Congratulations, New York!

[ June 27, 2011 ] catherine

As Toronto celebrates gay pride this week, there’s good news south of the border, as well. Late Friday night, New York became the sixth state in the U.S. to legalize same sex marriage. New Yorkers no longer have to travel to one of the other five states or to Canada to get married. They can finally do it in their own backyard.

In 2005 Canada became the fourth country in the world to legalize same sex marriage — following The Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003) and Spain (2005) — and the first in the Americas. Currently in the U.S., it’s legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington DC and now New York. We look forward to the day when every state recognizes same sex marriage. For now, we are thrilled for our friends just south of us. Congratulations, New York!

Etsy Find

[ June 24, 2011 ] catherine

I haven’t featured anything from Etsy in a while but when I saw these great accessories from Mojo Spa Style, I just had to share them. They’d be perfect for your bridesmaids or for wearing to your own bridal shower. Take a moment to be inspired by their beauty.

The First Wedding At The Ritz-Carlton Toronto

[ June 23, 2011 ] catherine

The first wedding at the new Ritz- Carlton Toronto was a huge success. “It could not have been more seamless,” says planner Melissa Haggerty of Spectacular Spectacular. “The service and the food were all top notch. Most importantly, my clients couldn’t have been more thrilled with how everything went.”

For any venue, the first major event is always a bit nerve-racking and bride and groom Anusha and Arash really put them to the test. Anusha is Muslim Indian (she grew up in Toronto) and Arash is Persian. They now live in the U.S. Their ceremony was at 10:30 a.m., followed by an Indian lunch designed by one of the chefs at the Ritz. At 1:00 p.m. the guests departed and the couple went to rest. Photos with Gillian Williamson of Ikonica took place in and around the Ritz. Finally, at 6:00 p.m., the guests returned for the evening program that included dinner (Indian-Persian fusion) and dancing.

A full-day wedding is a lot of work for any venue but to have it as your first is a challenge. The staff at the Ritz were able to pull it off without a hitch, Anusha and Arash couldn’t be any happier.