A Classic French-Inspired Wedding in Montreal

Angela and Matt were engaged during a weekend getaway to Mont Tremblant. On the first day of their trip, Angela had suspicions that Matt would propose. "We had an amazing first day at the spa, and to top it off, Matt surprised me with a helicopter ride—boy oh boy, did I think I was going to get engaged that night," Angela says with a laugh. "I even texted my girlfriends, 'I'm freaking out, I think Matt is going to propose!' The helicopter ride kept me with a permanent smile, until we got to dinner, and there was no proposal! I literally told him, 'Tonight would've been the perfect night to propose!' To which he replied 'Yeah, you're right—I messed up!' Which totally threw me off—just what he had planned to do!" During their hike the next morning, Matt got down on one knee. "I started crying, and got down on the ground with him!" Angela recalls. "Matt had planned it so beautifully, and it was the most romantic, emotional moment!"

The couple's celebration was inspired by Chateau Versailles—with a modern twist. "I have always been inspired by the elegance of classic French style. Our venue, the Windsor Ballroom, was the perfect backdrop for this timeless theme," Angela says. "Accents of acrylic punched in a bit of a modern accent—it was totally a fairytale look."

Matt and Angela exchanged vows at the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal—one of the city's top tourist attractions. Angela walked up to the church with her mom and dad to the sounds of hundreds of people cheering and clapping as they approached. "Because of our wedding, it was closed only for guests, so the street was lined with tons of people—the cheers were so loud and made the moment feel so real," she says. "It was also the moment when Matt realized I arrived, and he said the cheering and chapping was so loud it shook the church!"

After the couple's first dance during the reception, Angela made a switch to her second outfit by removing her ceremony dress's overskirt. Friends and family filled the dance floor until the wee hours. "We had people literally up all night—some didn't even remember to eat," Angela shares. "It's amazing to see your dance floor packed with everyone having a great time!"

Angela Cristiano and Matthew Bordonara, August 4, 2018, Montreal, Quebec.

Photography courtesy of Chelsea Gray of Blushing Bride Studio.

Vendors
Ceremony venue: Notre Dame Basilica
Reception venue: Le Windsor Ballroom
Wedding planner: Tania Tassone
Bridal gown: Lilia Haute Couture
Bridesmaid gowns: Shopbop
Groom's tux: Jonathon Mills Groomsmen's attire: Waxman House
Flowers: Fleurs des Jardins
Caterer: Ristorante Beatrice
Cake: Dolce Piu
Videography: Ioan Films
Hair: Coiffure Blunt
Makeup: Kiki Chan Stationery: That Sky Blue
Olive oil favours: Les Importations Felice Cristiano
Band: 1945 The Band
DJ: DJ Toddy Flores
Rentals: Celebrations Group and Joe's Prop House