Date

Guests

210

July 13, 2013

Sarah and Michael's love story began quite innocently on the playground of St. George's Junior School in 1992. "Michael was the heartthrob of our junior school, and I was a tomboy who used to play baseball during recess," recalls Sarah. "I would stand in a line of boys and wait my turn until I could pitch to Mike. After I pitched him a speedy strike, he stood up and said, 'Wow, you don't throw like a girl!'"

While Sarah and Michael seemed to take an instant liking to one another, for a decade the two always seemed to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, attending both rival middle schools and high schools, and eventually going their separate ways in university. It wouldn't be until a decade after their first playground meeting when the two would stumble across each other again, this time at a bar in downtown Toronto. It may have taken almost 10 years, but Sarah admits once she and Michael reconnected, they proved to be inseparable, getting engaged a year later and married six months after that.

For their wedding, the pair opted for a summer celebration - a decision that inadvertently caused some last-minute worry. "We were nervous because earlier in the week Toronto was under water," says Sarah of the flash floods that plagued Toronto. "However, July 13 was 27 degrees with not a cloud in a sky. It was the perfect day."

In addition to their wedding's green and purple colour scheme, both Sarah and Michael knew they had to incorporate elements from their childhood into their special day. Apart from taking some of their wedding photos at St. George's Junior School, they also adorned each table at their reception with photos of their younger selves paired alongside accompanying years to denote table numbers. Keeping the celebration jovial and playful, the couple and their wedding party opened the dance floor with a fun choreographed dance to will.i.am and Justin Bieber's music video for "That Power." "No one wanted to leave the dance floor," says Sarah. "It couldn't have been a more successful wedding. We would do it again in a heartbeat!"

Photography courtesy of Brooke Palmer at Cipriano Palmer Photographer.

Vendors
Ceremony location: Islington United Church
Reception location: Bellvue Manor
Bridal gown: Lazaro from Dina Alonzi Bridal
Bride's shoes: Valentino from Saks Fifth Avenue
Bridal party attire: Watters from Felichia Bridal
Groom's tux: Tuxedo Junction at Sherway Gardens
Cake: I Do! Wedding Cakes
Music: Platinum Entertainment Solutions
Hair: Salon Collage
Makeup: Amy Pigeon
Flowers: Natasha Manji at Berries & Blooms
Stationery: Brienne Juniper Designs (416-301-7353)

See more of this playful green and purple wedding.