The Wedding Planner - 2021 Edition

Wedding P lanner the

WRITTEN BY: Kelly Waterhouse

SUPPLEMENT TO The Wellington Advertiser

Love conquers all:

Pivoting wedding plans in a pandemic in the name of love Kendra & Blair

PHOTOS BY: Chantel Dirksen Photography

If there’s one thing Kendra and Blair Goss learned when planning their wedding through a pandemic, it’s that life doesn’t go according to plan, so they’d need a contingency plan for their special day. A few, actually. But the bigger lesson?

When they kept their focus on the sole intention to marry each other, to begin a new life together, everything fell into place, because love was always in the plan.

“Our thoughts were, we’re getting married because we know we want to spend the rest of our lives together. And we didn’t want something like a pandemic to pull up our lives,” said Kendra. “So right at the beginning, we made that decision. And we went for it.”

The couple was married in an outdoor ceremony in Drayton on October 3, 2020 at the home of Kendra’s parents, Rick and Lynn Mantler.

Blair surprised Kendra with a proposal in October 2019. It didn’t take long for the bride to get the planning underway.

“I bought my wedding gown at Taylor’s Bridal Boutique in Elmira,” Kendra said. “I used to work there, it was my first job out of high school. Being a teenager, working at a bridal salon, I knew exactly what I wanted my wedding to look like. So from the day we got engaged, I think I had the guest list, venue and rentals, all of that done within maybe two or three weeks.”

The bride’s career in corporate event planning was an asset in knowing where and what to do, but she said given the pandemic, it still left her “very stressed.” The frequent government and public health guideline changes required plans to alter quickly.

“We actually made extra lists right from the

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start,” Kendra said, noting that the initial guest list was 120 people.

In the spring, when it was clear the pandemic would be an issue for the foreseeable future, they prepared to alter the wedding.

“We got engaged in October and COVID-19 hit around March, so in the spring we had a list of 100 guests, we a had a list of 50 and we had a list of 25. And then we had a plan that if it was just Blair, myself, the individual marrying us and our photographer as a witness, then we would have figured that out as well.”

She adds, “It sounds silly, but I felt like I planned six to eight different weddings in one day.”

Yet Blair and Kendra did not waiver on their priority: the significance of what exchanging their vows meant to them and the beginning of their life as husband and wife. So while they knew they

would have to make tough decisions, they also knew they had to live with them, so those decisions had to be right for them, as a couple.

“It was hard, but that’s how we pushed through,” Kendra said.

While the bride took on much of the stress, she credits her groom for keeping her grounded.

“Blair is a calm, cool and collected guy. And he was of the mindset, ‘whatever it is, is what it is. And we’ll figure it out,’” she said.

As the wedding date approached, the public health regulations for an outdoor ceremony and dinner reception changed, again. Blair and Kendra were able to invite 100 people to the outdoor ceremony, but only 25 guests could take part in the dinner.

“I probably talked to Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health five to 10 times prior to the wedding

because it was two weeks beforehand that the government changed the numbers. And obviously, when the government announces that, everyone’s hearing it for the first time, so I was just trying to get clarity,” Kendra explains. “I called the MPP’s office. It was insane.

“At that point we were potentially thinking about going to a venue because the restrictions really only affected weddings in private residences at that time, so if you were at a venue you could have had 100 people socially distanced for the reception.”

Navigating the changes was a challenge. But as the date got closer, numbers were solidified and planning finalized with the help of supportive vendors, like Burke’s Tent Rentals in Fergus.

“Part of the challenge with planning was, we had

a massive tent for 160 people originally, (for the reception). And then when we were thinking about a guest list of 100 people, we had the same size tent because we had more tables with less people at them so that people could stay within their social bubbles. We tried to strategically map it out so that it was safe for everyone,” Kendra said.

“But when we had to go down to 25 people for dinner, we did get a smaller tent. We still had people spaced out and people within their bubbles because it was now just my family, Blair’s family and our wedding party with their significant others.”

Making changes to the wedding plans was unavoidable and Kendra said all the vendors they dealt with were incredibly understanding of last-minute changes. Despite hearing what she described as “horror stories” from other brides dealing with vendors, Kendra said her experience was all positive.

“We tried to use as many local vendors as we possibly could,” Kendra said. “Both Blair and I have grown up in Wellington County, so we do know a lot of people in the industry.”

That included their dinner caterers, T&M BBQ Catering Ltd., out of Harriston. Their outdoor barbeque fare, with grilled steak and chicken, served with fresh side dishes and a variety of cheesecakes for dessert was the ideal menu option for their outdoor wedding. The buffet-style service kept everyone safely socially distanced and allowed the caterers space to prepare the

meal and maintain their own workspace.

“Our meal that T&M Catering provided was outstanding. Fred and Deb were so accommodating with the ever-changing guest list numbers and ensured all protocols were being followed,” Kendra said. “With the changes that needed to be made because of COVID, the quality of the meal was not affected at all.”

All guests were provided individual hand sanitizers, donated by CP Industries, a cleaning supply company located in Fergus. The couple also provided masks for anyone who didn’t have one, though most people brought their own.

Setting up for the outdoor ceremony took careful consideration and planning.

“Our chairs were set out in twos, because a lot of

“ The reason why we got married was for the ceremony “

PAGE TWO | THE WEDDING PLANNER

people were in couples. But the people who came together were all able to sit together, as they were in their family bubbles. We kept a six foot space between each pairing of chairs,” Kendra explained.

Among those gathered for the ceremony portion

of the wedding were the couple’s grandmothers.

Given the challenges with pandemic protocols, the importance of having their grandmothers present was significant for both the bride and groom.

Aunts and uncles were also in attendance.

