Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/391714
While they never had the "perfect vision" of their wedding in mind, the couple knew they wanted a more private setting and the chance to draw on their own passions and the talents of those dearest to them. Together, with the help of event planner Cristina Samper Pearl from Fluent Productions, the couple put together a day lled with personal touches. "Eric and I love food and we love wine, as does my dad, so together we chose the wine selection," Carly explains. "I had Ashleigh Eymann, a childhood friend since kindergarten, play the piano and sing, Eric's niecealso played a song, and my cousin played the bagpipes after theceremony." Both the wedding cake and chocolate tru es were made by family members, while the bride's gown, bridesmaids' skirts, groomsmen'sbow tiesand the wedding rings were all made in Vancouver — a conscious decision on the part of the bride and groom. "Working with local vendors was something very important to us," says Carly. "We wanted to work with small-business owners and be really involved in the process, which Cristina allowed us to do. She was then there to help execute all of the details." As plans developed, the couplerealized that an underlying Italian theme to their wedding had begun to surface. "It reallywasn'tsomething we thought of; it just ended up being that way when we brought together all of the things that we love," says Eric. Guests were served champagne and gelato in the garden following the reception, as well as limoncello shooters on thedance oor —a treat specially made by the bride andgroom after they discovered the drink during a holiday to Italy's Amal Coast. e Italian in uence continued late into the night when the PazzaRella Pizza Truck rolled in to provide a midnight snack. Many of the guests declared the pizza truck their favourite part of the dining experience, Eric notes. With energy levels again lifted, the partying continued well into the night. "When the DJ went home, the surround-sound system went on," Carly recalls. "It was one of the bene ts of being married at a private residence. ere wasn't a curfew!" "We really enjoyed the fact that there were no rules realweddings.ca 43