A pastel dream filled with Parisian charm, heartfelt moments, and old-world romance brought to life in the heart of Montreal. Calgary Flames hockey player Mackenzie Weegar and his longtime love, Maggie Wallace celebrated their “I do” in a setting that blended their Bridgerton vibes with effortless modern love. In a space that truly brought the drama, the couple added a splash of colour and had their celebration unfolded with ornate details, refined florals, and a palette of soft pastels… the perfect balance between timeless romance and the modern allure of Montreal.

PHOTO: 515 Photo co.

the love story

It all began in the DMs — a modern spark that led to a timeless love story. After connecting on social media, Mackenzie and Maggie spent a month getting to know each other before finally meeting in person. Maggie travelled from Montreal to Ottawa for their first weekend together, where Mackenzie brought his friends along for moral support during their first night out on Elgin Street. It wasn’t long before that initial spark turned into something deeper. Both Maggie and Mackenzie told some rendition of said first date in their vows, between a few laughs and (happy) tears.

A few years later, their love story came full circle with a fairytale proposal at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Right before training camp, Mackenzie surprised Maggie with the proposal on a weekend getaway. Looking back on their proposal Maggies shared, “In retrospect, I probably should have known something was up when Mack skipped out on a team golf outing to go on a romantic getaway.”

With the help of the hotel concierge, he led her on a private tour that ended in the conservatory, where the space was filled with flowers and the question every gal dreams of hearing.

PHOTO via Instagram (@maggieweegar24)

the wedding vision

For Maggie and Mack, inspiration bloomed from two great loves — Paris and Bridgerton. “Mack and I both love Paris, and we took a special vacation there together a few months before he proposed,” Maggie shares. “We thought about having our wedding there, but ultimately decided we wanted to be closer to home. But we still used Paris, along with the Netflix show Bridgerton, as our inspiration.”

The couple brought this romantic vision to life in Montreal, a city that held deep sentimental value for them. “I went to university in Montreal, and that’s where I lived when Mack and I first started dating, so it has a special place in our hearts,” Maggie explains. “We also wanted to pick a city that guests would be excited to spend a weekend in — and one that was easy to get to from both our hometown of Ottawa and internationally.”

When it came to planning, they had Courtney Elizabeth Events execute their vision, with their top priority on creating an unforgettable guest experience. “We wanted to make sure that people were always entertained and felt celebrated and appreciated,” says Maggie. “We really saw our wedding as a way to say thank you to everyone who has supported us up to this point in our lives.”

PHOTO: 515 Photo co.

MAKING IT PERSONAL

That thoughtfulness carried through to every detail — especially their personal touches. Instead of traditional escort cards, the couple created a heartfelt display with handwritten notes for each guest. “We really wanted everyone to feel genuine gratitude from us for attending our special day,” Maggie says. “Even plus ones or people we didn’t know very well — we wanted them to feel included and welcomed. I’m also a huge crier, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to say everything I wanted out loud, and this was my way of expressing it.”

Their second personal touch quickly became a highlight of the night: a wall of custom hats designed by the bride herself. “During COVID, Mack was growing out his hair and ordered a bunch of hats with just a plain ‘52’ on them,” she recalls. “All his friends started asking for them, so I knew hats would be a hit for this group! I thought people would just grab one on their way out, but when the hat wall was put out, people were grabbing them like savages — and everyone wore them for the rest of the night. It was so unexpected but such a fun memory.”

PHOTO: 515 Photo co.

The Welcome Party

The night before… With loved ones traveling from near and far, the couple kicked off their wedding weekend with a vibrant welcome celebration that perfectly set the tone for the days ahead. Hosted at Terrasse Perché, overlooking the cobblestone charm of Old Montreal, the evening felt like a scene out of a summer romance… and it was, featuring The Weegars!

Guests mingled over cocktails and passed plates while a live band played into the night, creating a relaxed yet refined atmosphere that captured the essence of the couple’s style. Maggie turned heads in a bold hot pink dress, adding a playful splash of color against the backdrop of the city skyline. On their walk from the hotel to the rooftop, they paused along the way to capture candid photos and take in the start of the best weekend of their lives!

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the wedding day

When it came to choosing their venue, Maggie knew exactly what she wanted — timeless beauty without the stress of unpredictable weather.

“I knew I wanted an indoor venue because I couldn’t handle the anxiety of stressing about weather,” she shares with a laugh.

