A “Father of the Bride” Wedding - Her Parents Transformed Their Home Into Her Dream Venue!

Our wedding was truly a "Father of the Bride" experience, with my mom and dad dedicating the year leading up to it to transform our home into my dream wedding venue. They painted the exterior of the house, tended to the yard, grew hand-cut flowers in our desired colour palate, and even cleared out all the furniture inside to host the reception. Surrounded by our loved ones and the memories of my childhood, the day was filled with deep meaning and intimacy. The wedding design beautifully blended romance and nostalgia, perfectly complementing the intimate setting of my childhood home. It was incredibly personal, with a middle school friend providing all the local florals, the DJ being someone who went to prom with my sister, and my high school band teacher playing saxophone in the trio during cocktail hour. The abundance of personal touches added layers of meaning, reflecting our style and the deep connections we share with our loved ones. Our wedding stationery, with its romantic and timeless design, perfectly set the tone for the celebration. A stunning watercolour of the lake and vineyard view, vintage stamps, elegant calligraphy, and gold wax seals created an atmosphere of nostalgia. The welcome itinerary captured the excitement. I wanted our wedding weekend to give our guests the full Okanagan experience. We hosted a long table rehearsal dinner under the stars, a lively speakeasy welcome party at Crown and Thieves Winery, and a farewell pool party at the house on Sunday. By stretching the celebrations over the weekend, we had time to mingle with everyone and savour each moment. The decor embraced a timeless elegance with a vintage-inspired touch, balancing classic and fresh elements. Every detail was thoughtfully chosen to enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding lake and vineyard. The floral arrangements featured soft pastels and delicate blooms like roses, ranunculus, feverfew, and cosmos, arranged in a natural, slightly whimsical style. A palette of blush, peach, and soft pastel tones, accented with hints of ivory and gold, added a touch of luxury to the overall aesthetic, making the day as beautiful as it was meaningful.

Brandon waited until the week after New Year's to propose, avoiding a stereotypical engagement. I had a feeling it was coming but was surprised when it didn't happen during the big holiday moments. The weekend after New Year's on January 6th, he spontaneously surprised me with a cozy getaway weekend to Squamish, BC. We stayed in this tiny rustic cabin on the ocean with spectacular views of the Howe Sound. That first night, after he cooked a delicious homemade pasta, he popped the question in the most intimate setting—just the two of us. He was so cute and nervous that when he proposed he opened the ring box upside down. It was perfectly us, and of course, I said yes! We facetimed our parents that night, but kept the excitement to ourselves for the weekend, savouring every moment with each other.

For my wedding dress, I was inspired by the effortless and timeless style of Carolyn Bessette. I chose a simple yet elegant white satin dress from Jenny Yoo, which perfectly captured that classic, understated look. For a romantic touch that tied into our backyard setting I wore a beautiful veil from Grace Loves Lace, adorned with delicate floral embroidery. To bring in a vintage feel, I added a lace topper and finished off the look with my grandmothers pearl earrings and pastel-blue floral mules with a sheer bow for "Something blue" which added a lovely, feminine detail.

I wanted my bridesmaids to feel comfortable and shine in a way that reflected their unique personalities, so I embraced a beautiful mix of styles and fabrics. With a bit of guidance, each bridesmaid chose her own dress, resulting in an array of solids, florals, and textures. The dresses featured an enchanting blend of ruffles, silks, and chiffons, creating a rich tapestry of styles that came together beautifully. The colour palette was a combination of dusty rose, peach, pinks and mauves. This soft and romantic spectrum complemented the overall theme of the wedding, adding a touch of elegance and warmth. Each dress told its own story while contributing to a cohesive and stunning visual effect, celebrating the individuality of each bridesmaid while creating a gorgeous and unified look.

The groomsmen looked sharp in classic black suits, perfectly complemented by the groom’s black tuxedo. I wanted the look to be timeless, and it definitely achieved that. The sleek, classic style added a touch of elegance and ensured the photos will always look effortlessly sophisticated.

As passionate foodies, we knew that great food was a top priority for our wedding. Cocktail Hour kicked off with Jalapeño Margaritas and Aperol Spritzes, setting the stage for an array of inventive canapés, including Duck Corn Dogs, Ahi Tuna Cones, Radish Tacos, Mini Noodle Boxes, and Porcini Arancini. When Dinner arrived our appetizers featured Beet or Waygu Carpaccio, followed by a delectable main course of 48 Hour Short Rib, Char Siu Sablefish, or Seared Cauliflower. Dessert was our Salted Caramel Vanilla Bean Wedding Cake and was as beautiful as it was delicious. To keep the energy high before hitting the dance floor, we served Espresso Martinis and ended the night on a comforting note with Perogies as a late-night snack, paying tribute to our Ukrainian roots!

The decor embraced a timeless elegance, with a vintage-inspired touch that felt both classic and fresh. Every detail was thoughtfully chosen to enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding lake and vineyard. The floral arrangements featured soft pastels and delicate blooms like roses, ranunculus, feverfew and cosmos arranged in a natural and slightly whimsical style. A palette of blush, peach and soft pastel tones with hints of ivory and gold brought a touch of luxury to the overall aesthetic.

Our wedding cake was a stunning three-tiered design covered in simple white buttercream with a rough-edge finish. It was beautifully decorated with pink roses, whimsical white cosmos and feverfew, and was displayed elegantly on top of our piano. The cake featured a delicious blend of Vanilla Bean and Salted Caramel flavours: moist vanilla bean cake with a vanilla milk soak, milk cookie crumb, salted caramel, and vanilla bean white chocolate buttercream. It was as delightful to taste as it was to look at.

Ceremony Music Processional Sandrevan Lullaby - Rodriguez Going to California - Led Zeppelin Stand By Me - Recorded Cover by the Bride Madi Proz (I secretly recorded our song for Brandon as a surprise walking down the aisle) Recessional You Are The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne Wedding Party/Bride & Groom Entrance Song This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) - Natalie Cole Cake Cutting Song It Had to Be You - Harry Connick Jr. First Dances Bride & Groom Harvest Moon - Neil Young Bride & Dad My Wish - Rascall Flatts Groom & Mom I'll Stand By You - Pretenders

One of my favourite details was the gallery wall of our family wedding photos, framed in elegant vintage gold frames. Each frame showcased a special moment from our families' past, creating a beautiful tapestry of memories. The display was thoughtfully designed with one frame left intentionally empty, symbolizing our own place in this growing collection of cherished moments. It was a touching way to honour our families while also marking the start of our own story together.

I LOVED our wedding favours and invitations!! We created a custom playing card deck with all the beautiful stationery graphics and watercolour paintings. Since Brandon and I play crib every weekend, it felt perfect to incorporate these cards into our seating chart and as wedding favours for our guests to treasure. I loved that I was the Queen, and Brandon was the King,—it was such a personal touch that made the day even more special and we continue to reminisce about our special day every time we play cards.

In our family, it's a cherished tradition to share a little shot of vodka as a "diborja" in honour of our Ukrainian roots. My grandpa took on the role of welcoming our guests before dinner with a cheerful "Leon" shot. It was such a heartwarming moment to see him mingling with everyone, creating a connection that was both cute and deeply meaningful. Everyone got a kick out of it, and it really set the tone for the fun evening ahead.