Dancing Through Life: Julia and Diogo's Harmonious Union at The Pearle Hotel & Spa

Love Story

In the age of digital romance, Julia and Diogo's love story began with a simple swipe right. Their first date at Starbucks in October 2013 turned into hours of conversation, followed by a romantic two-hour walk in the rain. "We connected instantly and talked every day for hours," the couple shared, their eyes sparkling with the memory.

Their connection was instant and undeniable. "Just a few days later, on October 30th, we made our relationship official," they recalled. "We knew we had found the person we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with and are incredibly thankful to have met each other." Over the next 10.5 years, their love blossomed into a beautiful partnership, filled with adventures, laughter, and the addition of their beloved fur baby, Toby.

"We will never forget the day we started talking because it was the beginning of a lifelong friendship and partnership," the couple reminisced. "We met our best friend, our ride-or-die, and the person we want by our side forever. We are forever grateful for that day because it brought us together."

The proposal, like their relationship, was a perfect blend of surprise and intimacy. Julia knew it was coming, but the timing remained a mystery. "One evening, while we were making one of our favourite meals, Diogo surprised me with the proposal and included our fur baby, Toby," Julia shared, her eyes twinkling with joy. "Toby came running down the hall with the ring dangling from his bandana, with Diogo following behind him. It took me a minute to realize the ring was there, but when I did, Diogo grabbed me, pulled me close, and asked if I would be his wife. Of course, I said YES! It was the perfect proposal."

This beautiful moment set the stage for their journey towards marriage, a celebration of their deep love and unbreakable bond.

Julia and Diogo's wedding was a testament to their love - simple, modern, and elegantly timeless. Held at The Pearle Hotel & Spa in Woodbridge on February 3, 2024, the couple celebrated their union surrounded by 90 of their closest friends and family. "Our vision for the wedding was to create a simple, modern, timeless, elegant, and welcoming atmosphere," Diogo explained.

The couple's attention to detail was evident in every aspect of their special day. "We aimed to keep the decor minimal," Julia shared. "Instead of overloading the venue and tables with flowers, we opted for a simple tablescape featuring a white chiffon table runner, a variety of greenery, baby's breath, and floating candles. There were also hints of blue and gold throughout."

For the ceremony, the couple chose a simple yet stunning look. "We wanted a simple look with gold stands, greenery, baby's breath, and white roses," the couple described. "For the head table, we repurposed the gold stands from the ceremony and added more greenery and baby's breath, along with white roses and plenty of candles."

The couple's relationship was the primary inspiration during the wedding preparation. "Our relationship was the primary inspiration during the wedding preparation," the couple said, their eyes shining. "We aimed to let our simple personalities shine through every aspect of the celebration, ensuring that our love and connection were reflected in every decision and detail."

Despite the grand scale of the event, planning the wedding was a breeze for the excited couple. "It didn't take long at all!" Julia exclaimed. "We were eager to plan our wedding and booked all our vendors within two months of getting engaged. The remaining details fell into place over the next few weeks, and by the six-month mark, everything was done!"

When asked about the key moments they'll remember from their wedding, the couple shared several heartwarming instances. "Firstly, besides marrying each other, reading our vows was truly unforgettable," Diogo said, his voice filled with emotion. Julia added with a laugh, "Another special moment was our first kiss as husband and wife, when our friend's daughter shouted "again!"—it was adorable and brought laughter to everyone."

The couple also cherished a private moment before the ceremony. "We stole a few precious moments alone together," Julia reminisced. "We talked, snapped a Polaroid photo, and shared a heartfelt kiss."

"We could not be more thankful to Worth Decor for making our vision come to life in such a beautiful way," the couple gushed. "And to our photographer and videographer, Rose Vine Studios, for perfectly capturing the beauty of our wedding and venue."

As they looked back on their special day, Julia and Diogo's faces glowed with happiness. Their wedding was a true reflection of their love story - simple, elegant, and filled with moments of joy and connection.

Morning details

The couple's meticulous care shone through every element of their enchanting day. Their invitations from Minted.com whispered of the upcoming festivities, setting a magical tone. The wedding rings, exquisitely crafted by Nuno at Diamond Boi, mirrored the depth of their devotion.

"We collaborated with Engraved for You for our wedding stationery, including our welcome sign, seating chart, table numbers, thank you box, and place cards," Julia shared. "Additional stationery used for our welcome table was sourced from Etsy."

Bride getting ready

Julia's bridal preparation was a serene affair in one of the suites at The Pearle Hotel & Spa. Her dress, the ATHÉNAÏS by ÉLYSÉE, was a dream come true. "I first saw the dress years ago on Instagram and instantly knew it would be my dress. And, it was!" Julia exclaimed, her eyes shining with joy. She found this perfect gown at Elisabeth & Beau, a bridal shop in Woodbridge, Ontario.

The bride completed her look with carefully chosen accessories: a white veil, heels, earrings, and a bracelet. These finishing touches perfectly complemented her stunning gown.

Julia's bouquet was a classic combination of white roses, baby's breath, and greenery, crafted by Worth Decor, who also served as the couple's florist and decor company. "We chose a classic combination," Julia explained.

The getting-ready process was made even more special by the presence of her loved ones. She was surrounded by her bridesmaids, maid of honour, and nieces.

In a thoughtful gesture that reflected the couple's considerate nature, Julia and Diogo chose to let the bridesmaids select their own dresses. "Our priority was ensuring everyone felt comfortable and confident on our special day," Julia explained.

As the morning progressed, the suite buzzed with excitement and laughter. The getting-ready photoshoot captured these precious moments, preserving the joy and anticipation of the day.

Groom getting ready

Diogo and his groomsmen prepared for the big day in another suite at The Pearle Hotel & Spa. The groom looked dashing in a tuxedo from 4menunited.

