Adeline and Peja’s ceremony unfolded beneath white stone vaults, where Gothic architecture and Old World elegance subtly reflected the couple’s roots. Guests then transitioned into a moody, candlelit reception, held in a richly layered space of dark wood, oriental rugs, and low lighting that naturally encouraged intimacy and conversation. Rather than leaning on tradition, the design focused on texture and tone: sculptural floral arrangements in rusty, muted hues, unexpected details like artichokes lining the church steps, and a cloud-like installation hovering above the dinner table. Adeline’s bridal look echoed the atmosphere perfectly – an architectural Danielle Frankel bustier paired with a silk skirt, styled with opera-length gloves and heirloom jewelry. With just eighteen guests gathered around an eleven-course family-style dinner, the day felt immersive, thoughtful, and effortlessly refined. Captured by THE WED member Jennifer Moher, every moment reflects a wedding designed not to impress, but to be felt.
Our Love Story
The Day We Met
It was a rainy evening in late March when we first met four years ago. At that point, I had meant to take a break from the dating app scene and wanted to quickly video chat with him, not thinking it would go anywhere. But Peja insisted we meet up in person instead of video chatting, so he went big and planned a cooking class for us. When we met, he immediately gave me a warm and friendly hug that felt just right in the moment. It helped me let my guard down, and all of a sudden we had spent eight hours together. Let’s just say he left an impression on me. I already had the feeling he was the one.
The Proposal
The proposal happened in a fisherman’s cottage in a tiny village called Ballstad, situated in the Lofoten Islands of Norway. Peja brought the ring on what started as a European ski trip to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday. He didn’t know when or where he would propose, but he knew he would find the right moment. He planned an intimate celebration at the cottage since it was Valentine’s Day. As he gave me flowers, he started saying heartfelt words about me, our relationship, and what it meant to him. Tears immediately filled my eyes, and that’s when Peja got down on one knee.
Everything from that moment on felt like a blur. I was so emotional that Peja had to remind me that I hadn’t actually said yes yet—and that he was still hoping to put the ring on my finger! We cozied up in front of the roaring fireplace all night, with a view of the mountains rising up from the bay. It was perfect; we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
The Engagement Ring
Peja wanted to surprise me with both the ring and the proposal, which I loved. We are both romantics in this respect. He meticulously chose the stone because he wanted the very best for me, and he knew I would appreciate the same. What he wasn’t as sure of was the style. I didn’t send him any hints, and admittedly, my style choices can be unpredictable. After the proposal, we approached my favorite jewelry designer, Arielle Ratner. I love her bold, fluid shapes. Needless to say, I am so in love with my ring and matching band. Peja and I love how the ring symbolizes both of our minds coming together.
Our Wedding
The Vision
At the core of it all, we knew we wanted an intimate celebration with our closest relationships present. We wanted those attending the ceremony to witness our commitment to each other and become part of the community supporting our marriage. This meant putting a lot of emphasis on our vows and creating moments where guests could hear and share stories. We used this core vision and our personal style to drive the design of the wedding, which was classic, Old World, and intimate, with a hint of the unexpected.
We leaned on floral décor to bring in that unexpected element. We purposefully chose non-traditional wedding colors with dark, bold, rusty tones; quirky-shaped arrangements; and even artichokes for a whimsical feel. One of my favorite design elements—and one that still makes me smile—was the artichokes framing the descending steps of the church aisle.
Our Team of Vendors
We couldn’t have done it without a team of absolutely wonderful and uplifting people around us. It was important to us that everyone we worked with not only understood us well, but also felt like people we truly connected with on a personal level. This made it easy to place our full trust in them to bring our vision to life. On top of that, it felt like working with friends throughout the entire planning process, right through to celebrating with us on our wedding day. We are so grateful to our vendors who supported us every step of the way—we truly couldn’t have done it without them.
The Location
The Gothic architecture of Trinity College Chapel resonated deeply with Peja’s European roots and instantly brought me back to my years living in Milan. Its tall, vaulted ceilings of bright white stone created an airy, almost celestial atmosphere—stepping inside felt like being transported to another time and place. Trinity Chapel not only captured the Old World intimacy we envisioned, but also carried a symbolic connection to the history of Toronto, the city we call home.
While the chapel’s grand, light-filled space was the perfect backdrop for our ceremony, we wanted our reception to feel more romantic and close-knit for our family-only celebration. We discovered Trapezi almost by accident, and it immediately felt right. The low-lit, wood-paneled room layered with oriental rugs offered exactly the warm, inviting foundation we needed to create a cozy, heartfelt gathering.
