Toronto Wedding with Classic Style in a Contemporary Setting

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 1

Today’s real wedding is one of those ones that is beautiful at first glance, but gets all the more gorgeous every time you look at it (and we’ve looked at it a lot!).

Jamie & Brian pushed their Toronto wedding back a year to have their perfect choice of venues – and it was so worth the wait.

The couple describe their day, as a ‘secret garden in the city’ and with long tables adorned with an abundance of florals, candles and elegant linens in a contemporary light-filled space, it was just that. Classic, polished and preppy, yet stylish, romantic and informal.

Choosing some of the most renowned vendors in the city, Jamie & Brian’s downtown Toronto celebration was photographed by Mango Studios and planned with Shealyn Angus Weddings & Events.

From the attire (the entire bridal party brought their style A-game!) to the table decor, and the food to the stationery, there are so many elegantly executed details in this one that I know will inspire you guys for your own big day.

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 9

Our Love Story

We started at our company at the same time so were part of the same orientation week, although we were in different divisions at the time.

Brian says he remembers Jamie from that week but was never able to connect with her. After orientation we went our separate ways.

Two years later Brian was transferred to the same divisions as Jamie and was hoping they would finally meet, but she was working in England.

Finally a year later the stars aligned and they were in the same country and the same division and the rest is history.

The Proposal

We had been together for a few years and had recently purchased our first house together. The first night we took possession of the house, we brought pots and pans from our rental apartment and Brian cooked a celebratory feast.

We didn’t have furniture yet so we had a picnic on the dining room floor. As we toasted our new home over a bottle (or two!) of red wine, Brian asked me to marry him.

Spending the first night of our engagement camping in our new home made everything even a little bit more special.

The Venues

We wanted to get married in Toronto, but also recognized that our families would be coming from out of town so we wanted a convenient location for all.

We fell in love with Royal Conservatory of Music immediately but unfortunately it was already booked for the entire year! We toured a few other venues but none felt right. We decided to push our wedding to the following year in order to make it work.

As fate would have it, by delaying the wedding we were also able to use the beautiful Trinity Chapel which was completing renovations.

The venues are so close to one another that our guests were able to walk through the aptly named tree lined Philosopher’s Walk from the chapel to the ceremony.

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 14

Favourite Details

The venues – we ended up having a longer engagement than we anticipated but it was worth the wait to get the perfect combination of venues.

Trinity Chapel was so beautiful on its own that it did not require any decoration and provided a dramatic entrance for the bridesmaid and bride down the long aisle. In addition, the Archbishop who performed the ceremony is a family friend of the groom.

The Royal Conservatory of Music’s mix of red brick and floor to ceiling windows, a peaceful haven in the middle of the city, was a representation of our personalities.

The first look was another wonderful moment in the quiet courtyard of Trinity Chapel with the hydrangeas in full bloom. You forgot that you were in the middle of the city – it felt like another world.

And I am sure everyone says this but the speeches were heartfelt, funny and sweet.

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 16

The Food, Favours & Florals

We wanted a very soft and romantic colour palate that incorporated blues and grays (Jamie’s favourite colours). The flowers and candelight created a cozy intimate feeling that made everyone forget that we were steps away from Bloor Street.

The wedding favours were maple sugar candies to incorporate Brian’s hometown of Elmira which hosts the World’s Largest Maple Syrup Festival. It seems that they were a hit.

Good food was important to us and working with Daniel et Daniel was so much fun.

Since the wedding was in the dead of summer heat wave we served a spiced watermelon, blackberry and feta salad for an appetizer instead of the traditional green salad.

For the mains, guests had a choice of a take on fish and chips or beef tenderloin. The late night food was a highlight with donut ice cream sandwiches and mini big mac baos!

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 19

Advice for Other Couples

Set a schedule of task to accomplish each month and pick away at them – the engagement will fly by no matter how much time you think you have.

There are so many wonderful ideas and possibilities that it is impossible to incorporate them all.

Splurge on the items that mean the most to you but look for areas where you can save. Your guests will remember the sense of joy and love over the color of the napkins.

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 26

The Photography

We loved the romantic relaxed feel of Mango Studio’s work. Liza was lovely to speak to as well as very professional and organized.

We felt comfortable that every aspect of the day would be captured beautifully.

Elegant Toronto Wedding by Mango Studios 35

The Honeymoon

After the busyness of wedding planning as well as lengthy home renovation, we were eager for a relaxing, stress-free honeymoon that didn’t require a detailed schedule.

We decided on Italy which breathtakingly perfect – we relaxed on the beach in the Amalfi, tasted wines in Tuscany, and breathed the fresh air of Lake Como.

The food was simple and fresh, the wine plentiful, and the sights stunning. It was effortlessly romantic and a wonderful way to celebrate our new married status.