HOLY SMOKES - quite literally! Today we've got one spectacular, modern, edgy, artistic, and all-around cool wedding for you, planned + designed perfectly by the bride's best friend, Love by Lynzie Events + Design. Amanda + James based their day around the idea of a cool cocktail party with classical foundations, and creatively inserted artistic and urban touches: leather jackets, broad brush strokes, geometric details in black, white, teal, mustard, and gold! Their planner tells us After dating for ten years, must of which was long distance, I was thrilled to see them get married! As a ceremonious end to the long distance relationship (she moved to Canada from Philly), James smashed a cell phone with a hammer during Amanda's speech. Gallons + buckets of happy tears were shed.

The bride shares The dress was one of the first purchases and really set the tone for everything else that followed, including the bridesmaid dresses, leather jackets and smoke bombs. We wanted to have a cool wedding that was intimate, warm and inviting for our guests, followed by everyone shaking their tail feathers on the dance floor (we had two live bands). The color scheme evolved organically and we wanted the decor to be aesthetically pleasing without being too floral or bubblegum bridal.

Though the weather of Ontario, Canada may not have been on their side, the gray moodiness ended up complementing the overall design so well! Let's take a look at the day, captured by Jennifer See Studios!

Such a cool invitation suite by Beet and Path, right?! We love the splashes of color + the brush strokes used throughout.

Those yellow + gold pops in the bouquets are SO GOOD!

Amanda wore a boatneck ballgown from Ferre Sposa. Oh and that gigantic bow? She added it!!

Lynzie, the planner + designer shares We wanted the girls to have a 90s vibe, so we paired the dresses with platform heels, chokers and sunflowers. We were convinced that sunflowers could look edgy instead of country and accepted this challenge. With the help of Tanya List Design, we DIYed the florals and used sunflowers in a way that worked with the theme!

LOVE.

How cool are these black and white floral print maxi dresses for the bridesmaids?! They're from Le Chateau.

Processional: Can't Take My Eyes Off of You by Lauryn Hill

Recessional: I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness

First Dance: My Best Friend (Queen Cover) by The Once

Such rockstars...

How awesome is this?!

Hire a wedding planner, no question about it. You don't want to be stressin' on your wedding day.

No matter how busy the day is, take a minute (or two) to stop and appreciate what is going on around you. You are marrying the person of your dreams, check. Never again will all these people be under one roof to celebrate the two of you, awesome! All of your hard work planning this day has finally paid off, you've made it. And ALWAYS be prepared for rain.

Inspired by the invitation suite, Lynzie carried the cool brush stroke motif throughout the entire wedding. Runners were made in this pattern and she hand-painted the signs to give them a bit of urban edge.

They even had their own wine labels created!!

Is it too cliche to say everything? Honestly though, the dancing. From the very first dance where it felt like time stopped long enough to really appreciate the day, to the very end where everyone was on stage, singing and dancing to Juicy by Biggie. It was seriously the best!

So COOL, right?! From the team at GWS, congrats Amanda + James!!

photography: Jennifer See Studios // venue name: Guelph Youth Music Centre, Guelph, Ontario, Canada // event design: Love by Lynzie Events + Design // planning: Love by Lynzie Events + Design // florals: Tanya List Design // wedding dress boutique: Ferre Sposa // bride's shoes: Ted Baker // bridesmaid dresses: Le Chateau // hair stylist: Kathleen Sou // makeup artist: Sarah Smith MUA // paper goods: Beet and Path // catering: Bite Catering // cake: Wellington Cakes // desserts: Family DIY // music: The Neil Murray Band