We wanted the day to be about love
How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?
I hired Rafaël to build a structure for an artwork I was working on. In the process, the technical talk kept giving way to something with more depth, our conversations running long past these short meetings, so I asked him to get a bite to eat. We had our first date at Vices & Versa, a regular night at that bar that two years later would become the place where we tied the knot. By our third date, we were standing in the noise of a Bruce Springsteen concert. Many dates, hangouts and cooking dinner for one another followed, until the quiet realisation that we wanted to do the rest of this life together.
What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).
The thing that we felt was the most important was the little personal details we added to the evening. We wanted the day to be about love, but not only about us; we also wanted our guests to feel included and loved and that they were a big part of this too. We handwrote a note for every guest. These were found by the bar with a little frame that said: “Why you’re here today”. The notes were short and heartfelt. These truly set the tone for the evening. Live music from both our cultures was also something special that connected us back to our roots and lit up the room.
What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?
Take your time, you don’t have to do it all yourself, you don’t have to do what everyone is doing, make it personal and specific. We enjoyed planning it, and it was also very challenging at times!
Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?
Our Florist and photographer!!! Two incredible artists. Reuben is not just a florist; he’s a stylist with incredible vision that can transform a space into something unique and magical. Alessandra’s approach and balance between being there and letting moments happen is delightful. Her photographs are timeless, ones you can look back to in fifty years and they still feel relevant, not trendy. A true master in motion.
Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?
The outer layer of my dress was thrifted at my favourite local vintage shop, in Montréal Seconde. There was no slip or layer underneath, so my mom took her wedding dress out and suggested we try to blend them, and that’s what we did. The slip and silk layers underneath come from my mom’s wedding dress. We also changed the glass pearls on the dress for freshwater pearls. It was very special having a piece of my mom’s history and my own with me that day.
Raf wore his late grandfather’s gold watch, and his silk scarf was made by one of our friends who is a textile artist, Charlotte Gachet. She hand-painted a square of silk and made two scarves out of it – one for Raf and one for me to keep.
Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.
Raf drew my engagement ring that then Marmo brought to life. A sapphire and a diamond – the blue of the sapphire is the same blue as the Frida Kahlo house that I grew up close to in Mexico City. Our wedding bands were made by Marmo, both in platinum and a little irregular, as her signature jewellery.
What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).
Florals and open bar!
Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always.
Our first dance, and forgetting everyone else was there. The energy that the Marichi and Dabke brought to the night. Our loved ones’ speeches.
What does being married mean to you, and are there any special rituals you have that you would like to share?
For us, it means choosing to be hopeful in life.
LOCATION Vices & Versa, Montréal, Canada, @vicesetversa BRIDE Monse, @monsemuro GROOM Raf, @raf.khoury PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHER Alessandra Jennifer Ross, @alessandrajennifer CONTENT CREATOR Anna Ross – The Vow Edit, @_thevowedit STYLIST & PLANNER By the couple ON-THE-DAY COORDINATOR The Party Fairy, @the.partyfairy FLORIST Reuben Mark Stewart, @reubenmarkstewart CELEBRANT Groom’s Cousin, Nabil, @__nakl__ ENTERTAINMENT Couple’s Friends – Canada, @canada.gov.ca; Bar Datcha, @bardatcha HIRE & CATERING Vices & Versa, @vicesetversa CAKE By sister-in-law, Regis Pappa, @bakedbyregis SIGNAGE By our friend, Charlie Doyon, @charlie__doyon RINGS Marie-Maude Brunet, @marmojewelry OTHER SIGNIFICANT JEWELLERY Groom’s gold watch from his late grandfather BRIDE’S CEREMONY OUTFIT Dress’ Outer Layer – Seconde Vintage, @seconde.vintage; Silk layers underneath constructed from her mother’s wedding dress form the 90’s BRIDE’S RECEPTION DRESS Azazie, @azazieofficial BRIDE’S SHOES Aldo, @aldo_shoes BRIDE’S ACCESSORIES Ceremony – Real freshwater pearls purchased from Etsy, @etsy; Reception – Custom Made Mohair Bow by crochet artist, Anne-Marie Soucy, @amsoucy HAIR & MAKEUP Jess Cohen, @jesscohen___ BRIDE’S FRAGRANCE Balmy Summer – Merge, @mergegoods GROOM’S SUIT Officine Générale, @officinegenerale GROOM’S ACCESSORIES Custom oil scarf by textile artist, Charlotte Gachet, @charlottegachet GROOM’S FRAGRANCE 7 – Loewe, @loewe
