LAURA + ALEX'S FORT ERIE LAKE HOUSE WEDDING // KATIE BENFEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Planning: Amanda Cowley Events | Florals: Lush Florals | Officiant: Cathy Davis & Company | DJ: Liquid Entertainment
From the planner, Amanda of Amanda Cowley Events:
“I am so happy to share a bit about one of my favourite weddings I have ever been a part of. Lovingly captured by Katie Benfey Photography, with effortlessly lovely florals from Lush Florals. To say that being a part of Laura + Ale'x’s summer lake house wedding was an honour, would be the understatement of the century. Everything about their day floods me with joyful, warm, romantic memories, and as a planner and a very emotional human being, this is the kind of stuff I live for.
I should have known based on our planning journey together that the day would encompass all things hospitable and family-focused; the event took place on the bride’s family lake house along the shores of Thunder Bay in Fort Erie, here in Niagara. It’s amazing how a quick jaunt from central Niagara, you can find yourself in cottage country - - really, really, really pretty cottage country.
We spent many an afternoon together, Laura, her Mom and I, sitting and chatting about all the ways they hoped to bring the day together for Laura, her fiancée Alex, and their families. We talked about the importance of keeping the event feeling true to Laura + Alex, yet honouring the wishes of their most cherished family members. We talked about the way the sunset creates the prettiest pastel landscape over the water and thus, the design for the evening was born. We talked about how Laura’s Nonna was the only person allowed in the house, because, well, because she’s the Nonna. We talked about how Laura’s parents would plant trees and build pathways and light the entire property in order to give Laura the most perfect day they could. We talked about their beloved pooch Leo. We talked about Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C.
The day came and the weather couldn’t have been more on our side. With our main concern being a hefty breeze off the bay, we thanked our lucky stars for a calm day that wasn’t too hot. We had warm sunshine and puffy clouds and neighbours swam in the water as they watched us set out chairs for the ceremony as we started bringing everything to life. The fanned seating and circle arbour helped make the whole space feel defined without being over-designed - - toes in the sand, sunshine on our faces, love on the horizon; that was the design we were after.
The evening was celebrated on the front lawn under a tent for 200. Lights twinkled in a canopy entwined with greenery and guests flooded the space to create the coziest atmosphere. A mix of round and harvest tables helped keep the evening casual and family-style, while the linens, florals, and candlelight reminded us this wasn’t just any summer night. Laura read poems to Alex. Alex sang songs to Laura. The whole room laughed and ate and drank wine and lived in the joy of the moment.
To all the vendors on board that day, your time, talent, passion, and focus, did not go unnoticed.”
Vendors:
Planning: Amanda Cowley Events | Florals: Lush Florals | Officiant: Cathy Davis & Company | Entertainment: Liquid Entertainment | Photography: Katie Benfey Photography | Linens: Simply Beautiful Decor | Tent: Party Connection Rentals | Chairs + Rentals: Special Occasions | Catering: City Farm Catering | Food Truck: La Crepes | Hair: Valvano Salon + Spa | Makeup: Alana Snoei | Cinema: Blake Hannahson
