DEPARTING FROM NEW YORK TO TORONTO

Stacey Laskis and John McFarlane met at a common place to meet a future significant other, university. Except, Stacey wasn’t the one attending, her sister, Jaime, was.  Jaime had convinced Stacey to come out with her and attend a school function.  What Stacey thought would be an uneventful evening turned out to be a turning point in her life. While mingling, Stacey met John, another law student in one of Jaime’s classes.  To their surprise, that night was the beginning of an extraordinary friendship that soon led to true love.

The first date was the typical movie night. One doesn’t often hope to catch a horrendous movie, but this time, a bad flick was a good thing.  “We went to a movie called Lost Souls, which was so terrible that we just chatted the whole time!” remembers Stacey.  The night later concluded with more chatting at a local coffee shop where the two got the opportunity to get to know each other better and make plans for their second date.

Personalities: Stacey and John have many things in common, but at the top of the list is a desire to travel and see the world. They have traveled to many diverse locales throughout the world, including London, Greece, Las Vegas, and the Caribbean.  Most recently, the two chartered a sail boat and sailed around the stunning British Virgin Islands.

THE PROPOSAL:
Circumstances were not making it very easy for John. The night started off with dinner at the Rainbow Room at the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, NYC. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as intimate as John envisioned. “We were seated so close to another couple that we joined our tables and just ate with them!” remembers Stacey.  So, quick-thinking John devised a new plan and decided to take Stacey to the famous Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center; unfortunately, by the time they finished dinner, all the lights had been turned off.  Determined to make it special, John then suggested a stroll through Central Park, but it was so cold that Stacey insisted on returning home.  John was perplexed as to how to make the proposal both romantic and memorable until he came up with one last plan.  He convinced Stacey to join him on the rooftop of their condominium, which overlooks the charming New York City Skyline, where he finally had a true opportunity to pop the question.  Not many guys can say they devised four different romantic proposal locations all in one night!

THE WEDDING:
Gloomy weather is always a concern when having an outdoor wedding. This couple however, definitely lucked out. Stacey and John could not have asked for a more picture-perfect day; the giant tent looked beautiful on the rolling hills of Caledon’s Devil’s Pulpit golf course; dinner was phenomenal, and by nightfall the DJ got everyone dancing!  The party went perfectly, but the best part for Stacey and John was spending the most significant and memorable day of their lives with the people they loved. “People traveled from all over the world to spend the day with us and that truly meant a lot!” confirmed Stacey.
THE GOWN: Stacey looked dazzling in a custom, strapless Vera Wang gown in ivory silk organza.  It had delicate ribbon around an empire waist with a bow train.

Stacey’s and John’s Song: “We don’t really have a song that defines our relationship or one that really means a lot to us as a couple.  John’s favourite singer is Bob Dylan, so we chose a love song performed by him called ‘To Make You Feel My Love’ as the song for our first dance.  So, now I guess we do have a song!” -Stacey

THE HONEYMOON:
Stacey and John decided to spend a few days in The Hamptons following the wedding at a beach in Long Island. They watched the sunset while relaxing and recovering from the incredible whirlwind of the wedding festivities.  However, this was just a prelude to the real honeymoon, which an insider reports, would be coming at a later date at the Grand Wailea in Hawaii. 

Words of Wisdom:
“Relax and have fun! Plan a wedding that you would want to attend.” –Stacey

Vendor Links:
Event Planner and Decor: European Decoration
Photographer: Jodi Renee
Caterer/Reception: Lori Cracknell; The Devil’s Pulpit, Caledon, ON
Florist: European Decoration and Vanderburgh Flowers
Musicians: Alicia and Trent Classical and Jazz Ensembles

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