as just his friend and I was like “okay, so we are just friends, yet you acted like I hurt you just last week.” I was so confused. That night we were having a bonfire just the 2 of us and he kissed me, just kissed me, and didn't say anything. Later that night he kissed me again asked me 'do you want to be my girlfriend?' I said yes and he smiled and said that was easy. I just remember laughing saying “where is the Staples Easy Button?” The rest was history. 3 months later we had promise rings and a year later we were engaged." - H BEST MEMORY: "Standing at the end of the aisle before walking down and just realizing that I was about to marry my best friend. I was so emotional, and I didn’t think I would be. " - H ADVICE: "Make a list of what's do or die, you'd be surprised that there's a lot you actually don't need that you thought you did". - H •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

Ian & Jose Boak Sunflower Love WEDDING DATE: July 31st, 2021 LOCATION:Ian's Family Farm in Dungannon, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Fedora Media (www.fedoramedia.com) Cambridge, ON "I joined a few wedding websites, and it took no time at all to come across Fedora Media. I loved the way they captured weddings. From the get-go they were very helpful, quick to respond, and rolled with all the punches. We went from having a big wedding, to a small wedding, to a big wedding. They were there every step of the way" - I GUEST #: 85 COLOUR PALETTE: "We had postponed the wedding until 2022. So, at my parents farm we were doing a dry run on planting the sunflowers, just to see what looked good and how to make 2022 perfect. When the province lifted restrictions up, we changed our minds and planned the wedding in 19 days. The dry run became the main event. The sunflowers are what we based everything off of. We wanted them to be the main focal point. We wanted a very rustic feel with beautiful pastels, so the flowers popped. The farm has such a beauty to it so we kept decorations to a minimum and used as many sunflowers as we could." - I CATERING: Smo King BBQ (@smo.king.bbq) Windsor, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "It all started 10 years prior to the wedding. We had a mutual friend that was positive that we would hit it off. Joe took her advice and poked me on Facebook and that

is where our love story began. We chatted online for a few weeks and finally decided to meet in Toronto at the Eaton Center. It just happened to be Pride weekend as well. We went for lunch and drinks and ended up walking the streets and enjoying the festivities. He was living in Kingsville, and I was home at the farm (Dungannon) for the summer. We made the long-distance thing work for the rest of the summer. When school resumed in September, we both moved to Kitchener and in with each other right away. I would not recommend that to anyone, but it worked for us. That is when I knew we had something special. The next 9 years were filled with concerts, festivals, travelling, moving to Toronto, moving to London, and falling more and more in love.

Joe finally popped the question in the summer of 2020. With everything that was going on with the world he made a way to make 2020 one of the most memorable. From the day he asked me to marry him he had it all planned that we would get married on our 10 year anniversary. With everything happening with COVID we decided to postpone the "big wedding". We decided to have a small intimate wedding with just our families and a few friends. 19 days before the wedding the province lifted restrictions and my sister-in-law to be had the great idea of planning the big wedding in 19 days. The mad dash was on, as you can see from the pictures it does not look a 19 day wedding. Everything was perfect It was a lot of work, but I am so glad we got to have our special day on the day that started it all." - I •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 17

Heather & Ryan Salvatore When Sparks Fly

WEDDING DATE: October 4th, 2019 LOCATION: Roseville Estate (www.rosevilleestate.com), Cambridge, ON PHOTOGRAPHY:LoveSprouts Photography (www.lovesproutsphotography.com) Granton, ON "We found them at The Wedding Ring Expo! I really liked working with Adam on our engagement photo day and felt like we connected well and he understood our vision. On our big day Christian and Adam made us feel comfortable and did such an incredible job capturing all of the little moments throughout. We feel like they captured the essence of our day and we treasure our photos so much. We have them printed in photo books and large prints both throughout our house and that we have given as gifts.

Adam and Christian are true professionals and make a great team."- H GUEST #: 120 COLOUR PALETTE: Burgundy & Navy BRIDE + BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Sophie’s Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) Kitchener, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Collins Clothiers (♥) (www.collinsclothiers.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Hair.Makeup by Amanda Zack (www.hairmakeupbyaz.com) Kitchener, ON DÉCOR/FLORAL: Special Events & Flowers (www.specialeventsandflowers.com) Cambridge, ON STATIONERY: Liz Kotsamanes Designs (www.lizkotsamanesdesigns.ca) Cambridge, ON CAKE: The Flour Co. Bakeshop (www.theflourcompany.com) Kitchener, ON RINGS: Kurtis Jewellers (www.kurtisjewellers.com) Waterloo, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "My husband and I were set up by friends and initially met at a Halloween party he hosted back in 2014. It was obvious to us that Daisy Duke and Wayne from Wayne's World were meant to be because sparks flew on our first date, where we laughed for hours at the Heuther Hotel.

We have cherished making memories together ever since; whether we're watching Netflix at home or biking through the streets of Amsterdam. We got engaged in 2019 after sharing a bottle of red wine on the beach at sunset at Silversands in Grenada. We were so fortunate to have the wedding of our dreams at Roseville Estate surrounded by family and friends, and to go back to beautiful white sand beaches for our honeymoon in the Hawaiian Islands. Fast forward a few years and our son will turn one in early 2022!” – H BEST MEMORY: "I really have a hard time choosing just one memory. The best part of our day was feeling surrounded by so much love from not only one another but our family and friends! I loved exchanging our vows at the ceremony which we did outside at the pergola. We chose to write personalized vows to one another and that made it so meaningful for both of us! I also loved listening to the speeches our wedding party and parents made." - H ADVICE: "Try not to sweat the small stuff! It was important to us to have two photographers to document every moment of our special day. Our photos are such a special memento to reminisce and I have no regrets about having our photographers there for the entire day; from the "getting ready" stages through to dancing at our reception. When all is said and done you will have incredible memories and be so grateful for your partner, family, and friends for sharing it with you!." – H&R • 18 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 19 11

John & Cody Miller-Sweeney Meant to be

WEDDING DATE: October 16th, 2021

TELL US YOUR STORY: "The first time I set

CERMONY LOCATION: The Registry Theatre

eyes on Cody he was on a date with a friend of

(www.registrytheatre.com) Kitchener, ON

mine. My friend knew Cody was not right for

RECEPTION LOCATION: Victoria Park

him but knew I could be that guy. After texting

Pavilion (www.kitchener.ca) Kitchener, ON

for a few days we went on our first date, which

PHOTOGRAPHY: Simply Wedding

latest for 16 hours. My friend was right. We were

Photography (www.simplyweddingphotography.ca)

meant to be together. Within a week we were

Guelph, ON "We met Jacquie at The Wedding

boyfriends and not long after that we were in love.

Ring Expo at Bingemans. We liked her style, she

We got our first place together, we got our dog

had great shots and in our brief conversation we

Gus and we got engaged! Five years of ups and

liked her personality."- J GUEST #: 70 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: Black, White, and Silver GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Brown’s Menswear (www.brownsmenswear.com) Elmira, ON GROOMSMAID ATTIRE: David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) Kitchener, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Pure Hair Studio (www.purehairstudio.ca) Kitchener, ON & Flo Hair Lounge (www.flohairlounge.com) Kitchener, ON DÉCOR/FLORAL/DAY OF COORDINATION: Servers With a Smile (♥) (www.serverswithasmile.ca) Kitchener, ON

20 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

downs, while learning and discovering, our love grew stronger. We got married on our five year anniversary. Our puzzle is almost complete and we now embrace on the journey of building our family."" - J BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "Finding a cost effective caterer. Every place we requested a quote from were all very expensive, all outside of our budget. We did countless Google searches and received suggestions from family and friends. One of them recommended Conestoga Food Services. They delivered a tasting to our door during a lockdown and we enjoyed every mouthful. They were reasonably priced and got our business" - J

CORSAGES & BOUTONNIERES: Raymond's

BEST MEMORY: "So many memories but the

Flower Shop (www.raymondsflowershop.com)

one that stands out most is our first look. Seeing

Kitchener, ON

my husband-to-be for the first time that day

DJ: Nitro Music (www.nitromusic.ca)

took my breath away. That memory lives in my

Cambridge, ON

brain rent free." - J

CAKE: The Cake Box (www.cakebox.ca)

ADVICE: "Try to be flexible and roll with the

Kitchener, ON

punches. You have many ideas of things you

CATERING: Conestoga Food Services

want that will change many times. Be prepared

FOOD TRUCK: Schmuck Truck

for many opinions, everyone becomes an

(www.schmuckngourmet.ca) Kitchener, ON

expert wedding planner. Lol." - J •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

Julianna & Dylan Sousa

A Perfectly Beautiful Day

WEDDING DATE: September 3rd, 2021 LOCATION: Whistle Bear Golf Club (www.whistlebear.ca) Cambridge, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Sandra Monaco Photography (www.sandramonacophoto.com) Kitchener, ON "We are SO grateful for Sandra and cannot express our appreciation and love for her enough. Our friends and wedding party can't stop talking about how great Sandra was - she has that effect on the people around her. Sandra is the perfect match for couples looking for an easy-going, fun, and talented photographer (she's also well-organized, willing to take charge, and an absolute blessing to have with you on your wedding day)." - J GUEST #: 90 COLOUR PALETTE: "We wanted white, elegant, minimalist wedding décor so that we could highlight the natural beauty of our florals and the venue. Since we postponed from June 2020 to September 2021, we had extra time and budget to perfect our décor and vision! We wanted our florals to be central to our décor, with asymmetrical, flowing and natural greenery throughout the ceremony and reception." - J BRIDE ATTIRE: The Modern Bride (www.tmodernbride.com) Guelph, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: 4 Men United (www.4menunited.com) Woodbridge, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) Cambridge, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: AlyCat Hair and Makeup (www.alycat.ca) London, ON DJ: 586 Event Group (www.586eventgroup.com) Kitchener, ON CAKE: Wellington Cakes (www.wellingtoncakes.ca) Guelph, ON FLORAL: Peony House Floral Studio (www.peonyhousefloral.com) Cambridge, ON LIMO: Brentwood Livery (♥) (www.brentwoodlivery.ca) Kitchener, ON OFFICIANT: Ian Campbell (www.iancampbellofficiant.ca) Guelph, ON

VIDEOGRAPHER: Chelsea Scherer (www.chelseascherervideo.com) Waterloo, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "We met by chance through a work connection one day when my manager had to leave because his wife went into labour. I was his replacement and that was the day we met. We started dating only a couple of weeks after that and have been together for more than six years. I am a civil engineer and Dylan is a marketer, and together we also run a business called Julianna Candle Co. making luxury, natural soy wax candles. It's been a fun journey together in life and learning how to run our own business, which started as a hobby and has turned into something much larger and more impactful.

Our wedding story is like many others who planned to get married in 2020 and 2021 - the less-than-fun decision of going forward with a small, intimate wedding, postponing in hopes of a better day ahead, or outright cancelling until sometime in the future.

We were very fortunate with the timing of our wedding (June 2020) and the initial social gathering restrictions that came in mid-March 2020. We were just getting into final detail planning and starting to receive RSVP's for the wedding when we started the conversation with Whistle Bear about changing our date. We knew that going forward with a small, intimate wedding wasn't what either of us had envisioned for our wedding day, so the decision to postpone was tough but rather straightforward.

Thankfully, we were able to coordinate with all of our amazing vendors to keep them for our new wedding date, which also happened to be on the same weekend that we met six years earlier. There was also a thunderstorm on our June 2020 wedding date and we had perfect, beautiful weather on our actual wedding date! Another unplanned benefit of postponing, we were able to increase our floral budget and hire a videographer since our guest count was being reduced from 220 to 100. While we wish we could have had everyone there to celebrate with us, we are very grateful and happy with how the additional florals turned out and absolutely LOVE our wedding video." - J •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 21

Megan & Russel Richardson 10 Years In The Making

WEDDING DATE: October 9th, 2021 LOCATION: Three Bridges Event Centre (www.bingemans.com/ threebridgesevents) St. Jacob's, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Spirits Intrigued Photography (♥) (www.sipimage.com) Kitchener, ON "We met Alex at The Wedding Ring Expo. Alex has captured all of our special moments.. From our engagement photos, to maternity and now our wedding day. It has been an absolute pleasure working with him and having him capture our most precious moments. We truly wouldn’t want anyone else." - M&R GUEST #: 55 COLOUR PALETTE: Plum purple and grey BRIDE ATTIRE: Ballett's Bridal (www.balletts.com) Kitchener, ON GROOM, GROOMSMEN + BRIDESMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) Kitchener, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) Cambridge, ON HAIR: Amanda Weldon Hairstyling (@amanda_weldon_hairstyling) Kitchener, ON MAKEUP: Beauty by Guccissima (@guccissima) Kitchener, ON DJ: Dwayne Loughlean DÉCOR/FLORAL: "Floral was done by a family friend Deb, and all décor I purchased from a buy & sell Facebook page or had made" - M CAKE: Made by bride's friend Laura TELL US YOUR STORY: "Our story officially began on October 9th, 2011, when Russel asked me to be his girlfriend. During our relationship we both went through our own highs and lows, while always being there for one another. We have been through me choosing my career as a Registered Respiratory Therapist and Russel changing his career from Chef to Welder, but throughout everything we always continued to support each other. We bought our first house after being together for 6 years and shortly after that we purchased our first car. Our biggest adult purchases so far!

