Small intimate winter wedding in Thornbury, Ontario
Couple:
Jill & Michael
Location:
Thornbury, Ontario
From the Photographer:
After meeting with Jill & Michael for the first time, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. They were planning the most intimate, thoughtful, unique multi-day event with their friends and family at the very forefront and they were giddy explaining all of the details. This wasn’t just about their wedding, it was about bringing everyone they love into one space and making it special for them too. It was about combining families. When it came to photography, they wanted simple documentation so they could focus on being present with the people they loved. It was such a beautifully heartfelt day with lots of giggles and emotion, and also some pretty dang good food!
- Frances, Frances Beatty Photography
From the Couple:
How did you choose your venue?: Friends of ours, Sean, and former partner Jennifer, own Bruce Wine Bar and we LOVE their food. We were there so often, it was like our second home. (Will be again post pandemic). They allowed us to have a custom menu and bring in our own decor which allowed us to have a romantic and cozy atmosphere for our day.
What was the most important thing for you for your wedding day?: The most important thing for our wedding day was to have an intimate setting for our wedding that reflected who we are and what we love.
Please describe any unique details from your day and why they were special to you: On our wedding day, we both wanted to ski before the celebration began. Skiing is one of our life passions and we agreed to ensure we did not see each other before the ceremony. We also wanted to take a moment out of the day to take it all in, so we walked from the church to the reception together while guests started cocktail hour.
What was the atmosphere you were trying to create?: We really wanted a relaxed but elegant and intimate feeling, a "cabin in the woods" environment.
What area of your wedding did you splurge on? (what was your top priority): The wedding was definitely planned around the dinner and reception setting, this was our priority and where we splurged. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and relaxed in a beautiful setting and enjoy an elaborate meal with us.
What area of your wedding did you save on?: We saved money on the actual ceremony, and it was perfect! The church was a wonderful setting and both Terry McWhirter and our officiant Jake McAuthur were fabulous! We brought in our own decor including a birch tree wall made by my father of fallen birch branches my husband and I collected together, creating a beautiful backdrop for our special moment.
What wedding advice would you give to someone planning their wedding now?: Planning is essential, but can get overwhelming. Keep focus on what you want and revert back to it often. Let the priority of the day guide you through out planning.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?: We definitely had a few memorable moments of the day... skiing in the morning with family members, carving out time to take it all in on our beautiful walk to the reception. We allowed our passion of being outside to be included in our special day.
What was your biggest challenge in the planning process?: Our biggest challenge was guest logistics. We organized a 5 day wedding with most of our guests from out of town. We kept the invite list intimate allowing for a few days of celebrations and showing our close family and friends what our life together looks like. Logistically this was a lot to organize.
What was your first dance song?: Leather and Lace by Don Henley and Stevie Nicks
VENDORS:
Photography: Frances Beatty Photography
Florals: Ashley Elaine Florals
Ceremony Venue: First Baptist Church
Reception Venue & Food: Bruce Wine Bar
Hair & Make-up: Glitz Gals
Officiant: Bruce McAuthur