1. Real Weddings

A Whimsical, Rustic Wedding at Archeo in Toronto, Ontario

Colleen Tam (30 and a business manager at Royal Bank of Canada) and James Stolzel (28 and a business consultant at Royal Bank of Canada) pulled off a

Colleen Tam (30 and a business manager at Royal Bank of Canada) and James Stolzel (28 and a business consultant at Royal Bank of Canada) pulled off a whimsical, garden-inspired affair at Archeo for their fall wedding in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Drawing on their love of nature, the couple worked with the florists at Coriander Girl to transform Archeo’s rustic interiors into a romantic woodland scene. Cascades of eucalyptus and lush greenery ran the lengths of the wooden farm tables, culminating in bundles of cream and blush roses, dahlias, ferns and seasonal greenery. The piece de resistance was a striking suspended arrangement that hung over the head table, cascades of dusty purple roses, vines and tealights amplifying the evening’s sense of whimsy. “It absolutely made the room,” Colleen says. Gilded chargers, silver candelabras and twinkling mercury glass accents balanced out the organic decor to create a naturally glamorous aesthetic. The celebration unfolded with a ceremony in Archeo’s outdoor courtyard. Exposed-brick walls, hanging florals, bistro lights and cobblestones provided a cozy backdrop for the proceedings. “The space honestly did not need much decorating,” Colleen says. “The one main thing we added was a beautifully handcrafted arch created by my father-in-law. The florist added blooms to one corner of the arch. On each side there were wine barrels supplied by the restaurant.” As a nod to Colleen’s Chinese heritage, the pair performed a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. “My whole immediate family flew in from Hong Kong for the wedding, which was extremely special to me,” Colleen says. After the “I dos” the couple ushered their guests inside for cocktail hour and the reception. Guests sipped on maple old-fashioneds and white cosmopolitans spiked with St-Germain while snacking on a selection of inspired hors d’oeuvres. Dinner didn’t disappoint, with Colleen and James treating guests to a mouthwatering spread of cauliflower soup, arugula and crumbled chevre salad with poached pears, Cornish hen and Alberta black angus tenderloin. Chocolate-caramel bombe put a sweet finish on dinner and got guests in the mood to hit the dance floor. Later in the evening, the couple surprised their friends and family with a doughnut station and tacos to keep the party going late into the night. A tip from Colleen: “Just be happy on the day of your wedding. I can’t stress that enough. During my entire engagement, I was worried that I would turn into a bridezilla at one point or another. But with the endless support of our families, friends and vendors, I could not have been happier throughout the day, even when things went wrong or took unexpected turns. If you go into your wedding day with the mind-set that nothing could possibly ruin it, then nothing will.” —Libby MacCarthy

When it came to choosing dresses, Colleen took the classic route and had all the bridesmaids wear the same floor-length chiffon gown by Jenny Yoo. She had them choose the smoky, pastel hue that suited them best, and the Annabelle dress’s convertible neckline allowed them to further customize their look.
For his “I do” duds, James wore a dark gray custom-made suit for the occasion, which he paired with a pale blue dress shirt and a navy tie with silver accents. For an extra-polished finished, James added a pair of silver cuff links to the mix.
While the wedding itself embodied a rustic, natural vibe, Colleen’s wedding and engagement rings exuded glamour. To complement her radiant cut diamond halo engagement ring, Colleen opted for a twisted micro pave diamond band that sparkled and shimmered in the light.
As a nod to Colleen’s Chinese heritage, the pair performed a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. “My whole immediate family flew in from Hong Kong for the wedding, which was extremely special to me,” Colleen says.
DIY details were woven throughout the decor, from the hand-lettered mirror seating chart to the crepe paper anemone place cards that adorned the gilded chargers lining the reception tables. For the ceremony, a welcome message was hand-lettered on a piece of framed glass, greeting guests as they arrived to the outdoor courtyard at Archeo in Toronto, Ontario.
Carrying over the invitation’s whimsical aesthetic, Colleen used playful, curly script and mini fern motifs to dress up the ceremony programs.
Colleen and her mother spent months designing the event’s invitations, finally settling on a striking laser-cut envelope design with a hint of folksy flair. The gold and ivory invitation featured a sage green insert with gold letterpress script that tied into the wedding’s whimsical, natural vibe. “I designed it myself, which made it personal to us,” Colleen says.
The celebration unfolded with a ceremony in Archeo’s outdoor courtyard in Toronto , Ontario. Exposed-brick walls, hanging florals, bistro lights and cobblestones provided a cozy backdrop for the proceedings. “The space honestly did not need much decorating,” Colleen says. James’s father handcrafted a wedding arch for the occasion, which the florists at Coriander Girl adorned with bundles of fresh blooms.
Colleen and James may have decided against a traditional wedding cake, but the couple ordered a one-tier confection with vanilla buttercream and bold fondant flowers for the customary cake cutting.
While the lush centerpieces were instrumental in bringing the couple’s passion for nature to life, details such as silver candelabras, gold charger plates and mercury glass votives established a sense of timeless elegance and understated glamour.
“By far the most amazing thing about the reception was the hanging arch over the head table that was beautifully constructed by our florist,” Colleen says. Featuring lush greenery, dusty rose, lilac, mauve and cream-colored blooms and flickering tealights, the scene-stealing piece amplified the decor’s whimsical woodland vibe.
In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, Colleen and James treated their guests to an assortment of cupcakes from local favorite Sanremo Bakery. “We went with an assortment of chocolate, vanilla, Oreo and strawberry cupcakes topped with cream, lilac or blush icing with edible sparkles and pearls sprinkled on top,” Colleen says. “They were so delicious that we took an entire box that was leftover home to freeze.”
As a thank-you to their guests, Colleen and James ordered a variety of sweet and savory popcorn in flavors such as white cheddar and chocolate-covered salted caramel, which they packaged in gold and white popcorn boxes with custom stamps and gold ribbon-tied cellophane bags.
To keep the party going late into the night, Colleen and James surprised guests with a few late-night snacks. As guests twirled out on the dance floor, Archeo rolled out doughnut and taco stations that went over big with the couple’s family and friends. “They came in handy after an evening of drinking and dancing,” Colleen says.