Emily & Matt Leasa
MARRIED AUGUST 20, 2021
THE BEGINNING
How did you two meet?
We are what you would call a modern love story. Five years ago we swiped right! On our first date, we quickly learned that we were a perfect match and officially started dating the following month.
THE PROPOSAL
How did Matt pop the question?
In early 2020, Matt and I were in Punta Cana heading to catch the sunset on the beach. We walked along the shoreline to a private area with umbrellas, where Matt got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was the perfect setting. He knew that I wouldn’t want to be the centre of attention, and that I would want a private moment just between the two of us. We let all of our family and friends know by FaceTime later that night, and then the two of us spent the remainder of our week in paradise celebrating our engagement!
THE PLANNING
What made you choose St. Marys Weddings as your wedding venue?
Planning started right away, upon our return home from vacation. I had my eye on The St. Marys Golf & Country Club for a couple reasons. My coworker's son had recently gotten married there and they had AMAZING things to say about the venue. Another bonus for us was that the venue was located between London and Stratford, which was a central location for both of our families. In early March 2020, Matt and I attended a bridal show in London (where SMGCC was an exhibitor), and as soon as I met and had an instant connection with Ashton, I knew for sure that St. Marys Weddings was where we would get married. We toured the venue the following week, and we fell in love with The Hideaway. The exposed beams and garage doors suited my earthy vision perfectly, and I could vividly picture the whole look. It was a done deal!
Who did you work with for your decor and floral?
Our wedding planning process started off virtual, because as soon as we booked the venue and secured our date, Ontario went into lockdown. After meeting most of our vendors through Zoom and getting the overall vision into motion, things really came together when we were able to select our decor and floral options in person.
Kim from Above & Beyond Event Design and Decor truly made our design come to life. We wanted a soft and romantic look, with greenery accents and loads of candlelight. Both our ceremony and reception design incorporated ivory drapery, with delicate features like crystal chandeliers, glass charger plates, and acrylic pedestals. Our harvest head table was softened with an ivory chiffon runner down the middle, and the backs of our bride and groom chairs were adorned with ivory sheer panels. One of our favourite design elements was the gorgeous photo lounge that doubled as the podium backdrop. Kim affixed a neon sign reading ‘Better Together’ to a gold infinity grid, and placed a sheepskin rug and velvet wingback chair to finish the look. Everything was arranged so beautifully for us - and Kim delivered a look that was better than we could have imagined!
For our floral design, we worked with Lyric Flowers, and they completely went over and above all of our floral musts - pampas grass, a rose petal aisle, and lots of white with muted pink. I couldn’t believe how stunning everything looked on the day of our wedding. The arrangements on the ceremony pergola and on the photo lounge backdrop were just breathtaking, and the proteas in my bouquet were so unique.
During the entire process, SMGCC, Above & Beyond, and Lyric Flowers all worked behind the scenes as a team, ensuring that our whole vision was pulled together perfectly. This collaboration makes the planning process so much easier, enjoyable, and seamless for couples!
What other vendors did you work with?
For photography, we worked with the amazing Haley Thuss, and for videography, we worked with Andrew of Amotion Films - both of whom, respectively, did an unbelievable job on our photo gallery and wedding video. For ceremony music, we worked with Duo Strings, and for our reception, we worked with AK productions (and Alex, himself, kept the party going all night long!).
THE ATTIRE
Who designed your wedding dress?
By the time I found my dress, I had tried on about 20 dresses from a couple different boutiques. Heading into my final appointment at Sophie’s Gown Shoppe in Kitchener, I had a fitted mermaid design in mind, and that’s the the style I ended up with. When I tried on my Maggie Sottero dress, the sample fit me perfectly and helped me envision myself as a bride. My Mom and sister were there for the appointment, and as I was saying ‘yes to the dress’, my Mom surprised me with an envelope from my late Grandma (who had given it to my Mom before she passed a few months earlier). It was such a special gift knowing that my Grandma was a part of our big day.
What did the rest of the wedding party wear?
To pair with our modern and romantic vibe, Matt wore a black tux with a black bow tie from Joseph's Clothiers. My sister (who was my maid of honour) wore a floor length navy blue gown from Sophie’s Gown Shoppe. We decided on having a small bridal party (just our siblings), and as honorary bridesmaids (who didn’t stand up with me), I also included my best girlfriends all in different shades of jewel tones.
THE BIG DAY
How did your day unfold?
The night before our wedding, my girlfriends and I spent a night at a local hotel, and stayed up way later than we should have (it was too much fun!). In the morning, we headed right for SMGCC, to get ready for hair and makeup in the Bridal Suite. We enjoyed a catered lunch from the venue’s restaurant Social Thirty-One, which was so convenient, since everything we needed was available onsite.
Mid-afternoon, Matt and I had our first look in the Town of St. Marys, and in that moment, all of my nerves instantly went away! With having most of our newlywed photos, wedding party photos, and family photos complete before the ceremony, we were able to join our cocktail reception early. And since we got around to chatting with many of our guests early in the night, we were able to fully enjoy our dinner and dance party!
What are some of the moments from your day that stand out?
One of the biggest moments that stands out to me was being able to celebrate with family and friends, after months of social restrictions that came with the pandemic. At times it felt like our wedding was never going to happen. On the day of our wedding, SMGCC did such a great job of (responsibly) making it feel like COVID was in the past, and I was able to have a blast with my loved ones without worrying about the stress of the pandemic. The team at St. Marys took care of EVERY detail, coordinated all the moving pieces perfectly, and kept the entire day and evening on track. Matt and I were truly able to sit back and enjoy every moment without having to worry about a thing.
How would you describe your wedding experience?
SMGCC truly made our day unforgettable! Being a COVID bride came with a lot of stress, but I always felt in the best hands with the St. Marys team and I knew that, regardless of the circumstances, they would make our day so special. My Mom and sister used to joke that I would be a bridezilla; and now, looking back on our day, they can confidently say that I was not the stressed out bride they thought I would be - and that is ALL because of SMGCC.
Taryn was our planner, and she was such a pro. I never felt stressed at any point in the planning, since she was there to answer any question I had, or adjust any detail due to postponements. Taryn has now become a good friend of mine! I’ll also never forget how comforting it was to have Ashton with me before I walked down the aisle. She calmed my nerves, and emphasized how beautiful I looked. From Ashton, to Taryn, to the entire St. Marys Team, everyone was so genuine, kind and responsive from day one. We can’t thank SMGCC enough for everything they did to make our dream wedding come true. You couldn’t ask for more in a wedding venue!
