Dana + Ryan's Effortlessly Modern Wedding at Twist Gallery

An interview with bride #96

A bride's beige wedding shoes and wedding dress.

We got married on the first Saturday in April, on a beautiful spring day (before the cold weather came back!). Our ceremony didn't start until 6:00 PM, so we had lots of time to spend with our bridal party and family while getting ready beforehand at the Gladstone Hotel. Our makeup was done by a friend and we didn't hire transportation since the venue and hotel were so close to home.

I headed to the Twist Gallery with my bridesmaids and parents, who both walked me down the aisle. Ryan was waiting for me at the altar with the other VIP in our life, our puppy Quavo. At the venue, we kept the decor minimal. The art gallery is so beautiful on its own, we wanted to let the art and architecture be the main focus. The large arch windows provided the perfect backdrop for our ceremony.

A bride getting her wedding gown zipped by one of her bridesmaids.

After the ceremony, we proceeded outside to take our pictures in the graffiti-filled alleys along Queen St W. Quavo joined us for a few pictures before heading home for the night as well.

We returned at the end of cocktail hour (luckily they had saved us one of each passed appetizer!) and began dinner shortly after. During this time, we had a musician singing and playing guitar between speeches. We didn't bother with an intro into the room, garter toss, or a bouquet toss, but we did kick off the reception by plugging in an iPod and having our first dance before everyone joined us on the dance floor.

Our focus for the wedding was on the essentials: having a good time and an open bar. Although it went by quickly, we had so much fun. By the time the bar was closing, we weren't quite ready for the night to end. Instead, most of our close friends ended up back at one of the groomsman's house for an afterparty that went into the wee hours of the night!

Describe your wedding day in 3 words.
Relaxed, fun and modern.

What's one thing that your wedding day HAD TO have.
The perfect venue! I didn't want to have to bring in a lot of decor for the space to be beautiful.

A young couple getting hitched inside Toronto's Twisted Gallery on Queen West.

What's one thing you could've done without or proved to be unnecessary in the end?
Honest answer: nothing! We were very selective about what we wanted to include in our wedding (no DJ, no veil, no excessive decor, no unnecessary traditions) and I think it paid off.

Tell us about your bridal fashion style.
My bridal fashion was modern and minimalist with a touch of whimsy. I love very simple silhouettes and wanted my dress to be effortless, but I also fell in love with the beautiful lace and appliqués that are so popular right now. My ideal dress was a combination of the two, so I had one made. I chose to keep my hair and makeup very natural and forewent the veil.

I had my bridesmaids choose their own dresses with two requirements: colour (blush) and length (below the knee). I love how the mix and match style came together and worked well with my dress!

A bride and her bridesmaids pose for a photo in front of some graffiti.

What's your advice for future brides?
By the time the wedding comes around, no one cares if you have ribbons on each vase or a flower out of place. If you are happy, they will be too! So slow down, and enjoy the day for what it is - a celebration of you and your partner's love with the people who matter most in your life.