REAL WEDDINGS
A Custom Crest, a Candlelit Library and a Castle Ice Luge: A Regal Wedding at Casa Loma
A fairytale wedding in Toronto, from a Serbian Orthodox ceremony to a candlelit dinner in Casa Loma's library and a champagne tower in the conservatory.
On October 18, 2025, Vanja and Andre celebrated a romantic, fairytale-inspired wedding shaped by regal European influences. They honoured tradition with a ceremony at All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church, then continued with dinner and dancing in the library and conservatory of Casa Loma. From their first site visit, the castle felt like the natural setting for their story.
The castle theme was personal. On December 31, 2024, during a holiday trip to Walt Disney World, Andre proposed over dinner inside Cinderella’s Castle as the New Year’s Eve fireworks began over the park. The couple carried that same fairytale feeling into every chapter of their Casa Loma wedding, and they were involved in every design decision themselves.
WedLuxe partner Casa Loma set the stage, while Estrelle Bridal dressed Vanja in a Tina Valerdi gown and a custom veil. Hand & Heart Events designed the decor and florals, and Purple Tree Photography captured it all, from a gold foil crest that appeared on nearly every detail to a castle carved in ice and an aerialist in the Great Hall.
Castle-Inspired Details and Getting Ready
From the very first impression, guests were immersed in the couple’s vision. The invitations arrived as custom castle-inspired box sets, finished with a vintage gold foil crest bearing Vanja and Andre’s initials. That crest became the thread of the entire day, appearing on the menus, signage, napkins, favours, cake, light-up bracelets and even the ice sculpture.
Vanja’s gown by Tina Valerdi, from Estrelle Bridal, had a sweetheart neckline, sheer back detailing and detachable sheer sleeves. Its nude lining let the three-dimensional florals stand out all the way down the long train. When she couldn’t find a veil she loved, the Estrelle Bridal team designed a custom royal-length veil with her, trimmed in delicate lace. Her Jimmy Choo stilettos were made in an ivory mesh to match the gown, with fine crystal chains at the ankle.
Vanja got ready high above the city, with the CN Tower framed in the windows. Victoria Monroe Makeup created her look and Shannon Petrolito styled her hair, while her bridesmaids, dressed in mint satin robes, raised a glass of champagne. She finished her look with a diamond tennis bracelet, a gift from Andre.
Andre’s custom tuxedo was designed with GOTSTYLE in a spirit of quiet luxury, with the couple’s names and wedding date stitched inside. He wore a gold lapel pin holding a photo of his mother, a gift from Vanja to honour her memory, along with his father’s Rolex and Christian Louboutin Greggo patent shoes. Waiting for later were a custom white dinner jacket and gold-spiked Louboutin loafers for the dance floor.
A Serbian Orthodox Ceremony at All Serbian Saints
The ceremony took place at All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church, beneath a dome and walls covered in painted icons. A pair of jewelled crowns waited near the altar. Vanja was escorted in while Andre waited at the front of the church, and her royal-length veil trailed the length of the aisle behind her.
Before the altar, rings were exchanged and the couple’s hands were joined beneath a white cloth. Crowns were then held above them, and Vanja and Andre walked crowned before the altar as their guests looked on. When the ceremony ended, they shared a kiss among the icons.
Portraits at Casa Loma
From the church, the newlyweds headed to Casa Loma. Inside, an ivory salon set off Vanja’s veil, spread in a wide circle across the parquet. The castle’s leaded windows, wood-panelled corridors and staircase offered one dramatic frame after another.
Outside, the stone courtyard and gardens became the backdrop for the wedding party. Vanja and Andre then stepped onto the terrace, where her veil swept across the stone above the autumn trees.
A Candlelit Library
For dinner, Casa Loma’s library was transformed into a candlelit room inspired by a rose castle garden. Dark wood shelves and crystal chandeliers glowed above tables dressed with glass candelabras, pillar candles and arrangements of white and blush roses with soft greenery.
The gold crest returned on the four-tier wedding cake by Fine Cakes by Zehra and at every place setting. Before guests were invited in, Vanja and Andre took in the room on their own, her veil fanned across the floor between the tables.
Cocktail Hour and the Great Hall
Guests were welcomed with an aerial champagne pour, and the signature drinks, espresso martinis and margaritas, set a lively tone. A custom four-by-six-foot castle carved in ice, with the couple’s crest at its front, doubled as a working ice luge. Nearby, an oversized fairytale storybook seating display showed guests to their tables.
Then, from the 60-foot ceilings of Casa Loma’s Great Hall, an aerialist performed high above the guests, a theatrical prelude to the evening ahead.
Dinner in the Library
Guests waved their napkins overhead as the newlyweds made their entrance into the library. Dinner unfolded to the sound of a live violinist and heartfelt speeches, and later Vanja and Andre cut their cake beneath the bookshelves.
Second Looks and a Champagne Tower
After dinner and before the first dance, Vanja changed into a custom sleek gown with a high neckline and gloves by Miss Ladybug, paired with Versace heels finished in gold. Andre slipped into his white dinner jacket. Every guest wore a custom RFID light bracelet printed with the gold crest, its colours and patterns controlled by the DJ throughout the night.
Their first dance, to “Young & Beautiful,” took place in the conservatory as every bracelet turned a sparkling white and sparkling effects rose around them. It flowed straight into a champagne tower pour, opening a high-energy dance floor with a live saxophonist, a DJ and a photobooth. Flat shoes were handed out as favours to keep everyone dancing late into the night.
From a proposal inside Cinderella’s Castle to a crest that carried through every detail, Vanja and Andre’s Casa Loma wedding was a fairytale told with remarkable cohesion, regal, romantic and entirely their own.
WedLuxe Glitterati Members
Wedding Venue
Casa Loma
The Team
Every professional who shaped this story, listed by role.
Ceremony Venue
All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church
Reception Venue
Event Decor and Florals
Photography
Videography
Content Creation
Wedding Gown
Bridal Salon and Custom Veil
Second Gown
Groom's Custom Tuxedo
Bridal Hair
Bridal Makeup
Wedding Invitations
Stationery
Wedding Bands
Wedding Cake
Dessert Favours
Castle Ice Sculpture
Aerial Performer and Champagne Pour
Violinist
Saxophonist
Photo Booth
RFID Bracelets