On a late September afternoon we took to the art deco Parkdale Hall, for 2 stunning unions and though it may have been a shorter Chapel than usual, it overflowed with joy and excitement.

One of the reasons this Chapel was special, is that we held our very first Mini-lopement! For those who aren’t familiar, a Mini-lopement consists of the typical 15 minute ceremony followed by a 15 minute cocktail hour, which includes an intimate toast for you and your guests and photography throughout. These were a huge hit among couples who wanted to make their micro-wedding even more petite. The lovely couple who enjoyed our Mini-lopement, not only travelled all the way from Ottawa, but they brought their gorgeous pup! You heard that right - Parkdale hall is a dog friendly venue.

Our Chapel design reflected the colour scheme of the incredible ceiling design in the1920s venue, using deep blues and blush tones. The ceremony backdrop also paid homage to our very first Chapel, using draped and knotted fabric scraps to create a meticulously arranged wall of texture.

Following the lead of the original eclectic ceiling, Snowberry Botanicals produced a stunning backdrop installation of flowing dried baby’s breath in the same blue, maroon and cream shades. The baby’s breath clouds flowed from the Chapel sign, to the bud vases, to the bar, bringing together each element of the vast space. Snowberry Botanicals also provided beautiful personal florals and add-on florals, including a sweet boutonniere made for a very small flower girl to carry down the aisle; a size appropriate bouquet. Such a sweet idea, for anyone looking to include little ones in their special day.

Our officiant, Leonard Nolasco, navigated the two ceremonies with his usual grace and soft touch. We enjoyed the beautiful live music from a guitar soloist from Next Level Entertainment, providing sweet and romantic tunes to create an ambiance that could never be copied.

When it came time to party, the grown-ups enjoyed Fresh Wines, Steam Whistle Brewery, Shiny Apple Cider, and Gruvi, while the little ones (everyone) snacked on Courage Cookies and Purplesful Popcorn. Kwento provided a cutting cake that beautifully emulated both the art-deco style of the venue and the Chapel design.

Alicia Thurston Photography took care of photography for the entire Chapel, reflecting not just the grand retro space itself but all the love and happiness of those inside it. Alicia’s photography captures the pure excitement in the special moments between the couples and their friends and family.

Due to the dog friendly venue, this Chapel benefitted Save Our Scruff, a Toronto dog shelter, working to re-home and rescue dogs from the streets. This shelter grew organically from a small group of people looking to help about a few dogs in their area, and is now a multi-faceted organization, advocating for dogs in many different spaces.

Looking to elope?

Check out all our 2024 Chapel dates today!

HIGHLIGHTS

Alicia Thurston Photography