At the top of Montmartre on a school trip to France, Caitlin and Kevin’s eyes met. Then, a couple of years later on another school trip (this time to Italy), they strolled the streets of Rome, shared gelato in Florence, and rode a gondola together in Venice. Though in high school, these two knew they’d found something extraordinary in one another—but the timing wasn’t right. So, they stayed together while they grew up. Fifteen years later, Kevin organized a weekend at a Muskoka cottage to celebrate Caitlin’s graduation from medical school. He also planned a proposal, complete with sweet references to where their journey started.
Hosted at the Madison Greenhouse, their day was full of meaningful details, including a smattering of pearls. Shares Caitlin, “My brother walked his two boys, our ring bearers, down the aisle and escorted my dad onto the dance floor for the father-daughter dance. My niece was the flower girl and was so excited to be a princess for the day. Kevin and I were both walked down the aisle by our parents. What I call my great-grandmother’s “Princess Diana” ring was my something old, borrowed, and blue. My mom also wore it on her wedding day.
Pearl details were found throughout the decor and all the women in my family wore pearls in some form in tribute to my late grandmother, who loved them. Instead of giving away my bouquet to a single lady, we acknowledged the love that came before ours by giving it to the couple who had been together the longest, my great aunt and uncle. To honour my Celtic heritage, we celebrated Irish traditions, like carrying a horseshoe down the aisle so that our luck may never run out. I did this by pinning a small one to the layers of my dress. We also handed out wands with bells for our guests to ring as we walked back up the aisle as husband and wife. In Celtic tradition, wedding bells are meant to wish the couple good fortune and harmony.”
See more of their romantic day and find out how Caitlin found her customized Delilah bustier and Rose skirt below!
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Delilah bustier and Rose skirt via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photographer: Paula Visco Photography
How did the two of you meet?
“We’re high school sweethearts. We first crossed paths on a school trip to France, sharing glances at the top of Montmartre as the Eiffel Tower sparkled in the distance. We each thought the other one was cute, but never ended up talking. Fast forward two years later to when we were spoiled with another European trip and we finally officially met in Italy. We connected instantly walking the streets of Rome, shared gelato in Florence, and rode a gondola together in Venice. The rest is history.”
How did you know the other was “the one”?
“There wasn’t one moment when we knew. I think we just always appreciated that this was something special and because we met at such a young age, we had to wait for life to catch up with us a bit. Over our fifteen years together, it’s only become clearer how perfectly we match. We’re very happy to have the privilege of being by each other’s side through so many important moments. It’s a rare thing to find the love of your life at 17.”
How did you two get engaged?
“In celebration of my graduation from medical school, Kevin planned a week away at a cottage in Muskoka. Shortly after arriving, he announced a surprise was waiting in another room and dipped outside. A scrapbook chronicling our years together awaited with a message on the last page telling me to get dressed up and meet him on the dock. The path was lit with candles marking the way to Kevin, who was standing by a little canoe. As a nod to our time in Italy, he paddled around the lake with a special song playing in the background. On our return to the dock, Kevin got down on one knee and popped the question. The answer was obvious!”
What is your favorite thing about each other?
“Kevin makes me feel safe and centred. As a doctor, there is always a certain amount of chaos and it can be hard to leave the stress and emotions involved in that at work when you leave. Kevin is my pillar of stability. He supports me in every way and is my partner through and through. Everything is just better with him beside me.
Caity loves me for who I am and she’s always there to support me. While we have our own interests, we also share a lot of similarities and we’re able to completely be ourselves around each other. She is the perfect person to be my partner for life.”
Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?
“I came across a picture online of the Delilah bustier and Rose skirt and loved the romance of the fabrics. I knew when I tried it on with my mom and bridesmaids that it was the one when I found myself shedding a tear. I surprised even myself! It was so unique to be able to customize my dress by choosing the bodice and skirt separately. Vanessa, my bridal specialist, made the whole process so special at the Toronto store. The dress fit like a glove!
Kevin knew he wanted a blue suit, but wanted shade a little different than the navy his groomsmen would be wearing. The second suit he tried on, a Michael Kors, ended up being the perfect fit and just the right colour. It popped on the day!”
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
“We were married in the church of our childhood, where we were both baptized. The priest from our elementary school days, who has also become a family friend, was kind enough to return to the church and celebrate the ceremony. We held the reception at Madison Greenhouse in Newmarket, our dream venue that we’ve had an eye on for a long time. Many of our dates over the years have involved long chats walking through gardens so it was a fitting setting! The beauty of all the flowers and trees there is unmatched.”
Tell us about your day!
“Kevin and I wrote letters to each other to read on the morning of the wedding. It was the perfect way to feel like we were with one another while getting ready and a little reminder of how we felt before we saw each other at the altar. They’ll be so special to look back on years from now.
Our wedding was so much fun and such a celebration after waiting fifteen years! We added little touches to make it personalized to us, like a crossword puzzle during cocktail hour or tables named after different cities we visited together. One of our main priorities was good food and there was a lot of it! We had a four-course meal followed by late night stations of mini donuts and pizza. And we can’t forget our gorgeous lemon wedding cake!”
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
“We’re planning on going to Greece for our honeymoon!”
Any tips for couples getting married?
“Celebrate the day how you want to and remember to pause and take it all in. It’s such a unique experience to be surrounded by everyone you care about from different times and groups in your lives. Make sure you stay by each other’s side throughout the night so you can enjoy the moments together. The little details seem super important during the planning process, but what matters most is that you get to spend your life with your partner.”
Caitlin + Kevin’s Greenhouse Wedding Vendors
wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Delilah bustier and Rose skirt via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photographer: Paula Visco Photography | coordinator: Lovers Rock | venue: Madison Greenhouse | videographer: Alex Wedding Film | florals: Bundle of Blooms | cake: Little Bunny Bake Shop | caterer: Encore Catering | rentals: Elite Party Rentals
