We see a lot of brides changing into a second outfit for the reception, but we’re pretty sure today’s Jewish wedding is the first time we’ve ever seen a bride change into pajamas! Yes, really – after the first dance, bride Paige traded her Paloma Blanca gown for PJs, which not only allowed her to dance the night away comfortably but was also totally adorable.
Paige and Mark’s Toronto Jewish wedding at Italian restaurant Nodo was chock full of fun, quirky touches, and we’re pretty obsessed. From the beginning, they knew they wanted their day to be relaxed and fun, and the non-traditional vibe came through in everything from their bright pink and orange color scheme to the aforementioned outfit change (to go with the theme, the duo also handed out slippers to their guests late at night!). Catch it all in the wonderful images by Julia from 515 Photo Co.
Paige and Mark also had THE cutest logo, featuring two fish kissing, a playful nod to their last name, Fishman, and to Mark’s love of fishing – and an “It’s O-Fish” mirror decal. Read on for more fun details in Paige’s own words!
How We Met
Paige, the bride: We went to the same high school, but weren’t friends. Mark would try to talk to me at parties, but I wasn’t interested. He was persistent, and we finally connected on our grade 12 grad trip in Punta Cana. We love our love story!
Venue
We got married at an Italian restaurant in Toronto called Nodo in Liberty Village. The design of the space immediately stood out. From the stunning rooftop patio, massive 360-degree central bar, bright pink flowers, lush greenery, and warm wood textures, it struck the perfect balance of classy and cool.
We’re also major food lovers, so having incredible food was non-negotiable. When we first visited, we ordered a few dishes—and that alone completely sold us. We knew right away it would be a memorable dining experience for our guests.
Nodo provided the perfect indoor-outdoor wedding experience. We had a beautiful covered ceremony on the outdoor patio. Since the evening was gorgeous, the massive patio doors stayed open throughout the night. Our reception and dance floor flowed right onto the patio, creating the perfect atmosphere with a stunning city backdrop.
Lastly, we wanted a wedding that felt intimate but still lively. The space comfortably held around 120 guests for both the ceremony and reception, which ended up being the perfect size for us.
Theme
Our wedding style was “cool meets elegant.” From the beginning, we envisioned an elevated, beautiful event with a more relaxed, unique, and fun feel than a traditional wedding. This came through in every detail—from our restaurant venue and florals to our stationery, food choices, and décor. Even our dress code was cocktail attire.
Our colour palette was inspired by the bright pink flowers on the patio where our chuppah was set. We built on that with a pink palette accented by pops of orange, adding dimension and a subtle nod to our October wedding. The combination felt vibrant, fun, and memorable.
While we didn’t have a formal “theme,” we incorporated meaningful personal details throughout. Our logo featured two fish kissing—a playful nod to our last name, Fishman, and to Mark’s love of fishing. It was a unique, lighthearted touch that truly felt like us.
Our dream day would not have been possible without our incredible wedding planner, Gillian Kideckel, owner of Events by G. She understood our vision and seamlessly brought it to life, from managing every detail to keeping the day running smoothly. Gillian is extremely organized, creative, passionate, and client-focused—truly a joy to work with.
Invitation/Stationery
For our wedding invitations, I edited a template on Paperless Post. I chose a design with green leaves to tie into the foliage in the restaurant, my bridal bouquet, and the leaf detailing on my wedding dress.
Talia from Talia Claire Creative Studio designed the rest of our stationery, including menus, bar signs, seating chart, wedding logo, DJ booth sign, and more. She perfectly captured our vision, tastefully incorporating our fish logo and colour palette. Her work complemented our “cool meets elegant” wedding vibe—fun, unique, and completely us. She was organized, helpful, and extremely professional.
Hair + Makeup
Ackyzza from Jen Evoy Makeup Studio brought my half-up, half-down hair vision to life. It lasted all night, photographed beautifully, and was so comfortable having my hair off my face throughout the day.
Melanie, also from Jen Evoy Makeup Studio, was meticulous and passionate about creating my dream makeup look. I wanted to look and feel like myself, and she delivered the perfect natural yet elevated wedding-day look.
A Paloma Blanca Dress
My dress was from The Modern Bride in Guelph, Ontario, and designed by Mikaella by Paloma Blanca. It was a fit-and-flare silhouette with 3D lace featuring delicate leaf detailing. I wanted something simple and timeless, yet still unique. The moment I tried it on, it immediately stood out. I loved the plunging neckline and exposed back. It had an organic, clean feel while still feeling special and fun—perfect for the vibe of our wedding.
What made me realize it was “the one” was how effortlessly it tied into our wedding. The leaf detailing perfectly suited our October date and complemented the venue’s natural foliage. It just felt right, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it after taking it off.
Many brides opt for a second wedding dress, but I chose to change into pajamas right after our first dance—and I couldn’t have been happier! It was cozy, fun, and let me dance the night away!
Bridesmaids
I didn’t have bridesmaids, since our wedding was already small and intimate. This felt very “me” and reflected my less traditional approach as a bride, making both planning and the day-of much more relaxed. That said, we had our siblings walk down the aisle and get ready with us the morning of, which made the day even more special.
Ceremony & Chuppah
The ceremony and chuppah were one of our favourite parts of the day. Our Rabbi, who is also a cantor, sang beautifully. Having our fathers say special prayers also made it incredibly moving. Prior to the wedding, we individually shared words about each other to our Rabbi—our favourite qualities and playful pet peeves. He shared these aloud in the ceremony, leaving guests laughing and crying together.
