Real Weddings: Kelly & Shawn

Kelly and Shawn are truly one of the coolest couples I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Cool in the sense that they're fun, grounded, intelligent, and adventurous. But most of all because they really seemed to know what they wanted - not only out of the wedding, but from each other and out of life in general.

Because Kelly in particular knew exactly what she wanted this wedding took on a life and a style all its own. Kelly and Shawn wanted a celebration that really spoke to their unique personalities and most importantly they wanted to ensure that their guests had a good time and truly felt at ease.

To that end, before the ceremony the couple held their receiving line outside the church and greeted their guests as they arrived - no surprises, no suspense, just "please come in, sit down and be our guest" - it was as though the couple were welcoming the guests into their own home - and I really think it started things off on the right foot. Once all the guests were seated, the groom himself ushered his bride-to-be down the aisle – a truly inspiring way to begin their journey together… side-by-side, arm-in-arm, from the very beginning - to the very end.

The couple exchanged vows at the beautiful St Patrick’s Church in Napean, Ontario. And as an extra-special touch, the pair was married by Shawn’s uncle who certainly kept the guests entertained as he put a very personal spin on the ceremony (and recounted a few amusing tales from his nephew’s childhood).

Following the ceremony the guests were ushered to the beautiful church hall where they enjoyed a tasty buffet and a night full of dancing to a list of great songs hand-picked by the bride. Later in the evening, the couple served their wedding cake with glasses of bubble tea; a truly unique experience for those of their guests who had never had bubble tea before.

The entire event was rich with personal touches nearly all of which was created by the bride herself (including the birdcage veils and the boutonnières)! Instead of flowers the bridesmaids carried fans made of intricate lace. The tables were lit by the soft glow of round paper lattern centrepieces which held gold and black feathers. The guests were amazed by the unique quality and attention to detail that graced every aspect of the day.

Kelly and Shawn, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this truly special event. It was a pleasure to help you bring togerther the day you "wanted" and worked so hard for. It was a great adventure and I wish you many more beautiful adventures together!

All the very best!

Sophie

Coverall Event Coordination

A special thanks goes out to Misha Voloaca (first 3 photos) and Sarah Rogers (last photo) for providing the great shots above.

Ponderosa Ranch: A Venue as Unique as You Are

Cornwall is a great city to get married in. There are tons of great vendors who charge very reasonable prices, and there are several beautiful venues that offer everything you need all rolled up into a neat little package. But let’s face it – if you’re looking for a really unique wedding venue in the city you’re going to have to get creative; because while there are some really fantastic venues in the city we’ve all been to at least a couple of weddings at each of them.

So where do you even begin to look? Do you have family or friends who own a cottage on the lake? Maybe you want to consider Upper Canada Village for a beautiful 18th Century themed wedding. Recently, I visited one of the newest and most unique wedding venues the Seaway has to offer – Ponderosa Ranch.



Just East of Cornwall this beautifully landscaped area is a magical place to hold a wedding. There’s a charming (and huge) chalet made entirely of real pine logs. Inside is a fantastic open-concept kitchen and living area with a loft-style master bedroom overlooking the picturesque landscape banking the Raisin River - imagine waking up here the morning after your first night as husband and wife! Awesome, right?! (Not to mention that the en-suite bathroom is a great place for a candle-lit bubble bath)

Imagine your outdoor ceremony set on the water with all the beauty of nature as your backdrop followed by a fantastic tent reception on an elevated plateau with a breathtaking view of the property.

But don’t act too fast; a wedding at Ponderosa is not for the faint at heart. There will be lots of extras that you will have to take care of yourself, such as portable toilets (unless you want your guests running in and out of your honeymoon suite), tent rental, tables, chairs, caterer, linens – all the things that would normally be taken care of at the “typical” venues. No, this venue is for the couple who really want to really “wow” their guests and leave them talking about the event for years to come.

So if you’re looking for a wedding location that is as unique as you are – this one is for you!

For more information on Ponderosa Ranch and to see if your date is available call (613) 930-4408 (or toll free at 1-866-449-5408). Alternatively, you can visit them online at http://www.ponderosaranchresort.com/. Happy Planning!