The Wedding Ring Magazine Spring/Summer 2020

Spring/Summer 2020 Vol 13 No 2

MAGAZINE | WEBSITE | EXPO | COMMUNITY

Design Edition 26 PAGES OF DESIGN IDEAS CAKE, FLORAL, TUXES, GOWNS AND MORE

20 PAGES OF WEDDING WORTHY VENUES

SIZE, STYLE, CAPACITY, CATERING OPTIONS & MORE!

UNIQUE DESTINATION WEDDING VENUES

DESTINATION WEDDING SECTION

CHOOSING AN MC PLUS OTHER EXPERT TIPS

BRIDAL SHOW CALENDAR WEDDING SHOWS FROM SARNIA TO TORONTO, BRANTFORD TO ORILLIA & BEYOND

15 REAL WEDDING STORIES

$4.99 CDN $4.99 USD

WWW.THEWEDDINGRING.CA

TORONTO ♥ BRANTFORD ♥ HAMILTON ♥ GUELPH ♥ KITCHENER-WATERLOO ♥ CAMBRIDGE ♥ WOODSTOCK LONDON ♥ HURON COUNTY ♥ STRATFORD ♥ NEWMARKET ♥ MILTON ♥ BARRIE ♥ SARNIA ♥ ORILLIA

Contents

p37

p34

p40

DESTINATION WEDDINGS P29-38 DESIGN PALETTES P49-74

FEATURES

Elegant romance p50 Favourite themes at Wedsy.ca p51 Pretty in pink p52 Favourite tuxes: Moores Clothing p53 Favourite wow factor florals p54 & 55 Trend alert: gorgeous gowns p56 & 57 Favourite tuxes: Collins Formal Wear p58 Favourite specialty curated gift boxes p59 Favourite cake designs p60 & 61 Beauty within p62 Classically French p63 EXPERT TIPS P39-48 Drunk on love p64 5 reasons to hire a wedding planner p40 Alternative style p65 Fun additions to your wedding p41 Elegant rustic p66 & 67 One invitation - 5 ways p42 Favourite tuxes: Stars Men's Shops p68 Choosing a Master of Ceremonies p43 Romantic, whimsical & lush p69 Saving tips for your dream home p44 Beyond dreamy gowns p70 How to personalize your wedding menu p45 Soft glam p71, 72 & 73 Wedding themes, styles & trends p48 Favourite themes at Wedsy.ca p74

Local wedding experts p4-7 Bridal show calendar p75 Wedding worthy venues p77-96

Favourite themes at Wedsy.ca p30 Stunning Costa Rica p31 Cuba's best-kept destination wedding secret p32 Destination Muskoka p33 Gatsby meets country p34 Perfect view in BC p35 Top 5 unique destination wedding venues p36 Intimate Dominican wedding p37 Passion + travel = destination wedding p38

REAL WEDDINGS P9-28

Classic sparkle p10 Antique western p11 Glitz & modern glam p12 Modern elegant affair p14 Art deco p15 Rose gold romance p16 Downtown chic p18 Proposal abroad p19 Love on the farm p21 Boho DIY p22 Autumn fairytale p23 Beautiful love story p24 Countryside rustic p25 Modern country p27 Simply rustic p28

p22

p71-73

p89

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 1

INTRODUCING

RING REWARDS Find and book wedding experts with TheWeddingRing.ca to earn points that you can save and use to enter exclusive draws happening monthly!

Visit TheWeddingRing.ca & click 'Ring Rewards' to get started.

JOIN

EARN

WIN

Join the Ring Rewards Program

Earn points by booking wedding experts

Use points to enter fabulous prize draws

JOIN BY JUNE 1, 2020 TO EARN AN EXTRA 200 POINTS!

SPRING/SUMMER 2020 PUBLISHED BY Wedding Ring Inc.

team@theweddingring.ca The Wedding Ring Magazine is published two times yearly: January and September. This is The Wedding Ring’s 26th Edition of the magazine. 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

PHOTOGRAPHY: Gary Evans Photography (♥) (gary-evans.ca) Kitchener, ON LOCATION: Basilica of Our Lady (basilicaofourlady.com) Guelph, ON BRIDE: Shenea Hasson Full story p50 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. © 2020 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. And 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 RING’S WEDDING EXPO events which take place seasonally in 12+ 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 Ring's Wedding Expo in your city can change the way you approach wedding marketing: contact team@theweddingring.ca & visit theweddingring.ca

Local Wedding Experts BUDGET & PLANNING

THE FINANCIAL DIVA 519-350-1702 | risa@thefinancialdiva.ca thefinancialdiva.ca Reviewed in London section of The Ring LOVELY WEDDINGS & EVENTS 519-577-2572 | hello@lovelyweddingsandevents.ca lovelyweddingsandevents.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring SERVERS WITH A SMILE 519-721-5424 | events@serverswithasmile.ca serverswithasmile.ca Reviewed in KW section of The Ring

DESIGN [FLORAL, PAPER, DÉCOR + MORE]

DECORATING DREAMS 519-662-6880 | decoratingdreams@golden.net decoratingdreams.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring DEVINE WEDDING DESIGN 519-348-4191 | info@devineweddingdesign.ca devineweddingdesign.ca Reviewed in London section of The Ring FIRST STOP WEDDING DECOR RENTALS 519-717-6616 | firststopweddingdecor@hotmail.com Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring FRESH LOOK DESIGN 519-954-8978 | info@freshlookdesign.ca freshlookdesigninc.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring JDV EVENTS & DECOR 647-883-7274 | jdveventdecor@gmail.com jdveventdecor.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring JULIA WEDDINGS 519-894-0727 | julia.weddings@yahoo.com juliaweddings.ca Reviewed in KW section of The Ring

RACHEL & CO. WEDDING & EVENT DECOR 226-667-9954 | info@rachelandco.ca rachelandco.ca Reviewed in London section of The Ring RED BICYCLE PAPER CO. 519-222-6240 | redbicyclepaperco@gmail.com redbicyclepaperco.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring SAVE THE DATE EVENT & DECOR 519-312-0382 | savethedatesarnia@gmail.com savethedatesarnia.com Reviewed in Sarnia section of The Ring

FASHION & FORMALWEAR

BEST FOR BRIDE Toronto 647-430-7498 | Etobicoke 416-233-3393 Barrie 705-503-3300 | Hamilton 289-755-0262 bestforbride.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring BRIDAL BOUTIQUE 519-753-9609 | info@bridal-boutique.ca bridal-boutique.ca Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring BRIDESMADE 226-400-0583 | hello@bridesmade.ca bridesmade.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring CRÈME COUTURE 519-763-2011 | info@cremecouture.ca cremecouture.ca Reviewed in All cities of The Ring SEW STYLISH WEDDING WORKS 519-485-7097 | sewstylishweddingworks@outlook.com sewstylishweddingworks.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring

FOOD & DRINK

B ELEGANT CATERING 519-622-1505 | weddings@belegant.ca belegant.ca Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

LAPIER'S FLOWERS & GIFTS 519-862-1414 | lapiersflowers@bellnet.ca lapiersflowers.com Reviewed in Sarnia section of The Ring

BINGEMANS 519-744-1231 ext. 2260 | weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

NOW & ALWAYS 519-302-0398 | cynthia@nowandalways.ca nowandalways.ca Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring

THE CAKE ENGINEER 519-400-2157 | info@thecakeengineer.ca thecakeengineer.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

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

LITTLE MUSHROOM CATERING 226-791-4537 | info@littlemushroomcatering.com littlemushroomcatering.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

GIFTS, FAVOUR & SUPPLIES

LONDON HEALTH SCIENCES FOUNDATION 519-685-8070 | celebrationgiving@lhsf.ca lhsf.ca/weddings Reviewed in London section of The Ring ONTARIO SPCA 1-888-668-7722 | donate@ospca.on.ca ontariospca.ca Reviewed in Newmarket section of The Ring WEDSY 519-568-8007 | wedsy@theweddingring.ca wedsy.ca Reviewed in ALL cities of The Ring

HEALTH & BEAUTY

EVOLUTION CONCEPTS IN HAIR & SPA 519-743-0009 | info@evolutionhairspa.com evolutionhairspa.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring EWYN STUDIO Over 45 Locations across Canada ewynstudios.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION ANCASTER MILL 905-648-1828 | info@ancastermill.ca ancastermill.ca Reviewed in Hamilton section of The Ring

ARCADIAN COURT BY OLIVER & BONACINI 416-364-1211 | events@oliverbonacini.com oliverbonacinievents.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring THE ARTS & LETTERS CLUB 416-597-9544 | catering@artsandlettersclub.ca artsandlettersclub.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring BEAVERDALE GOLF CLUB 519-658-5951 ext. 22 hospitality.beaverdale@golfnorth.ca golfnorth.ca/beaverdale Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

BERKELEY FIELD HOUSE 416-361-9666 | info@berkeleyevents. comberkeleyfieldhouse.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

THE CARLU 416-597-1931 | events@oliverbonacini.com thecarlu.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

BEST WESTERN PLUS ARDEN PARK HOTEL 519-275-2936 | ardenpk@orc.ca ardenpk.on.ca Reviewed in Stratford section of The Ring

CARADOC SANDS 519-878-7882| weddings@caradocsands.ca caradocsands.ca Reviewed in Sarnia section of The Ring

BEST WESTERN BRANTFORD HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-753-8652 ext. 142 events@bestwesternbrantford.com bestwesternbrantford.com Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring

CASA LOMA 416-923-1171 | events@casaloma.ca casaloma.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

BEST WESTERN PLUS LAMPLIGHTER INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-681-7151 | sales@lamplighterinn.ca lamplighterinn.ca Reviewed in London section of The Ring BEST WESTERN PLUS STONERIDGE INN AND CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-652-6022 | natalie@stoneridgeinn.com stoneridgeinn.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring BINGEMANS 519-744-1231 ext. 2268 | weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring BLUEBERRY HILL WINERY 519-586-2256 | info@blueberry-hill.ca blueberry-hill.ca Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring BOB RUMBALL MANOR 416-449-9651 x 103 | jbursa@bobrumball.org bobrumballmanor.org Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring CAMBRIDGE BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY 519-653-1234 x 112 weddings@cambridgebutterfly.com cambridgebutterfly.com Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

CELLAR 52 519-573-9468 | kate.peister@cellar52.com cellar52.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

Local Wedding Experts • Are award winners • Have multiple degrees & accreditations • Are members of selective organizations • Do regular charity work • Are teachers & mentors in their craft • Have appeared in television news & wedding segments DEER RIDGE GOLF CLUB 519-650-2447 ext. 222 laura@deerridgegolfclub.com deerridgegolfclub.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring DELTA HOTELS BY MARRIOTT

CENTURY PINES GOLF CLUB 905-628-2877 | sale@kaneffgolf.com golfcenturypines.com Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring

519-514-0404 | wat.sales.sm@deltahotels.com

CHELSEA HOTEL TORONTO 416-585-4340 cstor.weddings@chelseatoronto.com chelseatoronto.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

519-893-1211 | stephanie.crombie@sunraygroup.ca

CONCORDIA CLUB 519-745-5617 x 101 | ruth.rajna@concordiaclub.ca concordiaclub.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring CONESTOGA GOLF & CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-664-2851 x 227 hospitality.conestoga@golfnorth.ca golfnorth.ca/conestoga Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring CRAIGOWAN GOLF CLUB 519-462-2743 | info@craigowan.com craigowan.com Reviewed in Woodstock section of The Ring

WATERLOO marriott.com/ykfdw Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KITCHENER Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring DUNDEE COUNTRY CLUB 519-696-3257 | mfloyd.dundee@golfnorth.ca golfnorth.ca/dundee Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring ELORA MILL HOTEL & SPA 519-846-8484 | events@eloramill.ca eloramill.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring ENOCH TURNER SCHOOLHOUSE 416-314-3585 | bookings@heritagetrust.on.ca heritagetrust.on.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring ESTATES OF SUNNYBROOK

THE CAMBRIDGE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-624-7732 | ndemmery@cambridgehotel.ca cambridgehotel.ca Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

CROWNE PLAZA KITCHENERWATERLOO 519-744-4141 | aspiers@cpkw-hotel.com kitchener-hotel.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

416-487-3841

CAMBRIDGE MILL 519-624-1828 | info@cambridgemill.ca cambridgemill.com Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

DANTE CLUB 519-542-9311 | gm@danteclubsarnia.ca danteclubsarnia.ca Reviewed in Sarnia section of The Ring

FALLS INN & SPA

mansions@estatesofsunnybrook.com estatesofsunnybrook.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

519-794-4388 | mhallman@thefallsinn.com thefallsinn.com Reviewed in Newmarket section of The Ring WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 5

FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE 519-457-1296 rentals@fanshawepioneer village.ca fanshawepioneervillage.ca Reviewed in London section of The Ring

INN OF WATERLOO & CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-804-1130 | weddings@theinnofwaterloo.com theinnofwaterloo.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON LONDON 519-681-0680 ext. 8338 catering@fourpointslondon.com | marriott.com/yxufp Reviewed in London section of The Ring

INNISBROOK GOLF COURSE 705-721-9210 | jmorris@golfinnisbrook.com golfinnisbrook.com Reviewed in Barrie section of The Ring

GALT COUNTRY CLUB 519-621-7020 | chughes@galtcountryclub.com galtcountryclub.com Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

IVEY SPENCER LEADERSHIP CENTRE 519-675-5529 | jclark@ivey.uwo.ca iveyspencerleadershipcentre.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring

THE GEORGE BROWN HOUSE 416-314-3585 | bookings@heritagetrust.on.ca heritagetrust.on.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

LA PETITE CHAPELLE 519-589-9730 | lapetitechapelleevents@gmail.com Reviewed in Woodstock section of The Ring

THE GRAND GUELPH BANQUET & EVENT CENTRE 519-824-5076 | info@thegrandguelph.ca thegrandguelph.ca Reviewed in Guelph section of The Ring GRAYDON HALL MANOR 416-449-5432 | concierge@graydonhall.com graydonhall.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring GREY SILO GOLF COURSE 519-884-3556 x 224 kreinhardt.greysilo@golfnorth.ca golfnorth.ca/greysilo Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring HAMPTON INN & SUITES BY HILTON BRANTFORD 519-720-0084 | kayla.martins@hilton.com hamptoninnbrantford.com Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring HART HOUSE 416-946-7196 | weddings.harthouse@utoronto.ca harthouse.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring HAUSER HALL 519-747-1138 | info@hauserhall.com hauserhall.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring HESSENLAND INN & SCHATZ WINERY 519-236-7707 | hessen@hessenland.com hessenland.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring HUBERTUSHAUS 519-634-8491 | gchfc@hotmail.com | gchfc.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring 6 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

LIBERTY GRAND 416-542-3789 | info@libertygrand.com libertygrand.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring LIBERTY NORTH 705-728-3877 | info@libertynorth.ca libertynorth.ca Reviewed in Barrie section of The Ring MARIPOSA CRUISES 416-203-0178 | sales@mariposacruises.com mariposacruises.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring MARQUIS GARDENS HAMILTON 905-388-4411| deanna@marquisgardens.com marquisgardens.com Reviewed in Hamilton section of The Ring MARRIOTT TOWNPLACE SUITES BRANTFORD 519-720-2777 | amber.kane@marriott.com affinitybrantford.com Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring MILLER LASH HOUSE 416-287-7000 | millerlash@utsc.utoronto.ca millerlashhouse.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring MILTON BANQUET & CONFERENCE CENTRE 905-864-8445 | info@miltonbanquets.com miltonbanquets.com Reviewed in Milton section of The Ring NOTTAWASAGA INN RESORT 705-435-5505 | info@nottawasagaresort.com nottawasagaresort.com Reviewed in Barrie section of The Ring

THE OLD MILL 416-236-2641 | info@oldmilltoronto.com oldmilltoronto.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring ONTARIO HERITAGE CENTRE 416-314-3585 | bookings@heritagetrust.on.ca heritagetrust.on.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring PALAIS ROYALE 416-533-3533 | info@pegasushospitality.ca palaisroyale.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring PARAGON BANQUET CENTRE 519-722-4812 | info@paragonbanquet.com paragonbanquet.com Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring QUALITY INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE ORILLIA 705-326-7343 | kelly@qualityinnorillia.com qualityinnorillia.com Reviewed in Orillia section of The Ring REBEL CREEK GOLF CLUB 519-634-8666 hospitality.rebelcreek@golfnorth.ca golfnorth.ca/rebelcreek Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring REVIVAL HOUSE 519-273-3424 | weddings@revival.house revival.house Reviewed in Stratford section of The Ring SPENCER’S AT THE WATERFRONT 905-633-7494 | info@spencers.ca spencers.ca Reviewed in Hamilton section of The Ring ST. GEORGE BANQUET HALL 519-884-0311 | gm@stgeorgehall.com stgeorgehall.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring STOREHOUSE 408 contact@storehouse408.com | storehouse408.com Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring STRATFORD COUNTRY CLUB 519-271-4212 | jjacob@stratfordcountryclub.ca stratfordcountryclub.ca Reviewed in Stratford section of The Ring THEMUSEUM 519-749-9387 | victoria.wood@themuseum.ca themuseum.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring TORONTO BOTANICAL GARDEN 416-397-1349 | info@torontobotanicalgarden.ca torontobotanicalgarden.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS 416-733-9388 | customerservice@tolive.com tocentre.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring TORONTO MARRIOTT CITY CENTRE HOTEL 416-341-7100 | sales@torontomarriott.com marriott.com/yyzbr Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION 519-622-0771 | jackie@wrpa.org | wrpa.org Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE HOTEL 416-869-1600 | westintorontosales@westin.com westinharbourcastletoronto.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring WHISTLE BEAR GOLF CLUB 519-650-2327 | info@whistlebear.ca whistlebear.ca Reviewed in Cambridge section of The Ring

