that was The Best Day Ever
When Shelby Tymchuk married Julian Agapitos last September, it was not a typical wedding. Sure, the bride was stunning, the groom looked handsome and the happy couple celebrated with their nearest and dearest. That celebration, though? It was and is a fabulous example of what’s possible when you think creatively, eschew convention and trust in the area’s wedding pros to come up with something epic that suits you to a T.
As a stylist at Showpony Hair, Shelby is an industry insider. She knows weddings and was able to draw on some of the best pros in the business to make her and Julian’s dream day a wonderfully memorable occasion. She has graciously answered our questions about how it came together.
What did you want for your day?
Our only real direction was, “We just want it to be vibes.” That was it. We weren’t interested in tradition or anything expected. We wanted a wedding that felt personal, intimate, design-forward and a little rebellious—in the best way. A wedding that didn’t feel like a wedding.
As an industry pro, what were your priorities?
Being part of the wedding industry, I’ve seen how things can become overly templated. So for us, the goal was to create a feeling, not follow a checklist. We cared deeply about food, drinks and the guest experience. Julian is a major foodie so food was a top priority. I was all about cocktails, dancing and fries with my best friends. Most importantly, we wanted to work with vendors we trusted completely and let them run with the vision. We gave very little direction and let our vendors just run with what they thought would be the most “us.”
Can you tell us about the key elements and how you made them happen?
We started by hiring Erica Irwin of Erica Irwin Weddings, who I have known since I first started in the industry, to bring our “vibes-only” concept to life. We gave her almost no traditional structure, just a feeling, and she read our minds and made magic. She took the anti-wedding brief seriously and delivered a day that was so perfectly us we still can’t believe how she pulled it off. She nicknamed our wedding “The Anti-Wedding” and that’s exactly what it was.
We did private vows earlier in the day during our first look. We liked this concept better because we didn’t want to spend a huge part of our big day separated but rather wanted to be together. We didn’t do a wedding party but instead had VIP friends come for hair, makeup, photos and a cheers at the hotel bar.
The ceremony was held at Little Victories Coffee, with a full coffee bar for our guests and the most heartfelt ceremony performed by my mentor, boss and dear friend Lori of Showpony Hair. We walked together down the aisle, no wedding party, no parents, just us.
Afterward, everyone walked down Elgin Street to Gitanes for the reception. Guests were welcomed into a full bar with a stunning spread including a seafood station featuring oysters, a decadent charcuterie spread and hot dishes like steak frites and risotto. Instead of a traditional cake, we did an espresso martini tower (a total hit!) and for late-night food, we served sliders and fries from G Burger along with local artisan ice cream from Moo Shu Ice Cream. We didn’t want a sit-down dinner, so instead opted for a cocktail-style reception with food flowing throughout the night.
Cocktails were another highlight: We had two custom signature drinks named after our dog and cat—each with an adorable matching stir-stick designed by Wishtree Designs. Wishtree also created our custom bar signage and our non-traditional invitation suite, which perfectly fit the downtown vibe of our wedding.
Florals were by Pollen Nation, who was given almost zero direction and still delivered a jaw-dropping installation that felt completely original. The music was provided by Oxygen Entertainment Group, who had the dance floor packed from the first song to the last.
Our photographer, Tracy of Grace and Gold Studios, is also a friend from the industry, which made our portrait session feel like hanging out with a bestie. She treated us like movie stars all day and captured every detail with so much heart.
What unique details made your day special?
Literally everything. The ceremony in a coffee shop. Walking with our guests through the city to our reception. Signature drinks named after our pets with matching stir sticks. An espresso martini tower instead of cake. Sliders and local ice cream at the end of the night. And a team of vendors who truly got us.
What were your favourite parts of the day?
The coffee ceremony. The walk to the reception. Every bite of food. Dancing like crazy with our friends. And the quieter moments we snuck in during our portraits with Tracy. The whole day felt like it was built around the things we loved most—and nothing we didn’t care about.
Anything else you’d like our audience to know?
You don’t have to do things the way they’ve always been done. Surround yourself with vendors you trust and give them the freedom to create. By not telling our vendors exactly what we wanted but just trusting them to do their thing, we ended up getting their best and most creative work. Also, a wedding day doesn’t have to be stressful, it can be totally fun-filled and the best day ever.
The Details:
Venue: Ceremony – Little Victories Coffee; Reception – Gitanes
Officiant: Lori from Showpony Hair
Photographer: Grace and Gold Studios
Planner: Erica Irwin Weddings
Bride’s Gown: Loversland in Toronto
Groom’s Attire: Third Son Tailor Shop
Flowers: Pollen Nation Floral Studio
Hair: Showpony Hair
Makeup: One Fine Beauty
Rings: Stor by Margot
Instead of Cake: Espresso Martini Tower from Gitanes
Music: Oxygen Entertainment Group
Stationery and Signage: Wishtree Designs
Signature Details: Custom pet stir sticks, invitation suite and bar signage by Wishtree Designs
Food Highlights: Raw seafood bar with oysters, charcuterie, steak frites, risotto, passed canapés
Late-Night Food: Sliders and fries from G Burger; Ice cream from Moo Shu
