While Jenn and Ethan were students at Wilfrid Laurier University, they found love on their university’s Emergency Response Team! Fourteen years later, on the anniversary of their first date, these two said “I do” with a stunner of an intimate winter wedding at Pillar and Post Inn and Spa.
Niagara-on-the-Lake has always been a special place for Jenn. Shares Jenn, “I have always loved Niagara-on-the-Lake, it feels like a very special escape from the city every time I am there. I love going for walks in the downtown area and picking which century home I would want to retire in. There is so much character in the area, you find something new there every time.” So, when Ethan proposed during the sweet, Austrian-themed day he planned (they were supposed to have gone to Austria, but, you know, COVID), her favorite escape seemed like the perfect place to wed.
Though Ethan is now a paramedic in Hamilton and Jenn is at Laurier, she was able to score old jackets from their student EMT days. On the day of, they slipped them on for a full-circle photo opp, got married, and stopped at COWs, their fave ice cream shop in town.
If you’re wondering about Jenn’s fabulously kicky wedding dress, it’s a customized Astrid & Mercedes Joy gown that she discovered while shopping at The Brides Project!
For more about their Niagara-on-the-Lake wedding day (including Ethan’s thoughtful proposal), get the details from Jenn below:
How did you guys get engaged?
“My fiancé proposed to me at the Christie Lake Conservation Area in Dundas, Ontario on May 18, 2020. We went on a long walk with our dog, and he popped the question after we had eaten the picnic he had packed. My fiancé had intended for the proposal to happen on a trip to Austria. We spent months planning the perfect trip, it would have been our first time travelling to Europe together, however due to COVID we were not able to travel. The proposal was still very special, and my fiancé did an amazing job of planning an “Austria themed day” for us so it felt like we were there.”
wedding gown: customized Astrid & Mercedes Joy via The Bride’s Project Toronto, bridal sweater via Open Mind Style | photographer: April & Joseph Photography | full vendor list at bottom
Tell us about your outfits! How did you choose your gown?
“I fell in love with Lea-Ann Belter dresses when looking for my wedding dress. I liked that the dresses were made locally in Toronto and the high quality of materials used for each gown.”
Why did you decide to get married where you did?
“I have always loved Niagara-on-the-Lake, it feels like a very special escape from the city every time I am there. I love going for walks in the downtown area and picking which century home I would want to retire in. There is so much character in the area, you find something new there every time.“
Tell us about your day!
“We did our best to pick a date far enough away after getting engaged. We got married on December 18, 2021, which ended up being the height of the omicron variant. Fortunately, we were still able to have our event as planned, however some of our guests were unable to attend. Thankfully, along with our photos, we had videography so the guests who could not attend were able to enjoy our wedding video after.”
What was your first dance song?
“ ”You Are the Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne.”
What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?
“Our speeches were very important to us. We wrote our own vows and wrote speeches to one another that we shared at the start of our reception dinner. Those moments were my favourite of the whole day.”
What was your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?
“My maid of honour lent me a pair of her mother’s earrings that had blue stones and I wore them to our rehearsal dinner, they were beautiful.”
Three words that best describe your partner:
“Ethan is honest, loyal, and kind.”
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
“No honeymoon yet but we have flights booked to take our trip to Austria in Spring 2022.”
Any tips for couples getting married?
“Plan the day how you want it, if you want to do something that isn’t “traditional”, do it anyways, it will be worth it!”
Jenn + Ethan’s Niagara-on-the-Lake Wedding Vendors
wedding gown: customized Astrid & Mercedes Joy via The Bride’s Project Toronto, bridal sweater via Open Mind Style | photographer: April & Joseph Photography | venue: Pillar & Post Inn & Spa | makeup: Beyoutiful Brides | decor: Gala Decor | florals: Kate’s Garden | ring: FTJCo | bridal PJs: Feather & Pearl
