Where: Hacienda Sarria
When: June 2019
Bridal Gown: Allure Bridals purchased at Lovebird Bridal Boutique
Photography: Lindsay Coulter Photography
Flowers: Lilies White
Stationary/Signage: Pirate Smile Designs
Cotton Candy: Fancy Pufs
"LOVE" Sign: Ampersand Marquee Letters
Airstream Photo Booth: Snaptique Photo Booths
The Inspiration: I had always dreamed of my wedding day as a scene from The Secret Garden, with big, beautiful, colourful flowers, and rustic garden elements. Logistically, our main priority was to have a space large enough for our extended family and friends to celebrate with us, and have all elements of the day in one location. We wanted a June wedding, with both indoor and outdoor options, so our guests could wander the grounds, just like a garden party. With both of us being from Kitchener, Hacienda Sarria was the perfect fit for our outdoor garden ceremony and cocktail hour, and the Spanish courtyard interior was a spectacular backdrop for our reception. Originally our colour scheme was very different.... but when I selected a pink wedding gown, we pivoted to light pink, charcoal grey, and metallic elements to highlight the colour of my dress (which I had to keep a secret from the groom). We decided to go bold and bright for our flower colours, which paired well with the natural elements of our venue. Many of the weddings we had seen on pinterest, in magazines, etc. had either pastel or bright colours, and we wanted to do something different, and incorporate both options in our colour schemes.
Moments to Remember: Leading up to the wedding, we had 6 days straight of rain, and the forecast was not looking promising. We had all but planned to go with our backup "indoor" ceremony, when the morning of, the skies cleared, and it was the most beautiful, sunny day. My dress quickly became a focal point of our wedding, because it influenced so many decisions - like our colour scheme, and where the ceremony location would take place. We decided to do a more traditional wedding, and opted out of a first look. The first time my husband saw me in my dress was such a special moment, which brought him to tears. While I walked toward him, I could hear my family and friends say things like "is her dress pink?" "OMG her dress" and it was truly a "WOW" moment. During the entire ceremony, we laughed, we cried, and at points, we zoned out and just found ourselves looking at each other, feeling so much love around us.
Danielle's Dress Journey: Almost immediately when entering the store, my eyes gravitated towards a pink ballgown. "For fun" I decided to try it on - the first one I tried of the day. When I exited the change room, my Mom, Sister, Aunt, and Nana were all there, and we all shed happy tears. I tried on a few others that were stunning, but each time, I kept thinking back to that first dress, but wasn't sure if I wanted a pink dress. When I tried it on for the second time, I knew it was my dress. When I asked my family about my concerns on colour, my Sister said it best... with the other dresses, they wore you, with this dress, you wear it. Although it also came in white, I knew that a pink dress was so very me, and fit my style of being different, while standing out, and being memorable. The day was made even more special by my Mom also finding her dress at Lovebird - a beautiful navy dress with floral print, perfect for the theme of our wedding.
Danielle's Advice: Let your own personal styles shine through, even on your wedding day! Don't go for what you think you should wear, or what your venue usually does. Choose a dress that personifies your spirit, character, and in my case, colour for life. Choose vendors that bring a smile to your face, and are as unique as you are as a couple. We chose a cotton candy stand for our cocktail hour, and an Airstream photo booth to bring unique elements to our special day, that left a lasting impact on us, and our guests.
