Summer Garden-Inspired Wedding at Elora Mill

This garden-inspired wedding at Elora Mill tops the list of our favourite weddings of all-time. We got to work on a fun, warm, colour palette that inspired us right from the beginning. From a warm terracotta to a soft romantic peach, paired with tiny hints of yellow and purple supported by a backdrop of green made everything feel so punchy and perfect for this late summer wedding.

Once our palette was set, we started the floral design with Forever Wildfield. Michelle wanted a lush garden-inspired wedding, but I knew that it could quickly fall into overload and feel overwhelming if we weren't smart about scaling the florals appropriately to the size of the room and available table dimensions. This meant creating some very cool winding floral arrangements down the guest tables that were taller than they were wide, using the available vertical space without interfering with conversation across the table. We then worked on creating focus around their sweetheart table so it didn’t feel small and out of place in a large room with 180 guests. We then worked on the tabletop pieces so that some elements seemingly blended away into the florals (ie. the tan-coloured glassware and terracotta and peach-coloured candles) and the charger plates, napkins and menus offered loads of texture layered on the tabletop, playing to both the sight and touch senses.

Now that all the big picture elements were lined up, we could start pulling details from them to give guests their first taste of what was to come through the invitations. Melissa from Statue Rue is one of my favourite Toronto wedding invitation designers. Having a love for paper, it’s no wonder her designs appeal to the sense of touch with hand-made cotton papers, natural hand-torn edges and printed with letterpress to reveal the impression of the text in the paper. It was fun to incorporate a delicate flower wreath around the invitation as a nod to the floral glory that was to come at the garden-inspired wedding reception.

The Elora Mill wedding team did an impeccable job ensuring Michelle’s dream came to life with their attention to detail on the day - from the wedding concierge to the catering team, we think they’re pretty important in making the days run so smoothly for our clients.

The team includes Jeff Shuh Photography, Forever Wildfield, Statue Rue, Simply Beautiful Decor, Allyssa Helm Beauty, Sweet Celebrations, 586 Event Group and Leith Quartet. Michelle’s dress is a Galia Lahav design.

Service: Full Planning and Design

THE FLOORPLAN

The Elora Mill Grand Room is an asymmetrical shape making it sometimes hard to imagine something new, especially if your guest count maxes out the room. We didn’t do too much here to change things from the norm, but we did find small ways to make it unique with a round sweetheart table and a division between two of the tables at the back of the room. We also changed around which green and white charger plates were used at each table to create a bit more of a difference between the tables.

You can see more of our Elora Mill weddings and their floorplans here.

Some of our favourites: Bouquets & Dresses

A wedding dress truly is best paired with a beautiful bouquet, but with endless options and colour palettes at our finger tips, how do we ever decide what will stand the test of time?

How to Choose Your Wedding Dress

Choosing the perfect wedding dress is an exciting and important task for any bride-to-be. When selecting your gown, there are several factors to consider to ensure you find the dress of your dreams.

Firstly, think about your personal style and what makes you feel beautiful. Consider whether you prefer a traditional, modern, relaxed, or glamorous look. Your wedding dress should reflect your personality and most importantly, make you feel confident. Accessories are also a great way to dress up your gown, especially those that allow the dress to be convertible, giving different looks depending on the moment of the day. It could be a simpler dress with a gorgeous cape or a huge bow on the back that can be removed as a surprise later. Maybe it’s a bolder dress with a simple veil.

Next, take into account the venue and style of your wedding. Your dress should complement the overall aesthetic of the event, whether it's a beachside ceremony, a garden party, or a formal affair in a grand ballroom.

Additionally, consider your body type and what silhouettes and fabrics flatter your figure. It's essential to choose a dress that accentuates your best features and makes you feel comfortable throughout the day and night. Do you have a favourite part of your body you want to showcase? It could be your neckline or back or even the curve of your hips! No matter what, though, you should consider ease of movement, comfort, and the ability to dance and enjoy your celebration.

