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While Jason and Nicole’s love story isn’t a Cinderella tale, it did begin at the stroke of midnight and end with a prince!
Nicole, out for cocktails with a friend who was gushing about her latest crush, felt disappointed when said crush texted to say he was on his way to meet them. The feeling didn’t last long—the crush brought with him a tall, dark, and very handsome Jason (to quote Nicole). They talked and laughed all night long, but Nicole, a self-described “tough cookie” by nature, declined when Jason asked for her number. Cue a years-long game of cat and mouse at social events before the pair connected on Instagram and began exchanging texts and calls. Finally, Jason suggested they might be “a few years overdue for dinner.” Nicole agreed.
From their first date they were completely infatuated with each other. Jason invited Nicole to his 30th birthday party at SOHO HOUSE TORONTO where she met his friends and family, and at the end of the night they were tucked away in a corner, deep in conversation when asked to sign Jason’s birthday poster. They took a marker off the poster to reveal a note left by Jason’s best friend, reading “It’s 2:00 a.m. and you’re on the couch with a girl, good luck!”
After dating for 18 months, it was undeniable that Nicole was Jason’s soulmate. After obtaining her parents’ permission to ask for their daughter’s hand in marriage, Jason began planning a dream proposal inspired by her parents’ love story of moving to London as a young couple. It all worked perfectly: Nicole was studying at the time, so London became their travel destination over her reading week. The morning of, they walked to BUCKINGHAM PALACE, then went to afternoon tea at THE RITZ LONDON. There, they were greeted by Jason’s proposal planner (cleverly disguised as a member of staff ) who led them through the doors of the Marie Antoinette Ballroom to a single table decorated with flower petals and candles. A violinist began serenading them with an instrumental version of “A Star Is Born,” and a photographer emerged to capture the moment. With (happy) tears in their eyes, Jason proposed to Nicole with a custom engagement ring from WESTROCK DIAMONDS, and she said, “YES!”
The poster from Jason’s 30th birthday party now hangs in the couple’s home office.
Modern white wedding invitations with floral illustrations were designed by SO PRETTY IN PRINT.
After searching the globe for her dream dress, Nicole found herself caught between two beautiful LEE PETRA GREBENAU gowns at DIMITRA’S BRIDAL COUTURE in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois. “Dimitras, serving as my bridal fairy godmother, came up with a magical solution – choose both!” says Nicole. However, rather than wear two totally separate gowns, she ended up with one gown with two distinct looks, achieved by the addition of two couture (and very creative!) customizations. For the ceremony, Nicole wore a chic lace bodysuit underneath the gown. The piece was created by SERIO COUTURE with fabric from Grebenau. The bodysuit was removed, and dreamy off-the-shoulder sleeves were added for a more whimsical look at the reception. “In the end, the two looks were a labour of love between so many innovators, it was an honour to wear my dress,” she shares.
Jason wore a custom tuxedo from GARRISON BESPOKE with a TOM FORD bow tie and CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN shoes. The look was complemented by a pair of CARTIER cufflinks and a ROLEX purchased for the special occasion.
The choir at ST. MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL BASILICA sang throughout the emotional wedding ceremony. “It was angelic,” shares Nicole.
Nicole and Jason were married on July 30, 2022, at ST. MICHAEL’S CATHEDRAL BASILICA in Toronto, Ontario. The ceremony was followed by a crystal garden-themed reception at
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, inspired by the couple’s love of clean, modern interior design. Event planning and design assistance for the wedding was provided by PETALS & PEARLS, with floral design by PRECIOUS FLOWERS.
While on a trip to Chicago and missing Jason, Nicole purchased the coffee table book Classic Cars by Sebastian Salvetti as a gift to Jason. On the page of his favourite car, a vintage Porsche 356 Speedster, she included the note, “When we are 60 we’ll be vintage, with love from Chicago.”
While planning their wedding, Jason set out to find his own 356 Speedster (a rare car) with no luck. The month of the wedding, a business colleague and friend of Jason’s called him, and when the car came up in a conversation about the wedding, he offered to trade Jason’s Porsche GT4 for his 356 Speedster for the week of the wedding. Jason graciously accepted!
