REAL WEDDINGS / CANADA / ISSUE 36
A Decade in the Making – Ariana & Julian’s Organic Modern Wedding at The Pearle Hotel
Ariana Russo and Julian Borghese first met at thirteen years old. On April 25, 2026, ten years to the day after they began dating, the couple married.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAYBREAK STUDIOS
A DECADE COMES FULL CIRCLE
Ariana Russo and Julian Borghese first met at thirteen years old. Their bond began with an unlikely introduction: the two met through Julian’s sister, Celeste, when a young Julian arrived at Ariana’s thirteenth birthday party holding a bouquet of flowers so large it covered his entire face. The two remained close friends through high school before reconnecting in university, and from there, they were inseparable. They dated for eight years before Julian proposed at the couple’s favourite restaurant in Orangeville, arranging for their closest family to surprise them after dinner.
On April 25, 2026, ten years to the day after they began dating, the couple married at Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, followed by a reception at The Pearle Hotel & Spa, in a celebration shaped almost entirely by the bride’s own hand. As a professional event planner and founder of Maison Blooms, Ariana spent two years personally conceptualizing and executing every detail of the day, working alongside a trusted team of creatives to bring her vision to life.
Ariana and Julian’s wedding is featured in the current issue of WedLuxe Magazine, on newsstands across Canada now. The issue is also available to order in print online or read digitally at wedluxeshop.com.
WHAT THEY WORE
For the ceremony, Ariana wore a gown by Milla Nova, completed with a cape and overskirt to make the look fully her own, the cape altered by her grandmother, a seamstress, into a shorter style. She finished the look with hand-selected sandals by Rene Caovilla, sourced during a trip to Bal Harbour, Florida, chosen specifically to be unlike anything she’d seen before, and a satin purse gifted by her mother and sister. Later in the evening, she changed into a second look, a vintage gown by Pronovias. Julian wore a custom pleated shirt embroidered with his initials, pleated to mirror the detailing of Ariana’s gown, paired with his formalwear. He wore a vintage watch that had belonged to his late grandfather, who passed away two years ago and had been his best friend.
LET THERE BE LIGHT
The reception at The Pearle Hotel & Spa was designed with an organic modern sensibility. Every detail was designed to feel timeless rather than trend-driven. Guests were welcomed into the space by an interactive seating chart built as a tambourine wall, each person locating their name and removing a tambourine to bring to their table for use throughout the night. Multiple custom chandeliers, hand-built by the bride herself, were placed across the tables to add dimension, warmth, and a layered glow throughout the room, while florals combined lilies, hydrangeas, and ranunculus, arranged to feel both lush and architectural.
“One of the most personal design elements was the inclusion of multiple custom chandeliers that I hand-built, placed throughout the tables to create dimension, warmth, and a layered glow across the entire room.”
—Ariana, Bride
THE CELEBRATION
The night unfolded exactly as the couple had hoped, with the dance floor filled from the moment the reception began and never emptying for long. Beyond the design, the experience was rooted in connection. An audio guest book captured candid, heartfelt messages from loved ones, creating a lasting and deeply personal keepsake from the night. One of the night’s most talked-about surprises was the wedding cake, an idea of Ariana’s, which incorporated fabric into its design, a detail neither the couple nor their guests had encountered before. Heartfelt speeches from both families anchored the evening, and the couple has since pointed to the sense of love filling the room as the night’s defining feeling, more than any single design detail.
The Team
Every professional who shaped this story, listed by role.
Bride
Groom
Bridal Gown Designer
Bridal Gown Retailer
Cake
Cape & Overskirt
Ceremony Venue
Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King
Chandelier Rentals
DJ
Draping
Day of Coordination + Event Management
Event Planning, Design & Styling
Event Styling
Florals
Groom’s Formalwear
Groom’s Shirt
Hair
Late Night
Linens & Cutlery
Makeup
Photography
Reception Venue
Second Gown, Designer
Second Gown, Retailer
Tambourine Wall, Stationery & Bar/DJ Booth