We love a bride that takes wedding risks – and this lady right here did just that when she booked Kurtz Orchards as her wedding venue before ever setting her sight on it in person. And oh are we glad she grabbed it up when she did because it was host to one glam Gatsby-inspired soiree. Ooh La La Designs and KJ and Co. are key players in making our Monday mighty fine and with Andrew Mark and Raw Media capturing it all, this joy isn’t leaving anytime soon – see it all in our Vault this way!
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From the Bride… We can’t tell you how happy we are with our wedding! From the moment we got engaged we knew we wanted a unique outdoor location. When we stumbled upon Gracewood Estates (online) in the winter time we knew it would be perfect. With very few dates left and having never even visited the venue, we booked our date during the winter for the following year in summer of 2015. When we decided to visit the venue on Mother’s Day, not only was Gracewood Estates everything we hoped it would be and more, but picturing our wedding day and showing our families where we would be getting married the following year, made that Mother’s Day truly special for us.
While planning our wedding we knew that we wanted certain vintage and Gatsby-like elements, so we ended up hiring a wonderful New Orleans-inspired band (Patrick Tevlin Band) that really delighted our guests and got them to dance. The men wore tuxedos and the bridesmaids wore cream cocktail dresses to complement the overall gold and cream coloured theme. We really wanted the wedding day to be elegant, fun and light hearted. So we kept our ceremony short and breezy by having it outdoors in the orchard lined with pear trees. Getting married outdoors felt like something out of story book. A few of our favourite moments from the wedding day include spending time with my father on the porch before walking down the aisle. It’s a moment I’ll always cherish. Followed by walking down the aisle to the live instrumental version of a song we always dance to at home. Now every time we hear our wedding song it brings us back to our wedding day and we continue to dance. Waking up in the morning and going outside prior to arriving at the venue was also truly peaceful. It seemed like no one was on the streets nearby as the birds chirped and the sun came out.
Being able to incorporate certain details throughout the day also made everything even more special. I wore my grandmothers necklace for the ceremony and carried a handkerchief my mother gave me when I was younger. Vas gifted me beautiful blue earrings as my “something blue” and I gave him a Hugo Boss watch so that he may wear it and think of the special memories years from now. During the ceremony we also gave both of our mother’s a rose to signify how important they are to us. Throughout the cocktail hour and reception we displayed photos of relatives that could not be with us and I attached my grandmother’s vintage rose pin to my flowers as a way to keep her close to me.
We couldn’t have had such a beautiful day without the help of our wonderfully talented vendors. Our florist Kelly (Ooh La La Designs) was always so helpful and a true visionary when it came to designing the wedding and the overall concept we envisioned. She came up with ideas we hadn’t even thought of and brought everything to life. Our band was a joy to listen to during the cocktail hour as we strolled through the gardens and sat down to dinner. They really made us feel like we traveled back in time to a different era. The decor and the rentals that were used also contributed to making every little detail special and unique for us. Our guests enjoyed being able to use fans and parasols as they strolled through the property.
We are very happy that our photographers were able to capture all of this and more throughout the day, because without them we definitely would not have seen moments like our parent’s laughing and (finally) relaxing after the ceremony or dancing up a storm later on in the evening. We couldn’t have planned any part of the day without the wonderful help of our coordinator Laura Scott (Tula Events) who was with us every step of the day and made sure everything ran smoothly and on time. The lovely ladies at Gracewood Estates also ensured all of our needs were met and went above and beyond when it came time to work on all the details. Our wedding video was also something that meant a lot to us, being able to hear the vows and all the sights and sounds of the day is something that we’ll cherish forever.
One thing we recommend to all future brides and grooms is to not worry about the small stuff. Things happen on your wedding day that may not go according to plan, but in the end, no one else notices and those small things won’t matter. Years from now you’ll look back and laugh.
Our photographers took us away during the sunset and it not only made for some beautiful photos, but it gave us some time to enjoy the fact that we just got married. As we look back on our wedding day we can’t believe that it’s over and we’re thankful for everyone that was apart of it and made it so special.
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Photography: Andrew Mark Photography | Cinematography: Raw Media | Coordination: Tula Events - Laura Scott | Floral Design: Ooh La La Designs {floral & style studio} | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Cake: Willow Cakes And Pastries | Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas | Bridesmaids' Dresses: BHLDN | Hair + Makeup: BlushPretty | DJ: Maximum Music DJ Service | Groom's Attire: Andrews Formal | Groomsmen's Attire: Andrew's Formals | Officiant: Enduring Promises | Ceremony Music: Niagara Region Musicians Association | Venue: Kurtz Orchards | Bridal Boutique: Maggie Sottero | Bridal Boutique: Maggie Sottero | Bride's Gold Shoes: Vince Camuto | Bride's White Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Earrings: Swarovski | Linen Rentals + Chairs: Simply Beautiful Decor | Photo Booth: Hot Shotz Photobooth | Reception Music: Patrick Tevlin Music | Rentals: KJ And Co. | Transporation: Double Deck Tours
