Classic Spring Wedding at St. Mary’s Boat Club

Alex and Shannon got married on a sunny spring day with a church ceremony and the reception at St. Mary’s Boat Club, a classic Halifax wedding venue!

The couple planned a personal wedding ceremony centered on their faith and their love for each other, and a relaxed, fun reception where they could mingle with their guests and really enjoy celebrating together. I was so thrilled I got to be a part of this beautiful day for such a special couple!

A Spring Wedding in Halifax

Shannon and her bridesmaids got ready for the day at Star of the Sea Bed and Breakfast, which has stunning views of the water.

Makeup artist Allison Kirby did a beautiful job making Shannon and her girls look amazing, and hair stylist Elise Levesque styled their hair to perfection. The bridesmaids had various half-up hairstyles, while Shannon wore a sleek and elegant low updo.

The Star of the Sea is right next to York Redoubt, which is a great spot for photos! Shannon and I scouted out photo locations together a few weeks before the wedding and we both loved the grove of birch trees, which made a perfect spot for their first look.

Shannon wore the Tay gown by White One Bridal, which she found at Chester & Felicity. The dress was a mermaid-cut, long-sleeve lace gown, and the train had pieces of chiffon interspersed with the lace. The mesh illusion neckline and tattoo-effect back were so stunning! The dress paired beautifully with a long veil and sparkly earrings from Chester & Felicity and the Indi heel from The Perfect Bridal Company.

The ceremony was held at All Nations Christian Reformed Church in Halifax, the same church building where Alex and Shannon met for the first time in 2016. It was extra special for them to get married there, and it’s such a beautiful sanctuary, too! The sun was shining through the stained glass windows, making for a beautiful afternoon ceremony.

Neutral Colors with Pops of Greenery

The bridesmaids wore long-sleeve white gowns and the groomsmen wore black suits. The invitations also instructed guests to wear black or white for a uniform look, which looked amazing for photos!

In keeping with the neutral color scheme, the wedding decor and flowers were composed of white and other neutral tones, with pops of greenery throughout. Props Floral Design designed an elegant small bouquet for Shannon, which was a combination of lush white garden roses and olive branches, and the bridesmaids’ bouquets were baby’s breath and greenery. The boutonnières were a combination of white ranunculus flowers and greenery.

The organic ceremony arch was a DIY project that turned out so beautifully! Shannon recruited friends to help build the structure and forage local greenery for it the week of the wedding. The arch also served as decor behind the sweetheart table at the reception.

Laid-back Wedding Reception at St. Mary’s Boat Club

The reception hall at St. Mary’s Boat Club was perfect for the reception. When guests first arrived, they enjoyed wine and cocktails on the deck overlooking the water. Inside, round tables were covered with white tablecloths, and bud vases filled with white ranunculus, miniature roses, baby’s breath, and greenery were placed on every table. Edison bulb string lights lit up the room once the sun set.

Everyone enjoyed the overflowing grazing tables, filled with charcuterie, sandwiches, and just about anything else you could think of by Above and Beyond Catering. Guests had their choice of the couple’s favorite Benjamin Bridge Nova 7 wine or signature cocktails by Pineapple Eventworks.

The night ended with a ceildh dance with live music from local musicians, and guests enjoyed delicious custom donuts from Fortune Doughnut and cake from Layers Cupcakes. Shannon changed into the Anthropologie Montreal Dress for the dance so she could truly dance the night away before the couple’s sparkler exit at the end of the night.