Eva Michon and Sebastien Grainger
“We had a backyard ceremony,” says Eva. “That was the first day I put the veil, shoes and dress together. There wasn’t even a full-length mirror upstairs when I was getting ready. I just trusted what people said” (All photographs by Dave Gillespie)
Eva, a photographer and magazine editor, and Sebastien, a musician, met in 2003 through Jesse Keeler (who, at the time, was Sebastien’s bandmate in Death From Above 1979, their dance-punk duo). Eva and Sebastien became close when she toured the east coast with the band as their photographer. In May 2008, Sebastien proposed by placing a ring on top of a stack of French toast. The two, who live in Trinity-Bellwoods, relied on friends for many of the elements of their backyard wedding, from the music to the rings. They took a relaxed approach to planning. “There were no wedding traditions in my family, so we could do whatever we wanted,” says Eva. “But whenever we’d been at too-casual weddings, it wasn’t as much fun. So we made sure to do the cake cutting and the bouquet toss.”
“My ceremony dress was really fitted, but my mom wanted me to have a dress that would twirl during the reception—that’s just how she’d always pictured our first dance. And you can’t say no to your mom on that sort of thing”
THE DETAILS
Date: September 6, 2009
Dresses: Jeremy Laing (ceremony), Betsey Johnson (reception)
Veil: Lilliput
Hair: Cheryl (a friend) from Civello
Makeup: Allison Magpayo
Groom’s clothing: Custom J. Fedders suit from Sydney’s
Bridesmaid dresses: Assorted purple dresses
Venue: Sebastien’s father’s backyard in Oakville (ceremony); The Richmond (reception)
Caterer: Daniel et Daniel
Dessert: Cupcakes from Lindsey Bakes
Flowers: Bouquet from King West Flowers; cut flowers from a shop at Avenue and Davenport
Music: Friends Andre Ethier on classical guitar (ceremony); Joseph Shabason and Jeremy Finkelstein deejaying (reception); plus iPod playlists
Invitations: Designed by couple
Number of Guests: 130
Photography: Dave Gillespie
“We rented a school bus to transport everyone to Oakville, which meant everyone could drink as much as they wanted at the wedding”
From left: Justin Peroff, Mikey Apples, Cheryl Lone, Nick Sewell, Sebastien’s father John, Kevin Drew, K-os. “Our friends Joseph and Jeremy, who do the Loving in the Name Of parties, deejayed. Later in the night, they played Rage Against the Machine, and it went over amazingly well with my dad and his friends”
Great photos and comments, only surpassed by the wonderful day we had, I loved the dancing, the food, the company and the total harmony of the day. Great job. Love, Auntie Carol
March 10, 2010 at 12:04 pm | by Carol GroundBeautiful picture of the two of you! What a lovely wedding that must have been, Erinn. Bev, – friend of your grandparents,Harvey and Helen, and actually related through your grandmother’s family.
March 26, 2010 at 7:31 pm | by Bev Sawyer