Lastly, budget is also a significant factor to keep in mind. Set a realistic budget for your dress and consider alterations, accessories, and other expenses that may come with it. There are many pretty dresses at different prices based on fabric, designer, and design intricacy. You can get one within your budget that suits your style, it just may take a bit of patience.

How to Choose Your Wedding Bouquet

When choosing your wedding bouquet, start by considering the overall vibe and colour palette of your wedding. Think about the style of your dress and the formality of the event. Take into account the season and availability of flowers for that time of year and have a list of your favourite (and least favourite!) flowers as well. Be open to suggestions from your florist. Even if a specific flower isn’t in season, they may be able to make alternate suggestions to achieve a similar look.

Size is another consideration. Your wedding bouquet should be appropriately sized for you. Something too big is not only heavy to carry, but it may also be a distraction away from you.

Lastly, think about shape. Do you want something more classic and round in shape, all one colour, more wild and free or somewhere in between? These are all important things to consider when chatting with your florist.

A Few of Our Favourite Wedding Dresses and Bouquets from Over the Years

Take a peak below at some of our favourite dresses, their bouquets, and the beautiful women in them!

Click on each photo for full details on dress, florals and photography!

The Best First Dance Songs - A Playlist for You

Choosing a first dance song for a wedding is a deeply personal decision, as it often reflects any couple's relationship, memories, and individual tastes. It is important to remember to choose a song that resonates for you as a couple and will be a cherished memory for years to come. Think about times driving in the car, being at a coffee shop or out for dinner and that song comes on - it will forever be a symbol of your love for each other!

There are so many reasons why a first dance song is so important, and some of them include:

  1. Symbolizes you as a couple and your relationship:

    • A first dance song is often some representation of a couple’s love or commitment to each other and reflects the emotion and journey they have shared. Lyrics could have an important meaning, or event the artist themselves!

    • It also shows off your personality! It shows your style, your uniqueness and is an opportunity for the couple to express themselves!

  2. Sets the tone for the reception:

    • The first dance typically kicks off the dancing portion of the reception! Though, some couples also choose to do their first dance after they are announced into the reception to really kick off the dinner in a romantic way.

  3. Creates a memorable moment:

    • A first dance speaks for itself - it is always something to remember! Whether you do a choreographed dance, or the song hits on the heart strings, a first dance brings out emotion and can be a lasting memory for all of your guests.

    • It is also a focal point of a wedding reception, and brings all of the guest together to celebrate and share their joy. It is one of the few moments that unites everyone at a reception, creating community and connection!

And, don’t forget, your first dance song can be played by both a wedding band or a DJ depending on the vibe of your wedding, and how you want the music to be portrayed!

Whether it's a classic ballad, a romantic contemporary hit, or something unique to you, the most important thing is that it holds special meaning for both of you. See below for some songs our past clients have used for their first dance for some inspiration!

SPOTIFY

APPLE MUSIC

THE ULTIMATE FIRST DANCE SONG LIST

"Without You" by Boyce Avenue (David Guetta cover)

"From the Ground Up" by Dan and Shay

“Steady Heart (Wedding Version)" by Kameron Marlowe

“The Wonder of You" by Villagers

“Tian Mi Mi” by Teresa Teng

“Until I Found You" by Steven Sanchez and Em Behold

"You Are The Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne

“Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers

"I'll Quit Lovin You" by Hardy

"In My Life" by The Beatles

"Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney

“Young And Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey

"Biblical" by Calum Scott (there’s an acoustic version, too!)

