This was my first big wedding of the season and I couldn’t have asked for a better couple to spend it with. This spring wedding at Le Belvedere in Wakefield was to die for. So many beautiful details and so much fun.

The day started off at the Guest House where the bridesmaids got dressed and helped the bride into her beautiful wedding dress, with all the finishing touches.

Can we talk about how gorgeous this ring is?! I remember swooning over it at Robin and Sourena’s engagement session last fall. So. Pretty.

Robin and Sourena decided to do a first look, just outside the Guest House in the forest. Sourena, looking handsome, patiently waited for his bride to be to come join him.

Following their first look, we headed up to the ceremony site to meet the bride’s brother, who would be legally marrying them before the official ceremony. Sourena is Persian, and the couple decided they wanted to incorporate some of the cultural traditions into their ceremony. As a result, they had the bride’s brother ordained so he could marry them during a small ceremony before all of the guests arrived.

If you’ve never been to the Belvedere, it is a place like no other. You literally feel like you’re sitting on top of a cloud, in another world. Definitely doesn’t feel like a hop, skip and jump from Ottawa. Following their real “I-do’s”, we explored the grounds of Le Belvedere and took photos with the wedding party.

Meanwhile, the final set up was complete outdoors, as guests started to arrive.

The Sofreh table was set with many traditional elements and decorated to reflect the bride and groom’s style. So many beautiful elements!

With the ceremony ready to commence, guests were seated, the bride’s brother played his guitar, and the bride and her father walked down the aisle.

It’s tradition for a beautiful sugar cloth to be held over the bride and groom’s head by married women relatives and friends. Each take a turn to rub sugar cones together overtop of the cloth, to shower their marriage with sweetness.

After the exchange of rings, the bride and groom each dip their finger into a cup of honey and offer each other a little more sweetness in their married lives ahead. Loved this moment so much!!

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed cocktail hour before moving indoors for the beautiful reception.

This beauty cake by Thimble Cakes. Like, wow. Amazing. Almost too pretty to cut into!

We snuck out during the reception for one final stroll around Le Belvedere while the sun was setting.

I could not have asked for a better way to start my 2018 wedding season. I am so grateful for couples like Robin and Sourena who are lighthearted, easy going, and want their wedding to feel like a celebration with all their family and friends. Congrats you two – can we do it all over again??

 

Wedding team

Wedding dress: Mod Cloth
Florist: Scentimental Flowers
Hair stylist: Showpony 
Makeup artist: Kristen Leitch
Venue: Le Belvedere