Laura Vandervoort Marries Adam Coates in Canada Wedding (Exclusive)

Laura Vandervoort is married!

The actress, 40, married Adam Coates in a “rustic and elevated” wedding attended by 90 guests at Langdon Hall Country House, Hotel & Spa in Canada, on Saturday, Sept. 6 — three months after their “little backyard legal celebration” with their family and dogs.

“We wanted to make the wedding feel comfortable for everyone, nothing over the top, very warm and welcoming,” Vandervoort exclusively tells PEOPLE.

Coates and the Smallville alum always envisioned having an “intimate” wedding, and toured various venues in Ontario. They remember their first “stunning” drive up to Langdon Hall, and being wowed by the property’s lush grounds. “There was no going back” once they saw the venue’s adjoining Summer House, an open-aired wood timber pavilion.

“The moment we saw the Summer House area, I looked at Laura and saw her eyes widen,” Coates tells PEOPLE. “At that point, I knew this was the place for my bride-to-be.”

While Vandervoort was amazed by the “open-concept barn-style” ceremony space, Coates tells PEOPLE the “incredible” dinner is what “sold” him. While “great food” was a non-negotiable for the couple, they axed having a wedding cake because it “just didn’t feel like us.”

“We are candy fanatics and felt a late-night candy table (from SweetEvent) would be the perfect way to make it our own,” Vandervoort says. “We actually have a candy drawer at home, different mason jars filled with everything you can think of. An assortment of beautiful jars and candies and macaroons and other sweets with cute baskets and take-away gifts was the way to go.”

Another thing Vandervoort and Coates skipped was having a first look before their ceremony. 

“Waiting until the last second to see one another for the first time seemed like a moment we wanted to share with our friends and family,” the Bitten star says.

The wedding party walked down the aisle to “Home” by Edith Whiskers. 

When it was Vandervoort’s turn to make her way down the aisle, she was escorted by both of her parents because she thought it was “ridiculous” how mothers “don’t often get a role in the wedding.”

Before the ceremony began, the bride and groom’s older sisters, both of whom are named Sarah, spoke because it was important to the couple that they be the ones to “kick off our forever.”

Vandervoort and Coates exchanged handwritten vows “from the heart.”

“Adam is the most thoughtful, warm and beautiful human I have ever known. Hardworking, dedicated and my forever soulmate. I admire his determination, drive, work ethic, sense of humor, intelligence, goofiness and calm demeanor. He’s kind and loving,” gushes Vandervoort, whose hair and makeup was done by Annastasia Cucullo and Neil Silverman Beauty, respectively.

She continues: “I love that we are best friends first and foremost, partners in crime. I love our little family we have created with the pups, our routines and all the goofiness that comes with it. I am grateful to have finally found my soulmate and can’t wait to share the rest of forever with him.”

The ceremony was officiated by a close family friend named Gerry, the father of Coates’ late childhood best friend, Travis.

“Gerry is a mentor, friend and almost like a second father to me,” says Coates, who wore a custom suit from Michel’s Bespoke Atelier. “As kids, I always thought Travis would be standing up there beside me, so having a part of him there, through Gerry is really special.”

After Vandervoort and Coates said “I do,” they walked back down the aisle to “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay.

Partygoers headed to the Fireshade Room for cocktail hour and the reception, where there were speciality drink menus featuring the bride and groom’s pups, Frankie and Ted.

Guests were sweetly guided to their seats via a “unique and personal” escort wall with elegantly labeled jars of the couple’s homemade jams, each adorned with their name and table assignment.

“Adam and I began making jam at home once we began living together. It became a cute activity for us on weekends,” Vandervoort explains. “Adam’s mom, Jan Coates, makes an incredible family jam and we wanted to try to replicate it. After that, we started experimenting with different flavors.”

The bride teases, “Adam is the pro jam maker and I am the sous chef, that goes for anything in the kitchen.”

Vandervoort’s brother-in-law, Mike, and Coates’ brother, Andrew, kicked off the evening with celebratory speeches. The newlyweds’ parents also shared words of wisdom.

The reception space had “an earthly quality to everything,” with decor in soft neutral colors and green accents. Flowers were arranged by Brock Stacey of Beaux Florals while the candles were from Yummi Candles.

“Laura and I are a really good team, our strengths compliment each other really well. It’s one of the many reasons why we fell for one another,” Coates shares. “One of our first weekends we spent together when we started dating, we put together an IKEA dresser and we had fun doing it. Not that planning a wedding is the same, but that gives a window into how we take on projects together and it brings us closer together.”

Coates and Vandervoort shared their first dance as husband and wife to “Iris” by Cory Asbury.

The wedding was planned by Ashley Chanel Events + Design.

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The Rabid star connected with Coates on a dating app, and the pair had their first date in Toronto the week after they matched. For about a year, the duo dated long distance between Toronto and Calgary. Eventually, they “were tired of going back and forth, always missing one another,” so they moved in together in Toronto. 

On Sept. 22, 2023, Coates gave Vandervoort the best birthday present she could’ve dreamed of — a marriage proposal. Coates scheduled a rooftop photo shoot at sunset as a “gift” for Vandervoort, but when the light was just right he dropped down on one knee and popped the question.

“I was obviously overwhelmed, overjoyed and in shock when it happened,” Vandervoort remembers. “Adam said he had an entire speech planned out, however, [he] went completely blank. We both don’t remember much of what was said, but we were in such extreme happiness it didn’t matter.”

The couple predict that their next chapter together will be “beautiful.”

“Whatever comes, we will face it together!” they share.

Additional Credits:
Photographers: Rob Mauriell & John Bregar
Videographer: Patrick Hodgson
Hair Extensions: Mulberry Hair Extensions
Rental Bridesmaid Dresses: The Fitzroy Rentals
Wedding Rentals: Simply Beautiful Décor
Dress Alterations and Veil: Champagne and Cupcakes by Caroline
DJ: Evolved Entertainment
Bridesmaid Gifts: Guerlain, Oak & Luna
Bride’s Second Dress: Narces by Nikki Yassemi