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Emilie Cushman and Beau Hobbs (featured in Issue 35 of WedLuxe Magazine, Canada) first crossed paths in 2016 at a Toronto country bar—specifically, in line for the mechanical bull. Emilie had walked up thinking Beau was someone else, only to realize her mistake as he turned around. Beau, assuming the girls were eager to ride, immediately greeted them and signed them up. As they waited, they started chatting; Emilie climbed onto the bull for the very first time and had a blast. Drinks followed, and she learned he was a downtown Toronto firefighter—and, at the time, Mr. July in the annual firefighter calendar. Intrigued, she agreed to a first date, and the rest unfolded from there. Six years of dating (with Covid delays in between) brought them to their next big moment.
The proposal came during what Emilie, a Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna, calls the “best week of my life.” She’d spent nine months closing a tech deal, had moved to the U.S. two weeks earlier, and the couple was beginning long distance. First, Beau flew to LA to celebrate her career milestone, slipping away to secretly ask her father’s permission. The next day, Emilie finalized the majority buyout of her company, Kira Talent, to nonprofit ETS, followed by three days of press. On Friday, they drove to Las Vegas—his first time—for a weekend at the Wynn. On Sunday at sunset, on the rooftop balcony of the Legacy Club in Las Vegas, Beau told her they were meeting friends to celebrate her success but as Emilie walked toward the view and turned around, she found him down on one knee.
Set in the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario, Canada, where Emilie grew up, the wedding celebrations took place during the first weekend in May. The weekend began at Willistead Manor with an English garden–themed rehearsal dinner followed by a glamorous Old Hollywood-inspired welcome party.
On May 2, 2025, Emilie and Beau were married at Ste-Anne Catholic Parish in Tecumseh, the same church where her parents were married. “As the live trumpets and organ filled the air and Beau and I walked down the aisle together to Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, I felt the weight of all the stress leave me and I could soak it all in,” shares Emilie.
SPECIAL SALON
On the wedding morning, Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery was transformed into a full salon with hair and makeup teams from Toronto and California and a custom brunch menu for the bridal party. Bridesmaids were treated to matching pajama sets and slippers for getting ready, elegant long gowns for the ceremony, and fun pink short dresses for the reception. “Both my mother and Beau’s mother were fully included in the experience, which made it even more meaningful,” shares Emilie.
WEDDING STYLE
For the ceremony, Emilie wore a Berta Couture ballgown from the Berta studio in New York, styled with a Mikimoto pearl choker and matching pearl earrings. She carried her grandmother’s brooch and was able to take photos with her at her nursing home before walking into the church, a memory she cherishes even more since her grandmother has since passed. Her mother’s crystal tiara also made a brief appearance in portraits. Earlier in the weekend, for the welcome party, she chose a Naeem Khan gown paired with Harry Winston earrings and a tennis bracelet.
Beau wore three custom looks from State and Liberty: a cream suit for the rehearsal dinner, a tuxedo with a white dinner jacket and 1950s-inspired butterfly bow tie for the welcome party, and a custom black tuxedo for the wedding day. He honoured his family legacy by wearing his great-grandfather’s cufflinks, more than a hundred years old.
AN EVENING IN THE VINEYARD
Planned and designed by Courtney Elizabeth Events, with floral design by Forever Wildfield, the reception at Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery reflected the weekend’s vision of European elegance meeting rustic vineyard charm, conceived as both a full-scale production and a love letter to the Windsor area where Emilie grew up. The winery’s stone and wood architecture, framed by sweeping vineyard views, was transformed with ceilings draped in soft white fabric and a canopy of greenery, peonies, and roses suspended above the dance floor. Tables featured rose velvet linens and patterned floral cloths in three complementary designs, each styled with pastel pink and white florals, mostly roses and peonies, alongside a mix of high and low centerpieces and candlelight for a romantic glow. A dedicated mocktail bar ensured every guest felt included, while signature cocktails highlighted the couple’s favorite espresso martinis.
UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES
Guest experience was paramount to Emilie and Beau from start to finish, beginning with luxe transportation for guests to and from Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery. Music shaped the weekend, with more than twenty-five musicians creating layered soundscapes throughout the celebration. From a harp, flute, and cello trio, opera singer, organists, and trumpets in the church, to flamenco guitarists at cocktail hour, a full jazz band during dinner, and a country band late into the night, each moment had its own rhythm. Playful touches included a portrait station, gelato cart, espresso bar, and a cigar station under the stars. Once the dance floor opened, glow sticks and cowboy hats appeared. To keep the party going, each woman found rose-gold Rescue Flats in her exact size waiting at her seat, ensuring the dancing never stopped.
One of Emilie’s favourite reception moments was her father-daughter dance beneath the floral installation over the dance floor. She and her father danced to Moonlight from the 1995 remake of Sabrina, performed live by the jazz band, and he remarked that it felt exactly like the movie. The scene was pure magic for Emilie and felt poignant knowing he had flown in from California to be there.
The MC invited guests to sing a song with the word “love” if they wanted the couple to kiss.
A standout moment came when Emilie’s cousin’s wife, a singer, began Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis, not realizing it was one of Emilie and Beau’s songs from a night they had danced to it in Paris. As the band joined her, Beau led Emilie onto the dance floor, turning the impromptu serenade into a truly unforgettable highlight
of the night.
The couple’s remarkable group of guests included CEOs, several YPO members, leaders of global companies, creatives who shape the fashion, travel and media landscape, and influencers from both TikTok and Instagram.
Later in the evening, Emilie changed into a sleek fitted Berta gown. Eventually, Emilie and Beau switched into their Tecovas cowboy boots and custom Rustler hats to end the evening in true country style. That’s when Emilie surprised Beau by jumping on stage with the country band to sing Sand in My Boots by Morgan Wallen.
CREDITS
Bride @emiliecushman, Groom @ffbeauhobbs, Planning, Design, Coordination @courtneyelizabethevents, Photography @willreidphoto, Videography @wildandfreefilms, Wedding Venue @sprucewoodshores, Catering (Welcome Party) @thymetogo, Catering (Wedding) 3D Live Catering, Florist @foreverwildfield, Décor & Rentals @studiorcrentals, Tablescape Rentals @simplybeautifuldecor, Lounge Rentals @modishloungerentals, Stationery @letterlandstudio, Music & Entertainment @stroyals, Content Creation @cupidcontentco, Bridal Dresser @tanisemmettweddingstyle, Portrait Station @mdrnphotoboothco, Vinyl Installations @thepromoguruxco, Bridal Party Hair @privadosalon, Bridal Party Makeup @sommermbonumakeup, @alexandra_watson_makeup, Bride & MOB Hair & Makeup @teamhairandmakeup, Wedding Cake @a.tomicdesign, Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party Venue Willistead Manor @citywindsoron, Gelato & Espresso Cart @sottozerocatering, Wedding MC @johnthemc, Transportation @a_universal_limo, Additional Restrooms @luxuryloowindsor, Hot Shaves @lombardibarbershop.
