true love. true luxury. photography by leanne pedersen Photographers RACHEL CLIFTONand MUSIC TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT THE ELEGANT, WEST COAST WEDDING OF THE TENOR’S CLIFTON MURRAY AND HIS BRIDE RACHEL CARVALHO achel carvalho and clifton murray—a member of the multi- platinum, juno award-winning musical group, the tenors—first R met at a wedding in the ballroom of the vancouver club in the summer of 2008. This was before Clifton had joined The Tenors and Rachel was still a student in university. Little did they know that they would host their wedding in this exact same room seven years later! In the fall of 2013, Clifton surprised Rachel with an elaborate mountaintop proposal. “From the moment we met, I knew that there had to be something extraordinary about my proposal to her,” explains Clifton, whose family owns the luxurious nimmo bay wilderness resort in BC’s Great Bear Rainforest. “I told Rachel that a guest at Nimmo Bay had to cancel his heli-fishing trip and, since the helicopter he booked was paid for anyway, he gave it to us for the day to tour around Vancouver’s coast mountain.” Rachel didn’t find anything sus- picious with the outing, as Clifton had invited a few friends to join them on the Rachel wore the adventure (including photographer Tom Belding who captured the proposal). “London” gown by ines di santo with The group took flight and travelled to a snow-covered mountaintop where detachable shoulder Clifton got down on bended knee and proposed. “We walked toward the edge coverage by bisou of the mountain and I dropped to one knee and extracted the glittering ring bridal. Rachel’s veil, from my pocket,” recalls Clifton. Rachel, of course, accepted and a Rolls-Royce created by Bisou Bridal, was waiting on the tarmac to carry the newly engaged pair to a celebratory featured Alençon lace dinner at hawksworth restaurant with family and friends. “It was a day from Ines Di Santo. that dreams and fairytales are made of,” share the couple. Their engagement celebration continued the next day, as the jet-setting twosome flew to New Clifton wore a slim-fit York where they stayed at the new york lotte palace hotel, courtesy of Armani tuxedo from Jeffrey Latimer of jl entertainment. While there, Glen Sather, President holt renfrew. His 18-kt of the New York Rangers had arranged a special weekend for the pair, complete white gold cufflinks were with tickets to a Rangers hockey game, courtside seats at a Knicks game, ring- set with 24 sapphires side seats for a heavyweight fight, and a magical horse-drawn carriage ride and designed by jeweller through Central Park! Martin Katz. 54 WEDLUXE | Vancouver & Western Canada Edition www.wedluxe.com 55 true love. Sonia Leal-Serafim at Rachel was adorned with over $500,000 worth of jewels from they representation luxury jewellery designer Martin Katz, including a pear-shaped was Rachel’s makeup diamond drop necklace set in 18-kt white gold, round brilliant true luxury. artist for the day. diamond studs, and a diamond bracelet set in 18-kt white gold Omar Kanani at with 24 round diamonds. suki’s international provided hair styling. The Tenors sang “Hallelujah” during the ceremony. COUNTDOWN TO A FAIRYTALE The couple were married in Vancouver on August 29, 2015. Soha Lavin of countdown events planning & design provided event design and full-service planning. Rachel and Clifton worked closely with Soha to create a fairytale atmosphere from which Bridesmaids were dressed in dreams are made. “We wanted our guests to walk floor-length, champagne-coloured away with a deeper sense of love and connection in Amsale gowns from frocks modern their own relationships,” explains Clifton. “Soha Lavin in Vancouver. is a true artist when it comes to creating magical moments. She is passionate about what she does and made our dream wedding a reality.” Suzane Lee of granville island florist created Rachel’s gorgeous bouquet comprised of gardenia, stephanotis, David Austin roses, CATHOLIC ranunculus and spray roses, as well CEREMONY as tasteful greenery such as jasmine Rachel and Clifton’s Catholic wedding ceremony took and stephanotis vines. place at Vancouver’s holy rosary cathedral. Music was unsurprisingly a major component of the cere- mony, which included a number of performances by flourish by colleen winton created The Tenors. The group sang “Hallelujah” during