All White. Crisp. Simple. Silver. A Bit Of Bling. Peonies. Tulips = Valerie and Chris’ stunning June wedding at the Andrew Richard Designs Building in downtown Toronto. And of course, the styling and planning by the incomparable Crystal Adair-Benning at Distinct Occasions!
photography courtesy of Jennifer Images
from Crystal …
When I first met Valerie & Chris, one of the very first things I noticed was how classic and elegant they were. Their style was understated but beautiful and I really wanted their wedding day to reflect that. With a clean slate, I literally wanted to translate that into a monotone but uber-textured wedding so we chose a palette of pure white and silver. The bouquets were kept seasonal in tulips and peonies. Perfect for a summer wedding in the city. The cocktail décor included a patio covered in faux turf, tones of lounges and bright pillows in royal blue and fuschia set off by pink peonies in silver buckets. Inside the room was filled with 3 long rows of dining tables where guests sat as if in a large holiday supper. The meal was a delectable six courses with each course being served family style to the table in tapas portions. We used photographs of the Bride & Groom’s parents and grandparents to decorate the ceremony space and we hung custom accordion style programs on the backs of each chair. These programs included both ceremony and reception itineraries! From the bread breaking to the cake cutting to sweet ice cream cookie sandwiches for late night this couple truly celebrated in a white wonderland of chic.
from the beautiful bride …
Chris and I met through mutual friends. Both of us had attended the same university in the same program and year but had never crossed paths. He lived an hour a half away, but pretty quickly we were taking turns driving to spend the weekend together. We did this for 2 full years until Chris finally proposed.
We wanted a wedding that represented us and the things we love, good food and wine, beautiful decor and fashion, and a little sparkle and shine. The idea of an all white colour scheme seemed perfect especially when we found our venue which featured all white walls, huge windows and grey painted hardwood floors.
The weekend that Chris and I got married was an interesting one in Toronto. It was the weekend before the G20 summit, and police officers had already started shutting down major streets in downtown Toronto. Although this could have put a major damper on our day, luckily Toronto’s finest have a soft spot for Brides & Grooms and we were able to bypass much of the traffic and were allowed to drive on the closed streets in our vintage Rolls Royce.
Chris and I were married beside the stage that featured photos of our parents and grandparents on their wedding days which will serve as our role-model for a successful marriage. After the ceremony guests were invited to join us outside on the rooftop patio, which featured faux lawn, pink peonies and brightly coloured cushions which acted as our pop of colour for the day. Outside, Chris and I were able to mingle with our guests and enjoy the passed cocktails and food. While we were enjoying the gorgeous weather, our Wedding Planner worked with our vendors to quickly get our ceremony space ready for dinner. I was absolutely stunned with how gorgeous the space looked when it was done with the textured linens, fluffy peonies and votive candles. Dinner featured a 6-course meal based on some of our favourite meals and restaurants that we had been to together. It was served as small shared plates which allowed us to serve some slightly out of the ordinary options, including cold soup shooters, watermelon and feta salad, rosti potato, a trio of risottos and tuna and beef.
During dinner, our photographer stole us away from the party to do a few more photos just as the sun was setting. This gave us a welcome break and a chance to just enjoy each other and our new status as husband and wife.
The day itself was a blur as previous brides had told me it would be. But what I remember the most was the amazing feeling of having all our friends and family there to share in our special day, and feeling as though all of the planning over the past year and a half had paid off as we were living our perfect wedding.
Congratulations Valerie and Chris!
More photographs …
Jennifer Images: White Wedding Wonderland, (Gorgeous Badgley Michka Shoes, Closer Look At Bridesmaids Dresses)
Distinct Occasions: Edelweiss White Wedding (The Table Setting!)
SMP Photo Gallery: Valerie & Chris’ Wedding Gallery
Wedding Planning & Design: Distinct Occasions
Photography: Jennifer Images
Decor/Floral: Petals, Stems & Leaves
Venue: Andrew Richard Designs
DJ: Prodigy Entertainment
Harpist: Andrew Chan
Caterer: Marigolds & Onions
Stationery: Bride’s Own Creation