Hannah Gown in a Toronto Waterfront Wedding | Jaqueline + Matthew

A modern-day matchmaker brought Jaqueline and Matthew together. We’re talking about Hinge, of course! After their second date, Jaqueline knew her life was about to change in a big way. “I grabbed coffee with a friend the next day and told her I was going to marry him.”

TikTok and The Dress

While scrolling TikTok, Jaqueline fell across Lea-Ann Belter, and made her first dress shopping appointment at our flagship Toronto bridal shop! It turns out that our lovely auburn-haired bride’s ability to know what she wants when she sees it extended to her choice of classic bridal gown. Vanessa, our boutique stylist, brought out a gown that was supposed to be on a flight to New York for Fashion Week. ‘The second I put it on, I knew it was the one.’

Love on the Toronto Waterfront

Jaqueline and Matthew’s day was just like them – relaxed, elegant, and full of love! Read on for more about how they incorporated family into their day and Jaqueline’s excellent planning advice.

When did you realize Matthew was special?

Pretty early on. I remember sitting with Matt on our second date and knowing it felt different. I grabbed coffee with a friend the next day and told her I was going to marry him. I was confident from the beginning.

Could you share your engagement story?

My favourite movie growing up was My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and I’d always talked about wanting to get engaged while just hanging out in bed, like in the movie. One night after we went to the movies, we came home, were laughing and hanging out, and just as we were about to fall asleep, he pulled a ring out of his pillowcase. I was completely caught off guard. It was perfect.

Tell us about finding your gown!

I discovered Leanne Belter on TikTok. It was the first boutique I visited, and the dress I chose was actually the first one I tried on. I explained the venue and vibe I wanted, and Vanessa brought out a gown that was supposed to be on a flight to New York for Fashion Week. The second I put it on, I knew it was the one. Working with the Leanne Belter team was a dream, their attention to detail and every staff member I met made it one of my favourite parts of getting married.

What feeling or atmosphere did you want to create on your wedding day?

I wanted the day to feel easy and chill but still elegant. Our venue was the perfect choice, it’s a beautiful backdrop no matter what. The morning was relaxed: I spent time with my girls and Matt was with his friends. We did a first look and took all our photos before the ceremony to ease nerves, and everything ran so smoothly. We wanted family to feel really centred, so we built in special moments throughout the day, dances, speeches, and ring-warming during the ceremony.

Any special ways you incorporated family or family history?

Family is a big part of both my life and Matt’s. We seated our parents in the front row and included a ring-warming with them. We had the traditional parent dances, and Matt’s younger sister shared a first dance with their dad. I dedicated my bouquet to my mother, and we reserved an “In Loving Memory” chair for our grandparents who are no longer with us.

What little detail are you especially glad you included?

The first look. Having that time together before the ceremony really calmed us both.

What part of your wedding felt most meaningful (other than getting married, of course!)?

Being surrounded by close friends and family. It was so special to see people from every phase of our lives come to support us as we start ours together.

Do you have advice for couples planning their day?

Have fun with it! Try not to lose the plot. It’s easy to spend hours on Pinterest and feel like you need every little detail from every post, but at the end of the day it’s the people you surround yourselves with and your overall energy on the day that leave the lasting impression on you and your guests.

Jaqueline + Matthew's Waterfront Wedding Vendors

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Hannah via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photographer: Sam Connell Photography | venue: Spencer’s at the Waterfront | planner: Plan It Right Events | hair & make-up: DY Studios | florals: Honey Rock Florals | cake: Layer’d Cakes | cannoli cart: Cannoli Creations Oakville | content creator: Daybreak Studios | dog attendant: Black Dog Weddings | photo booth: PhotoStars | groom’s suit: Isarti Italian Menswear

Were you a Lea-Ann Belter bride?

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