The wedding of actress Enuka Okuma and musician Joe Gasparik showcased a blend of urban and country themes, reflecting their diverse backgrounds. With significant input from family and friends, including custom invitations and floral designs, the couple successfully orchestrated a personal celebration held at St. Paul's Basilica and The Capitol Event Theatre in Toronto. Highlights included a unique seating chart, creative table numbers, and personalized touches that made the day memorable for all attendees.

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3. INSIDEWEDDINGS
EN UK A OK UMA & JOE GA S PA R I K
JUL Y 2, 2011 TORONTO, ONTARIO
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DONAT BARBE
TOWN AND COUNTRY
From the onset, an organic ease hallmarked the relationship of springboard from which to jump.” The print inspiration fueled
actress Enuka Okuma and musician Joe Gasparik. Having met in not only wedding ideas but Enuka’s enthusiasm as well. “I got
Toronto while working on the same televised crime drama, the so into it that my friends would laugh when I’d say something
pair struck up a friendship that eventually grew into more. Three like, ‘I think there’s a shot of that gown in the spring 2009
years later, with the blessing of the bride’s parents, Joe popped issue of Inside Weddings,’” muses the bride. After considering
the question while the pair strolled a Vancouver beach. Through their options, the couple ultimately selected a theme that
tears of joy, Enuka agreed, and the couple happily enjoyed a long would combine the bride’s affinity for city life with the groom’s
engagement before delving into wedding planning. appreciation of country living. “Joe is a pretty outdoorsy guy
“I’m a pretty visual person,” reveals the bride, “so when it and I’m definitely a city girl,” Enuka notes, “yet, together we
was time to make my own ideas a reality, magazines gave me a expand each other’s horizons.”
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4. INSIDEWEDDINGS
Beauty
DaRico Jackson - hair
Candice Ornstein - makeup
Bridal Gown
Barbra Allin
Bridal Salon
Becker’s Bridal & Formal
Bridesmaid Gowns
Cynthia Rowley for The Dessy Group
LulaKate - sashes
Cake
Pretty Sweet Cakes
Entertainment
DJ Efsharp for Evolved Entertainment
Hi-Topp: 90’s R&B Extravaganza
Favors
Herbal Infusions Tea Co.
Floral Design
Gaylord Florists
Formalwear
Lanvin - groom
Freeman Formalwear - groomsmen
Invitations
Dutch Grandma
Jewelry
Mindham Fine Jewellery
Photography
Donat Photo
Shoes
Badgley Mischka
Transportation
Yorkville Limousine Ltd
Venue
St. Paul’s Basilica - ceremony
The Capitol Event Theatre - reception
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5. Although many advised the couple to white dahlias and was secured in place
employ a professional wedding consultant with a white satin ribbon.
for the planning, Enuka and Joe chose Bridesmaids were sheathed in knee-
to take the helm themselves with help skimming frocks in delicate sage green,
from several talented friends and family and carried small ribbon-wrapped
members. The bride’s sister, a graphic bouquets of white roses and lilies. Two
designer, created a custom invitation of the couple’s nephews made for darling
suite that combined the Toronto skyline ring bearers, one carrying a ring in a
with faux bois elements to play up the bird’s nest, and the other cradling a band
couple’s theme, and a talented friend in an engraved ceramic bowl. “We display
designed a custom monogram that was both in our home now,” says Enuka of
utilized on wedding stationery and the emblematic vessels.
favors. The groom’s father and his wife – The ebullient groom awaited his bride
a professional florist – lent their skills to while wearing a handsome ebony suit, a
the floral design, while one of the bride’s white orchid pinned to his lapel. “It took
best friends was appointed to act as all I had to keep it together,” admits Joe
coordinator on the big day. “I am forever of seeing his breathtaking bride glide
indebted to her for that,” gushes Enuka. down the aisle. Enuka was lovely in a
When selecting their ceremony and strapless silk gown featuring a rouched
reception locations, the couple relied on skirt and sweetheart neckline. Petal-
the same instincts that led them to each adorned satin pumps, a snowy veil, and
other. “We fell in love with our venues in a bouquet of large white dahlias added
kind of the same way we fell in love with to the romance. Three of the couple’s
each other,” shares the couple. “When friends played violin, viola, and classical
you know, you know!” The historical guitar during the processional. “Seeing
Italianate-style Roman Catholic church all of our friends and family together in
where the ceremony was held featured one place for the first time was a magical
pews decorated with cone vases crafted moment,” recalls the groom. “It was a
from birch bark. Each vase held large beautiful feeling I won’t forget.”
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7. Apropos to the bride’s profession, frosted with the couple’s initials. A
a former theatre was the site for the colleague who works as a voice-over
couple’s wedding reception. A marquee actor announced each member of the
announced “The New Romantics Starring wedding party while the former theme
Enuka and Joe,” and personalized movie song for Late Night with Conan O’Brien
posters designed by the groom’s best played in the background. “It was a huge
man adorned the entrance to the theater. hit!” Joe laughs.
Guests located their table assignments Following a delicious three-course
courtesy of a unique seating chart the dinner, guests were treated to a chocolate-
inventive bride had created by securing flavored wedding cake that featured four
escort cards to ribbons on an upholstered beautiful tiers. Iced from top to bottom
canvas with clothespins. Table in a subtle gradation from white to sage,
centerpieces were a sprightly mix of white the cake was crowned with a single edible
Gerbera daisies, roses, hydrangeas, and white dahlia that mimicked the bride’s
lilies, along with green spider mums and bouquet. All of the tasty food and drink
a plethora of foliage tucked in cylindrical fueled a night of merriment and dancing
glass vases wrapped in birch bark and to R&B tunes played by a band that the
tied with ribbon. As gifts to the couple, groom selected. “The whole wedding
the crafty groomsmen had created table was extremely personal and each creative
numbers fashioned after old Toronto idea was born out of our life together,”
street signs, each representing a road that says Enuka.
the bride or groom had either once lived The couple urges future brides and
on or near. grooms to savor the moment. “No matter
Friends continued to play a significant how busy your wedding day seems, take
role in providing the extra touches that a moment to enjoy yourself,” says Joe.
made the event so special. A loved one “I did, and as a result, the whole day is
teamed up with a mixologist to create pretty much committed to memory.”
liquor-infused drinks, while another Which is exactly as it should be.
close friend served home-baked cupcakes KELLY LEE
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