Searching for the perfect mix of elegant, romantic and timeless? Let us present to you, Anne + Sean’s wedding on Parliament Hill. Their classic nod to Victorian style in crisp and traditional tones of ivory, gold and champagne is a real treat for the senses! You are going to love the ‘Blue’ room where they held their light filled reception…or Anne’s very endearing bouquet in fresh creams and whites. But my absolute favorite details from today’s Real Wedding: Anne’s Lazaro gown complete with a hand beaded bodice and inviting bow…and of course, the very subtle yet iconic (and so royal) balcony photo! Congrats to the happy couple!
Anne + Sean | July 7, 2012 | Ottawa, Ontario
The Ceremony
We got married at Southminster United Church in Ottawa, a beautiful old church on a tree-lined street. The father of one of the groomsmen performed our ceremony for us, which was such an honor and gave it a lovely personal feeling. Music was very important to us, and the ceremony music was spectacular – two trumpet players, an organist and two singers. The singers performed the Prayer (made popular by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion), and it brought everyone to tears!
The Reception
Our reception was held at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, a historic hotel in downtown Ottawa. We picked the Adam Room for our reception, which has spectacular blue walls and stunning gold detailing. We didn’t want our decor to compete with the beauty of the room, so we stuck to a simple color palette of gold, ivory and champagne. We wanted to make sure that our guests had plenty to eat, so in addition to the hors d’oeuvres, our guests enjoyed a four course meal, a candy buffet, and a late night poutine and grilled cheese station!
Anne’s Dress Search
I was very open-minded in looking for a wedding dress – I didn’t even have a particular shape in mind, I just wanted something comfortable and flattering. I found shopping for a dress challenging, because there are so many beautiful dresses! When I tried on this Lazaro dress, I knew that it was the one – I couldn’t resist the exquisitely beaded bodice. However, the skirt (although STUNNING) was a bit fashion forward, and I knew Sean would prefer something slightly more conservative. The designer was kind enough to offer to use a simpler skirt, so I decided to take a leap of faith and order the dress having never seen what it would look like. I couldn’t have been happier with the result – it was the absolute perfect dress and totally unique.
How Anne Felt in Her Wedding Dress
Beautiful, elegant and comfortable!
Why Anne Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
I debated selling my dress, because it is so beautiful and part of such a magical day, but it didn’t feel right for me to keep it. So much work went into making it (just thinking about all the hours that were spent hand beading the bodice is crazy!) and I decided it would be wasteful for it to only get one use. I also LOVE the idea that it can bring someone else as much joy as it brought me. My wedding was perfect – full of fun, laughter, and tears – and I truly hope that this dress can help someone else have as amazing an experience as I did.
