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WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS
It is easy to imagine the scene on a sunny afternoon in mid-
summer. The air was fresh and subtly perfumed with all the
wonderful fragrances of the fruit orchard setting. Blue sky, a few
white clouds, and a gentle breeze delighted family and friends
assembled to share in a unique wedding celebration.
Towering, generations-old pear trees in the orchard were
laden with fruit, a bountiful backdrop that underscored the
couple's vision of a pear theme.
Alena was being helped with last-minute touches when her
maid-of-honour sister reminded the bride-to-be what was about
to take place. Alena recalls the realization hitting home that in a
few minutes she would wed Alex. She was "flooded with
happiness, my fondest memory of the day".
Meanwhile, her groom was waiting at the end of an orchard
aisle, filled with anticipation to see his bride, on her father's
arm, walking toward him.
Alena chose a strapless gown with a full layered skirt and
sweetheart neckline. She approached her groom to the
hauntingly beautiful strains of a violin playing Charpentier's
Prelude from Te Deum and Bach's Air on the G String.
EDIBLE DELIGHTS
Local Ontario delicacies played starring roles at the wedding
reception, to rave reviews by guests. Green pears were place card
holders at each guest's table setting. Favours for the guests were
jam jars filled with pear and peach jam, each wrapped with a jam
spreader and a small leaf-shaped tag reading, "Spread the Love".
The charcuterie board appetizers doubled as table décor.
Large wooden planks held edible displays of locally-cured
meats, patés, salamis, cheese, fresh fruit and preserves, served
with walnut and raisin bread.
Pear and prosciutto salad with roasted almonds preceded
braised short ribs in a Cabernet Sauvignon wine reduction
served with wild mushroom polenta. And what would a wine
country wedding be without a selection of Ontario white, red
and sparkling wines...
As a nod to their family cultures, the couple chose a
European chocolate walnut sponge cake, accented with vanilla
and chocolate custard.