“The reason why we got married was for the ceremony, and I was just so happy that people could still be there to witness us get married because that is the most important part of our day,” Kendra said. “And those are the people that mean the absolute most to us. So we’re so happy that they were able to join in the ceremony.”

Though the October day was chilly and overcast, Kendra recalls that the moment she began her walk down the aisle to Blair, the sun came out.

“It was just so amazing,” she recalled.

Kendra and Blair agree that the ceremony, performed by an officiant, was perfect in every way. The vows they chose represented their values and being surrounded by 100 of their closest people, even from a distance, made all the effort and stress to make this wedding happen worth it.

“We had to go through so much to get to our wedding day,” Kendra said. “It was very tough to know that some of the most important people weren’t going to be able to be a part of our special day, but it was something we knew we had to do in order for our wedding day to happen.”

After the ceremony, wedding photos are traditionally taken with the family and extended family, but that too had to change. Wedding

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“I’m in a wedding dress. Blair’s in a suit. We’re holding hands walking down the driveway, to take photos as a police officer pulls in the driveway,” Kendra recalls. “And I thought, ‘you’ve got to be

photographer Chantel Dirksen, out of Guelph, captured the ceremony, but due to public health restrictions, there were limits to what she could photograph.

“I would have loved to have had photos with our aunts and uncles and cousins, but we obviously weren’t able to do that,” Kendra said.

With the ceremony complete, and with only 25 guests allowed for the dinner, the hardest part of the day for the couple was saying goodbye to those loved ones who could not stay to partake in the meal.

“Basically once our officiant left, everyone not staying for the dinner had to leave,” Kendra said.

“So we created a receiving line, so we could at least take a moment to talk to everyone who came.

As they were leaving Blair and I stood there and just thanked them for coming and everything. But unfortunately, we weren’t really able to get photos of that.”

Both Kendra and Blair felt that the quality of this time with their ceremony guests gave them the opportunity to speak with everyone who attended, and they were grateful for that opportunity, especially knowing that many couples feel they didn’t get that opportunity on their wedding day.

“I felt like I had great conversations with everyone who was there,” Kendra said, though not being able to hug people was disheartening.

She admitted that when the guests from the ceremony left, she cried. It was difficult to see people like their grandmothers, aunts and uncles, and friends leave.

“It was so hard. But, I’m still so thrilled with our day, and how everything turned out. It was so much fun,” she said. “I was so happy with the day.

We both were.”

Even when the police showed up.

“My parents live on a really busy road and for our ceremony, with 100 guests, there were a lot of vehicles parked there. I’m assuming that’s why someone called the police,” Kendra said.

The Wellington County OPP police officer arrived just as guests were leaving and the couple was heading off to take photographs.

kidding me. This just tops off the day.’”

But she said the police officer was gracious. He confirmed the number of people attending both the ceremony and dinner, ensured the location set-up was abiding by the public health rules, that the outdoor tent had open sides to accommodate people with social distancing, and then he was on his way.

“He was very, very good about it,” Kendra said.

This affirmed the couple’s commitment to following the COVID protocols. It was not a risk either of them were willing to take for themselves or their guests.

So with a reception dinner of 25 immediate family members and their wedding party, Kendra and Blair sat down to a meal with socially distanced tables under the tent. There was no emcee. There was to be no formal dance. But none of that mattered, because they were surrounded by people who loved them.

“The people who were able to be a part of the evening portion of the reception made it so special for us. They made it feel like it was still just such a special day,” Kendra said.

So much so that they have decided not to hold a party at a later date, to celebrate with those who couldn’t be at the wedding.

“At this point, it was now almost eight months ago, and I feel like that chapter has come and gone. And it was amazing. And we were so happy with it,” Kendra said.

Blair agrees. “We’re so glad that we just went for it. And we feel bad for the individuals that said that they were going to get married this year and were in the same situation. It just worked out for us that we weren’t in a lockdown or anything like that, that we were able to do something with our closest family and friends. I’m so glad that we went ahead with it.”

While Kendra and Blair pursued their wedding their way, they encourage other couples to do the same. The key is to be on the same page.

“What’s the purpose of you getting married? Is it to say your vows or are you wanting to have a great big party? Because no matter what you want for your day, that’s perfectly fine. But just know what you both want and figure it out from there,” Kendra said.

“Just make sure at the end of the day, you are happy with everything that you’re doing, and you’re happy with all of the decisions that are being made.”

Planning a wedding during a pandemic is challenging enough, but for Kendra and Blair Goss, it was all the more incentive for them to solidify their friendship by officially joining their lives together. They’ve learned that together, they can handle whatever life throws at them, as long as their love is always in the plan.

THE WEDDING PLANNER

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Declaring your love:

PAGE THREE

An officiant’s guide to the “I Do’s” PHOTO BY: Melista Bahler Photography Kate Marentette loves her work. An independent, licensed officiant, Marentette is heart and centre of the most important moment of a couple’s wedding day.

“It’s amazing. I get to see people on one of the happiest days of their life,” Marentette said. “I’m here to support this marriage and make it legal and have a little fun in this beautiful ceremony.”

Marentette reminds couples that as important as their chemistry is, hiring an officiant that will reflect their vision for their day is also important, to create a beautiful ceremony.

“People reach out to me and I explain a little bit about how the process works, and they can see if I am the right fit for them,” she said.

The pandemic has cancelled in-person meetings, but it hasn’t cancelled love. Having performed more than 30 ceremonies over the past two years, Marentette has noticed there is a sense of urgency and romance influencing the vows.

“I honestly think that’s why I was so busy last year. People were thinking, ‘we’ve already been engaged for this long, I’m not waiting anymore.

This is the person I love and we want to get married.’ It’s ridiculously romantic,” she said.

Her role is to help the couple design a ceremony that represents who they are and what matters to them.

