Date

Guests

350

October 11, 2015

Simone says she was drawn to Matthew from the moment she met him. "I always had a small crush on Matthew; there was just something about him that was so magnetic," she reveals. At first, she wasn't sure exactly why she was so intrigued by Matthew, but once she began to spend more time with him, everything came into focus. "I now recognize that he and I were always meant to be," she says.

When it came to their wedding day Matthew envisioned an outdoor event while Simone was set on a feminine, vintage celebration. The pair decided to combine their inspirations to create an enchanted forest-themed event with a colour palette of green, soft pink, white and gold. "Living on the east coast, an outdoor wedding was not exactly a feasible option due to our unpredictable weather," Simone explains. "For this reason, we decided to bring the outdoors in while incorporating the feminine aspects that I had always dreamed of."

To keep the decor consistent, the couple carried the same tree art motif throughout the wedding from their invitations to the reception tables. "An artist replicated the tree that was on our invitations to serve as a photo wall in the cocktail area. The same tree was present on our table numbers, as well as on our menus, on the back of each guests' chair and on the dance floor," says Simone.

Simone's favourite detail of the decor was the awe-inspiring entrance scene leading into the cocktail area. Cascading greens set the mood for a natural atmosphere, while an ethereal fountain, a chandelier filled with lush greenery and a floral-print bar created a magical look fit for a fairy queen. "I felt as though anyone who saw our invitations immediately knew to expect something very magical from our wedding, and when they saw the entrance to the cocktail area, their expectations were brought to life," she explains.

With a custom-made green wall featuring three framed floral panels as a backdrop, the head table was another highlight for Simone. Not only was it a beautiful focal point for the evening, but the head table also served as a perfect vantage point from which to observe the celebration. "As Matthew and I were seated at the head table, I remember looking around the room and taking everything in. I had the man of my dreams next to me and truly felt as though we were in the centre of an enchanted forest," Simone reminisces.

For their first dance together, Simone and Matthew chose the song "Adorn" by Miguel because of its inspiring, authentic lyrics. "Matthew and I spent hours trying to find a song that was most fitting for our relationship. We eventually decided to go with a song that we both loved," Simone says. "We wanted to forget about what everyone else wanted to hear, and go with a song that would make us feel like we were the only two people in the room."

While the day was full of heartfelt moments, Simone says that walking down the aisle was by far the most unforgettable moment of her life thus far. "As I walked down the aisle and saw my handsome groom's face, it finally hit me that we were solidifying our love and beginning a new chapter in our relationship," she says. "There was no better feeling than knowing that from that point on I would be spending the rest of my life with my best friend and one true love."

Vendors
Ceremony venue: St. Agnes Parish
Reception venue: World Trade and Convention Centre
Bridal gown: Inbal Dror from White Toronto
Bridesmaid dresses: Walter Mendez
Groom's tux: Armani from Harry Rosen
Cake: Gourmandises Avenue Chocolaterie
Event designer and wedding planner: Anne Anderson Events
Music: DJ Mario
Hair and makeup: Vicky Mina Makeup Artistry
Flowers: Inglis Flower World
Stationery: Ferris Wheel Press
Photo wall art: Michael Burt
Dance floor: Dance Floor Decor