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A Maritimes-Themed Wedding In St. John's, Newfoundland

Dec 12, 2017

| By Kimberly Aglipay

A Maritimes-Themed Wedding In St. John's, Newfoundland

maritimes-themed wedding in st john's, newfoundland - bride and groom

Ashley and Mitchell's romance began when they were both working at the same student newspaper in New Brunswick, and blossomed through text messages and emails. "Words played a big part in our relationship," Ashley says with a laugh. "You could say we're still both 'word nerds' and love a game of Scrabble!"

Although the pair met in New Brunswick, they decided to get married in St. John's, Newfoundland, where Ashley was born. With Mitchell being from Prince Edward Island, they decided to combine their roots and plan a celebration unique to the Atlantic Canada. "We incorporated a lot of local elements, such as chocolate bars bearing Newfoundland and P.E.I. sayings such as 'some shockin’ good,'” Ashley shares. "And Mitchell’s socks had the official P.E.I. flower, a lady’s slipper, on them."

Guests included friends and family from all over the country, many of whom had never visited Newfoundland before. Wanting to give their guests a warm welcome, the couple had a screech-in for 26 of their guests. "It was amazing to welcome them to Newfoundland and invite them to become 'honorary Newfoundlanders,'" Ashley says. "This involved each person taking a shot of rum, eating some “Newfie steak” (a piece of bologna) and saying, 'Long may your big jib draw' which essentially means 'live long and prosper.'” Being foodies, Ashley and Mitchell wanted their guests to enjoy a delicious local meal. "We served Newfoundland hors d’oeuvres, including cod bites and toutons with molasses (a traditional Newfoundland pancake), as well as cake and doughnuts, which were a huge hit," Ashley recalls.

Their first look on the cliffs of Cape Spear was a moment Ashley will never forget. "My veil actually blew off in the wind and was caught by the videographer," Ashley says with a laugh. "The wind was so incredibly strong it almost knocked us off the cliff, but it was an epic first look—it was important to do it in a place that meant a lot to us. We wanted that private moment together, just the two of us."

The bride's wedding dress was also an important detail. "My sister and mom travelled to Toronto, where Mitchell and I live, to help me find it," Ashley says with a smile. "When I tried the dress on in the first store I was unsure, but I tried it on in the second store without even knowing it and decided it was the one! My mother then revealed that when my grandmother passed she left money for me to buy my wedding dress. So it was a gift from her, which was truly special."

Ashley Bursey and Mitchell Bernard, August 26, 2017, St. John's, Newfoundland.

Photography courtesy of Sandra-Lee Photography.

Vendors
Ceremony and reception venue: YellowBelly Brewery
Bridal shoes: Badgley Mischka from Kleinfeld Hudson's Bay
Bridesmaid dresses: June Bridals
Groom’s tux: Hudson's Bay
Groom's socks: Drake General Store
Groom's shoes: Aldo
Flowers: The Flower Studio
Decor: Borrowed & Blu
Stationery: DIY Cake: Ivy Teresa
Hair: Liz Carroll Makeup: Katie Quinn Sullivan
Favours: Newfoundland Chocolate Company
Music: DJ Glen Connolly