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A compendium of the latest store openings, hottest parties and runway shows and all the buzzy fashion gossip. Sign up for the Style newsletter for weekly updates
Weddings 2012: the city’s top florists deliver their most rhapsodic centrepieces and bouquets
Weddings 2012: 15 bridesmaid dresses your best friends really will wear again
A meticulous bride won’t let her best friends suffer silently in bad taffeta
VIEW BY STYLE:
THE PARTY GIRLS | THE SUNNY SQUAD | THE FORMALISTS
Check out all 15 of the city’s most un-bridesmaidy bridesmaid dresses »
Weddings 2012: 17 of the city’s most deliciously show-stopping wedding cakes
VIEW BY DESIGN:
THE MINI | VINTAGE PEONY | SWISS DOT | WEDGWOOD | FEATHER COUTURE | GOLD APPLIQUÉ | MODERN ORCHID | GRAPHIC LEMON | WHITE RUFFLE | WINTER ROMANCE | GOLD STANDARD | THE BIG T.O. | SAPPHIRE AND ICE | CHOCOLATE LUST | ROYAL BLUE | GARDENIA | ENGLISH GARDEN
Check out all 17 locally made interpretations of the most showstopping edible treat of the day »
Weddings 2012: eight trendy finger foods to satisfy the health nut, the gourmand and the junk-food addict
VIEW BY CUISINE:
RAW: ENDIVE SALAD | GAZPACHO SHOOTERS
MEXICAN: DUCK CONFIT TACO | LOBSTER QUESADILLA
FRENCH: CROQUE MONSIEUR | FOIE GRAS TORCHON
COMFORT FOOD: LOBSTER POUTINE | OYSTER CORN DOG
Weddings 2012: six locally designed invites that set the tone for that special day
A custom-made invitation is Chapter 1 of the wedding narrative
JUMP TO:
ESCAPIST | MINIMALIST | ROMANTIC | BLUE RODEO | DRAMA | ECO
Weddings 2012: the most exclusive, most exceptional wedding gowns and where to buy them
Gowns as unique (and sometimes shamelessly non-traditional) as the brides who’ll buy them
Sixteen fantastic picks from this year’s Wedding Co. Show (and yes, brides-to-be, macarons are still trendy)
Macarons! Cupcakes! Sugar! (Image: Simone Olivero)
This past weekend, The Carlu played host to an intimate (albeit overwhelming) boutique-style wedding extravaganza. The 11th annual Wedding Co. Show, curated by former wedding photographer Catherine Lash, filled room after room with frosted creations, lace-trimmed gowns, DJs, musicians, caterers, florists, photographers, videographers, invitation artists, jewelled and feathered accessories, bespoke menswear, venue ideas and even dry cleaners. Unlike many of the other bridal shows that infiltrate the city at this time of year, this one had a relatively modest list of 125 vendors, hand-selected by Lash, who believes they’re the best of the best in a sometimes oversaturated market. Creative displays (that we actually wanted to stop and look at), delicious samples (lots of them), an etiquette booth (we may have needed to know when to stop sampling) and a soaring tree installation by artist in residence Marjorie Campbell were all important in making this show welcoming and interactive. But it’s still a trade show focused on weddings, and much like the brides-to-be in attendance, we were overwhelmed with how much there was to see. Check out 16 of our favourite vendors, including some of the best-designed booths, after the jump.
Attention lazy wedding guests: The Gift Network—an online wedding registry service—has launched in Toronto
Gift registries for the internet generation, like these two crazy kids. (Image: Gene Chan)
Toronto-based website The Gift Network launched earlier this month, providing a free online gift registry that features partnerships with over 100 stores across the GTA. Soon-to-be-wedded folk who want to skip the process of entering a few stores and scanning a few gravy boats can now avoid human contact altogether—that is, until the big night. The Gift Network offers products from boutique stores like Golda’s Kitchen, The Cookbook Store, Bohm Furniture, BlackBird Vintage Finds, Metropolis Living, Umbra Concept Store and Grassroots Environmental Products, and it also allows users to post links to registries from stores that are not offered by the website, which means maybe we’ll take one HBC multistripe point blanket for our collection after all. We’re intrigued by the idea of a catchall registry that allows brides- and grooms-to-be to register for a lot of what they need all in one place, but much like those wedge booties you bought online that you’ve never worn, the one downside to this whole project is that newlyweds might get things they never needed in the first place—online shopping is still hit or miss, and if you don’t hold it, touch it or scan it, it might mean a series of decorative collectibles that looked decent on a screen, but not in your home.
Toronto’s second ever Gay Wedding Show to take place on October 16
First dance (Image: David Goehring)
The State of New York approved same-sex marriage earlier this summer and Ontario passed a similar law back in 2003, yet we haven’t seen a wedding show that caters primarily to homosexual couples in Toronto. OutTV’s Shaun Proulx has noticed this void and will be emceeing this city’s first second Gay Wedding Show on October 16 at the Delta Chelsea Inn. It’s a cause particularly close to Proulx’s heart, as he experienced discrimination while planning his own wedding—the owner of Proulx’s would-be wedding venue cancelled his booking after learning it was for a same-sex marriage.
