Wedding | Audrey & Ryan

Tell us a little about yourselves!

We met on New Year’s Day 2021 at a little Irish pub in Dallas. Neither of us wanted to go out that night, but we both gave in to friends who wouldn’t take no for an answer and thank goodness we did. I saw Ryan sitting in a booth with his friends, sat down next to him and asked his name. Within minutes, something just clicked. My phone had been lost the night before, so when he asked for my number, I gave him my email instead. A small twist of fate that started everything. 

5 months later we adopted our Golden Retriever, Luna, and 9 months in we moved to LA for work and have been here since.

Ryan proposed on July 4th, 2023, under the guise of a sunset “fireworks show” on the Palos Verdes cliffs with a little help from our friends. I actually found the ring box in the glove box on the drive there, but even knowing something was up, the moment still took my breath away.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

Muskoka truly fell into our laps. After getting engaged, we gave ourselves a couple of months to just soak it all in before diving into planning. During that time, one of Ryan’s family friends offered his cottage on Lake Joseph as a potential venue. Neither of us had ever been to Canada before, but our Golden Retriever, Luna, had actually gone with Ryan’s parents on their summer RV trip the summer we got engaged. We like to joke that she scouted it for us!

Between the photos, videos, and FaceTimes from the lake, we could instantly feel the magic of the place. It felt serendipitous, much like the start of our relationship. When we saw the property, it was even more beautiful than we imagined. The setting felt like a fairy tale, tucked away in its own little world.

How many guests did you have?

We had 70 guests, and it truly felt like the perfect number for us. Big enough to feel like a celebration, but intimate enough that we could share real moments and memories with every single person there.

Tell us about your outfits.

The morning of the wedding, I wore a vintage slip with a robe my friend made from silk we picked out together, appliquéd with lace from my mother’s wedding dress. We spent months designing it and experimenting with the lace placement until it felt just right.  It turned out perfectly and is something I get to enjoy daily.

I knew long before ever trying on a wedding dress that I would end up wearing Cinq. I’d fallen in love with Macye’s designs when she first launched. The romantic textures and silhouettes felt like something out of a storybook. I went to their first LA showroom with my mom, Ryan’s mom, and my friend Sarah, and we had the best time playing dress-up and chatting with Macye and Madelyn. I was torn between a sample she was working on and the Gayle, but after many conversations with my mom, the Gayle won.

At the showroom, I also discovered Riley Haus jewelry. Amy, the designer, was so kind and collaborative. My mom had given me some of her own jewelry, along with pieces passed down from both of my grandmothers. Amy transformed them into seven earrings that I wore stacked. Something old turned into something new, and a future heirloom to pass on.

My second dress was the Danielle Frankel Avery, which my friend tailored with extra draping at the front. It was playful, romantic, and perfect for dancing the night away in.

Ryan’s approach to wedding fashion was a case study in efficiency. He tried on one tux and said, “Perfect. What’s next on the to do list?”

What was the most important aspect for you, in terms of planning your wedding?

A month before our wedding, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, a moment that instantly reframed everything. Planning shifted from logistics to love. Our only goal was to create a world that felt soft, joyful, and alive. A space where everyone could feel fully present, even just for a day.

We wanted the day to feel like one continuous story that just flowed naturally from start to finish. It helped that the cottage had so many unique spaces, each one making the day feel like a different little world, but all still connected in the most beautiful way. 

When the day arrived, all the noise faded. What mattered most was being present, letting go of control, and allowing the love around us to carry the day. We’ve never felt more grounded or more connected than we did that day.

We’ve since lost my Mom, and having that memory with her, healthy, glowing, and by my side, is the greatest gift of our lives. She helped so much with the little details from our linen sign to the artwork on our invitations.

Were there any elements that were important for you to incorporate?

From the moment we saw the cottage, I knew I wanted to arrive by boat with my dad. The ceremony took place on the dock, and there wasn’t much room for a traditional aisle. Getting off the boat and onto the dock in my dress was admittedly terrifying, but it made for one of my favorite memories.

It was also important to us that instead of a getaway car, we took a quick boat ride right after the ceremony with our photographer, Ryanne Hollies. The photos and video from that ride are some of our favorites, and I know we’ll cherish them forever.

A few months before the wedding, I also had the wild idea to learn how to embroider and spent over a month stitching each guest’s name onto their napkin as a place setting. It became such a labor of love and my new favorite hobby.

My mother was an artist so her touch was present throughout the day: from our linen signage she hand painted to the artwork on the background of our invitations. We had so much fun together dreaming up ideas and designs to incorporate. 

Because the cottage was already so stunning, we didn’t feel the need to go over the top with décor. We wanted everything to blend seamlessly with the surroundings and feel like it belonged there. The dinner itself felt like one big dinner party under the stars, which was exactly what we hoped for.

Any tips for couples getting married?

There will always be noise and opinions, but stay anchored to what matters to you both. Choose where to invest your energy and your budget, and let the rest go.

A great planner is worth their weight in gold, but even more than that, so is remembering to lean on each other. Build not just a wedding, but a memory you’ll carry for life.

Are there any vendors that you would like to tell us a little more about?

My mom was the one who encouraged us to hire a planner, and we’ll always be grateful that she did. None of it would have been possible without our planner, Samantha Nicholas, whose thoughtfulness and precision allowed us to live every second of the day fully present. When our tent and reception location had to shift at the 11th hour, she handled it so seamlessly that it felt meant to be. She has since become a great friend.

Ryanne Hollies was actually the first vendor we booked, before anyone else. Photos were so important to us, and after seeing her work, I knew she was the one. She and Brjann met us for drinks in LA before the wedding and had the best energy. Ryanne Hollies captured the day perfectly and was such a calming presence for both of us. 

Tellie of Hunt and Gather Florals blew us away with the florals. When I saw the ceremony setup while still in my robe, my jaw literally dropped. She’s an absolute genius.

Photographer & Videographer: Ryanne Hollies @ryannehollies | Planning & Styling: Samantha Nicholas Events @samanthanicholasevents | Flora: Hunt & Gather Floral @huntandgatherfloral | Ceremony & Reception Location: Private Cottage | Celebrant: Brides Brother in Law | Rentals: Muskoka Event Services | Entertainment: Conor Cutz @conorcutz | Dress & Veil: Cinq @shop_cinq  | Second Look: 

Danielle Frankel @daniellefrankelstudio | Suit: Black Tux @theblacktux | Cinq Gown Tailor: Sara Rothan

 @s.rothan | Robe & Danielle Frankel Tailor: Isabel Marshel  @isabellemarshel | Engagement & Wedding Rings: Matthew Morris Fine Jewelry | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik @manoloblahnik | Earrings: Riley Haus

@rileyhaus_