A Modern Classic Wedding at Elora Mill

By now, I think it’s fair to say we’re pretty well known for all of our Elora Mill weddings, but it’s always so fun to see how each one comes together differently!

Elora Mill is a truly special destination. Just an hour and a half from the city, the scenic drive sets the tone for a peaceful escape. The charming village feels like another world—quaint, welcoming, and refreshingly calm. The hotel itself strikes the perfect balance of elegance and warmth, with beautifully designed rooms that feel luxurious yet unpretentious. Every detail, from the exceptional service to the thoughtfully curated food and beverage offerings, adds to the experience. The spa is an absolute highlight, offering indulgent treatments with breathtaking views of the falls - also visible from many guest rooms and the restaurant - making every moment feel serene and restorative.

Enjoy this recap of Alycia and Jason’s stunning modern and keep scrolling to see the full vendor list and a link to view more of our Elora Mill weddings!

Photographer: 515 Photo Co. Venue: Elora Mill Hotel and Spa, Flowers: Forever Wildfield, Stationery: Pink Peony Press, Videographer: Timothy Muza, Ceremony Music: Wellington Music, DJ: 586 Event Group, Hair: Allison Kam and Bubbles and Blow, Makeup: Beauty By Celina, Cake: Sugar Suite Cakes, Rentals: Special Event Rentals

An Elegant Pastel Spring Wedding at Elora Mill

Julia and Gavin were married May 2024 at Elora Mill Hotel and Spa, an incredible destination wedding venue only 1.5 hrs from Toronto. We’ve been lucky enough to have been a part of a number of weddings at Elora Mill and this wedding day had all of us feeling incredibly emotional! I think it would be fair to say that all the vendors felt so loved and welcomed by their friends and family that it made the day extra special, and everything felt so easy.

Their love was so calm and confident, which was a privilege to witness. They were completely present and soaked up every single moment. Private vows, completely alone - no photo, no video, no vendor present to listen. Just the two of them - a first for us, I think!

Julia and Gavin opted for Creative Direction and Event Management, a combination of design and planning support, and the perfect service for Elora Mill weddings.

With the Creative Direction service, we work with our clients to understand their budgetary goals and aesthetic vision for their wedding design, defining the look and feel with a thorough design meeting followed by a full design plan and clear instructions of items to source, vendors to hire, essentially providing a road map of how to bring it all to life with on their own. This complements the Event Management service, where we assist over the last 8 weeks with finalizing all of the plans, taking a big weight off of our clients’ shoulders, allowing them to feel taken care of on the wedding day.

The vendors who brought their love-filled, romantic Elora Mill wedding to life:

Mango Studios, Flora & Farfalla, Polka Dot Paper Shop, Parallel Weddings, Sew Retro Bridal Alterations, Special Event Rentals, DJ Scottify Steph Modde of Hart Beauty Parlour, Christina Pfaff Makeup.

Three Feathers Terrace | Wedding Venue in Innisfil

Jamie and Ryan were married at Three Feathers Terrace, a relatively new wedding venue just north of Toronto in Innisfil. It made quite a splash on Instagram throughout its build, with couples and vendors thrilled to see something new! Heather, our Senior Planner, supported them with Event Management, helping them transition away from the planning over the last few weeks and on the wedding day.

It’s always fun when couples have a strong vision of their design and how they want the day to feel. The striking black and white vibe feels modern but classic at the same time. A bonus of Three Feathers is that they have already thought carefully through the pieces they would include in their inventory for couples (table numbers, linens, napkins, etc.) making the experience less stressful for couples.

Catering was taken care of by L-Eat, an incredible Toronto caterer. What we love about L’Eat is that they take an environmentally friendly approach, and whenever possible, use local, fresh and seasonal ingredients. They also have their own urban garden, producing fruits, vegetables and herbs! Something we rarely hear in weddings, L’Eat makes sure to recycle and compost and makes every effort to be green!

More of the vendor team includes Purple Tree Photography, Bloomberry & Co, Polka Dot Paper Shop, Enduring Promises, DJ Markus, Kroma Salon, Cake Creations by Michelle, and Made with Love from The Modern Bride.

Romantic Garden Style Wedding at Elora Mill

We’re throwing it back to our very first wedding at Elora Mill back in 2019. It’s hard to believe that’s 6 years ago now, because this wedding design stands the test of time.

The soft, rosy pinks, blush tones, whites, and greenery are still very much used today. This gentle palette effortlessly lends itself to a romantic and timeless aesthetic, so it’s no surprise it continues to have a moment. Tall floral arrangements with abundant greenery drew the eye upward from the tables, making the chandeliers appear like floating clouds. Texture played a major role throughout the florals—especially in Suzanna’s bouquet—adding richness and depth. The stone urns used in the ceremony further layered texture, beautifully complementing the space’s existing Parisian-inspired décor.

We feel lucky to have such a beautiful space near us that offers a stunning base for couples to gently personalize without blowing their wedding budget.

Service: Design Consulting and Event Management

Photography by Scarlet O’Neill, florals by Hunt and Gather, beauty by Fancy Face and sweets table by Sweet Celebrations.