Russel and I have always had an incredible relationship. We both see each other as not only partners but best friends. We can and always have been able to be 100% ourselves with one another. There is never a dull moment with us. One of us is either laughing or making the other laugh. On our 7 year anniversary Russel had planned for his brother to take anniversary photos at the Huron Natural Area, but little did I know it was actually a surprise engagement shoot.

On October 9, 2018, Russel asked me to be his wife.

We had originally planned to get married on October 9, 2020 (our 9 year anniversary) but with all things COVID we decided to postpone it for a year.

During the year that we postponed, we found out that we were pregnant and that we were having a baby girl! Our beautiful daughter Lillian Rose was born in August, just in time to be the flower girl at our wedding.

Russel and I are a couple that is not conventional, and our wedding party aligned with this. My brother Brendan was my Man of Honour, and my Bridesmaid/ Bridesman were friends Sara and Ian. Our lives together began on October 9, 2011, and the 3 of us officially became a family October 9, 2021. We were 10 years in the making! Aside from the day our daughter was born, October 9th 22 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

will always be the best day, our day." - M •

10 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 23

Rachel & Alex Bartolo Diamonds Are Forever

WEDDING DATE: August 27th, 2021 CEREMONY LOCATION: Langdon Hall (www.langdonhall.ca) Cambridge, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: Tapestry Hall (www.tapestryhall.ca) Cambridge, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Anne Edgar Photography + Film (♥) (www.anneedgarphoto.com) Cambridge, ON "Alex's cousin had Anne as the photographer for her wedding, and I thought that their photos were very classy. So I asked who her photographer was, and then contacted Anne right away!" - R GUEST #: 50 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: "The ceremony theme was garden party. This was achieved with bright, colourful, loose floral arrangements and bouquets, as well as the white lawn chairs, white rose petals, and my wedding dress with a floral/ vine lace.

The reception theme was more of a classy dinner party, achieved mainly because of the beautiful venue, with the black and gold décor and some greenery elements to freshen the space up. We also played crooner music before dinner, with instrumentals throughout dinner, and played a black and white James Bond film after dinner to really bring the class to the evening." - R BRIDE ATTIRE: Bridal Boutique (www.bridal-boutique.ca) Brantford, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Paul Punchers (www.paulpuncher.com) Waterloo, ON FLORAL: Kind Florals (www.kindflorals.com) Cambridge, ON CAKE: Nougat Bakery (www.nougat.ca) Kitchener, ON OFFICIANT: Maeck Weddings (www.maeckweddings.com) Kitchener, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "I met Alex 5 years ago at work... I was a young co-op student joining a consulting firm and he was there on a 1 year contract. My first impressions were that he was handsome, confident, hardworking, and liked to have fun. Every time I would get up from my desk to walk across the office, I would find my eyes drawn to his desk to check him out. I would catch myself doing it and tell myself I need to stop that!

I was seeing someone else at the time, so my heart was feeling quite confused. I can still remember hearing the click of his dress shoes coming down the halls, the copious amounts of coffee he drank, adjusting to the reality that I was attracted to a

24 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

bald man, and his ridiculously large lunches. We ate lunch together with a couple other ladies in the office every day that totally knew something was brewing between us before I even knew! I always say, those lunches were the start of our relationship. Though it really got kicked into high gear when Alex and I realized that his best friend was my basketball coach through my teenage years - and Alex had initially told his friend that he should check out the new girl in his office!

What a small world we live in. Needless to say his friend wasn't interested, and Alex started bringing me muffins and Timbits in the mornings and inviting me to hangout after work. And now we are married! I sure am grateful for that co-op work term." - R BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "No surprise really, the biggest challenge was anticipating having to reschedule our wedding date. Which we did have to do - but thankfully only once. I was very nervous our wedding wouldn't happen this past summer, and a summertime wedding was my preference. It was difficult having to keep track of all of the COVID-19 news releases and hoping that our wedding could still happen. In the end we got very lucky and only had to push the wedding back by 1 month and all of our original vendors were available on our new wedding date!

I made sure to be on top of booking venues and vendors and my dress right away. When we had to move things, I did that right away too, because I knew I would be competing with so many other couples doing the same thing. I feel very lucky that it all came together nicely in the end." - R BEST MEMORY: "Alex and I approached our wedding with a level of practicality. If there was a tradition that we didn't feel was necessary or was something we disliked, we chose not to do it. It's 2021 after all! So Alex and I had not planned to do a first dance because neither of us are dancers and would have found it quite uncomfortable to have everyone watching us dance awkwardly in the middle of the hall. But after dinner and the speeches, Alex's friends gathered on a balcony area in Tapestry Hall and the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" started playing. The guys started singing the song! So I quickly turned to Alex and said that we should get out there and dance. We did!

It was such a fun, spontaneous, memorable moment for us. Some times the things that aren't planned are the best." - R •

Deanna & Derek Holloway Unmistakable Love

WEDDING DATE: October 16th, 2021 LOCATION:Idlewyld Inn (www.idlewyldinn.com) London, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Thistle & Rose Photography (www.thistleandrose.ca) London, ON "I had followed Grow & Bloom Co. for a bit on social media and they posted a photo from a wedding that Lindsey had shot and I instantly fell in love with her style." - D GUEST #: 14 COLOUR PALETTE: Black and white with a pop of burgundy BRIDE + BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) London, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) London, ON FLORAL: Grow & Bloom Co. (www.growandbloomco.com) London, ON CAKE: Chick Boss Cake (www.chickbosscake.com) London, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Darling Makeup & Hair (@elissadarlingmakeup) London, ON DAY OF COORDINATOR: Unmistakably You (♥) (www.unmistakablyyou.com) London ON

OFFICIANT:HD Officiants (www.hdofficiants.com) London, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "Derek and I met at work after he moved my computer to my new desk in 2013. We started exchanging emails right away and soon after we exchanged phone numbers and went on our first date. In 2018 Derek and I went to dinner at The Keg on our anniversary and before our entrées came out he asked if we wanted to enjoy our meal as fiancés.

Like many other couples who had been trying to plan their wedding during a pandemic, we decided early on to push our wedding date back by a year. We were able to keep all of our vendors and felt really fortunate to have such amazing people for our wedding. Since we had postponed our wedding, we were able to participate in a contest that Unmistakably You was having to win a day of wedding coordinator and as luck would have it, we won! We had a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Idlewyld Inn in London. We are so very thankful for all of the help we received from Jacqueline at Unmistakably You and all of our other vendors!" - D&D •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 25 23

Renee & David Cowan 'Til Death Do Us Part

WEDDING DATE: October 9th, 2021 CERMONY LOCATION: Hay Creek Conservation Area, Port Ryerse, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: Private Residence, Simcoe, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Rebecca Sprau Photography (www.rebeccasprauphotography.com) Delhi, ON "We've worked with Rebecca in the past for a couple's boudoir shoot, that we absolutely loved.

She was amazing at capturing us and our love.

So it was only fitting she do our engagement and wedding." R GUEST #: 70 COLOUR PALETTE: Nudes, Ivory, Browns, and Navy Blue." - R BRIDE ATTIRE: Bridal Boutique (www.bridal-boutique.ca) Brantford, ON GROOM ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) Brantford, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Fembridal (@fembridal) Waterford, ON DÉCOR RENTALS: First Stop Wedding Decor Rentals (♥) (@firststopweddingdecor) Brantford, ON OFFICIANT: Wedding Ceremonies by All Seasons (www.allseasonsweddings.com) Brantford, ON CATERING: Giles Catering (www.cateringbrantford.com) Brantford, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "I see us as the modern-day love story! We are both from small towns close to each other and hung out with some of the same people but never crossed paths. Fast forward through all the bad relationships on both sides, we ended up finding each other on social media. I can't even say it was our old souls, values, and the way we viewed what a relationship should be like that drew us together. That would be a lie.

The sexual attraction is what caught our eyes. He liked my curves, big booty and risqué pics. His muscles and tattoos are what drove me crazy at first sight. Then after talking, I realized that he was like no other man I'd ever talked to. He was so genuine and sincere, always asking about my day, my kids and just a nice conversation. To sum it up nicely he wasn't a pig that a lot of girls have been victim to on social media platforms. That's what really made him stand out from the rest.

But I must have made an impression on him as

26 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

well. He wouldn't give up on wanting to get to know me more and take me out for dinner. He said he didn't know what it was about me but for a woman he's never met in person, he just couldn't get me out of his head. He had to know more about me, and his persistence paid off. We met up for a few drinks and talked all night like we've known each other for years. Then we had a kiss that was like magic. You know in movies when they kiss and there are fireworks? That's what it was like: full blown fireworks! We stayed up that whole night talking and watched the sun come up. We couldn't believe how 10 hours could have passed so fast.

Then we had an actual date! It was amazing. We both had the craziest feeling, like we’d known each other forever and just go together like peanut butter and jelly. By our second date, when he was cooking dinner for me and we were just enjoying the easy conversation and delicious food, I knew I wasn’t going to let him get away. Ever since that day we have been inseparable. We’ve grown so much in ourselves as individuals, together as a couple, and as a family. We’ve accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. Its honestly like breathing fresh air to be with another adult the wants the same things as you do, same goals and just wants everything good that life has to offer you. To be with someone who loves you so much it’s never questioned because they don’t only tell you, they show you every day just how much you mean to them.

I honestly never thought a love like this existed.

David has redefined everything I ever thought love was. This is our real-life fairy tale, and we are living for it. So much so, he put a ring on it two weeks after our one-year anniversary and we got married not even a year after that. TIL DEATH DO US PART." - R BEST MEMORY: "The way he looked at me walking down the isle to him, the pure happiness in his eyes (he cried). His was seeing me for the first time in my dress walking towards him (he was emotional). The moment we got to see each other for the first time and when we got the first moment alone to soak it all in, we knew we were each other's forever." - R •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

ShrutiMallya & Hersh Khokha Bright & Festive WEDDING DATE: August 22nd, 2021 LOCATION: Chinmaya Mission (www.chinmayalondon.org) London, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: HRM Photography (♥) (www.hrmphotography.com) London, ON "We found HRM online. Heather was our main photographer, with Niki assisting. Heather was very accommodating, always promptly answering our questions and helping us throughout the whole process for both the engagement shoot and wedding day. Despite COVID causing havoc on her schedule, she was still always on-top of communication and dates with us. She did a great job being very direct with instructions and efficient during all of the photo sessions, all while being funny and keeping constant tabs on how we were doing. Trust us, you NEED a photographer with those skills to get through it all. The photos we have seen so far have turned out beautifully, our favourite part being how vibrantly the florals and outfits were captured." - H GUEST #: 90 COLOUR PALETTE/THEME: Yellow, Pink, Orange, White & Green. "Our theme was bright and festive florals and Indian décor, with natural open field as a backdrop.

We made sure there were many colourful flowers, 'sunny' décor, and mini-pepper arrangements present at the focal points of the wedding venue. We also used actual Sarees to decorate the main wedding tent.

Our wedding outfits were custom-made to match the theme and complement each other using subtle accents borrowed from the other's outfit." - H BRIDE ATTIRE: Handmade in India GROOM ATTIRE: Silhouettes by Amit Arora

(www.silhouettesbyamitarora.com) Brampton, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Ty Wilson Artistry (www.tywilsonartistry.com) London, ON FLORAL: Sugar Bloom Floral (www.sugarbloom.ca) Woodstock, ON CATERING: Bubba's Diner (www.bubbasdiner.ca) London, ON, Punjabi Rasoi (www.punjabirasoilondon.com) London, ON, Karby's Caterers London, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "We met online almost 3 years ago. The first year of dating was idyllic; we spent a lot of time discovering different parts of the GTA, trying new foods and enjoying all of the sites and sounds (outside and in movie theaters!). Then March 2020 hit. A few months into the pandemic, I decided to move back home to Ottawa so I could help out my parents, while Hersh stayed in the GTA. We took every opportunity to stay connected and feel together - chatted in the evenings, streamed a lot of reality TV shows, and cherished the times I could visit.

In January 2021, we decided to upgrade from long distance dating to long distance wedding planning! We both have family in London and needed an outdoor wedding venue so we could maximize the guest list within COVID restrictions. My sister lived near the Chinmaya Mission grounds and thought the backyard could make a lovely wedding venue.

She was right! In the presence of close friends and family during August 2021, we were the first couple to get married there. There were many ups and downs during the planning process, but it brought us together as a couple and gave us the opportunity to make even more lasting memories together." - S •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 27

Design Palettes The following 15 pages of design palettes and style shoots are the result of collaborations between wedding industry experts and local brides and grooms. Curated by The Ring.

STYLE, PLANNING & COORDINATION: New Berlin Weddings & Events (www.newberlinweddings.ca) FLORALS: HiWay Flowers (www.hiwayflowers.ca) PHOTOGRAPHY: Melissa Photography & Design (www.melissaphotographydesign.com) pg 44-45 WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 29

Style Shoot

Spring into wedding planning

PHOTO, this page and next: woodgatephotography.com 30 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

LOCATION: Oakwood Resort (www.oakwoodresort.ca) Grand Bend, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Woodgate Photography (www.woodgatephotography.com) London, ON FLORAL: Time 4 Flowers (www.time4flowers.ca) London, ON DÉCOR: Devine Wedding Design (♥) (www.devineweddingdesign.ca) Mitchell, ON GOWN: Once Upon a Time Weddings (www.onceuponatimeweddings.ca) Strathroy, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Blush (www.blushhmua.com) London, ON COORDINATION: Events with Kait (@eventswithkait) London, ON INSPIRATION: "When we decided to create a style shoot, we wanted something that embodies the current attitude of our wedding planning couples. After two years of cancellations and postponements, we love seeing so many couples embracing wedding planning with enthusiasm again. This return to optimistic wedding planning brings with it a flexible “anything goes” attitude.

