Cake Artist Nadia Colella's Incredible French Country-Inspired Wedding
Nadia Colella is famous for her incredible edible cake and pastry creations. As one Canada’s premiere cake artists, she designs and creates otherworldly masterpieces that are luxe, lavish and almost too pretty to eat. When it came to planning her own autumn wedding in 2019, she stayed true to her signature opulent aesthetic. “An early-fall wedding was what I always dreamed of...the air is crisp and there is a warmth in your heart; maybe it’s the change of season, or maybe it’s because that’s the time of year our love story began,” says Nadia, noting that she and Sergio chose their dating anniversary as the date for their wedding.
The pair booked Toronto's Graydon Hall Manor as their venue because it was a perfect fit for the al fresco French-countryside theme they wanted for their day. “I have always loved the feel of French-countryside weddings, and Sergio and I had always envisioned having an al fresco reception,” shares Nadia. “I feel that Graydon Hall Manor is the one place in the city that magically makes you feel as if you are in Europe.”
Nadia says all things French have always been an inspiration for her, and her wedding was no different. “I created a storyboard of colour palettes and imagery,” she says. “Powder grey blue was my jumping off point, and then I added soft white, quicksand and burgundy. Our invitations were the first thing to set the tone. I chose one of my favourite paintings by Fragonard, The Stolen Kiss, to line the envelopes as it really is the epitome of 18th-century romance. From there, the rest of the details came to life.”
The decor story the couple wanted for their celebration had depth and drama. Tables were lined with a rich blue velvet, and the floral arrangements were brimming with red and burgundy blooms as well as figs and deep-purple grapes. “Our table decor was one of my favourite details because we styled our settings with so many meaningful things,” says Nadia. “We had hand- scripted oyster shells as seating cards. We had Pastiglie Leone candies imported from Torino, Italy, as favours, which ties back to our family name. In addition, our menus had bistro-style typography and were printed on powder-blue linen napkins. I designed these along with my sister, who is a graphic designer.”
The couple were married at St. Paul’s Basilica in a traditional Catholic ceremony, but they also had a special private moment post-ceremony during which they exchanged their own personal vows. “We took time to
be alone and read our vows to each other,” says Nadia. “I'm grateful that we were able to sneak that in and express our love for each other in a private way.” For the ceremony, the bride wore an incredible custom Ines Di Santo silk-organza ball gown that featured hand-painted white flowers and was topped with a layer of blue French organza. “I wanted a dress that screamed couture and mine was a truly gorgeous work of art!” she says. “I wore a lace bolero for the church and cocktail hour, which elevated the whole look.”
For their al fresco dinner party, the couple created an indulgent feast for their guests—food was a very important element for them. Of course, the sweet spread was designed by Nadia herself, and her team helped execute her decadent and delicious vision. “We had a croquembouche, which is a traditional wedding cake in France,” explains Nadia. “Our version was a tower made of choux pastry puffs filled with vanilla and hazelnut praline pastry cream and dipped in caramelized sugar. It sat on top of a cake base designed with golden lion heads and monochromatic ornamentation. We included two more confectionery towers that displayed a variety of flavoured macarons and vanilla orange blossom meringues. These towers sat atop hand-painted toile cushion-shaped cakes. The cake flavour, you ask? A vanilla bean cake with Prosecco ganache and amarena cherries.”
Nadia Colella & Sergio Leone, October 5, 2019, Toronto, Ontario
Photography courtesy of Mike Caringi, 5ive15ifteen Photo Company
Vendors
Bridal Gown: Ines Di Santo
Bridal Jewlery: Tara Fava
Bridal Shoes:Malone Souliers & Something Bleu
Headpiece: Viktoria Novak
Bridesmaid dresses: Marchesa Notte
Groom’s Tuxedo: Gian-Paolo Mazzotta from Walter Beauchamp Tailors
Cakes: Nadia & Co.
Day-Of-Stationery: Paper & Poste
Flowers: Blush and Bloom
Invitations & Napkin Design: Serena Colella
Makeup: RDT Events + Beauty
Hair: Maria Romeo
Favours: Pastiglie Leone
Catering: Couture Cuisine
Cocktail Hour Music: Linda Carone
Ceremony Venue: St. Pauls Basilica
Fireworks: Firemaster Productions
Vintage Jaguar: Auto Classico
Décor: Simply Beautiful Decor
Tabletop Settings: Plate Occasions
Reception Venue: Graydon Hall Manor
Wedding Planner: Lisa Melanie Shaw Events
Videography: Wild + Free Films
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