Saba Chishti and Doug Belding have talked every day since they met in January 2010, making it mighty hard for Doug to sneak off from Saint John to Moncton to buy an engagement ring without Saba finding out. But he pulled it off, and at the end of a long night out–with a ring burning a hole in his pocket and her feet killing her–Doug found a perfectly imperfect moment to take a knee, as Saba took off her boots. “I really wanted to remember what he said,” she laughs. “I took the ring off, gave it back to him and made him do it again.” Four months before the big day they scratched their plan, and with some good fortune, snatched up a last minute opening at Oceanstone Seaside Resort–the perfect location to fit their criteria of good friends, family and the outdoors. The Chishti-Belding festivities were a two-day affair that began with bringing their 70 guests together the night before the wedding to unwind and play ice breaker games. “We wanted everyone to relax and get to know each other,” says Saba. “Every person at the wedding was important to us, and by Saturday everyone was friends.” With some surprise guests, over an hour of emotion-packed speeches, a well-rehearsed Bhangra dance performance from Doug and his friends and a genius late-night poutine bar the night was unconventional, unforgettable and just as easy-going as the newlyweds.
DETAILS
Dress Always and Forever
Hairpiece Oh Dina!
Hair/Makeup Adam Donnelly (friend/stylist/
guest at the wedding)
Shoes Kenneth Cole
Jewellery Earrings borrowed from best friend, bracelet (and something blue) first piece of jewellery from Doug
Groom’s Clothing Duggers
Rings Ben Moss (engagement)
Michael Hill (wedding bands)
Venue/Caterer Oceanstone Seaside Resort
Wedding Planner Shannon Bezanson
Do It All Events
Dessert gluten-free chocolately goodness
Music DJ Chris Gaudet
Invitations DIY email invites
Number of Guests 70
This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2014.