the all of the wedding stationery, Gospel Acclamation and members gave solo perfor- including a custom monogram that mances throughout. “The music truly gave wings to was incorporated throughout the the hearts of everyone in attendance,” says Rachel. The couple had their “first look” on the wedding decor. rooftop patio at the vancouver club. Rachel’s “set” of wedding rings include a white diamond micro set band accented with two sapphire micro set rings, worn on both sides of the diamond band. Clifton’s 10mm wide, hand-hammer finished platinum ring is set with two diamonds—a white diamond and a cognac diamond—set in the middle of the band which is engraved with the couple’s wedding date. All rings were by jeweller Martin Katz. 56 WEDLUXE | Vancouver & Western Canada Edition 57 true love. The couple’s custom monogram was printed Silver tiffany & co. on the marble floor in the foyer. true luxury. frames housed custom table numbers and photos of the couple. The couple served a mint julep signature cocktail, infused with blackberries. ELEGANT RECEPTION A grand reception followed at the vancouver club where Rachel and Clifton had first met seven years prior! Soha Lavin led the team ofgranville island florist and decorator Colin Upright of upright decor. The group collaborated to create a “stately but romantic” environment reminiscent of an English Garden—the bride has family in England and both of her parents went to British schools, so the couple chose to incorporate English touches throughout the event. Notably, for the first time in the 100 year history of the landmark Vancouver venue, the ballroom was fully-draped. With music in mind, dinner was formally announced by a trumpet call! Guests sat on crystal Chiavari chairs at long dining tables covered with white linens. Tables were styled with lush flowers placed in a mix of crystal candelabras, crystal and silver-plated bowls, and julep cups. Tables were completed with a sea of candlelight, silver tableware, and menus that flourish by colleen winton calligraphed “The ballroom was certainly the most spectacular with each attendee’s name. Rachel and Clifton dined under a draped white canopy, beautifully framed with tree-like displays made with branches, ruscus leaves, and white polar star roses that were individually peeled back to provide a “fully-bloomed” look. The Vancouver Club catered the event and provided their famed aspect of the wedding,” the couple shares. “In all of synchronized service. “The service was an added level of sophistication that had us all feeling like it was a royal occasion,” remembers the couple. our travels, we have never seen a room as gorgeous as that one.” 58 WEDLUXE | Vancouver & Western Canada Edition www.wedluxe.com 59 true love. true luxury. RE/ SOURCE to see more, visit WEDLUXE.COM ROYAL One of the most touching moments CAKE ganache patisserie created the five-tiered wedding of the evening was when Clifton cake. The cake, featuring the couple’s monogram and sang an original song he wrote for British garden roses, was designed to echo Kate his new bride Rachel. Middleton and Prince William’s royal wedding cake. HIGH NOTES After dinner, the famous players band provided live musical entertainment. life studios inc. was on hand to capture the emotion of the entire day and all of the memorable musical performances on film. the collective you was also at the event and produced black and white portraits of each guest that served as wedding favors. “This was without question the greatest day of our lives,” note Clifton and Rachel who honeymooned in Hawaii at a private, waterfront estate. Georgia Murray, (the groom’s sister), performed twice during the reception. First, singing Bob Dylan’s “To Make You Feel My Love,” for the couple’s first dance, accompanied by Jayme Langen. Georgia also sang during the “father-daughter” dance, accompanied by Craig Murray (Georgia and Clifton’s father), on guitar. ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER Leanne Pedersen Photographers Leanne Pedersen Photographers provides thirteen years of passion and experience creating award winning romantic portraiture and emotional journalistic imagery for those in love. They deliver ease, excitement, skill and service beyond expectation and are available for hire worldwide. LEANNEPEDERSEN.COM | 604.736.2598 60 WEDLUXE | Vancouver & Western Canada Edition .