There are no rules anymore. If you want spring flowers and classic gold cutlery and candlesticks, you can have them. If you want the richness of hunter green with the lightness of pale blue, it’s yours. If you want rustic elegance and modern chic combined, you can have that too!” - Erin

from Woodgate Photography “The versatile Oakwood Resort offers a backdrop that allows couples to imagine their 'destination wedding close to home' in whatever style or theme they’re dreaming of.” - Oakwood Resort.

Jumping on the anything goes theme, Rosemary from Time 4 Flowers incorporated soft romantic spring florals with lots of texture to compliment the pale blue linens, and rich green accents.

Wendy from Devine Wedding Design added gold candlesticks and cutlery to tie in the beautiful chandeliers. The woven placements and wood name tags unite the wood beam ceiling and stone fireplace.

For the bride, Erica from Blush went with a classic, natural look to complement the timeless elegance of the lace gown from Once Upon a Time. “Soft cascading curls with a rosy, red lip and luscious eyelashes really set off this look.”

“No matter what your style or theme or overall look is, remember, the ultimate goal of your wedding is to marry your person, your partner, your one. And that will always be beautiful.” - Events With Kait Special Thanks to Georgia and her fiancé Garrett (and their daughter, Rowen) who are springing into their own wedding plans in 2022. • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 31

Before & After

PHOTO: kaylensphotography.com

Now & Always Decor (♥) (www.nowandalways.ca) Paris, ON has always been a master at converting interesting spaces and places into wedding wonderlands.

Not all couples dream of a banquet hall or golf course wedding. Some couples seek to take unique spaces and make them into their personal wedding dream venue.

Now and Always, with florals from La Petite Fleur (www. petitefleur.ca) Cambridge, ON shows us how to turn one of the Brantford Airport airplane hangers into an elegant wedding space.

PHOTO: kaylensphotography.com

32 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

PHOTO: kaylensphotography.com

Design Palette

Something Blue BRIDE & GROOM: Akin & Uyi Akinkugbe WEDDING DATE: August 21st, 2021 CEREMONY LOCATION: St. John the Baptist Church (www.stjohnthebaptist.ca) Burlington, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: The Pearle Hotel & Spa (www.thepearlehotel.ca) Burlington, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Anne Edgar Photography + Film (♥) (www.anneedgarphoto.com) Cambridge, ON "We were referred to Anne when we booked our venue." - A GUEST #: 75 COLOUR PALETTE: Blue & White BRIDE: Dress: Maggie Sottero from Superior Bridal (www.superiorbridal.com) Markham, ON Jewelry: Swarovski | Shoes: Jimmy Choos GROOM ATTIRE: Tuxedo: Atelier Munroe from Harry Rosen (www.harryrosen.com) Toronto, ON | Shoes: Prada

BRIDESMADE ATTIRE: Superior Bridal (www.superiorbridal.com) Markham, ON GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Indochino (www.indochino.com) Toronto, ON CAKE: The Dessert Room (www.thedessertroom.ca) Ancaster, ON DJ: DJ Blakito (@DJBlakito) Toronto, ON HAIR: Ladies Love Units (www.llunits.com) Toronto, ON & Art hur Hair (@ _arthurhair_) Toronto, ON MAKEUP: Trop Belle Makeup Artistry (www.tropbellemakeup.com) Toronto, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "Uyi & I first met in 2012 at McMaster University. I met her again in 2013 when a friend of mine was invited for her birthday party. We became really good friends soon after, and then started dating about a year later. We have been best friends ever since, and the rest is history." - A •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 33

Favourite 2022 Bridalane Gowns

The team at Sew Stylish Wedding Works has put together this gallery of dresses so hot, they're not even in stock yet!

Featuring designs by Bridalane. "We are finding that the mood and vibes that brides are going for tend to be very soft and sexy. From a wooded forest to a lavish garden, from a glittering ballroom to a rustic barn, this collection of wedding gowns offers the ideal gown for the wedding of your dreams - whether it's a destination, informal, or traditional style. " These spring 2022 designs are expected in-store in early 2022 and can be ordered in time to wear by summer.

ABOUT SEW STYLISH WEDDING WORKS: Sew Stylish Wedding Works (♥) (www.sewstylishweddingworks.com) in Ingersoll, ON carries an array of beautiful stylish designer collections for brides of every size and budget. Helping every bride to feel comfortable and have an amazing experience searching for that special dress!

34 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 61

Design Palette

Shed To Chic Devine Wedding Design (♥) (www.devineweddingdesign.ca) Mitchell, ON tells us how they transformed this family farm drive shed to a chic wedding venue.

"Jordanna and Scott were married on July 31st, 2021 on their family farm and it was a design we won’t soon forget! Coming to us with a specific vision in mind, our team was shown photos for inspiration and were asked if we could execute it… The answer was ‘of course we could’ and we were busting at the seams to see it come together for this lovely couple.

We created a stunning whimsical backdrop in champagne and cream emphasizing the head table and installed wall draping over the entire space to soften the rustic wood of the drive shed. To welcome guests into the romantic evening, we designed custom fabric draping on the large shed doors making it the ideal photo-worthy landscape.

Keeping their vision top of mind, we selected tables, chairs, linens and dinnerware accordingly from our vast line of rental items and the room was flawless. With some black draping to close off the space, and ceiling lighting to emulate a fantastic starry night atmosphere, this event was one for the books! It truly couldn’t have been more magical.

There is something about COVID weddings that have brought out the best in creativity and design! Changing a not-so-wedding-worthy space into a stunning décor scape leaves a beautiful reminder that home is the best place to be with family and friends when celebrating any special occasion. Sheds were popular before, but now… homegrown weddings are taking the industry by storm and the blank canvas allows everyone to dive deep into their imagination." - Devine Wedding Design

36 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

PHOTO, this page: kristenelizabethphotography.ca

Our Favourite Veils

Incorporating a veil into your bridal outfit can complete your look. From a long dramatic cathedral veil to a light and wispy finger tip veil, Accessories by Now and Always has a veil for every bride and every look. Available in 7 lengths in 5 shades of beautiful, here are a few of our favourite veils!

ABOUT NOW & ALWAYS: At Now and Always Paris (♥) (www.etsy.com/ca/ shop/nowandalwaysparis) Paris, ON "Your wedding details are our passion.

Offering veils, hairpieces, hair pins, crystal hair vines and rhinestone combs.

Find all your jewelry and wedding accessories at Now and Always Paris."

- Cindy, Now & Always Paris

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 37

CAKE TRENDS

PHOTOS, this page: cakecrown.com

Along with everything else in our lives, COVID lockdowns and restrictions have affected every aspect of weddings: from guest counts to masks, from proof of vaccination to everything outdoors. Wedding cakes during COVID were also smaller and a little bit cuter. It was an excellent opportunity for couples to get really creative with the way they shared cakes and cake favors with guests!

Now that restrictions, lockdowns, and capacity limits are starting to fade into the past, we’re seeing a return to elaborate and decadent cakes. From multi-tiered to multi-flavoured, whether simple or elaborate, elegant or whimsical, couples are going all out in the sweetest way!

ABOUT CAKE CROWN: At Cake Crown (www.cakecrown.com) Toronto, ON our passion for the art of cake decorating is both joyful and extraordinary – our tailored approach transforms wedding cake visions into breathtaking creations. Inspired by our European origins our belief is that artisan cakes should be memorable not just for the looks but also for the irresistibly delicious taste. We use the finest ingredients and take special care working with our clients to transform sugar into art, an end result that is a pleasure to behold and to savor – the centerpiece of a very special day and many cherished memories.

38 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Romantic Lace Gowns

PHOTOS, this page: dorothymay.ca

A romantic lace wedding gown offers both versatility and timelessness. Whether you're planning a large formal affair or a small casual event, there's a lace wedding gown for you. Bridal Boutique of Cambridge offers us this collection of lace gowns with sexy sheer details, modern necklines, and interesting sleeves. Effortless chic or elegantly bohemian, there's something for every bride.

ABOUT BRIDAL BOUTIQUE OF CAMBRIDGE: Bridal Boutique (www.bbcambridge.ca) is a was born from the love and passion for the bridal industry. We are a family owned and operated business with our first location established in 2004 in Brantford. We are passionate and excited to embrace the beautiful historic downtown Galt area as the home for our new bridal store welcoming brides from all around Ontario to visit us for our unique bridal collections and personalized service.

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 39

Favourite Backdrops

When it comes to wedding design, a head table backdrop is one of the most important design elements. Your head table backdrop will be the frame for so many of your candid wedding photos. Here are a few of our favourite options to help inspire you…

ABOUT DECORATING DREAMS: From rustic handmade wood beam backdrops to modern details + props, Decorating Dreams (♥)

(www.decoratingdreams.ca) located in Kitchener-Waterloo has earned their place as a leading wedding décor company. Decorating Dreams offers the décor you’ve been dreaming of, the selection that only a huge inventory of options, themes, props and colours can provide, and the assurance of working with a company that is famous in the area for being among the best in their craft.

40 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Let Decorating Dreams turn your wedding into a beautiful reality!

WWW.DECORATINGDREAMS.CA INFODECORATINGDREAMS@GMAIL.COM WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 49

Style Shoot

Vintage Forest

PHOTO, this page and next: melissaphotographydesign.comm 44 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

STYLE, PLANNING & COORDINATION: New Berlin Weddings & Events (www.newberlinweddings.ca) Kitchener, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Melissa Photography & Design (www.melissaphotographydesign.com) Harriston, ON LOCATION: Crieff Hills Retreat Centre (www.crieffhills.com) Puslinch, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Amy Bo Bamy Beauty (www.amylynnsorensen.wixsite.com/beauty) Cambridge, ON GOWNS: Balletts Bridal (www.balletts.com) Kitchener, ON MENS ATTIRE: Collins Clothiers (♥) (www.collinsclothiers.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR ACCESSORIES: Laurel Rose Studio (@laurelrosestudio) Cambridge, ON FLORALS: HiWay Flowers (www.hiwayflowers.ca) Kitchener, ON DÉCOR, RENTALS: Latkat Linens (www.latkatlinens.com) Hamilton, ON CAKE: Cake Lovers Unite (www.cakeloversunite.com) Cambridge, ON STATIONARY: Red Bicycle Paper Co. (www.redbicyclepaperco.com) Cambridge, ON MOBILE BAR: The Wheeled Brew (www.thewheeledbrew.com) Toronto, ON INSPIRATION: "We created this styled shoot to help promote intimate weddings even after COVID. The design palette and colours were inspired by the trendy terracotta, and deep green colours. As well as a fun mix of a vintage theme mixed with boho." - New Berlin Weddings & Events •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 45

Style Shoot

Modern Boho

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ashley McGuire Photography (www.ashleymcguirephotography.com) Cambridge, ON LOCATION: Studio 125 (www.studio125.ca) Cambridge, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Hair.Makeup by Amanda Zack (www.hairmakeupbyaz.com) Kitchener, ON GOWNS: Jennie Ross Bridal (www.jennierossbridal.com) Kitchener, ON FLORALS: Wildflora + Co (www.wildfloraandco.com) Guelph, ON DÉCOR, RENTALS: Sweet Pea Rentals (www.sweetpea-rentals.com) Kitchener, ON CAKE: Olea Cakes (@oleacakes) Waterloo, ON STATIONARY: Red Bicycle Paper Co. (www.redbicyclepaperco.com) Cambridge, ON 46 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

SIGNAGE: Crafting Joy Studio (www.craftingjoystudio.company.site) Kitchener, ON MODELS: Laura and Brandon Lewis INSPIRATION: "We wanted to create a shoot that was full of warmth and texture with a minimalist, modern twist! We worked with warm neutrals and muted pinks while bringing in some rich greens. The mix of fresh and dried florals set the tone perfectly!

We paired the textures included in the place settings with a modern and minimal centrepiece and stationery. Clean lines and geometric shapes were woven throughout, from the triangle arbour to the arched table numbers and the metallic hoops found in floral arrangements and on the cake. The fringed trim on one of the dresses and floral hairpieces were unique elements of our bridal look that we just loved!" - Ashley McGuire Photography •

GOWN: Randy Fenoli

GOWN: Jasmine

GOWN: Calla Blanche

Beautiful Gowns

Every bride wants to look unforgettable on her wedding day. And finding the right look for you starts with your dress. Whether extravagant or simple, lace or satin, there's a dress to make your wedding dreams come true. Here are a few of our favourite gowns from Memories Bridal.

ABOUT MEMORIES BRIDAL: Memories Bridal (www.memoriesbridalcanada.ca) in Barrie, ON focuses on helping you be your most beautiful! Exclusive designer bridal gowns and accessories including Canadian designed and made, couture and curvy collections.

Let them help you find and accessorize the dress of your dreams, on the most wonderful day of your life! They carry collections of gorgeous and rare gowns – in an array of gorgeous silhouettes, styles, fabrics, and colours, many of which can be customized to your specific wishes.

GOWN: Paloma Blanca

GOWN: Justin Alexander

GOWN: Serge Jevaguine

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 47

Stratford Country Club

stratfordcountryclub.ca

Photo credit: Heather Dietz Photography

Stratford's Premier Wedding Venue

Expert Tips

The following thirteen pages are filled with wedding planning tips, tricks, and advice, written and contributed by the wedding professionals who know best how to create the ultimate wedding event. Curated by The Ring.

