Toronto Micro-Wedding Elopement

Small weddings have always been my jam. It’s partly why I usually limit the weddings I take on to those with 150 guests or less, but my favourites are the intimate ones that feel refined but relaxed. Alessia and Ellen were set to be married in May of 2020 and when the pandemic hit, we decided that postponing to October that year sounded safe until we soon realized that our new plan wasn’t going to happen either, so we then postponed to October of 2021. Still, they wanted to celebrate in October in some capacity and decided to move ahead with a small ceremony with 40 of their friends and family at their church, sending their guests home with cake slices and then an intimate dinner for just the two of them at their apartment.

Despite all the change, they never once complained and managed to find the silver lining. They never lost sight of the big picture - celebrating with their families in a safe and realistic way.

Keeping things small means you’re able to connect with each of your guests, having focused conversations, something that isn’t often said in a traditional larger wedding format. Especially after what we’ve experienced this year, we’ll be loving these moments of connection with our friends and family.

Thank you to photographer Scarlet O’Neill, florist Hunt and Gather Floral, Jen Evoy Hair and Makeup and 10tation Catering and A Rolls Choice for being so flexible, accommodating, and supportive of Alessia and Ellen during such trying times for each of you!

The Best Toronto Area Wedding Venues with Epic Food, Service and Design Experiences

After almost a decade in the Toronto wedding scene, I’ve experienced my share of wedding venues and there are a few that easily stand out from the rest. My clients want venues that offer not only a beautiful backdrop but also a culinary experience and level of service to match. I’ve compiled my favourite Toronto area wedding venues that are the best at consistently offering all three favourite requirements.

1. THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF TORONTO

   I’ve talked before about my love for The University Club of Toronto, so it should come as no surprise that it tops my list of favourite wedding venues in the Toronto area. This venue has everything. It’s centrally located at Queen and University and easily accessed by both public transit and car. While there are lots of hotels nearby, there are also hotel rooms available on the property. Osgoode Hall is right across the street and, bonus points, it doesn’t require a photography permit! With exclusive use of the property, there are so many options for event flow and the Presidential Suite on the main floor is perfect for getting ready on site. My favourite event flow is getting ready in that beautiful Presidential Suite, ceremony upstairs in the Library, cocktails in the Pine Lounge on the main floor, and back up to the second floor for dinner in the Ballroom and dancing back in the Library post-dinner!

   It’s also incredibly beautiful both inside and out with lots of character and architectural details and it plays really well into endless colour palettes. The food is AMAZING, the service is impeccable. Oh, and did I mention the butter is whipped and formed into swans?! Yes, swans.

   See more of Emilie and Leo’s amazing wedding at The University Club of Toronto here.

Will Reid Photography. Blush and Bloom.

2. THE ARLINGTON ESTATE

Located just North of Toronto, in Kleinburg, Arlington Estate offers not only a beautiful space but a top-notch client and guest experience. They also take good care of all vendors coming in, making it an especially lovely place to work and easily on the list of favourite Toronto area wedding venues. There’s a beautiful outdoor space for wedding ceremonies and the East and West Wing Ballrooms are the perfect base and opportunity to add your own style. Everything you could imagine has been taken care of in this space with stunning bridal suites, large terraces overlooking the gardens and even espresso machines in the lobby bar. Not only is the food is impeccable but its presentation is beyond. They’re flexible with drop off and pick up times for your personal items and it’s just all-around a wonderful space to be.

Blush and Bloom. Purple Tree Photography.

3. ELORA MILL

Perfect for an easy mini-destination wedding, The Elora Mill is an absolute gem. Elora is a gorgeous small town and incredibly quaint for the perfect weekend getaway just an hour and a half from the Toronto core. The Mill’s hotel has a spa on-site for some relaxation time and the Elora Gorge allows for some exploring and of course, epic photos. Everywhere you look, this town and property are nothing but beautiful. Both the outdoor ceremony space and the indoor rain backup of the Chapel are absolutely stunning so regardless of the weather, you simply cannot be disappointed with the backdrop. The reception spaces will take your breath away with their unique, very upscale, and elegant, yet rustic design. The whitewash oversized harvest tables pair perfectly with the linen-covered round tables to create some extra interest in the space. The culinary experience is perfect for the foodie and the service experience is unmatched. The only shortcoming is the lack of flexibility with the ceremony times, but that can be easily overlooked with the beauty of the space and when you realize how well they run their show and just how many design details come with this space.

See more of Suzanna and Kyle’s Elora Mill wedding here.

Scarlet O’Neill Photography. Hunt and Gather Floral.

4. THE PEARLE HOTEL

While The Pearle Hotel is a brand new hotel, there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a massive shakeup to the Toronto wedding scene. Based in downtown Burlington, Ontario, The Pearle Hotel is owned by Pearle Hospitality who also owns the aforementioned The Elora Mill. As with the rest of their properties, the aesthetics of this space are top-notch and the service will be second to none. There are hotel rooms on-site and a Hammam Spa perfect for relaxing and a weekend getaway for your guests! There are stunning views of Lake Ontario from both event spaces and also quick access to the waterfront and Spencer Smith Park which is free for wedding photos. Fitting for weddings of 150 to 400 guests, it’s definitely a space to watch and experience to have when it opens in the spring of 2021.