While guests were enjoying an outdoor cocktail hour, the couple enjoyed a private reveal of their all-white, crystal, acrylic, and rose-filled reception space —a dream realized. “We felt as though we had transcended into a modern but whimsical dream!” remembers Nicole. “[The reception space] was everything we could have imagined and more.”
A white baby grand piano was placed in the centre of the room as a nod to Nicole’s father, who is a classically trained pianist, and who has always been a great presence in her life. By 1:00 a.m. the DJ began winding down the music but the wedding guests wanted to keep the party going, and chanted “One more song!” Sasha slid over to the piano and played Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack.” Jason’s best friend Chris joined in a duet, and the crowd of guests sang along — it was the perfect end to a perfect night.
The couple love the sophistication of white ‘reflexed’ roses, but also wanted to incorporate a garden-like element to bring the outdoors, in. Moss was incorporated into the floral and room design to achieve the desired effect.
The overall event design was a collaborative effort between planner PETALS & PEARLS and florist PRECIOUS FLOWERS. Over 3,000 white roses were used in the floral design of the wedding.
Jason’s company, VIA TRIM & DOORS INC. custom-made the bars in the pavilion.
EVENT GRAFFITI provided gold-accented day-of stationery for the wedding, including the menu cards, table numbers, the welcome sign, and the seating chart graphic. The seating chart wall was provided by DECOR & FIESTA.
A string quartet played during the outdoor cocktail hour, where guests enjoyed appetizers and signature cocktails. After the newlyweds posed for portraits in their dreamy all-white, rose-filled reception space, they joined their guests back outside under the gazebo. A Champagne tower pour, toasts and speeches were enjoyed by all before the evening reception got underway back inside.
The wedding cake by LIMA CAKES.
In theme with the wedding’s modern crystal design guests were gifted crystal candleholders as a parting gift.
The dinner menu was plentiful, but at midnight, the catering team at
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also served an extravagant seafood buffet; part of a Portuguese tradition and a nod to Jason’s background. To celebrate Nicole’s Macedonian heritage, her parents surprised her with a performance from a traditional 8-piece trumpet band, DOMAČI TRUBAČI.
The travel-loving couple celebrated their marriage with a honeymoon to Greece, visiting Mykonos and Crete.
Featured Glitterati Members
Photography Purple Tree Photography
Luxe Locations Casa Loma
Event Flooring + Vinyl Event Graffiti
CREDITS
Photography @purpletreephotography, Bride @nikolcem, Groom @jayyyyq, Event Planning and Design Assistance @petalsandpearls, Floral Design @preciousflowers_, Getting Ready Venue @fstoronto, Ceremony at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica, Cocktail Hour and Reception Location @casalomatoronto, Engagement Ring @westrock.co, Wedding Invitations, Menus and Table Numbers @soprettyinprint, Seating Chart Graphic and Welcome Sign @eventgraffiti, Seating Chart Wall and Welcome Sign Wall @decorandfiesta, Wedding Dress @leegrebenau, from @dimitrasbridalcouture, Custom Bodysuit by Domenic Serio from @seriocouture, Bride’s Hairstyle @garo_terzian, Bride’s Hair Colour @pellasstudio, Bride’s Makeup @makeupbyyllke, Bridesmaids’ Dresses @blksheepcouture, Bridesmaids’ Hair and Makeup @allthingsprettyinc, Groom’s Custom Formalwear @garrisonbespoke, Bowtie @tomford, Cufflinks @cartier, Watch @rolex, Wedding Cake and Slab @lima.cakes, Furniture Rentals @detailzfurniturerentals, Custom Bars by The Groom, owner of @viatrim, Crystal Chargers @chairmanmills, Flatware and Stemware @simplybeautifuldecor, Custom Champagne Tower @rentedluxuries, Vinyl Flooring and Bar @torontofloorwraps, AV and Tech provided by Event Media Design, Draping @sunshinedecoration, String Quartet (Cocktail Hour) @gtastrings, DJ (Reception) @skylionproductions, Pianist (Reception) @lisatahara,Cinematography @outsideinstudio
