Carey & Andrew

One of my absolute favourite parts of planning clients’ weddings is getting to take part in transforming a space so it fits their love story.

On September 24, 2021, I got to do just that! Carey and Andrew came to me 72 days before their wedding date. And we created the phenomenal, picturesque wedding they had been dreaming of.

Read on to find out more about how they choose their downtown Toronto wedding venue and how the day came together.

Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

In my many seasons of planning weddings, there are not many challenges I haven’t seen. And planning a wedding in a short time frame is one of them!

Carey and Andrew approached me with a list of questions they wanted to ask a wedding planner. And among those was whether or not I thought it was possible to have a wedding in a matter of 72 days.

While it was a time crunch, and we were limited on options so close to their wedding day, it was a challenge I was determined to see through!

A bride and groom walk towards their downtown Toronto wedding venue, Boxcar Social, while guests mingle on the outdoor patio.

The Challenges of Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

Planning a wedding in such a short amount of time is a challenge in and of itself. But planning one during the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic added an extra layer to every couple during the past two years.

Finding vendors in the crazy 2021 wedding season that matched my clients’ vision and would work well with their mindset kept me busy throughout the planning process.

But after contacting over 50 different venues and vendors, I was able to piece it all together!

The Inspiration for Carey and Andrew’s Toronto Wedding

Carey and Andrew wanted to make sure everyone was comfortable. With so much stress from the Covid-19 pandemic (not to mention, planning during it), they wanted their wedding day to feel as normal as possible for their guests.

So they chose to put family first to ensure everyone experienced a wonderful time, while still feeling safe.

These two opted for an urban casual style, yet still romantic and elegant wedding aesthetic for their day.

Choosing the Downtown Toronto Wedding Venue

With a 72 day timeframe, we were working with quite a few challenges for Carey and Andrew’s downtown Toronto wedding venue space.

But, thankfully, Boxcar Social Harbourfront had their date available. And it couldn’t have been a better option!

Boxcar Social is a unique wedding venue in downtown Toronto, and it served as the perfect backdrop for Carey and Andrew’s day. It has an urban industrial feel to it with plenty of natural lighting from floor to ceiling windows and piping throughout the interior of the venue space.

But Carey and Andrew loved it for their indoor and outdoor seating areas! Since they wanted to prioritize their guests’ comfortability, this was such an excellent downtown Toronto wedding venue.

Guests could choose whether they wanted to head indoors during the reception or stay outside if that made them more at ease.

And since it was right downtown, it was so easy for their guests to make it to celebrate their day!

A bride and groom hold hands as they walk towards their guests at their wedding venue, Boxcar Social.

Bringing Carey and Andrew’s Day Together at Their Downtown Toronto Wedding Venue

With 72 days worth of planning, it was finally time to bring the day together! Between setting up their ceremony space and completely transforming their reception site, the LPE team and I were able to create a gorgeous day with memories to last a lifetime.

Creating a Boxcar Social Wedding

On the day of, it was time to transform the downtown Toronto wedding venue into a the incredible setting that fit Carey and Andrew’s love story!

While the Boxcar Social wedding venue already had a very industrial aesthetic, we wanted to create a space that was romantic and elegant. I knew I had to work with the space, not against it.

I balanced the exposed piping and dark interior, tables, and benches with a soft colour palette. That consisted of whites, creams, pinks, and blushes. And it was a match made in wedding design heaven!

Then, to offset the exposed piping indoors, I added a romantic air with candlelight and simple bud vases.

And just like that! It became the ethereal, elegant, and romantic wedding aesthetic they were hoping for.

Making a Comfortable Environment at Their Downtown Toronto Wedding Venue

As we were in the middle of Covid-19, with high case numbers and restrictions, and a vaccine mandate, we knew we needed to make the Boxcar Social wedding venue as comfortable for guests as possible. And we accomplished this in a few ways!

First, I suggested a passed hors-d’oeuvre-style cocktail hour. That kept guests from having to crowd together on one single table.

And to allow guests to immediately relax into the occasion, they were offered a cocktail upon their arrival for the ceremony. Doing so helped set the tone for the rest of the event! They immediately started enjoying themselves as soon as they arrived.

Finally, with a casual dinner guests weren’t restricted to one single table. They were able to sit with whoever they wanted, wherever they wanted. That meant they could eat at their own pace rather than sit through a catered meal.

Guests and bride and groom stand outside together during the maid of honour speeches at Boxcar Social, a downtown Toronto wedding venue.

Even in such a short time frame, Carey and Andrew were able to have the wedding they had been looking forward to! And I’m so fortunate to have helped them bring it all together.

Are you ready to start planning your special day? I’d love to chat with you to hear more about your wedding day visions!

Click here for Lindsay Plank Events’ Niagara Wedding Planning Services