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Caroline Alvarez and Steven Kassimatis are a happily married couple that just so happened to choose TCC not only as their Club but also as the venue for their very own wedding day. Caroline shares with us the couple’s experience of membership at TCC and what is was like to host their special day at their “second home”.
Please tell us a bit about you and Steven and your professional work?
I work for Chubb Insurance Company as the Senior Underwriter and Business Development Leader. My office is actually kitty-corner to the Club which makes it very convenient to go to my second home! Steven is a Manager at Future Step, an organization that offers recruitment services. We live on Main Street and absolutely love it!
Why did you and your husband become members of Terminal City Club?
For me, it was the influential people in my life, my mentors, who are members of clubs. I’ve seen firsthand how much value being a part of a club like TCC can provide an individual and always knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. Steven and I were introduced to TCC through Anne Barnes, and since joining in 2012, TCC has become an extension of our home. We feel comfortable and welcome as soon as we walk through the door.
What do you enjoy the most about the Club?
The fitness centre! I have a background in swimming so the pool is a favourite of mine. I love bringing my mom and sister with me for a girl’s day to swim and relax in the steam room or sauna. Steven rides his bike to the Club every morning for a workout before and after work. We both love it on the third floor. I also use the Club regularly for work to host seminars. It is so nice to have a place outside of your home where you can go and still feel “at home”. Whether we go out for dinner at one of the restaurants, or head to Cuvée for a drink, we are always welcomed by friendly staff and friends.
You held a very special day here at the Club on May 31, 2014. Can you tell us about your wedding and how it felt to have your special day at your own Club?
It was amazing! The Club had a handle on every single detail, from getting me from my room before the ceremony, to calming me down when I was nervous, to showing me how to hold my bouquet. I can’t begin to tell you how impressed we were with the catering, banquet and kitchen staff. Their attention to detail was immaculate. Andrea and her catering team went above and beyond to take care of us and ensure our day was everything we imagined it to be, even during my “bridezilla” moments! The food was incredible and the banquet staff ran the event so smoothly. My Master of Ceremonies, and CBC News Anchor, Gloria Macarenko, said she had never experienced an event run better than our wedding at TCC.
You attended TCC’s Hush Wedding Soiree the year of your wedding. Did you find the event helpful for planning your wedding?
Most definitely! As soon as I walked over and saw the TCC dessert table I knew I had made the right decision to host my wedding at the Club. It was that moment I knew that everything would be perfect!
Was it different having your wedding, such a personal event, at your own Club versus at a location that you had no connection to?
Absolutely! I had worked with Andrea and the catering team on other events before so there was already a level of comfort there that I wouldn’t have had working with someone I didn’t know. The whole experience definitely deepened our relationships with staff at the Club. On your wedding day when you are full of nerves there is nothing more comforting than having a friend at your side rather than a stranger. One moment in particular that really stuck out to me and Steven was at the end of the night when it was just the two of us after all our guests had left. Iain, banquet Supervisor, came over to us and said he had never seen a room filled with so much love. That comment meant so much to both of us. How lucky were we to share our day with staff who were also our friends. That connection wouldn’t have existed at a different venue. We are so grateful to the staff at TCC for making our day so special.
Would you recommend others to get married at TCC?
Absolutely!
What would you say to someone considering joining TCC?
DO IT!
Christie Graham Photography
Make Up: Denise Elliot