Théâtre Cartier, the former St. Vincent de Paul Church, turned out to be the perfect fit. “I loved that it had the garden for cocktail hour so we could get a little bit of the outdoors and have the best of both worlds,” she says. “It was also a nice compromise for Mack and me — he’s religious and I’m not, so it felt really special to have our ceremony in a restored church without doing a full religious ceremony.”

The venue’s history added a touch of deeper meaning, too. “St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of charity, which led us to the decision to donate our wedding gifts to charity,” Maggie explains. “It felt like a good omen going into marriage.”

THE PERFECT MORNING

The day started slow and sweet, just the way Maggie had hoped. She got ready with her bridal party by her side… Hair, glam, mimosas, and Gilmore Girls playing in the background. Their pups made sweet visits back and forth between mom and dad’s suites, bringing the excitement, vibes (and a few happy tears) to the already emotional start to the day!

PHOTO: 515 Photo co.

the bride, the dress and her “something blues”

Maggie approached finding her wedding dress with the same thoughtful care that shaped every detail of the day. A self-described researcher, she spent hours online narrowing down styles before ever stepping foot in a boutique. She always envisioned something timeless and romantic — a long-sleeved lace gown reminiscent of Hailey Bieber’s, with delicate details that felt both modern and classic.

After discovering a designer she loved, Maggie attended a trunk show at Estrelle Bridal in Toronto, where she found the dress she had been picturing all along. Though she visited a few other boutiques for the full bridal experience, she ultimately returned to the gown that had first caught her eye — proof that trusting your instincts pays off!!

Her bridal party reflected the same effortless elegance. Maggie had two maids of honour, choosing to keep her party intimate and personal standing at the altar. Instead of matching dresses, she embraced individuality… asking her bridal party to be her “something blue.”

Each bridesmaid selected her own shade and style of blue dress, while her bridesman complemented the palette in a navy suit. The result was cohesive, relaxed and perfect together.

PHOTO: 515 Photo co.

A Moment Worth Waiting For

The couple also made the intentional decision to forgo a first look, preserving the emotion of that once-in-a-lifetime aisle moment. For Maggie, it was always part of how she imagined her wedding day — the anticipation, the music, the walk toward her future husband surrounded by their closest friends and family.

“When I thought about my wedding day, I always pictured walking down the aisle,” says Maggie. “I love watching videos of brides seeing their grooms for the first time, and I didn’t want to rob our guests of that moment either. I wanted to preserve the drama and suspense of it all.”

That emotion carried through to the vows, which became one of the most meaningful parts of the day. “We both had a lot of anxiety about reading our vows in front of everyone and crying too much,” she admits. “But we made it through with just the right amount of tears, I think.”

PHOTO: 515 Photo co.

advice for future couples

FOR OTHERS IN THE WEDDING PLANNING PROCESS

Looking back, Maggie’s biggest piece of advice for couples planning their wedding is to focus on what truly matters to you. With endless details and decisions to make, it’s easy to get caught up in the noise — but grounding your planning around a clear intention helps everything fall into place.

For Maggie and Mack, that intention was all about gratitude:

“For us, we really wanted to focus on showing appreciation for our guests, and having the day be a celebration of love for all the people there. But weddings can also be about making memories, about self-expression, about having the best day of your life, telling your love story, or just about wanting to throw a huge rager! But I think to help planning, it’s good to prioritize one main goal and make your decisions based on that.”

A NOTE TO COUPLES ON THEIR DAY

Maggie also encourages couples to stay open and flexible when the day finally arrives. Perfection isn’t the goal — presence is:

“Everyone kept telling me to try and stay present and soak it in, and that sounds like good advice but I still don’t really even know what that means in practice. I think my advice would be to adopt a “come what may” attitude on the day of the wedding, because once the day comes you really can’t control much. Try to interrupt anxious thoughts with gratitude and remind yourself that whatever you’re nervous about about, you’ll be able to handle!”

VENDORS

Planning & Design @courtneyelizabethevents
Photography @515photoco
Videography @wildandfreefilms
Content @hypegalmedia
DJ: @btbmtl
Florals/Decor @wedecor_inc
Ceremony Musicians Royale Quartet
Wedding Ring + Rehearsal Dinner Jewelry @storbymargot
Cocktail Hour Magician @baomagic
Hair @parla.hair
Makeup @rebeccarosebeauty_
Stationery/Seating Chart @letterlandstudio
Photobooth @omiraphotobooth