Graduate Class
To Graduate Love in Marriage
They started dating at the tender age of 18, two Vancouverites who shared the same group of friends at Point Grey Secondary and flirted at the same parties. But they were far from home when Michael Snider went down on both knees to propose to Kelsey Dundon, his girlfriend of eight years.
“We were in Croatia in July 2007, in a rented boat not far from the island Rab in the Adriatic,” Michael recalls. “I’m not much of a sailor, and I’d thrown the anchor out but neglected to tie it to the boat. So we were drifting far off shore with a motor that kept cutting out and a boat that was rocking like crazy in the water. I figured my proposal would catch Kelsey by surprise.”
Michael had known for a few years that he would marry Kelsey. The two had followed each other through undergraduate studies at the University of Victoria and law school at UBC, where Michael graduated as a lawyer in 2007. They had shared an apartment in Kitsilano and supported each other through their first real jobs– Michael’s at the Vancouver law firm Lawson Lundell and Kelsey’s as a writer working at the advertising and design firm Traction Creative.
“I’ve always found our relationship easy and comfortable,” he confesses. “Though we don’t have much in common,” Kelsey points out. “He likes sports, I like the arts. Our interests and hobbies are different but we’re both accommodating and interested in the other’s pursuits.”
Kelsey says she was never one to dream of getting married. But after eight years with Michael, she changed her mind. “There was never any question that I wouldn’t be with Michael,” she explains. “It was just a question of when we’d get married, and how all that would work.”
That day as their boat drifted further and further from the shore, there was no hesitation in her voice as she accepted his proposal. As she prepared for their August 2008 wedding, Kelsey had her white satin gown custom made by Richmond seamstress Jane Poon. “I’d seen a picture of a 1940s jazz singer-style dress in Vogue magazine and loved it,” she says. She chose four shades of orange and pink raw silk for her bridesmaids, requesting only an A-line skirt and giving the girls free reign with the design of the top half of the dress.
The reception was held at the Arbutus Club in Vancouver, while wedding planner Renee Aird helped with the details, which Kelsey kept simple for the most part. White table cloths shone against a colourful backdrop of flowers by Granville Island Florist, and the club created an ice sculpture in the shape of the couples’ high school logo.
“They kept asking us what we wanted for the ice sculpture, which came with the wedding package we’d purchased from the Arbutus Club,” Kelsey recalls. “We couldn’t decide what we wanted and if we even wanted an ice sculpture. In the end, they suggested we choose something that related to our relationship and how we got together, and all we could think of was high school!”
In the days before the wedding, family arrived from the United States and friends rallied around the couple, among them high school buddies Seth Rogan, an actor and director who flew in from Los Angeles, and MTV talk show host Jessi Cruickshank.
Morning dawned on what was to be the hottest day of the summer. Kelsey and her bridesmaids had their hair and makeup done and spent time relaxing and listening to music, while Michael shared scotch with his groomsmen on his parents’ deck and “spent a lot of time with his head in the freezer, trying to cool down,” Kelsey jokes. “It was smoking hot that day and there are a few pictures of me and my men with ice packs on our heads,” Michael adds.
Kelsey remembers feeling calm all day. It wasn’t until five minutes before the wedding that she became consumed with nervousness. As she walked down the aisle serenaded by Jay Malonowski, a personal friend and lead singer of the group Bedouin Soundclash, Kelsey was in tears, and didn’t start to relax until after the ceremony was over.
During the wedding the couple paid tribute to their respective cultural and religious backgrounds. Michael stomped on a glass, a Jewish wedding tradition, and Kelsey, who is part Ukrainian, had a Ukrainian welcoming after the ceremony, with family members greeting her and Michael with bread, salt, wine and a prayer to wish them prosperity.
With the ceremony behind them, the fun began, a party that Michael and Kelsey say was the best time they’ve ever had. “The speeches were so funny, and we had a personalized message from the Backstreet Boys which Jessi had arranged for us,” Kelsey recalls.
“It’s cheesy to say my wedding day was the happiest day of my life, but it really was,” Michael says earnestly. “Because we’ve known each other so long and share so many friends, there’s a real closeness there. It didn’t feel like a wedding, just a really fun party.”
The Dress
Kelsey’s gown was custom-made by Richmond seamstress Jane Poon. “I saw something similar in Vogue and then adjusted the sleeves, silk and sash to suit me,” says Kelsey. “Thankfully it was light and flowy as August 16th had to have been one of the hottest days of the year.”
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The Bouquet
Kelsey’s bouquet, arranged by Granville Island Florist, used roses and orchids. “I asked them to create something using flowers that were in season.” The horseshoe pendant was a gift from Kelsey’s mother-in-law Jill. “It’s an old Irish tradition for the bride to carry a horseshoe down the aisle.” The bridesmaids’ bouquets were designed to match the colour of each dress, then the girls swapped them for contrast.
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Bridesmaid Dresses
The bridesmaids’ dresses were also by Jane Poon. “I’m not a fan of matchy-matchy, but I do love colour,” Kelsey explains. “We all went and picked out raw silks that would work beautifully together. I wanted each of the bridesmaids’ dresses to be unique but work together so I chose the A-line skirt to anchor the look and then designed the tops specifically for each of the girls.”
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The Music
Kelsey and Michael’s first dance was “Close to Me” by the Cure. Jay Malinowski, lead singer of Bedouin Soundclash, played “Catch the Wind” by Donovan as the couple walked down the aisle. A DJ provided the reception music.
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The Decor
The ice sculpture was included in the catering package, “We chose the Point Grey Secondary School crest because it made us laugh; we met in high school,” says Kelsey.
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Accessories
Kelsey’s pearl bracelet—her “something borrowed”—was from one of her bridesmaids. “It’s actually a pearl necklace that I wrapped around my wrist a million times.” The vintage brooch was a bridesmaid’s mom’s antique broach. “I liked how its light blue colour offset the burgundy in my headpiece, shoes and ring,” Kelsey explains. The earrings were bought in Croatia. “When Michael proposed he didn’t have the ring, it was still being crafted, so he bought me engagement earrings, which I’ve pretty much worn every day since.”
Kelsey & Michael’s Wedding Vendors
Bridal Consultant & Planner:
Photographer:
Yaletown Wedding Gallery
Venue – Reception:
The Arbutus Club
Bride’s Dress:
Jane Poon (custom)
604 279-0018
Makeup:
Hayley Miller
Flowers:
Granville Island Florist
Head Piece:
Alice Hart Couture