“You can do a really short and sweet one which is maybe five minutes,” she said, noting this is a simple service focused on the couple’s consent to marry. This is popular for destination weddings, where couples need legal paperwork ahead of time, but is also an option for those who don’t want the fanfare.

“And then there’s the complete opposite end, where people want a fully customized ceremony.

That would include readings, the vows and customizing the rings portion,” Marentette said.

She said most people want something in the middle.

“We provide a really beautiful ceremony, and then they can customize the vows and everything else is kind of set,” she said.

Marentette helps couples understand the difference between the legal portion, and the more personal vows.

“Whatever that promise is, it’s always unique and representative of them and that can mean many things,” she explains, adding she has some pre-written vows to offer.

“The traditional ceremony is a beautiful ceremony. It’s tried and tested. And every single time I’ve done it people are like, ‘you know, that was beautiful.’ Because it is,” she said. “So some

people realize it’s perfect and they don’t want to reinvent the wheel.”

There is flexibility too, she said, noting that people can repeat the same vows, or do separate vows, create their own or use traditional vows for inspiration.

“Most people don’t know where to start, so I tell them to start here. Take a line that works for you.

Take two lines, take a few words,” she said, adding, “I have also had people say things like, ‘I will never watch that Netflix show without you, because I love you and I wouldn’t do that to you.’”

Some couples want to keep their individual vows secret until the big moment. Kate asks that they send what they’ve written to her, to ensure the couple are on the same page.

“Make sure because if you don’t, what’s going to happen is one person is going to be pouring their heart out, while the other person didn’t know that’s what would happen, and their vows are funny making the whole crowd laugh,” she said.

Marentette said most people don’t realize just how good their personal vows are, but simple and sincere is the best.

“If you just take a few minutes and write it, this is the person that you love. Just tell them that you love them in whatever way you want to,” she said.

Guiding the ceremony is an honour for Marentette and she hopes couples will seek out an officiant who shares that view.

“People focus on the photographer, the venue, the florist, but the ceremony is the purpose of the event,” she said. “We’re doing this truly because it’s a beautiful thing. We’re using our skillsets for something positive. We all want to celebrate love.”

For information on booking Marentette or her range of services visit www.thisdayandforever.com or follow her on Instagram @thisdayandforever.

PAGE FOUR | THE WEDDING PLANNER

Love through a different lens PHOTOS BY: Davide Greene | Anna Drimme and Marc Collyer married in Elora on March 22, 2021 Wedding photographers are storytellers, capturing the subtle moments between two people, their families and friends, documenting the wedding day in a series of images that weave a tale of happily ever after.

But in the middle of a pandemic, when so many weddings have been cut down to the most minimal of celebrations, and with restrictions in place, their work has had to adjust to the times. Yet, when they look through their lens, one thing hasn’t changed: love is always in focus.

“Photographing a wedding is a merge of all the things I love about photography and people,” said Davide Greene, a full-time commercial and fashion photographer with 21 years of experience shooting weddings in nine countries. “It’s about the dynamics of love: seeing couples in love, family gathered together at the wedding, friendships, all those interactions are dynamic.”

Chantel Dirksen is a natural light/lifestyle photographer with a passion for wedding photography that started at a young age and has blossomed into a successful business.

“Being a part of someone’s wedding means so much more than I can adequately say because it’s

a feeling that I have in my heart that I just love to see two people, and their families come together to celebrate promising their lives to one another,” Dirksen said. “Photography is such a timeless beautiful art. The fact that you’re producing something that is going to be passed down through the generations … It’s an awesome atmosphere to be a part of.”

But like the weddings themselves, their work has had to change for the safety of all involved.

“COVID has affected the way I photograph weddings in many ways, not only from the first consultation that I have with my clients, but to when the final wedding gallery is delivered. So every single step has been impacted,” Dirksen said, noting in-person consultations, which are key to establishing a relationship between a photographer and the couple, are now done via telephone or a Zoom call.

Masks and social distancing are necessary safety measures, for sure, but for a wedding photographer it poses some interesting challenges. It’s the little things that make distance challenging, like the ability for the photographer to make adjustments to their subjects, simple things

like fixing the bride’s hair or adjusting her gown.

“I don’t interact the same way physically,” Greene said of his subjects, noting it makes it harder to direct posed images. “If I was to say, ‘okay, you have to turn your shoulder a little bit this way,’ I do it from six feet back hoping that they can interpret what I’m directing them to do. You spend more time giving that direction now.”

It’s a challenge on both sides of the camera.

“When I’m photographing them and they’re not seeing my face anymore, they’re hearing my voice muffled. So there’s some communication breakdowns,” Greene said.

It’s also changed the environment.

“For me, it’s about capturing not just beautiful pictures that are posed, but those interactions that happen between the couple, and family members. Those interactions and reactions that happen on the wedding day are being diminished, unfortunately, due to masking, so we’re losing some of that,” Greene said, noting that everyone has been good to comply with the rules, but it creates a sense of guardedness. “It’s very hard when all you see is eyes. It’s hard.”

Dirksen adds another angle to the issue.

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“With your mask on, your viewfinder gets fogged up on your camera often, which makes it a little tricky as well. So obviously it’s there for safety measures, but it is not a photographer’s best friend,” she said.

Distance is one challenge, but time is another.

With condensed weddings, so many restrictions and many having to forego a reception, a wedding photographer has a reduced time to capture the event.

“Typically wedding photographers are hired anywhere from six to 10 hours, but now it’s only about four or five hours of coverage,” Dirksen said, noting special moments that have long been wedding traditions are no longer happening, like the wedding party getting the bride and groom ready for their day, or the first dance.

