The last thing Tom Stephenson expected from getting a Masters in Marketing at the University of Surrey was a life on the other side of the pond. But when a Canadian student called Lindsay Young told an inappropriate joke, everything changed. Tom, whose personality is more on the quiet and reserved side of the spectrum, was instantly attracted to Lindsay. "She was super loud!," he says, adding that Lindsay is "the complete opposite of me." Since that first joke, these two haven't looked back, and Tom followed his heart - and his Canadian love - to Toronto.
Left: A vintage Rolls Royce waits for the couple at The Ivy. Right: Lindsay and Tom en route to their wedding.
The Laws of Attraction. In all other aspects of their lives, the laws of attraction are well in place for Lindsay and Tom. From their first date, a trip into London where they spent the afternoon exploring Camden, the two realized they shared a huge love of travel, food and drink. While Lindsay doesn't recall a "moment" when she knew Tom was the one, Tom still remembers that inappropriate joke. Recognizing that Lindsay shared his quintessential British sense of humour, Tom was smitten from the get-go.
The Proposal. When a planned trip to Bermuda (where Lindsay suspected Tom would propose) was cancelled, Lindsay decided to do a little digging one night to see if she could find the ring and secretly try it on. She easily found a box in Tom's bedside table, only to find a note inside that said: "try harder." A week later, Tom recreated the couple's first Toronto date at the Toronto Temperance Society, where he proposed marriage, ring firmly in box.
Above: Lindsay recites the script she wrote for their ceremony. Lindsay's dress is from Sarah Seven's Ready-to-Wear collection in Chicago, and Tom wore Ted Baker. Nellie Hunt at Coriander Girl provided the florals.
The Wedding. Lindsay and Tom opted for a casual wedding that reflected their style and personality. No bridal party. No speeches. No sit-down ceremony. Instead, the couple organized a late summer evening celebration at Toronto's Steam Whistle Brewery. After staying at The Ivy at the Verity Club for a few days, they got ready together, and after a few photos, made their way to Steam Whistle in a white vintage Rolls Royce. After an outdoor cocktail reception of champagne and oysters from Rodney's Oyster House, a 10-minute ceremony took place with friends and family standing around them. Lindsay and Tom toasted each other and the group then celebrated with dinner, games, and dancing under the stars until the early hours of the morning.
Above: Linday and Tom were thrilled with Food Dudes, who catered the event.
Below: Rodney's famous oysters.
The evening's fare included passed mini grilled cheese sandwiches, French onion soup dumplings, and dinner stations with tacos, mac and cheese, mushroom risotto, beet-crusted salmon, and salads. For dessert the group enjoyed liquid nitro ice cream sandwiches and mini lemon meringue and key lime pies. A late night snack included fish and chips and mini pizzas, and a Jacked Up espresso truck pulled up at 10:00 p.m. to serve espressos. The beer was naturally Steam Whistle, and the wine was all from Ontario.
Above: Picnic tables, a coffee truck and the CN Tower set the tone for the evening.
Below: Lindsay and Tom's guests loved the informality of the wedding.
Lindsay, who works in tourism, and Tom, who is in the software industry, both love to travel (above, they had their family and friends sign their map in lieu of a guest book). They maximize their vacation days and go on as many adventures as they can. In their seven years together the couple have been to over a dozen countries, from their first getaway in Reykjavik to most recently, their honeymoon in New Zealand. The couple - who love good food and wine - are natural entertainers, and for them it's always a casual affair. Lindsay, a master at cheese and charcuterie boards, loves their Richard Brendon charger from HG, which she uses for serving, along with their Georg Jensen Bloom servers. Their evenings usually involve silly games and themed food, including a recent evening in celebration of the 2016 MLB All-Star Game where the couple served six separate flatbread pizzas, one for each Blue Jay. Supporting local food and beverage producers is important for them, and they love shopping at their local Kensington Market stores, including Blackbird Bakery, Hooked, Sanagan's, Cheese Magic and the Kensington Fruit Market.