MUSIC

THUNDERSTORM PRODUCTIONS 519-741-2005 | info@thunderstormpro.com thunderstormpro.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

OFFICIANTS BEVERLEY SORBARA 519-938-7650 | sorbarabeverley@gmail.com FEELINGS FROM THE HEART WEDDING CHAPEL & OFFICIANTS 519-743-3101 | pat@theweddingchapel.on.ca theweddingchapel.on.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring WOVEN THREADS - HANDCRAFTED CEREMONIES 519-823-0038 | christine@woven-threads.ca woven-threads.ca

PHOTO + FILM AMANADA MAY FILMS amandamayruth@gmail.com

ALLEGRO PRODUCTIONS 519-221-2798 | allegroproductions@outlook.com allegroproductions.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

amandamayfilms.com

COMPLETE WEDDINGS + EVENTS 226-444-9639 | yashar@cmusic.ca cmusic.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

226-218-6870 | anashphotograph@gmail.com

COPELAND DJ PRODUCTIONS 905-541-8488 | info@copelanddj.ca copelanddj.ca Reviewed in Hamilton section of The Ring DCF WEDDING MUSIC 866-710-7658 | hello@dcfweddingmusic.com dcfweddingmusic.com Reviewed in Guelph section of The Ring IN THE CUE DJ SERVICE 416-829-5272 | info@inthecue.ca | inthecue.ca Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

Reviewed in Sarnia section of The Ring A NASH PHOTOGRAPH anashphotograph.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring ANNE EDGAR PHOTOGRAPHY 519-616-2214 | anne@anneedgarphoto.com anneedgarphoto.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring BRIAN LIMOYO PHOTOGRAPHY 519-781 9448 | infophoto@brianlimoyo.com brianlimoyoweddings.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring DOUG WOLTERS PHOTOGRAPHY 905-931-7799 | info@photod.ca

MAXIMUM MUSIC DJ SERVICE 416-255-2910 | rod@maximumdj.com maximumdj.com Reviewed in GTA section of The Ring

photod.ca

MUSIC CENTRAL ENTERTAINMENT 519-680-0698 | musiccentral@musiccentral.ca musiccentral.ca Reviewed in London section of The Ring

519-222-5840 | team@gary-evans.ca

NITRO MUSIC 519-841-4187 | info@nitromusic.ca nitromusic.ca Reviewed in Brantford section of The Ring

Reviewed in Hamilton section of The Ring GARY EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY gary-evans.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring HRM PHOTOGRAPHY 519-936-8977 | info@hrmphotography.com hrmphotography.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring

JULIE NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY 519-954-6655 julienicolephotographykw@gmail.com julienicolephotography.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring LATTE PRODUCTIONS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY 519-745-8368 | info@latteproductions.ca latteproductions.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring LAURA JOY PHOTOGRAPHY 705-791-3731 | hello@laurajoyphotography.ca laurajoyphotography.ca Reviewed in Orillia section of The Ring NOVA MARKINA PHOTOGRAPHY 519-709-3827 | nova@novamarkina.com novamarkina.com Reviewed in London section of The Ring RACHEL PAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY 705-818-3018 | info@rachelpaynephotography.com rachelpaynephotography.com Reviewed in Orillia section of The Ring SIMPLY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY 519-835-9074 simplyweddingphotography@rogers.com simplyweddingphotography.ca Reviewed in Guelph section of The Ring SPIRITS INTRIGUED PHOTOGRAPHY 519-721-5468 | alex@sipimage.com sipimage.com Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

TRANSPORTATION

BRENTWOOD LIVERY 519-741-5700 | info@brentwoodlivery.ca brentwoodlivery.ca Reviewed in K-W section of The Ring

TRAVEL

CAA TRAVEL SARNIA 519-344-8686 | jh15@caasco.ca caasco.com Reviewed in Sarnia section of The Ring DESTINATION DREAM VACATIONS 519-990-1279 | destidream@gmail.com destinationdreamvacation.ca Reviewed in ALL cities of The Ring MURDOCH TRAVEL 705-734-3534 | info@murdochtravel.ca murdochtravel.ca Reviewed in Barrie section of The Ring VIVA WYNDHAM RESORTS 1-800-996-3426 | groups@vivaresortsusa.com vivawyndhamresorts.com Reviewed in ALL cities of The Ring WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 7

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!!”

519-824-5076 | info@thegrandguelph.ca | www.thegrandguelph.ca

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: Sandra Monaco Photography (sandramonacophoto.com) Kitchener, ON VENUE: Ancaster Mill (♥) (ancastermill.ca) Ancaster, ON) BRIDE & GROOM: Deanna & Andrew Patenaude WEDDING: October 11th, 2019 Full story: p19 WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 9

CLASSIC SPARKLE

BRIDE & GROOM: Darren & Linda Strickland WEDDING DATE: September 21st, 2019

LOCATION: Best Western PLUS Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre and The Rose Chapel (♥) (stoneridgeinn.com) London, ON “We chose The Rose Chapel because Darren and I have both been married before and we wanted to have the feel of a church. When we saw The Rose Chapel in person, we knew it was where we wanted to say our 'I do's'. It is absolutely beautiful! We are also regular customers at Pasto's Grill restaurant located in the

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

hotel; the food there is fabulous! All of our guests raved about our 5 course meal.” - D&L GUESTS: 80 BUDGET: $50,000 THEME: "The overall theme of our wedding was very classy with silver glitter and shine. Our colours were blush with silver glitter accents." - L PHOTOGRAPHY: One12 Photography (one12photo.ca) London, ON 10 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

“I saw Cynthia's work online and I knew at that moment she would be our photographer, I didn't care how much the cost was. Cynthia has an amazing talent and is truly spectacular at her job!"- L FLORALS: Springhill Flowers (springhillflowers.com) London, ON DÉCOR: To Suit Your Fancy (tosuityourfancy.com) London, ON PLANNER: Twelfth Night Events (twelfthnightevents.com) London, ON BRIDE ATTIRE: Crème Couture (♥) (cremecouture.ca) Guelph, ON VEIL: Budget Bridal Veils (budgetbridalveils.com) Woodstock, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Sophie's Gown Shoppe (sophiesgownshoppe.com) London, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Collins Formal Wear (♥) (collinsformalwear.com) London, ON DJ: Music Central Entertainment (♥) (musiccentral.ca) London, ON HAIR: Caitlyn Marriott (@hairbycaitlynmarriott) London, ON MAKEUP: Darling Makeup & Hair (facebook.com/ elissadarlingmakeup) London, ON

PHOTOBOOTH: Picture Perfect Photobooth (pictureperfectphotobooth.ca) London, ON CAKE: Grandma's Oven Bakery (grandmasoven.ca) Aylmer, ON VINYL DANCE FLOOR: KM Imaging (kmimaging. com) Strathroy, ON STATIONERY: Primarily Paper (primarilypaper.ca) London, ON "Our wedding invitations were what set the tone of our wedding. The glitter and mirrored paper reflected my personality as I love all things shiny and sparkly! We had menu cards, rehearsal invitations, favour tags, hotel tags, candy bar labels, bathroom signs, and a bar sign made to match." L DÉCOR RENTALS: Bella Wedding Rentals (bellaweddingrental.com) London, ON SEATING CHART: Creative Giraffe Co. (@ creativegiraffeco) London, ON BEST MEMORY: “The best memory of the day was walking down the aisle with my son, feeling so much love from all our guests and seeing my husband standing at the alter. Our officiant also included my 17 year old son, Tyler, in our ceremony. On our wedding day we became a family. It was a very touching moment with a lot of emotion." - L •

BEST MEMORY: "I have many best memories of our wedding day. I would have to say my favourites were when my husband and family first saw me in my dress walking down the aisle, and enjoying the evening with our friends and family." - A

ANTIQUE WESTERN

BRIDE & GROOM: Andrea Nixon & Devon Treleaven WEDDING DATE: October 20th, 2018 CEREMONY LOCATION: Ebenezer United Church, Campbellville, ON “We chose Ebenezer as it is an absolutely beautiful church inside and out. We had always felt called to that church and we continue to attend services there to this day." - A RECEPTION LOCATION: Mohawk Chop House (mohawkchophouse.com) Campbellville, ON “We had previously visited the restaurant side and it has a nice rustic western vibe. Being dairy farmers we loved it!” - A PHOTOGRAPHY: Trina Koster Photography (trinakoster.com) Guelph, ON "We did a lot of research into photographers and when we found Trina we loved her work, personality, and eye for great photos! She was a perfect fit for our engagement and wedding photos.

My favourite part of working with Trina is how she was able to capture all the candid and special moments of us

on our farm with a few of our animals like our dogs and cattle." - A GUESTS: 80 BUDGET: $28,000 THEME: "Since we had a fall wedding we took advantage of that using pumpkins and leaves, and went with a burgundy and gold colour scheme. We also used rustic, antique and western décor to go with our personal style." - A FLORALS: Blooms + Flora (bloomsandflora.com) Guelph, ON DÉCOR & DIY: "All of the décor was done by myself and my family. We rent out rustic, antique and farm décor for people to use at their events." - A CAKE: Wellington Cakes (wellingtoncakes.ca) Guelph, ON BRIDE + BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: Crème Couture (♥) (cremecouture.ca) Guelph, ON "When we arrived we were warmly greeted by the owner Michelle.

The whole experience was the best I could have

asked for. The first dress I tried on was the one!

We loved the shop so much we also dressed all the bridesmaids here as well as the mother of the bride.

They all found perfect dresses and accessories!" - A GROOM ATTIRE: Moores Clothing For Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Guelph, ON GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Tip Top Tailor (tiptoptailors.ca) Guelph, ON DJ: DJ Charlie Clean Custom Events (djcharlieclean.ca) Guelph, ON HAIR: Salon Nine (facebook.com/salonnine) Erin, ON

ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "Our advice would be enjoy every moment of the planning and the big day as it goes by so fast! Don't worry about the small things that may not go right, the only thing that really matters that day is getting married and becoming one." - A&D • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 11

GLITZ & MODERN GLAM BRIDE & GROOM: Ashley & David McCready WEDDING DATE: October 6th, 2018 CEREMONY LOCATION: Baba Budha Ji Gursikh Gurdwara (facebook.com/bababudhajihamilton) Stoney Creek, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: Marquis Gardens Banquet & Convention Centre (♥) (marquisgardens.com) Hamilton, ON "We have both worked at Marquis Gardens for several years and knew that they would do an amazing job at making our day memorable and perfect."- A&D PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEOGRAPHY & DJ: AMV Productions (amvweddings.ca) Hamilton, ON "AMV Productions was referred to us by our friends that had hired them for their wedding. We saw their work and we were blown away. We knew that they would be perfect for our day. They were very professional with the planning process and made sure all our questions were answered. We 12 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

love that they recorded every detail and captured the candid moments that were special to us. Our DJ made sure to mix it up between Punjabi and English music as we had asked!" - A&D GUESTS: 170 BUDGET: "We didn't have an overall budget. We just shopped around and tried to find what was best suited for us." - A&D THEME: Navy blue & silver. "We wanted a more 'glitz and glam/modern' theme for our wedding.

We incorporated sequin tablecloths, candelabras & our backdrop with lots of crystals and mirrors." - A DÉCOR: With All My Heart Wedding Decor (withallmyheartweddingdecor.ca) Burlington, ON BRIDE & GROOM ATTIRE: "We found our traditional Indian outfits at KJ Designers (kjdesigners. com) Brampton, ON" - A FLORAL: Ann's Flower Boutique (annsflowerboutique.net) Oakville, ON

CAKE: Caniche French Bakery (canichebakery.com) Ancaster, ON HAIR & MAKE-UP: Masuda Face (masudaface.com) Brampton, ON BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "The biggest challenge was planning the wedding within 10 months.

The wedding invitations took time to make so we were a little nervous about getting those done and getting them out to our guests on time. We had support from family and friends who were always there to help." - A ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "Make a list of everything that needs to be done, then take it one step at a time. Plan ahead that way if you think of anything else you you need to do that you need to do, you'll have plenty of time to figure it out!" A&D •

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

AN ELEGANT AFFAIR BRIDE & BRIDE: Kandyce and Sonia Kostakos WEDDING DATE: October 12th, 2019 CEREMONY LOCATION: Wesley Knox United Church (wesleyknox.com) London, ON RECEPTION LOCATION: Four Points by Sheraton London (♥) (marriott.com/yxufp) London, ON "We chose the Four Points by Sheraton because it has sentimental value. We've stayed at that hotel a few times for special occasions and we have always had extremely positive experiences. The ballroom we used was absolutely stunning and we were in love the minute we walked into the room." - K&S GUESTS: 150 BUDGET: $40,000 PHOTOGRAPHY: HRM Photography (♥) (hrmphotography.com) London, ON "HRM was referred to us by another photographer who was already booked for the day. Right from our first 14 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

meeting they were easy to talk to and open to all questions. They had previously photographed same sex weddings which was something we struggled with finding." - K&S THEME: "We wanted a modern and elegant them for our wedding, so we asked our guests to dress in black tie. The colours used were purple, blue, and silver with lots of black and white. The colours came from the blue and purple orchids as they are an extremely beautiful flower and both of our bride bouquets had them in it. The inspiration came from our love of Disney and wanting to feel like a princesses for a day. We even had Disney music playing throughout the day and night.

Kandyce's wedding band is Disney as well." K&S DÉCOR: Lavish Events by Design (lavisheventsbydesign.com) London, ON FLORALS: Family friend, Lee Chi Fe

CAKE: Grandma's Oven (grandmasoven.ca) Aylmer, ON BRIDES + BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) London, ON BRIDESMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing For Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) London, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: LDN Makeup Artistry (ldnmua.com) London, ON DJ: Just Grin Productions (justgrin.ca) Kitchener, ON BEST MEMORY: "We had a non-first look where we held hands around a wall while standing on either side. We didn't want to see each other before the wedding but it was important to have a moment together beforehand. Then seeing the emotion from our photographer made it so much more memorable." - K&S •

ART DECO BRIDE & GROOM: Roisian Bone & Michael Lawrence WEDDING DATE: October 5th, 2019 LOCATION: THEMUSEUM (♥) (themuseum.ca) Kitchener, ON “​We wanted a unique venue where guests wouldn't be bored. THEMUSEUM offers the option of opening up all of the floors to guests during cocktail hour. Then the second floor is available to guests throughout the evening. The exhibits are very interactive and a lot of fun for all ages.” - R PHOTOGRAPHY: ​Latte Productions Wedding Photography (♥) (latteproductions.ca) Kitchener, ON GUESTS: 135 THEME:"Black/gold/white/Art Deco. I found my dress very early on and it was Art Deco style, which

inspired the overall theme." - R FAV DÉCOR ELEMENT: " We purchased a custom Art Deco style poster from Etsy that had on it our names, wedding date, venue, and caricatures of us. We framed it and placed it on an easel near the front door so guests saw it as soon as they entered the venue. A lot of guests commented on this piece and it now hangs in our home as a memento." - R FLORALS: Costco (costco.ca) Kitchener, ON INVITATIONS: Minted. (minted.com) BRIDE ATTIRE: David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) Kitchener, ON BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: "We opted not to have matching bridesmaids' dresses. The two co-maids of honour were instructed to each buy a black dress

and the junior bridesmaid was told to buy a white dress. I left the choice of style up to them." - R GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing For Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: KW Mobile Makeup and Hair (facebook.com/KWmobile2016) Kitchener, ON ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "You will receive a lot of unsolicited advice, especially a week or two before your wedding. Just try to ignore it and do what feels right for you. People genuinely mean well but telling a stressed person not to stress and not to worry about the small details is like telling an angry person not to be angry. Block out the noise and follow your instincts." - R • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 15

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

ROSE GOLD ROMANCE BRIDE & GROOM: Cassandra Lukezic & Cody Kavcic WEDDING DATE: September 28th, 2019 CEREMONY: Church of the Good Shepherd (shepherdsway.ca) Kitchener, ON RECEPTION: Concordia Club (♥) (concordiaclub.ca) Kitchener, ON "We chose the Concordia Club as its a beautifuly rustic venue and extremely budget friendly." - C PHOTOGRAPHY: On the Edge Photography (otephotography.com) Waterloo, ON "I had discovered their photos online and fell in love with their style. I later found out that Brandon and my fiance, Cody, went to high school together.

Once I had met them I knew On the Edge would be our photographers. They are an amazing couple and beautiful individuals. They were so great to work with. We felt very comfortable and natural with them. It's great to work with people who later become your friends." - C 16 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

GUESTS: 110 BUDGET: $15,000 COLOURS: "Our colours were rose gold, purple and cream. We mixed colours together for our centrepieces (each vase was a different colour).