EXPERT TIP: Collins Clothiers (♥) (www.collinsclothiers.com) pg 54-55 WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 49

your ultimate checklist EXPERT TIP BY UNMISTAKABLY YOU (♥) (www.unmistakablyyou.com) London, ON

Congratulations—you're engaged! First, take a moment to soak up that just-said-yes bliss. This is one of the most exciting seasons of your life, after all, and you deserve to enjoy every second of it.

The checklist is a comprehensive list of everything we could think of that you may need to do. We’ve sorted it into a timeline to help keep your planning on track and your stress low. Not all items will require your attention and should be skipped over.

12-24+ Months in Advance Protect your Engagement Ring with your Homeowner's Insurance Set a Date Select & Ask Attendants Draft the Guest List Hire a Wedding Planner Determine the Type of Wedding (formal, informal, etc) Determine A Colour Scheme Set a Budget Choose and Book a Ceremony Location Select an Officiant (clergy or lay) Choose and Book a Reception Location Book a Caterer Research & Book Photographer Research & Book Videographer Research & Book Florist Research & Book Decorator Research & Book Ceremony Musicians Research & Book DJ/Band Select Bridal Gown, Veil & Accessories Design & Send "Save The Date" Cards 6-8 Months in Advance Rent Tent, Tables, Chairs, Linens, Dance Floor (if required) Order Invitations & Other Stationery Choose Bridesmaids' Dresses If Making Wine, Start Now So It Can Age Plan Reception Menu With Caterer/Venue Start A Wedding Registry 86 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca 50

Book Hair & Makeup (If Date Is In High Season) Engagement Photoshoot Compile Master Guest List, Including Addresses Create A Wedding Website Schedule Marriage Counselling (if required/desired) 4-6 Months In Advance Plan Rehearsal Dinner Reserve Accommodations for Out Of Town Guests Book Rooms for Wedding Night Select Bakery and Order Cake Purchase/Arrange For Rental of Decor Items Select and Book Transportation Write Thank You Cards For Gifts As Received Apply for or renew Passports for Honeymoon (if needed) Purchase or Rent Suits or Tuxedos 2-4 Months in Advance Send Invites (No More Than 12 Weeks Prior) Book Hair and Makeup Trials Finalize Floral Order Select Wedding Ceremony Music Purchase/Engrave Gifts For Attendants Purchase/Make Guest Favours Order Bride & Groom Gifts Buy Wedding Rings and Have Them Engraved Meet With Officiant To Personalize Service Obtain Special Occasion Permit & PAL Insurance Plan & Organize Activities For Out Of Town Guests

1-2 Months In Advance Purchase Marriage License (no more than 3 months in advance) Visit Reception Site and Determine Layout of Space and Placement of Elements Choose Linens & Place Settings to Coordinate With Flowers & Centerpieces Book Attire Fittings & Break-In Shoes Attend Wedding Showers Write Vows Finalize transportation schedule Receive and Record RSVP's (usually 3/4 weeks in advance) Follow Up With Guests Who Haven't RSVP'd Confirm Attendants Attire is in Order Start Changing Addresses on Bills/Mail (if you're moving) Research Name Change (If needed) Plan "Something New, Old, Borrowed, Blue and a Sixpence For Your Shoe" Address Announcements For Guests Who Live Abroad Unable To Attend 2-3 Weeks In Advance Send Wedding Announcement To Newspaper (optional) Create Family Photo Groupings List, Send to Photographer Assign Reception Seating Make/Order Seating Chart, Table Numbers, Placecards/Escort Cards Confirm Rehearsal Plans With Attendants, Musicians, Officiant Finalize Ceremony Details With Officiant And Readers/Musicians Purchase Alcohol With Your SOP (If Doing Your Own Bar) Pick Up Rings and Confirm Fit ABOUT UNMISTAKABLY YOU: The Unmistakably You team is obsessed with all things wedding! Their mission is simple: give busy couples the peace of mind they need to truly believe that their wedding will be a unique reflection of them as a couple, and ensure that they will be able to relax and enjoy their wedding day.

1 Week In Advance Prepare Itinerary Of The Day For You and Attendants. Make Sure You Leave Time To Eat! Give Final Numbers To Caterer Call and Confirm Details/Delivery Times With All Vendors Pick Up Attire and Accessories Review Best Man Duties With Him Give Itinerary To MC Prepare A List Of Special Ceremony Seating and Give To Ushers Prepare A Must Have Photo List For Photographer Confirm Honeymoon Details Pack For Honeymoon Several Days In Advance Pick Up Tuxedos, Make Sure Dress Is Wrinkle-Free Pack Boxes of Things To Be Taken To Ceremony and Reception Attend Spa Appointments Put Final Vendor Payments and Gratuities In Envelopes The Day Before Pack Getaway Car Give Payment/Thank You Card Envelope To Most Trusted Party Member Instruct Them To Give To Officiant and Vendors Arrange For Someone To Bring Flowers And Decor From Ceremony To Reception Arrange For Someone To Mail Announcements The Day After The Wedding Arrange For Someone To Return Rentals (linens, tux, cake stand etc.)

Drop Off Programs, Decor, Seating Chart, Escort Cards, etc at Ceremony and Reception Venues Attend Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner Drink 3 Extra Glasses of Water Get A Good Night's Rest (BOTH OF YOU!)

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 51 87

Memorable Weddings with Music Central PHOTO: hrmphotography.com

EXPERT TIP BY MUSIC CENTRAL ENTERTAINMENT (♥) (www.musiccentral.ca) London, ON

“Part of my meetings with couples is asking them “If I were to ask you to pick 2 or 3 words to describe what you want for your wedding, what would they be? Common choices include: fun, intimate, casual, relaxed, etc. But by far the most common answer is MEMORABLE! Every couple wants their wedding to be memorable."

What is it that makes a wedding memorable?

We know you’re going to remember it. It’s your wedding! But what makes your day memorable for your guests? Sure, they’ll remember how great the food is, how pretty the décor is. They’ll even remember that they danced all night. But those are high level memories. After a while all they’ll remember is that they had a good time. What’s truly memorable are the stories they’ll tell after.

The stories they’ll tell are rooted in emotion.

In order for the memory to last, they need to remember how it made them feel! Was it an emotional speech or a special dance? Did they laugh, did they cry? These emotions can’t be manufactured, they need to be authentic, with setup, buildup and execution.

A great master of ceremonies can help build those memories. Here are a few ways that a Music Central MC does this: FRAMING THE MOMENTS: Let’s talk about parent dances for a moment. Anybody can introduce the parent dances. A great MC 52 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

sets the stage – if both sets of parents are still together, what an amazing and special thing that is. “Let’s celebrate mom and dad. Please join in an anniversary dance.” Acknowledge the importance of this enduring example of love. If possible, add in the grandparents to reinforce the moment and the emotions. It’s not just about the words, it’s about how you say it, how you frame the moment.

REACT TO THE MOMENT: Not all memorable moments are rooted in tears and crying. Some are rooted in laughter.

Some are just reactions to the moment. At a recent wedding, the mother of the bride was wishing a happy birthday to a couple of guests whose birthdays were that day. This quickly turned into people adding birthday wishes for people in the coming days and weeks and months. The Mother of the Bride realized she was trapped listing them all and quickly got back on track. At the end of her speech, after she had hugged the couple and returned to her seat, I let it run quiet, left a big pause, then quietly and slowly said, “Sandra, my birthday is in December.” It got a good laugh from the crowd and from the mother of the bride.

FULL CIRCLE: Like the fun example above, we like to bring back moments. We’ll use important bits from speeches as we introduce other people. We’ll start reinforcing those

moments right away, so they’ll take root. At a wedding this fall the groom used the phrase “love you squared”, so we incorporated a version of that into an introduction of the couple; “love squared”. Taking moments and giving them more air to continue to grow brings it around full circle.

When you’re planning your wedding, you should be thinking about what will make the day memorable for you and for your guests.

In 5 years, in 10 years, will you remember the chicken you had for dinner, or will you remember how you felt? Will you remember the laughter and the tears? Will you remember the special moments? At Music Central, our goal is to help you orchestrate and highlight your wedding moments with magic and emotion as well as having an amazing party! • ABOUT MUSIC CENTRAL: Music Central Entertainment is the area's most respected disc jockey service based out of London, ON. Music Central specializes in weddings as well as corporate events, and creating a unique event based on the client’s wishes, musicality, and suggestions. As well as their famous DJ services, they can also provide photo booths, lighting, special effects, audio/ visual, karaoke, master of cermonies, and much more.

7 Reasons To Hire A Day Of Coordinator PHOTO: Phil Pearson Photography

EXPERT TIP BY: Servers with a Smile (♥) (www.serverswithasmile.ca) Waterloo, ON

Wedding planning can be fun! Many brides and grooms enjoy the wedding planning process: researching, selecting, hiring, etc. For many couples as the big day approaches, they worry about what details they may be missing. Or what they may miss on the day of the wedding if they spend all their time worrying about the little details. A Day-of Coordinator can help take over the day-of management of your wedding so you can just bask in the love of your family and friends. Servers with a Smile shares 7 of their top reasons to hire a day-of coordinator..

TIMELINE CREATION: Your day of coordinator will meet with you one month before your wedding to create a personalized wedding itinerary and timeline. They will help you plan your wedding day down to the last detail to ensure you have time to get from first look to ceremony to photos to cocktail hour.

They’ll help make sure that you’re where you need to be but most importantly, that you get to enjoy every moment of your day!

VENDOR MANAGEMENT: One of the tasks you’ll pass along to your Day-of coordinator is managing your vendors. Your

Day-of coordinator will review contracts, share timelines and key points with all of your vendors. They’ll be the point of contact for your vendors answering questions and assisting as needed, once again leaving you to enjoy your day.

WEDDING PARTY ORGANIZATION: Your day-of coordinator will meet with you, the wedding couple, together or separately, the morning of the wedding to make sure everything is going as planned. They’ll help get and keep the bridal party organized, in the right places at the right times and ready to go.

EVENT SUPERVISOR: Your Day-of coordinator checks all the details, addressing where items go as delivered, ensuring that everything is setup as you planned. They are the go-to person for anyone that has a question about any portion of the day.

TIMELINE MANAGEMENT: It’s not enough to make a timeline and pass it around to your vendors. Your Day-of Coordinator will help ensure that you stay on time, making sure all timings are met as discussed at the one-month

before meeting.

STRESS MANAGEMENT: Things can go wrong even at the most perfectly planned wedding. Your Day-of coordinator will manage any issues or situations as they arise, keeping you abreast of the situation, while solving problems and helping to execute your day so that you remain stress-free and your guests never notice the little hiccups.

YOUR PERSONAL ASSISTANT FOR THE DAY! A Day-of coordinator just makes sure that you have what you need and are where you need to be to have the best day. Need a tampon, Chapstick or tissue? Not sure where you’re supposed to be right now? Or not sure where your marriage licence went after the ceremony? Their job is to help with the little details and the BIG details as you may need! • ABOUT SERVERS WITH A SMILE: Servers with a Smile offers local brides and grooms a one-stop-shop for their special day. Servers with a Smile can find all the vendors you need, as well as support during your entire day, so all you have to do is enjoy your wedding!

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 53

How to find the perfect outfit for your wedding EXPERT TIP BY: Collins Clothiers (♥) (www.collinsclothiers.com) London, ON

While many wedding checklists leave selecting your suit or tuxedo styles and colours closer to the big day, it is important to not leave it to the last minute to ensure you achieve your wedding vision.

SUIT OR TUXEDO? One of the beginning decisions will be whether you want a casual look, suit, or tuxedo. We are often asked what the key difference is between a suit and tuxedo?

Traditionally a tuxedo has some extra detailing on the lapels, pocket jetting, and fabric-covered buttons. While suits have the same material as the jacket on the lapel and pockets and usually plastic buttons.

RENT OR PURCHASE? Your next choice will be whether you want to rent or purchase your wedding attire.

Purchasing a tuxedo is not always pocket friendly and does not have as much of a versatile use as it once did. At Collins Clothiers, whether you wish to rent a suit or tuxedo the pricing will be the same.

All of our full rental packages include everything you will need from head to toe – jacket, pants, shirt, vest, tie/bowtie, suspenders, pocket square, cufflinks, and shoes. Rentals are all fit exactly to each wearer, which can really cut down on

54 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

the alterations cost of a purchased set.

However we understand that each person in your party may have a different opinion on renting or buying, so Collins Clothiers has an exclusive suit program that allows each wedding party member to make their own decision whether they would like to rent or purchase the exact same outfit and comes in an incredible size range from 2-72!

TIPS 1. Start shopping for your wedding day suit or tuxedo at least six months ahead of your wedding date.

2. At the initial consultation have only you and your fiancé present.

3. Let the couple getting married stand out from the wedding party (i.e. a different coloured shirt, tie, bow tie, or pocket square!)

4. Bring a swatch to your consultation of any and every colour you want to match. (or any Pinterest photos you want to emulate!)

5. Try-on your suit when you pick-up before leaving the store, making sure everything fits how you envisioned.

QUESTIONS TO ASK: 1. Do you offer both suit/tuxedo rentals and purchases?

