An English Country-Inspired Wedding In Toronto

From the moment they first met, Paul and Keith were virtually inseparable. "Three years later, we've spent less than a dozen days apart," Paul shares. To celebrate their anniversary, Paul planned a surprise trip to Paris, where he proposed to Keith on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Louvre.

Consistent with the European theme of their engagement, the couple envisioned an English country-inspired wedding. They instantly fell in love with the history and architecture of the University of Toronto's Hart House, selecting rich, dark navy and red to complement the venue's character. "It was a gay wedding, so we wanted our style and personalities to shine through but with traditional touches," Paul says. "The most important thing for us was for everyone to feel comfortable."

Being surrounded my family and friends was incredibly special for the couple. "For speeches during the reception, we introduced our parents and siblings, and having the chance to tell them all how much they mean to us was an opportunity we couldn't let pass—we didn't know if the chance would ever present itself again," Paul recalls. "People were laughing and cheering through the whole ceremony; it was exactly what we hoped for."

Most importantly, Paul and Keith wanted their wedding celebrations to reflect their love for each other. To initiate a party-like atmosphere, they held a pre-ceremony cocktail party. "By having cocktails before the ceremony, we thought we could eliminate the awkwardness and get right into the fun," Paul says. As well, Paul and Keith encouraged female guests to wear white since there was no bride. "It was stunning to see how many women and men showed up wearing white," Paul describes. "It was beautiful."

Keith Barry and Paul Vouriot, August 19, 2017, Toronto, Ontario.

Photography courtesy of Jessica Hill of A Brit and A Blonde.

Vendors Ceremony and reception venue: Hart House Wedding planner: Lexi Haslam of Lexington & Co. Caterer: Hart House Flowers: Stôk Floral & Design Stationery: Minted Cake: La Rocca Cakes Makeup: Amy Beth of Bespoke Beauty
Videography: Katherine Keene of Wild and Free Films

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