Ravine Vineyard Wedding Ceremony and Reception

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a quaint little town on the Canadian-American border famous for its wine production and breathtaking landscapes. Of the many gorgeous wineries available for wedding ceremonies and receptions, Ravine Vineyard made the perfect backdrop for their celebration.

They started their day getting ready at Queen’s Landing, a beautiful Georgian-style hotel where they did their first look followed by an intimate, more casual wedding ceremony in their suite with their nearest and dearest. Post-ceremony, they made their way to Ravine Vineyard, a short drive away where the rest of their guests joined them for a more formal ceremony mixing both Canadian and Persian wedding ceremony traditions. A beautiful way to symbolize their coming together.

Post-ceremony, guests mingled on the outdoor terrace and wandered the vineyard. The reception took place in the gorgeous light-filled modern industrial reception space overlooking the vineyards.

The team for this Ravine Vineyard wedding included Morning Light Photography, Bloom and Co., Set the Mood Decor, Paper Palette, Hair by Holly S, By Christie, and Sound of Harmony.

Stratus Vineyard Wedding in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Brandi and Doug traveled from St. Louis, Missouri for their gorgeous Stratus Vineyards wedding in Niagara-on-the-Lake on August 19, 2022.

Their wedding was 729 days in the making and I suppose we can actually thank the pandemic for this extra time because it gave us the opportunity to give this wedding a glow-up as time went on. Sometimes you can’t rush things and this is a great example of that! For her wedding stationery and invitations, Brandi wanted something with a classic formal style and I think Amber from All That’s Lovely just crushed it with the pocket fold, romantic fonts, a hint of pearlescent paper, and traditional mailed-back RSVP; just the classiest vibe!

We then tasked Bloom and Co., the best Niagara-on-the-Lake and area wedding florist I can think of, with the task of taking her signature romantic garden style and softening up a very modern ceremony space and super industrial weekday workspace into a lush garden escape. We used another Niagara wedding rental favourite, Simply Beautiful Decor, to bring all the yummy textures and tabletop details to life.

All so beautifully and carefully captured by one of my absolute favourite photographers, Will Reid Photo. The gorgeous video below was impeccably filmed by DML Films.

Special thanks to the rest of the incredible team including our caterer Tide and Vine, DJ 586 Event Group, Sweet Celebrations for cake and sweets, Blue Lady Food Truck for the late-night poutine, and Kimberly Love and Camille Scott, both from the St. Louis area, for their hair and makeup talents, respectively! Brandi’s dress is from designer Rebecca Schoneveld, purchased at Bridal Parlour in the St. Louis area.

The Floorplan

The Press Alley at Stratus Vineyard in Niagara on the Lake is a long, straight space that is limited in setup options, but with a smaller guest count, we were able to create an intimate floorplan where Brandi and Doug were in the centre of their guests at a sweetheart table. Here’s the final floorplan (chandeliers are the circles above the tables) we chose should it help you in planning your own wedding at Stratus Vineyard’s Press Alley.

Gift Etiquette at Destination Weddings

Proper etiquette dictates that for every wedding invitation, regardless of where the wedding is being held and whether you are attending, a gift is required. I would even go as far to say that if a couple has clearly indicated that your presence is gift enough, a small gift to celebrate their marriage is always a lovely gesture anyways.

I know this can be a hard one to grasp when you're already spending loads of money for your flight, accommodations, spending money, etc., but it doesn't have to be much. Honestly, don’t worry if you are spending less than what you usually might! Maybe just a credit towards a couples massage at the resort or a beautiful bottle of wine to enjoy that week! If you'd rather give them a gift from their wedding registry you may just be able to snag a great sale if you keep an eye out.

It's also totally fine to send the wedding gift as soon as the wedding invitation is received, so if you are not planning or able to attend the wedding, I suggest sending the gift at the same time as you send your response card. That way, you won't forget as you near closer to the wedding! If you do intend to join the celebration, purchasing ahead of time may also very much allow you to better budget.

Remember, though, don't ever bring a physical gift with you to a destination wedding. Every store with a wedding registry has options to ship the gift to their 'home store'. In other words, the location closest to their house, which makes both of your lives easier!

Lastly, remember that it is the thought that counts, not the value. So do what you can afford; it'll show that you really care!

1486 Photography

Niagara on the Lake Orchard Wedding

A bright, colourful, fun Niagara on the Lake Wedding.

Aly and Tim came up from the States to have a destination Niagara on the Lake wedding and they couldn't have been more fun! Right from the get-go I knew these two were unique, bringing all of their friends and family across the border to the sweet, intimate town for a wedding-filled weekend. It's obvious that the two families have a heck of a lot of fun together and that it was going to be one rockin' party! Niagara on the Lake, a quick jaunt across the border, is a gorgeous spot for a destination wedding. Especially when the US dollar is doing so well! Intimate accommodations and endless locally sourced food options await wedding guests, making it a full weekend experience.Aly and Tim chose a stunning orchard property to host their wedding. The perfect setting for their bright, casual and refined affair.Keep scrolling to see and read more about one of our favourite Niagara on the Lake weddings this year!

THE DESIGN

Having already chosen their wedding when they came to me, I was so honoured to have been presented with the opportunity to make their design dreams come to life. We settled on a bright, colourful palette that was lush with purple and pink hues then accented by a light turquoise.The venue provided the gorgeous live edge tables and chiavari chairs, giving the tented space that casual, but refined vibe. We added beautiful iron hoop chandeliers to brighten up the space. Two centerpiece styles were used to create some visual interest complimented by lots of candlelight to warm up the tent at night.We created a unique table layout where the bride and groom were literally surrounded by their closest family and friends. This allowed all guests an equal view of the bride and groom throughout the evening and left room for a large dance floor so everyone could boogie down to the live band!Aly and Tim, congratulations and thank you trusting that, together, we would throw one awesome party! Now go and enjoy your Hawaii honeymoon!

Photography M.K. Photographics
Florals Bloom and Co.
Calligraphy Plume Calligraphy
Chandeliers and Napkins Simply Beautiful Decor
Orchard Wedding in Niagara on the Lake