Wedding | Rebecca & Oliver

Tell us a little about yourselves!

Oli and I have been together for five years. Oli works in finance, and I worked in marketing before leaving my corporate job to study naturopathy. We matched on Hinge during the pandemic after he messaged me about a photo of me with my dad - asking if it was François Domingue. That led me to ask my dad how he knew him. It turned out our fathers were friends, and my dad had only great things to say about Oli's family, which made the whole thing feel a lot less random to me.

Because of lockdowns, we didn't meet in person for almost a year. Our first date happened when the city began reopening, on a Sunday night at Bar Henrietta. Things felt effortless early on. We became best friends quickly and loved traveling together - going on little adventures and discovering new places. Early in our relationship, we had the chance to live in Paris together for two months, which became a really special place to us. Oli proposed on December 31, 2024, in New York City.

Why did you decide to get married where you did?

My uncle lives in Paris, in his photography studio - a space I've known since childhood. When we got engaged, we knew we wanted something small and intimate, and doing that in Montreal felt complicated, especially when it came to keeping the guest list that way. Paris made it simple.

It's also a city that's always been special to us, and the studio already felt complete on its own - meaningful and beautiful without needing much.

How many guests did you have?

We had 36 guests. We invited immediate family and a few childhood best friends only. Keeping it small meant we could actually be present with everyone, which mattered more to us than anything else.

What was your budget?

Our budget was "enough to do it right, but not enough to regret it later." We were mindful about where we spent and where we didn't. We saved money by keeping things simple - homemade playlists instead of a DJ, and Casablanca projected onto the white walls, which became a big (and free) decorative element. Even that alone brought out the natural beauty of the studio.

Where we chose to splurge was on what mattered most to us: planning three days of memorable activities. We were asking people to travel all the way to Paris, and we wanted it to feel worthwhile.

Food and wine were also a priority.

Tell us about your outfits.

I was never someone who grew up dreaming about the dress. When it came time to shop, I actually felt a bit lost in Montreal bridal stores - reminded quickly that traditional wedding dresses felt like too much, and not really me, especially given how small and non-traditional our wedding was.

That's what led me to LoversLand in Toronto, where the approach felt much more modern and relaxed. I landed on a silk dress from A la Robe because it felt instantly right - simple, natural, and very much my style. The designer, Elizabeth, lives in the French countryside and has a boutique in Paris, which felt like a quiet full circle. Her dresses feel timeless, and that's what drew me in.

I added the matching bolero, partly for September weather, but also because it gave the dress something extra without changing its simplicity. I knew I wanted lace somewhere, so I chose a fingertip-length lace mantilla veil. Comfort was important to me, so I wore white silk heels with a lace trim from Black Suede Studio, a Montreal brand. I kept accessories minimal but meaningful - my mom's pearl earrings and a necklace from my best friend.

After dinner, I changed into my mom's wedding dress, which I reworked by wearing the skirt tailored with a simple silk top.

Oli wore a classic tux from Waxman House in Montreal. The owner is a family friend and made his suit to perfection. He also suggested a white jacket, and once we saw it - the same soft white as my dress - it felt obvious. He wore it on the day, and it suited him perfectly.

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

Aside from keeping the wedding small, the most important thing for us was that the celebrations felt true to us. That meant no bridal party, no strict timeline, and very few formal moments. We wanted everything to flow naturally, without feeling rigid or exhausting.

It was also important to plan the three days around our guests' experience. Most of them were traveling from out of town, across a six-hour time difference, for a short stay, and we wanted it to feel more like a mini vacation than a packed schedule - so everyone could settle in and actually enjoy themselves.

We focused on small, personal details: homemade playlists, a menu that genuinely pleased everyone, and choices that felt familiar and considered without feeling staged. Our vows were especially important to us and sharing them surrounded only by our closest people made the moment feel honest and vulnerable in the most natural way. Having Oli's brother as our celebrant made it even more meaningful.

We were also mindful of how we would move through the day ourselves. We wanted to be as present as possible - even though, looking back, it all feels like a dreamy blur that lasted about five seconds.

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

We wanted the celebrations to feel relaxed, fun, and authentic - not like a formal event. Creating an environment where people could feel comfortable and genuinely enjoy themselves was really important to us.

That started with a relaxed welcome night. We met in Parc Monceau for champagne at sunset. It was September, but it felt like a warm summer evening, with Parisians everywhere and so much life around us. Many of our guests had just arrived, some straight from traveling, and it felt like a perfect first impression of Paris. From there, we walked together to a classic French bistro nearby for dinner on the terrace. Having almost all of our favorite people together that first night felt overwhelming in the best way and set the tone for the days that followed.

For the ceremony at Hotel El Dorado, the garden already felt complete on its own. We kept the design minimal, with a large white drape behind us and little else - simple, chic, and enough.

Where I really had fun was with the details at the studio. My florist, Marie Dujardin, understood my vision immediately and helped bring it to life - tall brown candles, wildflowers in simple vases, and romantic menus. Our caterer, Marie Cortes Traiteur, added to the atmosphere through food: butter topped with flowers and bread on each table, a generous cheese buffet, and espresso martini carts to start the evening. Even the cake doubled as décor, topped with flowers in the same theme. It all felt thoughtful without being overdone. Later that night, everyone ended up on the studio's hidden rooftop, drinking, smoking cigarettes (as one does in Paris), and taking in views of the sparkling city and the Eiffel Tower.

Food and wine were non-negotiable for us. Oli spent a lot of time choosing the wines, and we wanted everything to feel generous, easy, and unfussy.

Any tips for couples getting married?

Trust what feels right to you, even if it doesn't look like what's expected. Keep the guest list and the schedule as simple as you can, and plan the day in a way that protects your energy. Focus on how you want to feel, and how you want your guests to feel, rather than how things are supposed to look. And when the day comes, try to stay present - it really does go by in about five seconds.

Photographer: Fanni Herman @fanni_herman | Planning: Alicia Laurencau @milos.events | Styling: Bride (Rebecca Domingue) @rebdomingue | Flora: Marie Dujardin @iammariedujardin | Videographer: 

Vanessa Olewicz @vanessa.olewicz | Ceremony Location: Hotel Eldorado @hoteleldorado.paris | Reception Location: Called Studio7 @studio7paris | Celebrant: Groom's brother | Hire: Maison Options 

@maison_options | HMUA: Jessica Berullier @jessicaberullier | Catering, Beverages & Cake: Marie

Cortes Traiteur @mariecortes.traiteur | Stationery: Marie Dujardin @iammariedujardin | Ceremony Dress: A la robe @alarobe | Reception Dress: Rebecca's Mothers Wedding Dress, reinvented | Suit: Waxman House @waxmanhouse | Veil: Rituals Ceremonials @ritualsoflovebridal | Wedding Rings:  Olivier: Myel Design @myeldesign | Shoes: Black Suede Studio @blacksuedestudio