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W E D L U X E | Toronto Edition134

salvatore leonetti

salon styled the

bride’s hair, and gee

beauty and medulla

& co. yorkville

provided makeup

services.

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Lauren menkes and will dempster were introduced by mutual friends while attending a toronto international film festival party. The two had an instant connection and spent the entire night chatting. “We both knew from the start that we had

something special between us,” says Lauren. The couple were engaged in San Cassiano, a ski resort village in Italy. Will used to spend his winters working in the village for a luxury travel company and Lauren was visiting him on holiday at the time. The pair had just woken up when Will surprised Lauren with a proposal on a beautiful sunny morning. “We spent the rest of the day celebrating and taking in the views of the magical Italian town,” Lauren recalls.

Lauren and Will were married on October 18th, 2014 at the royal ontario museum (rom) in Toronto. Martina Stritesky of white bow events was hired to provide full-service planning and design assistance for the autumn celebration. The couple looked to Martina to orchestrate a wedding that felt intimate yet grand and reflected the fall season. “The vision was a luxurious and cozy, fall setting,” the couple shares. “We wanted to bring guests into a historic space but make it extremely personal at the same time with all of the details.”

On the morning of the wedding, Lauren got ready a short stroll away from the museum at the four seasons hotel toronto. She wore a beautiful, vintage-inspired beaded gown designed by Jenny Packham, purchased from white toronto. She accessorized her dress with diamond drop earrings and a diamond bracelet belonging to her mother that served as her “something borrowed.” Her pear-shaped diamond engagement ring with an Art Deco feel was created by a family jeweller.

Lauren and Will’s traditional Jewish ceremony and formal reception was hosted in Bronfman Hall at the rom.

photography by:

WA N D E R I N G E Y EP H O T O G R A P H Y

L A U R E NW I L L

and

S E A S O N A L D E TA I L S A N D A R I C H A U T U M N A L C O L O U R PA L E T T E

E V O K E T H E R O M A N C E O F F A L L

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palettera custom correspondences designed the wedding stationery,

including a custom monogram of the couple’s initials that was

incorporated across the day-of stationery.

Bill Fulghum of william fulghum

design associates provided

full-service design management for

the wedding. Bill worked closely with

floral designer Lidia Tacconelli of

fiori floral and event design who

produced the floral for the occasion,

including Lauren’s bouquet that

featured a romantic mix of cream

and white blooms tied with a luxe

trailing ribbon. Bridesmaids carried

flowers in blush tones that matched

their dresses.

Will was dressed in a classic black

Ermenegildo Zegna tuxedo and

Prada shoes. His cufflinks, a wedding

gift from Lauren’s mother, were

designed by Jan Leslie.

Bridesmaids wore different styles of

floor-length Amsale dresses in

barely-there shades of pink from

white toronto.

“It was a nighttime ceremony, so we had plenty of candlelight to add warmth to the room.” –lauren

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The couple recited vows under a

spectacular chuppah in the epicenter

of the space. The chuppah was made

with countless magnolia leaves and

was big enough to fit both of their

immediate families who were an

integral part of the ceremony. Lauren

describes the setting as “magical.”

A white carpet runner from reznick

carpets with a soft gold border was

placed down the centre of the room

and framed with rows of gold Louis

Ghost chairs from contemporary

furniture rentals inc. Tall white

stands adorned with pillar candles

and bountiful leaves beautifully lined

the aisle.

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W E D L U X E | Toronto Edition

The couple offered their guests two

signature drinks during cocktail hour;

a “Sweet Lauren” aperol-based

cocktail and a “Spicy Will” margarita.

Drinks were served with custom stir

sticks and napkins that showcased

the couple’s personalized monogram.

Escort cards with three-dimensional

flowers were elegantly displayed on

a table with magnolia leaf

arrangements in mirrored containers

and pillar candles housed in

amber-coloured, glass holders.

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The couple’s wedding dream team (Bill Fulghum of william fulghum design associates, Lidia Tacconelli of fiori floral and event design, and Martina Stritesky of white bow events) transformed the Currelly Gallery into a sophisticated, autumn oasis for the reception. Lighting/AV services were provided by westbury national.

Dining tables were covered with chestnut-coloured linens and paired with a mix of gold Chiavari chairs from chair-man mills and mahogany chairs from detailz couture event rentals. Long tables were decorated with low centrepieces

that featured roses, magnolia, and mums in shades of white. The arrangements were accented with rich copper and green magnolia leaves along with feathers for an unexpected twist. Round tables were topped with lush, tree-like arrangements overflowing with magnolia branches and leaves. Place settings featured gold-beaded glass charger plates adorned with leaf-inspired, copper menus. A custom dance floor with a leaf design was printed and installed by dance floor décor. Giant pillar candles housed in glass cylinders and hundreds of twinkling votive candles gave the space a soft, warm glow.

FABULOUS FALL

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AUTUMNSPLENDORdaniel et daniel event creation & catering served a seasonal meal that included an entrée of black cod with pistachio pesto, yellow tomato sauce, brussel sprouts, apple, red onion, and squash parisi-enne.

A sweet table filled with fall-inspired desserts was provided by nadia & co~. Guests could indulge their sweet tooth with caramel apples, mini pumpkin pies, chestnut éclairs, salted caramel French macarons, and more. The couple commissioned a number of musical performers for the wedding, including a jazz band for cocktail hour and an 8-piece band for the reception (both from grooveyard). DJ Guillaume Viau spun music at the ‘after-party’ hosted in the Rotunda. “We had great music and dancing throughout the evening that continued into the after-party,” recalls Lauren.

“We had the rom stay open extra late to keep the dancing going.” images weddings captured the entire event on film, having been commissioned by the couple to create a wedding keepsake video.

Lauren and Will tell us they couldn’t have been happier with how their wedding unfolded. “It was a day filled with love,” share the newlyweds.

to see more, visit

R E / S O U R C E

W ED LUX E . COM

At the end of the celebration,

everyone took home butter

tarts and mini apple pies from

nadia & co~ as a tasty,

on-theme wedding takeaway.

Have cameras (lots of them actually), and will

travel just about anywhere to capture your special

day. I love people, I love their energy and I love

capturing their special moments through the eye

of my lens.

WAND E R I N G E Y E . C A | 416.451.3438

A B O U T T H E P H O T O G R A P H E R

Wandering Eye Photography

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