Event Theme & Attire
Steppin’ out
Welcome to the Maison d’Etre
Maison d’Etre roughly translates to House of Being (look, we almost flunked out of Grade 10 French, so just play along). This night is all about being ourselves - so we set out to create a celebration that brings all of our shared passions and interests to life, all under one roof.
The theme of our wedding reception is retro hotel party, inspired by the old music, films, fashion, and decor that we hold dear. Maison d’Etre is the imaginary hotel where this party takes place. Picture the timeless elegance of the iconic Chateau Marmont, infused with the raucous energy of legendary spots like Toronto’s own Stone’s Place (RIP). It’s a celebration where vintage charm meets vibrant nightlife.
This is a wedding reception with a cocktail hour, seated dinner, speeches, and toasts. But it’s also a party, with music handpicked by us. Music has been at the centre of our relationship from the very beginning, so it only felt right for us to DJ our wedding ourselves! We can’t wait to get your toes tapping with some of our favourite tracks.
Looking for some fun homework? Check out these classics to get a feel for the vibe of the event:
Movies
Valley of the Dolls (1967); The Model Shop (1968); A Hard Day’s Night (1964); Help! (1965); Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019); On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
Television
The Monkees (1966-68); Where the Action Is! (1965-67); Hollywood a Go Go (1965-66); Hullabaloo (1965-66); Playboy After Dark (1969-70); The Midnight Special (1972-81); The Beatles: Get Back (2021)
Music
We’ve carefully chosen a playlist comprising our all-time favourite songs. These tunes, spanning from the ‘60s to present day, are arranged loosely in chronological order, with a mix of hits, classics, and deep cuts that we’ve screamed during many a roadtrip. We’re talking British Invasion, Garage Rock, the California Sound, Disco, New Wave, Britpop, and (our favourite) Power Pop! Don’t worry, you’ll know the songs.
These songs will bring the Maison d’Etre to life, setting the perfect mood for a night of dancing, reminiscing, and making new memories together. From the first note to the last, it’s a soundtrack to celebrate our love, and we can’t wait for you to experience it with us.
Handbags & gladrags
Our wedding reception is retro hotel party-themed, but that doesn’t mean we expect you to show up dressed as bellhops or hippies.
The dress code for our reception is your standard formal attire, including suits and dresses. This is not a costume party.
Our only request is that you refrain from wearing white or neon (despite the latter being the name of one of Bianca’s favourite John Mayer songs).
A huge thank you to Lauren Garbutt (@laurengarbuttphotography) and Sandra Tomori for the fun photoshoot and helping us bring the Maison d’Etre to life in pictures!
