On Saturday, January 20th, 2024, Chic Noir Toronto will be hosting its first Wedding Show catering to Black wedding professionals and Black couples at the luxurious Park Hyatt Toronto.
As a proud media sponsor for their upcoming event, MunaLuchi is overjoyed to welcome Chic Noir into the Muna Community!
The Muna Team first connected with Chic Noir in 2023 when they submitted their empowering “Black is Beautiful” styled shoot celebrating Black love and Black wedding professionals. The shoot featured an all-Black vendor team and included Black models.
The styled shoot was featured on the MunaLuchi blog and made a lasting impact.
We instantly recognized a kindred spirit with the company’s Co-founders Lynkahn Sutton and Niyoka McIntosh in their pursuit to bring more diversity and representation to the Canadian bridal market, and beyond.
Ultimately, a partnership with Chic Noir was an intrinsic decision motivated by similar goals, hopes, and a desire to create positive change in the wedding industry.
After such a wonderful experience of being featured in MunaLuchi’s blog, and seeing all the amazing work they do sharing beautiful images and stories of Black love and Black marriage, we both felt that a partnership with MunaLuchi would be a great success given all the plans we intend for Chic Noir Toronto.
– Chic Noir Toronto
The Chic Noir wedding show is set to be an exciting affair for couples and vendors.
The Chic Noir team shares that couples should attend to support and work with talented Black vendors and to finally see themselves reflected in wedding and marketing materials. They can also enjoy a memorable wedding planning experience in a fun atmosphere. Chic Noir’s “After the Aisle” presentations will also give tips and advice on how to strengthen one’s marriage.
Vendors should exhibit to showcase representation and inclusivity in the wedding industry. They can also promote their high-quality products and services while networking with other like-minded Black wedding professionals.
The goal of the event is to create a hub for chic, Black couples seeking access and connection with wedding professionals who are culturally aware and to bring more representation to the wedding industry in Toronto.
We want to provide support and exposure to the Black wedding talent within Toronto, have more elevated events, and create safe spaces to celebrate Blackness in all its beautiful shades.
– Chic Noir Toronto
Learn more about Chic Noir Toronto, its mission, and all the details of its first wedding show below!
- Purchase tickets here!
- Follow Chic Noir Toronto on Instagram @chicnoirtoronto
- Check out their website for exciting updates and announcements.
Tell us a bit about your background and your company, Chic Noir. How did you two first meet and why did you decide to start your company together?
We met at our daughters’ daycare center when they were 18 months old. Because our kids were often in the same classroom and became best friends, we would say hello to each other in passing but never engaged in any meaningful conversation. Our daughters continued in the same schools and programs until they graduated from elementary school.
While passing time during their Grade 8 graduation events, we struck up a conversation and realized we had a lot in common. When we found out we both worked in the wedding industry – with Niyoka planning destination weddings and Lynkahn being a Wedding and Event Planner – we started to plan Chic Noir Wedding Show the following month and, now, 18 months later, we are only a week away from the show.
What makes Chic Noir Wedding Show unique?
”After the Aisle” presentations provide practical expert advice to help couples get married and stay married.
We cover topics such as building healthy relationships and mental health, financial literacy, wedding planning trends and tips, and planning destination weddings and honeymoons.
Groom’s Lounge:
No other wedding show intentionally provides space for grooms to feel included. The Grooms’ Lounge allows men to socialize and bond as they transition from being single to married. We hope this helps them build a network of friends who are also getting married and who will be able to provide emotional support during their marriage.
Fashion Show:
Most wedding shows have fashion shows but we ensure ours includes culture.
Canapés, welcome drinks, door prizes, live DJ:
Every good wedding feels like a celebration. Our cocktail reception is just that! Live music, drinks, food, and laughter… all the components needed at a wedding. We’ve asked our guests to dress up for the day to plan their wedding and have fun doing it.
How is the wedding scene in Canada (particularly as it relates to Black-owned wedding vendors, Black brides, and multicultural couples)?
The wedding scene in Canada for Black-owned vendors, Black brides, and grooms differs from the States. We have many wedding shows here but year after year the marketing materials all exclude Black brides and Black grooms. Styled shoots highlighted on the biggest wedding platforms are almost exclusively white.
Essentially, Black brides, grooms, and vendors need to scroll through other wedding industry pages to see images that look like them. We feel representation matters. Through the creation of the Chic Noir Wedding Show, we have found a large number of Black wedding professionals in Toronto who offer premium products and services.
We hope the labor, time, effort, and energy we have spent finding these professionals and highlighting their work will make it easier for couples— Black, White, or multicultural who want to support Black-owned businesses, will trust that they can hire vetted vendors to deliver a flawless wedding experience.
Black brides and grooms can come to us and know that their love is just as beautiful and deserving of all the celebrations other communities get. They deserve to see images that show how beautiful they are on their wedding day, too.
Do you aspire to create future partnerships with more companies in the United States?
Ideally, yes. During this experience, we have been told many times that we would receive tremendous support from the Black community in the US and that some of the challenges and barriers we have faced – in and out of the community to bring this show to life – could be avoided in the States.
We do believe there are some Black people in Toronto who believe in the power of community and the collective, but they are difficult to find. We know that part of the reason there would be greater support in the US is because there is a much larger Black population in the States than in Canada.
There is also a bigger push to work collectively that we hope will improve as we bring more community-building events under the Chic Noir brand to Toronto.
Are there any special details or surprises you can share with us?
We have a few exciting projects we’d like to explore. We generally practice sharing once all the ts are crossed before we announce what we’ve been working on. Our best suggestion is to follow us on social media and sign up on our website to stay up to date.
Closing thoughts…
We are grateful for the tremendous support we have received. It’s positively overwhelming. So many people are rooting for Chic Noir’s success because there is a clear need for this event. We have made it this far because of the love and support of everyone behind us. For us, now it’s less about just the show, it’s about continuing to bring the community together. That is our current benchmark for success.
Looking to attend Chic Noir Toronto’s Wedding show?
Click here to grab your tickets!
Styled Shoot Vendors:
- Wedding Planner: Chic Noir Toronto
- Photography: Big Fish Studio
- Dress: Luxe Collection Bridal
- Tux: Ellis ESQ Essentials
- Florals: Lilac Floral Design
- Design: Castlefield Design
- Hair: Kay’s Hair
- MUA: Afua Artistry
- Agency: B&M Models based in Toronto, Canada
- Models: Tamiah L. and Ugo
- Cake: Mississauga Wedding Cakes + Desserts | Fruitilicious Cakes
- Venue: Miss Likklemore’s
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