Timeless Casa Loma Wedding

If you've ever been to a Casa Loma wedding, you'll know it's one of the best wedding venues in Toronto. From the guest experience to the customer service during the planning process, it's a beautiful place to be. Kathryn and Dan chose Casa Loma for their July wedding and brought the Laura Olsen Events team for wedding styling and planning. Captured by Mango Studios, this was easily one of my favourite weddings from the 2015 season. When it came to the design, Kathryn wanted something feminine, timeless and full of gorgeous simplicity. Music to our wedding designing ears. We chose a gorgeous palette of ivories, champagnes, whites, and greys and partnered them a mixture of textures of mattes and metallics and plain and clear cut glass. We collaborated with Blush and Bloom, one of our favourite Toronto wedding florists, to bring romance to the design through lush greens and gorgeous white blooms. A dreamy, wood stained chuppah draped in greens and simple white blooms created the focal point in the Conservatory, where the ceremony took place. We allowed the library, the reception space, to take full focus of the design, simply adding more pretty blooms, lots of candle light, and an accent head table linen to set it apart from the rest of the guest tables. Sigh. Can we go back and relive this day?

Mango Studios

Photography Mango Studios
Florals Blush and Bloom Flower Studio
Bridesmaid Dresses J. Crew, Matte Crape Line
The Venue Casa Loma
Linens Susan Murray International

A New Years Eve Wedding at Airship 37

I really love New Years Eve, but plans rarely live up to the expectations. So when Jess and Neil came to me proposing a New Years Eve wedding I jumped right on it. Now, if you're going to be the couple to invade on your guests' NYE celebrations, it had better be one good party. Being party animals themselves, it wasn't difficult to convince these two! I mean, the girl had three dresses! THREE! And they were ALL stunning.Some fun ideas we incorporated to make sure everyone had a great time:

• During the signing of the register, catering staff came around with trays of prosecco so guests were ready to toast the bride and groom at the announcement of the new couple.

• Boxes of handmade Cuban cigars were placed at the bar.

• Christmas crackers, handmade by the bride and groom, adorned each place setting.

• Since the bar is typically the gathering spot for any good event, we added marquee letters to the existing ceremony backdrop statement piece.

• At midnight, a small confetti toss by the bride and groom was a fun way to ring in the new year.

THE DESIGN

Jess wanted a design that felt both appropriate for the winter season without being too literal. She also wanted something that said 'New Years Eve wedding', without carrying the emphasis. We started with a neutral palette and put focus on mixing a variety of textures. Complimented by lush greens and lots of candle light, we gave the industrial downtown venue a warm and cozy feeling.We chose cross-back vineyard chairs in a light wood and lined the back row with a lush green garland that was then repurposed for guest table centrepieces. They almost felt as if they had grown out of the ground. A velvet ribbon, a nod to the holiday season though more relaxed in its soft blue-grey colour, roped off the aisle.Two stunning statement pieces of a variety of greens, roses and cotton balls were created for the ceremony backdrop and as a chandelier in the middle of the room. When guests moved to the Gooderham Lounge for cocktails after the ceremony, the room was flipped and the head table was then placed beneath this garland chandelier to set it apart from the rest of the group, while still being surrounded by their guests. We strategically placed the bar where the ceremony had been as to not waste such a pretty structure. This also created a focal point and a nice surprise to the guests on entry to the room.We used a mixture of round and rectangular tables to assemble an intimate floor plan. For consistency, we chose linens that had a burlap texture but still had grandeur with a hint of metallic thread running through. Beautiful centrepieces of amaryllis, (a nod to the holiday florals) roses, and a variety of greens in cement-like vessels brought the design full circle, leading back into the industrial space.

