Christine and Jeff

Vegas Bound

When Christine Paquette and Jeff Melling met in December 2005, it wasn’t long before they were inseparable. Both working at a bar in Kingston, Ontario, at the time, the pair soon discovered that their parents had met before they had. “Christine called my place one night and my mom started asking who this Christine Paquette was,” explains Jeff. “And then she figured out that she went to school with Christine’s parents.”

The proposal came in April 2010 during a hike in Algonquin Park with friends. “It was an extreme hike and I started to fall behind,” says Christine. When they finally made it to the top, Jeff asked if she wanted to get a picture together. “I was so happy and surprised because he doesn’t like getting his picture taken. I didn’t even notice that he had pulled out the ring at the top of this mountain overlooking the lake.”

That morning, Christine says Jeff ’s nerves were obvious. “Christine keeps telling everyone that I was nervous that morning because I was up at about 6 a.m. pacing around,” laughs Jeff. “That’s not my usual wake-up time on the weekend.” After visiting Las Vegas four years ago, the couple fell in love with the city of lights and decided it would be the perfect choice to celebrate with their 42 friends and family. “We’re not really into having a big formal wedding,” says Jeff. “So we wanted to keep it a little more casual and fun.” To put their guests in the destination mood, the couple made their own boarding pass invitations, complete with a barcode, passenger receipt and a wedding website to RSVP.

Surrounded by sky-high palm trees and white stone benches, the two exchanged vows the evening of September 8, 2011, at the Juno Gardens at Caesar’s Palace. Working with a wedding coordinator in Vegas, the pair found ways to add personal touches to many of their choices. Using fake flowers, Christine assembled the bouquets, which were made of ivory and peach roses. “I’m not a big flower person, and they were easier to transport and I could keep them afterwards.” Picking their vendors through websites, Christine also found her dress online, which was given Jeff ’s seal of approval. “We’re not superstitious, so I showed Jeff the dress and asked him what he thought.” Christine’s mom added fake ivory flowers to one shoulder to fit with the outdoor theme.

After a photo shoot at the famous Welcome to Las Vegas sign, the couple rented a suite in one of Vegas’ newest hotels. Decorated by the couple with the colour theme of hot pink, orange and yellow, the modern and eco-friendly venue hosted a buffet-style dinner and dancing. Not wanting a traditional cake and having to leave one of their most prized possessions at home, the pair surprised their guests with a marble with caramel filling cake in the form of their two-year-old Boxer, Rex, along with a bone made of red velvet. “He’s the most important thing to us, so that was having him with us,” says Christine.

Compiled by Lindsay Ruck

Photos by Todd Wilson, Bently & Wilson Photography