While attending the University of Manitoba, Denise and Jesse met unexpectedly while carving pumpkins for a school event. A few years later, Jesse popped the question at Victoria Beach during a trip to a family friend’s cabin.

For their big day Denise and Jesse planned a summer wedding filled with a pretty colour palette of silver and purple. The bride wore a beautiful strapless tulle dress by Oleg Cassini and carried a bouquet of purple roses and white hydrangeas.

For their wedding song, the couple chose “I Do” by Paul Brandt. They chose this song because Denise had the opportunity to meet Paul Brandt while working at a fishing resort in northern Manitoba. It was their first summer as a couple and also their first time apart. Paul Brandt held a small concert for the staff and played this song. Denise thought of Jesse and how much she missed him and from that moment on it became their song.

Denise says one of her favourite moments during her wedding day was holding a mini-golf challenge on the dance floor during the reception. Whenever a guest got a hole in one, the bride and groom would kiss. “After many failed attempts to make us kiss, Jesse’s Grandma Finlay was finally the one who got a hole in one,” laughs Denise.

Denise Finlay and Jesse Finlay, June 30, 2012. Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Photography courtesy of Curtis Carlson Photography.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church
Reception location: Bel Acres Golf and Country Club
Bridal gown: Oleg Cassini from David’s Bridal
Bridal party attire: David’s Bridal
Groom: Tip Top Tailors
Caterer: Bel Acres Golf and Country Club
Favours: Donation to Multiple Sclerosis Society
Hair: Lillies Locks (204-322-5000)
Make-up: Expressions by Rimpal (204-290-6997)
Flowers: Elaine Stechisen (204-224-2109)
Stationery: Karta House

See more photos from this silver and purple wedding in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

We are currently smitten with Keira Knightley’s relaxed wedding style. She and now-husband, rocker James Righton, tied the knot in a super-relaxed wedding in the South of France earlier this month. The couple invited 11 of their nearest and dearest to celebrate with them and of course the big news was Keira’s wedding dress—a pretty pink Rodarte number she apparently recycled from her closet (she was last seen wearing it in 2008). She paired her girly tulle gown with a classic Chanel tweed jacket and ballet flats. To complete her wedding style, she added a delicate floral crown, Ray Bans and a simple pendant necklace. Love Keira’s wedding style as much as we do? Here’s how you can put together a look just like it for your wedding day.

Angela and Samuel’s official engagement happened after they had already started researching and planning their summer wedding. “I kept expecting the proposal to occur,” Angela recalls. However, Samuel still managed to surprise her with a handwritten letter he had penned after their very first date. He also decorated the bridge where they had initially declared their love with lanterns, candles and lights wrapped around the railings. With Angela’s favourite Adele song “Make You Feel My Love” playing in the background, Samuel got down on one knee and proposed.

For their vintage DIY wedding, the duo decided on a palette of yellows and greys, making use of canisters, flower petals, birdcages and various Etsy finds. But Angela especially loved one particular detail within their reception — the ceiling decor! “We handmade yellow tissue paper flower balls and strung them with white Christmas lights in the tent,” Angela explains.

Angela Kim and Samuel Ko, July 21, 2012. Calgary, Alberta.

Photography courtesy of Sarah Vaughan.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Anderson Ranch
Bridal gown: Oleg Cassini from David’s Bridal
Bridal party attire: H&M
Groom’s tux: Indochino
Cake: Handmade by the bride
Caterer: Great Events Group
Favours: Buffet candy table made by the bride and Susan of Soda Events+Design
Wedding planner: Susan of Soda Events+Design
Music: Gabriel Yee of Prophet Productions
Hair: Silvija (403-680-9204)
Makeup: Teslin Ward
Flowers: Michele of Blue Hydrangea
Stationery: Handmade

See more photos from this vintage DIY wedding in Calgary, Alberta.

Photo courtesy Casa de Campo.

One of the greatest charms of the Dominican Republic is the diversity of its landscape. This is a country where you will find everything from mountains, to desert-looking scrublands, tropical gardens, pristine beaches and sparkling azure waters. It is a gorgeous place for a destination wedding or honeymoon and there are a number of amazing resorts scattered throughout the island to chose from. Punta Cana is definitely the most trafficked area for destination weddings and there are a host of resorts offering incredible destination wedding packages—some start as low at $1,500! If you want something more exclusive, the country offers that too with one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive properties located just a five minutes from La Romana airport.

Here we’ll give you all the facts you need to know about planning a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic, from the laws and customs to the best time to plan a wedding and the costs involved with doing so.