Photography C. Davidson Photography
Florals Blush and Bloom
VenueAirship 37
Hair and Makeup Ashley Readings
Linens Susan Murray International
Rentals Exclusive Affair Rentals
Chairs CF Rentals

Berkeley Church Wedding

When I first met Amanda and Matt I fell head over heels over them and their plan for a Berkeley Church Wedding. They were so passionate about planning a wedding that was not only beautiful but a fun, surprise-filled experience for their guests. A wedding that was timeless but modern, clean in design, and full of florals. They had settled on Toronto wedding venue, The Berkeley Church, a beautifully restored historic building with unique details. Visually, it's a dream event space for a wedding planner and designer. Keep scrolling to see and read more about one of favourite weddings from 2015!

Berkeley Church WEdding, Wedding at Berkeley Church, Toronto Wedding Planner, Event Stylist, Decorator, Historic Wedding Venue Toronto

THE DESIGN

We started with a light and airy palette that blended blue-greys, and blush-toned taupes. This ethereal colour palette was accented by muted metallics and clear glass to glimmer amidst the candlelight. We subtly mixed textures, patterns and materials to maintain a clean and interesting design. Paper and Poste designed an invitation suite that blended all of the details down to the grey-striped envelope liner and perfect taupe-blush letterpress ink. The ceremony took place in the mezzanine in front of the stained glass windows. Guests were greeted with mini bottles of bubbly and small test tubes of bubbles to celebrate the newly married couple. The guys donned blue suits and the girls wore perfectly mismatched dresses. A mixture of square and rectangular tables created an intimate setting while still designating the VIP guests. With a wedding party of 22, we had to be creative when arranging the head table, solved by breaking them up into smaller groups behind the bride and groom. Candles were nestled between Ashley Elaine Florals' beautiful floral arrangements. All placed atop silver leopard print table runners, handmade by Amanda's mother and grandmother. The tall ceremony altar arrangements were repurposed as centrepieces on the VIP tables. Mini envelopes containing lottery tickets for that night's jackpot were placed at each setting as favours.Cakelaine, my new favourite Toronto confectionery designer, handcrafted the cake. Photographers Joseph and Jamie Weddings captured the day to perfection. It's not often you meet wedding photographers who truly understand the need to equally capture the emotional moments of the day and the decorative elements the bride and groom have worked so hard to plan.If you're planning a Berkeley Church Wedding and would like assistance with your wedding planning and styling, please don't hesitate to reach out via the contact form!

The Spoke Club Wedding

Today we're going back (waaaay back it feels) to the start of the 2014 LOE wedding season, a gorgeous Spoke Club wedding reception.The Spoke Club Toronto is a unique, private club, that also offers its space for weddings and other private events. My clients had a gorgeous afternoon affair for their wedding reception. Cocktails and dancing on the rooftop patio after lunch made for a fun end to the wedding, leaving guests free to enjoy their evening. Keep scrolling to read more about the event and see the details on the amazing team!By now you probably know that I specialize in weddings that are held at restaurants or clubs and have smaller guest counts. Many feel that restaurants tend to be more expensive than other venues, but what you have to remember is that you're not only getting an absolutely incredible meal, but you're getting a pretty stunning visual space to work with as well, saving you costs on unnecessary decor. In addition, you can save further by having an afternoon event where lunch menus are a more economical choice. Not to mention that your guests tend to drink less, too, which in the end saves you more dough.Let me tell you; The Spoke Club did not disappoint with this stunning afternoon affair. From the gorgeous chandeliers and tufted banquettes with wood tables in the main dining room, to the sunny rooftop patio and glass house, the venue offers a truly unique space.Some gorgeous flowers, custom ordered coloured napkins, acrylic wine chillers and calligraphy all with a soft palette of blush, mint and charcoal and dove greys were all we needed to make this day lavishly delicious.If you're planning a Spoke Club wedding, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

The Spoke Club Toronto Wedding, Downtown Toronto Wedding Venue,

Photography Johnny Lam Photography
Florals Blush and Bloom
Macaron Favours Le Dolci
Cake Sweet Coco Cakes