Welcome back to another sure to be fabulous week here on SMP Canada, lovelies! We're about to brighten your Monday with one VERY stunning Toronto affair captured by Chris Bodnar Photography... and, oh, what an amazing way to start the week. Wanting to incorporate both a traditional Sikh ceremony, as well as more modern elements into their big day, these darling lovebirds decided a weekend celebration was in order... and we can't think of a more fabulous way to honor your wedding than with a Friday and Saturday spent celebrating with the ones you love! Yes, from the gorgeous details to the stunning bride and groom, we are head.over.heels for this sweet, sweet soiree. Join us in the gallery for more!
Toronto Wedding by Chris Bodnar Photography
Click here for the FULL wedding!
From the Bride... When my husband and I were first engaged, we spent a lot of time thinking about what we wanted. We didn't want to book anything that didn't represent us. Despite feeling like we weren't moving fast enough, we were happy we took our time because our choices represented us. In the end, we settled on a two day affair (to accommodate two ceremonies), and a restaurant reception that could offer great food. Both of us are from immigrant families (my parents are from India and Jon's parents are from Portugal). We wanted to incorporate some of the traditional touches, but we also wanted the wedding to have a modern personality (which definitely represented us). So, the Sikh ceremony became the traditional aspect of our wedding (as well as our official wedding date). The following day, we held a non-denominational ceremony in which we wrote our own vows. We also had one of our closest friends "un-officially" officiate this ceremony. Having our friend Kevin officiate, made this moment really special.
As for the design of the wedding, the traditional/modern aspect really influenced us. Our clothing for the Sikh ceremony was very traditional, with heavy beading and design. We wanted that to contrast a more modern approach to the decor of our venue. So, we chose simple, clean lines for the backdrop and the mandap. For the lunch to follow, we kept round tables with a simple centerpiece of white and greens. On the second day, we went with a more modern styling. Our contemporary styling included long tables and a colorful flower palette. Some DIY projects included the seating chart. It was simple! We bought a piece of plywood from our local hardware store, spray painted it black and used chalk to write everyone's names on it. My sister-in-law helped with the piggy bow-tie. We bought gingham material, cut out the size we wanted and stitched it all together. We didn't follow a pattern- we just eyeballed it!
My husband loves wine so we wanted to find a way to incorporate wine into the wedding. We liked the idea of using wine boxes to display our "creative RSVP's." Instead of guests responding with "Attending" or "Not Attending," we had our guests find a creative way to tell us their answers. It was amazing how creative some guests were! Some sent images, others sent poems, our niece and nephew created a comic strip and we even received two video responses! We thought these would be a great to display during our cocktail reception. And so, those wine boxes (picked up at the local liquor store for a minimal donation) became very handy. Our florist was FANTASTIC and really made our vision a reality. He took care of implementing all our touches at both venues. He was a huge help!
Wedding Photography: Chris Bodnar Photography / Cinematography: Chris Wardle / Flowers: Fresh Florals / Wedding Venues: Intercontinental Toronto (Friday) + Mildred's Temple Kitchen (Saturday) / Bride's Sikh Ceremony Outfit: Delhi, India / White Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo via White Toronto / Birdcage Veil: Hefter Collection via Hazelton Lanes / Groom's Suit: Harry Rosen / Directional Signs: Our Hobby To Your Home / Straws: Hey Yo Yo / Mr + Mrs Signs: Pertyfultings / DJ: DJ Maestro of Mixt Relatations (905-601-0888) / Sikh Ceremony Earrings: Indiva / All Other Jewelry: Borrowed from Family / Wedding Invitations: DIY, Friend to the Bride & Groom