5. STRATUS VINEYARDS

Located in Niagara-on-the-Lake, the heart of Niagara’s wine country, Stratus Vineyards offers a beautiful blend of modern contemporary and garden party vibes. It’s about an hour and a half from Toronto and perfect for a weekend getaway experience for couples and their guests. While there are no accommodations or spa on-site, there is an endless number of options nearby. The wine is obviously amazing and all beers offered are local, which is such a plus for those who love supporting local. They have a few preferred caterers, all of whom will blow your taste buds away, and they’ll also work with Stratus to pair wines with each course for the ultimate experience.

As for ceremony and reception options, the most popular is to have the ceremony outside facing the vineyard, cocktails on the terrace, reception in the Press Alley, and dancing in the retail space. So with exclusive use of the space, you’re really able to use all areas! If you’ve got extra in your budget, you can reverse things by putting a tent out on the grass for dinner and having your ceremony inside!

There are two things to note about hosting a Stratus Vineyards wedding. The first being the strict timing they have regarding wedding party, guest arrival, and ceremony start times, but it’s all done in an effort to ensure the experience of their retail customers is a positive one. Sound restrictions can also be a concern for some couples so if you wanted to dance the night away under the stars you’ll be disappointed as there are strict rules in the Niagara area about noise levels especially after 11p so you’ll have to move your party inside the retail space for dancing.

For more images from Jane and Jason’s tent wedding at Stratus Vineyards, click here.

Mango Studios. Simply Beautiful Decor. Premier Tents.

The Spoke Club Toronto Wedding

Erin and Sean's intimate The Spoke Club Toronto wedding started on the rooftop patio, surrounded by 50 of their closest friends and family. Wild North Flowers created a stunning arch in front of which Erin and Sean were wed by their sisters acting as officiants. They took the time to do all of their family and couples portraits before the ceremony at Osgoode Hall, allowing them to join the cocktail reception and catch up with their guests. The ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception on the rooftop with unobstructed views of the famous CN Tower. Guests were then invited downstairs for dinner in the gorgeous main dining room adorned with chandeliers, wood dining tables and plush fabric dining chairs in a mixture of fabrics. Erin's parents beautifully crafted the carved wood ring box, acrylic and wood table numbers, and place cards. What gorgeous takeaways for their guests! Peruse the gorgeousness below, all so carefully captured by Johnny Lam Photography.

Photography Johnny Lam Photography
Florals Wild North Flowers
Venue The Spoke Club Toronto
DJ We Are House Party
Cake Le Dolci

Hair Bridal Hair Collective
Makeup Colourations
Month-of Coordination Wedding Planner Laura Olsen Events

Formal Bohemian Wedding at Airship 37

Amanda and Jordan's wedding at Airship 37 was an extra special day for me. Jordan and I worked together years ago before my days as a wedding planner and we stayed in touch long after. Shortly after their engagement, they reached out for my assistance as a wedding designer, as they weren't quite sure how to fuse their two very different tastes in design. He's a tux-wearing fox and she's a boho-chic babe. It was so much fun designing a formal bohemian wedding that perfectly blended their two styles. First up, we worked on finding stationery that would set the tone and ended up going with this gold foil invitation suite from Minted which perfectly fit the bill. The kraft paper envelope balanced by the gold floral accent and taupe ink was just the mix we needed. Lots of white space gave it all breathing room, allowing each element to stand out on its own. We then got working on the gorgeous blank canvas at their wedding venue, Airship 37 and bringing the rest of the vision to life. Airship 37, also happens to be one of my favourite industrial wedding venues in Toronto because of its chameleon-like ability to support any kind of wedding style. We put the focus on the florals in the space, bright and colourful, with lots of structure, but plenty of movement to feel wildly in control. With the help of Ashley Elaine Florals, we hung flowers from the ceiling and arranged them on the arch and made sure to carefully place and repurpose these elements later when the room was converted to the reception space. There are a few favourite elements for me, but the crowning jewel of this wedding at Airship 37 was the bohemian wedding cake so carefully constructed by Cakelaine, an incredible wedding cake decorator here in Toronto and my best-kept secret. She so perfectly took the vision that was in our heads and absolutely knocked it out of the park, making it beyond anything we had expected with that gorgeous macrame fondant texture. One of my other favourite little details had to be the crystals at each place setting, each with a different meaning, as explained on the back of the menu. A nice little surprise for guests to take home with well-wishes from the couple. And my last favourite little detail is the replication of the floral pattern from the invitation added to the front of the bar in vinyl! Of course, we wouldn't have anything to show if it weren't for the incredible Kimon Kaketsis, who was on hand to perfectly document the day.

