Quebec Wedding from Dallas Curow
This Quebec wedding at Le Belvédère by Dallas Curow is just pure lovely. Pure, oh my goodness I can't believe this is real, lovely. It's the type of wedding that seems like a fairytale from the first image to the last, and you have to pinch yourself to make sure it's all real. But oh it is, and it all makes for one completely stunning gallery of images.
From Dallas Curow...Staci and Dan were married at the maiden event of Le Belvédère, a then brand new, eco-friendly venue situated in the rolling hills of Wakefield, Quebec, Canada. It was a destination wedding of sorts for them, as they are two Canadians who are currently living and working abroad in Beijing, China. Although they travelled back to their homeland to be married, they incorporated many Chinese items into their wedding decor as a nod to their current locale. In fact, they packed all the Ming vases that would decorate the tables in their suitcases with them on their trip home! Those vases, along with the Maneki-neko (beckoning cats that are very popular in China), fresh pastries from the bride's hometown of Thunder Bay, ON, and their many other elegant yet playful elements created a joyful atmosphere that paid tribute to both their home and adopted countries. They shared their first dance overlooking the valley below right as the sun set, and later their guests sipped cocktails under the stars. It was an unspeakably beautiful event, and all the more impressive considering it was planned from nearly 6,500 miles away!
From the Bride, Staci...Our dress code and concept for our wedding was "Creative Black Tie." We wanted a classic feeling to the wedding without excluding people who wouldn't normally dress up in tuxes etc. Black tie is too formal and restrictive. We wanted to have fun, be ourselves and by making it "creative," we made it more accessible to all of our guests. We planned our wedding from China, which was fun but made for a lot more headaches than normal. It was difficult to make decisions on what we wanted since we couldn't really see anything in person, and had trouble knowing what we were choosing. However, it did force us to make fast decisions and stick to them. Too much choice makes wedding planning more difficult, after all.
Given our situation, in hindsight I would recommend using a wedding planner. It is something we should have done and would have saved a lot of stress. Research and pricing is important, but at the end of the day, all quotes we received were similar so we went with the company, vendor etc that we felt most comfortable with. I would also recommend to follow your heart and try not to listen to the opinions of others. A wedding is a reflection of you as a couple, not your guests. Guests should feel comfortable and welcome but not dictate the day! A kids section is always a good idea too. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite moment, because the whole day was a great moment. To touch on a few: getting ready with my bridesmaids; walking down the aisle and seeing my soon-to-be husband waiting for me; marrying him; pictures with the bridal party; my new husband's thank you speech that brought the whole audience to tears, and of course, dancing!
Photography: Dallas Curow | Floral Design: Bloomfields | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Le Belvédère | Cake: Thimble Cakes | Decor: Elyse Cragg of Peonies and Brass | Engagement Ring: Logan Antiques | Wedding Bands: People's Jewellers | Blue + White Vases: Panjiayuan Market, Beijing, China | Table Runners: Beijing, China | Other Decorations: Michael's Arts and Crafts | Wedding Dress: Custom, Beijing, China by a local tailor | Groom's suit: Custom, Beijing, China | Shoes: BCBG | Veil: Borrowed from a friend | Earrings + Tailoring: With Love Bridal Boutique
From the Bride, Staci...Our dress code and concept for our wedding was "Creative Black Tie." We wanted a classic feeling to the wedding without excluding people who wouldn't normally dress up in tuxes etc. Black tie is too formal and restrictive. We wanted to have fun, be ourselves and by making it "creative," we made it more accessible to all of our guests. We planned our wedding from China, which was fun but made for a lot more headaches than normal. It was difficult to make decisions on what we wanted since we couldn't really see anything in person, and had trouble knowing what we were choosing. However, it did force us to make fast decisions and stick to them. Too much choice makes wedding planning more difficult, after all.
Given our situation, in hindsight I would recommend using a wedding planner. It is something we should have done and would have saved a lot of stress. Research and pricing is important, but at the end of the day, all quotes we received were similar so we went with the company, vendor etc that we felt most comfortable with. I would also recommend to follow your heart and try not to listen to the opinions of others. A wedding is a reflection of you as a couple, not your guests. Guests should feel comfortable and welcome but not dictate the day! A kids section is always a good idea too. It's hard to pinpoint a favorite moment, because the whole day was a great moment. To touch on a few: getting ready with my bridesmaids; walking down the aisle and seeing my soon-to-be husband waiting for me; marrying him; pictures with the bridal party; my new husband's thank you speech that brought the whole audience to tears, and of course, dancing!
Photography: Dallas Curow | Floral Design: Bloomfields | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Le Belvédère | Cake: Thimble Cakes | Decor: Elyse Cragg of Peonies and Brass | Engagement Ring: Logan Antiques | Wedding Bands: People's Jewellers | Blue + White Vases: Panjiayuan Market, Beijing, China | Table Runners: Beijing, China | Other Decorations: Michael's Arts and Crafts | Wedding Dress: Custom, Beijing, China by a local tailor | Groom's suit: Custom, Beijing, China | Shoes: BCBG | Veil: Borrowed from a friend | Earrings + Tailoring: With Love Bridal Boutique