We had a beautiful wooden chuppah on the restaurant’s rooftop patio. We wanted it to feel warm and organic, with lush florals in our bright pink and orange palette. Behind the chuppah, a credenza was adorned with romantic candles and florals, while the skylight ceiling was covered in bright pink flowers with edgy brass lighting. The overall effect was bright, romantic, and elegant, with a relaxed downtown vibe that felt uniquely us.
Ketubah
Our ketubah was incredibly special. It was a custom design from My Custom Ketubah, led by owner Nitsan Ehrentreu, who brought our vision to life. It features a watercolour-style illustration of the pond where we got engaged—the same spot we walked to on our first date in Toronto. It’s a deeply personal, magical piece of art that will always remind us of where our story began.
Our music choice
We had an amazing DJ and saxophone player from Sole Power Productions.
During the ceremony, a standout moment was when Mark walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King—his favourite childhood movie. It felt like such a beautiful, full-circle moment.
Our reception music was a mix of modern party hits, classics, and most importantly—Israeli music. This was a must since Mark’s family is Israeli. Our DJ, Daniel, knew all the Israeli hits, which created an energetic and unforgettable atmosphere that had everyone dancing all night and celebrating Israeli culture.
Flowers
Aileen from Nymph Floral brought our vision to life beautifully throughout the venue, from the chuppah to the table decor. Blooms included ranunculus, roses, calla lilies, dahlias, and hydrangeas in shades of bright and soft pinks, accented with pops of orange. Tables featured a mix of bud vases, small arrangements, and pin frogs, creating a layered, vibrant look. The florals perfectly complemented the fun and beautiful vibe of our wedding.
For my bridal bouquet, I chose something simpler to complement the off-site photos: elegant white calla lilies with green leaves that echoed the leaf detailing on my dress.
Photographer and videographer
We chose Julia from 515 Photo Co. to capture our big day. Her editorial style perfectly captured the emotions and special moments we wanted to remember forever. We weren’t looking for anything overly artsy—we wanted clean, timeless photos that reflected the simple, natural vibe of our wedding.
Our videographers, Nico and Gavin from DMS Video Productions, made us feel completely at ease throughout the day. They captured every moment beautifully—from our emotional first look, meaningful ceremony, heartfelt speeches and the fun reception. They created a film we will cherish forever, one that perfectly reflects the joy and spirit of our wedding.
Food and cake
All of our wedding food was in-house from Nodo, and we were so impressed we could barely narrow down what to serve. In the end, we went with family-style appetizers and mains—one of my absolute favourite details of the wedding. It let our guests enjoy a variety of delicious dishes while perfectly matching the relaxed, unique vibe of our wedding. Nodo helped us create the custom menu of our dreams, with something for everyone: burrata pizza, Caesar salad, risotto, branzino, short rib… I could go on!
We skipped a traditional wedding cake and instead served mini desserts from Nodo, including their famous tiramisu. One of the biggest hits? Boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts!
Extra Details
One of my favourite details of the wedding was our spritz bar, which later transformed into a shot bar. The evening began with the mobile bar serving our signature drinks—Hugo and Aperol spritzes! Later, it turned into a shot bar, complete with our “Take a Shot, We Tied the Knot!” sign.
I loved our “It’s O-Fish” mirror decal and Prosecco cart at the entrance, covered in our fish logo, letting guests grab a drink as they walked in. These playful touches were a fun nod to our last name, Fishman, and added the perfect details to our day.
Another fun detail was the slippers we gave out to guests late at night. They were cute, cozy, and the perfect touch for our October wedding. Guests are still telling us how much they love them!
For decor, I loved the exposed wooden tables. Skipping traditional tablecloths perfectly contributed to the relaxed, fun, and unique vibe of our wedding.
A really cool moment was having the Toronto Blue Jays World Series game playing on all the TVs around the main bar. It was the perfect mix of chill and celebratory, with guests grabbing drinks, cheering along, and just enjoying the moment.
To celebrate our culture, we passed Israeli flags to guests during the Horah. Being lifted on chairs amid a sea of flags was both moving and a total party vibe, and guests are still telling us how connected they felt. It felt especially meaningful that week, as the remaining hostages returned home to Israel.
Above all, the most special part of the day was the love in the room. Our families have become best friends over the years, and our wedding celebrated both our union and the coming together of our families. With only our nearest and dearest present, the love and warmth were palpable—it truly made the entire day what it was.
Advice to couples currently planning their wedding
My advice is to stay true to yourselves throughout the planning process. It’s easy to feel pressured by others’ opinions or social media, but trust your vision. Don’t get too caught up in the small details—they can be fun, but what truly matters is the love and warmth felt throughout your wedding day.
PAIGE & MARK’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Photography – 515 Photo Co.
Videography – DMS Video Productions
Ketubah – My Custom Ketubah
Venue & Catering – Nodo
Planner – Events by G
Bride’s dress –Paloma Blanca found at The Modern Bride
Hair + Makeup – Jen Evoy Makeup Studio
Flowers – Nymph Floral
DJ – Sole Power Productions
Stationery/Invitation – Talia Claire Creative Studio
Chuppah – Chuppah.ca
Vinyl – Axe Media
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, you’ll want to join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club. Guided by the world’s number 1 Jewish wedding expert, Karen Cinnamon, Brides Club is the private community for Jewish and Jew-ish brides that removes wedstress and indecision and gives you what you need to plan with confidence during these uncertain times. Join our Brides Club here.
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