Meeting your future spouse through mutual friends is fairly common, but what makes Amber and Steven’s story unique is that they met through a friend in Indonesia. At the time Steven was working for a travel company and Amber was touring through Southeast Asia. They fell hard and fast for each other on a trip with friends to Thailand, then spent two weeks together on some remote islands in Vietnam. Six months later they finished university and moved in together.

The Proposal

Steven surprised Amber with an early birthday gift—a trip to New York City to watch the US Open. He surprised her again on the trip with tickets to see the Blue Jays play the Yankees, but he saved the best surprise for last. As they were crossing a beautiful bridge in Central Park with bagels in hand and the city skyline in the background, Steven popped the question.

The Big Day

Amber and Steven were married at a private ranch, but wanted a unique reception space. “The Commons had the industrial feel that allowed us to create our vision.” They served a featured cocktail inspired by the official cocktail of the US Open, the Honey Deuce, and called it the Honey I Do.

Engagement Ring Cut

Oval

First Dance

“Say You Won’t Let Go”—James Arthur

Newlywed Advice

“Hire a wedding planner! We trusted Kismet & Clover with our entire day and vision. They kept us at ease and our day was executed flawlessly.”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

They look forward to traveling the world, starting a family, and calling each other “husband” and “wife” every day.

Honeymoon

Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

A snowstorm nearly kept Natasha home from her friend’s Christmas party, but she braved the weather and met Matthew at the cocktail reception. They talked throughout the evening and went on their first date a few days later.

The Proposal

They spent nearly every weekend together in the mountains, so Natasha didn’t think twice when one morning Matt asked if they could hike alone instead of with their friends. As they neared the peak, Matt found the perfect spot for “lunch”. When Natasha turned to grab a sandwich from her bag, she found Matt on one knee, asking her to make him the happiest man alive.

The Big Day

The Rocky Mountains had been the backdrop for their entire relationship, so there was no question about celebrating their love anywhere else. Natasha and Matt wanted an “elegant, romantic, fairy-tale wedding,” and the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel provided the perfect setting. In the weeks leading up to their nuptials they worried they would have to move the ceremony indoors due to smoke from wildfires, but on the big day they woke up to sunny, clear skies that lasted until just after photos. When Matt took her hands at the altar, Natasha’s nervousness dissipated and she realized she was marrying her best friend

Favourite Moments

Natasha: “My favorite moment was when Matt and I were able to join hands during the ceremony. I was very nervous in front of all of our family and friends that I just needed to hold onto him. Once he grabbed by hand, all the nervousness went away. I was able to relax and i realized I was marrying by best friend.”

Matt: “Finally being able to see Natasha”

Engagement Ring Cut

Oval Baguette

First Dance

“In Case You Didn’t Know”—Brett Young

Newlywed Advice

“Enjoy being engaged and enjoy every moment with each other the day of your wedding; it goes by quickly. Laugh, dance and take a moment to realize that you both put so much time and effort to make this happen!”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

The newlyweds look forward to their honeymoon, starting a family, and “not answering any more wedding emails!”

Honeymoon

Greece

Mark’s biceps caught Natasha’s eye while they worked together at a local restaurant. She would help clean his tables and eventually asked for his number. They discovered how much they had in common over coffee, including their love of mountain adventures.

The Proposal

During one camping trip, the couple rode the Jasper Sky Tram and hiked to the top of Whistler Mountain. Mark popped the question—along with some bubbly—and they spent the rest of the day hiking, fishing and excitedly calling their families.

The Big Day

Family heritage is very important to the couple; Natasha’s mom gave her the Irish Claddagh ring she inherited on her own wedding day and bound the bride and groom’s hands together during the garden ceremony. Mark carried on his grandfather’s tradition by having the same wedding band created by the same jeweller in Roccagorga, Italy. A string duet brought the ceremony to life, and a singer and pianist performed during cocktail hour and the first dance. They chose the Shaw Conference Centre to host their reception for its capacity and flexibility when it came to decorating and catering

Favourite Moments

Natasha’s favourite moments were the private ones she had throughout the day with her family and her groom, while Mark’s was when Natasha pinched his butt at their first look.

Engagement Ring Cut

Oval

First Dance

“Tenerife Sea”—Ed Sheeran

Newlywed Advice

“Do your research and ask lots of questions! Don’t be afraid to ask people for help and to delegate tasks as needed. Don’t sweat the small stuff and remember to be present on your wedding day because it flies by!”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

They look forward to sharing many more laughs and adventures together.

Honeymoon

Italy | Hotel La Perla

Marla and Sorab share many mutual friends, but it took years before they eventually met during an evening out with friends. They went out for coffee a few days later and within a month they both knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

The Proposal

In traditional Indian fashion, they began planning the engagement with their families and received their parents’ blessings in an intimate ceremony at home.

The Big Day

Their wedding combined north and south Indian traditions in a spectacular multi-day affair. They held a Sikh ceremony at the Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh Temple, and a Christian ceremony at the Magrath Mansion. Gajras—hair garlands of jasmine flowers—were given to all the ladies during the Christian ceremony, and Sorab’s mother spent months making pottery bowls and filled them with traditional Punjabi sweets as gifts for the guests.

Marla and Sorab wanted a reception venue that would showcase their mutual love for the great outdoors and accommodate their 275 guests. The Moonflower Room in the Enjoy Centre was the only true contender. “The greenhouse gave us the beauty of an outdoor wedding with all the stability of an indoor wedding.”

Favourite Moments

While Marla wishes she could relive the whole wedding week over and over again, Sorab’s favourite moment was “the awareness that I was entering a new phase of life with my love and sweetheart.”

Engagement Ring Cut

Round

Newlywed Advice

“The wedding day goes by so quickly, so try to be in the moment and take everything in as much as possible.”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

Honeymoon

Belgium and India

While the bride and her gown typically get all the attention on the big day, grooms are looking to make more of a fashion statement at the altar. Tux rental stores may have limited options for styles and sizes, but getting a bespoke suit can take a big bite out of the budget. So what’s a fashion-forward fellow to do.

Alex Ethans, Andrew Parkes and Maciek Hunek faced a similar conundrum when they graduated business school and searched for stylish, well-fitting, affordable suits to propel them into the workforce—with little success. “We thought back to our experiences getting clothes tailored overseas and thought that there had to be a way to bring that fun, intimate custom experience to the masses.”

They launched EPH Apparel as an online custom menswear store in 2010 and quickly grew to include a brick-and-mortar storefront in Winnipeg. They opened their first Alberta storefront in Calgary last summer at 815-10^th Ave SW, across from MEC. Because they don’t need to carry inventory and have invested heavily into efficient production methods, EPH can offer quality made-to-measure two-piece suits for $300-$650, and three-piece suits for $400-$800.

Customers can visit the store for personalized service or pursue the options online and provide measurements to order. A single suit will take 4-8 weeks to produce, but they require a minimum of three months for wedding party orders. Once the suits arrive, they offer free in-house alterations or a $75 credit for out-of-town customers to get their suit tailored. “We really want everyone to love the fit of their suit, and sometimes that means it needs some tinkering. We don’t want anyone to have to pay extra for that.”

The founders say vibrant shades of blue are still trendy for suits, but many parties are breaking the mould with maroon—especially for fall weddings. Linen is still a staple fabric for beach weddings due to its lightness and breathability, but they are starting to see more orders in grey and blue over classic tan.

Whether your style is traditional, bold or somewhere in-between, be sure to follow Blush Magazine on Facebook and Instagram for your chance to win one of three EPH suits!