An Elegant-Meets-Boho Wedding at Ricarda's Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario

Pansy and David tied the knot with a modern, sophisticated wedding with bohemian flair at Ricarda's Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario. The couple's wedding aesthetic was rooted in the juxtaposition of and balance between feminine and masculine design. "We wanted the theme to be a reflection of both of our personalities, and neither too masculine or feminine," explains Pansy. "David's favorite color is orange and mine's sky blue so we were drawn to a brighter scheme with both fresh and dried floral accents." 

One of the couple's favorite moments from their Toronto wedding day came before they even said "I do." Pansy shares that "surprisingly, the first look was the highlight of the day. David and I were actually skeptical of having a first look at all, but we're so glad that we decided to go ahead with it. The original plan was to have the first look in a hallway at the Shangri-La, but when our photographer discovered that there was a lot of foot traffic, she graciously improvised and found a quiet room nearby instead. The moment was unexpectedly emotional, and we're so glad that we got to share it privately before the wedding rush began."

After a memorable first look, the couple hosted their wedding nearby at Ricarda's Restaurant, which they chose in large part due to the spot's amazing food. "We both love living in the city, so it was fitting that we wanted a venue that was at the heart of Toronto with amazing food and an amazing space. Ricarda's was the perfect balance of classy, classic and casual. The food was phenomenal—the menu was infused with a blend of Korean and Chinese influences." In addition to including menu selections that paid homage to their heritage, the couple also chose to celebrate their roots with a tea ceremony before their Western wedding ceremony. 

Looking back on the wedding day, Pansy offers this advice to current to-be-weds: "For brides that are looking to reduce stress levels as much as possible, I would recommend simplifying the itinerary or considering a late afternoon ceremony. I wanted to cherish and remember as many moments of the day as possible. Because I didn't have to wake up early for a packed day of activities, I was able to get ready, have a relaxing lunch, and enjoyed getting hair and makeup done together with my mother and mother-in-law. Sometimes less is more."