The best time to go: Since May to October is hurricane season, the best time of the year to book your wedding would be from November to April. The average temperature during this period is a high of 29 degrees Celsius during the day and a low of 19 degrees Celsius at night. This allows for perfect wedding conditions: a hot sunny day for the ceremony and a not-so-humid reception at night.

The flight: The capital city of Santo Domingo is a four-hour flight from Toronto and seven to seven and a half hour flight from Vancouver and Calgary.

The legal paperwork: In order to get married in the Dominican Republic, the first of many important things you’ll need on hand are two witnesses with valid passports. You will also need your original birth certificates and valid signed passports, and you must send photocopies of these to the Consulate General of the Dominican Republic. Along with these, you’ll need Notarized Statutory Declarations of Single Status. If either party was previously married, you’ll need to send in an original divorce certificate or death certificate or a notarized photocopy. Keep in mind, the birth certificates, Statutory Declaration of Single Status, divorce certificate and death certificate are required to be translated into Spanish, and must be legalized by a Dominican Republic Consulate or Embassy; fees of $100 per legalized document and $40 per translated document will apply.

The local customs: One Spanish tradition in the Dominican Republic called “The Arras” involves the exchanging of 13 coins. First, a young guest passes the coins to the priest, who then passes them to the groom. Finally, the groom gives the coins to his wife, which symbolizes the couple’s willingness to share material things and promise to provide for one another throughout their marriage.

The budget (for 25 guests) : $3,000 is a solid starting budget and would cover venue, drinks, dinner, music, the officiant, flowers and a cake. As there is a range of resort properties to choose from (everything from modest, to moderate and luxury), costs can differ dramatically depending on what you choose.

The venue: Our pick for an unforgettable and luxurious wedding location is Casa de Campo (pictured above). Located just a five-minute drive from La Romana airport, Casa de Campo is a sprawling 7,000 acre resorts bordering the Caribbean Sea that combines lush tropical landscapes with romantic private beaches. The hotel has 185 guest rooms and suites, and 50 villa homes, which are perfect places to host your party. The property is home to the beautiful Altos de Chavon a cultural area that was built to resemble a 16^th-century Mediterranean village complete with winding cobblestone streets. The St. Stanislaus Catholic Church is a charming and romantic wedding venue option as is the Grecian-style amphitheater, which plays host to epic concert productions, which have included Frank Sinatra, Sting and Andrea Bocelli. For you honeymoon, the resort is a veritable playground for adults, offering everything you could want in a destination and more. There is horseback riding, tennis, golf (four courses including the renown Teeth of the Dog), skeet shooting, shopping, a spa, a marina and seven amazing restaurants.

Mike took Susan completely by surprise when he popped the question at a small, historic hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake.”We stayed in the nicest suite in the hotel, and Mike had the staff spell out ‘Will you marry me?’ on the bed in white rose petals,” Susan reminisces.

The outdoor pavilions of the Belcroft Estates & Event Centre in Bradford, Ontario made the perfect romantic venue for the couple’s country-chic wedding day. Susan chose a sapphire blue colour palette to complement their rustic venue and worked it in everything from her bridesmaids’ dresses to the couple’s sweet table spread. The bride says her favourite details were the DIY paper flower seating tags she created for her day. “A lot of work went in to making them, more than anticipated, but in the end it was all worth it,” Susan admits.

Prior to their wedding ceremony, Susan and Mike decided to do a ‘first look’, and were so happy they did. “It was a beautiful and private moment for us to share together,” says Susan.

Susan and Michael O’Neill, July 21, 2012,  Bradford, Ontario.

Photographs courtesy of Jamie Dimitry and Anita Varden.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Belcroft Estates & Event Centre
Bridal gown: Barbra Allin from Becker’s Bridal
Hair and makeup: Krystie Ann
Bridal party attire: Alfred Sung from Belo Fashions Boutique
Groom’s tux: Calvin Klein from Black Bow Formals
Cake: Cuppie Cakes Cake Decorating
Caterer: O’Malley’s Catering
Flowers: Flowers by Lady Di
Stationery: Invitations by Caroline Bishop
Vintage rentals: The Final Touch

See all the photos from this country-chic wedding in Bradford, Ontario.

No matter the celebration, a staple decor item to add to your list is balloons. From engagement parties to bridal showers to the wedding day and everything in between, balloons are a great (and fun) way to liven up a room. Did we mention that they’re also budget-friendly and don’t take a ton of time to setup? We love seeing them used (especially the extra-large balloons) as dessert table backdrops and centrepieces but, for a more subtle approach, you could also use them as photo props or stationery accents. For the more adventurous sort, why not take a romantic hot air balloon ride and capture some great shots from up in the air? Or, hand out a balloon to each of your guests and watch in awe as an abundance of balloons sail together to the skies after your ceremony. To get your creative juices flowing, here are some clever ideas to help you incorporate these whimsical decor items into your wedding.