2. Can you match my dress colour (or wedding theme)?

3. What is the size range for this style?

4. Are alterations included in the price?

5. Do you have multiple locations or how can you accommodate my party members from out of town? • ABOUT COLLINS CLOTHIERS: At Collins we take pride in knowing the quality of our menswear far exceeds expectations. From formal to everyday apparel, we provide high-end menswear for every budget. We are fully owned and operated family business and have been since our start in 1965. The Collins Family is involved in the day-to-day running of the company, while working to maintain and exceed the high standards that our clients have come to enjoy. Having built an outstanding reputation in tuxedo rentals, we now have carried that forward by expanding into casual apparel and accessories. Just like our tuxedos, we provide contemporary styles that stand out.

Collins Clothiers -the world of timeless elegance and luxurious fabrics... today and tomorrow.

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 55

5 Tips For Choosing A Wedding Cake EXPERT TIP BY DECADENTLY YOURS (www.decadentlyyours.ca) Guelph, ON | PHOTO top right: redsuitcasephotography.com

You might not know much about wedding cakes (besides the obvious fact that they're delicious), but the more informed you are, the better your decisions will be. Decadently Yours offers you a few tips to help pick your perfect confection.

1. BUDGET: As with all aspects of your wedding planning, the first consideration is budget. Every other cake decision flows from this point. When determining your budget you'll take into account your guest list. You'll want to have a piece of cake for each guest. PRO TIP: Consider paying the cutting fee and serving your cake as your dessert. Not only does this make the very best use of your carefully selected cake but it’s also good for your budget to not have to pay for a separate dessert.

2. STYLE MATTERS: Don’t pick before you’ve made your style decisions including colours, theme, feel, etc. You don’t want a simple white wedding cake if you’re having a Halloween Theme.

You want your cake to be a feature part of your wedding fitting seamlessly into your décor and esthetic.

3. CONSIDER HEIGHT: If your cake is positioned in front of the head table, you’ll want to ensure that it doesn’t obscure your guests view of you and your new spouse. If it’s off the side, you can

different flavours for different layers if you can’t or don’t want to

make a statement with height. Consider not just the location of

pick just one.

the cake table, but the height of the room.

5. SETTING THE TABLE: Consider how you’ll adorn both your 4. FLAVOURFUL CHOICES: Your bakery will offer a tasting.

cake and your cake table. Talk to your decorator about how you’d

Pick your allowed number of flavours or flavour combinations

like the overall table to be styled/dressed. Select your cake topper,

and indulge with your fiancé. Taste each one together and decide what each of you wants. Most bakeries will allow you to choose

cake knife and server, flowers, candles and other décor that will enhance your cake table. • ABOUT DECADENTLY YOURS: Decadently Yours prides themselves on creating delicious handcrafted baked goods that will be the centerpiece at any event. They bake from scratch each and every day using locally sourced ingredients the best they can. Preservatives and store-bought mixes have no place in their bakery! Decadently Yours offers 120 different flavours in both cakes and cupcakes. Their custom baked cupcakes, cakes and baked goods are great for birthdays, showers, weddings, special events, sporting events, corporate functions and more!

56 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Photo: Tia Loryssa Photography

PHOTO: hrmphotography.com

Phone: (519) 265-5314 | Email: info@decadentlyyours.ca Web: www.decadentlyyours.ca

74 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 79

Ring Exchange 101

PHOTO: yaiphotography.com EXPERT TIP BY SOMETHING NEW OFFICIANT (www.somethingnewofficiant.ca) London, ON

"The ring exchange moment in a ceremony is so commonplace that

So how do you take this common tradition and mold it into one

many people believe that it's a legal requirement. However, it’s not

that’s uniquely yours?

- it is customary, and within North America a relatively newer tradition and component of a wedding ceremony. It wasn’t until

I suggest starting the conversation between you and your partner prompted by the following set of questions:

World War II that men began to wear wedding bands at all, said to be a reminder of their spouse at home. And why the left finger of the left hand? A tradition believed to originate with the Romans based on the thought a vein, the Vena Amoris (“vein of love”), runs from this finger leading directly to the heart. This belief has since been debunked by modern science.

Regardless of where we pick up the story of how and why exchanging

•

What does the ring exchange element of the ceremony mean to me?

•

What will wearing my ring mean to me?

•

What would I like the ring my spouse will wear, to represent to them?

Like anything ceremony related, please carve-out time for each of you to answer the questions before you share your answers with each other. With all the shared decision-making moments

wedding bands became a central feature of wedding ceremonies, the

that happen during wedding planning, the ceremony too needs

practice is not going away soon. Most of the time my clients have

collaboration and communication.

spent more time determining who will have the honour of holding the rings, than thinking about why they are exchanging the rings in the first place.

58 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

If you’re lost for words, and beyond it being tradition, are not actually quite sure what exchanging rings means to you, let me give you some guidance.

Generally speaking my clients will say the ring exchange represents the symbol of the promises (aka vows) they will have made to one another. Clients have shared how the rings will serve as a public declaration that one loves, and one is loved. A ring is a visible sign that love shared between a couple is invaluable and something to be displayed. Or in the words of one of my clients, “the ring will say to others, ‘I got dibs on this one, move along’”.

Once you have come to some shared understanding of WHY you’d like to exchange rings, and what the rings mean to you after the ceremonial aspect, there are different possibilities for how the ring exchange component of your ceremony is performed. Here are just a few suggestions: 1. Your officiant would ask each of you in turn if you will receive the ring from your partner. This sounds like: “Tom, will you wear this ring as a symbol of Jerry's love, and as a reminder of the vows you have spoken today, your wedding day”? and Tom would say “I will”.

2. Your officiant would ask each of you in turn if you will offer the ring to your partner. This sounds like: “Tom, do you offer this ring to Jerry as a symbol of your never ending love for him, and as a reminder of the vows you have spoken this day, your wedding day? and Tom would say “I will”

PHOTO: hopeharbourphotographyca

3. You would choose to repeat a sentence or phrase after your officiant. This sounds like: Tom repeating, “Jerry, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. May it remind you always of my commitment to you, and our life together and that each day I promised to choose you, for all the days of my life.”

Of course, there are endless possibilities in terms of the language and meaning you might ascribe to this moment. So free your mind, and have a little fun here. Draw on your answers to the above questions to inform your wording, and ask your officiant for suggestions as well. Oftentimes what couples choose to say and how they will say it, boils down to comfort level with public speaking, how traditional or modern you’d like this component to be, and what just makes sense according to what’s uniquely you. • ABOUT SOMETHING NEW OFFICIANT: Something New Officiants are licensed to perform weddings in the province of Ontario and are licenced, ordained Metaphysical Ministers with C.I.M.M. (a.k.a. contemporary spiritual ministers who holds space for all belief systems) honouring all relationships; with a strong commitment to serving 2SLGBTQIA+ partnerships, unions, baby blessings, celebrations of life, transitions, and wedding ceremonies.

PHOTO: woodgatephotography.com

PHOTO: yaiphotography.com

PHOTO: woodgatephotography.com

PHOTO: yaiphotography.com WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 59

PHOTO: woodgatephotography.com

9 Tips For A Flawless Look That Lasts All Day

EXPERT TIP BY BLUSH (www.blushhmua.com) London, ON

"Over the last 18 years we’ve been asked a lot of questions about wedding hair and makeup.

But the one question we get asked most often is “How do I get a flawless face that lasts all day for my wedding?” While there’s no one size fits all answer to this question, here are a few tips that will help you achieve your flawless goal."

SKIN CARE is important every day, not just on your wedding day. If you don’t take care of your skin before your wedding, there is very little your makeup artist can do that will substitute for that. Makeup can camouflage many imperfections but starting with the best possible base is the best way to get you to the flawless face you’re hoping for. Don’t start the week before. Start months ahead of time. Start now! The sooner the better! At the very least you need 6 weeks of skincare routine including cleansing, regular exfoliation, moisturizing and daily use of sunscreen.

SLEEP! HYDRATE! REPEAT!: We know, we know! Easier said than done. But there’s nothing better for your skin than a good night’s sleep – regularly! Next to sleep, drinking 4-8 glasses of water each day takes care of your skin from the inside out.

HIRE A PRO: Find a professional, makeup artist that you feel comfortable with who has a style that you adore. Communication is 60 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

key! Do you love their work? What are you looking for? Do you understand what they’re suggesting? Talk to them: connect, converse, be comfortable. Is this the energy you want at 6 am on your wedding day? Do they have proper tools? Cleanliness? Pro Tip: Every face gets fresh brushes. You wouldn’t share toothbrushes, why would you share makeup brushes?

MAKEUP TRIAL: Typically 8 weeks before your wedding, you’ll have a makeup trial.

Trials are important to make sure that what you had envisioned for your makeup is what you were hoping for. You’ll want time to make changes if needed. Pro Tip: Try to time your makeup trial with a dress fitting so you can see the whole look together. If not a dress fitting, perhaps your shower or engagement photos, or at least a date night.

Don’t waste the look!

HONESTY!: Did you NOT love the look?

This is especially important for moms! Even if you don’t know what’s wrong or what isn’t right, talk it through. You should be thrilled with your look and your artist will want to work with you to make sure it’s exactly what you wanted.

TIMELINESS: Be on time the day of your wedding, don’t be late! It’s a domino effect. If one person is late EVERYONE is late which leads to rushing and anxiety. Breath! And

be on time! You, your wedding party, your mom, and your makeup artist will enjoy getting ready more if you’re calm.

SPRAY TANS: Be careful! Not all spray tans are created equal. Don’t get your first spray tan a few days before your wedding. Make sure that you’ve had a tan before, know your shade and how your skin reacts. If you’re getting a spray tan, you’ll ideally have one before you trial so both you and your artist will know what to expect on the day of.

AIRBRUSHING: Depending on your skin texture, air brushing can give you that flawless photo finish that lasts all day.

Airbrush makeup can feel very light so is ideal for people who don’t love the feel of heavy makeup. It also stands up well to heat and humidity as well as oily skin. Pro Tip: Airbrush makeup can be used to blend out tan lines, but you need to be careful of dresses.

RELAX!: Don’t take it all so seriously! We can change anything you don’t like. Don’t panic. Be honest. And BREATH! ABOUT BLUSH: Blush specializes in onlocation Bridal Hair and Makeup artistry.

Serving wedding parties in the London and surrounding area as well as their London studio. At Blush their goal is to always make you look and feel beautiful.

How To Choose Your Cake Designer

PHOTO: lenjobakes.com

PHOTO: silviusjames.com

PHOTO: jonathansuckling.com

PHOTO: aniyaemtage.com

PHOTO: mangostudios.com EXPERT TIP BY LENJO BAKES (www.lenjobakes.com) Kitchener, ON

Sometimes having too many options can be overwhelming!

Competition in the cake world (wedding, birthday, anniversary, any celebration) is fierce. So how do you choose the right cake designer for your wedding? Use the 5 tips below as a guide to making the best decision for you.

1. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH: "Before you initiate a conversation with a potential cake designer, you need to find them first! Although social media (primarily Instagram and Facebook) is a very popular medium to find designers, you can still find many vendors at wedding shows. But if you wanted to find a designer without time or location restraints then Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and business websites are perfect resources. The benefit of using social media is that you can save photos of cakes and ideas you like for future reference. Having one place (like a Pinterest board) helps keep everything streamlined."

2. CONSIDER YOUR ESTHETIC: "Make a prioritized list of the adjectives you want to describe your bespoke cake. These can include words like: simple, modern, extravagant, delicious, understated. What do you value more? Flavour or appearance?

Fondant or buttercream? Answering these questions will lead you to your ideal criteria. Next, you’ll need to ensure that your potential designer has related experience. A picture is worth a thousand words, but verified customer reviews (think Google or Facebook) is a great place to start too!"

3. SEEK ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS AND PEERS: "You’ve heard this before: Network! Network! Network! If you’re using an event planner to help organize your special event, they likely have a list of cake designers they’ve worked with before. If you have other vendors (think florists, venues, caterers, photographers – heck, even the DJ!), they may also have made industry contacts.

And guess what? If someone is willing to give a personal

recommendation, it likely means they trust that particular person/ service enough not to embarrass them by stuffing it up! Ask friends and family to tap into their networks too! It’s all about who you know.

4. CONSIDER THE COST: "At the end of the day not every designer will be within your budget. Most cake designers have pricing guidelines on their website based on the quality of ingredients they use, the previous experience they have, and (sometimes) their current availability. Look for these guidelines to have a general idea of how much the cake you’re looking for might cost. As beautiful and delicious as a bespoke cake may be, don’t forget it’s only one aspect of your event. Set a budget and stick to it unless you’re willing to compromise somewhere else."

5. TRUST YOUR GUT: "Sometimes choosing a cake designer is not solely limited to cake-related abilities, but also what the experience will be like working with them. After making initial contact were they reasonably attentive? Did they catch your vision?

Maybe they helped you create the vision you didn’t know you had? What’s your gut feeling? The event planning process can be overwhelming. Having someone who you can trust and feel like they’re on your team can alleviate a lot of stress.

So there you go! Some tips on how to choose your cake designer.

ABOUT LENJO BAKES: LenJo Bakes is a bespoke cake studio specializing in crafting and designing buttercream cakes for all occasions. With an affinity toward subtle elegance and a steadfast commitment to using premium ingredients well, LenJo Bakes is the place where beauty and flavour meet. A small storefront located in Midtown Kitchener is stocked with an ever-changing offering of sweet treats throughout the week.• WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 61

PLAN YOUR DAY YOUR WAY Making memories since 1983 and we’re known for our highquality team, all of whom have helped establish a long resume filled with incredible events.

Offering more than DJ services, you can complete your wedding, corporate or special event with our event lighting, photo booth rentals, karaoke and slideshow services.