We chose purple as it is Cody's favourite colour. I absolutely love the metallic and cream look." - C DÉCOR: Decorating Dreams (♥) (decoratingdreams.ca) New Hamburg, ON "Lori created our head table and the beautiful lighting. She brought my vision to life beautifully." - C FAV DIY ELEMENT: "Our seating chart was our favourite DIY element. My father created unique copper stand with greenery." - C FLORAL: Costco (costco.ca) Kitchener, ON CAKE: Q's Cakes and Cafe (qscakesandcafe.com) Waterloo, ON BRIDE ATTIRE: Taylor's Bridal Boutique (taylorsbridal.com) Elmira, ON

BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) Cambridge, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Luxeappeal Salon (luxeappeal.ca) Kitchener, ON DJ: Lemazing DJ Services (lemayzingdj.ca) Kitchener, ON BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "The biggest challenge was making sure we had all of the little details finished and to make sure nothing had been forgotten.

Thankfully we had lots of help and we were able to get advice from friends & family." - C ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "Plan ahead! We had over a year to plan and gradually did everything we needed. It helped so much with reducing stress!" - C&C •

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

DOWNTOWN CHIC BRIDE & GROOM: Lesley Shaddock & Derek Keenan WEDDING DATE: September 21st, 2019 LOCATION: Four Seasons Hotel (fourseasons.com) Toronto, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Anne Edgar Photography (♥) (anneedgarphoto.com) Cambridge, ON “Anne was referred to us and when we met with her we felt she was a perfect fit. She captured our love for one another and how happy we truly were on our special day!" - L GUESTS: 95 BUDGET: "We were lucky enough that we didn't have to set a budget for ourselves but tried to be cognizant of spending and not wasteful." - L FLORALS: Aspen Florist (aspenflorist.ca) Bowmanville, ON STATIONERY: Brooklin Paper Company (brooklinpaperco.com) Markham, ON CAKE: Sugar Chalet (sugarchalet.ca) Oshawa, ON HAIR: Hair by Kandi (hairkandi.ca) Oshawa, ON MAKEUP: Brandy and Alexander Beauty Bar (thebrandyalexander.com) Whitby, ON

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

BRIDE ATTIRE: Macy's (macys.com) BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Azazie (azazie.com) GROOM ATTIRE: Hugo Boss (hugoboss.com) Toronto, ON GROOMSMAN ATTIRE: Churchills Crossing (churchills-crossings.com) Oshawa, ON DJ & UPLIGHTING: Jerica Rose Productions (jericarose.ca) Oshawa, ON "Jerica was amazing.

The dance floor was packed until they turned the lights on at the end of the night! She provided music for the ceremony with a playlist that we created as well as during the cocktail hour!" - L OFFICIANT: Ron Shantz - Enduring Promises (enduringpromises.com) Toronto, ON "He was great! He got the crowd ready before the ceremony and provided a confident and professional service." - L BEST MEMORY: “The best memories were seeing my groom's smiling face waiting for me at the end of the aisle, and our exchange of vows that we personalized and read to each other. It seemed like we were the only two in the room!

As a mature couple neither Derek nor myself ever

imagined that we would remarry. We were not dating and were introduced by mutual friends somewhat under duress. After our first date, we were inseparable and quickly that we were best friends. We wanted to formalize things and get married. We chose a beautiful venue were everything could flow seamlessly from ceremony to cocktail reception and then to dinner and dancing. Our downtown location was perfect because many of our close friends flew in from as far away as LA, Dallas, Calgary, Vancouver and NY. It truly was a perfect day that we will never forget!

Everyone fed off of the positive energy and love in the room and it was a wonderful party atmosphere from start to finish. My cheeks hurt at the end of the night from smiling for so long.” - L ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "Our only advice is to find vendors that you know and trust. Meet with them and make sure that you are on the same page. Then the day of the wedding there is nothing to do but enjoy each other and let the professionals do their part!" - L&D •

PROPOSAL ABROAD

BRIDE & GROOM: Deanna & Andrew Patenaude WEDDING DATE: October 11th, 2019 CEREMONY: Ancaster Mill (♥) (ancastermill.ca) Ancaster, ON RECEPTION: Earth To Table: The Farm Flamborough, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Sandra Monaco Photography (sandramonacophoto.com) Kitchener, ON VIDEOGRAPHY: DePlonty Creative Media (deplontycreativemedia.com) Brantford, ON THE PROPOSAL: "Two years ago while camping, we decided the next year we would use all of our vacation and travel to Europe. Fortunately, we were able to travel for four weeks. We opted to travel to the Netherlands, Belgium, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Croatia. I knew immediately I planned to propose on this trip, so I started to research locations and ultimately decided on Prague. Deanna's friends somewhat put a bug in her ear, but when I didn't ask her at our first

stop in the Netherlands or the second week with my relatives in Belgium, she didn't think it was happening this trip. It was difficult because Czech Republic was our fourth country to visit and I had to keep the ring hidden for three whole weeks!

She had no idea! Once we arrived in Prague, I confirmed with the travel photographer that the proposal would be the next morning at Letná Park overlooking the city and the Charles bridge. While getting ready in the morning, I received a message from the photographer saying he was very sick and couldn't come. Instant panic set in. I quickly said I was running to the store and before Dea could even get a word in, I was gone. Luckily, the photographer had arranged a backup the night before in case he woke up not feeling better. When we made it to the lookout, I got down on one knee and she said YES!"-A GUESTS: 170 BUDGET: $55,000 - $60,000

DÉCOR & FLORALS: Sue Gallo Designs (suegallodesigns.com) Hamilton, ON BRIDE ATTIRE: The Modern Bride (tmodernbride.com) Guelph, ON BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: White Toronto (whitetoronto.com) Toronto, ON GROOM ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) London, ON GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Andrew's Formal Rentals (andrewsformals.com) Toronto, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Dolluxe Beauty (dolluxebeauty.ca) Toronto, ON CAKE: Grandma's Oven (grandmasoven.ca) Aylmer, ON LIMO: Dorchester Limo (dorchesterlimo.net) Dorchester, ON DJ: K Toss Entertainment (ktoss.ca) Guelph, ON OFFICIANT: Grant Shenker - Kettle Creek Weddings (grantshenkerofficiant.com/kcw) Hamilton, ON• WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 19

LOVE ON THE FARM BRIDE & GROOM: Adam & Kara Stanley WEDDING DATE: September 7th, 2019 LOCATION: “We chose to have our wedding at our family farm because we wanted our day to be an accurate reflection of us. It was very important to us that our day was very personal and included many aspects of our life together, including our dog.” A&K PHOTOGRAPHY: A Nash Photograph (♥) (anashphotograph.com) Cambridge, ON "I was given Amy's contact information by a co-worker when we first got engaged. I fell in love with her photos and after meeting her and Deane, we knew it was the perfect fit. They made everyone feel comfortable and captured every part of our day. Adam is not a photo person, but Amy and Deane made it easy and kept everyone smiling." - K GUESTS: 160

BUDGET: $40,000 THEME: "Our colour scheme was gold and burgundy. We chose this in order to incorporate the many farm elements present at our wedding.

Farming plays an important role in our lives and we also wanted that to be reflected in our day." - A&K FLORALS: Miles Flowers (milesflowers.com) Burford, ON DIY: "We did a lot of DIY! My favourite décor element by far was the straw bale backdrop with vintage lace curtains made from repurposed linens sewn together by Adam's aunt and hung from the bales with lights." - K CAKE: Refined Sugar Cakes & Sweets (refinedsugar.ca) Kitchener, ON FAVOURS: Maple Syrup from Snyder Heritage Farms (snyderheritagefarms.com) Bloomingdale, ON BRIDE ATTIRE: Taylor's Bridal Boutique

(taylorsbridal.com) Elmira, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) Cambridge, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR: Hair by Stacey (facebook.com/HAIR-byStacey) New Hamburg, ON MAKEUP: Beauty by Sarah D (beautybysarahd.com) Kitchener, ON CATERING: The Lancaster Smokehouse (lancsmokehouse.com) Kitchener, ON ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "If you are considering having a wedding at home, we HIGHLY recommend it! Though it is definitely extra work, for us it was 100% worth it. We will have a lifetime of memories in our own backyard, and it will set our wedding apart from others because it was uniquely our own, at home." - A&K • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 21

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

BOHO DIY

BRIDE & GROOM: Emily Flood & Dylan Huston

on our team. We loved the natural candid shots and

(abelsonqueen.com) Kitchener, ON

WEDDING DATE: August 10th, 2019

the fact that they were able to tell our wedding story

DJ + BAND: Juneyt (juneyt.com) Kitchener, ON

LOCATION: Storehouse 408 (♥) (storehouse408.com)

from start to finish through pictures. We have had SO

Cambridge, ON “We had our beautiful ceremony on

many people comment on our photos.” - E

STATIONERY: Red Bicycle Paper Co. (♥)

their outside terrace, while Amy and her team worked

THEME: "Our theme was Boho. Our colour scheme

hard at putting our inside reception area together. The

was natural nature greens, navy, gold and grey." - E

facility is new, clean, and absolutely stunning. We were

GUESTS: 100

impressed not only by the appearance of the space

FLOWERS: Joy of Flowers (joyofflowers.info)

but the overall feel. Amy and Matt were completely

Waterloo, ON

incredible to work with. They were good sports, always

FLORAL CROWN: The Floral Studio Co. (♥)

VOLKSWAGEN BUS: The Long Weekend

friendly, kind and receptive. They answered all of our

(thefloralstudioco.com) Kitchener, ON

(thelongweekend.ca) Toronto, ON

questions and were very accommodating and fun to

DIY: "We did a DIY wedding, by the grace of my

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "I think the biggest

work with. They were both so helpful prior to, and the

mother's creativity and patience. Amy and Matt's

day of our event." - E

flexibility allowed us to take on our vision, with little

challenge we had was figuring out how we were

PHOTOGRAPHY: On the Edge Photography

limitations." - E

(otephotography.com) Waterloo, ON

BRIDE ATTIRE: Ballet's Bridal (balletts.com) Kitchener, ON

“We knew our photographer from high school and

BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Etsy - 1000Love

over the years we had watched their business grow.

GROOM ATTIRE: Stars Men's Shop (starsmenshops.com)

We loved their style and creative talents. We chose

Kitchener, ON

them based on their portfolio and pictures they had

GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥)

before, leaving us little to do the day of. Our friend

captured of other couples' weddings. They are a

(mooresclothing.com) Cambridge, ON

then came in hours before our wedding began to

husband and wife duo we were glad we could have

GROOM + GROOMSMEN HAIR: Abel's on Queen

complete the finishing touches." - E&D •

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

(redbicyclepaperco.com) Cambridge, ON VIDEOGRAPHY: Camvas Creative - Camille Campos (@camvas.creative) Kitchener, ON CATERING: B Elegant Catering & Event Planning (♥) (belegant.ca) Kitchener, ON

going to accomplish a DIY wedding within the time frame we had. We were extremely lucky to have been allowed into our venue space the day prior which allowed us an entire extra day to prep and craft.

We had pretty much everything completed the day

Autumn fairytale BRIDE & GROOM: Nicole & Joel Biviano WEDDING DATE: October 5th, 2019 CEREMONY: St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica (cathedral.dol.ca) London, ON RECEPTION: Best Western PLUS Lamplighter Inn (♥) (lamplighterinn.ca) London, ON “Joel and I wouldn’t have had such a perfect day if it weren’t for Claudia, Jessica, and the staff at the Lamplighter Inn. They answered all of our questions promptly and in great detail. Claudia went out of her way on our wedding day to make sure everything ran perfectly, and that we were well taken care of. We know that we made the right choice when booking our reception at the Best Western PLUS Lamplighter Inn. Our gratitude is unmeasurable." – N PHOTOGRAPHY: Kristine Marie Photography (kristinemarie.ca) Niagara Falls, ON “We found Kristine after searching through nearly a hundred photographers. Kristine was so friendly. She offered everything we had been looking for and made the process very easy. Joel and I were so comfortable with her, and she went the extra mile to capture our must-have photos.” – N

GUESTS: 135 BUDGET: $35,000 THEME: "Our wedding theme was Autumn Fairytale. We love everything about the fall and I also love fairytales and sparkles. We thought why not combine them? The beautiful fall leaves looked gorgeous with our wedding colours; plum, lilac, mauve, and silver.” – N&J DÉCOR: Bella Wedding Rental (bellaweddingrental.com) London, ON "I first fell in love with Viktoria’s work while searching for decorators in the London, ON area. During our meeting, she showed us different decorations that would fit our theme and offered excellent suggestions. My favourite part was our backdrop! I provided Viktoria with a photo of a backdrop that I loved and she replicated it perfectly.

It was so big and elegant and we loved looking at it the entire night." - N FLORAL: Time 4 Flowers (time4flowers.ca) London, ON BRIDE + BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) London, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores

Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) London, ON HAIR: The Loft Hair Refinery (scissorkitty.com) St. Thomas, ON MAKEUP: Blush (blushhmua.com) London, ON CAKE: Grandma's Oven Bakery (grandmasoven.ca) Aylmer, ON DJ: Music Central Entertainment (♥) (musiccentral.ca) London, ON "This was one of the vendors on the top of our priority list, as we knew that a DJ can make or break a wedding reception. Rob went above and beyond our expectations and kept our dance floor packed the entire night. He sure knows how to read the crowd." - N BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "Our biggest challenge was the fact that we live in Alberta and our wedding was in Ontario. It was very difficult at times when searching or booking vendors as we couldn’t always meet them in person. We had to fly to Ontario quite often to meet with vendors. We also have to reply on meetings over the phone or by email. We got through this added stress with the help of my mom and our amazing wedding party. We couldn’t have done it without their support." - N&J • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 23

BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY GROOM & GROOM: Paul Cyr & Devon Hewitt WEDDING DATE: July 27th, 2019 LOCATION: Grey Silo Golf Course (♥) (golfnorth. ca/greysilo) Waterloo, ON "We were in the wedding party for our friends’ wedding a few years prior, and the experience they had both in the service, venue, and location made us confident that Grey Silo would be a good choice."- D PHOTOGRAPHY: Jess Collins Photography (jesscollinsphotos.com) Kitchener, ON "Finding a photographer was a bit overwhelming at first. While it wasn’t a deciding factor, it did stand out when a portfolio included other same-sex couples, as it indicated to us that they were both comfortable and experienced working with same-sex couples.

We chose Jess Collins Photography, and it was a great choice! Both she and her assistant were responsive, personable, hard working, and great 24 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

at giving direction. Looking through our photos, there were definitely a few times where we both laughed, smiled, or got a little teary-eyed. Our favourite part is the shots of our family and friends, whether looking on with love during the ceremony or dancing their butts off that night. When they talk about “capturing the moment”, the photos did that and more." - D GUESTS: 100 BUDGET: $25,000 - actual $32,000 THEME: "We started with greenery complemented by flowers in shades of pink and purple. We added the remaining colour through ribbon on the place cards and wedding favours, as well as uplighting cast onto fabric curtains, and as the colour of the bowties for the grooms and groomsmen. " - D PLANNER: Unmistakably You (unmistakablyyou.com) London, ON

FLORAL: Charmed Flowers (charmedflowers.net) Waterloo, ON DÉCOR: Decorating Dreams (♥) (decoratingdreams. ca) New Hamburg, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Browns Menswear (brownsmenswear.com) Elmira, ON & The Tie Bar (thetiebar.com) CAKE: The Cake Box (cakebox.ca) Kitchener, ON FAVOURS: Winding Road Maple Syrup (windingroadmaple.ca) Elmira, ON DJ: Spin Doctor Productions (spindoctorproductions.com) Kitchener, ON OFFICIANT: Woven Threads (woven-threads.ca) Guelph, ON HAIR: Flo Hair Lounge (flohairlounge.com) Kitchener, ON LIMO: Epic Limo (epiclimo.ca) Kitchener, ON•

Countryside rustic BRIDE & GROOM: Stella & Quang Nguyen

FLORALS: "I highly recommend Jamilah Florals

BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: David's Bridal

WEDDING DATE: September 14th, 2019

(jamilahflorals.com) Mississauga, ON. Using rental

(davidsbridal.ca) Toronto, ON

LOCATION: Fermanagh Farms (fermanaghfarms.com)

floral arrangements is environmental and budget-

HAIR & MAKEUP: Vivian Wu Makeup & Hair

Schomberg, ON "Traditional venues usually make

friendly. I always wanted a wedding with a lot of

the couple use their in-house caterer, chairs, tables,

flowers but I knew it would break my bank if I used

Style (vivianwumakeup.com) Mississauga, ON

and decoration. With this venue, we could select

fresh flowers. Jamilah used high-quality silk flowers

our own vendors." - S

for all of my bridesmaids' bouquets, centrepieces,

PHOTOGRAPHY: Judy Nguyen Photography

and decorative flowers. Plush Flowers (plushflowers.ca)

(judynguyenphoto.com) Kitchener, ON

Mississauga, ON created my fresh flower bouquet

“Our wedding planner referred Judy to us. We

to match the rest. Even in close-up situations, it was

picked Judy for her candid style and her reasonable

really hard to tell which flowers were fresh which

price. She is also very friendly and accommodating.

flowers were silk." - S

We both do not like taking pictures or posing, but

BRIDE ATTIRE: "My wedding dress was from

she created a relaxing environment and our photos

David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) in Buffalo, NY. I

ended up looking very natural. " - S&Q

also had a second dress from BCBGMAXAZRIA

GUESTS: 140

(bcbg.com) for dinner and a jumpsuit from Reiss

BUDGET: $40,000

(reiss.com) for the dance party. I spent money

THEME: "I have always wanted a rustic wedding in

on shoes as I knew I needed a comfortable pair

the countryside. Our colour palette included dusty

that I could stand in all day and the shoes would

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “A month and a half

rose and olive green" - S

be reusable. I got my shoes from Manolo Blanik

before the wedding, our original venue cancelled. We

PLANNER: Perfect Planners

(manoloblahnik.com) and I was comfortably

found the new one within 24 hours by staying calm

(perfectplannersweddings.com) Oakville, ON

dancing in them all night." - S

and flexible." - S&Q •

GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Spier and MacKay (spierandmackay.com) Toronto, ON CATERING: Eatertainment (eatertainment.com) Toronto, ON CAKE: Dufflet Cake (dufflet.com)Toronto, ON OFFICIANT: Irene Kaye Wedding Officiant (irenekaye.ca) Toronto, ON DJ: Bob Hawkins DJ Services (bobhawkins.com) Newmarket, ON TENT & RENTALS: All Reasons Party Rentals (allreasons.ca) Sutton, ON LINENS: With All My Heart Wedding Decor (withallmyheartweddingdecor.ca) Burlington, ON

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 25

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

MODERN COUNTRY BRIDE & GROOM: Robert & Ashley Boulton

THEME: “Our theme was country with lots of

BRIDE ATTIRE: Second Dance Bridal

WEDDING DATE: September 14th, 2019

wood décor, blush and burlap napkins. The flowers

(seconddance.ca) St. Catherines, ON

LOCATION: Hernder Estate Wines (hernder.

were blush and white.” - A

BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: Macy's (macys.com)

com) St. Catharines, ON "We wanted a modern/

GUESTS: 140

GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores

country/rustic venue and the barn is as absolutely

BUDGET: $40,000

Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Niagara, ON

beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside. We

FLORALS: Sobeys, Fort Erie

HAIR & MAKEUP: Love's in the Hair (lovesinthehair.com)

also loved how private the location was. The pond

DIY: "All of our décor was DIY. I am thankful for my

Toronto, ON

out front for the ceremony and added such a nice

handy husband. We did all the centrepieces ourselves.

