Location: Hart House, University of Toronto
Description: Molly and Stefan's late-November wedding at Hart House was a masterclass in festive elegance, bringing the richness of the Christmas season to life within one of Toronto's most storied Gothic settings. The East Room hosted the ceremony against the venue's signature stone architecture, while the Great Hall reception was transformed into a warm, candlelit holiday tableau through a full-venue floral program anchored in deep red, lush evergreen, and touches of gold and white.
The bridal bouquet was lush and dramatic - a 12-inch arrangement of deep red roses, burgundy-red chrysanthemums, ilex berries, and pine, carrying the forested warmth of a winter woodland. Three bridesmaids' bouquets mirrored the palette on a smaller scale, creating a cohesive and striking look against the bridal party's deep green velvet gowns.
In the Great Hall, ten full-length evergreen garland runners dressed each guest table from end to end, woven with holiday greens, ilex, white button chrysanthemums, and baby's breath, and punctuated by glowing pillar candles in hurricane vases. Four floral centerpieces in white ceramic pots provided bold focal points across the room, each 12-14 inches of red roses, white chrysanthemums, and pine. Five smaller clear glass cylinder arrangements added a lighter touch to the remaining tables.
The head table was the visual heart of the reception. A long floor arrangement of red roses, white chrysanthemums, ilex, and pine ran the length of the table, flanked by loose greens on each side and four matching small arrangements placed at floor level in front, all set against the warm wood-paneled wall and the glow of a lit Christmas tree. The result was a deeply festive and elegant setting perfectly matched to Hart House's grand character.
Colour Scheme: Deep red, white, and evergreen, with gold accents.
Objective: To design a full-venue floral program that embraced the festive spirit of a Christmas wedding while maintaining the sophistication befitting Hart House's historic setting.
Flower Types: Red roses, burgundy-red and white button chrysanthemums, ilex berries, pine, cedar, cypress, baby's breath, pine cones.
Arrangements:
- Bridal bouquet featuring red roses, burgundy chrysanthemums, ilex berries, and pine, approximately 12 inches in diameter.
- Three bridesmaids' bouquets as smaller-scale versions of the bridal bouquet, complementing the overall aesthetic.
- Three corsages and six boutonnieres designed to coordinate with the bridal party's florals.
- Four floral centerpieces in white ceramic pots (12-14 inches tall and wide), featuring red roses, white chrysanthemums, ilex, pine, and evergreen, displayed on brass pedestal rentals.
- Ten evergreen garland table runners with holiday greens, ilex, white button chrysanthemums, and baby's breath, running the full length of the guest tables.
- One long head table floor arrangement (approximately 2 feet long, 8 inches tall) of red roses, white chrysanthemums, ilex, pine, and evergreen.
- Two sets of loose greens flanking the sides of the head table.
- Five small vase centerpieces in clear glass cylinder vases (8-10 inches), providing a lighter floral accent for additional tables.