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE FUN! @musiccentralentertainment

musiccentral@musiccentral.ca | www.musiccentral.ca

Destination Weddings The following nine pages are filled with love stories, planning tips and tricks, and venue spotlights written and contributed by local brides & grooms and the wedding professionals who know best how to create the ultimate destination wedding event. Curated by The Ring.

PHOTO: Hakan Erenler Photography (@hakanerenler_ photography) BRIDE & GROOM: Ola & Andrew Honeysett WEDDING: October 6th, 2021 Full story: p66

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 63

Get married on the warm sand beach with the warm breeze in your hair. Or choose a terrace ceremony as the sun sets behind you. Serenade offers a variety of spaces and locations for both your ceremony and your reception dinner.

CONTACT US

Punta Cana Dominican Republic groups@serenade.com.do

1-809-552-0699

www.serenadepuntacana.com

Serenade P unta Cana Beach & Spa resort

• • • • • • • •

8 restaurants/10 bars 3 large salons A preferred club Groups private reception A beautiful spa Serene and amazing beach All our rooms include a terrace 140 swim out rooms.

Located on the beachfront, with a privileged location, Serenade Punta Cana Beach & Spa Resort, consists of 603 rooms and a range of luxury amenities and services, typical of a luxurious hotel. In an environment of lush flora with which the Dominican Republic was blessed, where you live the magical experience of gentle breezes, white sand on the unique and spectacular beach of Punta Cana. Ideal for enjoying a privileged environment, where, in addition, you can taste exquisite gastronomic offerings, shop, and enjoy spectacular shows at a Caribbean pace.

LOCATION AND CLIMATE: The hotel is located in Cabeza de Toro, Punta Cana, 15 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport; one hour from La Romana International Airport and 2 hours from Las Americas International Airport. Tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 25ºC and 30ºC. In the late afternoon, a pleasant sea breeze refreshes the warm days.

SERVICES: Swimming pools (outdoor, for children with water games and premium with integrated jacuzzi) Great gastronomic offerings (8 restaurants, 4 snack bars, and 4 bars) · All inclusive service · Shows and entertainment · Nightlife · Spa and beauty center · Gym · Free Wi-Fi · Tour desk · Car rental · Water sports area · Doctor’s office · Gazebo weddings · Shops and boutiques · Laundry · Parking.

CULINARY EXPERIENCES: The hotel offers the possibility of choosing endless gastronomic specialties in its restaurants, both buffet style and à la carte, with different specialties and proposals. In addition it also has 4 snack bars with several environments in different locations.

WEDDINGS AND EVENTS: Get married on the warm sand beach with the warm breeze in your hair. Or choose a terrace ceremony as the sun sets behind you. Serenade offers a variety of spaces and locations for both your ceremony and your reception dinner. They even have a ballroom with avantgarde technology in visual, audio, and sound. Chat with your Serenade wedding planner to discuss the All-Inclusive packages available. •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 65

Ola & Andrew Honeysett Magical Elopement Abroad

WEDDING DATE: October 6th, 2021 LOCATION: Cappadocia (www.cappadociaturkey.net) Ürgüp, Turkey PHOTOGRAPHY: Hakan Erenler Photography (@hakanerenler_photography) Ürgüp, Turkey "We did A LOT of Instagram searching! Finding an International photographer is not an easy task but their photos spoke for themselves." - O BRIDE ATTIRE: Memories Bridal (www.memoriesbridalcanada.ca) Barrie, ON GROOM ATTIRE: Stars & Strauss (www.shop.stars-strauss.com) Barrie, ON TRAVEL AGENCY: Jet Lag Voyages (www.jetlagvoyages.com) Barrie, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "As busy professionals, short on time and energy for ourselves, we knew that meeting others would not be especially easy. Having been encouraged to 'just give it a try', because “what have you got to lose”…we both did… we subscribed to Tinder.

Without any great expectations, we connected with each other and decided to meet… and the rest is history!

The perfect wedding wasn’t something either of us had really thought of or envisioned, but one thing we both knew was that we didn't want a traditional, conventional wedding. We didn’t want a huge event with a lot of fanfare. We wanted to celebrate our love with our beloved family members…whether in a small ceremony, possibly in our backyard, or an epic elopement and honeymoon at a destination which reflected who we are...adventurous, curious, inspired, global citizens. After considering many plans and destinations, we decided we wanted to elope to Turkey, one of the most beautiful places in the world… to experience the spirit, the history, the diversity, the culture, the food, the scenery and so much more. But of course COVID changed our original plans multiple times and we also wanted to include our families, so we had to move ahead with “Option B” – a simple, local, backyard wedding (which was also perfect in its own strange way) – I bought another dress, we

66 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

re-envisioned our dreams. But then last minute…

WE WENT FOR IT! After over 18 months of dealing with COVID, restrictions were loosened and we were both vaccinated…and we were able to travel to Turkey! Just the two of us. At that point, we were prepared to accept the bare minimum, but we got more than we could ever have imagined.

No matter the circumstances, we would not change our mini elopement in Cappadocia, Turkey for all the riches in the world.

Unbelievable sights. Unimaginable beauty.

Unforgettable memories. We are so grateful to have been able to experience this after such a long and difficult time filled with so much anxiety and uncertainty. Thank you to everyone who helped us keep a positive perspective. It was an absolute dream. We hope other engaged couples can see in our photos what a magical, intimate and memorable experience this was, and have the courage to take the plunge and Say Yes! like we did, in a truly spectacular and unique destination wedding." - O BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "Travel logistics during COVID are the most challenging so using an experienced travel advisor is key! Also packing a wedding dress definitely comes with its own challenges, but some creative folding went a long way." - O BEST MEMORY: "The day of the photos in Turkey was just so incredible. It was actually freezing- no more than 1 degree (I know! It doesn’t look it) but we had so much fun and our photographers were just so funny and easy to work with it was a great highlight." - O ADVICE: "If you’re planning an elopement or even a destination wedding try to keep it as simple as possible. There are already a lot of logistical issues but if you can keep it simple and just narrow it down to a handful of “must-haves” you can easily have an amazing and easy elopement. And don’t forget to use an experienced advisor! It’s one thing for a regular trip to go awry but you can’t take chances with your elopement!" - O •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

Amanda & Sean Reekers

Ontario's West Coast Love

WEDDING DATE: August 20th, 2021 LOCATION: Family property, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: HRM Photography (♥) (www.hrmphotography.com) London, ON "We found our photographer through a friend in the business! She was booked for the summer of 2020. She suggested HRM Photography guaranteeing we would be in great hands. Boy, was she right! They were so personable and fun to work with. Both for our engagement pictures AND the wedding! On our wedding day everyone was impressed with their services.

They were professional and fun to be around.

They made everyone feel like a celebrity and that their needs mattered." - A GUEST #: 90 COLOUR PALETTE: Navy, Rose Gold, Gold BRIDE + BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Sophie’s Gown Shoppe (www.sophiesgownshoppe.com) London, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) London, ON HAIR: Vicky Tadros, Hair by Vicky (www.hairbyvicky.ca) Waterloo, ON MAKEUP: Jen Van Wella, Waterloo ON DJ: DJ Alpha Productions (www.djalpha.ca) London, ON CAKE: Night Owl Treats, London, ON FLORAL: Peony + Pine Design (@PinePeonies) LIMO: Dorchester Limo (www.dorchesterlimo.net) Dorchester, ON DAY OF COORDINATOR: Unmistakably You (♥) (www.unmistakablyyou.com) London ON CATERING: Appin BBQ & Catering (www.appinbbqcatering.com) Appin, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "My wedding was definitely a labour of love! After attempting to get married 3 times during COVID, it finally happened! Our wedding definitely wouldn't have been what it was without the help of our family. The first two wedding plans were at a golf course but with all the restrictions and lockdowns in Ontario, they were unable to hold our wedding and it was cancelled due to a stay-athome order. Back to the drawing board we went. I'm so thankful we did! We decided to reschedule our

wedding "one last time" to August 20th. It was the only available date left in the summer. It also happened to be my mom's birthday which made a great gift.

Our ceremony was at my family cottage on a cliffside overlooking the lake just on the outskirts of Grand Bend. It is a small cottage and could only seat our family. Friends were able to watch the feed over Facebook live and joined us after at my parents property in Poplar Hill, just 20 minutes away for dinner and dancing. I think our wedding was the best arrangement ever. It had an intimate feel for the ceremony and yet for the party, it WAS a party! The DJ definitely played some amazing tracks and lit up the dance floor. We even had a dance battle! How many weddings can say they can pull that off?!?! Our overall wedding was an absolute dream that I wouldn't change in any way. The girls got ready at my mom's house, which I always thought was the cutest idea. Mimosas, charcuterie and girly chatter. A close friend made all of our breathtaking florals. We drove in a stretch limo to overlook the water and were married on a cliffside.

How romantic is that?! My uncle was also the one to marry us which was really sentimental to us and we'll forever cherish. Our reception was equally as picturesque. Having a big white tent out in a field along with willow trees around with twinkling lights and a wooden bridge leading up to the tent. A true fairy tale!

This day was so beyond beautiful and it wouldn't have been the same without all our family and friends who helped along the way to make this beautiful day happen."- A BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "Our biggest challenge overall, was just getting married! Thanks to our lovely friend COVID, we attempted to get married three times. 3rd times the charm they say!"- A ADVICE: "If I can give any advice to future couples, it would be to not sweat the small stuff.

Things are going to change at with a moment's notice and go unplanned whether you like it or not. So you might as well roll with the punches.

Countless times things would change on us.

Just smile, pivot and carry on. No matter what happens it will be a beautiful day because it's your special day."- A •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 67

W

ELCOME to your

PERFECT DAY Plan your dream wedding on the breathtaking shores of Lake Huron.

GRAND BEND, ON

Connect with us today to set up a tour of our grounds and learn more about our wedding packages, accommodations, menus and more.

Contact Kait Topham ktopham@oakwoodresort.ca Direct 519.238.7325 94 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

www.OakwoodResort.ca

Oakwood Resort Grand Bend, ON

PHOTOS, this page: oakwoodresort.ca Unless otherwise stated

PHOTO: hrmphotography.com

Close to beautiful Lake Huron, Oakwood

up to 220 people, each space boasts a beau-

Resort is the perfect backdrop for your

tiful stone fireplace and rustic features.

special day. Their inclusive wedding pack-

With dozens of photography opportunities

ages make planning easy! With multiple

on property, you are guaranteed to have a

ceremony, reception, and photography locations, 122 guest rooms, delicious catering, on-site restaurant, golf course, and private beach access, you'll have the wedding experience you won't ever forget.

From your first tour of the Resort, to the Menu tasting, Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties, Rehearsal Dinner, to the Ceremony, Reception and Post-Wedding Brunch, the professional team at Oakwood brings your vision of your big day to reality. Their team of award-winning Chefs, in house Sommelier, and Wedding Coordinators will work together with you to create an experience your friends and family will talk about forever.

Offering multiple beautiful indoor spaces

backdrop you will love.

Have your guests stay for a weekend getaway and experience all the wonderful things Grand Bend has to offer, including private access to the beautiful shores of Lake Huron.

•

Up to 180 people

•

Indoor and outdoor ceremony options

•

Guest Room discount for wedding guests

•

Day of Coordination with in house Wedding Coordinator

•

Customizable Wedding Packages

•

Customizable food and wine options

ready to host your guests, ranging from small elopements of 10 or less, all the way

All-inclusive wedding packages are available. • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 69

Top 10 Reasons To Have A Destination Wedding

PHOTOS, this page: lovesproutsphotography.com EXPERT TIP BY ENGAGED & DESTINATON (www.engagedanddestination.com) London, ON

With the world emerging from it's extended COVID lockdown, adventurous couples are starting to consider hosting their big days far from home. Destination Weddings have been a popular choice for many years, with each couple having their own reasons for choosing to walk down an airplane aisle before the wedding aisle.

Whether you've dreamed of a wedding on a tropical beach, beside a hidden waterfall or atop a snowy mountain, a destination wedding allows you to share an unforgettable experience with your closest family and friends.

STRESSFUL: You do not need to stress about the logistics of organizing travel plans for your wedding party. There are travel agents that will do that for you. Your hotel will also have a wedding planner on site to take care of the rest.

Here are ten reasons why you should consider having a destination wedding

4. YOU CAN GET MARRIED ON ANY DAY OF THE WEEK: Your wedding day does not have to be on a Saturday because everyone is working on weekdays, or on a Friday because that is cheaper than the weekend. When you have a destination wedding, any day of the week is yours.

1. DESTINATION WEDDINGS CAN BE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS: That's right. You can save up to 40% on the cost of a wedding if you do it abroad.

2. PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING IS WAY LESS

96 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca 70

3. YOU GET A HONEYMOON, A WEDDING AND A HOLIDAY: How about tripling up on a vacation wedding and then spending extra days after your guests are gone to enjoy some honeymoon days with your partner.

5. THE WEDDING COUPLE CAN GET THEIR ROOM FOR FREE: Most wedding resorts offer incentives for couples to bring their wedding ceremony to their hotel. If you have a certain

number of guests confirmed at the hotel for your wedding, you may get your room for free along with additional perks.

6. SAY YOUR VOWS ANYWHERE YOU WANT: On the cliffs, on the beach, in a banquet room, take your pick of locations to have your wedding ceremony.

7. SAVE MONEY BY HAVING YOUR WEDDING IN LOW SEASON: If you are flexible about your wedding date, then you can get a sweeter deal by having your wedding when the hotels are not as full and least expensive.

