Tell us a little about yourselves!
We met 10 years ago, the old-fashioned way, at a bar. Upon being introduced through mutual friends, Jakob kissed my hand. He tried to buy me a drink but the bartender took too long and I walked away. Even sans drink, we both made an impression and texted our friends that we were into one another. Three weeks later we had our first date, and the rest is history.
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
We wanted a ‘local destination’, a full weekend experience for us and our guests. We came across Lune, a breathtaking 1860’s Italian style home. We loved the European charm contrasted with the contemporary elements and imagined our loved ones gathering by the fountain or under the Davide Groppi moon. But it was Lune’s ethos that spoke to us most, it was designed not for weddings but for intimate moments over an abundance of food in the best company. This was the vision we had for our day - one big, beautiful, effortless dinner party with our favourite people. We didn’t look at any other venues.
How many guests did you have?
We had 90ish guests.
Tell us about your outfits.
I knew I wanted to wear something unfussy and that felt like me. Something elegant yet sexy, understated yet with a wow factor. I wore an off-the-shoulder gown with long sleeves, but it was the train that got me - the pièce de résistance I was after. I kept my jewellery simple with baroque pearl earrings from Melanie Auld . I wanted shoes I would actually wear again, so I also needed something that wouldn’t get destroyed by grass and reckless dancing, and went with a patent leather pointed-toe Jimmy Choo mule.
All Jakob wanted was a timeless three-piece tuxedo. He was all about something classic that fit him like a glove. He accessorized with his new wedding band, which is exactly the same as mine. During the design process we realized we both had similar visions and decided it would be fun to match.
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
A thoughtful celebration that was true to us. That meant veering from traditional expectations or frivolous fads in favour of personal touches. Our favourites included being married by Jakob’s best friend, he made the ceremony so special and fun. My best friend sang throughout our ceremony, which was pure magic. People still tell us they get chills watching the videos back.
Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?
Above all, hosting our guests was important to us. They’ve all shown up for us in one way or another, and we felt it was just as much their day as it was ours. We set out to create moments of meaning, surprise and beauty, and made sure they got to explore every inch of the property throughout the day.
Food is our love language. We first visited Richmond Station (a restaurant in Toronto and our caterer) over 5 years ago. We ordered their Butcher's Selection of Charcuterie. When the owner came to check on us, we asked a couple questions about the food and he responded by inviting us to tour the meat locker, showing us different cuts and explaining their processes, which we loved and always remembered. So, naturally, we needed to recreate that spread on a much larger scale, sprawled across Lune’s dining room table. We wanted cocktail hour to be a moment so we added an oyster bar for good measure. There was no shortage of bubbles or cocktails, all while two live violinists serenaded our guests on the garden terrace.
The area is known for its spectacular sunsets so a huge family-style sunset dinner was important to us. We wanted it to feel as close to how it’d feel if we invited everyone into our home – long tables overflowing with food, wine, flowers, candles, and laughter. If you’ve been to our house, you’ve stood around our island as we’ve shaken up espresso martinis (or we’ve done so in your kitchen). We worked with Civil Pours to have espresso martinis on tap, serving them alongside dessert as we said our speeches and opened the dance floor. It was the perfect way to get the real party started.
After a few hours of dancing on tables we served silver platters of cheeseburgers and McNuggets, a nod to Nicole’s client, McDonald’s.
Any tips for couples getting married?
Have fun with it! Do it together. Keep your love and the things you love front and centre, in doing so nothing can truly go wrong.
Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?
It all starts and ends with our planner Megan of Mega Projects. Megan just gets it. She saw our vision, built on it with us, and brought it to life beyond our wildest dreams. She even sent me pages of recos upon hearing where I was going for my bachelorette, including villa rental listings! We are endlessly grateful for how fun and laidback she made the process. Group chat forever!
We were so lucky to work with our photographer/hype girl Kaela of Kaela Leone Weddings. She perfectly captured the emotion and energy of the day. She took the time to get to know us, learning we share similar backgrounds and values. Knowing how important family is to us, she documented the most special candid moments with our grandparents that we’ll forever cherish.
Our florist, Hayley of Carmel Floral, created the most stunning floral moments, from my bouquet (!!!), to the foliage hanging from the chandeliers, to the grapes scattered across our tables. She knew we wanted something wild yet sculptural while leaning into the natural beauty of Lune, and she executed flawlessly.
I think we initially scared our DJ, DJ Timfamous, when he saw our ‘no play list’. We love music and had a very specific vision and flow in mind for the evening. He immediately understood the assignment and kept the dance floor packed all night long.
Photographer: Kaela Leone Weddings @kaelaleoneweddings | Ceremony + Reception Location: Lune @lune1860 | Celebrant: Friend of the Couple | Entertainment: DJ Timfamous @djtimfamous | Planner: Megan Reynolds, Mega Projects @megaxprojects | Hire: NJS Design @njsdesignparty + Chairman Mills @chairmanmills | Flora: Carmel Floral @carmelfloral | HMUA: Schulz Beauty @schulzbeauty | Catering + Beverages: Richmond Station @richmondstation | Espresso Martini Keg: Civil Pours @civil_pours | Stationery : Whitney Zanardi, By Modern Social @bymodernsocial |
Ceremony Singer: Friend of the Couple | Bride’s Dress: Theia from LoversLand @loversland | Groom’s Tux + Shoes: Suit Supply @suitsupply | Engagement + Wedding Rings: Custom from a Private Jeweller | Shoes: Jimmy Choo @jimmychoo | Bride’s Earrings: Melanie Auld @melanieauldjewelry