Irene & Vincent: Every Detail Tells a Story
September 6 2008 :: Casa Loma, Toronto
Photography by HRM Photography
Story by TheWeddingRing.ca
Vincent Fournier first saw Irene Lam at a Christmas party on December 20, 2003. From that moment forward, Vincent worked on winning Irene’s heart. On February 14 he won his first date with Irene. That Valentine’s Day was just the beginning of a future together that is filled with love and big dreams.
Irene says it’s Vincent’s selfless nature that she loves most about him, “He is always putting others before him… He truly gives others unconditional love.” For Vincent, it’s everything — and nothing — about Irene that has captured his heart. “It’s in all her little attributes and features that have filled me with loving memories. And it’s all the loving moments together that will come with the next day that I love her all the more… Yeah, call me a romantic… But I can defend that by being half French, non?!”
Their wedding was an all day affair, reflecting both Irene and Vincent with a “fun atmosphere, great food and great fun.” The final guest count was about 138 guests, coming from Québec, Beijing and the Greater Toronto area. They used a traditionally Chinese lucky colour, red, in every detail of the day, including symbol of a red string. “The red string itself symbolizes the thread that binds those who are destined to meet; our holding the thread is the reflection that we have followed it to its midpoint and found each other.”
Irene chose friends who’d been there throughout her life’s most defining moments to be in her bridal party so they could share another defining moment. “My matron of honour and sister, Judie, taught me how to dream. My maid of honour, Sophia, taught me how to love like a Virgo. My bride’s matron, Elaine, taught me how to be loved. My bridesmaid, Cindy, taught me style. All of them are very inspiring to me. Although they are very different from each other, I find myself in all of them.”
For his groomsmen, Vincent chose a long time best friend from grade nine, Melvin, his next oldest and dear friend, Richard, a great friend who always has great advice if he asks for it, Benny, and Andrew, who Irene and Vincent say is a great guy with a heart of gold. “Truth be told, all the friends are great people and it was tough to have to ‘choose’.”
Much of the wedding day was either designed, handmade or reconstructed by Irene, including her white wedding ceremony gown, the bridesmaids’ bird cage veils, all of the stationery, and even one of the wedding cakes. The bridal party pitched in to help decorate the car, organize the flowers and lighting as well as decorate the hall. The result was that every element of the day had a story of its own.
“I would say a lifetime commitment is more than love, familiarity and affection. It’s a commitment to being there for her, to tell her you love her. Once that commitment is made, then while the words ‘I love you’ will always take nothing but a moment to say, one realizes that a lifetime is all but necessary to make them have affect.
They incorporated several Chinese traditions into their day. At 11 am, the groomsmen and groom arrived at the bridal party location for the door games. “The bridesmaids protect their fellow ‘sister’ from marriage, challenging the groomsmen and groom through a series of ‘tests’ and bargain for lucky money.” At the end of the game, the groom is granted permission to meet his beautiful bride.
At noon, a tea ceremony was held in Irene’s bedroom. Her friend Adam had a canvas forest given to him by his grandmother that they used as a backdrop.
“In Chinese, my name is made of the characters in the word forest.” It is traditional to visit both bride and groom’s parents’ homes for tea ceremonies. But since the couple was on a tight timeline, Irene incorporated her mother-in-law’s chaise lounge in her bedroom. Offering tea to their parents, older siblings and immediate family members is a manner of paying their respect. In return, family members offer some lucky money or jewellery to the bride so that their life together may begin with prosperity and love.
Afterward, everyone enjoyed the home cooking of Irene’s mom and then honoured one more tradition—taking the ring bearers to their condo to jump on the bed. This tradition is intended to bring good luck for the children that are expected to soon follow. Vincent notes “that ‘soon’ is a definitely not entirely interpreted the same way between the newlyweds and the parents!”
Irene and Vincent entrusted their memories to Heather MacEachern of HRM Photography. “She worked with us and listened to what we envisioned for our wedding… It is important to have great chemistry with the photographer. Our photographs show that we all had a great time.”
Irene, Vincent, and the entire wedding party headed out at 2 pm for photos. They went to Solferino, a gelato shop that has since closed. “I guess the only good place for gelato is Rome now!” Everyone chose their treats, with the photographer snapping shots of every moment and memory along the way. Then the guys headed to Pravda, a trendy Toronto Vodka bar for more photos. After ice cream and vodka, they headed to Union Station and the Skywalk where Irene and Vincent entertained those waiting for their train by waltzing their first dance. At 4:30 pm they arrived at their wedding ceremony and reception location in Toronto’s Casa Loma. They use the incredible architecture and gardens for more photo opps.
The wedding ceremony began at 6 pm in the The Conservatory at Casa Loma in front of a water fountain, surrounded by their friends and loved ones and shafts of gorgeous natural light through large windows. “I remember seeing her in her beautiful wedding dress as she came out into the Casa Loma gardens. That memory is engraved as much as the first time I saw her at that Christmas Party.” Irene and her bridesmaids wore gowns that Irene designed. Irene’s stunning red shoes were purchased from the JLo line. Vincent wore a suit purchased at Hugo Boss because they wanted a more Europeanstyle tailored suit. Groomsmen found their formal wear at Tip Top Tailors. “They were surprisingly well tailored for the budget,” says Irene.
At 7 pm, guests moved into the Great Hall of Casa Loma to sip cocktails from the open bar, mingle with friends and family, and watch the bride and groom cut one of their three fabulous, pristine, white wedding cakes. Dinner was served at 8 pm, followed by speeches in short order. Irene and Vincent shared their first official dance, “and then the rest is a blur—of trying to meet everyone and squeeze in some fun on the dance floor,” said Irene. “All I remember is the amazing burnt orange Grand Marnier crêpes and our long dessert table!”
At the end of the night, Irene and Vincent danced to So Beautiful by Darren Hayes, a song Irene had dedicated to her new husband. Vincent says they want to accomplish their dreams together. Irene already has plans to open her own Etsy store, “5eizen” soon, aimed at items for brides who want one-of-kind and custom products. “I think our hopes have already come true. However, in the not-too-distant future, a couple of healthy kids and a nice house would be nice!”
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