ET LØFTE EVENTS

Thursday

DELANEY & CANDIDO:
TAKING THE 'TYPICAL' OUT OF 'WEDDING'

Photos by Stephen Elms Photography

When I first sat down with Delaney and Candido, the Portuguese couple were adamant about one thing. They wanted a unique experience for their guests. Delaney, who works at The Hospital for Sick Children and Candido, a police officer, wanted to align their food with Portuguese tradition -- lots of food coupled with a seafood buffet. And so they had chosen Europa Convention Centre's downtown location in 'Little Portugal' as their venue. But making their food a priority brought on one big challenge for the couple.

It was a venue that hosted a lot of Portuguese weddings and the couple wanted anything but a "typical Portuguese wedding".

And so This Planner designed a wedding for Delaney and Candido that would not only set their wedding apart from what their guests would be anticipating but that also was child-friendly and reflected the couple's personalities: Delaney -- fun loving, passionate about children and obsessed with shoes, and Candido -- a laid back police officer with tongue-in-cheek humour. And both shared a love for espresso.

For the wedding day, the Bride donned a Jim Helm French Lace gown and cathedral length veil (changing later to a fabulous lime fascinator for the reception) and green pumps. Her son Nathan, also the Ring Bearer, let his personality shine with green Converse sneakers. The Groom channeled 'suave' in his Harry Rosen suit yet kept things light-hearted with his accessories.

The ceremony was held at St. Agnes Church in Little Portugal. Guests were given bubbles to float as the Bride and Groom walked the aisle.

For the reception, the colours of lime green and purple were evident and vibrant in everything from the centerpieces to the linens. Choosing to mix things up a bit structurally with alternating round and square tables, we had the centerpieces alternate as well -- one made up of curly willow, florals and crystals and the other made up of bamboo, florals and teardrop candles -- to keep the guests' visuals enticed. And enticed they were -- Sherwin from Petals and Twigs put his creativity to task in creating the stunning floral designs.

Keeping in mind Candido's profession as a police officer and Delaney's sense of humour, we created a guestbook out of actual speeding tickets for the guests to write. The Seating Arrangements were showcased on Firing Range Target designed by Koket Designs. And their blend of personalities were displayed atop their card box.

For the guests' favours, the couple gave away espresso beans by Barzula for the adults and an assortment of goodies for the many children that were present. The aroma of the espresso paired nicely with the aroma of the sliced mango and vanilla wedding cake designed by Andy's Wedding Cakes.

Then there were the interactive elements. We wanted to tap into Delaney's playful side and love for children, but also to keep guests entertained throughout the evening. A throw-back to our own childhood, Cootie-catchers with trivia about the couple rested on tabletops. Brad from Skip A Beat Entertainment kept guests guessing with a "Who Wants to Be A Millionaire" Kissing Game (not to mention crowding the dance floor later in the evening) and Bobby Motta from Motta Magic roamed the cocktail hour flabergasting guests with his illusions. Later in the evening, the backdrop behind the Head Table drew back to reveal Motta Magic, returning for a full parlour show.

Guests entering the banquet room were overheard gushing about the vibrant and stunning visuals, personalized detail and entertaining aspects... giving Delaney and Candido exactly what they wanted: a unique experience for their guests setting them apart from "a typical wedding".