Photography Kimon Kaketsis
Florals Ashley Elaine Florals
Design Laura Olsen Events
Cake Cakelaine
Venue Airship 37

Officiant Dick Combeer
Dress Watters
Tux Tiger of Sweden
DJ Kushmin B

Arlington Estate Wedding | Toronto Wedding Venue

Jessica and David's Arlington Estate wedding took my breath away right from the moment we sat down to even start planning. I was so excited to be able to work at a new Toronto wedding venue, especially one as beautiful as The Arlington Estate. It's one thing to put things on paper, but to actually see them come to life is what makes it all worthwhile. This is true for both the wedding design, but also the venue itself! The team at The Arlington Estate were wonderful, courteous and professional and having been so new, it's clear they really value their role in the industry. In the four months they had been open, they had managed to be miles ahead (despite a few hiccups, which were to be expected!) of even some venues having been open for years.Jessica and David were planning from afar as they currently live in NYC. It's difficult to be planning from another city, so having someone on your side to help with the logistics certainly helps to ease the stress. She had a great team of family here at home, but knowing she wanted them to also enjoy the experience, she brought me on board to help her out! It was such a pleasure planning and designing this wedding from Jess' romantic, candlelit vision. Logistics of the day needed to be carefully planned as we started Jessica and David's day at her parents' house, then traveled downtown to St. Andrews Catholic Church for the ceremony. From there, we shuttled wedding party and extended family to Osgoode Hall for wedding photos, then on to The Arlington Estate for a few last photos and wedding reception. See all the gorgeous details captured by Tara McMullen, and the incredible smile the bride donned the whole day, below!

Photography  Tara McMullen Photography
Florals  Hunt and Gather
Stationery  Paper and Poste
Sweets Table  Cakelaine
Venue and Catering The Arlington Estate
Toronto Destination Wedding Planning and Design Laura Olsen Events.

A Romantic Garden Wedding at Graydon Hall Manor

It was a beautiful summer day when Marcey and Pawel got married in a romantic garden wedding at Graydon Hall Manor. Graydon Hall Manor is one of those luxurious wedding venues in Toronto who really values the client experience. Having worked there on a few occasions now, I can tell you it's one of my favourite venues in the city. They treat vendors incredibly well and understand the common goal is to make sure the client has a wonderful day.Recently having gone under a gorgeous renovation, Graydon Hall Manor was the perfect setting for romantic, soft garden style that Marcey was after. We developed the design plan around soft, romantic neutral colours, that was anchored by strong, equally romantic fonts and design details. We wanted to put our attention into doing the details really, really well since the venue was so beautiful already. Layers of patterns made for extra design detail that was just the right amount of variety to add depth to the design. Paper and Poste designed a gorgeous custom letterpress invitation suite that included a floral pattern envelope liner that created the base for our incredible flowers designed by Coriander Girl. We stepped out for ice cream at the famous Dutch Dreams Ice Cream Shop following the ceremony, to toast the newlyweds on a warm summer day.Returning to the venue, guests were treated to a scrumptious meal in the dining room set with luxury linens to accent the space's new, classic design, and garden-esque floral arrangements atop the tables. We repurposed the massive statement piece from the ceremony on the head table to add some extra drama in the room.After dinner, delicious treats and sweets by Cakelaine awaited guests just in time for the post-dinner sweet tooth. See this gorgeous wedding at Graydon Hall Manor below, as captured by Carmin Davidson Photography.

Five Things You Must Do The Morning Of Your Wedding

The big day is here! Everything is set, all the details are double checked, and you’re ready to take the most important walk of your life. It’s the one where you begin a new journey, as one half of a whole. Your wedding day is the first chapter of the greatest love story you’ll ever write because it’s the one you’ll pen together.

But before you do, you’ve got to get through the morning of your wedding! We know, we know, the minutes seem to feel like hours and you just can’t wait to get going. But like the song says, you can’t hurry love (and you certainly can’t rush your wedding day).

So, here are some fun things you must do the morning of the wedding before you say I do.

1. Pack your flats!

Put your best foot forward and switch out your heels for flats every chance you can get. You’ll be spending most of the day in heels so have a comfy set of slippers, flip flops, or cute white sneakers nearby.

Tara McMullen Photography

2. Mix it up with a mixtape.

You’ve got the DJ or band all set for later, but why not throw on your favorite tunes now? Music sets the tone so hit play on those fun throwbacks and party anthems while you and your girls get ready.

Tara McMullen Photography.

3. Breathe.

We know we always say this, but breathe, try to take in this moment, really take it in. Don’t worry about what your hubby-to-be is doing with his groomsmen (not much, trust us) so really take a moment to pause and be present. Perhaps have a little toast to your bridal party and family, as well.

4. Hydrate!

This one is a no-brainer but it’s almost always overlooked. You might easily find yourself so preoccupied that eating or drinking fall to the wayside. Have some fruit nearby and keep sipping on water throughout the morning.

Tara McMullen Photography

5. Prep your accessories!

Your collection of images to tell your wedding day story would be incomplete without those little accessories on which you worked so hard! So gather your invitation suite (2 copies!), earrings, shoes, veil, rings all in one spot so your photographer can capture those little details for your collection.

BONUS TIP

Don’t sweat the details. Allow others to help you so you can truly be present to enjoy, and try to remember what this day is about: the most incredible love story you’ll ever be a part of.

Okay, ready? Here we go. Today is going to be magic.