E & M · 09.20.26
Together with their families

Elena&Marco

September 20, 2026 Thorold, Ontario
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Elena and Marco walking through a Niagara vineyard at golden hour
Elena and Marco laughing together at sunset
Two glasses of Riesling on a wooden vineyard table
Our Story

How we fell in love over a glass of Riesling.

Five Septembers ago, we met at a wine festival in Niagara. Marco bumped into a stranger in the crowd and spilled half a glass of Riesling down the sleeve of her linen jacket. The stranger was Elena. She told him the only fair thing was to buy her another glass, and somehow that one glass turned into a long afternoon at a picnic table, and then a slow walk through the vineyard, and then a promise to meet there again the following weekend.

We have spent every September since revisiting that festival, that vineyard, and the same wooden table where we first sat down. This September, we are gathering everyone we love in the heart of wine country to make a promise of our own.

We cannot wait to celebrate with you.

E&M
A Note for Our Guests

If you are reading this, you are one of the people we wanted in the room. Thank you for travelling, for rearranging your weekend, for showing up. Today is going to be loud and emotional and probably involve more tiramisu than is strictly reasonable. We love you, and we are so happy you are here.

Elena & Marco
Save the Date

When & where

Saturday, the Twentieth of September
Two Thousand & Twenty-Six Half Past Three in the Afternoon
Ovation Ballroom
290 Beaverdams Road, Thorold, Ontario
Fully accessible, ground floor
Complimentary on-site parking

From Toronto

QEW south through Hamilton and Grimsby.

~ 1 hr 30 min

From Hamilton

QEW east, follow Niagara signs to Thorold.

~ 1 hr

From Buffalo

Peace Bridge into Fort Erie, QEW west.

~ 45 min
The Day Of

An evening together

Pull this up on your phone whenever you need it. The dessert bar arrives late on purpose.

3:30 PM
Ceremony
"Bring tissues."
Cocktail Hour
"Signature cocktails and antipasto on the patio."
4:30 PM
6:00 PM
Dinner
"Find your seat, find your people."
Speeches
"Keep it short, keep it sweet, keep it honest."
7:00 PM
7:45 PM
First Dance
"Then it is your turn."
Dancing & Dessert Bar
"The tiramisu bar is open. You are welcome."
8:00 PM
12:00 AM
Last Call
"One more for the road (but not if you are driving)."
Signature Cocktails

Two drinks, two stories

Order one of each at cocktail hour. Or order both of one. We will not be keeping score.

A glass of sparkling prosecco with elderflower garnish

The Elena

Prosecco · Elderflower · Splash of Courage

Light, floral, and quietly stronger than it looks. Just like the woman it is named for.

A bourbon cocktail in a rocks glass with honey

The Marco

Bourbon · Honey · A Hint of Regret for the Riesling

Warm, a little sweet, and willing to learn from past mistakes. Garnished with a lemon peel and a small apology.

Ovation Ballroom event space with vaulted ceilings and warm candlelight
The Venue

Ovation Ballroom

Set in the heart of Niagara wine country, Ovation pairs timber, stone, and candlelight in one of the region's most romantic gathering spaces. Our ceremony is on the south lawn (weather permitting), with the reception inside the main ballroom.

  • Indoor venue
    Climate controlled all year
  • Fully accessible
    Ground floor, step-free entry
  • Free parking
    On-site for 200+ vehicles
  • Sound & AV
    Pro-grade for speeches and DJ
Explore the Venue
Planning Your Own Event?

Ovation is part of the Feastivities family.

Eighteen venues across the Niagara Region, fifty years of catering, one local team that handles everything from menu design to last call.

Start a Conversation →
Travel

Where to stay

A short list of hotels close to the venue. Mention the Bellini-Costa wedding when booking for a small group discount.

Best Western
Port Robinson
1485 Garner Road, Port Robinson, ON
(905) 384-9100
Five minutes from the venue. Continental breakfast and easy parking.
Book a Room →
Holiday Inn
Thorold
3530 Schmon Parkway, Thorold, ON
(905) 984-8484
Walking distance to the venue. Indoor pool, on-site restaurant, and a shuttle to Ovation on request.
Book a Room →
Marriott
St. Catharines
2 Yates Street, St. Catharines, ON
(905) 984-4444
Fifteen minutes north. Closest to wineries and downtown if you are making a weekend of it.
Book a Room →

Uber and Lyft run reliably through Niagara. A designated driver service is available on request from the venue. Please do not drive after the celebration.

Seating

Find your table

Skip the bottleneck at the seating chart. Type your name to see your table, your meal, and who you are sitting with.