FAVOURS: "In lieu of wedding favours we did a

background for photos. The wine barrel room

We bought tin letters to spell love and Robert drilled

donation to the MS Society of Canada (mssociety.ca)

is perfect for photos and the wine barrels placed

lights into them. We had our initials on our receiving

as my younger brother was recently diagnosed." - A

around the location added a nice touch." - A

table that we also added lights to. We had wood

BEST MEMORY: "The entire day! I can't think of

PHOTOGRAPHY: Haskell Photography

pieces and added vinyl letters." - A

just one thing because the whole day was amazing.

(haskellphotos.com) St. Catherines, ON

FAV DÉCOR ELEMENT: "My favourite décor

I wish I could relive that day over again. Hernder's

“My sister is a wedding coordinator and she highly

element was my tin LOVE letters that stood in front

staff was absolutely amazing in every way possible.

recommended David Haskell. He has done many

of our head table. I also loved our guest book that

Penny, the wedding coordinator, literally takes care

weddings at her venue. We looked at his portfolio

was a piece of live edge with our names and wedding

of everything and she keeps everyone calm. She is

and loved what we saw. David is so down to earth,

date lasered into it. After everyone signed it we added

amazing at what she does.” - A

funny, and has a lot of experience. You can tell he

a top coats to it and it now hangs in our living room.

ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "My

takes pride in his work. My favorite part of the photos

We get to read all the well wishes anytime we walk

only advice would be to enjoy the day because it is

was how he made sure we relaxed and laughed and

by it." - A

so unfair how fast it goes. Take a couple minutes out

connected with each other! We got some amazing

CAKE: Ruth - Niagara College (niagaracollege.ca)

of every hour to look around, just breathe, and take

photos that are keepsakes forever.” - A

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

it all in." - R&A • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 27

ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: “Try to relax and enjoy the day knowing you have worked so hard to plan it! Expect that there will be things that don't go according to plan, most of which you can't control, so do your best to roll with it.

Your wedding is a celebration of love between you and your partner so let that be the focus and have fun!” – L & D

SIMPLY RUSTIC BRIDE & GROOM: Lauren & David Croucher

viewpoints. They were a great team!" - L

throughout our relationship made at Costco. I also

WEDDING DATE: June 1st, 2019

THEME: "Our wedding was simple with some rustic

made the table menus, table numbers, place cards,

LOCATION: Cutten Fields (cuttenfields.com) Guelph, ON "After looking at many different venues we ultimately chose Cutten Fields because it checked all of our boxes. The ceremony location was private with a wooden arbour, the reception room had a great view of the city and a beautiful stone fireplace as a focal point, the food was very highly praised, prices were reasonable, and it was close to home for us." - L

elements. The colours we chose were grey, purple,

and seating chart cards." L

sage green and white." - L

CUPCAKES: Sugarbird Cakery (sugarbirdcakery.com)

GUESTS: 75

Pickering, ON

FLORALS: Acorn Flower Shoppe

BRIDES ATTIRE: Taylor's Bridal Boutique

(acornflowershoppe.ca) Oakville, ON

(taylorsbridal.com) Elmira, ON

DIY: "We chose to do the décor ourselves, with help

BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: Avenue 22 Bridal,

from family. The venue had a lot of elements that

(avenue22.ca) Toronto, ON

PHOTOGRAPHY: Simply Wedding Photography

worked well. The wooden arbour at the ceremony

GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores

(♥) (simplyweddingphotography.ca) Guelph, ON

site had greenery growing around it in the spring.

Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Guelph, ON

“We found Jacqueline through online searches for

the reception room had a large stone fireplace and

HAIR: Maj Hair Salon (majhairsalon.com) Guelph, ON

local photographers, and after meeting with her and

wooden beams on the ceiling that they decorated

MAKEUP: Charlotte Barker Makeup Artist

viewing her portfolio decided she would be a great

with lights. Since we did a round table for the bridal

(facebook.com/CharlotteBarkerMakeupArtist/)

fit for our day! She was professional but also made

party, we decorated the fireplace mantle with the

Guelph, ON

us feel comfortable and had a great sense of humour.

bridesmaid's flowers, lanterns provided by the

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “Our biggest challenge was

On the day of the wedding she was very calm, even

venue, and a last name sign I made at Muse Studio

choosing a venue and narrowing down vendors with

with unplanned things that came up. Her second

& Market, Guelph. My cousin is an apple farmer

so many options available. We found that a lot of

shooter, Amanda, did a great job wrangling the

so we used wooden apple crates to display the

venues had either a minimum number of guests that

groom's party! We were not initially going to have

cupcakes. My dad built a barnboard frame for the

was higher than we wanted or couldn't fit as many

two photographers but in the end we were grateful

seating chart. Our card box was a large lantern and

people as we were inviting.Visiting the venues helped

to have photos taken from different angles and

our guest book was a photo book with pictures from

us narrow it down for the final decision.” – L •

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

Destination Weddings The following nine pages of features are filled with love stories, planning tips and tricks, 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: Spirits Intrigued Photography (♥) (sipimage.com) Kitchener, ON LOCATION: Muskoka, ON BRIDE & GROOM: Alyssa and Derek Full story: p33 WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 29

A few of our favourite themes at Wedsy.ca WEDSY.CA is an online wedding shop filled with lovely items for lovely Canadian weddings. From shabby chic and ridiculously retro to just plain gorgeous,Wedsy.ca offers wedding favours, supplies, dĂŠcor, gifts and more. This online shop is run by the team at TheWeddingRing.ca and filled entirely with things we love. Everything is online and most are customizable. SHOP. LOVE. CUSTOMIZE. PLAN. INSPIRE. WED.

BEACH Whether inspired by soft golden sands or an afternoon spent sailing, let your love for the ocean inspire your destination or nautical themed wedding. These coastal-inspired styles will leave you daydreaming about the warmth of the sun on your skin and the touch of sand between your toes.

Starfish Glass Candle Holders/ Dishes Small (6): $24 | Large (4): $25

Aqueous Place Card with Fold: $0.68

Aqueous RSVP $1.20

Aqueous Personalized Wine Label: $0.48

Mini Blue and White Striped Deck Chairs Beach Favour (8): $36

Mini Lanterns With Hanger (2): $14

White Coral Wine Bottle Stopper Favour Gift Boxed: $4.70

Aqueous Personalized Lip Balm (12): $30

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

STUNNING COSTA RICA BRIDE & GROOM: Michael DiLena & Sirah Sharma WEDDING DATE: August 8th, 2019 LOCATION: The Pacifico Beach Club (pacifico-costarica.com) Guanacaste, Costa Rica “We chose this location for the stunning landscapes surrounding the property, the clean and modern vibe of the venue, and the intimacy of being able to rent out the whole property to celebrate with our loved ones.” – M&S ACCOMMODATION: Riu Palace Guanacaste (riu.com) Guanacaste, Costa Rica PHOTOGRAPHY: Sandra Monaco Photography (sandramonacophoto.com) Kitchener, ON “Sandra has been one of our longest and closest mutual friends. From the day we met her, we have been working together on various photo shoots, and each and every time we’ve worked together, it’s been no less than perfect. From her visions to editing, she’s a photographer that not only understands how to shoot great photos, but one that understands each clients vibes and is able to take what someone is envisioning and making it a reality. Our favourite part of the wedding photos was how natural we felt. Her

guidance in terms of where to stand, what to do and where to look was effortless and well communicated.”

–S GUESTS: 52 BUDGET: $80,000 THEME: "Our overall theme was a boho/modern mix. We wanted to keep everything very light in terms of the colour scheme, using a lot of whites and tans with light greens & pink accents in our florals, as well as let the natural colours of the landscape and evening sky create that surreal vibe, almost as if we were in a dream.” – S FLORALS: Pacific Floral Events Guanacaste (facebook.com/Pacific-Floral-Events-Guanacaste), Guanacaste, Costa Rica BRIDE ATTIRE: Anna Koi Bridal: (anakoibridal.com) Vaughan, ON GROOM ATTIRE: Suit Supply (ca.suitsupply.com) Toronto, ON SHOES: Brunello Cucinelli (brunellocucinelli.com) JEWELERY: Luna & Co. Custom Jewellery (lunandco.com) Vaughan, ON HAIR: 6ix Secrets (@hairby6ixsecrets) Vaughan, ON

MAKE-UP: Cassandra Elizabeth (@makeupbyced) Toronto, ON PLANNER: The Tropical Code (thetropicalcode.com/ weddingplanningprogram) Costa Rica DJ: XClusive DJ's - DJ Teemoor (xdjcostarica.com) Costa Rica ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "Be sure to start planning at least one and a half years in advance, as dates, venues and suppliers get booked up very quickly with destination weddings. Take your time to really think about what theme and colour scheme you want to go with, and stick with it because sometimes the hardest thing is making that decision, and time flies by when you’re indecisive. Keep clear and thorough communcations with all of your vendors on a regular basis, updating them with new ideas, questions, comments, so that they’re well aware of what exactly you’re looking to do without any miscommunication. Turn the planning process into more of an activity you can share amongst both of you and any friends/family willing to lend a hand, so that everyone feels involved and the excitement and anticipation is shared amongst everyone!” M&S • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 31

Labranda: Cuba's bestkept destination wedding secret!

Cuba has long been the top choice for Canadian brides and grooms looking for an affordable destination wedding location. With whitesand beaches, turquoise waters, and a variety of wedding package options, it's easy to see why LaBranda is clearly a favourite. LaBranda offers 2 locations in Cuba, on either end of the island, offering distinctive experiences depending on your preference.

Nestled in Santa Maria Cay, LABRANDA Cayo Santa María (labrandacayosantamaria.com) is a vacation sanctuary of turquoise waters surrounded by green, tropical gardens. LaBranda Cayo Santa Maria is the perfect choice for beach lovers and sun worshippers looking for a more secluded, laid-back experience.

The LABRANDA Varadero Resort (labrandavaraderoresort.com) is located on Varadero’s Hicacos Peninsula, an area renowned for having some of the best beaches in the world. Its one-kilometre stretch of private white sands has made it a favourite destination for more than 100 years. For those couples looking for a little more fun and excitement in their experience, LaBranda Varadero offers proximity to all the nightlife and off-resort options you could ask for.

Both LaBranda locations offer you the same customizable packages to fit any budget or taste. Pre-set packages start at 900CUC or approximately $1200 CDN.

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

All wedding packages include: • Private check-in for the bride and groom • Upgrade to a superior room (subject to availability) • Wedding Coordinator • Romantic decoration in the room on the day of the wedding • Bouquet for the bride and boutonniere for the groom • 2 bottles of sparkling wine for the toast during the ceremony • Wedding cake • Sound equipment for the ceremony (includes speakers & microphone) • Décor for the ceremony (includes garden chairs, ceremonial table) can upgrade to natural flowers • Late check-out for the bride & groom Upgrade options include: • Notary services, marriage certificate and legalization documents ideal for those couples who haven't taken care of the legal details back home.

• Music during cocktail hour • Additional bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages.

• Semi-private dinner in one of their specialized restaurants (limited to 10 people) • Private cocktail hour and snacks with live music (limited to 30 people)

{ DESTINATION STYLE SHOOT }

Destination Muskoka BRIDE & GROOM: Alyssa and Derek LOCATION: Private property, Muskoka, ON GOWN: Heirlooms Bridal Shoppe (heirloomsbridal.com), Dundas, ON MAKEUP: Kaileigh Gunn Beauty (@kaileighgunnbeauty), Mississauga, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Spirits Intrigued Photography (♥) (sipimage.com) Kitchener, ON "A nature shoot like this has been a dream of mine for several years. I've always dreamt of documenting an elopement wedding in a forest or perhaps on rocks or an island in the middle of nowhere. Muskoka is one of my all-time favourite places, so this was a dream come true!" - Alex, Spirits Intrigued Photography WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 33

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "Deciding how to balance location, aesthetic, and budget. If we stayed closer to Toronto, the costs of venues skyrockets. If we wanted to do something where people would have to travel, with the intention of having them stay over, that presented them with added costs. We also had difficulty finding vendors in Picton, which made bringing in vendors more expensive." – C

GATSBY MEETS COUNTRY BRIDE & GROOM: Chris Payne & Alicia Hachey WEDDING DATE: September 28th, 2019 VENUE: The Hayloft Dancehall (thehayloftdancehall.com), Picton, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Fostered Photo (fosteredphoto.ca) Kitchener, ON "I wanted someone that really felt like an old friend and get along well with everyone. After shooting a couple of weddings with Amy I knew that she was exactly that person. Better yet, she is an old friend from our childhoods. Amy is relaxed but attentive, bubbly without being cliché, accommodating without losing her vision, and her photos demonstrate her talent."- C COLOURS: Burgundy, champagne, navy, black and white THEME: "We wanted it to be similar to a Gatsby party, BUT if it were thrown in a barn, and have it not look like New Year's Eve. Make 34 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

sense? Yeah, it didn't to many of our vendors either. Lol. Alicia wanted to do a rustic barn wedding, and is a big fan of country music. I wanted to do something a bit more fancy, but I grew up in a century old farm house. It just made sense to get married in a barn but dial it up when it came to everything else." - C GUESTS: 130 BUDGET: $50,000 BRIDES ATTIRE: Sherry's Bridal Boutique (sherrysbridal.net) Caledon, ON BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: David's Bridal (davidsbridal.ca) Toronto, ON GROOM & GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: "Our suits were inspired by an interesting fabric called Donegal Tweed. I fell in love with its rugged appearance.

It's speckled with bits of colour spoke to me as I am rugged but creative and expressive." - C MAKEUP: Meaghan Gregory Beauty (mgbeauty.ca) Toronto, ON

HAIR: The Royal Treatment (facebook.com/ theroyaltreatmentjk) Oshawa, ON CATERING, EVENT COORDINATOR & DÉCOR: Seasoned Events (seasonedevents.ca) Picton, ON DIY: "My favourite décor element was the LED neon sign that I had custom made by Neonific (neonific.com) Mont-Royal, QC. We also loved the cartoon drawing that a friend, Ryan Speziale, made for us. We had it printed very large, framed and used it as our guest book. Alicia also made her bridesmaids' shawls to wear with their dresses." - C FLORAL: Thorn Floral (thornfloral.ca) Toronto, ON STATIONERY: Paper & Poste (paperandposte. ca) Toronto, ON FAVOURS: Whiskey barrel aged maple syrup from Kinsip Distilleries (kinsip.ca) Bloomfield, ON DJ: Kazoo Ent. (kazooent.ca) Toronto, ON •

PERFECT VIEW IN BC BRIDE & GROOM: Madeline & Ben WEDDING DATE: April 21st, 2018 VENUE: The View (theviewvictoria.com) Victoria, BC PHOTOGRAPHY: Berkley Vopnfjörð Photography (berkleyvop.com) Victoria, BC CAKE: Passion for Cakes (passionforcakes.com) Victoria, BC PLANNER: French Kiss Events (frenchkissevents.ca) Victoria, BC CATERING: Toque Catering (toquecatering.com) Victoria, BC FLORAL: Thorn & Thistle (thornandthistle.ca) Victoria, BC BRIDE ATTIRE: Sarah Seven (sarahseven.com) GROOM ATTIRE: Burberry (ca.burberry.com) TRANSPORTATION: Wilson's Transportation (wilsonstransportation.com) Victoria, BC DJ: Black Ties and Vinyl (blacktiesandvinyl.com) Victoria, BC

EVENT RENTALS: Scene About Town (scene-about-town.com) Victoria, BC DÉCOR RENTALS: Party Mood (partymood.com) Duncan, BC LINEN RENTALS: Faire La Fete (fairelafetelinen.com) Victoria, BC FURNITURE RENTALS: Bash Specialty (bashspecialty.com) Victoria, BC COCKTAILS: Twist of Fate (twistvictoria.com) Victoria, BC PIES: Ruth & Dean (ruthanddean.com) Victoria, BC DESIGN: "Inspired by the couple's love of all things Art Nouveau, Madeline & Ben's wedding was a non-stop celebration! A luxurious and colourful palette created warmth and elegance, while the artful florals, interactive menu, and jazz music set the tone for the rest of the day.