8. SAVE MONEY ON SHOES: When you get married on the beach, you do not need to spend money on expensive wedding shoes. It's really hard to walk in stilettos on the beach, so why bother? Save the money and go bare-foot.

9. ANNIVERSARIES: The location you choose now becomes a special place in your relationship that you can return to for anniversaries or special vacations.

10. PARTY ALL NIGHT LONG: There are no time limits to using the resort facilities and your guest don't have to worry about driving home or waking up at any time the next day if at all.

ABOUT ENGAGED & DESTINATON: Christian Sachs, the Founder and Destination Wedding Specialist at Engaged and Destination helps wanderlust couples curate their dream wedding in the perfect destination with all their favourite people. She works with all the top travel partners to secure the best rate, create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests and help guide you through the wedding planning process abroad.

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 71

Stephanie & Mackenzie LaBeouf Simply Perfect

WEDDING DATE: August 29, 2020 LOCATION: Sequin Valley Golf Club (www.seguinvalley.com) Parry Sound, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: DA Photography (www.daphotostudio.com) Guelph, ON "We met at a venue tour pre-COVID. He had photography books there and after looking at them and meeting Dragi we knew he was perfect. He knows exactly what he is doing and is amazing to work with. He made the whole process seemless and was agreeable to even coming to Parry Sound once we changed our venue due to COVID." - S BRIDE ATTIRE: Kleinfeld Canadal (www.kleinfeldbridal.ca) Toronto, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (www.moores.com) Toronto, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David’s Bridal (www.davidsbridal.ca) Toronto, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Corrie Elle Artistry (www.corrieelleartistry.com) Toronto, ON TELL US YOUR STORY: "Mack and I met on one of the worst days of my life. Shortly after my grandfather passed he showed up at their house to support my family as my cousin is his best friend. I didn’t know who this random guy was standing in their kitchen and my first words to him were “who are you and why are you here?”

72 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

He explained and I left him alone and he says he knew from that moment he needed to know me.

We didn’t see each other again for a couple years and then one day I went to my parents house and he was there with my cousin helping to cut down some trees. We finally had a proper introduction and from that point on we have been inseparable.

We got engaged a year and a half later, married 8 months after that and welcome our son this past August." - S BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "COVID. From changing venues due to regulations, decreasing numbers and trying to find new vendors our wedding plans changed several times. We decided just to take things in stride and do what we had to do to get married even if at the end of the day it was just us." - S BEST MEMORY: "Finally saying I do. After all the obstacles we made it to the end point and got to spend the day with our closest family and friends." - S ADVICE: "Although COVID was the extreme complication to tackle, things may never go as expected, and you just have to roll with the punches and remember the reason you are getting married. You don’t always need glitz and glamour sometimes simple ends up being even more perfect." - S •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

Ontario Bridal Show Calendar Full list of bridal shows (updated year round!) can be found @ www.theweddingring.ca ♥

THE RING’S KW WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ January 8th-9th, 2022 at Bingemans 425 Bingemans Centre Drive in Kitchener THE RING’S BRANTFORD WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ January 22nd, 2022 at Best Western Brantford 19 Holiday Inn Drive in Brantford THE RING’S LONDON WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ January 30th, 2022 at The Best Western Lamplighter Inn 591 Wellington Road in London THE RING’S STRATFORD WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 5th, 2022 at Best Western PLUS Arden Park Hotel 552 Ontario Street in Stratford THE RING’S GUELPH WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 26th, 2022 at Grand Guelph Banquet & Event Centre 340 Woodlawn Road West in Guelph THE RING’S HAMILTON SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 27th, 2022 at Marquis Gardens Hamilton 1050 Rymal Road East in Hamilton THE RING’S BLUEWATER/HURON WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ NEW ♥ March 5th, 2022 at Oakwood Resort 70671 Bluewater Hwy in Grand Bend THE RING’S CAMBRIDGE SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ April 3rd, 2022 at Cambridge Hotel & Conference Centre 700 Hespeler Road in Cambridge THE RING’S WOODSTOCK SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ April 10th, 2022 at Craigowan Golf Club 595838 Hwy 59 in Woodstock THE RING’S ANCASTER SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ NEW ♥ April 24th, 2022 at Marquis Gardens Ancaster 1365 Sandhill Drive in Ancaster

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

The Wedding Ring Expo If you're newly engaged attending a wedding expo is an absolute must to jumpstart your wedding planning. Here are 5 reasons you'll want to join us at one of The Wedding Ring Expos:

1.

RESEARCH

Whether you're brand new to the wedding plan game or replanning a previously postponed wedding, you'll be able to find inspiration for your big day. Wedding shows give vendors the opportunity to showcase the latest trends and hottest products and services.

2.

ONE-STOP-SHOPPING

Only at a wedding expo will you have an opportunity to meet such a wide range of wedding professionals in one place. From DJs to photographers, venues to gown stores, motivated couples can plan their entire weddings in one day.

Wedding Planning Win!

3.

DEALS! DEALS! DEALS!

You can take advantage of the wedding expo specials offered by many vendors. When chatting with the vendors you're interested in, it never hurts to ask if they're running a booking promotion. Pro-Tip: Watch your email in the days following the wedding show for special offers.

4.

WIN PRIZES!

In addition to Grand Prizes and door prizes, you'll likely find different giveaways and prizes along with the expo specials previously mentioned. You may win valuable services, fun prizes, or even discounts worth hundreds of dollars. Pro-Tip: make sure you register for custom labels with your contact information to easily enter to win prizes!

5.

IN-PERSON PLANNING

Wedding Expos give you the opportunity to meet prospective vendors in person. We love online planning, researching on social media and email communication as much as the next person.

But we know nothing replaces face-to-face meetings. Use this time to ask questions, view/taste samples, and find out if a vendor is right for your and your vision for your wedding day.

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 73

Ancaster | Brantford | Cambridge | Guelph | Hamilton Huron-Bluewater | Kitchener-Waterloo | London | Stratford | Woodstock

@ The show: venues, wedding designers & decorators, fashion & formal wear, photography, travel specialists, life & wedding budget specialists, off f iciants, music, transportation, beauty, health, gift ff f s, favours, wedding ft supplies & more!

Register for FREE ADMISSION at: www.theweddingring.ca

Favourite Wedding Venues

The FAVOURITE WEDDING VENUE section is thirty photo and fact filled pages featuring some of Ontario’s most sought-after wedding venues. From historic estates and wide open spaces for tent receptions to ballrooms that any engaged couple would die for, Favourite Wedding Venues is designed to give you an at-a-glance look at the styles, spaces, indoor and outdoor options, catering choices, and guest capacities at select wedding venues. Want more? Find everything from colour schemes to wedding menus, and package pricing by checking out wedding venue reviews at TheWeddingRing.ca

♥

VENUE: Rebel Creek Golf Club (♥) (www.golfnorth.ca/rebelcreek) PHOTO: LightOut Photography (www.lightout.ca)

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

pg 94

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 75

FOUR POINTS

BY SHERATON LONDON Your Happily Ever After Starts Here BEAUTIFUL BALLROOMS FOR UP TO 500 GUESTS AN OUTDOOR GAZEBO OVERLOOKING STUNNING GARDENS AWARD WINNING CATERING SERVICES 180 STYLISH GUESTROOMS AND AN IMPECCABLE STAFF THAT SEES TO YOUR EVERY NEED CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS NICOLEKEENAN@FOURPOINTSLONDON.COM 519-681-0600 MARRIOTT.COM/YXUFP 1150 WELLINGTON ROAD SOUTH, LONDON, ON, N6E 1M3

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON LONDON 519-681-0600 nicolekeenan@fourpointslondon.com www.marriott.com/yxufp

Photo: hrmphotography.com Photo: melissaweberphoto.ca

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON LONDON HOTEL & SUITES

IS PERFECT FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY. Step into the elegant ballroom surrounded with music and cheers from your loved ones as you start

YOUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

Photo: wesleyforbesphotography.com

Four Points London’s team of wedding professionals and award winning Executive Chef will work with you to

CREATE YOUR DREAM WEDDING.

10 TO 500 GUESTS | OUTDOOR GAZEBO

|

MULTIPLE

CEREMONY

RECEPTION

OPTIONS

AVAILABLE

|

OVERNIGHT

CEREMONIES &

|

FULL

BAR

SERVICE

ACCOMMODATIONS Photo: woodgatephotography.com

| ON-SITE CATERING Photo: wesleyforbesphotography.com

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 77

BEST WESTERN® PLUS LAMPLIGHTER INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE PHOTO: hrmphotography.com

IN LONDON 519-681-7151 sales@lamplighterinn.ca www.lamplighterinn.ca

PHOTO: Best Western Lamplighter Inn PHOTO: one12photo.ca

ALL-INCLUSIVE WEDDING PACKAGES for twenty to five hundred guests. Host your ceremony in front of the Atrium gazebo, dance and dine with guests in elegant ballrooms, and get treated to special accommodation rates. Have your own Wedding Planner on-site, create your customized menu, take advantage of fantastic indoor photo locations and extensive wedding décor options.

20-500 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING | GRAND BALLROOMS | CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS | INDOOR WATERFALLS | GLASS CEILINGS | INDOOR ATRIUM | EXTENSIVE CATERING MENUS | LUXURY OVERNIGHT SUITES | INDOOR GAZEBO CEREMONIES | HONEYMOON SUITES | YOUR ENTIRE WEDDING DAY IS TAKEN CARE OF AT THE BEST WESTERN PLUS® LAMPLIGHTER INN PHOTO: one12photo.ca

78 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

PHOTO: novamarkina.com

WHEREFABULOUS FABULOUSLOCAL LOCALWEDDINGS WEDDINGSBEGIN! BEGIN!• •125 135 WHERE

Experience one of Waterloo's Largest Wedding Venues Allow us to design a signature event, from an intimate family affair to a grand celebration of up to 800 guests. Our professional planners and caterers will create a stylish gathering, where everything is just as you’ve imagined. Throughout your event, from the initial planning to the evening’s last dance, your Inn of Waterloo wedding planner will be available to ensure that every detail is perfect.

Features 21,865 sq ft of event space Ceremony & Reception options Onsite event coordinator Customizable packages Group rates for wedding guests staying at the hotel 475 King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 2Z5 t: 519-804-1130 w: theinnofwaterloo.com e: info@theinnofwaterloo.com

INN OF WATERLOO & CONFERENCE CENTRE IN WATERLOO

PHOTOS: this page theinnofwaterloo.com

519-804-1130 Inn of Waterloo & Conference Centre is

ONE OF WATERLOO’S LARGEST WEDDING VENUES, perfectly located just

weddings@theinnofwaterloo.com www.theinnofwaterloo.com

minutes from Uptown Waterloo. The Inn of Waterloo & Conference Centre is an impressive destination for your event. From an intimate family affair to a grand celebration of up to 1000 guests, everything will be just as you’ve always imagined. imagined.

CEREMONY& RECEPTION OPTIONS | UP TO 1000 GUESTS | OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS | COURTYARD |ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 81

CAMBRIDGE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE / THE VENUE IN CAMBRIDGE

519-624-7732 sales@belegant.ca www.cambridgehotel.ca

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

Your dream wedding starts here at The Venue. We offer a high end service that will leave your guests wanting more. To say that The Venue is an elegant space is an understatement. With its open concept design, 2,800 square feet of space, sweeping windows and industrial chic appeal, it will take your breath away.

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

CEREMONY

&

GUESTS

ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

|

RECEPTION

OPTIONS

|

UP

TO

200

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

132•Th 82 •Th e eWedding WeddingRing RingMagazine Magazine| www.theweddingring.ca | www.theweddingring.ca

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

THE BARN @ EXETER IN CENTRALIA The Barn at the Exeter Golf Club was renovated with natural industrial materials to complement the beams, walls, and antique farming tools. This creates a fun, relaxed atmosphere.

Our 9-hole golf course provides an excellent pre-wedding outing and breathtaking photographic opportunities.

CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | UP TO 250 GUESTS | BARN VENUE | BAR SERVICE | GUEST HOUSE | ON-SITE CATERING | DEDICATED EVENT COORDINATOR

519-235-1517

PHOTO: The Barn @ Exeter PHOTO: amytaylorphotography.ca

events.exeter@golfnorth.ca www.golfnorth.ca/exeter-weddings PHOTO: sandramonacophoto.com

PHOTO: trethpassingphotography.com PHOTO: sandramonacophoto.com

PHOTO: amytaylorphotography.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 83

CRAIGOWAN GOLF CLUB IN WOODSTOCK PHOTO: thebridallounge.ca

PHOTO: thebridallounge.ca

519-462-2743 ext. 226

PHOTO: dudekphotography.com

info@craigowan.com www.craigowan.com

CRAIGOWAN

GOLF

CLUB

combines the natural beauty of our parkland setting with the finest service for weddings of all PHOTO: otephotography.com

styles. With a gorgeous large patio overlooking the golf course, our private facilities and attentive service will create the wedding of your dreams.

Our contemporary banquet

rooms can accommodate 220 guests for a sitdown meal or 250 for cocktail receptions.

Customizable

packages

are

available.

