Joy Gown in a Modern Toronto Wedding | Carly + Alex

Work brought Carly and Alex together. They were both in the same department at the Toronto International Film Festival. Alex caught Carly’s eye, so she concocted a plan to get to know him better.” I invited him to run an errand with me to a fabric store in case I needed to carry back a heavy bolt.” Carly’s intuition was right, because “we only left with one small bag, but the plan worked and we’ve been together ever since!

Mid Century Modern Wedding Style

As Carly visited Toronto bridal shops in search of a gown, she realized “ I didn’t feel like I was connecting with any of the dresses I was trying on.” When she arrived at the Lea-Ann Belter Bridal flagship boutique, she found the modern wedding dress she was looking for. “Vanessa was amazing – while we were trying different options we were discussing our mutual love of Mid Century Modern design and from that piece of information Vanessa was able to determine that I would probably gravitate towards a wedding gown that reflected the same era.”

Vanessa’s instincts were spot-on. The Joy dress, with its clean lines, elegant V-neckline, full circle skirt, and signature wide fabric waistband, perfectly captures that coveted aesthetic. “I tried the Joy dress with her encouragement and ultimately loved how it made me feel and look.” After making a few adjustments to the design to suit Carly’s style, it was perfect! “I love how the style is classic, elegant, and timeless. We also added a fantastic lace bolero with sleeves for the ceremony.”

Find out more about Carly and Alex’s wedding from our sweet bride below.

How did you two get engaged?

Alex and I like to plan surprise dates for each other and have been doing them since early on in our relationship. Every few months we take a turn, which was the perfect cover to Alex to propose without me suspecting anything. We drove out to Milton to the Kelso Conservation Area to do a fall hike with the leaves changing and Alex packed a picnic for lunch. We found a lovely bench with a lookout and ate our sandwiches. At the end of the meal, Alex asked if I was interested in having some dessert and I said I would decide after seeing what it was. He handed me the cooler and on the top was a ring box with champagne underneath! I loved that it was a private moment between the two of us.

Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?

I went to a few other bridal stores before my appointment at Lea Ann Belter and didn’t feel like I was connecting with any of the dresses I was trying on. Vanessa was amazing – while we were trying different options we were discussing our mutual love of Mid Century Modern design and from that piece of information Vanessa was able to determine that I would probably gravitate towards a wedding gown that reflected the same era. I tried the Joy dress with her encouragement and ultimately loved how it made me feel and look. We made a few small adjustments to customize it exactly to my taste. I love how the style is classic, elegant, and timeless. We also added a fantastic bolero/sleeves for the ceremony.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Do your best to stay present throughout your wedding day! It’s really easy to think about what the next moment is without truly appreciating the one you’re in. Another favorite part of our day was the hour we got to spend with our photographer taking our couples shots. It felt like that moment was just about us.