Various lounges, creative cocktails, a showstopper cake, and statement florals wowed the guests from start to finish, making this wedding one that is sure to not be forgotten." - Corina, Passion for Cakes • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 35

Top 5 Unique Destination Wedding Venues EXPERT TIP BY A-DESTINATIONWEDDING (a-destinationwedding.com)

ABOUT A-DESTINATIONWEDDING (a-destinationwedding.com) in St. Thomas, ON: A-DestinationWedding assists couples from all over Southwestern Ontario to plan a destination wedding designed to match your personalities and wedding style. She helps you find the perfect location to give you that intimate, fun, and completely stress-free wedding.

If you’re looking to plan a destination wedding that’s not just on a beach but is out-of-the-box and anything but boring, A-DestinationWedding shares with us these 5 unique Caribbean locations...

1. Architecturally Inspiring For those dreaming about a Mediterranean style wedding, but wanting the convenience of an allinclusive tropical resort, look no further than Altos de Chavon – Casa de Campo, La Romana Dominican Republic.

Choose to overlook the green valley, or have the cobblestone back drop of the ancient looking village.

2. A Green Wedding Looking for an excuse to tap into your wild side? Nothing says nature like waking up to the sounds of wildlife at Sandos Caracol Eco Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The “Green Wedding” is celebrated on the deck of the Cenote Cristalano, and includes some unique features like Mayan drum music, a tree Photo courtesy of Sandos Caracol Eco Resort

Photo courtesy of Casa de Campo Resort & Villas

planting, as well as group donations to those less fortunate nearby.

3. Underwater Wedding Located on the small island of Cozumel, Sunscape Sabor is the most complete beachfront resort complex on the island. Here you can explore the natural wonders of the second largest coral reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

Special “Underwater Wedding”packages come with one tank dive, bouquet and boutonniere, special ring case included for the couple as well as pier décor and sparkling wine toast and cake for your guests when the happily married couple surfaces!

4. Sky Wedding The Fives Beach Hotel & Residences, Playa del Carmen, Mexico is a contemporary hotel and an idyllic escape, perfect for creating magical memories with friends and family.

Exchange your vows on a rooftop

Photo courtesy of The Fives Resort

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

terrace enjoying the panoramic view of the ocean. The Sky Deck is perfect for completely private wedding ceremonies, receptions under the stars, or cocktail parties. This venue features a white gazebo, a romantically lit aisle, a stone garden finish, full bar and even a live feed webcam great for any family back home to share in your day.

5. Wedding on the Water If you’re looking for a special and exclusive destination wedding in the Caribbean, then look no further than La Barcaza Wedding Boat, Punta Cana Dominican Republic. The program includes not only a boat trip where you can see and enjoy the most beautiful, secluded beaches while sailing on the turquoise seas, but also a fully planned wedding ceremony and reception.

From the moment you step onboard and are swept to the upper deck for the ceremony, followed by the dinner party and reception on the lower deck, La Barcaza is truly unforgettable. •

Photo courtesy of Sunscape Sabor Cozumel

Photo courtesy of La Barcaza

Intimate dominican wedding BRIDE & GROOM: Victoria & Alexander Cyr WEDDING DATE: January 30th, 2019 CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Luxury Bahia Principe Esmeralda Resort (bahia-principe.com) Punta Cana, Dominican Republic "We wanted a destination wedding because we thought it would be more romantic and intimate to get married on the beach with only our closest friends and family. We chose Punta Cana because through my research it seemed to be one of the better tropical areas to go in January in terms of having good weather." - V&A PHOTOGRAPHY: DA Photography (daphotostudio.com) Guelph, ON "Our photographer happens to be a family friend and came highly recommended to us by my father. Dragi was so easy to work with and did an AMAZING job capturing our most important moments in a way that suited our personalities. My favourite part about the photos is all the fun different spots he found for us. My absolute favorite photo is the one in front of the tipi on the beach, with the trees and the resort behind us... how he managed to capture it in the perfect lighting. It looked so romantic and special!" - V&A GUESTS: 30 BUDGET: $20,000 - $25,000 THEME: "Colour scheme was lilac because it is my favourite color and theme was beach wedding." - V

BRIDE ATTIRE: Ferre Sposa (ferresposa.com) Toronto, ON BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Élisabeth & Beau (elisabethandbeau.com) Woodbridge, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Ajax, ON FLORALS, WEDDING PLANNER, DÉCOR, CAKE, DJ, HAIR & CATERING: "Our package included everything. Our favourite décor element was the hydrangea flowers, tipi on the beach, and bistro lights in the reception gazebo." -V BIGGEST CHALLENGE: "Most of our wedding was planned via emails back and forth with the resort. It was pretty easy and straight forward except there was some overlap and language barrier in some of the documents which made things a little confusing. However, everything was clarified when we arrived to the resort and sat down with the wedding planner." - V&A ADVICE, ONE COUPLE TO ANOTHER: "I highly recommend destination weddings because you can have a really beautiful, intimate, and unique wedding without spending a lot of money and without all the headache that comes with wedding planning. I loved the fact that all I had to do was select all the details of the wedding in one PDF document and that was it! Then I just had to pick out my dress and bridesmaid's dresses, wedding favours, and I was good to go! For a busy girl like me, this was the ideal option. I also got to spend an entire week with all my family and friends and it was such an unforgettable experience." - V&A • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 37

PASSION + TRAVEL = DESTINATION WEDDINGS

ABOUT VIVA WYNDHAM RESORTS

(♥) (vivawyndhamresorts.com). Viva Wyndham Resorts offers prime beach locations perfect for your special day with all-inclusive resorts in Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Mexico

PHOTOS, this page: vivawyndhamresorts.com

Destination weddings are becoming a popular choice for savvy couples with a passion for travel and romance. With the preparations ready upon arrival, it’s a carefree way to tie the knot with all the pleasures and none of the pain. Consider these three locations some of the best places for destination weddings, with memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime....

• The Beautiful Bahamas – A Perfect Place for Lovers The allure of the beautiful Bahamas is the perfect place for lovers. Experience a captivating Caribbean setting that goes beyond your wildest dreams. The crystal waters and white sands are ideal for your beach ceremony. Start your new life together at Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach located in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

Choose from the customizable wedding options, enticing amenities such as an oceanview room, flowers for the bride and groom, sparkling wine to toast the occasion, and more!

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

• Magical Mexico – Where Timeless Pleasures Await You The ancient wonders of Mexico make this a hot spot. Discover a place of timeless pleasures for couples in love. The sultry sun, inviting beaches, and passionate vibes are sure to put both of you in the mood for romance. Choose from specially designed wedding packages at the Viva Wyndham Azteca and Viva Wyndham Maya located in the desirable Playacar, Riviera Maya, Mexico. Consider The Pre-Hispanic Wedding Package. Go beyond saying, “I do” with a transcendental Mayan ceremony that includes everyone in the unification of the happy couple.

Create a wedding that truly reflects the energy and essence of your love.

• Irresistible Dominican Republic – A Natural Place for Smoldering Passion Let your smoldering passion go on fire in the natural setting of the Dominican Republic. Dive

into decadent beaches and activities you’ll both remember for a lifetime. Relax, unwind, and feel the romances. Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace are both located in Bayahibe, La Romana, and Viva Wyndham Tangerine is in Cabarete. Or get hitched at one of the fabulous V Collection resorts: Viva Wyndham V Samaná is located in Las Terrenas, and Viva Wyndham V Heavens is in Puerto Plata. You can tailor make your wedding package or renew your vows, plus enjoy pampering spa treatments for two at an awardwinning spa. And choose all the amenities you always dreamed of experiencing in paradise!

Escape the stress of planning a wedding at places you’ve been to for everyone else. Experience the easy-going joy of a destination wedding. Select one of the best places for destination weddings and head to heaven to start your married life together! •

Expert Tips

The following nine pages of features are filled with wedding planning tips and tricks, written and contributed by the experts who know best how to create the ultimate wedding event. Curated by The Ring

STATIONERY: Red Bicycle Paper Co. (♥) (redbicyclepaperco.com) PHOTO: Brilliant Images Photography & Film (brilliant-images.com) pg 42

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 39

PHOTO: jessicaimriephotography.com

PHOTO: alleycatphotography.ca

PHOTO: oliviawitzkephotography.com

PHOTO: paintedwhitephotography.com

5 REASONS To HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER EXPERT TIP BY: Fresh Look Design Inc. (FLD) (♥) (freshlookdesign.ca) Kitchener, ON

From accompanying you on your search for the perfect vendors, reviewing

control. This service is on an hourly basis, its simple to reach out just

and negotiating contracts, and saying yes to the perfect dress, a wedding

when you need a hand with a timeline, concept design or day of details –

planner is there every step of the way to ensure you are completely relaxed

FLD planners are there to help!

and at ease throughout your entire wedding planning process. From

Stick to Your Budget: While hiring a planner may seem like a big chunk

saying “Yes” to saying “I Do”, FLD makes your engagement stress-free and

of your budget, it’s an investment that will give you peace of mind and

completely enjoyable. Here are five reasons why you should hire a wedding

ensure you enjoy the moments you’ve spent months planning. "We can

planner.

help you make the most of your wedding budget because we know what's more important. We know what's going to have the most impact."

They are experts: Wedding planners are connected with top venues and

Bring Your Vision to Life: With an eye for detail, the wedding

pros in your area, ensuring you have the best team of experts to pull off

planners at FLD provide a fresh and organic approach to planning and

your celebration. Simply put, an experienced planner is one of the key

management for a cohesive design that beautifully tells your unique love

investments you can make when bringing your wedding day to life.

story and comes together seamlessly and stress-free.

Your Specific Needs

Enjoy the Day: Think of your planner as a safety net on your wedding

There are essentially four types of wedding planners: full-service, month-

day. If anything goes wrong (and something typically does) they’re there

of coordinators, day-of coordinators, and à la carte.

to troubleshoot so you won’t have to fret. They’ll be the one able to make

A full-service planner is for the couple who are looking for a second set of

the rain call to move your ceremony indoors when you can’t bear to or

eyes on every detail of the planning process.

hunt down your set of heirloom champagne flutes before the first toast of

A month-of coordinator is here to help bring all the final details of your

the evening.

day together for the 30-day hustle leading up to your big day.

On your wedding day, your only order of business is to soak up every

everything planned, polished, and pressed for the big day but needs an

memorable second, which is why so many couples hire a wedding

extra set of hands to bring all the small details together.

planner. Trust the pro you’ve hired to do their job, and let go of control

À La Carte services are perfect for the couple that has everything under

day-of. •

PHOTO: jessicaimriephotography.com

PHOTO: allyandnicholas.com

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

PHOTO: paintedwhitephotography.com

A day-of-coordinator with FLD is perfect for the couple who has

PHOTO: nikkimills.ca

FUN ADDITIONS TO YOUR WEDDING A B O U T THUNDERSTORM P R O D U C T IO N S :

As one of the most well-known disc jockey services in the Kitchener/Waterloo area, ThunderStorm Productions (♥) (thunderstormpro.com) has been bringing the party to weddings for over 25 years.

From DJ services to pinball and video game rentals to slushie, popcorn, cotton candy machines, and soft serve ice cream, ThunderStorm Productions will elevate your wedding entertainment from ordinary to extraordinary.

PHOTOS, this page: lauriecadmancreative.com Unless otherwise stated

Looking to add a little extra fun to your wedding? Here are a few of our favourite selections from Thunderstorm Productions: Drinkbox – The DrinkBox from ThunderStorm Productions is the perfect solution for any wedding! It is fully equipped with TVs to show your wedding slideshow (or hook up a gaming console). LED colour changing lighting can also be set for your wedding colours. DrinkBox can dispense 6 different flavours of pop, cold water along with 4 types of BEER all day long! No hydro or potable water on location? No problem, power and water can be brought in, and it also works for on-site cold storage.

Slushies – Fun for kids of all ages, a slushie machine lets you treat your guests to a refreshing cool down at a hot summer wedding or after tearing it up on the dance floor. You can make custom drinks just for your wedding or choose from one of their most popular flavours: pina colada, strawberry daiquiri, margarita, Mr Freeze Cherry, blue raspberry and even the iconic white cream soda.

Cotton Candy - Another crowd favourite for the young and the young at heart is cotton candy. Thunderstorm Productions even offers light up cotton candy sticks to bring that extra little bit to your party and your dancefloor.

Soft Serve Ice Cream – Thunderstorm Productions offers classic flavours like chocolate and vanilla to help turn your candy bar into a Sundae Bar. You can even kick it up a little and add on a blizzard machine to let your guests have custom blended treats.

For the Disney lover, they also offer Dole Whip in pineapple and raspberry which are dairy-free, lactose-free, gluten-free and vegan.

Worry-Free – One of our favourite things about Thunderstorm Productions is their team. You don’t have to worry about picking up, transporting or dealing with leftovers. They bring it, set it up, in some cases stay to run it for your guests, then take it away at the end. No clean up or extra work for you! • PHOTO: thunderstormpro.com

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 41

Digital Printing

Vellum Overlay

ONE INVITATION - 5 WAYS EXPERT TIP BY RED BICYCLE PAPER CO (♥) (redbicyclepaperco.com)

A wedding invitation can be as simple or extravagant as you'd like with the change of the print method, or embellishment.

This single invitation design is shown with digital printing, gold foil, letterpress, a vellum overlay, and in a pocketfold!

Take it one step further by changing up the texture of the paper, or envelope colour, which will give the invitation a completely different look and feel! • PHOTOS, this page: brilliant-images.com

Gold foil Letterpress

Pocketfold ABOUT RED BICYCLE PAPER CO. (♥) (redbicyclepaperco.com) Cambridge, ON. Red Bicyle Paper Co. works with design styles ranging from traditional to rustic to fun and flirty. Essentially, if you can think it, she can likely make it happen and at competitive prices. And if 42 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

you opt for day-of stationery, Heather will even set it up personally.

CHOOSING A MASTER OF CEREMONIES 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.

PHOTOS, this page: thebridallounge.ca

EXPERT TIP BY MUSIC CENTRAL ENTERTAINMENT (♥) (musiccentral.ca)

Choosing the MC for your wedding is a more complicated decision than it can seem on the surface. Many people just choose their favourite uncle or friend. But when you consider the actual importance of your MC, you may want to reconsider your options. Rob from Music Central tells us, “The MC is the captain of your wedding ship. They make sure that you stay on track and steer the event along. They have 2 basic duties at your reception: first they coordinate with vendors so that everyone is on the same page and then they communicate the day to your guests. But the truly great Master of Ceremonies doesn’t just coordinate and communicate. They help to tell the story of your wedding day; help to create moments you and your guests will never forget.”

COORDINATING WITH VENDORS One of the basic jobs of your MC is to make sure that everyone is in place and ready for the next step. “It’s all about flow, knowing what is coming next, and making sure that everyone is in place and on the same page.

One of the most common mistakes that inexperienced MC’s make is to introduce the wedding party before making sure the kitchen is ready to start dinner service. There is nothing more frustrating for both your guests and for your chef then to have the wedding party introductions done before dinner is ready to be served.” An experienced MC will always make sure that everyone is in place for a seamless flow for your wedding.

COMMUNICATING WITH GUESTS As the keeper of the microphone, another basic responsibility of your MC is to communicate with your guests. They’ll introduce your wedding party, announce dinner, and even introduce the people who have speeches or toasts to make at your wedding. But a great Master of Ceremonies takes basic communication and adds an element of entertainment. “When we’re introducing the wedding party, we like to actually introduce the wedding party. It’s not just about saying names and relationship to the bride/groom. It’s about actually making people feel like they know them. “Our best man for the evening is Frank. Frank and Steve (groom) have been friends since childhood and Frank is the person responsible for us being here tonight as he introduced the happy couple back in high school. On a personal note, Frank is single and enjoys long walks on the beach.” We have a passion for our role as Master of

Ceremonies. We take the time to make sure we have all the information to bring the extra touches to your wedding.”

