Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/162483
The whole day was a blur of joy and excitement amidst all their friends and family, Jillian was overwhelmed: "It just took my breath away. I wanted to stop and take a photo, but then I thought, 'Oh yeah, I have to go get married now!' " When Joel saw Jillian, he remembers being equally floored: "She looked amazing and, from that point forward, it was all less stressful." After the outdoor ceremony, the bride and groom led their guests into the dining room for a six-course meal that put a high-end spin on all their favourite dishes, including pizza, fish and chips, and Kobe beef burgers. The tasty offerings also included a dessert buffet, but since the bride and groom aren't fond of cake, self-proclaimed "cheese monster" Jillian stacked rounds of different cheeses on top of one another to make a "cheese cake," then served up slices on wooden cheeseboards that had been handmade by Joel. Sticking with their non-traditional flair, the fun-loving couple set up a game of Battleship at the head table where guests could guess coordinates in hopes of hitting one of the ships that would make the bride and groom kiss, or sinking a ship to win a prize. As the crowd danced and laughed the night away, Joel recalls, "It was great just to see different people from different areas of our lives hanging out together." He and Jillian agree Top: Instead of a traditional cake, Jillian that the whole day was a blur of joy and excitement, exactly as and Joel opted for a they had wanted it to be. gourmet "cheese cake." Right: Low-profile After their whirlwind wedding weekend, the newlyweds centrepieces and zipped down to California's famed Sonoma and Napa valleys simple table décor for some much-deserved R&R. Their five-day "mini-moon," lent a sleek, modern esthetic. however, was just the warm-up for their dream vacation sevBottom left and eral months later, when they headed to Bora Bora for a luxuriright: Guests enjoyed themselves over a ous 10-day retreat in an over-the-water bungalow — where six-course sit-down Jillian and Joel officially kicked off the next chapter of their feast of the couple's favourite foods. life together. rw p50-55_Study in Romance.indd 53 4/24/12 4:00:03 PM