Summer Camp Wedding

We love so much of this charming Canadian Camp wedding from Mango Studios — most of all, we love bride Amy’s ability to think outside the wedding norm. As an homage to family tradition, she chose to have the wedding at a nearby summer camp, and was able to find both her ceremony and reception dresses for $300 by poring through ModCloth to find the perfect frock.

From the bride, Amy: We wanted it to feel like a relaxed weekend at the cottage with friends and family. It was a handmade, rustic, shabby chic, cottage/camp theme with a touch of vintage inspiration. We wanted it to be pretty casual and fun loving.

I have spent all of my summer since I was born going to our family cottage on Georgian Bay in Parry Sound. It is a very special place to me and now to Jeff as well. Since it is on an island, we knew it would be a logistical nightmare trying to do a wedding out there. We searched for places on the mainland close to our cottage and Camp Tapawingo won us over. It was very cottage-y and rustic and also had cabins for our guests to sleep! It was only a 20 min boat ride from our cottage which made my idea of a boat arrival work out perfectly! It helped that the ladies that ran the camp were so nice and helpful too!

The whole wedding was very DIY. I designed and made our invites, my mom made the bunting banners and all the floral napkins. The center pieces were a bunch of random glassware we found at thrift stores. The table numbers were vintage plates with hand painted numbers. The favours were homemade hot sauce that friends and family helped with. My mom and I made the boutonnieres and corsages from ribbon, buttons and fabric. The photobooth was lovingly constructed by my dad. All the wooden signs were hand painted, The bouquets were put together the day of by myself and my lovely bridesmaids, we even did our own hair and make-up.

Any advice for brides planning their weddings now? Try to make your wedding day reflect you and your partner and not get wrapped up in traditions or thinking you need the best of everything. Also, try and think of your friends and family while planning your big day. I really believe a wedding is not only about the couple but also thanking your family and friends for the support and love throughout your lives and on your big day. We really wanted to make sure everyone had fun and had a place to sleep after a great night of celebrating. I think couples can get so wrapped up in what they want, they don’t think of how to make sure their guests have a great time too.

Wedding Music:
Bridal Party Processional: “L.O.V.E.,” Nat King Cole
Bride’s Processional: “When I’m 64,” The Beatles
Recessional: bluegrass jig
First Dance: “You Are the Best Thing,” Ray LaMontagne
Father/Daughter Dance: “The Bare Necessities”
Mother/Son Dance: “In My Life,” The Beatles

Wedding Vendors (Port Perry, Ontario):

Wedding Venue: Camp Tapawingo / Wedding Photographer: Mango Studios / Wedding Flowers: purchased from Pardon My Garden / Wedding Dresses: ModCloth / Wedding Jewelry: Vintage / Bride’s Hairpiece: Silverpencils / Groom’s Suit: GOTSTYLE / Groomsmen’s Pants: J. Crew / Bluegrass Band: The Foggy Hogtown Boys / Wedding Caterer: Glenn Burney Lodge / Wedding Cake: LPK’s Culinary Groove / Cupcakes: Hello, Cupcake! / Wedding Invitations: Designed by bride / Transportation: Hammond Buses, Parry Sound