“Always Remember Us This Way" by Lady Gaga

"Don't Go Home Without Me” (Acoustic) by Lights

"Lover" by Taylor Swift

"Your Song" by Elton John (or Ellie Goulding)

"Stand By Me" by Ben E King

"Baby I Love You" by The Ramones

"Every Side of You" by Vance Joy

“A Sunday Kind Of Love” by Etta James

"Nobody Gets Me Like You" by Arkells

"Worship You" by Kane Brown

"Then" by Brad Paisley (piano version)

“Best Part (feat. H.E.R.) by Daniel Caesar

“I Remember” by Forest Blakk

“Nervous (Piano Version) by John Legend

“What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong

"Lover Come Back" by City and Colour

“Into the Mystic" by Van Morrison

“When I’m With You” by Sheriff

“Beyond” by Leon Bridges

"Fall on Me" by Andrea Bocelli and Matteo Bocelli

"You're The One That I Want" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

“You’re Still the One” by Teddy Swims (Shania Twain Cover)

“Love Love Love" by Say Hi

"Lifetime" by Justin Bieber

“At Last” by Etta James

“All Your'n” by Tyler Childers

"How Long Will I Love You" by Canyon City

"Sweetest Love" by Robin Thicke

"Can’t Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley (or Kina Grannis)

“The Way You Look Tonight" by Frank Sinatra

"Wonderful" by Chris Malinchak

“Latch" by Sam Smith (Acoustic)

“Lovely Day" by Bill Withers

“Good Woman” by Maren Morris

"Forever Like That" by Ben Rector

“Amazing Day" by Cold Play

"Truly Madly Deeply" by Savage Garden

“Just You and I” (Acoustic) by Tom Walker

“Wild Love” (Acoustic) by James Bay

“Proof” by Luca Fogale

Late Summer Wedding at The Ancaster Mill in the Governor's Room

This Ancaster Mill wedding from August 2023 was one of the dreamiest late summer weddings we’ve done. Jess and Greg got ready at The Barracks Inn, a beautiful hotel in Ancaster which in itself was a lovely setting both inside and out. Their ceremony took place in the Miller’s Chapel and reception in the Governor’s Room of the Ancaster Mill.

Jess’ bridesmaids wore satin dresses in the loveliest shade of vintage rose, each with a different cut for the top to suit them best, which in my opinion is a timeless wedding trend. Greg and his guys were dressed in classic black suits with ties and bowties. Hair and makeup were done by one of our favourite and best Toronto wedding beauty teams, ES Bridal.

The team at Forever Wildfield did the most wonderful job of the floral elements which really were the star of the show at the reception and more than a gorgeous topper to complement the linens and tabletop rentals from Simply Beautiful Decor.

All photography was captured by Jeff Shuh and stationery was by All That’s Lovely.

We truly feel so lucky to have been a part of this incredible wedding that bride, Jess, so carefully planned and trusted us in executing!

Service: Event Management

A Colourful Summer Tent Wedding in Copetown, Ontario

By now you probably know that tent weddings are our jam and a challenge we embrace with open arms. There’s something about building a beautiful space where nothing exists that will never get old. And this particular wedding is a great example of a wedding that oozes class but with a casual edge. I think that also sums up so much of what we try to do with all of the weddings we plan so this feels like a great example of what we strive to build.

Not only that, this was something we fully planned in just four months. The family’s property is stunning, with the home being over 150 years old. It was standing in 1867 when the Dominion of Canada was created. How neat is that?!

Guests were greeted by a champagne table with the sounds of a New Orleans-style band playing, and it felt like a true celebration! The ceremony was set under a huge old tree, offering shade for guests and an incredible backdrop for the exchanging of vows and a reception following, catered by the incomparable Treadwell Catering and bartended by our favourite mobile bar truck, The Sway Bar. Guelph Tent Rentals pole tent was a showstopper with its Father of the Bride lighting, making a lovely glow all night long. Kendon Design Co. was tasked with the responsibility of filling the space with colourful florals including a round ceiling installation hanging above the head table, set directly in the middle of guests for a less formal feel. Simply Beautiful Decor’s fresh new line of Hampton Plaid linens and Florina Tan dinnerware helped to feed that casual chic design vibe. Once dinner was complete, The St. Royals, our favourite Toronto wedding band, kicked off the dance party with a short break that somehow so perfectly timed the launch of a firework show! It was all so serendipitous.

Oh, and I can’t forget to mention what is probably my favourite wedding cake that I think I’ve ever had for a client. A huge thank you to The Dessert Room for making this one just so perfect!

