By Tracey Manailescu of Tracey M Events
I did it. I did the thing I tell people never to do. I signed on for partial planning AND officiated Paige and Mitch’s wedding day. Do I regret it? Not at all.
Paige and Mitchs wedding was a beautiful, heartfelt two-day celebration on Paiges familys 100-acre property in Erin, ON complete with 5 small lakes and a golf course. The first day was an intimate ceremony and dinner shared with fifty of their closest friends and family.
The second day had 150 of their friends and family come for a full day of swimming (a licensed lifeguard was hired for the afternoon), BBQ on the tennis court under a tent, and games galore.
As with all weddings, plans evolved along the way. The bridesmaids had originally planned to craft their own bouquets during their sleepover the night before, but time got away from them. Paige had lovingly grown wildflowers for the bouquets, so my assistant and I sprang into action, cutting fabric and carefully arranging eight delicate, hand-held bouquets to bring her vision to life.
A deeply personal touch to the day was the custom mashup of Paiges favorite Taylor Swift songs, created by an artist she found on TikTok, which made for a truly magical processional. In another thoughtful adjustment, we switched Paiges father to her left side as he walked her down the aisle to accommodate his vision challenges.
Initially, a handfasting ceremony had been planned, but in a last-minute decision, the couple opted out. Without the added personalization of the ritual, my scripted ceremony felt shorter than anticipated, leaving me momentarily uncertain about the flow.
One of my favorite details was this giant wooden heart that Mitch and his Dad made. Paige made a special request to have her sisters within her line of sight throughout the ceremony. To honor this, we adjusted the wedding partys positioning, ensuring that whenever she looked up, she could see their loving faces. It was such a touching, meaningful change that made the moment even more special.
Paige, Mitch and their family hand-painted these amazing church pews in pastel colours.
Every shift and adaptation throughout the day only added to the warmth and authenticity of their celebration, making it a wedding to remember.
As the sun set over the sprawling property, the evening unfolded with a heartfelt sit-down dinner, moving speeches, and a truly unforgettable experience! A live tattoo station for guests who wanted a permanent memento of the day. In the spirit of celebration and spontaneity, I even got my very first tattoo, a delicate sun inked on the back of my neck, a symbol of warmth, light, and the beautiful memories of this extraordinary wedding.
Paige and Mitchs wedding was a testament to love, adaptability, and the magic of personal touches. It was a joy to be part of such an intimate and meaningful celebration. One that will stay with me forever, just like my new tattoo.
