Winnie & Luke: an effortless blend of two cultures 兩種文化的融合
Photography: Whitney Heard from Whitney Heard Photography
Ceremony Venue: Graydon Hall Manor • Wedding Planner: Rose Yao from Fleur Weddings
Videographer: Derek Chan from DC Films • Decor & Florist: Infinitude Design • Make-up and Hair: Louisa Liao from Louminous Makeup
Officiant: Rev. Gerald • MC & DJ: Michael Coomb • Cake: Nadia & Co • Firework: Hands Fireworks • Ceremony: Wellington Music
As Featured in The Art of Celebration Annual Edition No.2
“One night we found ourselves at the same concert after our friends had left. We accidentally bumped into each other and ended up talking about music, hobbies, and life until 6 a.m.!”
Winnie is Chinese-Canadian, and Luke grew up just on the other side of Niagara Falls in Buffalo, New York. The two met about ten years ago in San Francisco through a mutual friend while both were working there. It took Luke six months to work up the courage to talk to Winnie, but one night they found themselves at the same concert after their friends had left. They accidentally bumped into each other and ended up talking about music, hobbies, and life until 6 a.m.!
It took another three months of Luke’s persistent effort to secure a first date. But from then onward, they’ve been inseparable. Everything feels better when done together.
Winnie and Luke originally planned to get married in Lake Como, Italy, but the pandemic prompted them to move the celebration to Toronto, to make it more accessible for their family and friends. Toronto held special meaning for them: it’s where Winnie spent most of her childhood (her first home was just a few blocks from the venue!), and it was a convenient location for Luke’s family in New York. It was especially exciting to invite friends from San Francisco and New York—many of whom were visiting Toronto for the very first time.
They found a beautiful estate with lush gardens that allowed them to preserve the romantic feel of their original Italian garden wedding vision. From the beginning, they knew they wanted to blend their Chinese-Canadian and American backgrounds.
The day began with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, followed by a Western-style wedding ceremony and reception in the afternoon. For the tea ceremony, Winnie wore a Qipao and Luke wore a Changshan, both chosen during a previous trip to China.
Food was another meaningful part of the celebration. Winnie and Luke wanted the menu to reflect both of their cultures while creating a memorable dining experience for the guests. Some standout dishes included freshly shucked oysters, miso and maple-glazed black cod, and a decadent black sesame cake.
Like many Chinese families, Winnie was raised in a multigenerational household and was very close to her grandparents. Including them in the ceremony was important to the couple, so they asked them to be their “flower grandparents.” Watching them walk down the aisle sprinkling fresh flower petals was one of the most heartwarming and unforgettable moments of the day for not only Winnie and Luke, but for all the guests.
Throughout their lives, they’ve lived in many different cities and travelled the world together. They wanted their wedding to reflect those experiences and the places that have shaped their relationship. One special touch was their guest seating chart, which was inspired by destinations meaningful to them. But perhaps the most unforgettable moment came at the end of the evening: standing under a sky lit up with fireworks after their first dance, surrounded by the friends and family who had traveled from across Canada and the U.S. to celebrate with them.
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Choosing an auspicious wedding date is important, as it can contribute to a smooth and peaceful start to your marriage. While some may view this as a cultural practice, it is believed by many that selecting the right date can set a positive tone for the future.