Date

Guests

100

September 28, 2013

Natalia and Mike's online romance almost didn't happen! The day Natalia was about to close her account, Mike sent her a message. Fortunately for him, she decided to reply (only because he was Polish like herself). A week later, they had their first date and spent five hours talking in the car afterwards.

Five years later, Mike planned his romantic proposal. After going to a dinner theatre at West Edmonton Mall, he "spontaneously" took Natalia to the Fantasyland Hotel. "I had always wanted to stay in the Roman Luxury Theme room since seeing my aunt and uncle go there when I was a child," she describes. When Natalia and Mike got to their room, it was filled with candles, rose petals, her overnight bag and photos of the couple. When she turned around, confused, he was already on one knee with a ring in his hand.

As for their big day, the whole wedding vision started with a photo of a tulle-covered ceiling glowing with twinkle lights. "The whole ceiling and most of the other things at our wedding were DIY; Pinterest was my saving grace!" Natalia exclaims. The bride's gorgeous billowy gown and her bridesmaids' gauzy blush dresses created a romantic, ethereal look. The reception added to this theme with its soft lighting and its blush and gold decor with mercury glass accents.

Instead of having two separate bride and groom seats at the head table, the couple shared a high-back tufted bench at dinner. "We brought that bench back into our home, and now it sits in our bedroom. It was the first seat we sat on as a married couple," says Natalia. One of the most special and sentimental details of the wedding was the memory table with pictures of her father and other loved ones who were at the wedding in spirit. Natalia kept her father close to her heart that day by wearing a locket with his photo inside.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Saint Joseph's Basilica
Reception location: Chateau Nova
Bridal gown: The Bridal Boutique
Groom's tux: Derks
Cake: The Greek Bakery (780-475-5996)
Favours: Chocolaterie Bernard Callebaut
Hair and makeup: Stephanie Miniaci (780-905-8584)