When it comes to the rules of dating, Lauren and Jordan have never been ones to follow the pack. Though born and raised in Toronto, the two were living in separate American cities (she in New York, he in Los Angeles) when they first met. They dated for a year long-distance before Jordan, a television writer and producer, moved to New York to be with his love.
Shortly after, Jordan proposed to Lauren, rather spur-of-the-moment, during a canoe trip in Algonquin Park. "He didn't even have a ring!" recalls Lauren, an occupational therapist. "He proposed with a necklace that he bought last minute." (They have since designed a stunning ring using emeralds from Jordan's mom's original engagement ring, as well as diamonds from Lauren's grandmother.)\
In November 2019, Lauren and Jordan tied the knot at an intimate ceremony that included immediate family and just a couple of close friends. Three months later, the couple returned to Toronto for a larger celebration with 225 of their nearest and dearest, many of them flying in from around the globe. "When we first got engaged, we said, Let's go to a bar with friends [to celebrate]. That wasn't going to fly with our parents, which we totally understood," says Lauren, one of five daughters born to a party-planner mom. "All of my sisters had big weddings—between 250 and 400 people—and my family alone is around 80 people. This was definitely a big change from we had traditionally experienced."
The couple decided to recreate a bar scene at The Warehouse. "We wanted it to feel cool, handsome, very chic-cocktail-bar vibe," explains Lauren. To that end, they made the bar the focal point of the room by placing it at the edge of the dance floor, where one would traditionally expect to see a band or DJ (dress code: dress up to get down). The actual DJ—Daniel Carson of TK [MARLA: is he with MBE or does he now have is own company? Do you know?]—set up shop in a more subtle spot normally reserved for bartenders. That meant people could spend the night dancing while easily accessing and hanging around the bar. (As a fun surprise, live musicians—two on horn, one on guitar—showed up later in the night and performed right on the dance floor, amid the crowd.)
"We did not want it to feel like a Bar Mitzvah—no plexi everything and purple lighting," says Lauren, who instead opted for soft wooden touches and earth tones. "We wanted a cool, romantic feel." A lounge area accomplished just that thanks to tufted couches in deep-green velvet, along with gold pillows for a dose of glam.
A cool-bar vibe was also achieved with dozens of candles scattered throughout the space, from the bar area to DJ station to everywhere in between. The lighting created a truly laid-back atmosphere reminiscent of the couple's fave New York bars, such as The Campbell Bar in Grand Central Station. TK [MARLA: NAME OF LAMPS?] lamps were strategically placed on the bar and DJ booth to further enhance the glow.
Lauren says she wanted the space to have an "eat, drink, dance" feel, so they opted for food stations rather than a formal, sit-down dinner. Friends dined at high-top tables flanked by rustic-chic stools, while the older crowd headed to more comfortable dining tables, cleverly marked with "Reserved for Boomers" signs.
While the celebration was indeed laid-back and lounge-like, Lauren and Jordan incorporated a few traditional wedding elements into the party, such as speeches, the Hora and finally, the Mezinka (a dance done at Jewish weddings when the last child is married off). "It was a big party but I felt carefree. We wanted everyone to come and party and hang out," says Lauren. "It was important for us to celebrate with friends, yet also allow my parents to have a Mezinka. This was the best compromise."
Venue: The Warehouse | Caterer: Toben | Late-night pizza: Pi Co | DJ: Daniel Carson | Decor Rentals: Black Label Rentals
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Black Label Rental pieces: Votives [MARLA: WHAT KIND/SPECIFIC NAME OF PRODUCT? IE VINTAGE MIRROR VOTIVES] | Cordless lamps [MARLA: DO THEY HAVE NAME?]| Pillows | Plexi box [MARLA: PROPER DESCRIPTION? ANYTHING ELSE? Should we put Marsha Baker as party planner above?]
Call 416.406.2122 x22 [MARLA: IS THIS STILL CORRECT EXT?] for rental info and pricing.