Tell us a little about yourselves!
I (Abby) work as a Learning and Communications Consultant. I grew up in Southern Alberta, moved to Toronto from University, and stayed for Arthur.
Arthur works in film, as an actor and with sets/props. He grew up in Toronto.
We met in March 2016 through Tinder, when I was in my first year of fashion school and Arthur was in his first year of acting school. Arthur sent a joke about a bee (a-bby) and I guess it was funny enough to lead to a date. We come from different worlds, but connected over our love of food, film and people watching. We’ve spent the last eight years watching movies, gossiping and building a life together. We live in the Westend of Toronto.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
All wedding events were in Toronto. This is where Arthur is from, where we met and where we live. All locations were in the Westend, within walking distance of where we live. I wanted people to be able to take transit or easily call an Uber.
Legal Ceremony - We had a legal ceremony on May 26 in High Park with just our immediate families. We have lived near the park for 6 years, so it felt natural to have the very intimate ceremony there, with our siblings as witnesses and one disposable camera capture the moment.
Ceremony - We held a second ceremony at the Revue Cinema. Our love of film is a large part of our relationship, so getting married at a historical theatre that we love seemed like an obvious choice. We tried to make the most of the theatre - we made a montage of romantic scenes from our favourite movies, Arthur made a sketch telling people to put their devices away, and we served popcorn and beer. We walked down the aisles to Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland.
Reception - Having amazing food was a top priority for us and we really wanted to serve family-style Italian food. Viaggio checked both those boxes plus was within walking distance from the ceremony, it was perfect! They went far beyond our expectations with their exceptional hospitality. We get people still telling us it was the best food. The restaurant is beautiful, with indoor and outdoor spaces where people could dance if they wanted or chat and catch up with someone.
How many guests did you have?
Around 80.
What was your budget?
We didn’t start with a clear budget but it ended up being around $27,000.
Tell us about your outfits.
Abby: I never imagined myself having a wedding, so really never imagined wearing a white wedding dress. After we decided to get married, I knew I wanted to buy a non-bridal dress from a designer I love. I found my Molly Goddard dress quickly through some Pinterest scrolling, ordered it and it fit perfectly. My shoes, silver slingbacks with western boot details, were a nod to my Alberta roots. My Brandon Blackwood purse, a red sparkly mini trunk, a nod to Dorothy’s slippers in the Wizard of Oz. My veil was my grandmothers from the 1960s.
Arthur: I wanted to dress in the spirit of our theme but I didn’t know what that would look like until I found my vintage double-breasted, pinstripe suit with shoulder pads. Once I had that, the rest came easily, some dressy cowboy boots, an oversized Gucci bow tie and a rose boutonnière completed the look.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
Keeping it casual and low-stress. I tried to avoid spending too much time looking at other weddings and just staying true to us. We skipped out on quite a few wedding traditions that didn’t align with us, which helped avoid a lot of stress.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Our theme was loosely ‘Spaghetti Western' - blending film, the ‘west’ and literal spaghetti. This encapsulated all the elements we wanted to include.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Do whatever makes you happy! Weddings are expensive so it might as well be exactly what you enjoy. Skip traditions, make new ones, whatever goes.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
Ryanne Hollies - Ryanne of 3B Photography was a dream to work with, she got our vision from the very start of the process. She made us both feel to comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera, which for me is quite a challenge. The photos are beyond what we imagined.
Photographer: Ryanne Hollies @ryannehollies of 3B Photography @3bphotography | Ceremony Location: Revue Cinema @revuecinema | Reception Location: Viaggio @viaggiorestaurant Celebrant: Abby’s Father | Flora: Pictus Good @pictusgoods | Makeup: Yours Truly @yourstruly.natalie | Catering + Beverages: Viaggio @viaggiorestaurant | Cake: Coco’s @cocos.to | Stationery: by Abby | Abby’s Dress: Molly Goddard @mollygoddard | Abby’s Purse: Brandon Blackwood @brandonblackwoodnyc | Arthur’s Suit: Vintage Jean Paul Gaultier from VSP Consignment @vsp.consignment | Arthur’s Tailoring: Neon Needle @theneonneedle | Wedding Rings: Vintage Confetti Ring from St Eloi (Abby) @st.eloi + Vintage Ring (Arthur) | Shoes: Aeyde @aeyde (Abby) + Vintage Cowboy Boots (Arthur)