Ashley and Steve got married in the most unique wedding I have ever been to! About 10 months before their wedding Ashley reached about to chat about their big day and get to know me a bit. We chatted about music (she is in a punk band) and ideas for their wedding and ceremony. She had questions like, “Will you wear a jean jacket?”…ummm yeah! Of course I will!
I was thrilled when Ashley came back and wanted to hire me for their Thanksgiving weekend wedding in Toronto! I was so excited for this punk wedding and couldn’t wait to see all of the décor!
We worked on their ceremony together, carefully choosing just the right readings and a prayer they had chosen and over the months we got to know each other while we shared details of the big day!
The wedding took place in the Story Building in downtown Toronto which is such a cool place! Doormen on the street, different levels for dining, cocktails, and celebrations!
Ashley and Steve had lots of significant items on display – a memorial for those who would be joining them in spirit, lots of photos, and black candles everywhere!
Skulls were the theme of the day and we got to enjoy them in ever element of their wedding day!
Can we talk about these chairs? So glam and go with any colour scheme you could come up with! Being October there were lots of pumpkins – not a single orange one tho! Check out the skulls filled with flowers lining the aisle to the altar!
My office! I love the navy blue rug and real candles burning just waiting for the big moment!
My view! This is the perfect size room for 50-75 guests to sit comfortably with the entrance for the bride at the back so she could stay hidden until it was her turn to come in!
I got to take lots of photos while we waited and prepped for the ceremony – here’s another shot of the aisle before everyone took their seats.
There is a verrry creative florist somewhere out there who came up with this design – everything was absolutely perfect for Ashley and Steve!
Ashley played the Wedding March on her electric guitar as she walked down the aisle – it was epic and so very rock and roll! Half way up she stopped to hand off her guitar, get her flowers from her dad then took his arm and finished her journey to meet us all for the ceremony. That’s me in my jean jacket, leopard print scarf, and fishnet stockings – by request of the bride of course!
I am often invited to stay for dinner and sadly most of the time I have to move on to serve other couples, but this was the only wedding I had that day, my husband was working, and my son was with his grandfather so I knew I wouldn’t be in any rush to get home…so I accepted the dinner invitation and am so glad I did! I was seated with Steve’s family, and the wedding planner, so we got to chat and had a great time all getting to know each other!
Fun fact…I was seated at the Blondie table and I was listening to Blondie on the drive into the city rocking out in my car getting hyped for the wedding!
I always say you can tell a lot about someone by how their family treats strangers – Ashley’s parents are the sweetest and both were making sure I would be staying for dinner and when I explained that I had already been invited and yes, in fact I am staying, her father said, “Good because if you weren’t we would be making sure you were invited now!”
I see a lot of wedding favours and I always tell people to chose something that is edible or practical. Ashley and Steve chose honey favours and a few months later mine went into a Scottish dessert called Cranachan that was ate on New Year’s Day!
Are we loving the hot pink and leopard table décor? I couldn’t get enough of it! The skulls made their way from the aisle to the tables as well and we were all ooohing and aaahing over them!
That purple pumpkin! To die for!
After the ceremony we went to a different level of the building for photos, cocktails, appetizers and mingling! I have food allergies and let me tell you…the staff were on top of that! None of the servers would let me eat anything before they checked with the chef to make sure it would be safe for me – I really appreciate that level of service when it comes to health and safety!
How gorgeous is their sweetheart table? Every little detail was thought of and placed just perfectly! These two are so in love!
A little secret – Ashley showed me her dress months ahead of her wedding – I was the safe person she could gush too and be excited with! Look at this work of art! Ashley is one of a kind and her wedding dress and accessories were just perfect for her!
After dinner I packed up and made my way back to my country life – thanks to Ashley for letting me take a centrepiece home with me – I named her Skippy, short for Skipper, and she gets a makeover for every holiday!
Thank you Ashley and Steve for inviting me to perform your ceremony for your and for all the hospitality at your wedding! I wish we could do it every weekend!
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Avril Ewing Officiant & Celebrant 