It was a Thursday morning and both Michelinne and Darren had both taken the day off work. “We lazed over omelettes and a movie, like we do most Saturday mornings, almost completely unaware that it was our wedding day,” Michelinne shares. The two became husband and wife in an intimate ceremony on a hotel terrace with just their photographer, officiant and wedding planner as witnesses. “We definitely had pangs throughout the day when we missed our friends and family, but we will be forever grateful for these three beautiful people. They supported us and celebrated us just like close friends,” says Michelinne.

Michelinne and Darren got ready for their ceremony together, which was the highlight of their special day. “There was something very intimate and special about having Darren zip up my wedding dress and give my hand a squeeze. In a way it felt very symbolic – Darren will be the one zipping up my dresses for the rest of our lives and walking with me hand-in-hand throughout all of the significant moments we will face; always by my side,” Michelinne explains.

After their romantic ceremony where the two exchanged handwritten vows, Michelinne and Darren ended the evening with a tapas-style dinner underneath the stars.

Michelinne Gagne and Darren Gonek, September 6, 2012, Ottawa, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Blair Gable.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Terrace of the Bonaventure Suite at the Westin Ottawa
Bridal hair: Jenna at The Loft
Bridal makeup: Lena Colasante
Bridal gown: BCBG with a custom belt made at With Love Bridal Boutique
Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo from Holt Renfrew
Bride’s robe: Plum Pretty Sugar
Groom’s tux: Holt Renfrew
Cake: Cat Campbell from The Cake Whisperer
Caterer: The Shore Club at the Westin Ottawa
Wedding planner: Tia Ward, Sales Manager, Catering at the Westin Ottawa
Music: DIY

See more photos of this romantic intimate wedding in downtown Ottawa.