Chris and Katie's guests thought they were coming to an engagement party but actually found themselves at a surprise wedding.
After 8 years together with a proposal involving a ring that been in the family for over 100 years, this wedding is a casual day full of love and romance.
"I bought Chris tickets to the ice hockey for his birthday, as you can imagine, after being together for 8 years, every single time we go on holidays or go out anywhere fancy the possibility of a proposal is always on the back of my mind however this time I had absolutely no thought of it. We were getting ready to leave our hotel room and as usual I was taking a lot longer than Chris so he was sitting on the bed waiting for me. We were about to leave and Chris handed me my every day rings from the bedside table and he then said “… and there’s one more” and got down on one knee. It was the most incredible feeling in the world. We were hugging and crying and it felt like time stood still. How cliché! But its true.
I knew the Inca was the one as soon as I saw it on the Grace Loves Lace website. I never had that experience of trying on a million dresses at stores. It was a very very simple process. I bought my dress from Grace Loves Lace online and when it arrived in the post it was perfect!
I told my bridesmaids to find a white or ivory dress they like and I'll pick it up for them. I think the variations looked perfect! The groomsmen were told to wear whatever they like which worked out well because I think they looked great!
The ring was actually Chris’s great, great aunties and has been in family for over 100 years, I can’t tell you how special and lucky I feel to be given it. What an honour!
Our wedding had a rustic, organic feel. I bought alot of bottles and nik-naks from antique and vintage stores. Other personalised touches included subway tiles which were left out for guests to decorate and write messages on with colourful sharpies. We'll put them up somewhere in our home eventually, just waiting to find the right spot. One of my favourite things at our wedding was the backdrop which was built by Chris. It was so nice watching him create it and see how proud he was when it was finally in place. We decorated the backdrop with foliage on the morning of the wedding! Talk about last minute - Chris was literally climbing up trees cutting the branches down while I braced myself underneath, arms outstretched waiting to catch them falling."
With a baby on the way, the proceeds from Katie's dress will go towards fitting out the baby's nursery!
Photography: Byron Loves Fawn Venue: Settlers Run Country Club Hair: Lia Hanson Makeup: Marie Mihail Flowers: Katie made her own bouquets and her flowercrown was made by a friend
By Ingrid Szajer
Lindsey