For Sarah Marantz, director of marketing at Canadian label Pink Tartan, and Ira Lindenberg, who works in real estate development, it was clear they had an incredible connection from the moment they met. “We had tons of mutual friends, but we had never crossed paths,” Sarah shares. “At our wedding a friend asked Ira when he knew we were going to get married. He said, ‘Before we met.’”
The Carlu in Toronto was the venue of choice for the sophisticated celebration. On the morning of the wedding, the couple took photos in downtown spots and then met with their closest friends and family members for the first few events of the day: the bedeken veiling ceremony and the signing of the ketubah (Jewish marriage contract).
The traditional wedding ceremony was held in the Round Room, where guests were seated around the venue’s iconic Lalique fountain. After Ira smashed the glass with his foot, signifying the ceremony’s end, the bride and groom shared a kiss under the chuppah then exited the room to “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. Everyone headed into the main foyer where a jazz trio, the first of three bands who played at the celebration, cranked out tunes while guests indulged in the couple’s favourite drinks and hors d’oeuvres. “During the cocktail hour we had a giant harvest table, as well as carving and poke bowl stations,” Sarah notes.
Afterward, guests entered the main dining room, which was completely transformed into the pair’s vision of an intimate, secret garden. “The Carlu is an art deco space so we chose black, white and gold as our colour scheme,” Sarah says. “We wanted the feeling of an outdoor space even though we were indoors.” Gorgeous white blooms filled the tables, along with candles wrapped in greenery, while a large floral installation hung above the dance floor. To complete the outdoorsy feel, 15-foot cypress trees were placed around the venue’s perimeter.
The hora (traditional Jewish dance) started shortly after everyone entered the dining room, with Ira and Sarah being lifted in chairs by family and friends. “Ira nearly gave me a heart attack by stage diving several times into the arms of his friends!” Sarah reveals with a laugh.
The couple’s first dance to “Purple Rain” by Prince was a special moment. “We had just finished our speech so all the ‘work’ of the wedding was done, nerves had subsided and we were ready to party,” Sarah discloses. “When we invited everyone to join us on the dance floor toward the end of the song it felt like not a single person was still sitting.”
At midnight guests headed back to the Round Room for the after-party, snacking on Asian street food as The Lizards performed hits from Ira’s favourite band, Phish.
Looking back on the day’s festivities, Sarah was glad to have stolen a few minutes alone with Ira before the reception. “It was the first quiet moment we had had all day,” she affirms with a smile. “We were officially husband and wife and we were basking in that joy—and drinking tequila!”
Sarah Marantz and Ira Lindenberg, May 21, 2017, Toronto, Ontario.
Photography courtesy of Art Haus Foto.
Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: The Carlu
Bridal gown: Lanvin
Groom’s tux: Ermenedgildo Zegna
Event designer: William Fulghum Design Associates
Wedding planner: Ashley Lindzon
Caterer: Applause Catering
Flowers: Stemz
Stationery: Palettera
Hair and makeup: Grace Lee
First band: The Milestones Trio
Second band: Montreal Backbeat Showband
Third band: The Lizards
