Toronto Photographer: Published on Magazine
December 12, 2020
When we heard that our Christmas in the Cottage shoot will be printed on Mingle, we were ecstatic. In a way, we have known that everything Brittney (Inspire Design) touches and us capturing it have always been the best of both worlds. But it’s still a great news in the midst of a pandemic that our Christmas celebration will get printed on a gathering magazine ideas.
That night, Brittney and Mark, her husband, made a delicious turkey and mulled wine which recipe will be shared at the end of this blog post. In the meantime, feast your eyes on these beautiful photos.
Mulled Wine Recipe
1 bottle of red wine
1 orange sliced into rounds
6 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
fresh shaved nutmeg
1/4 cup honey
1/2 brandy
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker in the early afternoon and set to high heat. I like to begin warming all the ingredients before I begin prepping holiday dinner. That way, by the time guests arrive the house smells deliciously like mulled wine and holiday spices. Mulled wine can be left for hours, just make sure not to over boil. Leave on a medium simmer until it tastes the way you like.
And some behind the scene photos of the amazing Inspire DS who made this party happened:
Holiday Dinner Design Concept – We wanted to celebrate with our team and loved ones, we wanted it to feel like the holidays but not have the space look typically ‘Christmas’ with red and green. Instead we used unexpected blooms like Protea and pine, touches of black, glass candles and white fur to keep the space bright. It helped that the cottage was so beautifully bright and open. The windows looking on to the lake gave us a beautiful backdrop of snow and ice over the lake. It really was a beautiful space to stay with the team and celebrate together.
Original Idea about the get together – We work very hard all year long working events and weddings week after week. Rather than going out for a quick dinner, we really wanted to have a mini escape to treat ourselves and take our minds off work for a weekend. We also love to cook and bake so it was so nice working together to create a menu and work in the kitchen together cooking, prepping, decorating and.. drinking wine! The only thing we would change for next time would be to stay longer!
The Inspire DS team was so kind in letting Croq to come and join the party:
Always on the hunt for food. He got a whole block of butter that night! 
