Vows
Country Chic
Inside Anna Porter and Tim Lawson's Intimate Country Wedding
Anna Porter and Tim Lawson met online in 2023, and after exchanging messages for three weeks, they decided to meet. Having already formed a strong bond over shared interests and humour, Anna wondered if their chemistry would translate beyond their texts. She was both excited and apprehensive.
Going into their first date, Anna and Tim had lots in common. Both had ties to Florida—Tim attended high school there for baseball, while Anna went to college in the state. Early in their conversations, she mentioned Vero Beach, a place she frequently visited with her family. Tim’s immediate curiosity was piqued, as his own family had a house just ten minutes from hers. The coincidence felt serendipitous, and regardless of the outcome of their meeting, she knew they’d become good friends.
The couple met at a sports bar just outside of Toronto called Fred’s, a spot Tim claimed to have the best calamari. A self-proclaimed foodie, Anna was skeptical yet open-minded. However, after meeting, Anna was intrigued by an unexpected dynamic. Tim, who had been so charismatic and witty in his messages, turned out to be quieter in person. Over pizza, beer, and a playoff hockey game, they gradually settled into a comfortable rhythm. Later, some of Tim’s work colleagues joined them, and one jokingly remarked, “She’s too pretty for you.” The icebreaker set the tone for the rest of the evening, and Anna decided Tim was her gentle giant. On her way home, she called her best friend and confessed, “I’m not sure what I think, but I might be obsessed with him.”
Tim, who was so nervous that he misread Anna’s energy, was surprised to hear from her that same night, asking when they would see each other next. Over the ensuing weeks and months, the couple’s easy comfort, along with their shared humour and values, deepened their initial connection over food, golf and thanks to Tim, football.
Anna, who spent a decade working in digital marketing and brand strategy, was battling pneumonia later that year, while she was at her family’s home in Vero Beach. Tim, whose career in horse racing (his work took him from Toronto to Kentucky and Alberta, where he managed racetracks, before returning to Toronto as VP of Racing at Woodbine), insisted she get out of bed to visit a friend’s horse. Half-asleep and in her pajamas, she followed Tim into the barn when he dropped to one knee and proposed. Completely caught off guard, Anna blurted out, “You’re doing this here and NOW?” before realizing she hadn’t actually said yes. Laughing, Tim asked again, and of course, she agreed.
Last August, Tim and Anna wed at Little Brook Farm, the Porter’s country house outside of Toronto. The year held special significance for them as both sets of parents were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversaries. A nod to their shared love for rustic elegance, their sophisticated country wedding was both intimate and formal, with a blue-and-white aesthetic inspired by the architecture of the farm and reminiscent of the South of France. Tim and Anna exchanged vows in front of the property’s striking blue door, surrounded by 90 guests.
Their favorite restaurant, Greystones, catered the event, offering a menu of summer tomato salad, beef tenderloin and chicken, followed by coconut cream pie. A late-night pizza station kept guests fueled for dancing into the early hours of the morning.
For Anna, the most unforgettable moment was during the ceremony—specifically, as she locked eyes with Tim as she walked down the aisle. For Tim, it was the quiet, intimate conversations they shared mid-ceremony, exchanging smiles and laughter in between their vows.
The newlyweds will honeymoon next month in Cabo, eager for a well-deserved getaway.
Anna + Tim's Favourite gifts