CREATING MOMENTS For the Master of Ceremonies at Music Central, it’s not enough to coordinate and communicate. They love helping to create moments and memories at your wedding. One of our favourite stories from a recent wedding that Rob was the Master of Ceremonies at is this: “The father of the bride had come to see me before the wedding to enlist my help with a surprise he had for his daughter. He had recorded a song for her, but she didn’t know about it. When the time came for their dance, I introduced them and started the song that the bride had chosen. But then I abruptly broke the song with a dramatic crash. “It’s an excellent song, but I’ve been searching and searching, and I think I’ve found something that you’ll like even more. What could be better than a father singing to his daughter?!” Then I played the song the father recorded just for his daughter’s wedding. There is time after the dance to explain to the guests how the song came to be.

But first, I made sure the bride and her father had their moment.”

Without the passion and care for what they do, this would have just been a song they played at this bride’s wedding. Instead, the MC from Music Central used setup and emotion to create a memory that the bride, her father, and all the guests at the wedding will never forget.

A great Master of Ceremonies doesn’t just make announcements and introductions. A Master of Ceremonies orchestrates the entire evening making sure that when the bride and groom take the dance floor for their first dance, the venue lights dim, the music starts, and the guests are there to watch the bride and groom enjoy their first dance together. A great Master of Ceremonies understands how to orchestrate your wedding with magic and emotion. • WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 43

TIPS FOR SAVING FOR YOUR DREAM HOME EXPERT TIP BY SABRINA KARLEY - MORTGAGE AGENT AT SHERWOOD MORTGAGE GROUP BROKER LIC. #12176 (sherwoodmortgagegroup.com) KITCHENER, ON

PHOTOS, this page: sherwoodmortgagegroup.com

While there are many decisions you will encounter as you prepare for your big day, one of those may be where you are going to live. Homeownership is often a dream that most couples have and the good news is that with a bit of planning and persistence, you can save for a wedding and a house at the same time.

Here are a few tips to help get you there…

1. Talk finances with your partner: It’s always awkward to have the conversation about money, but it is crucial to do it while also being open and honest. Before you begin to save for a wedding and a down payment for your house at the same time, sit down with your partner and discuss what is most important to you, and if one takes priority over the other.

2. Set out a budget: The next step will be to set up a budget for both your wedding and new home. Determine how much you and your partner should spend and save each month, along with areas you may be able to make sacrifices. Make sure that you are able to pay for your necessities (such as rent, bills, groceries) and consider what you could live without. Work with experts who can help by providing you with the right guidance and advice such as a financial advisor and mortgage agent.

By taking a look at your current situation, the right steps can be put into place to help you achieve both of these life-changing events within a realistic timeframe.

58 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca 44

ABOUT SABRINA KARLEY: Mortgage Agent with Sherwood Mortgage Group (sherwoodmortgagegroup.com) She specializes in mortgage financing in the Region of Waterloo and surrounding areas. Whether you are looking for a first, second, bad credit, reverse, commercial, or business mortgage; Sabrina has access to lenders that have the solution to all of your needs!

3. Open up separate savings accounts: To stay organized, open

two different savings accounts, one for the wedding and the other for your down payment. Unlike a down payment, which will be a one-time expense, a wedding requires a lot of smaller expenses that will add up quickly. Having the accounts separate will allow you to keep an eye on how much you have spent thus far on your wedding while not dipping into the savings you have set aside for your other goal.

4. Try to avoid new debt: Know how your expenses could impact

your ability to obtain financing for your home purchase. Putting big charges on your credit cards, racking up debt, taking out a new loan or depleting all your savings can make it harder to get a mortgage when the time comes. If possible, try to cover your wedding expenses with cash, or if you do need to put it on credit; make sure you make timely payments to build a positive payment history and reduce the overall outstanding amount.

5. Do your research: With a bit of creativity there are a lot of ways you

can save on wedding expenses. Think of what aspects are most important to you and cut down on costs of the parts that you may feel indifferent about. Consider talking to your venue or a wedding planner to see if that have any pre-established and/or discounted rates with vendors. The same can be said in terms of buying a home by looking at your needs vs. wants such as location, type of property, or features of the home.

With a little determination, a solid plan, and the right guidance both of your dreams can turn into a reality. •

HOW TO PERSONALIZE YOUR WEDDING MENU

ABOUT B.ELEGANT CATERING (belegant.ca) (♥) Kitchener, ON: creates event menus that are customized to fit your unique style and vision. They have partnered with beautiful venues in Cambridge, Kitchener, Ayr, Roseville, and more to help you find the perfect venue for your style, group size, and vision. They also offer a dedicated coordinator to assist you with everything from planning to rentals.

PHOTOS, this page: gary-evans.ca

BY B.ELEGANT CATERING & EVENT PLANNING (♥) (belegant.ca)

There are so many ways for couples to incorporate their personalities into their wedding menu! As your wedding day is a celebration of you as a couple, why not showcase your personalities in every way possible? After all, food is one of the top things’ guests will remember about the event. We’ve listed a few ideas below on how to make your wedding menu pop with personality!

• Let’s start with an option that is easy to execute - load your menu

with all your favourite things! If the groom’s favourite meal is prime rib, have it as an entrée option or if poutine is the bride’s favourite go to, make it a late-night station. "As a caterer, we love customizations – if you don’t see your favourite food on our menu, ask us about it!"

• Another option is to incorporate food that has some significance to you or your relationship. Whether it be something you ate on your first date or the first meal you cooked together, it can be something subtle or extravagant. Let’s say that you had your first date at a carnival, a late-night food station that serves soft pretzels would be perfect!

• Incorporating your culture into your celebration through

your menu is another excellent idea to showcase more about you. Customize your dessert by offering traditional baklava to highlight your Greek heritage or an extravagant seafood station to celebrate your Korean ancestry.

• If you’re a self-proclaimed foodie, customizing your wedding menu to fit your personality will be a dream come true. The only drawback may be that you’re worried about not satisfying all of your guests. "We suggest finding a few hors d’oeurves that make your foodie senses tingle and serving these during cocktail hour – this way your guests can test the waters a bit without leaving the celebration hungry."

• Finally, a trend we love that incorporates personality into your celebration – signature drinks! Offer your favourite cocktail, wine, beer, or spirit on your bar menu. Add some custom signage to let your guests know it’s available. This is a fun way to let your personality shine! Bonus tip – you can make it a competition with your future spouse to see whose drink is more popular – winner owes the loser a kiss! •

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 45

WEDDING THEMES, STYLES AND TRENDS

ABOUT LITTLE MUSHROOM CATERING (♥) (littlemushroomcatering.ca) Cambridge, ON: From Mexican Food Stations to Zucchini Lemon Soup Shooters, there are countless reasons to love Little Mushroom Catering. Using fresh and locally farmed ingredients to make the best from-scratch food, Little Mushroom ensures that they offer something delicious for everyone – including those with dietary restrictions and allergies. That said, they offer more than just delicious, custom wedding menus. Little Mushroom Catering offers event coordination, event rentals, set-up, tear down, bar staff, edible wedding favours, cakes, custom menus, competitive pricing and more!

PHOTOS, this page: courtesy of Little Mushroom Catering

EXPERT TIP BY LITTLE MUSHROOM CATERING (♥) (littlemushroomcatering.ca)

You've probably heard this before regarding someone who is out there living their best life. What you probably haven't done is applied this to your wedding planning - at least, not yet. This needs to be every couple's wedding mantra. You. Do.You...

Your wedding day should be among the top 3 BEST days of your life, if not in spot numero uno. Which is why it is so important to make it about you and your fiancé, and the life and love you have together. It should not be about Pintrest, what your mom(s) want or what your saw on the latest episode of Four Weddings.

If you two love hockey; you go to games together, watch it at home or at the bar and wear your favorite team's jersey when you go out, you need to include this in your big day. You could honestly have a really classy hockey themed wedding.

- Instead of table numbers, you have names of players or teams.

- Your linen or floral colors are those of your favorite team.

-Centerpieces could include a small nod to the sport, like a puck or skate laces.

- Your signature drink at the bar could 48 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

be named after a ref 's call (the off side) or again, a player or team.

"We have also seen couples do this with football, Harry Potter, music, skiing etc.

As long as you keep it as the inspiration and not the main focus, your wedding will always reflect you as a couple and be timeless." - Beth, Little Mushroom Catering Don't be mistaken, you can cross the line into cheesy or over the top, which could result in you looking at photos a decade later wondering what you were thinking!

To avoid this, it is highly recommended to use a wedding consultant/coordinator to help guide you in the right direction.

The important thing to remember is that this day is about the two of you celebrating your love for one another. So if you want to be in front of 4 people or 400 people, if you want to be in a church or in the woods, if you want to eat a 7 course meal or have tacos and burgers, it's up to you to decide together what will best reflect your life to your guests.

Don't let the pressures of 'tradition' or what's currently trending be the reason you have a wedding that you look back on with regret. •

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

PHOTOGRAPHY: Blackbird Photography (blackbirdphotographs.com) CAKE: Ritzy Cakes & Eatery (robinsritzycakes.com) pg 60-61

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 49

{ DESIGN PALETTE }

ELEGANT ROMANCE BRIDE & GROOM: Shenea Hasson & Adam Salisbury WEDDING DATE: September 7th, 2019 CEREMONY: Basilica of Our Lady (basilicaofourlady.com) Guelph, ON RECEPTION: Bride's parents' home PHOTOGRAPHY: Gary Evans Photography (♥) (gary-evans.ca) Kitchener, ON "We found Gary at The Ring's Wedding Expo. His photos are a work of art, and he is a great person with so much passion for what he does. Our most favourite part about our photos - they are true pieces of art that we can hang in our home.

Gary is such an artist and made our photos creative and unique.

He captures photos you would only see in a magazine" - S GUESTS: 225 BUDGET: $32,000 THEME: Elegance & Romance. White, gun metal grey and silver with lots of greenery. A fresh, bright all white look with pop of colour.

TENT RENTAL: Guelph Tent & Event Rental (guelphtentrentals.com) Guelph, ON FLORALS: Flowerzdesign (flowerzdesign) Guelph, ON BRIDE ATTIRE: Crème Couture (♥) (cremecouture.ca) Guelph, ON 50 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: Valentina's Bridal & Couture (valentinabridal.ca) Waterloo, ON GROOM + GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Stars Men's Shop (starsmenshops.com) Kitchener, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: K'ur Salon & Spa (kursalonandspa.com) Kitchener, ON DÉCOR: "The one special thing about our wedding is that we designed the entire wedding and made everything ourselves. I designed and made all the centrepieces, the look for the head tables, dessert table, and welcome/sign table. My husband, parents and myself made the large wooden initials with a big heart for the lawn. My dad and I created the entrance flower archway as well as the outdoor balcony design with drapery/florals." - S DJ: Kenny & Michael De Los Santos (kennysaint.squarespace.com ) Toronto, ON CATERING: Big Robs BBQ, Stratford, ON LATE NIGHT FOOD TRUCK: Groovy Grilled Cheese (@groovygrilledcheese) Fergus, ON VIDOEOGRAPHER: Daniel Hughes (krhdani.com) Kitchener, ON

A few of our favourite themes at Wedsy.ca

WEDSY.CA is an online wedding shop filled with lovely items for lovely Canadian weddings. From shabby chic and ridiculously retro to just plain gorgeous,Wedsy.ca offers wedding favours, supplies, décor, gifts and more. This online shop is run by the team at TheWeddingRing.ca and filled entirely with things we love. Everything is online and most are customizable.

SHOP. LOVE. CUSTOMIZE. PLAN. INSPIRE. WED.

NATURE & WOODLAND Embrace and celebrate natural beauty down to every last detail with a pretty woodland wedding. Inspired by the gifts that nature provides, layers of natural elements, nature-inspired pieces, and adorable animal motifs make this one standout celebration.

Shabby Chic Spindle Candle Holder Set: $75

Faux Moss and Wicker Square Frame Small: $8 Medium: $12.50

Faux Moss and Wicker Pomander: 15cm: $10 20cm: $16

Birch Bark Print Paper Drinking Straw (25): $6

Ceramic Bear Salt & Pepper Shakers Favour Gift Boxed: $6.90

Faux Birch Log Card Holders (6): $20.10

Roll Of Faux Moss Ribbon: $8.80

Birch Circular Favour Box (6): $16.98

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 51

{ DESIGN PALETTE }

PRETTY IN PINK VENUE: Dante Club (♥) (danteclubsarnia.ca) Sarnia, ON BRIDE & GROOM: Rebecca & Mark Hurst WEDDING DATE: June 29th, 2019 "The Dante Club has incredible staff, delicious food, and a large banquet hall, making it the perfect venue to host a wedding celebration" - Rebecca PHOTOGRAPHY: Christine Pelchat Photography (facebook.com/christine-pelchat-photography) Sarnia, ON DÉCOR: Exquisitely Designed (exquisitelydesigned.ca), Sarnia, ON 52 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

FAVOURITE TUXES: MOORES CLOTHING FOR MEN From the big city to small towns, Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) has you covered in a wide variety of sharp looks for 2020. For 30 years, and over 120 locations across Canada, Moores offers high quality, outstanding selection, superior customer service, and everyday low prices!

STYLE: Black by Vera Wang

PHOTOS, this page: mooresclothing.com

STYLE: Joseph Abboud

STYLE: Joseph Abboud

STYLE: Joseph Abboud WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 53

FAVOURITE WOW FACTOR FLORALS

PHOTO, this page and next: courtesy of juliaweddings.ca

FLORALS: Julia Weddings (♥) (juliaweddings.ca) Kitchener, ON

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

Family-run Julia Weddings (♥) (juliaweddings.ca) Kitchener, ON offers full event décor, lighting services and floral design for some of Kitchener-Waterloo’s most incredible weddings and events.

Latest Trend: You can delight and surprise your guests by adding large floral accent pieces to the décor of your ceremony and reception.

From lush greenery and big heritage blooms to urns filled with gorgeous long stems, statement piece florals are forecasted to be the hottest trend for your 2020 wedding.

One of the easist ways to incorporate statement florals is in your bridal bouquet. Oversized bridal bouquets (also known as free form bouquets) are definitely having their 'in' moment right now. Take this one step further, by adding large lush centrepieces, whether tall or low or a combination of both to add drama and interest to your guest tables.

The designers at Julia Weddings specialize in wow factor florals, and can help your wedding visions become a reality!

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 55

TREND ALERT: GORGEOUS GOWNS "At Sew Stylish Wedding Works (♥) (sewstylishweddingworks.com) Ingersoll, ON we know in the world of wedding gowns, there is so much to look at and so much to see and consider. That's why we wanted to shine the light on some of the trends you are going to be seeing in 2020. Soft oversize florals, and cap sleeves to bold colours and Art Deco are just some of the dresses that will be showcased in store for the spring 2020 season, we are even seeing some of these gowns crossing over into multiple trends:!"

TREND: SOFT OVERSIZED FLORAL Casablanca #2409 56 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

TREND: CAP SLEEVES Kenneth Winston #1869

TREND: BOLD COLOURS Casablanca Beloved #BL2396

TREND: BOLD COLOURS Casablanca Beloved#BL313

TREND: ART DECO Casablanca #2405

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 57

Style: Heather Gray-Allure Men

Style: Dusk Blue-Ike Behar

PHOTOS, this page: collinsformalwear.com

Style: Diamond Weave-Mark of Distinction

Style: Deco Jacket-Mark of Distinction

Style: Cafe-Allure Men

FAVOURITE TUXES: COLLINS FORMAL WEAR

With locations from coast to coast, Collins Formal Wear (♥) (collinsformalwear.com) has you covered. Experience Canada's most modern formal wear collection for yourself. Tuxedos and suits in light grey, dark grey, navy, white, red, blue, ivory, and of course black, with Canada's widest rental tie and vest collection to match your needs!

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

PHOTO: julienicolephotography.com

FAVOURITE SPECIALTY CURATED GIFT BOXES The Floral Studio Co. has the best gift ideas for you!

Specially curated, hand-picked boxes made for every occasion or special person in your life! They have a variety of boxes to choose from.Styles include; wellness, tea, coffee, baby n' me, wedding, spa, and corporate boxes. All include a variety of items from candles, spe­ cialty teas, natural body & beauty products, cof­fees, sweet and savoury treats to fun accessories. Beautiful floral can be added to any box for that extra special touch.

PHOTO: thefloralstudioco.com

PHOTO: thefloralstudioco.com

GIFT BOXES: The Floral Studio Co, (♥) (thefloralstudioco.com) Kitchener, ON

PHOTO: thefloralstudioco.com

PHOTO: thefloralstudioco.com

PHOTO: thefloralstudioco.com

Their team is excited to customize your idea and work with you. Also, if you have something unique you have personally chosen that you wish to have added to the box, let them know!

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 59

9

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

PHOTO: lenjobakes.com

PHOTO: amytaylorphotography.ca

PHOTO: magoffin.ca

1

5

PHOTO: davidandkara.com

PHOTO: stephaniecanada.com

PHOTO: candecollective.com

6

PHOTO: lenjobakes.com

PHOTO: morninglightphotography.com

9

PHOTO: avenue-photo.com

7 8

3

5

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 67

PHOTO: kayleighphotography.com

4

PHOTO: dylanandsandra.com

4

2

PHOTO: cakeoholics.ca

PHOTO: blackbirdphotographs.com

7

PHOTO: arianadelmundo.com

6

FAVOURITE CAKE DESIGNS Sweet tables, ombre cakes, geode style cakes, cupcake towers, cakes hanging from the ceiling… accents ranging from statement florals and strings of pearls to antique cake stands, designing your cake display can be sweet! This gallery is filled with cake design ideas we love, thanks to our friends from across South Western Ontario.

