Masha and Jonah’s wedding at The CAPE was deeply intentional — refined without ever feeling performative. Every detail was thoughtfully considered but never forced, creating a celebration that felt lived-in, emotional, and entirely their own. The palette leaned into soft neutrals and garden hues, with linen, stone, and silvery tones that complemented the venue’s natural elegance and old-world character.
As the planning evolved, a subtle Marie Antoinette influence began to weave its way through the day — romantic, textural, and quietly grand. Masha, a marketing professional with a remarkable eye for design, poured herself into the details, while her sister designed the stationery, adding a meaningful layer of family collaboration. The balance of modern lines against historic elements, paired with beautiful natural light, gave the day an effortless sense of harmony. Above all, the celebration felt honest, joyful, and fun — the kind of wedding that guests still talk about as something that could have only belonged to Masha and Jonah.
“Everything was considered but never forced — a celebration that felt honest, emotional, and entirely their own.”
How did you two meet? What were your first impressions of one another?
We met in the summer of 2013 at Richmond Hill Country Club Day Camp. Our paths crossed thanks to a very determined camper in Masha’s group who couldn’t get enough of Jonah’s ball hockey classes. His enthusiasm meant we kept running into each other, and before long, summer camp fun turned into something more.
We found small excuses to spend time together—lingering after activities, chatting by the pool, and arranging for our groups to overlap whenever possible. Those moments quickly became the foundation of our connection. As summer came to an end, with Masha entering her final year of high school and Jonah beginning university, we realized there was something special between us and didn’t want to let it go.
Over the next decade, we navigated university, endured four years of long distance while Jonah was in dental school, and celebrated countless milestones—culminating in a proposal in Italy after our 10-year anniversary. Looking back, it’s hard to believe it all began with ball hockey, a persistent camper, and the start of a love and friendship that continues to grow.
Tell us a funny story relating to your wedding day or relationship!
A funny story we always tell from our wedding is just how Type A I truly am, right up until the very end. I even tried to control the one thing no bride actually can: the weather. Our wedding was in the middle of the summer, and as the weekend got closer, the forecast started calling for rain and thunderstorms for both the rehearsal and the wedding day.
Even though we had a rain plan, I absolutely did not want to use it. It completely ruined the vision I had in my head. So naturally, I did what any totally reasonable person would do: I researched and hired an Etsy witch to cast a good-weather spell for our wedding day. I know it sounds crazy, but I needed to know I had done everything possible.
And somehow… the weather ended up being amazing. Was it the spell? Probably not. But it’s a pretty perfect example of how far I’ll go to make sure we have the best memories, and a great story we’ll be laughing about forever.
Describe a hurdle you had to overcome in your relationship or during your wedding planning.
We were actually pretty lucky to have a smooth, easygoing wedding planning experience. The biggest hurdle we faced wasn’t logistical — it was mental. Letting go of the pressure created by TikTok and social media, and the idea that you have to do certain things for your wedding to be “good,” was harder than we expected.
Yes, it’s a wedding, and there’s a general flow and order to things, but at the end of the day, it was our event. Once we allowed ourselves to release those expectations and stop doing things just because we felt like we should, everything became so much more enjoyable. We ended up creating a celebration that truly felt like us, and as a bonus, we saved a significant amount of time, energy, and money on things that didn’t actually matter to us.
Any special ways you incorporated your family or family history into your wedding day?
In keeping with Jewish tradition, both of my parents walked me down the aisle. Additionally, instead of sitting with the guests, both sets of parents stood at the altar with us during the ceremony. It was incredibly meaningful to have the people who brought us into this life physically by our side for the entire ceremony, sharing in such an intimate and important moment.
What part of your wedding day was/is most important to you?
The most important part of the day for us was the lead-up to the ceremony and the ceremony itself. Looking back, those were some of the most intimate and meaningful moments we shared with our immediate family and closest friends.
It’s the quiet time before everything begins: getting ready with your girls, having a drink with the boys, taking photos not just with the professionals but on iPhones and little digital cameras too. Those moments are filled with nervous excitement, pre-ceremony drinks, family portraits, inside jokes, and laughter.
No one is watching yet, guests haven’t arrived, and you’re not in “entertaining mode.” It’s just you and the people who know you best, fully present in the moment.
And then, of course, there’s the ceremony, the true reason everyone is there. It’s the moment you officially become a union. Once that’s over, the energy naturally shifts into celebration, hosting, and making time for everyone who came to witness your love. That part is beautiful in its own way, but the moments leading up to the ceremony and the ceremony itself will always feel the most meaningful to us.
What is the best thing you’ve learned from one another?
One of the best things we’ve learned from each other is when to let the right person take the lead. We each have our strengths and areas where we’re not as strong, so we’ve learned to balance each other out.
When it came to details, aesthetics, vision, and quality, I (the bride) would step in and lead. When it was time to make bigger decisions or think about what matters most to our guests, Jonah would take the reins. Wedding planning can easily feel overwhelming, and it’s just as easy to overlook small but important details.
Learning when to let the other person lead made everything smoother, and it’s a lesson we carry beyond planning into our everyday life together.
What is your favorite thing about each other?
Jonah’s favourite thing about Masha is her ability to light up any room she walks into. He feels she brings warmth and energy to every situation, making people feel comfortable and open around her.
Masha’s favourite thing about Jonah is his lightheartedness and sense of humour. He never takes himself too seriously and has a way of making every situation feel fun, easy, and full of laughter.
What was your favorite part about planning your wedding?
Our favourite part about planning our wedding was really just the whole process. It’s such a rare opportunity to plan a big, personal event that’s completely about you as a couple, and share it with the people who know and love you best.
As nerve-wracking as it can be, it’s also so much fun to decide on a theme, pick vendors who bring your vision to life, figure out ways to entertain your guests, and curate the aesthetics and overall vibe. Sure, the logistics could get overwhelming and managing the budget wasn’t always fun.
But at the end of the day, wedding planning is supposed to be fun, and we genuinely loved every part of the process.
If you had one piece of advice for other couples, what would it be?
When budgeting for your wedding, make sure to consider additional fees and ask vendors upfront about any extra costs before hiring them. We had a semi-destination wedding, a four-hour drive from where most of us and our guests live.
When I first started planning, I assumed hiring local vendors would be simple and straightforward. In hindsight, local vendors are limited, get booked very quickly, and if they’re in high demand, their prices can be higher than expected.
On top of that, for a wedding like ours, you need to plan and budget for travel fees, long-distance charges, and other hidden costs. There’s nothing wrong with vendors charging these fees—it’s standard—but couples should be aware and plan for a buffer in their budget to cover them. Anticipating these extra costs can save a lot of stress later on.
What is the most honest thing you can say about love?
The most honest thing we can say about love is that it’s many things at once. Love is listening, understanding, and forgiving. It’s letting go, compromising, and sometimes making sacrifices.
At its core, love is about learning to navigate life together: celebrating the joys, weathering the challenges, and finding a rhythm where both people can grow while still holding on to each other.
Publisher at The White Wren and Bajan Wed, Award Winning Photography + Videographer at Live View Studios, Dad, 80s music lover, crunchy health advocate
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