Kassandra and Michael’s wedding, filled with lush greenery, floral crowns, traditional Ukrainian details, and a refined rustic lounge set into the woods, was a day to remember on our family farm overlooking Georgian Bay.
Our farm, Celtic Roots Equestrian, is in a unique type of cottage country – it’s not the rolling rocks and lakes of the Muskokas – it’s beaches and blue rolling bay waves, with steep sandy bluffs that open up through a layer of forest to farmer’s fields. It’s beautiful, a natural setting to fall in love. Kassandra and Michael’s romance started in this area, and so to have their wedding embrace this part of their love story, as well as their Ukrainian heritage was important.
The cocktail hour featured a lookout station set up on the edge of the bluff that with a map, binoculars and guidebooks, while our red velvet sofa stood out in a lounge set into the entrance of a woodsy trail. A second lounge inside the spacious tent, included Ukrainian vases on the coffee table and rushnyks blowing in the wind. The tent was lit up with vintage Edison bulbs and hanging white lanterns, while tables were layered with pillar candles, silver mercury glass and clear glass votives, and fairy lights woven into hand-laid greenery and periwinkle. A large dance floor and stage were the focal point of the tent, and were well used first as an hor’s d’oeuvres station during cocktails, and then to present the Korovai, and finally, packed all night long with acrobatic dancing and a lively Ukrainian band.
See some of our favourite photographs below, captured by the talented Ever After Photographers.
BONUS: In an effort to share more of what we do, if you're looking for a longer Sunday morning read, check out the BEHIND THE DESIGN section after the photos. We suggest getting a cup of coffee in your favourite mug, snuggling back in bed, and then take a look behind the design of this memorable refined rustic wedding.
BONUS: BEHIND THE DESIGN
When we first met with Michael and Kassandra, and their families, it was important that the couple’s love of the outdoors, the area, and their Ukrainian heritage came through. Our number one goal in wedding design is always to create a space that says “this is us” to the couple, their family, and their friends. As event designers, we start by developing a Design Plan after that first Consultation Meeting. In the design plan process, we work to balance the familiar, functional, and fantastical ideas in both feature areas like ceiling installations, or lounges, and detail areas, like tablescapes, menus, and even bathroom baskets.
Research is first, and this helps form an idea of what the repeating elements of the wedding’s design are going to be. For Michael and Kassandra, it was matching their personalities with an of understanding what the key ceremonial and aesthetic elements of a traditional Ukrainian wedding are. The design elements we focused on to represent them and their families were: rich red hues, the geometry of embroidery on rushnyks, lush greenery and periwinkle, and the simple luxuries that come from living on Georgian Bay, which was represented through both the farm the use of light that created a subtle shimmering haze on the tables, like sunlight on water.
Sketches of these ideas are one of our favourite components of the plan. They bring a visual to original ideas that are inspired by the beautiful images that are on mood boards, and come from Pinterest pages, and Instagram saves.
On the wedding day, the depth of thought isn’t meant to be obvious – no one is looking at the stage backdrop and saying oh that grid greenery work is clearly referencing the geometry of Ukrainian embroidery – but it is supposed to feel harmonious. The harmony of a space that is well thought out and unique to the couple getting married, creates an atmosphere that is comfortable yet magical, and enhances the making of moments that are meaningful and memorable.
The following gallery includes some of the sketches and detail shots we took at the wedding:
Venue: Celtic Roots Equestrian
Designer: Georgian Roots
Specialty rentals: Georgian Roots Rentals
Catering: Phil’s Catering
Photographers: Ever After Photographers Instagram: @ever_after_photographers; Facebook: everafterphotographers ; www.everafterphotographers.com)