A Colourful Jewish Wedding Ceremony at The Pearle Hotel

Rebecca and Jordan’s wedding took place September 2024 at the Pearle Hotel and Spa, a luxury hotel in the heart of Burlington, Ontario A simple and clean acrylic chuppah faded into the background so that the couple and their families could be the focus in the North Shore Room. The colourful flowers at the top of the arch seemed to float in mid-air, anchored by additional florals on the ground. Guests mingled in the event space lobby for cocktail hour and then they moved into the Edgewater Room for dinner and dancing with gorgeous views of Lake Ontario.

Every detail of the hotel is beautifully appointed with the event spaces especially so. Both event rooms are large, which can pose a challenge, but the colourful floral palette popped against the blues and creams of the event spaces, effectively giving the spaces a more intimate feel.

Keeping some elements more traditional with the Jewish Bedeken ceremony, the chuppah, breaking of the glass, but one spot they knew they wanted to switch things up from the norm was to skip formal coffee and tea table service - desserts were dropped off at guest’s seats and they were encouraged to get up and dance, snacking on desserts and grabbing a coffee from the station when they were ready. It’s something we’ve seen happen a few times and it works so well as guests are always ready to get up and moving after their main course!

And let me tell you, these folks we R-E-A-D-Y for the dance floor. Just check out the Horrah photos where even Rebecca’s mom and dad got in on the action!

The Team

The Pearle Hotel and Spa, Beaux Florals, Pretty in Print, Cacie Carroll Photography, Violin by Cecilia, Boutique Entertainment, Bubbles and Blow, DY Studio, and Exquisite Occasions.

Classic White Wedding at The Pearle Hotel in Burlington, Ontario

Alyssa and Jon’s wedding overlooking Lake Ontario at the Pearle Hotel in downtown Burlington was a day full of love. Their ceremony took place in the Northshore Room, a gorgeous, light-filled room carefully designed to incorporate soft textures to create a calm and serene feel. Sue Gallo Designs outdid herself by adding floral elements that complemented the space’s design. A triple arch ceremony backdrop created a lovely focal point and the aisle filled with florals without feeling overwhelming. To divide the long space, Eventure Designs added draping which not only made a lovely entrance for all those walking down the aisle but hid the dining tables on the other side. While guests enjoyed cocktail hour in the Boulevard Room, the room was flipped to the reception. Alyssa’s stepfather owns a signage company and was able to do custom welcome, seating chart, and bar signs.

Kelsey of Cloud Nine Photography captured this day so beautifully, making such great use of the property for unique, gorgeous shots of the couple that still feel classic and timeless.

Photographer Cloud Nine Photography | Venue The Pearle Hotel | Florals and Design Sue Gallo Designs | Ceremony Draping Eventure Design Invitations Polka Dot Paper Shop | Videographer Parks Media | Hair KC Hair Co. | Makeup GlamXMona | Cake Short & Sweet Bakeshop

First Look vs Aisle Reveal: Which is Better?

What is the difference between a first look and an aisle reveal?

 A “first look” is when couples see each other before the wedding ceremony. On the other hand, an “aisle look” is when couples first see each other walking down the aisle.

First Look

This is a  moment for just the couple, before the ceremony, typically alone and away from guests, family or wedding parties. It is often a very intimate, emotional and beautiful moment between the couple and captured at a distance from their photographer and videographer. This moment allows couples to connect, share their excitement and be together without distractions. Some couples prefer this approach because it allows them to calm nerves, exchange personal vows, and have some quiet time together before the hustle and bustle of the ceremony and reception.

When you have a first look, you have a lot more freedom in your wedding day timeline. Couples have the ability to take their first look, wedding photos, couple portraits and photos with their wedding party all before the ceremony. Depending on how large your family is, couples can also do all of their family photos before the ceremony. What this means, is by the time your wedding ceremony comes around, the “work” is over. When you get photos done before the ceremony, you can head straight to cocktail hour. This way, you get to enjoy more time with your guests! This advantage alone is enough to make more traditional couples reconsider a first look.

And, we’ve heard from our clients that even with a first look, the moment of seeing each other as they walked down the aisle to each other was still just as special and emotional, just a little less nerve wracking.

Aisle Look

This is the more traditional approach where the couple see each other for the first time as one of them walks down the aisle during the ceremony. This moment is typically more public, with all of the guests witnessing the reaction of the couple as they see each other. It holds a special significance in many cultures and is often considered a highlight of the ceremony itself.

If not planning on seeing each other before the ceremony, couples often opt for an in-between: some will hold hands, or say a hello with a wall between to still have a moment together, without seeing one another. Don’t be afraid to find something “in-between” that works for you.

The biggest thing to consider for your timeline when staying traditional and doing an “aisle look” is leaving enough time after the ceremony to complete photos. Couples portraits, wedding party photos and family photos all need to be completed after the ceremony and may impact a couple’s ability to attend cocktail hour before the main reception. This is all do-able, and an experienced planner and photographer can make all of this happen without extending your cocktail hour too long. 

As planners, we always start this conversation with couples with how relaxed they want to be that day, or how nervous they feel they will be. An “aisle look” can leave the day feeling a bit more rushed than a first look timeline, but it is always up to the couple what they’d prefer - there truly is no wrong answer!

To conclude, a wedding day should be a reflection of a couple’s unique vision, where they feel most comfortable and authentic. Ultimately, it is about creating a day that aligns with their dreams and allows them to celebrate their love exactly as they envision it! And a great planner will help achieve this, no matter what “look” you pick!

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