Confucianism class during their last year at Queen’s University was the first time Stephanie and Ryan met. But it was a chance meeting six years later that sparked the beginning of their lifelong romance.
These two call the east end of Toronto home, so when they got engaged on Christmas morning, it seemed natural to marry there, too. Stephanie is a teacher, and the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse resonated with them both.
Stephanie’s search for a clean, classic wedding dress led her to our flagship Toronto boutique, where she found just the right gown in Saffira. “I had booked a few different dress shops to try dresses on and the experience I had at Lea-Ann Belter was unmatched. Vanessa listened to everything I had to say when I tried on each dress and paid attention to how I was looking at myself in the mirror. Vanessa made the entire experience worry free and easy. I even got to customize my dress by adding a removable sleeve which gave me two looks for my dress throughout my wedding day.”
More of their story—including that Christmas morning proposal and some great wedding planning advice—from our sweet bride and groom is below:
How did you two get engaged?
“Stephanie: We got engaged on Christmas morning of 2022.
Ryan: She was in a bit of a grumpy mood as I wanted to get up and do a workout to calm my nerves whereas Stephanie wanted to drink coffee and eat cinnamon buns while we opened presents.”
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Saffira via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photography Rose Vine Studios | scroll down for full vendor list
What is your favorite thing about each other?
“Stephanie: His sense of humour. He makes me laugh every single day!
Ryan: She stole my answer!”
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
“We thought it would be special to have wedding photos of our parents, grandparents, and older siblings on display.”
Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?
“Stephanie: I knew I wanted to keep things simple as my style has always been clean and classic. The day I went dress shopping, I had booked a few different dress shops to try dresses on and the experience I had at Lea-Ann Belter was unmatched. Vanessa listened to everything I had to say when I tried on each dress and paid attention to how I was looking at myself in the mirror. Vanessa made the entire experience worry free and easy. I even got to customize my dress by adding a removable sleeve which gave me two looks for my dress throughout my wedding day.
Ryan: I wanted my look to be classic but with a little bit of personality. I opted to go with a black suit from State & Liberty that I dressed up a bit with black buttons on my dress shirt, a bow tie, and a pair of loafers, courtesy of Crossover Footwear.”
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
“When we walked into Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, we couldn’t help but fall in love with the charm of the building. It’s such a beautiful hidden gem in the city.”
What was your first dance song?
“Our first dance song was “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” by Frankie Valli. The lyrics speak for themselves, and we loved the change of tempo throughout the song. We even took a dance lesson so that we had a couple of moves for the upbeat parts of the song.”
Where did you honeymoon?
“Stephanie: We haven’t had a chance to go on a honeymoon yet as I am a teacher and our wedding fell right before report card season! We have two weeks booked in St. Martin in the summertime!”
Any tips for couples getting married?
“Ryan: The big items are actually the easiest. The little things take up the most time! Be organized and stick to a checklist!
Stephanie: Divide and conquer! Figure out what each of your strengths are and cross items off of your to-do list. Don’t forget to enjoy the ride!”
Stephanie + Ryan’s Enoch Turner SchoolHouse Wedding Vendors
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Saffira via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photography Rose Vine Studios | venue: Enoch Turner SchoolHouse Museum | portraits location: Archive Studios | day of coordinator: Leah Williamson | florals: Islington Nurseries | hair + makeup: Carley Artistry | rings: Birks | dessert: homemade by bride/mother of the bride/mother of the groom | suit: State and Liberty https://stateandliberty.com
