Classic family focused country wedding in Toronto

We were thrilled to feature the beautiful wedding of the very talented Lisa from Toronto based florist SWEET WOODRUFF in Issue 14 of the MAGAZINE. Lisa & Geoff’s country wedding was a true family affair. “We wanted it to feel formal, but still comfortable, elegant but understated, natural, romantic and refined.” As a florist in the wedding industry, Lisa had no shortage of willing helpers, and her entire family and staff played a big part in setting up their wedding – which was held 40 minutes north of Toronto in the heritage buildings of the Alton Mill Arts Centre. In fact, many of the vendors involved were close friends and colleagues. Together with her ‘team’, Lisa spent the days prior to the wedding foraging local fields to create statement centrepieces and a large greenery aisle runner. In addition, her brother-in-law is a chef and generously offered to cater the event, a close friend was part of the band that entertained the guests and their wedding planner was also a close friend so they had things covered with their inner circle. “Making my own bouquet with my girlfriends while sipping mimosas on the morning of my wedding is one of my favourite memories of the day.” And speaking of memories, they’ll have plenty to look back on with these beautiful images by JESSICA ROSE PHOTO.

“Being a florist and stylist the flowers were, of course, so important to me. Doing this for a living also helped me narrow down what I wanted. I think if I didn’t get to make beautiful arrangements every weekend I never would have been able to make up my mind. But I was pretty clear from the very beginning that I wanted something fairly classic. Green and white. Lots of foliage. Natural and garden-inspired.”

HOW DID YOU MEET? Geoff and I met in Chicago in 2010. We were both coincidentally there with our friends to go to Lollapalooza. Both from Toronto. We met randomly in the crowd and have been together since that night. Fate.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROPOSAL? Geoff proposed to me twice. First in Chicago in August 2014 (we go back every year for our anniversary) we were headed back to our hotel after going to see a ballgame and in the street he asked if I wanted to go pick out my ring! We cried in the street. The next day was spent window shopping.

But Geoff is traditional, and he wanted to have a “real” proposal, with a ring, down on one knee (he’s so cute). So we came home from Chicago and he asked me to wait for the “real” proposal… So I waited and waited. Finally, almost 5 months later, when I thought maybe he had changed his mind, he managed to surprise me and proposed in my flower store, with our song playing, filled with hundreds of flickering candles. It was perfect. Both proposals were.

DESCRIBE YOUR WEDDING FLOWERS: Being a florist and stylist the flowers were, of course so important to me. Doing this for a living also helped me narrow down what I wanted. I think if I didn’t get to make beautiful arrangements every weekend I never would have been able to make up my mind. But I was pretty clear from the very beginning that I wanted something fairly classic. Green and white. Lots of foliage. Natural and garden-inspired.

ANY DIY ELEMENTS? Lots! It was truly a family affair! My whole family and staff were huge help in setting up. And because I own a floral and décor business I was really fortunate to already own vases, linen, candles, and a lot of the other décor that we used – that saved us a ton on our overall budget. My brother-in-law is a chef and he generously offered to cater for us. My close family friend is the drummer of the band we hired. Our wedding planner is a close friend and colleague.

My favourite DYI element was the large foraged foliage statement centrepieces and greenery aisle runner. Because we got married in the country, there were ample fields to forage in. The day before the wedding, my bridesmaid Julie, my friend Cara (who had flown in all the way from Australia), my aunt and uncle, dad, bother, mother and family friends all went out foraging. There was a torrential downpour and we were drenched! But everyone was in such good spirits and we had so much fun making all the arrangements together. (And it was especially hilarious to watch my husband, dad, brother and uncle furiously trying to make flower arrangements!)

TELL US ABOUT FINDING YOUR WEDDING DRESS: My mom and I flew down to Chicago for a girls shopping weekend after I got engaged! It seemed fitting that my both dress and ring be from Chicago.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WEDDING? Many elements drove how we wanted our wedding to look and feel. Season, venue, our personal style, and the type of celebration we wanted to throw for our friends and family were probably the biggest influences. We wanted it to feel formal, but still comfortable; elegant but understated; natural, romantic and
refined.

FAVOURITE DETAIL OF THE DAY: Making my own bouquet with my girlfriends while sipping mimosas on the morning of my wedding.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A COUPLE PLANNING THEIR WEDDING? What I tell all my brides: Hire a planner if you can afford it. Be realistic about your expectations vs. your budget. Enjoy the process, the time you get to spend with family and friends, the chaos, the joy.

MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT? Our ceremony. Walking down the aisle to Geoff. Saying our vows. I will remember those minutes for the rest of my life.