It turns out, wandering in the desert is romantic! On a trip to California, Alexa and Eric went for a hike in Josha Tree National Park. The trek turned into a bit of an odyssey when they discovered they’d gotten lost. As they sorted themselves out, Alexa realized Eric was the one because she still loved him after being lost for hours!
Not long after their adventure, Eric accepted a new job in Chicago. The physical distance only made their relationship stronger – they created two homes instead of one and spent as much time together in person and online as possible. A year later, back home in Toronto, these two got engaged by the water overlooking the city skyline, then celebrated with dinner at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
Designing a Custom Dress
With plans for a wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Toronto in the works, Alexa set out in search of a one-of-a-kind classic wedding dress. At our flagship bridal boutique, she met her match with help from our owner Vanessa! “I was so excited to “blend” two different Lea-Ann gowns and put my own special touches on it (Swarovski crystals embellished into the dainty straps, elegant lace from France along the bodice, etc.).” When her dress was ready, “I couldn’t stop smiling when I put on my gown and felt so comfortable & fully myself! So grateful to Vanessa for her patience and kindness as we designed my perfect gown.”
Read all about how Alexa and Eric met and get some excellent planning advice from our vibrant bride below!
How did the two of you meet?
Could you share your engagement story?
Tell us about finding your gown! What made you realize it was perfect?
I had the honour of designing a custom gown with Vanessa at Lea-Ann Belter’s Toronto bridal shop. I wanted a gown that was elegant, timeless, and uniquely mine. I was so excited to “blend” two different Lea-Ann gowns, and put my own special touches on it (Swarovski crystals embellished into the dainty straps, elegant lace from France along the bodice, etc.). I couldn’t stop smiling when I put on my gown and felt so comfortable & fully myself! So grateful to Vanessa for her patience and kindness as we designed my perfect gown.
What feeling or atmosphere did you want to create for your celebration?
Any advice for couples currently planning their wedding?
Eric and I made an intentional decision to focus on “the marriage” and not just “the wedding”. Wedding planning can be incredibly consuming, and we wanted to enjoy the process while maintaining a focus on our relationship and love story. Our wedding date was October 26, 2025, and so each month on the 26th, we would have a little celebration/date night to toast another month closer to our big day. My advice is to enjoy the wedding planning process, celebrate all the moments big and small and maintain a focus on your relationship and the marriage that comes after the wedding! We have so many incredible memories of all the celebrations leading up to the wedding day- (bridesmaids proposals, saying ‘yes to the dress’, menu tastings with our families, engagement party, etc.), and we loved sharing these special memories with our friends and family along the way.
Alexa + Eric's Toronto Wedding Vendors
wedding dress: custom gown via the Lea-Ann Belter flagship Toronto bridal shop | photographer: Jessilynn Wong | venue: Ritz-Carlton Toronto
Did You Wear a Lea-Ann Belter Wedding Dress?
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