Handwritten Vows and a Town Procession: Ideas From an Ontario Wedding

The phrase “personal wedding” is used so often that it can become meaningless. Amanda Brugel and Aidan Shipley’s September 2026 wedding in Elora, Ontario, provides some concrete examples of what personalisation can actually look like.

People reported that the couple married at Potter Foundry with around 100 guests, exchanged handwritten vows, involved Brugel’s sons in the ceremony and then led guests in a music-filled procession through town to the reception at Elora Mill. The day also included a bride-versus-groom dance battle and a mix of formal dinner and playful late-night food.

Make family participation meaningful

Brugel’s sons escorted her down the aisle and were part of the wedding party. The useful lesson is not that relatives need formal roles, but that participation should reflect real relationships.

Instead of inventing jobs for family members, think about where their presence would genuinely matter: a reading, a piece of music, walking together, helping with a family tradition, or simply being beside you at an important moment.

Movement can change the mood of a wedding

A procession through town turns the journey between ceremony and reception into part of the celebration. Most couples will not have a route that supports a literal procession, but the principle still works.

Transitions are often ignored in wedding planning. Consider what guests experience while moving from ceremony to drinks, drinks to dinner and dinner to dancing. Music, lighting, a change of room or a simple shared walk can make those transitions feel intentional instead of logistical.

Handwritten vows are powerful when they sound like you

Personal vows do not need to be long or literary. In fact, the strongest are often specific and plain. Write about things you actually know about the person in front of you, not an abstract version of marriage.

If public speaking makes you uncomfortable, personal vows can also be exchanged privately before the ceremony, with more traditional wording used in front of guests.

Contrast creates energy

The celebration reportedly combined romantic ceremony details with hip-hop, classical-pop covers, a dance battle and playful late-night food. That contrast prevents the day from feeling one-note.

• Formal ceremony, relaxed drinks.
• Elegant dinner, ridiculous late-night snack.
• Traditional vows, unexpected music.
• Classic tailoring, less formal after-party.

What couples can take from it

The most transferable idea is to personalise the structure of the day rather than simply adding personalised objects. Who participates, how guests move, what music marks each stage and when the atmosphere changes can do more to make a wedding distinctive than custom signage ever will.

For more ideas, see our guide to meaningful wedding ceremonies and browse the Ceremony section.

Source

This article is original commentary based on People’s reporting on Amanda Brugel and Aidan Shipley’s wedding. Read People’s original report.