Kayla Potter Photography outdid herself capturing all of the details we all worked so tirelessly on for and we, and I am sure our clients, will be forever grateful! I still cannot get over the incredible flat lay she did of the invitation suite so carefully designed by Statue Rue, along with all of the other wedding stationery pieces.

We wanted this to feel fun, bright, joyful, and elegant and I think we accomplished just that. Enjoy scrolling through this beautiful colourful summer tent wedding in Copetown, Ontario. You’ll find the links to all of our wonderful vendors at the bottom of this post.

A Colourful, Private Estate Tent Wedding in Millgrove, Ontario

Kathryn and Evan’s colourful, pattern-filled wedding took place on her parent’s private estate in Millgrove, Ontario on October 2, 2022.

If you’ve followed along for a while, you know we love the challenges of planning tent weddings on private estates. The best part is that you can start from scratch with the design as there’s not much that controls the aesthetic like you would have in a traditional venue with its own style.

We started with a colour palette that pretty much included the rainbow and got started on the custom colour-blocked wedding invitations with Paper and Poste and a stunning lush floral design by Forever Wildfield. We then got the tent secured which was a gorgeous sailcloth tent from Guelph Tent Rentals. From there, we worked with Simply Beautiful Decor and Plate Occasions to select linens and tabletop pieces to carry through the navy and teals from our colour palette in a way that felt refined and elegant but still very in line with a more relaxed setting of home.

When it came time to food and beverage options, Kathryn had a specific vision in mind and there was no question that Saving Thyme Bistro would cater the event as Kathryn’s family has been long-time patrons of the restaurant. The cocktail experience was important to both Kathryn and Evan, and The Sway Bar knocked it out of the park preparing six speciality cocktails while also making sure everyone had their favourite wine and beer at the ready. To satisfy the sweet-tooth post-dinner, Sweet Celebrations created an epic cookie bar!

Additional lovely vendors include Radford Beauty, Signal Hill Band, 586 Event Group, and Wellington Music

Captured by Will Reid Photo.

Service: Full Planning and Design

THE FLOORPLAN

Tent wedding floorplan layouts can be tricky since you’re starting from scratch. Below is the floorplan we created in case it helps inspire your own tent wedding reception floorplan layout.

Taylor Swift Love Story Inspired Wedding at Elora Mill

All this talk about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story has come at the perfect time to share this gorgeous Elora Mill wedding. I’ve you’ve ever wondered what Taylor Swift’s wedding might look like, we’ve got a good idea for you. This wedding has garnered a lot of attention on florist, Forever Wildfield’s social media and we are thrilled to finally be sharing it ourselves today.

We begin with the romantic setting of the Elora Mill, a top destination wedding venue in Ontario. Elora is a picturesque town just an hour from Toronto and it makes for the perfect weekend getaway with a quaint downtown area, fantastic restaurants, and options for exploring the gorgeous scenery.

The Elora Mill is full of beautiful design details and furniture inclusions that give it a natural effortless romantic vibe, so it’s not difficult to have a beautiful result, but the challenge comes from making it not feel like every other wedding there each weekend. Allie’s dream wedding vision was full of romance, candlelight, and soft textures, something we’re always on board for so we jumped at the opportunity to create a design that met all of these goals in a way that felt fresh.

Soft, warm hues of pink, creams, and sandy taupes made for the perfect romantic palette. Lots of candlelight and florals galore were the goal and my goodness did Forever Wilfield take it and run with it! Red Bicycle Paper Co. created a timeless invitation suite with flowing fonts and wax seal details and we worked with Simply Beautiful Decor to provide the most elegant table accent details from charger plates, napkins, and runners.

We can’t forget Allie’s gorgeous wedding gown feels like a modern take on the gown from the Love Story video. We’re still dying over this Taylor Swift Love Story Inspired Wedding at Elora Mill. Scroll to see the photos and the vendor list below!

The Floorplan

We’ve also included the floorplan we made for the Grand Room as some inspiration for your own wedding layout at Elora Mill.