Winter Wedding at Whistle Bear Golf Club | Camille + Andrew

One look at Camille and Andrew’s Whistle Bear Golf Club wedding and you might think a winter wedding was in the cards all along. The mix of golden light and snow is divine, and the décor and the couple’s style (Camille’s Lyra gown and leather jacket!!) is so on point.

But like so many couples, Camille and Andrew had to roll with the pandemic punches. Shares Camille, “We were supposed to be married June 2020 but, thinking things would be better, postponed to February 2021 at another venue. As 2021 approached, we considered postponing again but decided it was too stressful. There was too much uncertainty about what date would be “better,” and so resolved to go ahead no matter what. Even if it was a smaller wedding than we’d initially planned, we wanted to celebrate!”

As luck would have it, restrictions eased a bit a week before Camille and Andrew’s day. Subsequently, they increased the guest list (with COVID safety precautions in place). Says Camille, “We were able to have 50 guests for the ceremony and a 25-person cocktail reception with our wedding party and parents outside. We had to-go charcuterie boxes for most of our guests and were able to have an intimate dine-in reception with our parents and siblings. The day was perfect, and I couldn’t be happier we went ahead with it.”

Camille shares more about how Andrew proposed (the timing was perfect!) and how she found her gown below.

wedding dress: Lea-Ann Belter Lyra via the flagship Toronto bridal boutique | photographer: Amy Taylor Photography

How did you guys meet?

“We met five years ago at Oktoberfest through friends. It was the wrong time, but the right person, so we made it work and did long distance for almost two years!”

How did you guys get engaged?

“Andrew proposed the day we got the keys to our new house. He asked me to go outside to take a pic of the house and when I came in, he popped the question!”

How did you choose your gown?

“My friends had recommended Lea-Ann Belter. Everyone spoke very highly of Vanessa at the flagship store in Toronto. I was able to go to the store in 2019 to try on dresses with my mom and bridesmaids. The experience at Lea-Ann Belter was unlike any other boutique. I knew this was a special place, the type of place I would want to come back to for fittings again and again over the months. Plus, there were so many beautiful and timeless dresses from which to choose! The quality of the materials and craftsmanship was very impressive. I ended up really liking two dresses at Lea-Ann Belter. I picked the one that I could twirl in—Lyra was the perfect balance of playful and elegant!”

One detail you couldn’t live without?

“My Manolo Blahnik shoes!”

Describe your wedding day in five words or fewer:

“Magical, romantic, joyful, winter wonderland!”

Where did you go on your honeymoon?

“Ste Anne’s Spa and then a cabin in the woods (a friend’s cottage) for some rest and relaxation.”

Any advice for future planning couples?

“Planning a wedding in the covid era is going to come with curveballs, be open to what vendors are suggesting as alternatives and figure out what your “must-haves” are.”