For Kate and Lou, their perfect wedding meant bringing together their closest family members for an unforgettable culinary experience at one of Canada’s most prestigious venues. The couple hosted an intimate celebration for twenty-two guests at Langdon Hall Country House, where vintage fashion, fine dining, and family traditions merged to create an enchanted evening.
For Kate and Lou, their perfect wedding meant bringing together their closest family members for an unforgettable culinary experience at one of Canada’s most prestigious venues. The couple hosted an intimate celebration for twenty-two guests at Langdon Hall Country House, where vintage fashion, fine dining, and family traditions merged to create an enchanted evening. Capturing every beautiful detail, photographer Frances Beatty ensured each moment was preserved with elegance, highlighting the charm and intimacy of this memorable gathering.
Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Style: Simple, formal, intimate
Time of planning: 1 year
Number of guests: 22
Setting: Hotel
Season: Fall
Their love blossomed in the digital age when Kate and Lou matched on Tinder while studying at McGill University in 2015. After years of building their life together in Montreal, the couple relocated to Toronto, where Kate pursued her PhD studies. Though she had always said she wanted to be “Dr.” before “Mrs.,” spending the pandemic together changed everything. On a misty morning in Algonquin Park, Lou invited Kate to watch the sunrise. This moment turned forever as he proposed on the deck overlooking the lake, despite Kate’s amused protests about the geographical impossibility of seeing the sunrise from that spot.
Bride's Look
As someone working in vintage fashion, Kate’s bridal style told its own story of sustainability and uniqueness. She discovered her dream dress at Vintage Bride in Toronto—a 1982 champagne silk gown featuring dramatic pleated puff sleeves and delicate floral applications.
Completing her look were secondhand gold Miu Miu pumps, a pearl-adorned loose updo, and sentimental jewelry— diamond earrings borrowed from her mother and a diamond necklace gifted by her new family. Naturally, the subtle blush tone of the necklace’s centerpiece diamond complemented the overall softness of her look while adding a touch of modern luxury.
Groom's Fashion
Lou chose a practical yet elegant custom navy suit from Harry Rosen, accessorized with thoughtful details: a lucky charm-adorned Ferragamo tie, a lighthouse-patterned Eton pocket square for his bride, and most meaningfully, his late grandfather’s signet ring bearing their shared initials.
First Look
For Kate and Lou, the day was woven with pure magic and intimacy moments. Their first look was filled with laughter as Lou lightened the nerves by playfully showing off his custom suit, making Kate’s smile even brighter. It was what made their relationship special – the ability to find humor in tender moments, be ultimately themselves with each other, and turn even the most formal occasions into opportunities for genuine connection and laughter.
"Kate cried the moment we turned around for our first look. After telling her how beautiful she looked I then took it upon myself to make her laugh by being as goofy as possible."
Ceremony
The intimate wedding ceremony took place in a beautiful sun-drenched solarium filled with abundant natural light that created a warm and inviting atmosphere. In a touching break from tradition, the bride and groom made the personal choice to enter the space together, a decision they had thoughtfully planned for some time. Soft, romantic music played as they walked in, setting the perfect tone for the heartfelt moment.
The couple had carefully selected an officiant who crafted a highly personalized ceremony, weaving in meaningful cultural elements that paid tribute to their heritages and families. Several loved ones participated by sharing selected poetry that spoke to the couple’s journey and bond. After exchanging their vows and rings, the ceremony concluded with the newlyweds sharing their first married kiss as their particular song began to play. The thoughtfully curated details and intimate setting made it a moving ceremony filled with authenticity, love, and joy that perfectly captured the couple’s story and marked the beautiful start of their marriage.
Reception
Rather than a traditional reception, the evening unfolded as an elevated family dinner in Colonel Langdon’s historic dining room. A single magnificent table featured minimalist decor and green-forward floral arrangements, letting the venue’s architecture shine. The menu showcased the restaurant’s culinary excellence: foie gras with lavender peach and wine jelly, a choice of smoked beef or halibut, and apricot white chocolate mousse. A delicate summer berry and cream wedding cake provided the perfect sweet ending.
Toasts from family members were heartfelt and teary, with laughter and tender moments shared around the table. The evening culminated in a spontaneous dance party as 80’s hits filled the solarium, and the day ended with cocktails in the lounge before everyone returned to their rooms.
"The photos reflect how easy, cozy, and comfortable the event was."
Moment Alone
Between the ceremony’s joy and dinner’s festivities, Kate and Lou lost themselves in a moment that would become one of their most cherished memories. Away from the happy buzz of celebration, they had their first quiet moments as husband and wife. Hand in hand, they shared soft laughter and whispered reflections about their ceremony.
Their photographer, Frances Beatty, crept through the space, capturing these tender exchanges with an artist’s eye. Each frame told its own story – the way Lou gently squeezed Kate’s hand, their shared glances full of meaning, the soft afternoon light wrapping around them like a warm embrace. The resulting images felt more like treasured memories than posed photographs, each preserving those precious minutes’ raw emotion and genuine connection.
End of the Day
Kate and Lou’s intimate celebration ended in the quiet late evening hours. After savoring the last bites of the wedding cake, the family shared final hugs and congratulations. The laughter echoed through the halls as everyone reminisced about the evening’s highlights. As their guests retreated to their rooms, the newlyweds took one last walk through the historic halls, fingers intertwined, hearts full from a day that perfectly captured their vision of an intimate family wedding.
"Looking around at our families coming together, dancing and celebrating until the very end – it was everything we hoped for."
Advice from the couple:
• The choice to honor the type of wedding you and your partner want will ensure the day goes without a hitch. We knew we wanted a small wedding, and the intimate day with our family was perfect. Everybody was at ease and had a great time.
PHOTOGRAPHER Frances Beatty Photography | VENUE & CATERING Langdon Hall | OFFICIANT Christine Lafazanos | HAIR Negar Parastar | MUAH Langdon Hall Spa | DRESS Vintage Bride | SHOES Miu Miu | SUIT Harry Rosen | TIE Ferragamo | RINGS Alex Moss NYC | POCKET SQUARE Eton
