Ocala Winery & Orchards

Our Wedding Day

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

First Dance & Speeches

Brazilian BBQ Dinner

Family Dances

Dancing & Celebration

Cake & Desserts

Shuttle to Hotel

Our Wedding

Our Engagement Day

On Tuesday, August 26, our journey began around 9:00 a.m. as we left Moncton, New Brunswick. The skies were gloomy as we crossed the Confederation Bridge into Prince Edward Island, but in my pocket was a secret I carried all day—the ring I would use to ask Tess to be my wife. By late morning, we arrived in Charlottetown. Just as we stepped out, the skies finally opened and rain poured down. I thought about asking her then, but it didn’t feel right. We pressed on, still chasing clearer skies. Around early afternoon, we reached Cavendish Beach. The setting was beautiful, but another wave of rain sent us running back to the car. A second chance had slipped away, and I could only hope the right moment was still ahead. By late afternoon, we made it to Summerside. The rain lifted, and the sun finally broke through, casting light across the pier. Tess noticed the Shipyard patio opening for dinner and suggested we stop there. Normally, I never turn down food, but I smiled and told her, “I’ll be hungry for dinner only after we’ve walked to the lighthouse and back.” She agreed, and we set off down the pier. It was just after 7:00 p.m. when we reached the lighthouse. The waves were calm, the light was golden, and everything felt perfectly still. With my heart racing, I dropped to one knee and asked Tess to be my wife. She said yes. We walked back to the Shipyard patio, now with a joy unlike anything we’d felt before, and celebrated with dinner as the sun set across the water. What began with gloomy skies and missed opportunities ended in the most perfect place, at the most perfect time. The Man above guided us through every step of that day, leading us to the moment that began our union and brings us now to our wedding day with all of you.

Our Story

Photos

Michael Lopes

Haley Louvelle

Wedding Party

Dress Code

Located in Port Perry, 20min from Wedding venue. Group rate finalized and available for booking through your wedding invite enclosure card. Reach out to Tess or Matt if any question or issues with your hotel booking. A complimentary shuttle will run between Great Blue Heron and Ocala Winery &amp; Orchards before the ceremony and after the reception. Shuttle Note:Shuttle pick-up times and return times will be posted here as we get closer. Please plan to arrive early—last shuttle will depart before the ceremony. Driving in + Parking:Plenty of parking available as soon as you arrive at the venue (Ocala Winery &amp; Orchards). Please arrive latest at 3:45pm as ceremony will begin 4pm.

Tess & Matthew

Tess & Matthew

Travel + Stay

Great Blue Heron Casino & Hotel