Little did Cynthia Spence realize that when her 12-year old self first met Corey Hawtin, she would one day marry him.  The couple, who have deep roots in Muskoka, met as children during summer camp at the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club, learning how to sail and play tennis. Cynthia, who is good friends with Corey's cousin, would later run into her future husband as a teenager when he would take them in his boat to or from family gatherings and parties on the lake.

Above: The bridesmaids each wore a uniquely designed white dress.

Below: Cynthia wore Valentino's Tango pumps in white patent.

Fast forward to 2007, when Corey and Cynthia ran into each other at a New Year's Eve party in Toronto. Cynthia was on her way to Europe on an exchange, but upon her return six months later, the two began dating, spending every weekend together in Muskoka, where Cynthia was based at the time.  Corey, who works in construction and development as founder of the Mazenga Building Group, and Cynthia, who until recently worked in the fashion industry, dated for nine years, and along the way acquired two babies: Havoc, a German Shepherd, and Oscar, a Chihuahua.

Above: Cynthia is all smiles as she steps into her Vera Wang dress. Below: Corey and his groomsmen  take a pre-wedding plunge  in the lake as the couple's German Shepherd Havoc looks on.

In March 2015 the couple stopped in London en route to a ski trip in Switzerland. Corey, who was planning to propose on the trip, was so nervous holding onto the ring that he decided to propose on their very first day abroad. He popped the question at the top of the London Eye, where Cynthia, surrounded by Big Ben, the Thames and the City of London, agreed to marry her longtime beau.

Above: Corey wore a Gucci tuxedo from Holt Renfrew, paired with Lanvin sneakers for an informal touch; the groomsmen share a pre-ceremony laugh. Below: Go-time - Corey and team  make their way to the wedding in a Ditchburn that has been in Corey's family for years.

Cynthia and Corey chose late June 2016 and the very place they first met - The Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club - to marry. Beyond the sentimental reasons for choosing the location, the couple loved the Club's understated elegance. Of course the setting - right on the shore of Lake Rosseau - was unbeatable.

Below: Pulling up to the MLGCC, Cynthia and Corey during and after the ceremony.







Above: Cynthia's all-white bridal party. Below, left: the wedding party. Below, right: The couple and their families.

The couple enlisted the help of the Nous Design Group for all aspects of the reception's decor (below). Wood harvest tables were covered in ferns, moss and candlelight, complementing the rustic surroundings.  They added a few modern touches by using rectangular lucite candle holders and white ghost chairs.

As guests left the reception, floating chinese lanterns dotted the lake, casting a warm and romantic glow.

The newlyweds waited until September to embark on their African honeymoon.  They began in the city with a visit to Cape Town, then moved to the country, where they embarked on a Safari in Sabi Sands. Lastly, they ended their vacation on the beach, relaxing on Mozambique's Benguerra Island.

Cynthia and Corey don't entertain often, but when they do, they go all out. True to their understated style, they love beautiful things that remain casual, such as one of their favourite wedding gifts, a Match 1995 pewter-rimmed serving platter. As Cynthia explains, "we love it because it reflects our own design aesthetic, which is modern yet warm."