Pierina and Tim

Modern Glitz

Eight years ago, Pierina Chabot and Tim Delage were students at the University of Ottawa. It wasn’t until the last class of the semester that Tim, as Pierina puts it, “finally asked me out to dinner.” A surprise proposal came in 2009 in the form of a teddy bear wearing a soccer uniform. “Tim had me hug the bear to feel its heartbeat and make it speak with a recorded voice saying ‘I love you.’ I could feel a strange object in its back and I saw a blue box poking out.” As Tim got down on one knee, he revealed a Tacori engagement ring. “It was my dream ring. Needless to say,Tim made it very easy for me to say yes,” says Pierina.

A self-described lover of bling, Pierina describes the couple’s wedding day on May 23, 2010, as “modern glitz,” with bold colours of magenta, pewter and black, accented with crystals. With a modern vibe and panoramic views of Dows Lake and Queen Juliana Park, the couple chose Lago Bar & Grill in Ottawa for their 125 guests. “Many of our guests were from out of town, so a location that could host both our ceremony and reception was very important to us.” The ceremony not only celebrated the couple, but also honoured Pierina’s father, who had passed away in 2006. Pierina’s mother walked her down the aisle, holding her father’s favourite flower, the bird of paradise. Attached to the bride’s bouquet with a blue ribbon was a customized sliver heart-shaped charm with an engraved picture of Pierina and her father. The heart also read, “Daddy’s Girl.”

“During our ceremony, the officiant read a French poem speaking of the love between a father and daughter,” explains Pierina. “During the reading, the bird of paradise was placed in a vase and I placed the charm from my bouquet along with the flower to symbolise and acknowledge my father’s presence in spirit.” The ceremony was officiated in both English and French, as Pierina’s father’s side of the family are strictly francophone. “We wanted all of our guests to feel included in the ceremony,” says Pierina.

The couple hired a string trio to play selected songs from their favourite bands, including All You Need is Love by the Beatles for the procession. After a photo shoot at the Arboretum of the Central Experimental Farm, the group took advantage of a nearby fair. “We convinced our limo driver to pull over, and in my wedding gown I stopped oncoming traffic to get over to the fairgrounds. We managed to get some shots on a private carousel — after waiting for the children to finish their turn!

We were so lucky to have gotten the chance to capture our happiness on a carousel ride!” The couple looked to  Cristie Vito of Stellar Events to make their magical day happen. “Cristie single-handedly brought the concepts of our dream wedding to life, and without her we would not have been able to pull it off.”

Compiled by Lindsay Ruck

Photos by MCM Photography