Canadian couple Danielle and Stewart first met in 2003 in Muskoka, Ontario where they both had summer jobs as marine patrol on its picturesque lake. “We spent eight hours a day on a boat together,” explains Danielle, “and I was instantly attracted to Stew – he’s a tall, dark handsome man. There was a lot of flirting that summer!”

Five years later, while on a skiing holiday in Aspen, Stewart delighted Danielle with a surprise proposal. “Stew bought a bottle of our favourite wine and we took it to the top of a hill overlooking the whole valley,” she remembers. “Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was completely unexpected.”

Photography by Brett Harkness.

With the help of Canadian wedding planner Cynthia Martyn, the couple began organising their dream day. But when it came to choosing the venue, there was only ever one contender – Muskoka Lake Golf and Country Club. “It’s where we’ve gone for dinners, played golf together and boated all through our summers. It’s so special,” says Danielle. 

Finding the perfect dress proved easy – it was the first and only one Danielle tried on.

“I was with my mum in New York and there was a terrible snowstorm. We went into Saks Fifth Avenue to get some shelter, asked the sales assistant if she had anything bridal, and she brought out a vintage-lace gown by Angel Sanchez. I tried it on and my mum and I both just knew it was the one. We celebrated with a glass of champagne overlooking the city.”

Danielle finished off her W-day look with a vintage-lace veil that was handmade in France, and sparkling shoes by Giusseppe Zanotti.

Danielle carried a bouquet of scented orchids and crisp white roses tied wtith a black ribbon and a jewelled brooch.

On the big day, Danielle travelled to the picture-postcard church with her father in his beautiful antique wooden boat.

The couple exchanged vows which they had written themselves in a traditional Catholic service.

The ringbearers, French bulldogs Newman and Tula, wore collars from scotclans.com.

Once they were married, Danielle and Stewart (who wore a kilt in the tartan of the McIntosh clan from Burnett's & Struth) set sail with all their guests.

On board the romantic steamship cruise, the couple's favourite French wines were served alongside crab cakes and stuffed tomato hors d'oeuvres.

Back on dry land, the wedding party posed for pictures on the lakeside.

The bridesmaids wore black satin Melissa Sweet gowns and carried eye-catching flaming red posies.

The ushers were kitted out in black kilts and Prince Charlie jackets in keeping with Scottish tradition.

A black-tie reception followed, inspired by Stewart’s Scottish heritage. The wedding party tucked into a tasty four-course dinner including hearty soup and Scottish salmon.

Inside the venue, vases of red blooms, including roses, lilies and hydrangeas decorated candlelit tables.

Guests were helped to their seats by escort cards while individual tables were named after famous New York landmarks and streets.

The couple chose a four tier vanilla cake decorated with red rose buds by Jen Cooper at Red Leaves Resort.

In the evening a DJ really got the party going and Danielle changed into a slinky Hervé Léger dress to take to the dancefloor.

“We wanted something that represented us,” Danielle explains, “so a gourmet dinner with an NYC nightclub-atmosphere later was perfect.”

To finish the day in style, guests were served vodka martinis through an ice-sculpture luge!

Photography by Brett Harkness.

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