14 years after first meeting in their university political science class, Michael Pilot proposed to Stephanie Joasil in the desert of Dubai. She of course said yes, and the engaged couple then began planning to give their wedding guests a once-in-a-lifetime weekend. “The most significant factor in our choice of Isola del Garda was that we immediately knew the journey to the island would make the experience unforgettable,” Stephanie says of her venue.

To help bring Stephanie and Michael’s spring, secret garden vision to life, Iles Events was brought on. And photographer Courtney Marie was on hand to capture every special moment.

For her wedding wardrobe, the bride thought back to her time watching Say Yes to The Dress with her mom and remembered the designers Pnina Tornai and Berta. At Kleinfeld’s in Toronto, Stephanie fell in love with the third dress she tried on by Pnina. And on the day-of, she got ready with makeup artist and hair stylist Alena Trigolosova before styling her ceremony dress with a Tara Fava tiara and Gianvito Rossi heels. Later on in the night, she changed into an off-the-shoulder Berta look.

On May 3, 2023, the bride walked down the aisle with her father to meet Michael and the celebrant at the altar. “The ceremony felt surreal as we were surrounded by thousands of flowers and with our loved ones in a historic place,” she reflects. “The marriage was a culmination of our love story that we could finally express in celebration.”

Once married, the newlyweds welcomed their guests under a marquee with sprawling greenery by Riccardo Ciceri. A delicious, seated Italian dinner by Antica Cascina San Zago was followed by a performance from singer David Blank and dancing with a band from Élan Artists. Stephanie and Michael shared a first dance to “Writing on The Wall” and “Unchained Melody” and cut their tiered cake by Silvio Scalvini.

And long after dancing the night away, the pair headed off to Rome to enjoy carbonara and Aperol Spritzes.