If you don’t think tropical and industrial styles can go together, just wait until you see this impeccable wedding inspiration at Studio 96. The talented minds of Karly Ford Photo and Special Event Rentals teamed up to create the coziest ceremony nook that was filled with textured pillows, animal skin rugs, and modern metal seating and featured a handmade copper pipe frame and leaf installation. The tropical greenery from Fabloomosity combined with the moody bridal bouquet created a beautiful juxtaposition against the industrial brick and concrete of the space. And, the bride’s open-back Daughters of Simone dress and romantic updo added a touch of bohemian charm to tie the entire look of this wedding inspiration shoot together.
Teri and Keith combined bohemian and rustic vibes with sentimental details in their entirely DIY wedding in Ontatio, Canada. Their lakefront ceremony took place on family property, in front of the original green cabin that Keith’s father bought in 1971, and their reception was held at the new property, just across the lake. Every element of this wedding was handmade by the couple and their creative families, from the wooden pews to the candle holders, which made an already sentimental wedding even more magical to see through the lens of Katia Taylor Photography. To match the woodland wonderland feel, the bride wore a bohemian-inspired Junko Yoshioka gown and bold flower crown that matched her burgundy suede boots and the bridesmaids’ pink and burgundy autumn-inspired looks. We can’t get over how this creative couple was able to transform these cabins in the woods into a cozy ceremony space and a reception space that were equal parts rustic and elegant without losing any of the natural charm.
The Couple:
Teri and Keith
The Wedding:
Private Residence, Cressy Lake, Ontario, Canada
Honing in on the vision was for me, the most important part of planning the wedding. We were planning a celebration in a space that on its own is incredibly charming, so we were looking to honor and keep to our roots. However, we were also looking to pull from the space some sort of northern Canadian natural magic.
Canoe Entrance – “Way Over Yonder” by Billy Bragg & Wilco
Processional – “Praise You” by Fatboy Slim
Recessional – “Simple Life” by The Dandy Warhols
Keith’s father, Gordon, purchased a small green cabin in the ’70s on “Little Eddie” Lake in Haliburton County. He scraped together all of his savings to purchase this piece of land and eventually, over the years, built an entirely new unit from the ground up. His new cottage was a larger, all-season cottage on that same piece of land but kept the original cabin as symbol and reminder of the early days. We decided to marry in front of that sacred green cabin to build on that legacy. We held the reception across the lake at our new cottage and the site of the proposal. There was no question that we would marry on such sacred space in the north Canadian wilderness. The moment he proposed we knew we were to execute the party of our dreams on the newly named “Cressy Lake” at the cottage. We had “Legacy” in mind, and it was important to the both of us to be building on that family story.
Together and with the help of our friends and family, we created every single wedding detail, from the wooden pew benches in the ceremony, to the copper arch, to the individual candle holders on the dining room tables. We sourced and procured everything independently – the aisle runner, the ceiling swagged fabrics, the copper “disco” balls, the hay bales and their accent fabrics and the amber bottles for the flower arrangements.
People arrived in a school bus at 6 PM for what we called “Snacks + Sips + Sunset” and were greeted with 5 rounds of seasonal canapés. There was an active oyster station and a charcuterie bar. The bar was open and was serving house bubbles (champagne) and a variety of canned beer from the “beer canoe.” The idea was to feed people instantly (as they arrived off the bus), to get some booze and food and their bellies before the ceremony at 7:45 – 8:00 PM.
After the ceremony, guests followed the bridal party down the gravel road and to the reception site across the lake. We arrived at the reception and shortly thereafter food was placed buffet style inside the converted 3 bay garage on a large table. The bar was open and we featured a variety of taps from a Toronto brewer.
Our dear friend, Chef Kevin Rickey of Food Benders, crafted a delicious hot sauce on our behalf to use as our wedding favor. I came up with the drawing of the deer with antlers (my pet name for my husband is “deer”) as a small gift to Keith who is always requesting that I draw him something. It was a surprise. So I went ahead with a basic drawing, developed the concept and had the help of an illustrator/graphic design friend who put it together for me. The hot sauce was super delicious and the design was flawless! Chef Kevin prepared 110 bottles, and I labeled each one with my friend and bridesmaid, Shannon.
When Kimmy and Andrew decided to have a beach wedding, they knew they wanted a location not many couples think of. So, they followed the groom’s family roots back to Sri Lanka and tied the knot at the beautiful beachfront resort, Lantern Boutique Hotel. The bride, Kimmy De Leon, and groom set the “Beach Disco” theme early with handmade disco-inspired invitations with caricatures that they turned into enamel pins for their guests’ wedding favors. Galle Events then helped the couple create a laid-back beach vibe with simple florals, tropical greenery, and vintage place settings that added pops of color without too much detail. We love how Damien Milan Photography focused on the in-between moments as much as the key “wedding must-have” moments, especially the laugh-filled moments on the beach and when everyone decided on a late-night swim at the end of the reception!
We always knew we wanted to get married on the beach, but we wanted a different beach destination to those we’d been to ourselves. Sri Lanka was also a subtle homage to Andrew’s family history because it’s where his great-grandparents were living when they started the family name. His dad was born and grew up there, as well. So, Sri Lanka was already special to the Sharp Pauls, and now it’s also special to the De Leons.
In terms of the resort, a close colleague’s husband was one of the owners and we thought to check it out on a trip to Sri Lanka. We instantly fell in love with the property. It was beautiful, peaceful, and secluded – it was like our own private beach! As massive curry lovers, we know that the hotel’s chef served the best curry in the area, which completely sealed the deal!
Our wedding invitations were a series of 3 posters that I illustrated. We called it Disco Heads. It’s Andrew and I dancing with heads made of disco balls. I had it printed using the risograph printing technique and, because I wanted our guests to be very excited from the moment they received the invited, we folded up our poster to surprise them. Inside the translucent envelope was a bunch of confetti (blue, pink, yellow, and silver) that flew out when you open the invite. From that poster design, we created a series of enamel Disco Head pins as giveaway gifts alongside the name cards for seating arrangements. The cards were also risographs, in the same style as the invites, with the pins attached and names all handwritten.
Our buffet was a full-on Sri Lankan spread because we love Sri Lankan food. It’s also perfect for any kind of diet. We had guests that were vegetarian, vegan, not able to eat seafood, love/hate spicy foods – and all of these were catered for. We made sure that the food was not overlooked and provided an overflowing delicious dinner for all of our guests to enjoy.
We wanted a very upbeat song for our first dance because 1.) we’re awkward dancers, and 2.) we wanted people to join in and start the party on the dance floor. The first dance, “Dancing in The Dark” by Hot Chip, was right after dinner. The song is slow in the beginning so it was perfect for us to have a moment. Right at the moment that the song picked up, we grabbed our guests to join us in the middle of the dance floor. Everyone jumped right in! Next thing you know, Andrew and I were being carried in our friends’ shoulders and thrown in the air. It was the most fun 7 minutes of dancing and paved way to the ridiculous crazy night of more dancing, celebrating, and pool plunging.
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