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Writer's pictureShana DeRoche

A Little Serenity - Amanda + Jonathan at Serenity Cottage

Updated: Jan 10, 2020

It seems this season the wintery weather is taking its time to settle in; the snow keeps coming and going, temperatures are hovering between cold and unseasonably mild, and I haven't had to break out the new parka I got for Christmas yet (bummer!). So while we wait for winter to really come, I can't help but reflect on DWEvents 2018 winter wedding for Amanda and Jonathan.


I was introduced to Amanda and Jon through an inquiry Amanda sent based on the referral of some friends who were past clients. Amanda emailed me with interest in the packages offered, a vision of what her and Jon would like their wedding to be, and no particular date in mind. They knew the wedding would likely be in July or December, and it would be based heavily on finding the right venue for the feel they were going for. After an extensive search, we finally landed on the gorgeous Serenity Cottage just north of Owen Sound in December for a wintery wedding (Side note: this was a truly serendipitous moment for little ol' me; as 20-something year olds my friends and I used to often bookmark this cottage as goals for the future!).



After a summer site visit, we got to work on the planning. While getting to know the couple, it became clear early on that they valued the joys of really great food and even better cocktails, especially if they could host while doing so. Enter the concept for their wedding: What if we could make the whole event a truly unforgettable experience for everyone we're inviting? It's not everyday we get to host 50 of our closest friends and family members, so let's make it unforgettable. Of course, their love for each other was the ultimate reason but Amanda and Jon wanted everyone to not only feel the love they had for each other, but truly feel incredibly special over the course of the weekend, through really good food and really good drinks! What better way to do this than to showcase local talents and dazzle with an incredible menu.


We enlisted an A-list of vendors to really pull off what we were hoping to do for the dining experience, and just wait until you read what that experience became. First, the couple needed well crafted cocktails.

I introduced the couple to my friend and bespoke bartender David Tse, who developed a menu of six signature cocktails with the couple that would include dehydrated fruit garnishes and the finest of liquors. Next, they needed a delectable menu. This one we spent some time on simply because none of us had much experience with caterers in the Owen Sound area, and Amanda and Jon were not about to settle for an average menu. After more research, the couple hit it off with Doug Walker, owner and head Chef of Walker Catering Company whom at the time was fairly new but definitely did not disappoint with a four course menu including all locally grown produce, red wine braised bison and veal Osso-buco to name a few items.

The piece de resistance was something the three of us dreamed up together and to this day, I get goosebumps just thinking of how stunning the harvest tables looked with all of the glittery glasses in rows set up. We ended up pairing each of the four courses with a wine tasting from the local Coffin Ridge Boutique Winery. As I mentioned earlier, it was important to Amanda and Jon that the local talents were showcased and so Doug actually spoke to the guests about each course and pairing intimately before they were served. This was a dinner that had guests boisterously chattering and in awe during every minute.


While food and drink were obviously important pieces to the couple, they weren’t the only important pieces. Guests were entertained by Gareth Bush on acoustic guitar during the ceremony and cocktail hour and the cottage fireplace mantles and huge wooden harvest tables were dressed with greenery and florals by Lauren B Floristry.

Every part of the wedding was designed to be unforgettably intimate (until the dancing ensued later on in the night!).


Up until that point and even still now, there is not a wedding that stands out to me more that I've worked on that has been quite as thoughtful as Amanda and Jon's, They are an unforgettable couple, so down to earth, so caring, and so effortlessly cool, and all of those traits were showcased that weekend. Dec 1 2018 will go down in my career history as one of my faves of all time.


xo, Shana




Vendor Love

Partial planning + coordination - Dream Weaver Events

Hair + makeup - The Glitz Galz

Grooms Tuxedo - Surmesur

Ceremony/cocktail hour music - Gareth Bush Music

Decor + Floral - Lauren B Floristry




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