Chiara DeMutiis and David Chylinski had a modern first date: the two met through a dating website and instantly clicked.  But it wasn’t until two weeks later, after e-mailing back and forth, that the pair actually met—to see if the chemistry they shared digitally was just as palpable offline. They set a coffee date at a local Starbucks in Bellingham, Washington (David’s home town) and connected, spontaneously adding dinner and a movie to their date.

“We went back to his house where we stayed up until five in the morning talking and laughing,” Chiara recalls. “After that night, it was clear he could be ‘the one’. Anyone who can hold a conversation and make me laugh for that long scores high points in my book.”

David popped the question at The Westin Seattle—the couple’s favourite go-to for mini getaways. Following his proposal, the two quickly began wedding plotting. “I had a great time planning our wedding,” Chiara says. “It was so much fun co-ordinating all the vendors and creating our entire classic yet vintage celebration.”

Come wedding day, Chiara stepped out in a stunning Romona Keveza strapless blush pink gown with ruffles cascading down the skirt. “When I saw her for the first time everything else disappeared,” David says. “In that moment the only thing on my mind was how beautiful she looked and how lucky I am to have her in my life.”

In keeping with the couple’s colour palette of blush pink, ivory and grey, David and his groomsmen suited up in sleek Vera Wang tuxes in a cool grey hue, while all of the bridesmaids wore long, cream-coloured dresses.

David and Chiara opted for an outdoor ceremony on the lawn of Hart House Restaurant in Vancouver—an estate with an impeccable view of Deer Lake. “We had beautiful decor for our ceremony,” Chiara describes. “There were bows and leaves that graced the end of each aisle.”

After they exchanged vows, the newlyweds hosted a tented reception for their guests located just a skip away from their ceremony site. Everything from the white rustic chairs and the cream-and-blush table linens to the chandeliers adorned in pearls coincided with Chiara and David’s chic bridal motif. “We wanted the day to look and feel elegant but with vintage touches, hence the pearls,” Chiara confides.

The pair offered guests a buffet of candy and dozens of pretty cupcakes topped in fondant and small sugar flowers, ending their day on a sugar high. For their finale, Chiara paid homage to her Italian roots by enlisting her family to help hand out Jordan almonds.

“My father and stepmother flew the candies in from Italy and my aunt Tanyce had gone out of her way to package the adorable favours,” Chiara says. “We gifted guests with five candies to signify five wishes for the bride and groom and tucked them into bags.”

When asked to describe his favourite moment from the entire wedding day, David says it’s hard to choose just one. “The reception was definitely one of the best experiences of my life,” he asserts. “Everything from start to finish was perfect!”

Chiara Demutis and David Chylinski, September 7, 2012, Vancouver, British Columbia.

Photography courtesy of Kristy Ryan at Blush Wedding Photography.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception location: Hart House Restaurant
Bridal gown: Romona Keveza from Blush Bridal and Special Occasions
Bridal party attire: Dessy from Madame Bridal
Cakes and cupcakes: Cakes by Marnie
Candy: Sweet Escape Candy Boutique (778-294-2004)
Flowers and decor: Kim Raddysh at Wedding Design Studio
Groom’s attire: Vera Wang at Men’s Wearhouse
Hair: Kirsten Trotzuk-Jung at Wild Child Tattoos & Hair Shop
Makeup: Alexandra Caldwell at M.A.C.
Music: Paolo Mesto at Audio Edge Entertainment
Stationery: Vista Print

See more photos from this classic, vintage wedding in Vancouver, British Columbia.