Time has also altered the photo combinations, such as family groupings. For instance, in a pre-pandemic wedding, the bride would typically have a few images taken with her parents and siblings together, in an allotted time for the photographer, but now Dirksen says with reduced attendees and a different schedule, the emphasis is on family photographs and the bride is often able to be photographed with each individual member of her family in what has become more of a family photo shoot.

Greene said one of the wonderful aspects of photographing a wedding is that every couple is different, every event is different, and while

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COVID has brought forth some challenges, it has also grounded people in their purpose to make a commitment to one another.

“I don’t see any of this as negative, I see it as two people want to get married, and we’re going to make the best of this situation as it flies,” he said.

“I think it’s brought the intimacy and the immediacy of that to the forefront, making it become less about the production, in some ways, and more about the couple and their focus on being married to each other.”

Dirksen is happy to see the ambiance of romance rise to the occasion.

“The speeches are so much more emotional and heartfelt than they’ve ever been, because all of the couples had made a plan, replanned, made an alternate plan and then had a backup plan ... And for them to finally have their day, to finally be there, despite everything, it still is perfect in their minds,” she said.

“And just know that the whole reason that this is happening is because of love. Right? Love is not cancelled, and love will always win.”

The pair agrees on simple advice to keep in mind when hiring a wedding photographer, like ensuring you find a photographer who understands and shares your vision for the event.

“Make sure you do your research and pick a photographer whose work you admire, but whose personality you also like,” Dirksen said, noting it’s a relationship that extends beyond

THE WEDDING PLANNER

the wedding day, until the photos are delivered.

“Pinterest has a great list of questions to ask your wedding photographer, like turnaround time for photos, how many photos can they expect per hour? What equipment do they use?

Do they have liability, coverage, insurance, things like that?”

Greene furthered that by suggesting couples ensure the wedding photographer is invested in their wedding experience and will showcase it proudly.

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PAGE FIVE

“I know it will sound cliché, but it’s true. Look at the photographer’s portfolio and if you can picture yourself in their images, then that’s who you should be working with.”

Whatever the story that brought a couple to this point in their journey, wedding photographers chose their profession because they want to capture the most beautiful part of the human spirit. Love is always in focus. To view these photographers’ portfolios, visit davide.ca and chanteldirksenphotography.com.

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PAGE SIX | THE WEDDING PLANNER

Winter wedding melts hearts in spectacular fashion Jon & Raisa

PHOTOS BY: Davide Greene

If a photograph is worth a thousand words, the one taken of Jon Ralston and his bride, Raisa Lalui, on their wedding day speaks volumes about their love for one another, the elegant simplicity of their ceremony, and why their wedding was as beautiful as they are together.

While it wasn’t the wedding they would have planned were it not for a global pandemic, it seems that the universe set an entirely wonderful plan in motion.

“We were together … it was very much just us,” Raisa said. “ We got to do what we enjoyed doing, we got to hang out with people who we enjoy. And it was just a very, very relaxed atmosphere, which I think reflected us pretty well.”

The couple began planning the wedding in the fall, but like many couples, saw their vision for their wedding day change multiple times.

“I think it was probably September or October, we started having conversations where we knew we just wanted to get married. We didn’t want a fuss, and we didn’t want to deal with COVID,” Raisa said. “We were just going to elope. We even got both of our parents’ blessings.”

Jon said that had they gone with their initial wedding vision, the pandemic would have indefinitely postponed their plans, because they wanted a destination wedding.

“We just realized, if we want to get married, let’s just get married. Because there’s no point in waiting for this big wedding idea,” Jon said.

With a destination set closer to home, the couple chose an Airbnb near Belwood, a private estate set on the banks of the Irvine River, typically booked for corporate events. It offered a secluded, intimate space for the couple’s plans for a simple ceremony.

Not many couples plan their weddings around their fashion, but these two did, and they are perfectly okay with that.

“We wanted nice clothes. We didn’t care as much about the excess of the wedding, but we did

care about what we wanted to wear,” Raisa said, laughing.

“We went to get Jon measured for a tailored suit. That was on November 8, and they said it would take a month to get it. So we said, okay, we’ll get married in December then when the suit is ready,” she said. Just like that, the wedding, (still an elopement at this point) had a date.

The bride decided to forgo a traditional gown for a classic Chanel jacket and a white designer dress. She admits, in hindsight, it was a lot of work to source this outfit, but luck was on her side.

“It would have been easier to get a wedding dress,” she said. “We had to order the jacket from Australia, the dress from Dubai and it made it just in time. I tried it on two days before the wedding and it fit well enough.”

An elegant look, the statement piece of Raisa’s outfit was definitely the light blue, crystal embellished Manolo Blahnik mules.

Raisa also treated her groom to a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes to go with his custom made suit from Harry Rosen’s Atelier Munro. It’s all become fodder for teasing, as Jon says it would have been a lot cheaper to go with traditional wedding attire, but he’s not complaining. They were married in style.

“It was the one chance we could spend whatever we wanted on clothes and weren’t spending it on a wedding, so we did,” Raisa said.

The plan to elope was coming together, but the desire to keep their wedding a private affair was coming undone.

“Jon has one sister here. I have one brother here.

So we had our witnesses and we started planning for that,” Raisa said. “But we could tell the rest of the family was sad; supportive and happy for us, but sad to miss it.”

Both Jon and Raisa have family spread out internationally, but the Christmas season was bringing most of them together. Thus, it was the perfect time for a wedding.

“When we realized family was actually going to be here in December, maybe a week after or while we were planning on getting married, eloping just seemed rude at that point,” Raisa said. “So then, we decided to make our wedding just for our families.”

Raisa’s parents live in the Czech Republic but made plans to travel to see her and her brother here.

