Coming Up Roses

About the Couple
Bride: Tamara Leanne Matkaluk
Groom: Joel Russell Burr
Occupations: Tamara is a project manager and Joel is a manager.
How they met: Online through lavalife.com.
Fave date: Their day-trip around Phi Phi Islands in Thailand. They rented a longtail boat and personal guide for the day.
What attracted him to her: His chivalry, he was very charming.
What attacted her to him: Her fabulous wit and smile.
Engagement story: A beautiful engagement ring opened on Christmas Eve.

The Wedding Day
Wedding date: August 31, 2007
Guests: 140
Motif: Classy, elegant and a timeless summer wedding.
His best moment: Seeing her for the first time on the big day.
What they would do differently: We wish we would have allowed some more time for photos – although it seems like we have tons, there were a few places in the Exchange District of Winnipeg that we really wanted to get photos. If we could go back, we would have allowed three hours for photos so we didn’t feel rushed.
Advice to others: Remember that it is your day, focus on the two of you and enjoy it
Wedding song: The Way You Look Tonight from the Father of the Bride Soundtrack. I think it’s the sweetest song that captures growing old together perfectly – and the Father of the Bride version has the perfect tempo. It made me cry when I watched the movie when I was in grade eleven and swore that I would use it on my wedding day – sixteen years later, I did.
Fave gift: Our espresso machine. Joel is my personal barista now.
Most unexpected moment for her: I really wanted a live band that had a lead singer with a wedding singer type of quality. I wanted someone who would banter with all of the guests and play a great selection of rat pack songs and current music to keep people dancing and entertained. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we looked, we couldn’t find a band that fit what I wanted, so we hired a DJ. As speeches were wrapping up at the reception, our emcee (and one of my best friends for almost 10 years) was nowhere to be found, and I was getting a little anxious because the clock was ticking and we needed to announce our cake cutting. Then suddenly he emerged from the back of the room, dressed up in full ‘70s wedding-singer attire and proceeded to serenade me. He put on quite a show for all of our guests – it was absolutely perfect and people are still talking about it.
Fave wedding detail: We served raspberry Crantinis during cocktail hour which were a hit. The guests were scooping them off the trays faster than the bartender could make them. We also loved all of our matching wedding stationery.
Honeymoon: El Dorado Seaside Suites in the Mayan Riviera.
The day in three words: Fun, memorable, and perfect.

Vendors:
Ceremony location: Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Winnipeg.
Reception location: Bridges Golf Course (bridgesgolfcourse.com).
Bridal gown: Teresa’s Bridal, Winnipeg.
Bridal party attire: Teresa’s Bridal, Winnipeg, D’Ella Formal Children’s Wear (dellaformalwear.com), Moores: Clothing for Men (mooresuit.com).
Bridesmaids’ gifts: Gift cards for Inn at the Forks (innforks.com), gift cards for afternoon tea at Chateau Laurier (fairmont.com), gift cards for Hotel Del Coronado (hoteldel.com).
Groom’s tux: Moores: Clothing for Men (mooresuit.com).
Cake: Belle Cake & Candy (bellecakeandcandy.com).
Favours: Hershey’s Kisses and Pink Mints, PetalBlue Designs (petalbluedesigns.ca).
Flowers: Urban Flora (urbanflora.ca).
Hair and makeup: Oxfords Salon (oxfordssalon.com), 2 Chick and a Bag of Makeup (2chicksandabagofmakeup.com).
Music: Midnight Sound.
Registry: The Bay and Home Outfitters (hbc.com), Linens ‘n Things (lnt.com).
Stationery: PetalBlue Designs (petalbluedesigns.ca)