All that is Lovely

Lacquer and Lunch

I suppose bachelorette parties should include vodka and a male stripper so let’s just pretend Colette is the ‘club’ and the cake platter as a round of shots for those who love #teamgrandma activities. The celebrations were in honor of bride-to-be, dear friend and interior designer, Carmen, who yes- also lives in Hong Kong but calls Toronto her Home. We get along for the obvious reasons: mutual appreciation for aesthetics, matte gold cutlery and takeout Thai food. The afternoon started off with a bride-appropriate salad bar lunch at Colette cafe and spiraled downwards (calories-wise) from there with macaroon and champagne-laced nail appointments at Her Majesty’s Pleasure and a huge tapas dinner.

#Hansmenwedding: Details, details, details

In between all the ‘OMGs’ punctuating the air, the wedding photographers aptly summed up #hansmenwedding as, “omg it looks like Pinterest!” It was a prop stylist’s dream to shoot: orchestrated by Cynthia Martyn and hosted at Graydon Hall Manor.

I’m still uncertain how most wedding photographers regard ‘amateurs’ taking pictures- especially if they come from the bridal party- so I shyed away from le wedding dress shot (to my regret as the Reem Acra needs to be seen up close). As for the bridesmaids, the sequin dresses were tailored in Hong Kong. Three prototypes were made before the final product- the first one looked like Jane Austen went to the disco while the third had a crotch-displaying slit. But the key detail was really the elasticized waistband; with all the eating and drinking catered by the chefs at Graydon Hall, someone should’ve mentioned a ‘game hen’ is actually a baby chicken in disguise.

Portrait by Ruby, all other photos by me.