Ashley and Corey’s Stratford Country Club wedding day was one of the first weddings we’ve photographed that’s felt ‘normal’ since 2019. It was absolutely perfect from start to finish!
These two travelled from Nova Scotia with their daughters to celebrate with their loved ones, which made the day so much more sentimental as they reunited with people they hadn’t seen in years. There were so many hugs, smiles, and laughs around every room at every point of the day!
From the pink and blue details to the stunning greenery at Shakespeare Gardens, Ashley and Corey thought of every detail and it all came together like magic.
Here are some of our favourite moments, with the newlyweds sharing more from their perspective along the way:
Were you nervous, or calm and excited while getting ready?
Ashley: I was pretty calm while getting ready. I remember both my hair stylist and make-up artist commenting on how calm I was! It was a bit surreal that our wedding day was finally here, and I was very excited to see Corey and celebrate our love.
Corey: I was calm and excited and was looking forward to starting the day.
How did your wedding party/family help you in the beginning of the day?
Ashley: My Maid of Honor and sister Lauren, went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly. I woke up at 3am thinking “OMG! I forgot to pick up tape for our Polaroid photo guest book!” But Lauren was already on it! She also knows how much I love my morning coffee, so she had one ready as soon as I woke up. She also organized a delicious brunch platter from Brch & Wyn, so we wouldn’t forget to eat.
My dad picked up food for the boys and made sure they were hydrated!
Did you do a first look? If so, what was that moment like?
Yes! It was such a special moment between Corey and I. It was emotional seeing each other for the first time and realizing how much love we have for each other. We also had our whole wedding party and families watching too! We gave them the option to come after our first look, but no one wanted to miss out! Knowing how special this moment was for us, as well as our friends and family made it even more special.
What were your thoughts when you first saw each other?
Ashley: When I first saw Corey I thought “I can’t believe I finally get to marry you!” We have been planning this for a long time, and our day had finally arrived.
Corey: When I first saw Ashley I thought how beautiful she was in her dress.
What moments of your day will you never forget?
Ashley: I loved getting ready with all of my girls (my bridesmaids, my mom, my MIL, my oldest daughter & my niece). It was an exciting morning that I was very much looking forward to. The next moment would be the first look and our newlywed portraits. It was nice having that alone time before the ceremony. I will also remember our vows. They were short and sweet and were totally us!
Corey: Watching our daughters & nieces walking down the aisle as flower girls, saying our vows, and catching up with friends and family that we haven’t seen in years.
Looking for the perfect London Ontario wedding venue?
CLICK HERE to get a copy of our free PDF where we share our top five favourites!
How did you feel when you walked down the aisle?
Ashley: I was super nervous walking down the aisle, mainly because I knew everyone would be staring at me! But then I saw Corey and our little girls standing at the front and I was calm and happy.
Corey: I felt calm and confident and ready to get married after 11 years.
What are you looking forward to the most about being married?
Celebrating an actual anniversary! haha! But also continuing to build on this amazing life we have created with our two daughters, and taking time for ourselves as a couple.
What advice would you give to a newly engaged couple?
Take your time planning the wedding of your dreams – don’t let anyone sway you into doing something that they want. Take time to seek out the right vendors and make sure they are a good fit for you. It will help to make your wedding day go smoothly and exactly as you envisioned!
Did you whisper anything sweet in each others ears during the first dance?
We both whispered how much we loved each other and that we I couldn’t believe we were finally married!
How excited were you for the food at the reception? What did you eat?
Our dinner was delicious. We had a three-course meal starting with a Fig & goat cheese salad, a choice of Beef Tenderloin, Stuffed Chicken or Tofu Ragu, and dessert was cheesecake or raspberry compote. Also, the focaccia bread was the best we’ve ever had! We also had a late-night poutine bar that our guests raved about!
What did you love about your vendors?
We loved how organized all of our vendors were. It helped make our day run smoothly and perfect! Our vendors were very flexible when we had to postpone due to covid. Our vendors all worked well together and communicated to make sure all of our timelines were met and on point.
What are your honeymoon plans?
We are hoping to travel to Scotland in 2023!
Vendor Love
Venue | Stratford Country Club
Florist & Decorator | Designs By Cate
Wedding Gown | Chester + Felicity
Gown Designer | Stella York
Makeup | Jacha Beauty
Hair Stylist | Expressions Hair Design
Suits | Moores
Baker | Julia Hamilton
Coordinator | Jessie Jacob
Officiant | Debra Beaupre
DJ | Music Central
We’d love to capture your Stratford Country Club wedding! 2023 and 2024 wedding dates are available.
Click here for more information on our wedding services!
Get some more wedding inspo on the blog:
Julia + Sean’s Elm Hurst Inn Wedding
leave a comment