A Beautiful, Laid-Back Wedding On Ward's Island In Toronto

Caitlyn Ryall was leaving an event at Toronto's Design Exchange when Sabs Feigler stopped her in the doorway to chat. "We lingered a bit and I left to catch a train at Union Station," Caitlyn explains. "Next thing I know, I see Sabs running through the station after me. He asked me out and I gave him my number. The next day, he confirmed it would be a 'date date,'" she says. Caitlyn and Sabs' first date lasted 12 hours, starting with breakfast before a trip to the zoo, stop at Ikea, dinner at Bellwood's Brewery and walk in High Park.

In February 2018, Caitlyn and Sabs got married in a city hall ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark, where they currently live. Following the intimate ceremony abroad, the couple wanted to celebrate with family and friends back home in Toronto. The pair decided to hold their 60-person reception at the Toronto Island, where they shared their first kiss. "We love the campy nostalgia of the Ward's Island Clubhouse," Caitlyn shares. "I wanted the exposed beams with lots of globe lights, and Sabs wanted to be close to the water. Our guests from out of town enjoyed riding over on the ferry and were pleasantly surprised by the hidden gem," she says.

Caitlyn and Sabs mixed minimalist Scandinavian design elements with unique thrift finds and homemade touches to give their décor a warm aesthetic. The day before the wedding, the bride prepared the pale blush and apricot flower arrangements, bouquets, boutonnieres and other décor elements with the help of her University friends. "I arranged a mix of florals and greenery from a wholesale florist as well as a few buckets from a local organic flower farm," Caitlyn says. "The colours were the perfect transition from summer to fall, and felt like a fresh take on all of the peach weddings out there," she remarks. After the wedding, the couple donated the flowers to Casey House, a hospital in Toronto, in memory of the bride's uncle. "It was lovely to extend the life of the flowers enough to bring a few more smiles to the faces of the residents there," Caitlyn shares.

Looking to embrace the venue's fun and relaxed atmosphere, the couple hired local Toronto indie band "In Drift" to play original music throughout the evening. "It was a bold move picking a band that may not suit the taste of everyone at the wedding, but we were so happy we did," Caitlyn says. "They brought t-shirts and CDs and stayed to party with us until the end of the night!"

Caitlyn Ryall and Sabs Feigler, September 29, 2018, Toronto, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Alice Xue Weddings.

Vendors
Reception venue: Ward's Island Association Clubhouse 
Wedding planner, flowers, décor, stationery, cake & desserts: Aeipathy Studio
Bridal Gown: BHLDN
Caterer: Uncle Smoke Cookhouse
Music: In Drift Music
Favours: Caramel apples from One Bite
Groom's tux: Tiger of Sweden
Hair & Makeup: Emily Boros Rausch