15+ Guests · 5 Tables · One Long Night
Wedding Party

The people by our side

Bridesmaids

Sofia, Maid of Honour
Sofia Russo
Maid of Honour · Elena's older sister and emergency therapist
Claire, bridesmaid
Claire Whitaker
Elena's college roommate and the maker of every good playlist
Priya, bridesmaid
Priya Anand
Elena's lifelong best friend and the woman holding the tissues
Mara, bridesmaid
Mara Bellini
Marco's younger sister and the one who knew first

Groomsmen

Luca, Best Man
Luca Bellini
Best Man · Marco's brother and the reason they met (he bought the wine festival tickets)
James, groomsman
James Okafor
Marco's college roommate and the unofficial wedding day photographer
Daniel, groomsman
Daniel Park
Marco's oldest friend and the keeper of every embarrassing story
Theo, groomsman
Theo Costa
Elena's older brother and the man who threatened Marco at family dinner
Photo Wall

A few favourites

Engagement photos from the vineyard where we met, plus a few snapshots already coming in from the weekend. Add yours below.

A romantic candlelit table setting
Couple walking through vineyard
A guest snapshot of the couple
Wedding rings on linen
Glasses of Niagara wine
A guest's photo of flowers and candles
Sunset over the Niagara vineyards
A guest's photo of the vineyard at dusk
The Music

A night on the dance floor

Press play to hear what we have been adding all year. Want to add a song? Drop it below.

What guests are requesting

  • Don't Stop Believin'
    Journey
    Marco
    "Marco has requested this for the fourth time. We get it, Marco."
  • At Last
    Etta James
    Sofia
    "For your first dance. Try not to cry."
  • September
    Earth, Wind & Fire
    Priya
    "Obviously."
  • Sweet Caroline
    Neil Diamond
    Daniel
    "Bah bah bahhh."
Request a Song
Gifts

Your presence is our present

If you would still like to give something, we are putting together three experience funds that will mean the world to us. No pressure, no expectations, just gratitude.

A turquoise beach at sunset

Honeymoon Fund

Two weeks in Greece, island-hopping with a guidebook and absolutely no scheduled itinerary. Help us splurge on the sunset dinner.

$2,340 raised 18 guests
A candlelit dinner for two at a wine bar

Date Night Fund

A year of monthly dates: the new restaurant in town, the wine bar we always mean to try, the show we keep missing. Send us out.

$620 raised 9 guests
A cozy living room with warm lighting

First Home Fund

We are saving for a small house with a kitchen big enough for everyone we love. Every dollar gets us closer to the front door.

$4,180 raised 22 guests
Prefer Something Traditional?

We are also registered at Crate & Barrel and Simons.

Guestbook

A note for the couple

Leave a wish, a memory, or an embarrassing story we should mention in a toast.

"

Cannot wait to celebrate with you two. Save me a spot on the dance floor.

Nonna Rosa
"

Marco, you got lucky. Elena, you got luckier. See you in September.

James & Priya
"

From that wine festival to this. What a ride. Love you both.

Sofia
"

Wishing you both a lifetime of long walks, quiet mornings, and an endless supply of good wine.

Mom & Dad Russo
"

If marriage is half as fun as our Saturdays at the vineyard, you two are set. Counting the days.

Luca
"

Five years ago I bought a pair of tickets I almost did not use. Best forty dollars I ever spent.

Luca, take two

Add Your Message

Vendor Credits

With thanks to

The people who built this day with us. Please tell them you found them here.

Photography
Hazel & Vine
@hazelandvine
Florals
Wild Stem Co.
wildstem.co
Music & AV
Lumen Audio
lumenaudio.ca
Planning
Maple & Linen Events
@mapleandlinen
The Dress
Atelier Bia
atelierbia.com
Catering & Venue
Feastivities
feastivities.ca
Details

Good to know

Semi-formal. Think cocktail attire. When in doubt, overdress.

Your invitation is for the names listed. We hope you understand.

We love your little ones, but this is a grown-ups evening.

See the Gift Fund section. Your presence really is the gift. If you would like to give something, it is appreciated, never expected.

Network: OvationGuest. Password: elenamarco2026. Please share photos to the wall throughout the night.

The ceremony and reception are indoors, so no weather worries.

Tag everything #ElenaAndMarco2026, or scan the QR codes at your table to upload directly to the Photo Wall.

Text Elena at (905) 555-0123 or Sofia (Maid of Honour) at (905) 555-0142 for anything urgent.

RSVP

Will you join us?

Kindly respond by August 1, 2026.

Thank you.

We cannot wait to celebrate with you. See you on September 20.

Posted Sunday, September 21, 2026

Thank you for making September 20 everything we dreamed it would be. The dance floor, the toasts, the people who stayed until last call. We are still picking up confetti. We love you all.

Elena & Marco
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