Peter proposed to Elisabeth at four o’clock in the morning on Christmas eve after the two came home late from a family party. “I was a bit sick with the flu, and was really tired and a bit grumpy,” Elisabeth recalls. Peter asked if she was too tired for her gift, and when she said wasn’t, he led her to their Christmas tree where he asked Elisabeth to close her eyes. “I sensed he was getting down on one knee and knew what was about to happen,” she says. Elisabeth opened her eyes to see Peter with a big smile on his face asking her to be his wife.

The couple hosted their special day at Baie de Beauport, where 150 guests celebrated the two surrounded by charming and rustic décor. Candles inside Mason jars alongside simple glass vases filled with roses adorned the tables while white paper lanterns hung from the rafters. Photos of the couple together were displayed on a clothesline, which added a beautiful and personalized touch to their reception. “The day was simple but magical,”  says Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Simard and Peter Edwards, October 15, 2011, Quebec City, Quebec.

Photography courtesy of Junophoto.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Baie de Beauport
Cake: Le 47
Bridal gown: BHLDN
Bridal party attire: BCBG
Groom’s tux: Zara
Hair: Sydgie Gage from Salon Chop
Makeup: Monsieur Jacques from Cosmetiques Bloomi                           
Flowers: Les Hallensen Fleurs
Shoes: Spring
Stationery: DIY by the bride

See all the photos from this charming rustic wedding in Quebec City.

Nick proposed to Cindy in the middle of a tall grassy field in Southern England during their backpacking trip through Europe. “It was an overcast day, and right after I said ‘yes’, the sky opened and sunlight broke through the clouds,” Cindy recalls. She notes that while nature clearly agreed with their engagement, they already knew they were meant to be after they met through an online dating site and hit it off on the first date.

The two became husband and wife in a beautiful outdoor hilltop ceremony at the McMichael Art Gallery Collection.  The couple’s colour choice of fuschia and violet bouquets and bridesmaids dresses complemented the lush greenery of their chosen venue.

Right before she was about to walk down the aisle, Nick surprised Cindy with her good friend Karen, whom he flew in from Switzerland to celebrate their special day. When she saw Cindy, she gave her custom-made diamond earrings as a wedding gift from Nick.

The couple was delighted to incorporate quirky ideas and DIY projects into their summer wedding. Reception tables were decorated with potted herb plants that Nick grew himself, while their guests enjoyed Cindy’s homemade french macarons in lieu of a traditional wedding cake.

Cindy Leung and Nicholas Perks, June 3, 2012, Kleinburg, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Angela Y. Martin & Daniel O’Callaghan from Gemini Photography.

Vendors
Ceremony location: McMichael Art Gallery Collection in Kleinburg
Reception location: The Print Room at The Old Mill Inn and Spa
Bridal gown: Versace from Holt Renfrew
Bridal party attire: J.Crew
Hair and makeup: May Nguyen
Groom’s tux: Freeman Formalwear
Caterer: The Old Mill Inn and Spa, macarons made by the bride
Favors: DIY mason jars filled with assorted candy, DIY potted herbs
Flowers: Nice Stems
Stationery: DIY by the groom

See all the photos from this romantic hilltop wedding in Ontario.

Nothing inspires a party atmosphere like the shimmer of sequins and these shiny decorative adornments are no longer just for the holiday season! Sparkle is wearable year-round and sequin bridesmaid dresses look especially fabulous at outdoor warm-weather weddings — just imagine yourself flanked by sparkle in the summer sun! Your girls will also appreciate the fact that they’ll be able to wear their shimmering party dresses for years to come.

From understated blush-toned sequin frocks to festive chevron patterned ensembles, we’ve been spotting sequin bridesmaid dresses in tons of real weddings lately, so we decided to share some of our favourite styles, and tell you where you can score similar gowns for your big day without breaking the bank.

Would you dress your bridesmaids in sequins? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

After Joe proposed to Jen at a surprise dinner at his condo while living in Calgary, the couple set out to plan an elegant celebration in one of Ontario’s most gorgeous locations, Niagara-on-the-Lake. Jen and Joe chose the stunning Hillebrand Winery for their elegant, rustic wedding reception.

The couple, who have known each other since high school, added various personal, homemade touches to their celebration. “Our wedding favours added a special and meaningful touch to the day. We made our dill pickles using my dad’s freshly-harvested cucumbers,” recalls Jen. Jen also made her own cake and cupcakes, which were among the celebration’s highlights. A challenging, but important decision for the couple was choosing their wedding song. “I am a huge Keith Urban fan and knew I wanted one of his songs to be our song.” After much deliberation, she decided on “All For You” as it perfectly suited the day and their relationship.

