Vows
If music be the food of love, play on
Inside Jen McCain and Martha Maytham's Detroit Wedding
When Jen McCain spotted Martha Maytham chatting with her brother at the 2016 WayHome music festival, she thought to herself, “wow, this woman is out of my league.” Nevertheless, hoping at minimum to strike up a friendship, Jen asked for her number. Martha — immediately captivated by Jen’s smile and beautiful eyes — knew she wanted to learn more about Jen; this woman, she instinctively knew, was special. Cue the music.
Given they were already at the music festival, Jen and Martha planned their first date around a Snoop Dog performance. What was supposed to be a few hours ended up turning into an entire week. Jen — an entrepreneur and founder of a financial investment company — and Martha — who switched from a career in fashion and now works for Jen's company — discovered their joint love of sports (the couple now plays on the same hockey team), dogs (their current pup Kingston is a St. Bernard Poodle) as well as travel, cooking and entertaining. Smitten, the new couple didn't waste any time; because they both had dogs to take care of, Martha's pup Holly moved after their first week together, followed by Martha few months later.
It wasn't until Jen lost her balance and fell into Lake Ontario one day during a romantic boating date that Martha knew she was the one for her. "Her guard was down and I saw a slightly less composed Jen," explains Martha. "That was it for me." For Jen, her moment was more pedestrian but no less inspired. "I remember seeing Martha at the end of a long hallway in our house one day," Jen recalls. "I felt overwhelmed, and thought to myself: 'Wow, that’s my girl!'"
Three years into their relationship, Jen and Martha were vacationing in Newfoundland at the Fogo Island Inn. On a hike in nearby Little Harbour, and with a spectacular natural backdrop to set the scene, Jen asked for Martha's hand in marriage.
Due to the pandemic, Jen and Martha's wedding planning lasted nearly three years, giving them plenty of time to get it just right. They chose to wed in Detroit given Martha's family roots there (her grandfather, a celebrated marine architect and ship builder, moved from Michigan to Canada after building the eminent Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls). The couple chose to marry at The Fisher Building, an historic landmark designed by legendary architect Albert Khan and described as Detroit’s “largest art object". Working with a Michigan-based wedding planner, Jen and Martha took inspiration from the venue's frescoes, mosaics, marble and brass as their aesthetic guide for the black-tie celebration.
Surrounded by nearly 200 family and friends, Jen and Martha exchanged vows last July. Describing it as one of the best moments of the day, both Jen and Martha fondly recall when they first set eyes on each before the ceremony. “We’d been planning this wedding for three years," says Jen, "and at this very moment, it was finally real.”
After they exchanged vows, guests spent the evening celebrating, dining on watermelon salad, family-style platters and for late night snacks, "Pu-tine", a biscuit bar and McCain Tots and Waffle Fries with dips. Given that Jamaica is their favourite destination and "happy place", the reception was filled with Bob Marley tributes, and as a nod to Detroit's musical heritage and their love of music, the couple used vinyl records as their seating charts.
A mini-moon to Lake Placid Lodge was followed by an official honeymoon last November, where the couple travelled to Oman, Dubai and the Seychelle Islands. As they settle into married life, Jen and Martha are doubling down on time with their dogs and lots of post-pandemic entertaining with friends, family, and as always, lots of music to set their scene.
Jen + Martha's favourite gifts
"We love the subtle detail and classic, fresh white look."
"We love this line!"
"These glasses are so aesthetically pleasing."
