72 photos of best friends in love

Sarah Locken & Andrew Minty

Some love stories seem like they are from the movies. This couple met, became roommates, turned into best friends and then fell in love.

Preparing for anything: As we have learned over the last two years, be ready for anything! Sara says, “We had four different versions of guest lists (at the same time), all dependent on what the government decided with capacity restrictions. While we thankfully never changed the date, we increased our wedding from 40 to 75 guests in less than a month due to an increase in numbers we were hoping for.”

An emotional roller coaster: “Before and during, the planning process was very emotional,” says Sara. “All of what I thought our wedding would be was challenged from all angles. Most difficult of all, my maid of honour, who lives in the USA, and I had to face the reality only months before that she would not be able to attend our wedding and be by my side. It was upsetting and completely out of our control.”

Perfection: Even though plans changed here and there, the bride says, “Once we set foot into our venue, and every second after, everything magically came together (and if it didn’t, no one told us!).”

Getting personal: The bride and groom wanted to express their gratitude to guests in a personal way, and did that with custom place cards for each guest, with a unique note for every person. Sara says, “Weddings can be overwhelming and it’s hard to ensure you get a chance to connect with everyone. Although a lot of work, this was an immediate way to have a personal touch with impact.”

Venue: The Hare Wine Co., Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Number of guests: 75
Photography: Hannah Durston Photography
Wedding dress: Martina Liana
Groom’s suit: Moores
Hair & makeup: BeautiMark Pro
Bridesmaids’ dresses: Azazie
Designer & vintage rentals: Tufts and Toile
Plates & linens: Simply Beautiful Decor
Florals: Flora & Farfalla
Cookies: Boxed Cookies
Catering: City Farm Catering
Bar: 180 Drinks
Officiant: Cathy Davis and Company