ALL INVOLVED 1. The Bitchin Kitchen (the-bitchin-kitchen.ca) Woodstock, ON 2. Cakeoholics (cakeoholics.ca) Newmarket, ON 3. Decadently Yours (decadentlyyours.ca) Guelph, ON 4. Fancy That Cake (fancythatcake.ca) Fergus, ON 5. LenJo Bakes (lenjobakes.com) Kitchener, ON 6. Refined Sugar Cakes and Sweets (refinedsugar.ca) Kitchener, ON 7. Ritzy Cakes & Eatery (robinsritzycakes.com) Waterford, ON 8. Stacked: The Wedding Cake Shop (stackedweddingcakes.com) Ayr, ON 9. Sweet Avenue Cakery (sweetavenuecakery.ca) Stoney Creek, ON WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 61

{ EDITORIAL }

BEAUTY WITHIN BRIDE: Courtney Salamone VENUE: Millworks Creative District - The Loft (millworkscreative.com) Dundas, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Alexis Burton Photographer (alexisburtonphotographer.com) Hamilton, ON HAIR: Taylin Beechey - Glow Services (@glow.services) Paris, ON MAKEUP: Stacey Sztricsko - Beauty by Stacey (beautybystacey.ca) Caledonia, ON GOWN: Essense of Australia, Heirlooms Bridal Shop (heirloomsbridal.com) Dundas, ON DETAILS: "When Taylin and I were putting together a bridal editorial look to showcase our talents, I thought of Courtney right away! We made her the star of our shoot, and provided her additional memories in her beautiful gown! She looked truly stunning. Taylin and I are a hair and makeup glam squad duo that travels directly to the bride to prep them for the big day!"- Stacey, Beauty by Stacey 62 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

{ DESIGN PALETTE }

CLASSICALLY FRENCH

FLORAL & STYLING: La Petite Fleur (petitefleur.ca) Innerkip, ON LINENS & DRAPING: AWE Events (aweevents.ca) Cambridge, ON VENUE: La Petite Chapelle (♥) (facebook.com/LaPetiteChapelleEvents) Innerkip, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Julie Nicole Photography (♥) (julienicolephotography.com) Kitchener, ON STATIONERY: Red Bicycle Paper Co. (♥) (redbicyclepaperco.com) Cambridge, ON HAIR: Vaniti Hair Design -Sally (vanitihairdesign.com) Cambridge, ON MAKEUP: Lovelly Beauty and Wellness (michellelovell.ca) Kitchener, ON CAKE: Cocabella Cake Studio (facebook.com/cocabellacakes) Kitchener, ON CHAIRS: Simply Beautiful Decor (simplybeautifuldecor.ca) Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

TABLE RENTALS: ABC Party Time Rentals (abcpartytime.com) Cambridge, ON VINTAGE RENTALS: Bird & Bee Vintage Rental Co. (birdandbeevintage.com) Paris, ON MODELS: Cailey Bradshaw & Brendan Hambleton DETAILS: "This palette combined classically French, feminine details with more rustic elements to create an undeniably romantic setting. Soft, sophisticated florals, neutral candles, and gorgeous chandeliers took centre stage and were flawlessly supported by natural wood chairs, hand-torn cotton menus and decadent, individual cakes. Every corner of this space showcased something special from the talented group of artists who brought this dream to life. From crystal to stone, old wood to candlelight this set up has something for everyone while remaining an elegant, cohesive design."- Brandy, La Petite Chapelle WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 63

{ DESIGN PALETTE }

DRUNK ON LOVE BRIDE & GROOM: Sarah and Kevin Rampelt WEDDING DATE: September 14th, 2019 CEREMONY & RECEPTION: Grey Silo Golf Club (♥) (golfnorth.ca/greysilo) Waterloo, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Stephanie Canada Photography (stephaniecanada.com) Kitchener, ON THEME: Rustic Elegance. Our colours were burgundy, navy and blush with accents of rose gold."

FLORALS: Batora Flora (facebook.com/BatoraFlora) Kitchener, ON DÉCOR & DAY OF COORDINATOR: Servers with a Smile (♥) (serverswithasmile.ca) Kitchener, ON "Rebecca and her team set up and tore down all of our décor as well as was our wedding coordinator. We can't say enough about how incredible they were.

Without Rebecca I have no doubt that we would have been lost on our wedding day, but instead, her hard work meant Kevin and I got to spend every second together and in the moment of our big day. There were no flaws in our day, and we owe a big part of that to Rebecca" - S FAVOURITE DÉCOR ELEMENT: "We loved the over all set up 64 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

of our ceremony. It was so perfect for us. We had a 50ft fireplace as a back drop to our ceremony, and Rebecca set up floating candles with greenery along the mantel. Wine barrels with florals sat on either side of the beginning of the aisle. There were rose gold pillars at the end of the aisle, and there were white rose petals lining the aisle. The entire look was so romantic and perfect." - S STATIONERY & CUSTOM WELCOME SIGN: Love Daze Designs (facebook.com/LoveDazeDesigns) Kitchener, ON CAKE: Refined Sugar Cakes & Sweets (refinedsugar.ca) Kitchener, ON BRIDE & BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: Taylor's Bridal Boutique (taylorsbridal.com) Elmira, ON GROOM & GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com) Waterloo, ON HAIR & MAKEUP: Bricks and Blondes Hair Studio (facebook. com/bricksandblondeshairstudio) Kitchener, ON DJ: Loops N Jamzz DJ Productions (loopsnjamzzdjs.com) Wellesley, ON

{ STYLE SHOOT}

ALTERNATIVE STYLE

PHOTOGRAPHY: Rebecca Sprau Photography (rebeccasprauphotography.com) Delhi, ON DÉCOR: Best Wishes Linen and Decor (bestwisheslinens.webs.com) Delhi, ON FLORAL: Kings Flower and Garden (kingsflowers.ca) Simcoe, ON VENUE: Whistling Gardens (whistlinggardens.ca) Wilsonville, ON& Cranberry Creek Gardens (lynedochgardens.ca) Delhi, ON HAIR: Perri Hair (@perrihairr) Simcoe, ON MAKEUP: Beauty Bomb Glam (facebook.com/beautybombmakeup) Simcoe, ON

CAKE: Sweet B’s Cakes (sweetbscakes.ca) Norwich, ON GOWNS: Elizabeth Noel (elizabethnoel.com) London, ON TUX: Collins Formal Wear (♥) (collinsformalwear.com)

London, ON BIRDS: Canadian Raptor Conservancy (canadianraptorconservancy.com) Vittoria, ON MODELS: Kennedy Talbot, Dillon Davis, Ben Demeulenaere, Markie Perrier, Taylor Sherman DETAILS: "Our amazing vendor team decided to add a twist to the idea of a traditional wedding for the brides that want to step away from the white gowns and delicate décor. We wanted to really let every

individual vendors' talents shine. With an idea and a colour scheme of how we wanted the day to play out, each vendor could interpret the concept in their own way. The owls were really incredible to work with! We went with a simpler dress change as to not take away from the owls in the photos. Since dress changes have become more popular in recent years with weddings we decided to not only change it up for our 'bride' but also for the models we had portraying bridesmaids. In the end, not only did we create a beautiful alternative styled wedding, but we had an amazing time doing so." - Rebecca Sprau Photography WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 65

{ DESIGN PALETTE }

ELEGANT RUSTIC

PHOTO, this page and next: Beracha Diane Photography

Now & Always Special Event Decor (♥) (nowandalways.ca) Paris, ON

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

BRIDE & GROOM: Alisha & Kevin De Munck

HAIR: Impakt Studios (impaktstudio.ca) Paris, ON

CATERING: Devlin's Country Bistro & Catering

WEDDING DATE: July 13th, 2019

MAKEUP: Makeup by Misti

(devlinscountrybistro.com) Mount Pleasant, ON

VENUE: De Munck family farm in Burford, ON

(facebook.com/makeupbymisti) Kitchener ON

DETAILS: "Our overall theme was elegant rustic

DÉCOR: Now & Always Special Event Decor (♥)

BRIDE ATTIRE: Bridal Boutique (♥)

with our colours being blush pink and steel blue.

(nowandalways.ca) Paris, ON

(bridal-boutique.ca) Brantford, ON

We choose to have our reception on the farm

PHOTOGRAPHY: Beracha Diane Photography

BRIDESMAID ATTIRE: David's Bridal

because it suited our style and were thrilled that

(facebook.com/berachadianephotography)

(davidsbridal.ca) Cambridge, ON

Cindy at Now & Always was able to transform

Waterford, ON

GROOM & GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: Moores

it into a even more beautiful space. We wouldn't

FLORAL: Wild Flowers Studio

Clothing for Men (♥) (mooresclothing.com)

have been able to find anywhere a better suited

(facebook.com/wildflowerflorals) Simcoe ON

Brantford, ON

venue!" - A&K

WHERE FABULOUS BEGIN!• •25 67 GET LOCAL LOCAL.WEDDINGS PLAN FABULOUS!

FAVOURITE TUXES: STARS MEN'S SHOPS Stars Men's Shops (starsmenshops.com) is a dynamic company which began more than 50 years ago. They now have over 20 stores across Ontario in most major malls. Stars buying team hand selects each item to perfectly coordinate with each of Stars suits, pants, and blazers. Stars is continuously creating great men's wear looks in suits, formal wear, Â dress shirts, outerwear, and sportswear that are not only exclusive to Stars, but also, always competitively priced.

PHOTOS, this page: starsmenshops.com

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

{ STYLE SHOOT}

ROMANTIC, WHIMISCAL & LUSH PHOTOGRAPHY: Blush West Photography (blushwestphoto.com) Waterdown, ON DÉCOR & FLORAL: Fairytales Creations and Catering (fccdecor.com) Brampton, ON PLANNER: True Mate Weddings (truemateweddings.ca) Brampton, ON VENUE: Knollwood Golf Club (knollwoodgolfclub.com) Ancaster, ON STATIONERY: Melynn Design (@melynn.design) Brantford, ON HAIR: Lubu Makeup (lubumakeup.com) Toronto, ON MAKEUP: Faces By Dom (facesbydom.com) Toronto, ON CAKE: Cakes by Emily K

CUPCAKES: For Heaven’s Cakes & Shakes (forheavenscakesnshakes.com) Brampton, ON BRIDE ATTIRE: Etsy - Lovable Victoria, Toronto, ON BRIDESMAIDS ATTIRE: Henkaa (henkaa.com) Toronto, ON GROOM ATTIRE: Krystian’s Menswear (krystiansmenswear.com) Orangeville, ON JEWELLERY: Talia (accessoriesbytalia.com) North York, ON VIDEOGRAPHY: Thomas & Bella Videography (thomasbellavideography.com) Toronto, ON MODELS: Brianne Kahama, Peter Kahama, Kara McConomy, Shona Dunkley

DETAILS: "Romantic, whimsical and lush were the words that came to mind when we thought of a concept for this shoot. Taken at the beautiful Knollwood Gardens, we gave this lovely couple a second chance at wedding photos. The bride didn't get to wear the dress of her dreams when she married the man of her dreams, so this opportunity allowed her to do just that! We had someone ask "wow, how did you find models that have such great chemistry?" - Not knowing that they've been married for 3 years. Their love is undeniable and we enjoyed every moment of creating and capturing this magical day." - Jacquie, Blush West Photography

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 69

BEYOND DREAMY BRIDAL GOWNS These 2020 bridal gowns are beyond dreamy! With designers having just released their 2020 bridal collections, we have your first sneak peek here at what you can find at Crème Couture (♥) (cremecouture.ca) in Guelph, ON this coming season!

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

{ STYLE SHOOT }

SOFT GLAM

PHOTO, this page and next: joboucherphotography.com

Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory (♥) (cambridgebutterfly.com) Cambridge, ON

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 71 73

VENUE: Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory (♥) (cambridgebutterfly.com) Cambridge, ON DÉCOR: AWE Events (aweevents.ca) Cambridge, ON PHOTOGRAPHY: Jo Boucher Photography (joboucherphotography.com) Brantford, ON & Carly Kratzer Photography (carlykratzerphotography.com) Guelph, ON FLORAL: La Petite Fleur (petitefleur.ca) Innerkip, ON JEWELLERY: Wisdom's Jewellers (wisdomsjewellers.com) Guelph, ON GOWN: Crème Couture (♥) (cremecouture.ca) Guelph, ON SUIT: Sidonio's (sidoniosformen.com) Guelph, ON HAIR: Savija Ellis (hairbysavija.com) Cambridge, ON MAKEUP: B Pretty Bridal - Rachel Jones (bprettybridal.com) Guelph, ON CAKE: Wellington Cakes (wellingtoncakes.ca) Guelph, ON STATIONERY: Red Bicycle Paper Co. (♥) (redbicyclepaperco.com) Cambridge, ON DJ: Thunderstorm Productions (♥) (thunderstormpro.com) Kitchener, ON OFFICIANT: Enduring Promises - Jeff Johnston (enduringpromises.com) Kitchener, ON MODELS: Leslie Pelerine, Andrew Dolson, 72 •The Wedding Ring Magazine | www.theweddingring.ca

Alexandra Kocher, Mitch Chan

DETAILS: For wedding coordinators Cayla and Shannon, a new year means a new opportunity to show off the beautiful venue that is Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. "With lush foliage and tropical butterflies, the Conservatory as a ceremony space speaks for itself, but we were excited to show wedding couples what our reception space can transform into. To show how magical our space is, we worked with an amazing team of experienced vendors who work with us to bring our wedding couples' personal styles and visions to life."

The neutral reception space allows for many design options and colours. Tanya Wormsley from AWE Events chose dusty rose, a popular request this season. "I knew it would look soft and elegant next to their new vineyard chairs which are a classic and yet trendy addition to the space. The dreamy chiffon beautifully accented the brick wall and framed the sweetheart table perfectly."

Brandy King from La Petite Fleur chose florals on the softer side to compliment the dusty rose dĂŠcor. "I chose some wintery accents but blush and white is a certainly a year round palette and easily paired with other things to tie it to any particular season."

The Conservatory is an enchanting venue year round and offers truly unique photo opportunities: a cascading waterfall, backdrops of tropical foliage, as well as outdoor perennial gardens, and acres of wildflower meadows.

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 73

A few of our favourite themes at Wedsy.ca

WEDSY.CA is an online wedding shop filled with lovely items for lovely Canadian weddings. From shabby chic and ridiculously retro to just plain gorgeous,Wedsy.ca offers wedding favours, supplies, décor, gifts and more. This online shop is run by the team at TheWeddingRing.ca and filled entirely with things we love.

Everything is online and most are customizable.

SHOP. LOVE. CUSTOMIZE. PLAN. INSPIRE. WED.

INDUSTRIAL CHIC Take everything you love about the city—the lights, the buildings, that downtown urban feel—and imagine a wedding with that exact same vibe. Bold, confident, mature, and modern, the industrial wedding theme features the best of city life whether you live downtown or not.

