A Romantic Rooftop Elopement at The Westin Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario

After they got engaged, Michelinne Gagne (24, an International Banker) and Darren Gonek (31, an Engineer) started planning a small wedding for 30 to 40 guests. But after four months of planning, they had a change of heart and decided to elope. "Planning a wedding made my heart palpitate. I was a mess of nerves. When we made the decision to elope, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was the right thing for us," Michelinne says. The couple held their wedding at The Westin Ottawa, with an intimate ceremony on the rooftop and a private dinner reception a few floors down at a picnic table under the stars. A monochromatic color palette of white, black and gray brought out the simple elegance of their wedding. The couple shared a charcuterie board for their cocktail hour, followed by tapas and wine for dinner, and a first dance under trees filled with candlelit lanterns. "Every detail, every moment of the day was meant to make each other feel special. We loved that our focus was on each other alone. We were truly in the moment," Michelinne says.