Maryam and Jose

A dream come true

A surprise proposal on a European getaway was the perfect introduction to Maryam Hedayati and Jose Aguilera’s dream wedding. The couple met at the University of Ottawa in a statistics class. Now both civil engineers, the pair were engaged a year and a half later in May 2009. “We went on a trip to Europe to celebrate our graduation,” says Maryam. “And we had dinner at the Eiffel Tower.” With the perfect setting, Jose proposed on a beautiful night in Paris, France. From that point on, Maryam went into planning mode, with a vision for every detail of her perfect day. That vision started with her dream venue for saying ‘I do.’ “I always loved driving by Sussex Drive and seeing a wedding at the Notre Dame Basilica. It has always been my dream to get married there.” And on September 11, 2010, that dream became a reality in front of 120 of their closest friends and family.

Determined to create a wedding that spoke to the couple and their individuality, Maryam carried her elegant yet unique style into every aspect of the day. “I have a passion for design and I always like something out of the ordinary, so it was really hard to come up with colours that were less traditional but still suited my style.” Her bridesmaids donned complementing colours of champagne and coral, and the colour of choice for the reception was gold. The guests’ first introduction to the gold theme was the invitation, which was printed in gold ink on chocolate-coloured paper and encased in carved wooden envelopes, which were custom-made in Iran and wrapped with ivory ribbon.

One of the most important decisions was Maryam’s dress, which after searching all over North America, ended up being a custom-made design by Ottawa’s McCaffrey Haute Couture. “I felt so relieved that finally my dream dress would become a reality.” And Maryam was not the only one who loved the finished product. Made of pearl-white organza and duchess silk, the dress was officially named “Maryam” and is now being sold in New York as well as McCaffrey Haute Couture as part of its 2011 collection.

Music was the highlight of the reception, which took place at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Making it a family affair, Maryam’s father, Ali Hedayati, sung the couple through their first dance. Ali was later joined by Maryam’s cousin, who sang a duet of a song the couple listened to when they first met. The pair wanted both of their backgrounds to be celebrated on the day and found ways of incorporating Maryam’s Persian culture and Jose’s Spanish culture. Guests were invited to join in traditional dances, moving to Persian and Spanish music all night long.

Their love of dance was also highlighted when guests were entertained by a professional ballroom dance team. Ensuring Maryam’s vision was brought to life was wedding planner Cristie Vito of Stellar Events. “She went above and beyond her duties to make our wedding one to remember.”

Compiled by Lindsay Ruck

Photos by MW STUDIOS