Destination London: an intimate outdoor Grosvenor Lodge wedding

Karen & Ryan, June 20, 2009 :: Grosvenor Lodge, London, ON

Photos by Photography by Jennifer Partington
Story by Carla @ The Ring

Karen Mayo and Ryan Patrick met in 2005 through Ryan's cousin, but were friends for some time before they ever thought of each other as potential soul mates. But once they began dating, it didn't take long for either of them to realize that it was meant to be.

Even though they both met, live and work in Toronto, Karen and Ryan both grew up in the London area so they wanted their wedding to be in their hometown. Families helped out with planning the details of their June 20, 2009 wedding, since Karen and Ryan were in Toronto most of the time. Karen's sister baked their wedding cake herself - her first wedding cake ever!

The ceremony, photo shoot and reception were all held at Grosvenor Lodge in London, a Heritage London Foundation property that offers plenty of space, the use of a gorgeous historic estate for the entire wedding day, and the option of a tent wedding - all just minutes from downtown London. Karen says that she and Ryan really wanted to be married outside, and since they had a lot of out of town guests they wanted to host the whole wedding in one location, so Grosvenor Lodge was the perfect choice.

"I feel this really allows the elation and excitement that everyone feels after the wedding ceremony to continue through the night," says Karen. "Grosvenor Lodge was fabulous because we were able to have a gorgeous ceremony, then while we shot pictures our guests enjoyed appetizers, drinks and mingling. Then we had the dinner outside in the tent and continued the party into the evening in the Lodge, on the porch and on the grounds."