Southern Weddings

If you are a sucker for romance novels this one is for you. Cameron was a disheartened girl in a coffee shop when Adam swept her off her feet with his posh British accent. Their first date at the beach turned into a seven hour day marking the start of a lifetime together and a fabulous wedding of course! “Elegant on the rocks” was the motto for their four-day lakeside celebration in Ontario, Canada. Cameron was rowed to the island for the wedding ceremony by her father in an Adirondack rowboat-talk about picturesque! The first dress Cameron tried on was designed by {Jenny Packham} and it was perfect; everyone in the dressing room started crying! Other details you want to know: The ceremony took place on Alice Island, Desbarats. Catering and flowers by Panna Bar and Grill. Planning by Liza Roode from Panna Bar & Grill. Bridesmaid dresses by {Butter by Nadia}. Photography by {Paul F. Gero Photography}.  Check out more amazing shots from this celebration on Paul’s {Photo Blog}.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story: We met on a Tuesday at “It’s a Grind Coffee House” on Polk Street in San Francisco. I had met a friend of mine for coffee and turned down her offer to continue our chat over sushi. I had been feeling rather disheartened about finding a meaningful relationship in San Francisco with a extra dose of angst about what I should be doing with my life. I picked up the NY Times to feel even more depressed with the latest international crisis until I heard a sexy British accent asking me if he and his friend could share the surrounding oversized chairs and sitting area with me. I could tell that he was thinking extremely hard about how to engage me in conversation, so I helped move the process along by putting down the paper and waiting. “Anything interesting happening in the world” he asked. That was the beginning….we talked for 2 and half hours about everything under the sun. We spent our first official date at Baker Beach in San Francisco, which stretched into a 7-hour unforgettable day of beginning our lives together.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? From the outset, I wanted to create a sense of community and connection to the beautiful surroundings that carry generations of memories. My family cabin on the shores of the North Channel was the inspiration. It is a place that filters out the noise of the outside world and family and friends come together to swim, relax, read, cook, and indulge in adolescent behavior. The typical vibe on the lake is very casual but I wanted to bring a bit of surprise and elegance to the four-day celebration. Elegant on the Rocks became our design motto. We rented and borrowed cottages around the lake to give our guests an authentic lake experience. We also wanted to utilize the natural beauty as much as possible, from the small family island where the ceremony was held, to the enchanted glow of the luminaries lining the dock and pathway to the reception tent.
Favorite design element of your big day: The warmth of the colors (bronzes and coppers) and the stunning display of orchid centerpieces, hanging Moroccan lanterns, antique looking chandeliers, and soft candle glow set the tone for an intimate and beautiful dinner. Another favorite moment was being rowed to the island for the wedding ceremony by my father in an Adirondack rowboat. It was a very special entrance!
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I was in Manhattan for my cousin’s wedding in January 2008 and thought it would be fun to make a spur of the moment appointment at Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier. I enlisted my fiancée, mother, sister, best friend and future sister in law along for the ride. I am not a woman who has fantasized about her wedding since she was ten years old and had never even picked up a bridal magazine before this outing. The trunk show for the week was the designer Jenny Packham and I immediately liked her gowns, all of which had glamorous yet subtle 1920’s Art Deco style. You know you have tried on the perfect dress when all five people huddled in the dressing room instantly start crying. It was the first dress I tried on and it was perfect!
Describe your wedding flowers: We had burgundy calla lilies variety of different types of orange, maroon and cream orchids.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Incandescent, Honoring, Abundant.
What advice would you give to someone planning his or her wedding? Make the journey a truly creative expression of who you are as a couple. I wanted our wedding to have all the fabulous elements of a great celebration (food, music, flowers, etc.) but most importantly, I strove to set a tone for being connected, community building, and fun. Be fully present on the big day…be willing to be celebrated and deeply loved. Have a vision (even if you make it up as you go along like I did) of your wedding and draw inspiration from life and what truly matters to you!

Congrats to Cameron + Adam.  We wish you the best!