Liana’s bridesmaids get heaps of gold stars for helping Liana keep her gown looking ah-mazing. It had rained the morning of her and Roberto’s wedding, leaving the ground quite muddy. Following their ceremony, the two popped over to Sunnyside Pavilion in Toronto for pictures, and the mud had made close, personal friends with Liana’s hem and train. Girls, back at The Arlington Estate (their reception venue), her maid of honor took the dress into the shower and washed it, and then the whole wedding party dried everything off with hairdryers. The result? Liana’s customized Diana dress looked like it had never been out-of-doors!
So, while perusing our sweet, stunning Toronto bride’s truly breathtaking wedding pictures, know that there’s a funny story to go with all that gorgeous. The day began with Liana getting ready at home, whose rooms and stairway had been draped in the most beautiful floral garlands. The greenery and white florals at home were echoed at their reception, giving everything a warm, elegant style—which is just like our wonderful bride.
Read on to hear about the personalized puzzle that precipitated Roberto’s proposal and about how the flowers on Liana’s gown were made from the lace of her mom and sister’s wedding gowns!
From Liana:
How did your sweetie propose?
“My husband planned a whole day affair for the proposal. It started at my parents’ house, with a personalized puzzle, which was a picture of the first place we had traveled together with words saying, “it’s time”. I instantly knew what was going to happen and started tearing up.
My mother and father handed me a letter he had wrote me, stating that I was to go upstairs and get ready. After my parents were going to hand me a clue (the first of many), I was to figure out the clue and tell the driver where to take me to get my next clue which would eventually lead me to my husband. The clues were given by all our family members (parents, brothers and sisters) and the locations were all the significant places of our relationship.
In transit from one place to another he wrote me a note explaining why it was significant, which ended with me in tears every time. The last clue brought me to the Old Mill with a key to a room. I opened the room to find roses and candles everywhere. Right there in the middle of it all was my now husband looking so handsome in his three-piece suit.
After he proposed, which he secretly filmed, he explained we had to go. He set up a surprise dinner with all our closest family members at my parents’ house and then a party after where our extended family and friends joined us. It was such a beautiful and unforgettable day.”
wedding dress: customized Lea-Ann Belter Diana gown via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photographer: Purple Tree Photography
How did you choose your gown?
“It took me several times trying it on to commit to it. I told myself I wouldn’t buy a ball gown but promised my mom I would try on a couple. The minute I walked into the salon that dress caught my eye. Once I tried it on in my heart I knew that was my dress. Just took me a couple of times trying it on to convince myself it was okay to buy a big dress.”
Tell us about your day! Did you have a theme or style in mind?
“I LOVED OUR DAY!!! It was truly the best day ever. We were going for simple elegance, something that is very timeless and classic but at the same time not stuffy or pretentious. We really wanted our guests to feel comfortable and have fun! I had such a special day with my husband. It perfectly represented us, which is exactly what we wanted.”
What’s your funniest wedding day memory?
“The day of my wedding it rained in the morning, the rest of the day was perfect, but it made the ground really muddy. I was super carefree about it all, knowing my dress was going to get a bit dirty. I took my photos at the Sunnyside Pavilion in Toronto so fortunately it was covered, but still dirty on the ground. So, after we were done taking the pictures the dress was dirty to say the least. When we went to the reception venue and my sister/maid of honor/guardian angel took my dress and veil in the shower (train first) to clean it off. Then all the bridesmaids helped with steaming and blow drying it so it would continue to look perfect. The dress turned out perfect ALL DAY!”
What was your something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue?
“My dress had flowers on the back which were made up of my mom and sister’s lace from their wedding dresses. My dress, shoes and hair piece were new. I borrowed a pin that my sister used on her wedding, which was pinned to the inside of the skirt on my dress. Lastly, my mother-in-law gave me a blue flower from her garter, which I put on the inside of my bodice.”
Any advice for future brides/grooms?
“Enjoy every minute with your significant other! Don’t worry about anything going wrong or right just embrace it all with the person you chose to marry. Smile a ton, laugh, also eat and drink water any and all moments you get the opportunity to.”
Liana + Roberto’s Timeless Toronto Wedding
wedding dress: customized Lea-Ann Belter Diana gown via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photographer: Purple Tree Photography | video: Calico Cat Productions | wedding planner: Laura Olsen Events | venue: Arlington Estate | flowers: Blush and Bloom | makeup + hair: Fancy Face | band: Toronto Orchestra