Understanding they would need to be quarantined, they would eventually be staying nearby Jon’s parents in Centre Wellington. Jon’s sister and her husband were also arriving from Ireland. His other sister was bound for Thailand shortly after the holiday. One of Raisa’s brothers lives in Elora with his wife, but her other brother was trying to arrange travel from Rwanda. Sadly, he was the only family member unable to make the trip, because of visa and quarantine schedules.

Now quarantining relatives were a factor in setting an official wedding date.

“So we had to set the date, but had to do it within a time frame of my sister getting here with her husband from Ireland and quarantining, Raisa’s parents quarantining from the Czech Republic and before my other sister left town, so it was intense,” Jon said.

Calling the owner of the Airbnb, there were only three dates available that would fit the window needed to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Jon and Raisa chose December 30.

Coordinating a wedding, family and a major holiday surely brought on some stress, but Jon said it was the uncertainty of COVID regulations that made things challenging.

“A lot of that stress was because they kept changing the lockdown restrictions as we got closer to the date. So the reception guest list kept changing,” Jon said. “ So we were deciding, are we now not going to invite people? How do we decide?

It was just like a constant evolution of it because every time we turned around, there was a new regulation for what you’re allowed or not allowed.”

Raisa said their friends and extended family

understood the situation.

“Everyone that we care about or cares about us was happy for us,” she said. “Obviously they were disappointed they couldn’t be here. Most of my friends are in the UK ... it was what it was. And no one was mad at us.”

Fortunately, the location was allowed because the Airbnb was an event space, thus a wedding venue. The couple set the guest list to 20 family members.

“The original plan was that the ceremony would be outside and each little couple or family bubble had their own stump fire so that they would be warm, but we had freezing rain that day,” Raisa said, noting Jon’s father helped them chop wood to make individual outdoor fires, so guests could go outside comfortably.

Jon also crafted an altar for the ceremony out of wood.

Moving the ceremony indoors they were able to use the atrium, which featured plenty of natural light and large windows, allowing them to have air flow through the space and for guests, each wearing masks, to safely social distance.

Recording artist Lee Watson was the only non-family member in attendance. To honour the couple, he performed a wedding song he had written.

The ceremony itself was of Raisa’s Bahá’í faith, officiated by a member of the Bahá’í community.

It was a short service, with a beautiful sentiment.

“In almost every other religious ceremony, you have an officiant marrying two people. Whereas in Bahá’í tradition the officiant is not marrying you. And they’re not actually part of that. You’re marrying each other,” Jon said.

Raisa explained that the person in the role of officiant is facilitating the ceremony for the couple, and that ceremony can be adapted to whatever the couple would like.

“We asked him to say a couple of words about marriage. We had some readings that we chose,

some from the Bahá’í faith, some poems, and maybe four quotes. Then we did our vows,” Raisa said, recalling it was a beautiful and moving service.

Unable to host a proper reception, the couple kept the remainder of their time with their guests casual and comfortable.

“Because of the regulations, we were not able to do a sit-down dinner,” Jon said.

But, having rented out the entire Airbnb, they were able to host an informal buffet meal, featuring Persian food, to honour Raisa’s cultural heritage.

The Wild Tart, in Elora, prepared the desserts.

Guests were able to enjoy the food casually throughout the evening, and there was no need for catering staff, keeping in line with the regulations.

That relaxed atmosphere was always what Jon and Raisa wanted. No fuss. Just a focus on the two of them making a commitment to one another.

“It was the best two days, because we basically just did everything ourselves,” Raisa said, noting they had some help the day prior to the wedding to do set up, but it wasn’t strenuous, because the two of them made clear decisions together of what their day would be. And so it was.

“Then we stayed at the house alone, just the two of us the night before. I didn’t need any traditions or time apart for the sake of tradition,” she said.

“We had a hot tub, just chilled out and had a drink, then woke up the next day and got ready for our

wedding together. We did everything together which is my favourite thing.”

While they couldn’t have the reception they would have liked, the couple does have plans for the future that include a trip and an invitation to those friends who are near and far, that couldn’t be a part of the wedding.

“And we will meet in the Caribbean and rent a house for a week or something ... do something where everybody can just hang out and relax.

There’s no ceremony or anything to worry about.

You just go and enjoy,” Jon said.

“It would be nice for everyone to meet each other,” Raisa said, of merging their international friendships.

Now that winter has melted into spring, the couple looks back on their wedding day as the ideal celebration for them, because it was true to who they are together.

“The ceremony was beautiful. The space we got married in was amazing,” Jon said. “And it was in the winter, which I love.”

In a year of social distancing and the physical distances both Jon and Raisa have with their own families, a small wedding gave them the opportunity to enjoy real, quality time with the people they love most, many of whom they will not see now for a long time.

When asked what made the day special for her, Raisa sums it up in one word: “Everything.”

(And maybe the shoes, too.)

THE WEDDING PLANNER

|

PAGE SEVEN

Weddings At The GrandWay, we have a philosophy that every event we hold is an experience – your experience – and we work hard to bring your vision to life.

Wedding Packages packages starting from $100/person

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Classic Country Package

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Pop-Up Wedding Package

An all-inclusive, 2 hour experience designed for couples wanting a beautifully intimate wedding with their close family and friends.

The GrandWay is owned and operated by The Grand River Agricultural Society - a not for profit entity with a deep history in community support, entertainment, and enriching the lives of those in our local community. This is why we strive to provide the highest quality of food, made in-house using fresh, local produce and flavours of the season.

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Meet Our Events Team We have a dedicated award winning Events & Experiences Team that is here to make your wedding dreams come true. As a team you will find us professional yet approachable, while assisting you with planning your special day.

