WedLuxe Magazine Summer/Fall 2015 Vancouver & Western Canada | Page 57

photography by:

SHARI + MIKE
P H OTO G R A P H E R S

CLAIRE
D AV E
and

A L U X E A L F R E S C O W E D D I N G R I F E W I T H T H O U G H T F U L LY
D E S I G N E D B O H O - C H I C D E TA I L S

C

laire riddle and dave mandell met at a mutual friend’s party in 2004. After
eight-years of dating, the couple were engaged in beautiful Napa Valley, California. The
two were on holiday celebrating Claire’s graduation from culinary school at the time.
On their last day in wine country, Dave orchestrated a romantic proposal while they were
enjoying dinner. He worked closely with a restaurant in the heart of Napa Valley to surprise
Claire, but there was a slight snag in his perfect proposal plans due to a server error. “Dave
seemed nervous during dinner, but I didn’t notice anything until a dessert plate landed in front
of him that read ‘will you marry me?’,” Claire recalls. “I was so confused and thought someone
else’s proposal was at our table, but before I knew it, Dave was on one knee.”
Claire and Dave were married on May 24, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The couple
worked closely with their event planner Erin Bishop of filosophi event planning & design
to execute an al fresco, bohemian-inspired celebration infused with romance and amazing
food. “We are major foodies, so the dinner portion of the evening was really important,” shares
Claire—a culinary school graduate and coordinator at butter baked goods. “Erin took the
reins and was a curator of our ideas, she added her own creativity and brought our vision to
life beautifully.”
flourish by colleen winton created the letterpress invitation and all day-of wedding
stationery.

nadia albano style inc. provided hair and makeup styling. Claire’s bridesmaids wore unique
floor-length dresses in pale neutral tones. As a nod to the bohemian-theme, fresh flowers and
floral crowns were placed in their hair. Claire gifted each bridesmaid with a gold necklace and
a timeless Chanel evening bag. Dave was dressed in a custom midnight blue tuxedo from andy
yuen couture and patent leather Armani shoes.

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