Beth documented everything to make sure their dream day stayed on budget. "Our biggest budget item was our catering but it also included the linens and chairs. The smallest budget item was our RSVPs. I created a website through Google and added an RSVP form on there for our guests to use." Because most of their guests were internet-savvy, non-traditional online RSVP'ing went over without a hitch! Once October 22nd arrived (almost a year to the date of their engagement), Beth and Glenn were ready to say 'I Do'. At 4:30pm, they exchanged vows before seventy-eight guests in the balcony area of the Aeolian Hall, an area which used to house an old pipe organ. Beth wore a gown by San Patrick for Pronovias. Her bridesmaids wore pretty, budget-friendly, vintage gowns from Unique Vintage (www.unique-vintage.com) out of Los Angeles. Glenn and his groomsmen wore suits they'd actually purchased for the day. They all felt there was no harm in adding a new suit to their wardrobes. Flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres were purchased in bulk at a grocery store and assembled by Beth, her mother, and her sister. "Money well saved" says the DIY bride. In fact, creativity runs in her family. Her sister designed the invitations and all stationery for the day (from ceremony programs to map cards), which afterward, Beth assembled together, adding backings and stamps as needed. Two of Glenn's University classmates played cello and piano throughout the ceremony, allowing them to choose whatever music they wanted. Glenn's processional was Somewhere Out There from the Disney movie, An American Tale, and Beth walked down the aisle to I Will, by The Beatles.
"Having heard Glenn play with the London Jazz Orchestra when we first started dating, it was fabulously surreal to have them play just for us..." After Glenn kissed his bride and the ceremony came to an end, the London Jazz Orchestra (a London area 'Big Band') played for guests throughout the cocktail hour and dinner. The band also played their recessional song, In The Mood by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, as well as other favourites including a big band arrangement of Stevie Wonder's For Once In My Life, which was the bride and groom's first dance song. "Having heard Glenn play with [London Jazz Orchestra] when we first started dating, it was fabulously surreal to have them play just for us on our big day." Since vintage-themed weddings were just becoming hot at the time, they soon realized that many couples were going ultra traditional in the details. "It was being done tradition-
ally, with doilies, suitcases, old vases, and delicate flowers... That didn't really speak to either of us... We wanted something completely unique... Once we fell in love with the hall, we began putting together the pieces of our Big Bandesque wedding." They used the hall itself for inspiration - the burgundy colour and touches of gold and black. They looked at old Big Band era photographs to really get a feel for the design. "We had to get creative with a lot of the décor items I was dreaming up!" admits Beth.
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"...doilies, suitcases, old vases, and delicate flowers... That didn't really speak to either of us..." To preserve the details, people and moments of the day, Beth and Glenn hired Brent Foster Photography (♥) (brentfosterphotography.com). "We loved that he was a photojournalist... We knew that his down-to-earth personality and creative eye were what we wanted..." Beth will always remember squishing into the back of Brent's little VW Golf after their 'First Look' photos, and then being driven by Brent, and his wife, Tammy, to the wedding! "It was such a great peaceful moment of reality in what can be quite a busy and surreal day. We had a chance to feel like a couple, being driven by friends, excited to head to our ceremony, instead of [feeling like] a pair of people on display for the day." Since the hall allowed Beth and Glenn to choose their own caterer (as long as they were a professional caterer), the couple hired Culinary Catering (www.culinarycatering.ca). They served a menu of Prime Rib Roast and Yorkshire Pudding. Tables were decorated with elements of the big band era, caberet lamps, and all things vintage. Red velvet cakes covered in white buttercream with raspberry filling were both the dessert and the centrepieces of guests' tables. Guests' favours were made by Beth, her mother, her friend Gwen, her cousin Lauren and Glenn. "To go with the time of the year, we made Apple Pie Jam, Red Pepper Jelly, and Steak Rub... Guests could choose which one they wanted, and if we had leftovers, we would've been happy to take them home. There weren't any!" We asked Beth and Glenn if they would've done anything differently. Beth laughed, "Maybe add more hours in the day?!" Their wedding was almost entirely stress free, fun and all about them. And they loved planning and getting involved in so many of the details. "We personalized all the details, and when we couldn’t find what we wanted, we created it. From the centrepieces to the photo wall, the fascinators to the invitations, the cake topper to the Big Band... It was perfect." ■
Beth's advice...
“Don’t be afraid to create a day that’s completely unique. If you haven’t found what you want, that doesn’t mean you can’t have it. Guests still tell us how much they enjoyed our wedding... It has been great to hear how our big day created a unique memory for our guests as well..” - Beth
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