OUTDOOR CEREMONY AREA | PATIO | UP TO 220 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | FULL SERVICE WEDDING PACKAGES | CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS PHOTO: michaelsteingard.com

84 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

PHOTO: terryrichards.com

BEST WESTERN PLUS THE ARDEN PARK HOTEL PHOTOS, this page: courtesy of Best Western Plus Arden Park Hotel

IN STRATFORD PHOTO: simplephoto.ca

519-275-2936

sales@ardenpark.ca www.ardenpark.ca

We are committed to providing you with exceptional service and elegant banquet facilities that will exceed your expectations. Whether you are planning an intimate wedding for twenty, or an elaborate celebration for four-hundred, we have the facilities available to accommodate your every need. Located in picturesque Stratford, Ontario, there are beautiful gardens within walking distance for pictures you can only dream of as well as unique locations for photo opportunities. Best Western Plus the Arden Park Hotel has 144 luxurious guest rooms and suites to accommodate all of your out of town guests.

UP TO 450 GUESTS | OVERNIGHT GUEST ACCOMMODATIONS | CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 85

BEST WESTERN BRANTFORD HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE IN BRANTFORD 519-753-8651 events@bestwesternbrantford.com www.bestwesternbrantford.com

PHOTO: hauserworks.com PHOTOS, this page courtesy of bestwesternbrantford.com

The Best Western Brantford Hotel & Conference Centre offers an all-in-one venue for your wedding ceremony, dinner, reception, and overnight accommodations. Its large, adjustable space, elegant décor and beautiful crystal chandeliers make it a perfect choice for brides and grooms hosting either a large or intimate wedding.

50 TO 500 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

86 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

|

OVERNIGHT

ACCOMMOADATIONS

DUNDEE COUNTRY CLUB

PHOTO: simplyemilyphotography.com

IN NEW DUNDEE

Devon C Photography

519-696-3257

PHOTO: lovesproutsphotography.com

hospitality.dundee@golfnorth.ca www.golfnorth.ca/dundee

With your own hands-on wedding coordinator, flexible catering and bar options, cocktail hour by the fireplace, outdoor or indoor ceremony options, photos by the pond, beautiful banquet rooms and an attitude that’s all about you.

INDOOR WEDDINGS FOR 10 TO 140 GUESTS | OUTDOOR CEREMONY OPTIONS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING PHOTO: lovesproutsphotography.com

PHOTO: lovesproutsphotography.com

PHOTO: simplyemilyphotography.com

Just a few minutes west of Kitchener, Dundee Country Club is a Golf North property that has been home to countless K-W and Cambridge area couples’ weddings for over thirty years.

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 87

You said "Yes" NOW ITS TIME TO PLAN "I DO!" Choose one of our three premier locations for your special day. Rooms suitable for 25 to 400 guests.

The Marquis Gardens will create an unforgettable experience, provide exceptional service & prepare delectable culinary delights to bring your dream wedding to life, as you always imagined it!

Hamilton & Burlington: 1-888-991-9954 Ancaster: 1-877-304-4416 www.marquisgardens.com

MARQUIS GARDENS IN HAMILTON

PHOTOS this page: allyaphotography.com

888-991-9954 juliana@marquisgardens.com www.marquisgardens.com

At Marquis Gardens, we have three amazing venues to choose from- Hamilton Halls, Ancaster Grande & Burlington at the Waterfront Hotel. Our venues will provide you with all-inclusive wedding packages, delectable culinary delights, dedicated service and stress free planning assistance to bring your dream wedding to life!

THREE LOCATIONS | INDOOR & OUTDOOR WEDDINGS FOR 25 TO 400 GUESTS | ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGES | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING

78 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 89

CONCORDIA CLUB IN KITCHENER 519-745-5617 mail@concordiaclub.ca www.concordiaclub.ca

PHOTOS, this page: one2onephotography.ca (unless otherwise stated)

PHOTO:zsuzsipalphotography.com

Concordia Club is the place

90 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

to hold a beautiful wedding ceremony and reception. From outdoors to indoors, they can host an elegant wedding reception, from small and intimate, to large and lavish. Much more than just Oktoberfest!

UP FULL

TO

450

BAR

ON-SITE

GUESTS SERVICE

|

&

CATERING

GREY SILO GOLF CLUB IN WATERLOO 519-884-3556 x 153 hospitality.greysilo@golfnorth.ca www.golfgreysilo.ca

PHOTOS, this page: garyevansphotography.ca

Grey Silo Golf Club offers a sense of rustic sophistication that creates a unique, memorable setting for your wed-

ding event. The classic post and beam interior and floor to ceiling fieldstone gas fireplace make the perfect backdrop for your on-site ceremony.

This natural setting will deliver an experience that you and your guests will not soon forget.

UP TO 130 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 91

GRAYSON MILLS

IN STRATFORD (SPRING/SUMMER 2022) 519-854-4374 info@graysonmills.ca www.graysonmills.ca

PHOTOS, this page: funk.studio

As a historically restored venue, Grayson Mills is one of the most timeless settings for a wedding in picturesque Stratford, Ontario.

Designed to bring your romantic and elegant vision to life, the desirable location offers an opportunity for prime wedding photos in the heart of the city. With exposed beams, brick, sprawling windows and a large terrace, couples can select their space from four unique rooms. The historical significance of Grayson Mills is sure to emanate romance enhancing your love story.

UP TO 200 GUESTS | CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | INSIDE & TERRACE OPTIONS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

92 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

CALERIN GOLF CLUB IN ERIN manager.calerin@golfnorth.ca www.golfnorth.ca/calerin

PHOTO: decoratingdreams.ca

Just a short drive from KW, Guelph, and Georgetown, Calerin Golf Club is

PHOTO: GolfNorth

the ideal venue to host your dream wedding ceremony and reception. Our majestic clubhouse offers a private club feel with an unparalleled backdrop for those photos to capture your moments to last a lifetime. Our newly designed bridal suite offers hair and make-up stations to allow your bridal party to get ready comfortably on-site. Our team will ensure that planning your special day will be as easy and stress-free as possible and is ready to help you create a magical intimate affair or an elaborate first-class event for up to 100 guests!

INSIDE & OUTSIDE CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | 30-100 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

PHOTO: GolfNorth PHOTO: GolfNorth

PHOTO: GolfNorth

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 93

REBEL CREEK GOLF CLUB IN PETERSBURG 519-634-8666 hospitality.rebelcreek@golfnorth.ca www.golfnorth.ca/rebelcreek

PHOTOS, this page: michaelsteingard. com U

Rebel Creek Golf Club, a Golf North property, is surrounded by beautiful ponds and gorgeous green trees. The 22,000 square feet of gorgeous space gives the secluded feeling of a destination wedding

location,

ready

to

cater to your ultimate KW or Cambridge area wedding. With year round ceremony options and gorgeous views from the floor to ceiling windows, its easy to see why couples choose Rebel Creek Golf Club for their special day.

INSIDE

&

CEREMONY

&

OUTSIDE RECEPTION

OPTIONS | 50-150 GUESTS | |

ON-SITE FULL

BAR

CATERING SERVICE

PHOTO: lovesproutsphotography.com

94 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

CONESTOGA GOLF CLUB Devon C Photography

PHOTO: golfconestoga.ca PHOTO: lindsaycoulterphoto.com

IN WATERLOO 1-888-833-8787 hospitality.conestoga@golfnorth.ca www.golfconestoga.ca

PHOTO: golfconestoga.ca

NESTLED ALONGSIDE THE GRAND RIVER on 250

acres, Conestoga Golf Club features some of the most picturesque scenery in the area. With the option of indoor or outdoor services and a spacious two level solarium overlooking the Grand River, we tailor your special day to ensure your wedding dreams come true.

INSIDE

AND

OUTSIDE

CEREMONY

&

RECEPTION OPTIONS | 50 TO 250 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

PHOTO: golfconestoga.ca

PHOTO: peterbphotography.com

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 95

FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE IN LONDON

PHOTO: thebridallounge.ca

519-457-1296 Ext. 813

PHOTO: courtesy of Fanshawe Pioneer Village

rentals@fanshawepioneervillage.ca www.fanshawepioneervillage.ca

C E L E B R AT E Y O U R F U T U R E with a step back in time. Choose

a 19th century church or beautiful park with gazebo PHOTO: olivephotography.ca

PHOTO: courtesy of Fanshawe Pioneer Village

for your unique wedding ceremony, and heritage barn or expansive grounds for your reception. For a more modern facility with a view of the lake, we have our Trillium Gallery, the newest addition to our venues.

INDOOR AND

PIONEER AND

RECEPTION

VILLAGE

OUTDOOR OPTIONS

|

OFFERS CEREMONY

UP

TO

400

GUESTS | NATURAL GREEN SPACE | MULTIPLE PHOTO BARN

LOCATIONS | HISTORIC, RUSTIC FOR RECEPTIONS | GAZEBO

PHOTO: sarahmcneil.ca

FANSHAWE

PHOTO: sarahmcneil.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 57

96 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Fanshawe Pioneer Village Your Rustic Dream Come True

46 Acres of Possibility For Details: Web: fanshawepioneervillage.ca Email: rentals@fanshawepioneervillage.ca Phone: (519) 457-1296 ext. 813

2609 Fanshawe Park Rd. E, London, ON

PHOTO: Chelsea Green Photography

Photo: JLP Studios

Photo: On 3 Photo & Film

Photo: David + Kara Wedding Imagery

Treasure your moments and allow us to guide you in making your dream wedding come true. www.stgeorgehall.com 519-884-0311

ST. GEORGE BANQUET HALL IN WATERLOO 519-722-5003 gm@stgeorgehall.com www.stgeorgehall.com

PHOTO: hauserworks.com PHOTO: Tina Lazarevic Photography PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

ST. GEORGE HALL OFFERS A GREAT VENUE OPTION FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY. Whether you’re

PHOTO: jlpstudio.ca

PHOTO: jlpstudio.ca

PHOTO: Tina Lazarevic Photography

looking to celebrate your wedding indoors or out, St. George Banquet Hall can accommodate you and your wedding vision. With the ability to host a small intimate wedding of 30 people or a large celebration of 700 guests.

OUTDOOR GAZEBO CEREMONIES | INDOOR CEREMONIES | OUTDOOR TENT WEDDINGS | CASH BAR, HOST BAR, OPTION TO BRING YOUR OWN WINE | 2 MASTER EUROPEAN CHEFS TO CREATE YOUR DREAM MENU

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 99

DELTA HOTELS

BY MARRIOTT WATERLOO Devon C Photography

IN WATERLOO

519-514-0404 dhr.ykfdw.sales@deltahotels.com www.marriott.com/ykfdw

At Delta Hotels Waterloo, we believe your wedding day must be beautiful and magnificent. Located in the heart of Uptown Waterloo, our stylish, sleek designs and event space provide a stunning backdrop for your wedding.

Explore our spectacular event space, delectable cuisine and four-star guest rooms. Our team will help you design a wedding celebration that exceeds all expectations. From exquisite cuisine to gracious service, every detail will be managed with care, allowing you to relax and enjoy every moment of your perfect day.

PHOTO: .gary-evans.ca

50-300 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING | ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGES | LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS PHOTO: photographyfromthesoul.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 101

PHOTOS, this page: sipimage.com

The Waterloo Regional Police Association Banquet & Recreation Centre is situated on 52

acres of beautifully landscaped grounds offering privacy for your special occasion. With the option of indoor or outdoor services, WRPA can accommodate celebrations and events such as family reunions, anniversaries, engagement and retirement parties, and of course, weddings.

INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | UP TO 300 GUESTS ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

102 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca 78 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 133

, t i m a e r d n a c If you can do it! we

Phone: (519) 622-0771 E-mail: jackie@wrpa.org Website: www.wrpa.org

PRESENTING

PHOTO: gotsphotos.com

BY:

Under the direction of Platters Catering, no event too large for The Grand Guelph Banquet & Event Centre team!

“Our Chefs have prepared wonderful menus for countless wedding receptions, baby and bridal showers, funerals,corporate and charity events, and many other creative parties.

Any event can be entirely planned by our professional staff, including; décor, rental equipment and more!!”

519-836-3190 | info@thegrandguelph.ca | www.thegrandguelph.ca

THE GRAND GUELPH BANQUET & EVENT CENTRE IN GUELPH 519-836-3190 info@thegrandguelph.ca www.thegrandguelph.ca

PHOTOS, this page: thegrandguelph.ca Unless otherwise stated

PHOTO: gotsphotos.com

THE GRAND GUELPH BANQUET & EVENT CENTRE is Guelph’s premier event facility, offering over 12,000 square feet of sophisticated, adaptable event space for weddings, corporate, and social occasions that can accommodate 50-1000 guests. Under the direction of Platters Catering, The Grand Guelph is a full service facility catering to all your food and beverage needs. A short drive from Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge, we are located at the corner of highways 6 & 7 in Guelph.

PHOTO: deanpalmer.ca

UP TO 1000 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 105

CAMBRIDGE BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY IN CAMBRIDGE

519-653-1234 x 112 weddings@cambridgebutterfly.com www.cambridgebutterfly.com

PHOTO: hauserworks.com PHOTO: carachapmanphotography.com PHOTO: joboucherphotography.com

BEAUTIFUL FREE-FLYING BUTTERFLIES

PHOTO: joboucherphotography.com

PHOTO: carachapmanphotography.com

PHOTO: carachapmanphotography.com

create a romantic, intimate and unique wedding venue for your ceremony, reception and photos all year round, rain or shine. Offering customizable menus, personalized consultation, bridal suite, on-site catering & bar services.

CEREMONIES AND RECEPTIONS FOR UP TO 100 GUESTS | BRIDAL SHOWERS FOR UP TO 60 GUESTS

106 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

FREE online wedding planning resource featuring local content including: Vendor Reviews | Real Wedding Stories Design Inspiration | Gown Galleries Planning Tools & much more