Danielle Patton

Jenna Knox

Katie Giddy

Events & Experiences Events & Experiences Director of Hospitality, Sales and Marketing Manager Coordinator

www.thegrandway.com | 519-846-5455 | bookings@thegrandway.com 7445 Wellington County Road 21, Elora, Ontario N0B 1S0

PAGE EIGHT | THE WEDDING PLANNER

Set in stone, grounded in love

dream

Kate & Julien

When Kate Hoad-Reddick and Julien Dulude decided to start a new chapter of their life together, they knew the setting for the special day would be Elora. Afterall, it’s where their story began.

“I grew up in Elora and Julien and I met working summers at the Elora Festival,” Kate said, recalling that she was the box manager of the summer music festival and Julien worked in production.

The festival took place at several venues in the village, including the Gambrel Barn, as well as the Heritage Barn at the Wellington County Museum and Archives, in nearby Aboyne.

On a late summer evening in August 2019, after a romantic dinner at The Evelyn restaurant in Elora, Julien suggested the pair go and enjoy the sunset view from the Gambrel Barn, like they did in summers past.

“Julien proposed to me at the Gambrel Barn, which was a big venue that we both loved from our time at the festival, and it was sweet to have it happen there,” Kate said.

Even the engagement ring had an Elora story with a fateful twist. A year prior, Kate had made mention of being a fan of local jewellery designer Mandy Deskur, owner of Macadi Jewellery, and in particular a vintage mirror ring she has seen on the artist’s Instagram page. Julien secretly snapped a screen shot of the image to remember for when the time was right.

“I wanted to get Kate a special ring, but I always knew I didn’t want to get her a diamond. I wanted something different, like a sapphire,” Julien said.

He made an appointment to meet Deskur, showed her the image he’d captured, and sure enough, the artist had just completed a ring almost exactly the same, with a large pink sapphire in the centre and a rose gold band, as he’d wanted.

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there on the spot,” Julien said. “The next day, Mandy posted a photo of it on her Instagram page.

I’m in another room and I hear Kate gasping, and I knew exactly what she was looking at and I had to contain myself.”

Kate had no idea that this ring was meant for her, but she still laughs at the memory of her reaction to just seeing a photograph of it.

“I had an audible moment where I’m like, ‘that is the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen in my life.’

And meanwhile, it’s upstairs in his sock drawer.

I couldn’t believe it,” Kate said. “Mandy became our official wedding jeweller. She designed our wedding bands as well. We actually included a little piece about our rings in our ceremony because it was like the rings were so customized to us, representing two very individual people coming together,” Kate said.

Engaged in August, the couple had wedding plans arranged by the fall and sent out their “save the date” cards for October 17, 2020.

“We had set up a website, booked everything, including the caterer and a band,” Julien said.

The couple knew exactly where they wanted to host their wedding ceremony and reception too.

“The [Wellington County] museum just spoke to us. We had done concerts there when we worked together at the festival. We knew the space.

We knew we wanted the fall. And we knew how beautiful it is up there at that time of year,” Kate said.

Their plan was to be married in the museum’s restored 1877 Heritage Barn, a national historic site, and then have the reception inside at the Aboyne Hall.

Everything was set in place before the pandemic hit, but the couple said by spring of 2020, it was clear that wedding plans would need to change.

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Julien recalls the uncertainty.

“At first we’re like, ‘oh, maybe this will only last six weeks. Maybe two months.’ We didn’t know,” he said.

“We did not move our original date. We were feeling in the spring kind of lucky, really, thinking thank gosh we’re getting married in the fall and not the summer. It’ll be better by the fall,” Kate said. “But then, once June came around, we really started to reconsider things.”

Julien adds, “We had a plan A, and then a plan B, and then a B with the C,” he recalls, laughing.

“I think we were down to five scenarios. We had so many renditions of even sub-plans for the plan.

So if one thing out of the one plan didn’t work, we could sub it in with something else.”

It prompted some hard conversations between the couple.

“At one point in the summer we could only have five people gathered for the ceremony. So we thought, at what point do we not even have the ceremony, if we can’t have both sets of parents?

Because our must is that we needed to have our parents with us,” Kate said.

As public health guidelines shifted, they did their best to stay in step with the evolving rules. Their original guest list of 140 people had to be trimmed down to just 17 guests for the wedding, with only 13 for the dinner. That meant changing the dinner venue and cancelling the reception.

As stressful and confusing as the changing COVID rules were, they were equally challenging for venues, like the Wellington County Museum and Archives, but Kate said Julia Eccelstone was organized and helpful. She kept the couple up to date on masking rules, the number of guests allowed, whether or not they could get married in the Heritage Barn and alternate arrangements.

“Every time (Doug) Ford would make an announcement, she would email and say, ‘Ok, I’ve heard the announcement. I’m looking into it,’” Kate said. “In the changes, there was a version where we couldn’t get married in the barn, because it counted as an indoor venue. So in the event that the barn was closed, we were going to get married in the Victorian Garden at the museum.”

With so many swift-moving changes, Kate

and Julien said that wedding planning during a pandemic helped to solidify their commitment.

“We just kept saying, we wanted to get married, and that’s what got us through,” Kate said. “It was such a thing to have all these moments in our wedding planning where you have to very consciously choose and reflect. Why are we doing this? Is this the right time? Who needs to be there?

Who needs to witness this? I think it really spoke to our intention.”

Julien reminded his bride-to-be often; “I don’t know what it looks like or who is going to be there,

guests, plus the couple?

“We approached Maclean Hann, at The Evelyn, and pitched this little wedding dinner to him and he was just so supportive of the idea,” Kate said.

So on a beautiful fall day, in the height of autumn’s colours, surrounded by their closest family and friends, Kate and Julien were married in the Heritage Barn of the Wellington County Museum.