Laser Cut Metal Table Number Set (6): $60

Galvanized Tin Rectangular Planter: Small: $7.19 Large: $8.39

Bell Shaped Glass Tealight Holder (6) : $47.88

Bistro Bliss Menu Card: $1.20

Galvanized Flower Bucket with Handle Small: $10 Large: $11.30

Tin Box With Aged Finish & Blackboard Panel Display: $23.99

Decorating Glass Bottle Set - Clear (6): $48

Stainless Lantern With Glass Panels: $30

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

Ontario Bridal Show Calendar Full list (updated yearyear round!) can be found @ theweddingring.ca ♥ Full listofofbridal bridalshows shows (updated round!) can be found @ theweddingring.ca ♥

THE RING’S KW WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ January 11th & 12th, 2020 at Bingemans 425 Bingemans Centre Drive in Kitchener theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE RING’S BARRIE WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ January 18th, 2020 at Liberty North 1-100 Caplan Avenue in Barrie theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo CONCORDIA CLUB OPEN HOUSE January 19th, 2020 at Concordia Club 429 Ottawa Street South in Kitchener theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo STRATFORD COUNTRY CLUB BOUTIQUE BRIDAL SHOW January 25th, 2020 at the Stratford Country Club 53 Romeo Street North in Stratfor stratfordcountryclub.com THE RING’S LONDON WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ January 26th, 2020 at The Best Western Lamplighter Inn 591 Wellington Road in London theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo LA PETITE CHAPELLE WEDDING OPEN HOUSE January 26th, 2020 at La Petite Chapelle 153 Blandford Street in Innerkip THE RING’S STRATFORD WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 8th, 2020 at Best Western PLUS Arden Park Hotel 552 Ontario Street in Stratford theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo

THE RING’S HAMILTON WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 9th, 2020 at Marquis Gardens 1050 Rymal Road East in Hamilton theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE RING’S GUELPH WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 23rd, 2020 at Grand Guelph Banquet & Event Centre 340 Woodlawn Road West in Guelph theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION WEDDING SHOW February 23rd, 2020 at C Banquets 300 City Centre Drive in Mississauga ultimatedestinationweddings.ca/udwshow 10TH ANNUAL CANADA SOUTHERN RAILWAY STATION BRIDAL EXPO February 23rd, 2020 at CASO Train Station 750 Talbot Street in St. Thomas facebook.com/CASOstation THE RING’S BRANTFORD WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ February 29th, 2020 at Best Western Brantford 19 Holiday Inn Drive in Brantford theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE RING’S MILTON WINTER WEDDING EXPO ♥ March 8th, 2020 at Milton Banquet & Conference Centre 3090 Steeles Avenue West in Milton theweddingring.ca/bridalexpo

THE RING’S NEWMARKET SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ March 29th, 2020 at The Newmarket Community Centre & Lions Hall 200 Doug Duncan Drive in Newmarket theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE RING’S WOODSTOCK SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ March 29th, 2020 at Craigowan Golf Club 595838 Hwy 59 N R.R. # 6 in Woodstock theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE RING’S CAMBRIDGE SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ April 5th, 2020 at Cambridge Hotel & Conference Centre 700 Hespeler Road in Cambridge theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo THE RING’S SARNIA SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ April 19th, 2020 at Dante Club 1330 London Road in Sarnia theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo 18TH ANNUAL HESSENLAND WEDDING OPEN HOUSE April 25th, 2020 at Hessenland Inn 72981 Bluewater Highway in Zurich hessenland.com THE RING’S ORILLIA SPRING WEDDING EXPO ♥ April 26th, 2020 at Quality Inn & Conference Centre 201 Woodside Drive in Orillia theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo KINCARDINE WEDDING SHOW September 27th, 2020 at Davidson Centre, 601 Durham Street in Kincardine kincardineweddingshow.ca WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 75

PHOTO: anneedgarphoto.com @

THE

S H O W:

P H O T O G R A P H Y, MUSIC,

VENUES, T R AV E L

T R A N S P O R TAT I O N ,

WEDDING SPECIALISTS, B E A U T Y,

DESIGNERS LIFE

&

&

H E A LT H ,

BARRIE BRANTFORD CAMBRIDGE GUELPH HAMILTON KITCHENER-WATERLOO LONDON

D E C O R AT O R S ,

WEDDING

GIFTS,

FA S H I O N

BUDGET

FAV O U R S ,

&

FORMAL

SPECIALISTS,

WEDDING

SUPPLIES

WEAR,

OFFICIANTS, &

MORE

MILTON NEWMARKET ORILLIA RICHMOND HILL SARNIA STRATFORD WOODSTOCK

REGISTER FOR FREE ADMISSION, WELCOME BAG & CUSTOM LABELS AT:

theweddingring.ca/weddingexpo

LOCAL WEDDING PROFESSIONALS, ON SITE GOWN SALES, FREE WELCOME BAG + FREE ADMISSION FOR THE BRIDE, GROOM & ENTOURAGE + FREE COPY OF THE WEDDING RING MAGAZINE + FREE PARKING, $1000 ONLINE SHOPPING SPREE GRAND PRIZE & SO MUCH MORE!

Wedding Worthy Venues

The WEDDING WORTHY VENUES feature is 20 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, Wedding Worthy Venues is an advertising feature designed to give you an at-a-glance look at the styles, spaces, indoor and outdoor options, catering choices, and guest capacities at selected wedding venues. Want more?

Find everything from colour schemes to wedding menus, and package pricing by checking out Location, Location, Location reviews at TheWeddingRing.ca ♥

VENUE: Craigowan Golf Club (♥) (craigowan.com) PHOTO: Dudek Photography (dudekphotography.com)

(♥) = Reviewed in theweddingring.ca

pg 92 WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 77

WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE ASSOCIATION IN CAMBRIDGE 519-622-0771 jackie@wrpa.org wrpa.org

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

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

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

PHOTO: one2onephotography.ca

PHOTO:zsuzsipalphotography.com

Concordia Club is the place

PHOTO: zsuzsipalphotography.com

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

PHOTO: zsuzsipalphotography.com

PHOTO:zsuzsipalphotography.com

PHOTO: one2onephotography.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 79

BINGEMANS IN KITCHENER 519-744-1231 ext. 2268 weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com

PHOTO: hauserworks.com PHOTO: latteproductions.ca

PHOTO: sdavidandkara.com

PHOTO: Decorating Dreams

BINGEMANS PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY, E X P E R I E N C E A N D S PAC E O P T I O N S to suit any wedding. With six banquet rooms on the Bingemans property, including the Ballroom and Embassy Room, Bingemans is the perfect setting for all sizes and styles of weddings. Bingemans' expansive grounds are also a beautiful backdrop for pictures to capture your special day.

MULTIPLE

GUESTS

|

&

ON-SITE

RECEPTION CATERING

OPTIONS |

FULL

AVAILABLE

BAR

SERVICE PHOTO: lovesproutsphotography.com

50-1200

CEREMONY

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

PHOTO: photographybyazra.com

PHOTO: Best Western Lamplighter Inn

BEST WESTERN® PLUS LAMPLIGHTER INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE

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 onsite, create your customized menu, take advantage of fantastic indoor photo locations and extensive wedding décor options.

20-500 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ONSITE 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: hrmphotography.com

IN LONDON

A L L - I N C L U S I V E WEDDING PACKAGES

519-681-7151 sales@lamplighterinn.ca lamplighterinn.ca PHOTO: one12photo.ca

PHOTO: novamarkina.com

PHOTO: one12photo.ca

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 81

LIBERTY NORTH

is conveniently located close to Highway 400 in Barrie, and offers over 5000 sq. ft. of event and meeting space, welcoming 20 to 500+ guests. Their versatile ballrooms, with the option of on-site wedding ceremonies, can accommodate sit-down receptions followed by dancing. Select from a menu of traditional favourites or choose from among several all-inclusive wedding packages, offering plated dinner and buffet options.

CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | 20-500+ GUESTS CATERING

|

|

ON-SITE

FULL BAR SERVICE

PHOTOS, this page: Liberty North,

unless otherwise stated

LIBERTY NORTH IN BARRIE PHOTO: natcaronphotography.com

705-728-3877 info@libertynorth.ca libertynorth.ca

PHOTOS, bottom row: alleycatphotography.ca

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

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON KITCHENER

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

519-893-1211

PHOTO: DoubleTree by Hilton Kitchener

stephanie.crombie@sunraygroup.ca

RENOVATED

INDOOR WEDDINGS FOR 10 TO 300 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING PHOTO: redsuitcasephotography.com

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

PHOTO: redsuitcasephotography.com

PHOTO: DoubleTree by Hilton Kitchener

NEWLY

, the Doubletree by Hilton Kitchener (located at 30 Fairway Road) is a modern wedding destination! With a varitey of elegant venue spaces Doubletree Kitchener offers professional on-site wedding planners, an award winning Executive Chef offering customized menues, on-site décor options, inclusive packages for every budget, preferred guest room rates, complimentary overnight accommodation for couples on their wedding nights with chef-inspired amenities, and much more!

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 83

CAMBRIDGE HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE IN CAMBRIDGE

519-624-7732 weddings@cambridgehotel.ca cambridgehotel.ca

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

CAMBRIDGE

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

H O T E L & CONFERENCE C E N T R E provides over 10,000 square feet of flexible function space, supported

by

10-individual

function rooms. The recently renovated space is ideal for

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

weddings,

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

and

events. When you get married at Cambridge Hotel & Conference Center you’ll have an entire team dedicated to your wedding day.

CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS

|

UP

GUESTS

TO

|

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

conferences

200 ON-

SITE

CATERING

FULL

BAR

|

SERVICE

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

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

PHOTO: cambridgehotel.ca

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

MILTON BANQUET & CONFERENCE CENTRE IN MILTON 905-864-8445 info@miltonbanquets.com miltonbanquets.com

PHOTOS, this page: 1cmp.com

Situated in the midst of 36 acres of PICTURESQUE PARKLAND, Milton Banquet & Conference Centre will transport your guests to a state of serenity as they enjoy strolling through the manicured courtyard gardens and lush green lawns. Our elegantly decorated banquet halls easily accommodate parties of 50 – 500 guests and our dedicated and experienced staff will attend to every detail to ensure a night of memories you're sure to cherish. CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | 50 TO 500 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ONSITE CATERING

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 85

THE TANNERY IN KITCHENER PHOTO: davidandkara.com

THE TANNERY has been

revitalized from a turn-of-the-century mill to a contemporary trendsetting venue with exposed brick, wooden beams, and soaring ceilings. This venue is rustic, urban, and chic, and can compliment any colour scheme or décor.

Let your photos be the backdrop for your

519-744-1231 Ext. 2234 weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com/weddings

PHOTO: davidandkara.com

event with state of the art digital media walls.

75-220 GUESTS | FULL BAR SERVICE | ON-SITE CATERING | CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS

PHOTO: sethpartridge.com

PHOTO: decoratingdreams.ca

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

PHOTO: decoratingdreams.ca

REVIVAL HOUSE IN STRATFORD 519-273-3424 weddings@revival.house revival.house

PHOTOS, this page: michaelsteingard.com/

STRATFORD’S

PREMIERE WEDDING SITE Elegance, heritage, and warmth await you. After all, it was a church. This beautiful venue is complimented by exquisite menus and drink lists. One perfect site for both ceremonies and receptions. Your memories will be better than a fairytale-they’ll be made of your story.

FROM 55-140 GUESTS | FULL BAR

SERVICE

|

ON-SITE

CATERING ONLY | ON-SITE WEDDING

COORDINATOR

|

ON-SITE SOMMELIER | OUTSIDE GARDEN TERRACE | CEREMONY &

RECEPTION

OPTIONS

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 87

STRATFORD COUNTRY CLUB IN STRATFORD 519-271-4212 jjacob@stratfordcountryclub.ca stratfordcountryclub.ca

PHOTO: averhoevephotography.com

PHOTO: heatherdietz.com

A BEAUTIFUL

PHOTO: averhoevephotography.com

BACKDROP for any style of wedding.

STR ATFORD COUNTRY CLUB offers a location for outdoor ceremonies or the option of hosting the ceremony inside. The exquisite dining room has modern décor and

an

outstanding

view of the golf course.

SPACE

FOR

UP

TO

220

GUESTS | AVAILABLE ALL YEAR ROUND | FULL BAR SERVICE ON-SITE

|

DELICIOUS

CATERING

BY

STRATFORD COUNTRY CLUB PHOTO: heatherdietz.com

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

PHOTO: heatherdietz.com

PHOTO: averhoevephotography.com

with gorgeous chandeliers

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: Tina Lazarevic Photography

PHOTO: gary-evans.ca

PHOTO: decoratingdreams.ca

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! • 89

FANSHAWE PIONEER VILLAGE IN LONDON

PHOTOS, this page: rawfootagephotos.com

519-457-1296 Ext. 813 rentals@fanshawepioneervillage.ca 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 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.

FANSHAWE INDOOR

PIONEER AND

VILLAGE

OUTDOOR

OFFERS CEREMONY

AND RECEPTION OPTIONS | UP TO 400 GUESTS | LAKESIDE CEREMONIES | NATURAL GREEN SPACE | MULTIPLE PHOTO LOCATIONS | HISTORIC, RUSTIC BARN FOR RECEPTIONS | GAZEBO

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 57

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

THE GRAND GUELPH BANQUET & EVENT CENTRE IN GUELPH 519-824-5076 info@thegrandguelph.ca 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 KitchenerWaterloo and Cambridge, we are located at the corner of highways 6 & 7 in

PHOTO: deanpalmer.ca

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

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 91

CRAIGOWAN GOLF CLUB IN WOODSTOCK PHOTO: thebridallounge.ca

PHOTO: thebridallounge.ca

519-462-2743 ext. 226

PHOTO: dudekphotography.com

info@craigowan.com craigowan.com

CRAIGOWAN

PHOTO: otephotography.com

CLUB

specializes in providing a tranquil setting with the finest services for weddings of all styles.

With a gorgeous large patio overlooking the golf course and the natural beauty of the surroundings, this venue's private facilities and attentive services will create a stellar wedding celebration. The contemporary banquet room can accommodate up to 220 guests for a sit-down meal or up to 250 for cocktail receptions. Customizable packages are available, guaranteeing your dream wedding!

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

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

GOLF

PHOTO: terryrichards.com

LA PETITE CHAPELLE (OPENING MAY 2020) IN INNERKIP 519-589-9730 lapetitechapelleevents@gmail.com

PHOTOS, this page: julienicolephotography.com

A HISTORIC CHURCH, RENOVATED WITH MODERN, AIRY STYLING. La Petite Chapelle’s main reception room boasts nearly

30’ vaulted ceilings, original hardwood flooring and stained glass. Come find your inspiration with us and let us help you create a day that’s uniquely you.

80 – 150 GUESTS | MULTIPLE SPACES | ON-SITE FOR CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | FLEXIBLE, HIGHLY RATED CATERING OPTIONS | ON-SITE WEDDING COORDINATOR | ON-SITE FLORAL DESIGN | ON-SITE ACCOMMODATIONS | CENTRALLY LOCATED

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 93

MARRIOTT ® TOWNEPLACE SUITES BRANTFORD & CONFERENCE CENTRE 519-720-2777 kayla.martins@marriott.com affinitybrantford.com

PHOTOS, this page: marriott.com

BRANTFORD, ONTARIO'S NEWEST AND LARGEST HOTEL The Marriott® Townplace

Suites Brantford & Conference Centre is the perfect venue for your special day. From intimate gatherings to large celebrations, offering 10,000 sq feet of modern and elegant space with 24ft ceilings, chandeliers, state of the art audio visual and sound experience, executive chef, and a dedicated onsite event coordinator. A 2000 square foot pre-function area is the perfect place to host your guests for a cocktail reception in between the ceremony and reception.

50 TO 550 GUESTS | ALL INCLUSIVE RECEPTION PACKAGES | OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

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

Photo courtesy of Bingemans

WATERLOO CENTRAL RAILWAY

IN ST. JACOB'S 519-744-1555 | weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com

Photo courtesy of aboveandbeyondstyles.ca

BEST WESTERN PLUS THE ARDEN PARK HOTEL

IN STRATFORD 519-275-2936 | armcgavin@wightman.ca ardenpark.on.ca

Bring excitement, romance, and celebration to a whole new level as you say “I do” aboard one of Waterloo Central Railway’s historic locomotives. This 'rolling wedding chapel' is ideal for intimate weddings and is sure to have your guests inspired by your special day in history.

Offering excellent menu options and prices, space for up to 450 guests, ceremony and reception spaces, newly renovated décor, overnight accomodations and, essentially, a one-stop-shop style venue and a staff that takes a hands-on approach to assisting with your wedding. Stratford’s Best Western PLUS The Arden Park Hotel is a fabulous venue option for a wedding day, both in festival season and out.

50 |

50 |

TO 450 ON-SITE

GUESTS | OVER CATERING |

NIGHT FULL

ACCOMMODATIONS BAR SERVICE

Photo courtesy of Quality Inn & Conference Centre Orillia

QUALITY INN & CONFERENCE CENTRE ORILLIA

IN ORILLIA 705-326-7343 | kelly@qualityinnorillia.com qualityinnorillia.com

TO 450 ON-SITE

GUESTS | OVER CATERING |

NIGHT FULL

ACCOMMODATIONS BAR SERVICE

Photo courtesy of Bingemans

STECKLE HERITAGE FARM IN KITCHENER 519-744-1555 | weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com

Ranging in size from intimate gatherings of 15 to large functions of up to 200, Quality Inn’s event and wedding venue in Orillia is the ideal space to host any kind of social or professional function. With over 30 years of experience in meetings, conferences, and large group events, you can rest easy knowing their professional staff are on-hand to provide you with excellent event planning services.

Steckle Heritage Farm is a designated heritage property in the City of Kitchener dating back to 1833. From the original farm buildings, to trees, to antiques on site, many date back well over 100 years. It maintains the feeling of an old farm while having modern amenities. Its beauty combined with being a "Farm within the City" are part of what makes it so unique.

15 TO 200 GUESTS | CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS | ONSITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE

CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | INSIDE & OPTIONS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR

OUTSIDE SERVICE

WHERE FABULOUS LOCAL WEDDINGS BEGIN! • 95

Photo courtesy of Best Western Brantford

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

Photo courtesy of Bingemans

THREE BRIDGES EVENT CENTRE IN ST. JACOB'S 519-744-1555 | weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com

Located just minutes from downtown St. Jacobs on the picturesque Conestogo River, Three Bridges Event Centre offers beautiful indoor space and professionally landscaped grounds, making it the perfect setting to customize your wedding to your taste.

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

CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | INSIDE & OPTIONS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR

Photo courtesy of Bingemans

Photo courtesy of lovesproutsphotography.com

IN KITCHENER 519-744-1555 | weddings@bingemans.com bingemans.com

IN PETERSBURG 519-634-8666 | hospitality.rebelcreek@golfnorth.ca golfnorth.ca/rebelcreek

REBEL CREEK GOLF CLUB

WATERLOO REGION MUSEUM

The Waterloo Region Museum is one of the most picturesque and historically significant venues in the city. This beautiful and iconic venue is the ideal place to make any event special. Experience the unique ambiance of the Grand Foyer with its soaring walls of Ontario Limestone, repurposed 19th-century barn timbers and dramatic skylights. Choose from the Willow Green Gazebo or the Freeport Church for your ceremony.

ON-SITE

CATERING

|

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

FULL

OUTSIDE SERVICE

BAR

SERVICE

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 & OUTSIDE CEREMONY & RECEPTION OPTIONS | 50-150 GUESTS | ON-SITE CATERING | FULL BAR SERVICE