Jan 22

Our Wedding: Getting Ready & The First Look

Our Wedding | lark & linen

As mentioned in yesterday’s post, it was really important for us to ensure we made our wedding day very much our own, and that definitely trickled into our wedding party, and how we approached the morning of.
While I’m blessed to have a handful of truly incredible friends whom I adore to my core, as an introvert I knew that a room full of activity the morning of our wedding would make me feel a little anxious. Not to mention the logistics of multiple dresses, makeup, hair, and the like… it just felt like a lot for us, personally. So, instead, we kept our wedding parties as simple as possible. Both Justin and I each picked one person to stand next to us. His long-standing best friend acted as his best man, and my cousin – my soul sister, and my forever rock – stood next to me. The rest of our friends then became honorary bridesmaids and groomsmen (to be totally honest, I think they were all relieved! Being in a wedding party is a big, usually expensive, commitment).

The morning of ultimately ended up being a really special part of the day. My cousin and I spent the night at the beautiful Thompson hotel, which was literally steps from our venue, and we were joined by my mother first thing in the morning. After a leisurely breakfast, and lots of champagne, our makeup artist, hair stylist, and photographer showed up and quickly got to work.

Because there were only three of us, the whole morning felt very calm. Truth be told, I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more centred or peaceful, which was such a huge relief. Even the threat of a lingering storm (and our outdoor ceremony) wasn’t going to phase me. This photo of my mom sipping champagne in bed is one of my very favourites of the bunch, mostly because it perfectly embodies the entire vibe of that morning.

Once we were all fed, dressed, glammed, and ready, we hopped in an Uber and headed to a pretty park in Rosedale for our “first look”, and family photos. I’m not sure I’ll ever forget those moments leading up to seeing my soon-to-be husband for the first time on our wedding day. And if you’re considering doing a first look of your own, I’m here to encourage you to go for it. While I was surprisingly calm the entire morning, the moment I spotted Justin any lingering nerves instantly disappeared. It was so special to have that moment alone before all of the hooplah began. And it most definitely allowed us to relax, taking any edge off leading up to our ceremony. It really allowed us both to feel calm and present the whole way through. And I’m so glad we snuck that moment in for just us – definitely a wedding win, as far as I’m concerned!

Here’s a closer peek at the moments leading up to our ceremony…

Our Wedding | lark & linen Photography: When He Found Her