“It was a really beautiful day,” Kate said. “We had written our vows for this beautiful ceremony with our officiant, Kate Marentette, and everything was

as long as I get to marry you, that’s all I care about.

I just want to marry you.”

The decision to proceed with a small ceremony of immediate family was buffered with the promise to throw a party for those guests who could not attend the October nuptials, by hosting one on their first anniversary. The caterer and band were deferred to that event.

“Our family was very understanding,” Kate said. “We just had to make the best of it. At that point, everyone understood that we wanted to get married. And that was what mattered the most.”

But there was a new dilemma to solve: where could they have a small, intimate dinner for 13

just how we wanted it, what we wanted to say. We were just ready to be married.”

Guests wore clear face shields, which were allowed at the time, and the Heritage Barn was opened up to allow fresh air and daylight to filter through. The chairs were distanced by household and the wedding party was also distanced away from the couple. Kate and Julien were able to proceed through the ceremony without masks, as did their officiant, because she was safely social distanced away from them.

“The best feeling though is when the ceremony is over and that first initial feeling of being married was astounding,” Julien said. “It was almost like

THE WEDDING PLANNER

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PAGE NINE

relief, because it was this tumultuous journey ... I just could not wait to be married.”

The intimate dinner at The Evelyn went beyond the couple’s hopes, despite last minute changes to indoor dining restrictions.

“We had planned to do two big tables, but then a week prior to the dinner, the new legislation said that no different households could be at the same table in a restaurant,” Julien explained. “So Kate’s maid of honour Emily, my best man Joey, and one of my groomsmen Nick, all had separate single tables because they couldn’t sit with us.”

Kate said the atmosphere was ideal, including the addition of an accordion player who performed French music to fit the ambiance of The Evelyn.

“The way Maclean set it up, it felt like we were just all together in the room. The food was incredibly good and the service was too,” she said.

“We actually got to enjoy our dinner.”

Looking back on the day, Kate and Julien say they have no regrets.

“We had a stunning wedding and we’re so grateful for that,” Kate said, adding, “The second huge wave of relief was two weeks later when we knew 100% nobody had gotten sick at our wedding, because that would have been devastating. And it was always something weighing on us: do we proceed if there is even a tiny bit of risk, because these are our most precious people and what if something happens at our ceremony?”

Planning a wedding through a pandemic didn’t stop the celebration from happening and it didn’t hurt Kate and Julien’s relationship. Quite the opposite in fact.

“If anything, COVID solidified it. This is the best pre-wedding boot camp anybody could go through,” Julien said.

“I think, pre-COVID, you do take some of your most precious people for granted, and I think that is the thing that COVID has taught us. You can’t take those people for granted, so in a way, even just being with our small group of people we were so grateful to be with them and be with each other on that day,” Kate said.

And so begins a new chapter in their story, with a memory set in stone, grounded in love.

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PAGE TEN | THE WEDDING PLANNER

Elora’s newest venue offers a grand wedding experience SUBMITTED PHOTOS There is a new wedding venue in town and it’s been custom-designed to be a one-stop wedding location, from the ceremony to the reception hall, to the outdoor patio, with menu options and on-site décor to make every wedding special. Grand River Raceway’s The GrandWay banquet hall is a winner.

“First off, we wanted it to be very welcoming,” explains Jenna Knox, The GrandWay’s events and experiences manager. “That’s a big goal for the Grand River Raceway, that our spaces are welcoming and staff are approachable. We wanted to create something that was accessible to everyone.”

But the aesthetics of the venue were equally important and that is evident from the moment you drive up to the location, with the large outdoor glass atrium for guest drop-offs, leading to a grand entrance.

“We wanted something that wowed people when they walked in our doors,” Knox said. “It’s not what

people would probably expect when they think of a venue at a racetrack. I would say it’s a modern, rustic look, with beautiful wooden beams in the lobby, creating a feel we have pulled throughout the building with modern décor.”

The expansion of the previously small lounge facility attached to the raceway’s paddock building was designed to accommodate large groups in style and comfort.

“We added a hall that seats up to 250 people.

So, it’s actually one of the largest halls in the area, which is nice, because we’re able to cater to those that are wanting something a little bigger.”

Knox said the hall space offers plenty of natural light with windows overlooking the length of the licensed patio.

“We added a large patio with raised gardens that overlooks the racetrack, but it’s also directly attached to the hall. We have couples that would like to do either their ceremony out there or vice

versa; have their reception out there, depending on the weather. This also ensures that if the weather doesn’t cooperate, they have an easy backup spot with the doors to the hall right there leading inside for a quick change of venue.”

The licensed patio is also available for cocktails, to keep guests gathered while the couple takes wedding photos. With 53 acres of property, The GrandWay has plenty of open green space for photographs and is a short drive to some of the most picturesque locations in nearby Elora and the Elora Gorge.

A key feature of the new venue is the expansive, modern kitchen. Under the direction of Chef Emma Brook, The GrandWay provides full inhouse catering with two menu package options to choose from.

“We have the Grand Experience, which includes the hors d’oeuvres, an appetizer, the entrée and dessert,” said Knox. “Some people do not want the

hors d’oeuvres, so we have a slightly scaled down menu version, which is our Country Classic.”

Knox said Chef Brook is flexible with menu suggestions to accommodate special culinary requests from couples. She also has the support of the Grand River Raceway’s culinary consultant, who has a wide range of contacts and resources to prepare or source traditional ethnic meals.

“More times than not, we can work that [request] into the menu and move things around. Or if maybe the budget is a little too high for them, we can remove some options, so it works for them,” Knox said.

Couples also have the option of offering their guests an open bar or cash bar. Either way the bar is moveable throughout the room, as is the dance floor, to accommodate whatever set-up they envision for the reception’s ambiance.