The Ceremony
Peja and I are romantics at heart, and we’ve always loved the timeless traditions of a wedding ceremony. Peja wanted that classic moment—seeing his bride for the first time as I walked down the aisle—and I longed for the instant he would lift the blusher of my veil and meet my eyes. What mattered most to us, though, was sharing our personal vows in front of the people we love most. We were both nervous, and I was tearful and emotional through nearly every word. In that moment, we were completely locked into each other; everything else in the church seemed to melt away.
The Cocktail Hour
It was a hot summer afternoon, and guests arrived at the reception eager for cool relief after mingling on the lawn post-ceremony. Flutes of bubbly were offered at the door, and a live cellist played in the background, encouraging everyone to unwind and explore the space.
Our vision was to usher guests into a romantic, floral wonderland—an immersion into texture, color, and warmth. Embracing Trapezi’s cozy, wood-paneled interior, we filled the room with sweeping floral installations in rusty, muted tones of brown, burgundy, green, and cream. My favorite element was the cloud-like arrangement suspended above us, floating effortlessly overhead. It was breathtaking—more magical than we ever imagined.
The Reception
Our reception was an intentionally intimate, family-only celebration with just 18 guests. Dark, moody décor and a family-style dinner created a warm, cocooned atmosphere perfect for inviting conversation and closeness. Laughter flowed easily, and it was beautiful to watch our families mingle. In both of our cultures, family gatherings are synonymous with abundant food, so Peja and I were especially excited to honor that tradition with an unforgettable eleven-course meal.
The Special Touches
We both wore rosemary clusters with blue, red, and white ribbon. Peja wore his on his lapel, and I wore mine on my wrist. This Serbian tradition reached back to his roots and ancestry.
Our Favorite Moment
One of the greatest gifts of hosting such a small reception was having the time and space for every guest to share a speech during dinner. As the stories flowed around the table, it was incredibly touching to hear everyone share funny and silly memories of watching us grow up and express their excitement to support our marriage and new life together. It brought both of our families even closer and made the night feel deeply personal.
Our Style
The Bridal Looks
My ceremony look was inspired by the off-white tones and Gothic elements of the church, which had a striking yet clean feel. I chose a structured bustier and skirt by Danielle Frankel, made of hand-frayed silk wool with a beautiful pearl sheen, and paired it with opera-length gloves for a hint of vintage drama. I built the overall look around the bustier, where the lampshade shape felt whimsical and fresh. I loved my dress so much that I wanted to wear it throughout the entire wedding day, so I focused on changing its feel through accessories.
I added a silk tulle shawl pinned with a vintage gold brooch. The soft draping around my shoulders and the long train made me feel like the queen of the evening. For jewelry, I kept it simple. I wore graduated diamond drop earrings, and my mom gifted me my favorite piece from her collection—a sugar-loaf–cut sapphire ring with diamonds that she custom-designed when she was my age. These pieces are now family heirlooms that I hope to pass on one day.
The Groom Looks
Peja explored a few different style directions before ultimately choosing to highlight themes of family and tradition in his wedding-day look. He settled on a classic black tuxedo—clean, understated, and timeless—and invited his brother to join him at the tailor, turning the fitting into a meaningful moment as they refined the details together. His cufflinks, a striking mix of metal and glass, added a deeply personal touch. Handmade by his mother specifically for the wedding, they became a small but powerful symbol of the love woven into the day—something he can remember and pass on to future generations.
Our Advice
For the Planning Process
Trust your gut and chip away at items little by little early on. We knew ourselves well enough to know we’d need help planning the event we envisioned. Enlisting Narelle Janine Events to get us organized was one of the first—and best—decisions we made; it immediately lowered our stress. Choosing vendors who align with your vision and working style is so important. It allows you to relax, fully trust them, and let them do their best work.
For On The Day
Our philosophy was to plan everything in advance so that on our wedding day, all we had to do was relax and let the day unfold. We chose vendors who were calm, confident, positive, and uplifting, which helped us focus on what mattered most—each other.
For Post-Wedding
Wake up and move as slowly as possible. Soak in all the memories from the day before. We didn’t go on our official honeymoon right away, but we did take a minimoon to extend the newlywed bubble as much as we could. Even now, we remind ourselves that we chose each other as “our person” on our wedding day—and what that commitment continues to mean to us.
Vendors
Photographer: Jennifer Moher
Ceremony Venue: Trinity College Chapel
Reception Venue: Trapezi
Wedding Planner & Stylist: Narelle Janine Events
Furniture & Decor Hire: Table Tales
Florist: Neroli Floral Design
Stationery: Statuerue, Custom Boards Toronto
Celebrant: All Seasons Weddings Officiants
Music: Toronto Wedding Strings
Hair & Makeup: Romy Zack
Style
Bridal Dress: Danielle Frankel
Shoes: Magda Butrym
Groom Suit: Suit Supply
