Shayna + Adam by Hunter Naus

I envisioned a romantic, Victorian-inspired soirée.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’ve been together for 6.5 years and got engaged in New York City under the Brooklyn Bridge — such a special place since NYC is one of Shayna’s favourites! This summer, we bought and renovated our first home, turning it into our dream space together. We love to travel (our honeymoon is taking us to Japan!) and we’re major foodies, always on the hunt for new restaurants and dishes to try. At home, life revolves around our three cats, who we adore.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met 6.5 years ago at the gym, while Adam was home recovering from surgery. Our story started with a prank — his friend slipped my number into Adam’s coat pocket without telling him. That night, I “found” Adam’s number in my coat and texted him, jokingly saying, “hey, you left this in my pocket ;)”. He was completely confused until his friends confessed to the prank. We all laughed, kept texting, and by the time we went on our first date, the rest was history!

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding.

I envisioned a romantic, Victorian-inspired soirée that would complement the beauty of our venue, The Lune 1860. Being a DIY bride, I designed and styled everything myself — from thrifting décor to creating all our signage. Instead of traditional florals, we styled with fruit for a dark, bold, moody palette that matched the venue’s atmosphere perfectly.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you?

The venue itself was truly the star. Its architecture wowed our guests, and our ceremony in front of the fountain created the most magical backdrop. For dinner, we set long harvest-style serpentine tables in the yard so everyone could sit together, paired with gourmet wood-oven pizza for a laid-back vibe our guests loved. Later, the celebration moved into the Lune’s newly renovated loft, complete with a cozy fire pit. For photography, I wanted a balance of editorial and candid, capturing both elevated moments and the natural joy of the day — photos that let us relive the memories as they happened.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

I genuinely loved planning! Starting a year out, I leaned into TikTok DIYs and curated a detailed Pinterest board to keep each part of the day organised. My biggest advice: trust your gut. Don’t give in to the pressure of the wedding industry — do what feels like you as a couple. When your day reflects your personality, it feels so much more special, and you’ll be so much happier soaking it all in.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We were lucky with every single vendor. The Lune 1860 was extraordinary — it felt like a European destination wedding, but right here in Ontario. Our DJ was incredible too, playing nostalgic 2015–2016 EDM tracks that brought us right back to our college years and kept the dance floor packed all night.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

I found my dream dress — a Mirror Palais designer gown — secondhand on Depop! I’ve always been a thrifty person, so finding something so unique and perfect for our venue’s aesthetic while thrifting online felt like fate. It was exactly what I wanted: distinctive, romantic, and completely “me.”

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

My engagement ring is a custom piece from Avlis. We stumbled into their shop one day, and I spotted a style I loved in their case. Silva, the owner, helped us redesign it to make it mine. Since green is my favourite colour, we chose a green moissanite centre stone surrounded by diamonds for a timeless, vintage-inspired look. Silva’s artistry turned it into the most beautiful and meaningful piece I could’ve imagined.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on?

The venue was non-negotiable — The Lune 1860 was our dream, so we built everything around it. Food was also really important to us. We loved having the wood-oven pizza truck, which was a huge hit, and for our late-night snack, we surprised everyone with McDonald’s — cheeseburgers, fries, and nuggets. It was such a fun, personal touch, and our guests loved it!

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

One of the most meaningful moments was exchanging our personal vows in private that morning — it gave us time to breathe and soak in the day together. Another was dinner: sitting back, watching our guests laugh, eat, and enjoy themselves at one long table. Those moments of love and connection are the ones we’ll cherish forever.