“Also, if they’re wanting like a late-night snack with a food truck, that’s fine too,” said Knox.

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THE WEDDING PLANNER

The GrandWay was designed to be a premium venue for weddings and corporate events.

It includes a large boardroom for executive gatherings, and a smaller hall ideal for events for up to 50 people.

“We do have some couples that are actually wanting to use that as the ceremony space. It’s really just up to what the couples want,” Knox said.

As a venue, The GrandWay has strategically set its rates at the midway price point, to be accessible to couples budget-wise, but also offer added-value and flexibility within the facility.

“We are kind of falling in the middle range where we were able to offer weddings at a reasonable price and still be able to include some of the things that maybe at other places the couples would have to pay for, like some of the décor,” Knox said.

“We include tablecloths, chairs and chair covers, centrepieces, those things that can add up. We find that very helpful for the couples that they don’t have to go out and rent those items. We can offer them at no extra cost.”

Knox said they offer décor from the more glamourous bling appeal to a more toned-down style; a little bit of something for everyone.

“It’s definitely a flexible space, I would say. So, depending if someone’s wanting a really rustic look or if they’re wanting to make it very elegant we can make that work either way.”

Her team also has a list of preferred vendors to round out the day, including officiants, DJs,

photographers and more.

Pop-up weddings are another package The GrandWay is offering. Typically held on a Sunday, Knox said they offer a two-hour wedding experience, with four bookings a day.

“It’s built for those couples that just want something simple, elegant, intimate, and don’t really care for the planning side of things,” Knox said. “It’s a two-hour experience that is basically planned for you. You get the marriage license and maybe pick out your favourite colour of flowers, but otherwise, we take care of planning everything else for you.”

Knox said the pop-up wedding package includes the officiant, flowers, a musician to play at the ceremony, a professional photographer, a light menu and a champagne toast. The main hall is sectioned in half by a wall divider, allowing for the ceremony to take place on one side, and a brief reception and appetizers served on the other.

“My colleague Dani and I work with the couples and are present on the day for the couples we book,” Knox said. “We have quick turnarounds with four weddings a day and about half an hour in between each event. Once the ceremony ends, our couples move over to the reception side, while we sanitize and reset the ceremony space for the next wedding to begin.”

It sounds hectic, but Knox insists the movement of the day is streamlined smoothly to make it an easy, relaxed atmosphere for the couples and

their guests, while making it a memorable, special wedding day.

Knox said this package is popular with couples whose wedding has been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19 but want to get married and begin their lives together.

“We did have one wedding before we went into the recent lockdown. It was a small 10-person wedding. They had their ceremony actually in our lobby in front of our fireplace,” Knox said. “It was beautiful. It was small and elegant. And it’s exactly what the couple wanted. They wanted something like City Hall but that didn’t feel like City Hall. They wanted a beautiful background. So, we were able to offer that to them.”

However, due to the COVID restrictions at the time, The GrandWay was unable to serve food or beverages to the wedding guests, so the ceremony was brief and the couple went off to dine elsewhere.

Opening its doors in the midst of the pandemic had its challenges, Knox said, noting The GrandWay had several wedding cancellations, but she insists there were also moments of hope with smaller weddings that did go on. Looking ahead to an uncertain future, it seems their timing was actually ideal, especially for couples looking to book in 2021.

“We lucked out being a new venue. We didn’t have all of those 2020 wedding bookings that then got moved to 2021, which is giving newly

A Perfect Setting for Your

y a D t c e f r Pe

Both Rockwood and Marden Community Centres are available at reasonable rates for Weddings, Anniversary Parties and Showers.

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For more information please contact Kristen

519.856.9596 X 113

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Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant, Guelph/Eramosa Township PO BOX 700, 8348 Wellington Rd. 124 Rockwood, ON N0B 2K0

|

PAGE ELEVEN

engaged couples only the choice to get married from 2022 and onward,” Knox said. “We still have a lot of availability in 2021. We now are getting inquiries for dates into 2023-2024 too. But yet, we have availability for those that want to get married sooner rather than later.”

Committed to making wedding day planning as simple and convenient as possible for their clients, The GrandWay offers plenty of free parking, is fully accessible and offers the option for a one-stop wedding destination, from ceremony to reception in grand style.

For more information on wedding packages, visit www.thegrandway.com or contact Jenna Knox at jknox@thegrandway.com or 519-846-5455.

Marden Community Centre 7368 Wellington Road 30, Guelph Located in the picturesque setting of Marden Park, located

approximately five minutes north of Guelph. This quaint hall offers tables and chairs, kitchen and bar for up to 100 guests. The adjacent garden area is a perfect spot for an elegant outdoor wedding.

Rockmosa Enabling Garden 122 Rockmosa Drive, Rockwood This lovely garden area makes a perfect spot for a small outdoor wedding or even a wedding vow renewal ceremony.

Rockmosa Older Adults Centre 122 Rockmosa Drive, Rockwood Located in Rockwood this venue is ideal for baby or bridal showers.

Rental can accommodate up to 30 guests. Amenities include: small kitchenette (fridge, stove, dishwasher, microwave), fireplace Conveniently located in the Rockwood Community Library and adjacent to the Rockmosa Enabling Garden.

Rockmosa Community Centre 110 Rockmosa Drive, Rockwood Located in the village of Rockwood. Decorated in neutral colours this

room can accommodate up to 300 guests for any event. Amenities include tables, chairs, full preparation food kitchen, bar, walk in fridge.

www.get.on.ca

PAGE TWELVE | THE WEDDING PLANNER

You’ve planned the perfect day.

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Fergies will create your ideal menu, from hors d’oeuvres to buffet and plated dinners. For small gatherings, we also offer the simple convenience of a complete Dinner in a Box, delivered to your event.

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