Monika & John: Champagne, class & candlelight

October 24, 2009 :: St. Joseph’s Church, Brantford | Marquis Gardens, Ancaster

Photography by Kathy DeMerchant Photography (www.kathydemerchant.com)
Story by TheWeddingRing.ca

Monika Panas and John Azevedo knew it was forever, almost from the beginning, five years ago. “We both knew we wanted to eventually get married,” says the couple. But it was particularly John’s genuine, down to earth and caring personality that attracted Monika to him, and his great sense of humour that continues to keep her smiling. And for John, it’s Monika’s smile and her big heart.

When John’s sister got married, he decided that he needed a suit for the occasion and wanted Monika to go with him to a sale in Toronto. So, on a typical Wednesday, Monika suspecting nothing, the couple set out for suit shopping. Half way there, John was unsure about whether he was willing to spend so much money on a suit, and thought that maybe they shouldn’t go after all. “Instead, he asked if I felt like getting something to eat on the lakeshore in Mississauga and going for a walk by the water,” explains Monika.

“Honestly, I got a bit upset, simply because we drove all that way and then he suddenly changed his mind.” But, it was all according to John’s plan. Midway through their walk, beside the water, John proposed. The best part was that Monika had no idea. “It was just a Wednesday, that turned out to be THE Wednesday,” she adds.

When Monika and John set out planning their wedding their priorities were great food, music, and location. “We wanted something in close proximity along with great food and great entertainment to make it as easy, comfortable and enjoyable for everybody that was attending our wedding,” says the couple. “So we tried to plan it to what we had envisioned it to be, but at the same time keeping everybody else in mind.”

The couple chose a Fall date, October 24, 2009 to be exact, hoping to take advantage of the season’s mild weather and gorgeous colours. They both wanted their day to have a simple, yet elegant feel, so they chose a champagne colour scheme, which they wove throughout the details of the day, starting with Monika’s wedding dress, a silk ivory Paloma Blanca gown from Ritché Bridal in Toronto.

Monika also had two pairs of shoes - one pair that matched the colour scheme that she bought, and another pair that she borrowed from her friend’s mother-in-law. “They were Italian leather blue shoes that she bought in 1977, and they looked amazing - it was my something borrowed, something old and something blue,” Monika told us. Her look was completed with a simple pair of earrings and bracelet from Woodbridge Bridal Shoe Shop & Accessories. The bridesmaids - made up of Monika’s sister and best friend - wore champagne coloured dresses with black lace. John’s groomsmen - his brother, best friend and best friend’s brother - bought suits from Moore’s. John also wore a suit that he had made at The Tailor Shoppe in Brantford.

Monika says she wanted to get married in the church that she knew, so choosing the venue was easy. Guests arrived at St. Joseph’s Church in Brantford for the 12:30 pm ceremony, where Monika and John had decorated the pew rows with white satin bows and each had a single rose at their centre. Pomanders with ivory satin ribbon, all made from carnations, hung from iron stands. The bridesmaids walked down the aisle carrying bouquets filled with roses of different textures in off-white and cream colours, tied together with a classic ivory ribbon.

After saying “I do”, Monika and her new husband took advantage of the perfect Fall weather by having photos taken outdoors with Hamilton-based Photographer, Kathy DeMerchant Photography (www.kathydemerchant.com). Monika and John say Kathy captured everything they wanted and more. “Kathy was very easy to work with and made us feel very comfortable right from the very beginning...” For Kathy, shooting their day was a pleasure. “They are cute, funny and affectionate and it is clear that they are very much in love.” A nice touch that Monika and John liked about Kathy’s services was the slideshow that she set-up at the reception hall when they arrived. “Everybody really enjoyed that part. The photographs turned out beautifully.”

The reception was held at Marquis Gardens in Ancaster, close to the church and exclusive to their wedding for the night. The banquet room was a breathtaking vision of class and candlelight in their wedding colours.

Champagne damask tablecloths and chair covers decorated the cocktail and dinner tables, while the head table had an ivory skirt and champagne coloured sheer overlays with lights, a damask tablecloth and two candelabras on the floor in front. Each table also had gold charger plates that held Monika and John’s guest favours - a variety of individually wrapped chocolates in little ivory boxes with gold accents. Tables were decorated with centrepieces of tall martini glasses with three ivory, vanilla scented floating candles inside. Family and traditions played a big role in Monika and John’s wedding.

St. Joseph’s is a Polish Roman-Catholic Church so they decided to incorporate a few Polish traditions into the reception as well. The newly married couple was welcomed at the reception by the parents with bread and salt. The bread symbolizes prosperity and salt stands for hardships of life. The parents then wish that the married couple never go hungry and learn how to deal with every day hardships together.

Food was served throughout the night, from hors d’oeuvres to midnight buffet. The wedding cake, made by Karlik Pastry, was a square, three-tiered, cream-coloured cake with simple, pearl-like detailing around the middle of each tier.

Monika and John’s friend, Marcel Klema from Nexxid Video, captured the whole wedding on video and guests were entertained by Impuls, the live band.

From their fun and helpful wedding party, to their parents who they say they can’t thank enough, Monika and John told us that they had tons of help from many people during their wedding planning, and each person played a part in making their day as enjoyable and special as it was. And they add, “we thank all of them.”