Carolyn and Michael

Vintage Glam

Carolyn MacNeil and Michael Self ’s love story started with a dare. Both attending the University of Ottawa and having classes right down the hall from each other, the two were likely passing each other every day, but the first meeting happened in cyberspace. “Michael and I met online, on a dating site. Wewere both tired of meeting people in bars and my roommates signed me up as a dare.”

Carolyn describes the day Michael proposed as an intimate affair. “It was a quiet proposal on a beautiful fall day — just the two of us on a romantic walk.” The proposal became the inspiration for the couple’s perfect day. “I knew that an intimate and romantic wedding would be just our style.”

As Carolyn began the planning process, she quickly embraced the idea of a winter wedding with a vintage feel. “I had fallen in love with vintage glamour. And the freshness and splendour of newly fallen snow, along with a warm, intimate ceremony, was my perfect vision.”

So on November 27, 2010, the couple exchanged vows at the Courtyard Restaurant in the historic Byward Market. A heritage stone building with exposed wooden beams and a view of a cobblestone courtyard were the ideal backdrop for the pair’s simple civil ceremony — “and a wonderful gathering place for 55 of our closest family and friends,” adds Carolyn.

The wedding party wore vintage inspired attire, with Carolyn in a Maggie Sottero “Divinity” dress with lace cap sleeves and Swarovski crystals and beading. Her bridesmaids wore charcoal gowns (grey being

one of Carolyn’s favourite colours) with a small train. To stay warm, they each had pink cardigans with a flower appliqué at the shoulder. The guys went classic in slim-cut black suits and charcoal grey ties. To continue the colour theme from head to toe, they also sported grey and pink argyle socks. Special touches were found throughout the reception, as the couple was involved in designing the programs, place cards, signs and cupcake flags. The mini cupcakes, offered in three flavours, were accompanied by sugar cookies and vanilla bean Parisian macaroons. As Carolyn has celiac disease, The Flour Shoppe created a gluten-free chocolate cake with fondant and vanilla bean frosting. The diverse desserts were for the sweet-toothed bride. And for the groom — a make-your-own poutine bar, fitting for any  Canadian wedding!

Despite the blizzard the bride woke up to, the day turned into a picture-perfect wintery wonderland. “I almost lost my veil when I was walking across the street,” says Carolyn. But shortly before noon, the wind and the snow stopped, and the sun began to shine. “It ended up being an absolutely beautiful day, with just a dusting of snow — perfect enough for the photos!” Even though they didn’t hire a wedding planner, the couple pegs Julie Butler of Julie C Butler Photography as their pseudo wedding planner. “From the first meeting with her, I knew that she not only understood my vision, but was as excited as I was to make it come to life.”

Compiled by Lindsay Ruck

Photos by Julie C Butler Photography