First Look

The couple's first look took place outside The Pearle Hotel & Spa. As Diogo turned to see his bride, his first words were, "Wow. Oh my God. You look amazing!" Julia, equally moved, thought, "I couldn't help but think about how amazing my future husband looked and how I wanted to marry him right then and there!"

“During our first look, Diogo and I shared a wonderful laugh at something I said. Each time I watch our wedding video and look at that specific photo, it puts a huge smile on my face,” the bride adds.

Photoshoot before the ceremony

The couple chose to have their pre-ceremony photoshoot at The Pearle Hotel & Spa. "Several factors influenced our decision: we wanted to minimize travel stress and maximize our time together, maintain a consistent atmosphere throughout the day, and avoid potential weather concerns typical of a winter wedding. Luckily, the weather turned out to be beautiful, adding to our joyous day," Julia explained. The stunning backdrop of the hotel provided the perfect setting for capturing their love story.

Ceremony

The ceremony took place in the chapel at The Pearle Hotel & Spa, a setting that perfectly matched Julia and Diogo's vision of elegance and intimacy. Breaking from tradition, the couple chose a unique approach to their processional.

"We chose not to follow typical wedding traditions," they explained. "Instead, we had our parents walk down the aisle and wait for us while we each walked ourselves down. Meeting our parents at the altar created a uniquely special moment that we cherish. We're thrilled we chose this path for our wedding day."

The music for their walk down the aisle was carefully chosen to reflect their love story. Diogo walked down the aisle to "Can't Help Falling in Love - Piano & Cello Version" by Benny Martin and The Wong Janice, while Julia walked down to "I Get to Love You" by Ruelle.

The couple's nieces, Lily and Jade, served as adorable flower girls, while their beloved dog, Toby, had the honor of being the ring bearer.

Julia and Diogo's ceremony was filled with emotional and memorable moments. "Seeing Diogo emotional as I walked down the aisle took me by surprise," Julia recalled, her voice soft with the memory. "I couldn't wait to reach him and share that moment together."

The couple's vows were a highlight of the ceremony. "Our vows were incredibly meaningful and will remain close to our hearts for the rest of our lives," Julia said, squeezing Diogo's hand.

A unique touch to their ceremony was the letter and wine box ritual. "It was a beautiful symbol of our commitment," Diogo explained. "We look forward to opening it, reading each other's letters, and enjoying the wine on our first wedding anniversary."

As the ceremony concluded, the chapel was filled with love, laughter, and the promise of a beautiful future together. Julia and Diogo's non-traditional choices created a ceremony that was uniquely theirs, reflecting their love story and the life they're building together.

Wedding Venue & Decor

The Pearle Hotel & Spa provided the perfect canvas for Julia and Diogo's vision. "Choosing the venue was easy!" Julia exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "Years ago, when I first saw it, I knew it had the exact look and feel I envisioned for our wedding day. Of course, it also had to fit within our budget, which fortunately it did! Additionally, it was a one-stop-shop for everything we needed – photos, ceremony, and reception."

The couple's color palette was a reflection of their elegant and timeless vision. "Our wedding colour palette was centred around white and gold, complemented by lush greenery, with subtle hints of blue accenting the decor," they explained.

Personal touches were woven throughout the decor, making the celebration uniquely theirs. "We included several personalized items in our wedding," Diogo shared with pride. "During our ceremony, we used a wine box engraved with "Diogo & Julia. February 3, 2024."" Julia chimed in, "We had specially made place cards for our bridal party, indicating their seats, and for us, labeled "Mr. Da Cunha & Mrs. Da Cunha.""

The couple's faces lit up as they remembered another special touch. "Our friend and bridesmaid, Elena, made cookies with our initials, adding a sweet and personal touch to our celebration," Julia said, her voice warm with affection.

The Pearle Hotel & Spa, with its elegant ambiance and the couple's carefully chosen decor, created a magical setting for Julia and Diogo's love story to unfold into the next chapter of their lives together.

Reception

The reception was a joyous celebration of love, filled with moments that Julia and Diogo will cherish forever. For their first dance, the couple chose "Anytime of Night" by Jesse Roper. "This song perfectly captures our relationship," Diogo explained, his eyes locked with Julia's. He recited some of the lyrics:
"From the first time I saw you
Ya I knew you were just right
From the first time I kissed you baby
Oh I could've kissed you all night"

Julia added, "It's a song that resonates deeply with us, reflecting our love and commitment to each other." They add: "Dancing together was a highlight—we were surrounded by love and happiness.”

While the venue didn't serve special food or drinks, they offered a unique menu that catered to various allergies and dietary restrictions, ensuring all guests could enjoy the celebration comfortably.

In a touching personal touch, Julia baked the wedding cake herself. "Many thought it was a bit unconventional," she said with a proud smile, "but I wanted our cake to be a special, memorable part of our day. And it turned out delicious!"

Reflecting on their experience with vendors, the couple couldn't contain their gratitude. "Working with our wedding vendors was an absolute pleasure! Each one was exceptional, and we are incredibly grateful for their hard work and dedication in making our day so special."

The couple also shared some advice for future brides and grooms. "Our advice would be to not let the fear of planning or the opinions of others overshadow your wedding day," they advised.

"Limit the information you share with friends and family, and don't feel pressured to conform to societal norms or traditions if they don't align with your partnership and vision. Remember, your wedding is a celebration of your love and union, and that's what truly matters at the end of the day!"

As Julia and Diogo looked back on their reception - from their meaningful first dance to the homemade wedding cake - their faces glowed with happiness and love. Their wedding day was a true reflection of their relationship: unique, joyful, and filled with moments of deep connection and celebration.