Read the rest of this entry »
Young and in love? The Drake announces its indie wedding show
Instagram-themed weddings are big this season (Image: Phototerra Studio)
Thinking of a backyard wedding, an Ontario cottage-country destination or a living room reception? With Canada’s Bridal Show still several months away, alterna-brides-to-be can visit The Drake Hotel’s Spring Wedding Show on April 30. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the lounge will be transformed into a go-to DIY wedding destination, where the matrimonially inclined can browse gowns, cakes, accessories and paper products, and meet with a variety of designers and photographers.
Read the rest of this entry »
Weddings Week 2011: seven Toronto couples share the intimate photos from their special day
Seven Toronto couples share snapshots from the day they tied the knot
Bryan Soucie and Amanda Martin wed at the Royal York on the day of a Justin Bieber concert just down the street at the ACC (Image: Joseph and Jaime)
Weddings Week 2011: our 25 picks for fabulous honeymoon destinations
The best part about getting hitched—arguably—is the honeymoon. Here, 25 fabulous escapes for newlyweds
Marrakesh, Bali, Rio de Janeiro and more.
Weddings Week 2011: Toronto’s top wedding photographer shares his secrets for success
Shooting in his signature photojournalistic style, Johnny Lam is booked solid every weekend during high season. His best advice to couples: pick the right person for the job, and then back off
(Image: Vanessa Heins)
Best thing about the job: The most rewarding moment is when I show the couples the final product, and I get to see the expression on their faces when they relive the details of the day.
And the worst: Weddings move at an insanely fast pace, with lighting changes and moves from indoor to outdoor, location to location. A great photographer needs to be prepared for anything. I shot one wedding during a downpour so heavy that I had to run to Shoppers Drug Mart to buy new socks, and one in a barn where the power went out.
What every couple should know: My best advice is to look for not just a great photographer, but the right photographer for you. The bride and groom need to familiarize themselves with the range of styles out there and identify what they want: glamorous, traditional, artsy, journalistic. After that, it’s important to communicate your expectations. If there are certain pictures you absolutely must have, make sure the photographer knows that beforehand—we’re not mind readers. Read the rest of this entry »
Weddings Week 2011: an insider’s look at how to be the best MC
The best MCs are quick with a joke and adept at wrangling the mike from drunk relatives. Lawyer-by-day Greg Power has become the go-to MC among a growing circle of friends. Here, he talks about the dos and don’ts of the gig
(Image: Vanessa Heins)
Best part of the job: I love introducing the bridal party. It’s my job to make these people come alive, so I always contact the bridesmaids and groomsmen in advance to find out a funny story or a shared experience with one of the people getting married. I find this works a lot better than a sort of standard résumé intro like “This is Lindsay. She met the bride at university and currently works for TD Bank.”
And the worst: I’ve done eight weddings in eight years, but there is still that fear of bombing that happens right before every reception. I get butterflies—there’s nothing worse than knowing you’ve delivered a groaner.
What every couple should know: Tell your MC to avoid the open mike. The MC role is like that of a traffic director, and it’s really hard to keep things running smoothly when you have people going on and on—drunk or otherwise. The open mike, clinking of the glasses so the bride and groom will kiss, and the Macarena should all be banned. Read the rest of this entry »
Weddings Week 2011: our top 10 list for fabulous finger foods
Eating finger food in formal wear can be tricky. Give your guests small portions with big flavours
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- Poppy seed–crusted ahi tuna, taggiascha olive, a sliver of quail egg and sliced green bean drizzled with dijon vinaigrette. $3.50 each. The Salt and Pepper Catering Co., 416-924-0715, salt-peppercatering.com.
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- Double-baked fingerlings filled with smoky bacon, Fifth Town goat cheese and chives. $4 each. Chezvous Dining, 416-347-3609, chezvousdining.ca.
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- Chili-fried shrimp on a polenta cake with romesco sauce. $3.50 each. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979‑6634, ago.net.
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- Sous-vide pork belly, carrot kimchee, cilantro and black garlic mayo on a steamed Chinese bun. $3 each. C5 Catering, 100 Queen’s Park, 416‑586-7928, c5restaurant.ca.
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- Applewood-smoked salmon with crème fraîche and Lake Erie whitefish caviar on a puff pastry twist. $3.75 each. Canoe, 66 Wellington St. W., 416-364-1211, oliverbonacini.com.
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- Scotch Mountain lamb patties with Ontario tomato jam and minted crème fraîche on a Yorkshire pudding cup. $3 each. Sequel, 105 Vanderhoof Ave., Unit 8, 416-480-0996, sequel.ca.
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- Grilled Guernsey Girl cheese on toast with a piquillo pepper salad. $3.25 each. Dish Cooking Studio, 390 Dupont St., 416-920‑5559, dishcookingstudio.com.
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- Heirloom tomato soup with a grilled cheddar cheese sandwich triangle. Served in an espresso cup. $3.50 each. Bite Catering, 416-222-2483, bitecatering.com.
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- Citrus-dressed lobster with pickled ginger, jicama, mango and key lime in a crisp beet shell. $4.60 each. North 44° Caters, 2537 Yonge St., 416-487‑4897, ext. 3, north44caters.com.
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- Chopped beef tenderloin mixed with capers and sweet onion, topped with a quail egg. $4 each. Couture Cuisine and Event Artistry, 185 Graydon Hall Dr., 416-449-5432, couture-cuisine.com.
