It’s been a year since Jonnie and I said “I do” amongst our nearest and dearest in Ontario’s Prince Edward County, and despite all of the trials and tribulations that we’ve been through these past 365 days, thinking back to our wedding day still takes my breath away. Hitting our first anniversary felt like a great excuse to reflect, share some of my favourite photos (@scarletoneill really outdid herself), and credit our vendor list for all of the magic they contributed!
I’ve had lots of experience with events, styled shoots, and wedding industry pros over the years, so I went into my wedding planning journey with some pretty clear ideas about what I wanted, and an assumption that things would quite easily fall into place. Turns out even with some experience, a clear vision, and a lot of organization, putting together a wedding is so much hard work. Here’s what I learned:
Now that we’re on the other side of our celebration, my biggest bride advice without a doubt is to invest in a team you trust, focus on the details that matter most to you as a couple, and don’t sweat the small stuff. I could have easily lost myself entirely in the depths of rented cutlery, tablecloths and extravagant printing for our paper things, but I forced myself to keep it simple, instead choosing 100 Acre Wood as our venue (and the second vendor we booked – @scarletoneill was the first) An all-inclusive venue with beautiful handmade ceramic plates and a bar stocked with locally crafted drinks, they brought so many heartfelt touches that felt like us to our day, without an insane amount of sourcing and coordinating. I can’t stress enough how much this decision paid off in the long run, keeping our day seamless, joyful and stress-free.
With most of the details carefully managed by our wonderful team, I had the space to pour my heart into bits and pieces that felt the most true to us. I agonized over flowers, constantly adding to the list of blooms that simply had to be included, especially lilacs, a nod to our baby Penny Lilah, who was attending the day in utero. I also dried rose petals from my garden, bouquets Jonnie got me, and the engagement setup he did, which I cut up into eco-friendly confetti to pass out to guests to throw when we walked back down the aisle as man and wife. There was a balloon drop inspired by New Years at The Madonna Inn, a bouncy castle to ensure our day was just as fun for Summer and her kid guests, and Jonnie put together a series of amazing collaborative playlists featuring all of our favourite special songs. It was these touches that really made our day feel unique and overflowing with meaning.
My last tidbit to share before diving into the photos is this: make sure you squeeze in some time to slip away as newlyweds and take a moment to connect, cuddle, and soak it all in together. One of Jonnie’s coworkers suggested this to us, and that 10 minutes sitting at a picnic table just the two of us, revelling in everything we were feeling, is one of my favourite memories of all time.
Scroll down for full list of vendor credits
Vendor Credits //
Photographer: @scarletoneill
Venue: @onehundredacrewood
Florals: @coriandergirl
Dress: @alenaleenabridal via @everly_bridal
Hair and Makeup: @esbridal
Hair colour: @jonglossalon at @glossalonyvr
Nails: @majestyspleasure
Shoes: @loefflerrandall
Veil: David & Chiyo (now @tempetebrand)
Engagement Ring: @foeanddear
Wedding Custom Rings: @condesa.jewelry.expertise
Suit: @indocino
Groom’s shoes: @poppybarley
Flowergirl Dress: @shop_noralee
Flowergirl Shoes: @shop.kaileep
Custom wedding jackets: @daily_disco
Bridesmaids Dresses: @parkandfifthco
Cake: @cocos.to
Voicemail Guestbook: @afterthetone.co
Jam Guest Favours: @kittenandthebear
Prints and design work: by the bride (@randomactsofpastel)
Bouncy Castle: Oui Bounce
Let me know if I’ve missed anything in the comments below!