A particularly special moment for Jen was seeing Joe’s comforting smile as she made her way down the aisle.

Jen and Joe Aitken, October 1, 2011, Niagara, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Stec Photography.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Our Lady of the Scapular Roman Catholic Church
Reception location: Hillebrand Winery
Bridal gown: Pronovias from Nicholas & Elizabeth Bridal
Bridal party attire: Local seamstress, Katina Martin, custom-made the dresses.
Groom’s tux: Calvin Klein from Moores
Cake: Cupcakes and cake made by bride
Caterer: Hillebrand Winery
Favours: Eve Chocolatier and homemade pickles by Kelly VanRoboys-Deline and Jen Aitken.
Wedding planners: Kelly VanRoboys-Deline (519-809-0442)
Hair: Lisa Udvari at Prada’s Hair Salon (519-351-8744)
Makeup: Krystle VanRoboys (519-358-3154)
Flowers: Kelly VanRoboys-Deline (519-809-0442) and Trisha at The Purple Pansy
Stationery: The Paper Pickle Co.

Check out the photos from this elegant, rustic wedding in Niagara.

With Baz Luhrmann’s film The Great Gatsby finally in theatres, we think Daisy Buchanan’s iconic style is perfect wedding-day beauty inspiration–dark, dramatic and shimmery. For step-by-step instructions on how to create a 1920′s, Gatsby-inspired beauty look check out this video.

Photography by Carlyle Routh. Styling by Vanessa Taylor. Makeup & hair by Michelle Rosen for TRESemme Hair Care/judyinc.com. Makeup & hair assistant: Earl Simpson for judyinc.com.

Julia and Jeremy were visiting a friend in Halifax when Jeremy unexpectedly popped the question. Julia was so excited that she wouldn’t let him finish and started screaming and jumping up and down! Little did she know, the wedding was already planned and would take place in two days. “Jeremy had planned the entire wedding on his own, leaving me with only hours to prepare!” recalls Julia. Luckily, Jeremy had thought of every little detail and the wedding went off without a hitch!

For their impromptu wedding, Jeremy arranged for Julia and her maid of honour to have their hair and makeup done at Beo Spa where the staff had known both girls for several years. “We had almost the whole top floor to ourselves to catch up, relax and drink champagne,” says Julia. Nora, one of the staff members, even ran home to her house to get Julia’s ‘something old’ which was a broach that had belonged to her great grandmother.

“It was hard choosing a favourite part of the celebration,” says Julia. “Everybody was so excited to be part of a wedding that was planned entirely by the groom in order to surprise the bride! Jeremy even chose our wedding song, ‘Marry Me’ by Train because I would always tear up when they sing, ‘you wear white, and I’ll wear out the words I love you.’”

Both agree that their best moment was at the very end of the night when all the excitement was winding down. “We loved sitting together as husband and wife on a private patio at our small reception. With good food, great wine, cozy homemade Nova Scotia blankets wrapped around our shoulders, it was the perfect ending to our perfect day!”

Julia and Jeremy Hebert, September 18, 2012, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Photography courtesy of Applehead Studio Photography.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Sir Sandford Fleming Park
Reception location: Cut Contempory Steakhouse & Urban Grill
Bridal gown: Paloma Blanca from Felicity Bridal
Alterations: Alter Ego Tailoring, (902) 425-1920
Bridal party attire: H&M
Groom’s tux: Hugo Boss
Cake: City Girl Cakes, (902) 456-4657  
Music: iPhone playlist
Hair and makeup: Graeme & Nora from Beo Spa, (902) 469-2244
Flowers: Dean’s Flowers, (902) 454-0900

See all the photos from this surprise wedding in Halifax.

The Cook Islands’ remote location, friendly people and burgeoning culinary scene aren’t the only things that separate this South Pacific paradise from other warm-weather destinations. Where else in the world can you take a sunset stroll along a deserted white sand cay surrounded by nothing but the waters of a perfectly still vibrant turquoise lagoon? Or enjoy a five-star meal like a sultan atop a mountain of pillows on the beach? Read on to learn about some of the Cook Islands most original honeymoon experiences.

View more from our Cook Islands Honeymoon Guide ›

Love the chic seaside vibe of the Hamptons? Embrace the luxe look with inspiration from this beautiful wedding reception shoot brimming with elegant gold, seafoam and cream accents, and lush florals.

Shot on location at The Estates of Sunnybrook McLean House in Toronto. Photography by Jim Norton, Styling by Catherine Doherty.