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| The Bride's Colourful Wedding Bouquet |
Mike and Danielle have been together since their senior years at university.
They finally decided to tie their knots last Saturday!
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| York Civic Centre on Eglinton Ave.. Toronto |
It was supposed to be a rainy day today. It did rain a bit in the morning but it stopped by the time we got to the York Civic Centre at 2700 Eglinton Ave West, Mississauga.
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| The Wedding Chamber at York Civic Centre |
the main floor of the York Civic Centre building, is much bigger than I expected. It is a sunny place furnished with modern white chairs accommodating about twenty plus people comfortably. Large pots of lush plants lined one side of the room by the windows.
The Wedding Chamber I was at before in downtown Toronto was small and dark This one on the west end of Toronto is spacious, with a lot of natural light streaming into the chamber from the floor to ceiling windows.
Micheal's parents and I got there before everyone else and chatted with the lady who would officiate the wedding ceremony. She was a wedding planner before; she went through some training to get her license which allows her to officiate wedding ceremonies in Ontario.
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| The Bride and Her Sister |
The wedding ceremony was supposed to be at 2:00p.m. but Micheal and Danielle were held up in traffic and were a little late.
While we were waiting for the new couple, another couple was waiting for their 2:00p.m. wedding ceremony as well. We just hope that the wedding chamber was not double booked.
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| The radiant bride |
The bride looking radiant and beautiful in her gorgeous purple flowing long dress was escorted by her sister while Philip stood in as his the best man.
The wedding ceremony started shortly after Micheal and Danielle arrived.
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| The bride and groom exchanging their vows |
It was a simple, yet solemn ceremony with the officiating officer sharing with the bride and groom some beautiful thoughts and advice which she wrote herself for a happy marriage.
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| The Happy Couple ! |
It was always touching to witness the union of two people in love.
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| Families were present to witness the ceremony |
It was a joyful moment for family members who witnessed and shared in the new couple's happiness and commitment to each other.
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| The new couple & relatives |
Since Micheal's background is Chinese Canadian, both he and Danielle wanted to follow and perform the Chinese traditional Tea Ceremony.
Micheal's aunt was kind enough to offer her house where the tea ceremony took place.
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| Grandma Lui receiving her tea at the Tea Ceremony |
The Tea Ceremony is a time honoured Chines tradition where the senior family and extended family members of both the bride's and groom's sides are invited to participate.
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| The bride's uncle also took part in the tea Ceremony |
Starting from the groom's side of the family, the oldest member of the family was served tea first by both the bride and groom.
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| Grandpa McClaren receiving his tea & shared his wisdom After drinking the tea, the family member gave the bride and groom each a gift - a piece of jewelry, or a red pocket envelop. |
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Words of marital advice can also be shared at the tea Ceremony.
Though not of Chinese decent, Danielle's side of the family also took part and Grandpa McClaren seemed to enjoy the private moments spent with the new couple, sharing with them his words of marital wisdom.
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| Wendy & Mom beside her spectacular creation |
Every senior family members of the bride and groom drank the tea that was offered to them by the new couple; in turn they welcome them into the family by offering them their personal congratulations and a gift, either a piece of jewelry or a red lucky envelop.
Danielle;s side of the family really appreciated and enjoyed the experience!
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| Er. flew from S.F. to attend his cousin's wedding |
The families spent sometime enjoying some light refreshments and had an opportunity to socialize a bit before heading to the Diamond Restaurant in Richmond Hill for a traditional Chinese wedding banquet.
Many friends and relatives were at the wedding celebration. Er., Micheal's cousin, made a special trip from San Fransisco to fly back and attend the wedding banquet.
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| Cutting the Wedding Cake |
Wendy, Micheal's cousin, made a beautiful cake for the wedding reception.
It was a huge cake with four layers decorated with intricate purple icing flowers.
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| Crispy roasted chicken |
The wedding banquet was a gourmet feast with at least eight different main dishes consisted of a meat tray appetizers, followed by seafood, chicken, lobsters, scallops, freshly steamed fish, fried rice, noodles and desserts.
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| Crab balls served with vegetable decorations made with carrots |
The banquet was enjoyed by guests over a 2-3 hour period.
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| Shrimps & snow peas with taro & carrot towers |
We really enjoyed the food at this restaurant. The food was delicious and the presentations of the dishes were creative, colourful and appetizing!
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| Dancing the night away after dinner |
A great wedding celebrations indeed!
May God bless Micheal and Danielle as they start a new life together as a married couple!
R.T.
Toronto
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