“Very early on in our relationship, we almost got secretly married in Vegas,” remember couple Magda + Hodgee, whose lakeside Ontario wedding was packed with Sin City-inspired mid-century touches. “A lot of the inspiration was a nod to that weekend.”
Together with event designers and planners from Mad Bash Group, the couple captured the flashy 1960s feel and impulsive energy of a Vegas elopement and paired it with the gorgeous scenery on the banks of Bernard Lake at restored retro motel venue The Northridge Inn.
We love the way that photos from The Real – Weddings by Bradley Golding caught every moment of Magda + Hodgee’s day in a distinctly retro documentary style, perfectly preserving the tone of this one-of-a-kind elopement-inspired wedding.
“THIS was harder than I expected,” says Magda of the wedding dress shopping journey that eventually led her to The Modern Bride. “I went to many shops, all with wonderful options. I wanted avant garde but classic, tomboy but feminine, delicate but powerful. In the end, Sarah Seven had me. I wish her and her family could design all my clothes.” We love that illusion plunge neckline and the way it adds a little edge to Magda’s timeless silhouette!
The Ceremony
Magda + Hodgee had their cute retro wedding logo emblazoned onto a custom flag to make use of the property’s dockside flagpole.
How fabulous are these funky floral arrangements from Hunt & Gather!? Love the way they paired all that explosive greenery with bright pops of orange, pink, red, and purple.
These fun + flashy light towers were custom built for Magda + Hodgee’s celebration. We can practically see these sparkling on the Vegas Strip! Later in the evening, they got to shine as reception dance party light installations.
Digging the sparkles on these precious flower girl dresses!
Our Musical Choices Processional: "Orchid " by Black Sabbath (played on acoustic guitar by one of our best friends)
Recessional: "Young Hearts Run Free" by Candi Stanton (perfectly encapsulating our deepest value together: independent and free while committing to loving and supporting one another.)
First Dance: "True Blue" by Dirty Beaches
Magda’s retro polka dot tulle wedding veil added a throwback feel to her classic bridal look.
An officiant from True North Ceremonies guided the happy couple through their “I do.”
Hodgee’s burgundy wedding suit is giving us 60’s Vegas lounge singer in the very best way. There’s a reason bold + colorful wedding suits are one of our favorite wedding trends to watch. Shop this suit from Indochino for a similar look!
Explore our collection of elegant wedding dresses if you’re loving the timelessness of Magda’s wedding day style.
The Reception
These fellas are nailing the wedding’s “retro poolside, patterns encouraged” dress code.
Some pink tinted aviators were definitely called for! Wedding guest dress codes are such a great way to make everyone feel connected to the experience. That’s why they’re another one of our favorite wedding trends on the rise.
“After the ceremony, the couple met all guests with a polish vodka receiving line, a tradition in the bride’s family,” remembers planner Sarah from Mad Bash Group. “Everyone takes a shot with the couple!”
Let’s take a moment to celebrate Taylor Switzer and the effortless, textured high pony she created for Magda. As well as this shimmery neutral makeup look!
Loving these bold, mismatched retro menus from It’s Okay Design Studio.
The reception’s purple + orange color palette makes us think of this groovy 1970’s wedding, another retro celebration that leaned into this bright + contrasting color world.
Our Advice To Those Planning Now Have a huge meeting together first, set intentions, wants and don’t-wants. Be prepared to make a LOT of decisions and schedule actual meetings in your calendar and revert back to those original intentions because you’re going to get a lot of opinions thrown at you.
Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding They sent us a midnight snack to our Airstream where we momentarily snuck away from our (completely unexpected) after-after party. We just looked at one another shaking our heads and said "We fuckin did it. This is so amazing. If tomorrow rains and storms, it wouldn’t change a thing."
In-house reception catering from The Northridge Inn constructed this delicious wedding dessert display.
Lucie Tic was in charge of supplying the tunes for the evening’s dance party.
Congrats, Magda + Hodgee! Your Vegas elopement-inspired lakeside wedding was a fun + funky retro dream! GWS wishes both of you all the best!
photography: The Real ~ Weddings by Bradley Golding // venue name: The Northridge, Sundridge, ON, Canada // event design: Mad Bash Group // planning: Mad Bash Group // florals: Hunt & Gather // wedding dress: Sarah Seven // wedding dress boutique: The Modern Bride // makeup artist: Taylor Switzer // paper goods: It's Okay Design Studio // music: Lucie Tic // officiant: True North Ceremonies
