Annie and Dion’s wedding day was truly one of a kind. Both she and he are models, so their celebration was a feast for the eyes. With a horse involved. And a cat, too.
“Our sweet kitty Miso carried our rings down the aisle—something that still feels surreal,” Annie admits, sharing the heartfelt details: “We used to be deathly allergic to cats, but when we adopted our kitties, we made a promise: never to abandon them, no matter what. So we started getting regular allergy shots and, somehow, love won over biology. Now we get to shower them with affection—and live to tell the tale.”
Then there’s the tale of how they chose the venue, Le Belvédère. “We always felt at home in nature and knew we wanted a wedding with a beautiful view,” she explains. “When we visited Le Belvédère, there was a climbing gym nearby with a cool cafe. As climbers, my partner and I visited the cafe and he turned to me and said, ‘This is it.’”
Indeed it was. What followed from there was a dreamlike—almost cinematic—spring wedding day at Le Belvédère, one full of feeling, grace and light. And this photogenic couple? They owned it.
Photographer Koko King notes that Annie and Dion’s modelling background “made photographing them such a dream. That familiarity with being in front of a camera really allowed them to relax and focus on each other, so the emotion and connection you see in the images is very genuine.”
But Annie credits “the best vendor team ever” for helping to make the real-life magic happen. The theme and design for the day were courtesy of wedding planner Amanda McGrath from Sea and Silk Events. “It was like a romantic, enchanted forest,” says Annie. “Outside was cool toned with dark greens, neutrals, whites. Inside was a romantic garden, with blush drapey fabrics and lots of organic florals. Everything flowed together so well.
“We had two paintings that were custom-made and inspired by adventures we’ve had in Taiwan and Japan; the seating chart and table numbers honoured the kitties we’ve rescued, fostered and re-homed. It was more than we could’ve dreamed for.”
As for that dream team of vendors? Miranda, Annie’s “magical hair and makeup artist, literally transformed me throughout the day—six different looks,” she says. “Each one matched the outfit, the vibe, the moment. I gave my team full creative freedom and watching them in their element was one of the best decisions I made.|
“Aaron, our videographer, was our calm in the storm—grounding, patient and so present. He made us feel at ease every second of the day. And his work? It speaks for itself.”
Besides the “fantastic” food and view at The Belvédère, Annie also enthuses about the “amazing” in-house team: “We felt so taken cared of at Le Belvédère—like a second family. And we knew that’s how we wanted to feel on our wedding day.”
Another highlight was the presence of out-of-town family. “Being able to spend the day surrounded by loved ones was everything,” Annie notes. “My brother has been through serious health challenges over the past few years and with his work ethic and busy schedule, it’s rare that we’re all together in the same place. Having him fly in from Austin to celebrate with us meant a lot to us.”
All the special moments were captured by Koko King. She connected with Annie through another vendor, Kat at Pollen Nation. “Once Kat knew the vibe of the wedding, she knew we could photograph it in a way that really would resonate with the couple,” she recalls. Then when Koko spoke directly with the bride-to-be during the booking process, Annie described her vision: “Ethereal and grounded in emotion, but elevated in style.
“That conversation really stayed with me,” Koko reveals. In fact, it spurred her to track down a horse. “Having grown up riding horses, the idea of a white horse came to mind almost instinctively; it felt symbolic of purity, strength and dreamlike beauty—yet completely natural.”
Fittingly, when the white horse materialized on the big day, the stunning young couple leaned into it for some iconic photos and another incredible wedding-day experience. Annie has high praise for the photographer who made it happen: “Her fun and infectious personality, combined with creativity and jaw-dropping vision, is beyond anything I could’ve imagined.”
Koko echoes the sentiment: “It was a seriously wicked day. I can only say great things about the couple, the planner and the venue. A total 10:10 all around.”
The Details:
Venue: Le Belvédère
Photographer: Hastings & King – Koko King
Planner and Designer: Sea and Silk Events
Officiant: Catherine, Merry Fairy Weddings
Videographer: Aaron Daniels
Bride’s Gown: White Montreal
Groom’s Attire: Maison Cloakroom
Decor: WEDECOR
Flowers: Pollen Nation
Hair and Makeup: Stylée Beauty
Shoes: Bella Belle
Cake: Batter-up Bakery
Entertainment: Dynamix
Stationery: Avi Scribbles
