When Fairmont Château Laurier’s Catherine McLaughlin learned TikTok sensation Joanna Johnson was in town last May, she didn’t waste a moment before inviting her for a behind-the-scenes tour of the landmark hotel.

Since the pandemic, she has followed the openly gay educator, whose audience tops three million. “I knew exactly who she was,” said McLaughlin, manager of events and activations. “I wanted her to see the best of the city.”

The visit, which included Johnson’s Grade 8 students, quickly went viral. As she toured the historic hotel, Johnson brought its rich past to life with her relatable commentary. “Guys, if you have a chance to come to the Château Laurier, you have to come,” she tells viewers, leaning close to the camera as if speaking directly to each one personally.

During that visit, Johnson casually joked about tying the knot with her fiancée, Ana Pacanins, in the hotel’s grand ballroom. Her comment sparked an idea: why not host the wedding, showcasing local businesses along the way? With approval from hotel GM Geneviève Dumas and director of sales and marketing Lori Wagner, McLaughlin reached out to Johnson about a potential partnership.

She coordinated a series of meetings, including multiple calls and check-ins each week, to plan the social-media star’s closely guarded wedding in Ottawa. While the choice of venue was made public, the date remained under wraps to keep the celebration private. The hotel did field calls from curious fans.

McLaughlin tapped trusted professionals across the city’s events, beauty, jewellery and fashion worlds. “I knew this wouldn’t be just your average wedding.”

The couple was married at the hotel on New Year’s Day, during the evening. The special event even drew a letter of congratulations from Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for collaborating with local businesses and “for choosing to celebrate here in Ottawa, especially at the Fairmont Château Laurier”.

Ana Pacanins, left, and Joanna Johnson danced to Cher’s rendition of Walking in Memphis as their first song at their wedding reception held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Johnson and Pacanins built genuine relationships with each shop owner involved. “I’ve never been a big fan of using my platform just to sell products,” Johnson said. “What I love is finding truly authentic, amazing people.”

She spoke of how grateful she was to now know so many “incredible” people from Ottawa. “And we were able to create something magical together.”

On the subject of Ottawa’s unique charm, Johnson told CiTC: “I’m from Toronto — and I love Toronto — but there’s a small-town feeling here, which is surprising given that this is the nation’s capital and Parliament is sitting right there,” she said, gesturing toward the stately buildings next door.

“People really want to build each other up and take care of each other.”

Johnson’s black-satin women’s tuxedo suit with removable tails was designed by Ottawa couturier Frank Sukhoo of Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture on Dalhousie Street. He surprised Johnson by adding small gold elephant buttons to the jacket sleeves to honor Johnson’s late grandmother, who adored elephants.

McLaughlin said she’d sought out the Sukhoo knowing he could deliver exceptional craftsmanship without fuss. “He’s one of my favourite people,” she said.

From left, Joanna Johnson alongside Ottawa fashion designer Frank Sukhoo, who created Johnson’s tuxedo suit, and her wife, Ana Pacanins, in a gown from Revelle Bridal, at the couple’s wedding, held at the Fairmont Château Laurier on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Wedding photos and videos captured by Grey Loft Studio owners Luc and Bethany Barrette will be used to promote the hotel, the celebration and the Ottawa business community that helped make it happen.

The rings came from Lindsay Appotive’s True Bijoux, and hair and makeup were done by Salon Fiorella. The photobooth was provided by MDRN Activations, with DJ services by Midnight Music. Party favors included the conversation-starter game How’s the Water? from Soulbound co-founder Scott Annan, and the noise-making sports cups, LoudCup, from Jay Conohan. There were also gifts from Tim Hortons and Canadian Tire.

Cadillac Canada supplied an all-electric Vistiq luxury SUV for the couple’s drive to and from Ottawa.

Preparations involved wedding planner Michael Donovan and in-house event designer Nancy Tremblay of WEDECOR. “This wasn’t a cookie-cutter wedding; it was a chance to work with the best local professionals and create something unique,” said Donovan.

Newly married couple Joanna Johnson, left, and Ana Pacanins, far right, worked closely with event designer Nancy Tremblay (WEDECOR) and wedding planner Michael Donovan for their ceremony and celebration at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Pacanins wore a customized MWL Celine mikado gown from Revelle Bridal on Richmond Road. The strapless dress featured a corseted bodice with satin bow to accentuate the back. It was modernized with a high-low pleated skirt, made shorter in the front “to show off those gams of hers,” said shop owner Earleen Garbe.

Details were kept under wraps, Garbe said, aside from some fun social media promotion and the one day in November when the couple came by to pick up the gown. “There were other appointments happening in the store, and you could hear customers whispering, ‘I follow her on TikTok’,” Garbe recalled.

The pair exchanged vows in the Governor General’s entrance outside the Drawing Room, where a small circular stage was set amid rose-pink sofas for the 75 friends and family members. The wedding party danced their way toward the stage to Hall & Oates’ 1980s pop hit You Make My Dreams Come True.

The officiant, Ryan Seeley, principal of Toronto-based Metropolitan Preparatory Academy, where Johnson is vice principal, welcomed the crowd with humor, noting that everyone was gathered in a beautiful historic city “where none of us live.”

Dinner was held in the hotel’s renovated restaurant, Zoe’s, decorated with soft pink florals. Executive chef David De Bernardi and his team planned and prepared the three-course gourmet meal without sugar (though you’d never know) to accommodate Pacanins’ dietary sensitivity.

From left, the Fairmont Château Laurier’s director of restaurants and bars, Mike Kazarian, director of cuisine Robert Senese, bride Ana Pacanins, executive chef David De Bernardi, bride Joanna Johnson, Zoe’s restaurant manager Candace Battig and the hotel’s events and activations manager, Catherine McLaughlin, in Zoe’s. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Newly married couple Ana Pacanins and Joanna Johnson kissed on the dance floor during their wedding celebration, held in Zoe’s restaurant at the Fairmont Château Laurier. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Johnson publicly thanked McLaughlin for orchestrating a dream wedding that far exceeded all expectations. “Not only did she make all this happen, but she did every single thing with love and authenticity, and was driven to make this day beautiful for us,” said Johnson, who described McLaughlin as “one of the best human beings on the planet”.

Likewise, the couple earned a special place in McLaughlin’s heart. She called the experience “incredible,” ranking it among her top career moments at the hotel, alongside a 2024 trip to Italy to help recover a stolen Winston Churchill portrait.

With Pacanins’ background as a former national-level short-track speed skater, the couple was planning to hit the frozen Rideau Canal the next day, making the most of a rare early opening of a 3.4-kilometre stretch, followed by a further 800 metres on Friday. “Ever since forever I’ve wanted to do this, and I never have,” Pacanins said.

Newly married couple Joanna Johnson and Ana Pacanins in Zoe’s restaurant at the Fairmont Château Laurier, surrounded by the Ottawa business owners and professionals who helped bring their wedding to life, including (left) wedding planner Michael Donovan, event designer Nancy Tremblay (WEDECOR), (up top) Jamie Cronk (Midnight Music) and Fairmont Château Laurier executive chef David De Bernardi, and events and activations manager Catherine McLaughlin, Grey Loft Studio wedding photographers/videographers Luc Barrette and Bethany Barrette, and (far right) fashion designer Frank Sukhoo (Sukhoo Sukhoo Khooture). Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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