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A Sophisticated Art Gallery Wedding In Toronto

Updated Apr 23, 2015

| By Roseanne Dela Rosa

A Sophisticated Art Gallery Wedding In Toronto

High-school sweethearts Amy Burstyn Fritz and Graham Smith have always had a soft spot for the culture scene in Toronto. “We’re huge supporters of the city and personally love the visual arts,” Amy says. Naturally, when the time came to pick their wedding venue the two gravitated towards the Art Gallery of Ontario. “It was the perfect space—it reflected us as a couple and allowed us to have our ceremony and reception in one spot,” Amy explains.

On their wedding day—exactly 12 years to the day they started to date—Amy and Graham met before the ceremony. “We visited David Pecaut Square, which was named after my late stepfather,” Amy shares. “Growing up, he was a huge part of our lives, and we felt having a private moment at the square was a wonderful way to honour David and have him be a part of our wedding.”

With the AGO beautifully decorated and 260 guests eagerly anticipating their arrival, Amy and Graham made their way to Walker Court—the grand atrium where their ceremony was to be held. “We walked down the aisle to Chopin’s ‘Nocturnes’—not really a traditional wedding piece,” Amy laughs. “But, it was a favourite of my late stepfather’s, and we felt this was just another small yet memorable way to have him there.”

After the vows, guests were invited upstairs to the Galleria Italia where a giant champagne ice tower (with the couple’s monogram) and a four-string quartet greeted them. Saving the best for last, the duo then led guests over to Baillie Court on the third floor for an elegant sit-down dinner. Purple mood lighting, chic centrepieces comprised of roses and hydrangeas, low tealights, and a lavish crystal chandelier hovering over the middle of the dance floor added to the romantic yet classic mood of the night. After dinner, Amy and Graham introduced another personalized detail to their guests: his and hers French macaron towers created by Nadège Patisserie. “When we met with Nadège we found that we couldn’t decide on just one flavour. I liked champagne and Graham loved banana, so she recommended having two towers,” Amy explains.

To conclude the evening’s festivities, the pair worked with Jeffrey Remedios, president of local indie record label Arts & Crafts, to line up a live band and DJ. “Music for us is about the experience. A wedding can only look so pretty, so it was paramount to us for our guests to be up and dancing,” Amy says. Unbeknownst to Graham, the band learned and played his favourite song “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers, as requested by Amy. “He was so excited and floored that they learned the song. It also turned out to be a great coming together dance moment for us too—the whole crowd formed a circle around us as we danced,” Amy says. “It was amazing, the one time when all your friends and family are in one room enjoying themselves—that’s what really made the wedding party.”

Amy Burstyn Fritz and Graham Smith, May 4, 2013, Toronto, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of 5ive15teen Photography.

Vendors Ceremony and reception location: AGO
Bridal gown Reem Acra
Bridal party attire: Custom designed by KAELEN
Groom and groomsmen's attire: Freeman Formalwear
Cake: Custom cheese cake from Cheese Boutique
Macaron towers: Nadège
Favours: Nadège
Graphic designer: Chris Hanz of &or Wedding planner: Bassett Events Decor: William Fulghum Design Associates Music: The Beauties, John Kong, Royal Conservatory of Music, Paulina Taylor (friend of the family) Hair: Blowdry Lounge and Tony Chaar Salon
Makeup: Victoria Radford
Flowers: Lilium
Stationery: Smythson
Custom stamps: Picture Postage