By Bronwen Jervis | Photography by Sara Wilde
(Image: Sara Wilde)
Location: Puck’s Farm in Schomberg, Ontario | Guests: 200 | Date: September 15, 2012 | Budget: $28,000
The first sign that Markus Raty, president of Mombacho cigars, was serious about advertising director Joline Matika: after dating a few months, he asked if she’d be his partner at the Canadian championships for the illustrious Finnish sport of wife-carrying. (They won.) Joline cemented her reputation as a good sport by surviving a stint in a stifling sauna, a tradition in Markus’s Finnish family. His mom deemed her wife material, which just left Markus to plan a show-stopping proposal. He pulled it off during a trip to Europe, where the couple went on a private tour of the caves at the Veuve Cliquot chateau. When they came upon a candlelit cave, Joline turned around to find Markus on bended knee holding the ring, which he’d been hiding in his sock the entire journey. For their wedding, the couple wanted their friends and family to cut loose. They chose a farm just outside the city and invited everyone to pitch a tent and stay the night. They were married in the fields by Markus’s family pastor, held the reception in the dirt-floored barn, and created a carnival vibe with midway games, wandering animals, candy apples, bocci ball and dancing late into the night. Their friends are already begging them to do it again.
229781 Markus is known for his outlandish sense of style. Guests confessed that this was the first wedding they’d been to where they were actually more curious to see the groom’s attire than the bride’s (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-04-e1377622005227-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-04.jpg 600 900 [] https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-04/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-04 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
230626 Joline wore a romantic lace dress by Robert Bullock (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-intro1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-intro1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-intro1.jpg 656 416 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-intro/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-intro 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229778 Joline’s father initially wanted to wear a suit but decided to play along with the laid-back theme and got himself a new jean jacket (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-01-e1377621943575-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-01.jpg 600 900 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-01/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-01 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
230620 The bridesmaids picked their own dresses and all wore boots, which made it easier to balance when they arrived at the ceremony on a horse-drawn hay wagon (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-20.jpg 900 600 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-20/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-20 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229779 Markus and Joline were married in the fields by Markus’s family pastor (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-02-e1377621965964-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-02.jpg 600 900 [] https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-02/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-02 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229782 The dress code was “carnival chic” (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-05-e1377622023359-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-05.jpg 600 900 [] https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-05/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-05 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229786 The order of events (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-09-e1377622096727-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-09.jpg 600 900 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-09/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-09 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229783 Candle apples were stacked on a wooden crates for any guests needing a snack (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-06-e1377622041526-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-06.jpg 600 900 [] https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-06/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-06 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229780 The wedding feast included sirloin steaks, jerk chicken and a whole pig roasted by a friend of the groom’s (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-03-e1377621986709-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-03.jpg 600 900 [] https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-03/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-03 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229789 Lightening, the farm’s resident llama, wandered in and out of the reception hall (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-12-e1377622145573-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-12.jpg 600 902 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-12/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-12 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
230618 Family and friends’ weddings photos were displayed on a table in front of the barn where the reception was held (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-181-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-181.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-181.jpg 900 600 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-18-2/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-18-2 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229790 Since the farm wasn’t a traditional wedding venue, Joline and Markus had to bring in everything themselves (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-13-e1377622161238-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-13.jpg 600 900 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-13/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-13 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229788 Joline sourced the vintage cans for the centrepieces herself (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-11-e1377622129653-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-11.jpg 600 900 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-11/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-11 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229785 The couple practiced swing dancing for weeks before the wedding (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-08-e1377622079367-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-08.jpg 600 900 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-08/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-08 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
229792 The party lasted late into the night, ending in the early morning with bocci and cigars (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-15-e1377622201414-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-15.jpg 900 600 [] https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-15/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-15 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)
230621 <strong>Bride’s dress:</strong> Robert Bullock, Posh Veils<br /><br />
<strong>Groom’s suit: </strong>Michael Nguyen at Garrison Bespoke<br /><br />
<strong>Flowers:</strong> Sweet Woodruff<br /><br />
<strong>Catering:</strong> Wildwood Catering, plus the couple’s friends and family<br /><br />
<strong>Music:</strong> Big Tobacco and the Pickers<br /><br />
<strong>Cake: </strong>Markus’s Uncle Kari, a master baker in Finland<br /><br />
<strong>Invitations: </strong>the couple’s friend Elton Clemente (Image: Sara Wilde) Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus Real Weddings 2013: Joline and Markus https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-21.jpg 600 900 {"copyright":"\u00c2\u00a9 Sara Wilde Photography > http:\/\/sarawilde.com"} https://torontolife.com/style/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus/slide/real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-21/ real-weddings-2013-joline-and-markus-21 0 0
(Image: Sara Wilde)