Sarah & Kori were a breath of fresh air during a very uncertain time full of chaos and unknowns. I watched Sarah herself struggle at the beginning of her wedding planning process because she was trying to please so many different people. But every time I asked her “what do you actually want for your day” she would come back to being barefoot in the forest with a few close friends/family.
So after multiple rounds of revisions & new plans because of the pandemic, Sarah & Kori ultimately ended up tying the knot in the forest surrounded by 30 of their closest family and friends. And I am pretty sure Sarah was barefoot, and even got to snuggle with the venues friendly cat for the duration of their stay.
I’d like to believe that deep down even with all the grief and manic that the pandemic brought, it ended up giving Sarah & Kori their dream wedding after all.
Let me tell you a few reasons why their wedding will forever stand out in my mind as one of the most unique wedding day experiences ever.
01. the venue
Not a traditional wedding venue, Muskoka Beer Spa was the perfect backdrop for Sarah & Kori’s laid back forest dreams. With individual cabins for their guests, an abundance of trees, and a unique communal area with pergola lounges that we utilized for the bar, food stations & seating; guests were able to feel safe & properly distanced while still being able to have fun together.
02. the personalized touches
Sarah & Kori’s day was filled with so many beautiful moments that the two of them shared together. From a first look & private personalized vow reading, to their private first dance in the woods after their ceremony. They made sure to give themselves lots of alone time as well as time with their loved ones to soak in every single second of the magic together.
03. the upscale relaxed vibe
The venue offered such a unique relaxed vibe already, but Sarah & Kori’s plans really enhanced this experience for their guests so much more. With a standing ceremony in the forest, allowing guests to stand where they felt comfortable rather than squishing together in chairs for 30 minutes. An assortment of relaxed comfort food, complete with the charcuterie platter of my dreams and more pizza than I think anyone was ready for, helped guests mingle and go up for food when they wanted it. Picnic tables, custom lounges and lots of space to mingle allowed for that “just hanging out at your friends” vibe just with fancier outfits 🙂
I am extremely grateful to Sarah & Kori for fully trusting my ability to bring their vision to life and curate this unique experience for them and their guests to relive in their hearts over and over again. Straying from traditional expectations about what your wedding needs to look like makes my heart happy. Because your wedding isn’t about anyone else but you, and all I want for anyone getting married is to stay true to who they are as a couple.
Now that the world is changing again, and weddings are able to have more people once again, are you going back to your 200 person guest list? Or are you loving the smaller guest count after everything we just endured for the last few years?
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V E N D O R L O V E
Planning, design, rentals by our team
Photography: Maddie Mellott Photography
Florals: Flower Treasures
Stationery & Signage: Vertala Design Co
Venue: Muskoka BeerSpa
Hair/Makeup: Jordan Ashley MUA
Platter: Platter Smash
Pizza: Pie Woodfire Pizza
And our favourite officiant Katie, from Simcoe Weddings, may she rest in peace