Muskoka Bay Club wedding in summer in Gravenhurst, Ontario

Gravenhurst and the beautiful Muskoka Bay Club ( one of my favourite Muskoka wedding venues ) played host to Alex and Sarah's lovey, laughy, warmy and teary I Dos. I'd had this wedding on the calendar for quite some time and had so been looking forward to it after meeting up with them last year for their engagement photos. These crazy kids are head over heels for one another. As my wife put it while peeking over my shoulder one night, "Aww so cute, the way he looks at her in every single photo.

"I'm happy to report I had a skunk-free day this time - if you'd read their engagement blog above you'd appreciate my sigh of relief.

Bride's wedding shoes bouquet and bracelet

One thing I've come to really appreciate in a wedding is the 'personal touches' couples add with sentimental items. Alex and Sarah's day was tricked-out with custom decor which looked incredible - however the special details that were show-stoppers for me were Sarah's shoes and bracelet. Her shoes were adorned with lace from her Mother's wedding dress. Her bracelet included a diamond from the engagement ring given to her mother by Sarah's Father). It also had an aquamarine stone given to her on her sweet sixteen by her Father. Something old and something blue from the special man who sadly couldn't be there on her special day.

A big shout-out to the team at Muskoka Bay - everything looked incredible and the day ran silky smooth thanks to their efforts! Let's hear more about how Alex and Sarah's day went down from the Mr & Mrs themselves...

Groom photo at Muskoka Bay Resort wedding

WHAT DID YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR WEDDING?

Sarah: There were so many moments throughout the weekend that were so special - but the ceremony really was a highlight for me. The setting was perfect and the music played by our friend Rob really set the tone. Seeing Alex as I walked around the corner was unforgettable. The whole ceremony was so special. I just love Alex and I was so excited to become his wife.

Alex: The ceremony was my favourite part as well, we got so lucky with the weather which was beautiful and it wasn't nearly as hot as we were anticipating. It was the one part of the day that I really wanted to be perfect and except for the fact that I realized we had forgot the boutonnière about 5 minutes before we were going to walk down the aisle (my brother in law jumped in a car and saved the day) it all came together as planned. Seeing Sarah walk down the aisle was unbelievable and was something I'll never forget.

A COMMENT ABOUT YOUR NEW BRIDE/HUSBAND:

Sarah: It's hard to put into words how I feel about my new hubby. He's so incredibly special and makes me feel so loved each and everyday. He's so kind and sweet and funny and I'm so excited to spend our lives making memories together.

Alex:It feels so great to be married to Sarah! Never having been married before I didn't know what to expect but there was never a moment of doubt in my mind, throughout the whole process it was nothing but excitement for Sarah to be my wife. I feel great now that I get to wear a ring to show our commitment and can't wait to make a lifetime of memories with her.

Groomsmen playing football Muskoka Bay Golf

A TIP FOR FUTURE BRIDES FROM SARAH:

Surround yourself with people who make you feel at ease. My girls and my beauty squad as well as the photographers and videographers were all so lovely and it made the day more relaxing and enjoyable. Try to enjoy the day - hiccups and all. Plan for way more time than you would think to do photos! No matter how organized you are time will get away from you.

A TIP FOR FUTURE GROOMS FROM ALEX:

If you can find the time, go golfing in the morning before your wedding. We played 9 and I managed to hit an eagle for the first time in my life. [ He found a way to work in his eagle - Vaughn edit ] The wedding Gods can do wonders for your golf game!! Also it was just a nice way to squeeze in some extra time with those closest to you and helps to put your mind at ease.

Wedding ceremony patio Muskoka Bay Golf Club

Wedding Ceremony at Muskoka Bay in Gravenhurst

Terrace ceremony photo at Muskoka Bay Club

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE MUSKOKA BAY CLUB AS YOUR WEDDING VENUE?

We love Muskoka and got engaged in the area so we thought we would keep the theme going with the wedding. We wanted something that had a casual elegance about it that still embraced the rustic Muskoka setting while maintaining a touch of classic elegance that Alex and I love.

The clubhouse at Muskoka Bay Club fit the bill perfectly. We also really wanted our wedding to be a bit of a getaway for our family and friends. The villas are beautiful and our guests took full advantage of the stunning pool to soak up some relaxation time prior to the wedding. The entire team at Muskoka Bay Club were fantastic to us from start to finish and we can't imagine a better all around spot for our special day.