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Kind Words // Tiara & Roy

Toronto Wedding Photographer Reviews
My then fiance (now husband…woohoo!) and I knew Janice was THE ONE when she told us during our meet & greet that she was on her way to Iceland. She had us at Iceland.That country is very special to us because that’s where we got engaged. So putting talent and her love of travel made hiring Janice as our official engagement and wedding photographer the easiest decision in our wedding planning process.
This very sweet, easygoing and lovely lady is one seriously talented photographer. She is also equally professional, respectful and highly organized as she is talented. Our friends and families have come up to us after the wedding, telling us that Janice was wonderful to work with. We absolutely love her photojournalistic approach. She has a unique way of bringing out the most candid smiles, the most genuine laughter and the most authentic look of love between two people in her photos. She has a way of capturing the raw emotions of friends and family members on your special day – from their laughter to their tears. Her photos make you want to dream. And that’s why we hired her.
When we look at our own wedding photos, we don’t see a mere reminder of a wedding that’s passed. Her photos are so moving, so alive, that just by browsing through them, they make us experience the day over and over again. We had such a great time working with Janice and her team. We would definitely recommend her to friends and family (and to you reading this review). We look forward to more milestones so we can hire her again! Thank you Janice for being a part of this journey!
~Tiara & Roy
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Kind Words // Jin & Frank

Toronto Wedding Photographer Review

Calm, patient, artistic, and an eternal optimist – these are just a few words my husband and I would use to describe our most wonderfully talented wedding and engagement photographer, Janice Yi. But above all things, Janice is a storyteller. She strings together the myriad of emotions and feelings that are present on your special day, and then presents in such visually captivating way. She not only understands the art of photography but the importance of capturing the essence and beauty of present moment.

Janice is exactly who she says she is and believes her style of photography to be on her website. She does not impose; she does not portray fictitious environments or elements in photography. She simply ‘goes with the flow’. She asks her clients to trust in her to tell their ‘story’. This is exactly what we did and through that, we ended up with a true recount of one of the most precious and beautiful day of our lives.

But to go in a little detail of how great Janice is, I’ll tell you a little story that happened during our engagement photo shoot. It was a glorious day for our engagement photo shoot at Niagara-on-the-lake…until we got there. As soon as we arrived on scene it started to down pour cats and dogs- I mean a DOWNPOUR. However, Janice kept her calm (obviously this wasn’t happening for me) and offered various solutions to make the day work. Somehow, we managed to hop around to different locations and managed to get a full day of photos both in and outdoors, visiting vineyards, coffee houses, restaurants, and even went with the picnic I prepared in a remote park. Flexibility, optimism, and creativity are such powerful tools to have as a photographer; and lucky her, she possesses them all. Throughout preparing for our engagement and wedding photo shoot, Janice really tried her best to understand and accommodate to our needs as well. And it’s all because she really cares. She cares so much for this profession, for her clients, and in their big special day. This way there is no possible way that the photos won’t end up turning out like a masterpiece. My husband and I are both so pleased and grateful for Janice’s work (she also works like a beast) and can only leave this last comment: Janice Yi is not only an exceptional photographer but a great, wonderful individual, whom we cannot wait to share more future projects with.

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Knox College Pre-Wedding Photos // Karen & Walker

Hidden Gem Photo Location in Downtown Toronto

As a Toronto wedding photographer, I always get asked what my favourite venues to shoot at are in the city. And I always have to really think about it because there are just so many different venues for different styles and tastes. And one of the places I always liked but didn’t have the chance to shoot at was Knox College on the University of Toronto campus. 

So when Karen and Walker mentioned they wanted to do their pre-wedding photos at Knox College, I was truly looking forward to it. A pre-wedding photo session is similar to an engagement session, but you come in wedding outfits instead (it doesn’t have to be your actual wedding dress, and you can rent beautiful gowns from various places). You can mix it up with an outfit change with a more casual outfit as well, like a traditional engagement session. 

Tucked quietly within the University of Toronto campus, Knox College feels like a secret you stumble upon rather than a landmark you plan for – and that’s part of the magic. The stone façade, arched doorways, and intimate courtyard delivers old-world charm that is timeless. 

As a photographer, light is everything – and Knox College delivers. The way the light comes through the windows on the grand staircase and through the stained glass windows on the second floor hallway makes everything feel cinematic and romantic. 

The only downside about taking photos here? You need a paid permit. However, I truly think it is worth it especially as an option for portraits for your wedding photos since it provides both outdoor and indoor options (where indoor options can be quite rare in Toronto as a back up plan in case of rain). 

 

 

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Cluny Bistro Wedding // Maria & Jacob

Today I’m excited to share Maria and Jacob’s intimate Cluny Bistro wedding! Cluny Bistro is a stylish restaurant in the heart of the Distillery district featuring modern French cuisine. The event space at the restaurant is located at the back, so even though you cannot buyout the whole restaurant, your wedding is still very private. You also have access to the patio in the warmer months. It is a great space for an intimate wedding, and the food is delicious especially if you like French food. A bonus point is that you also get a permit to take photos in the Distillery for booking your wedding here. Although all restaurants in the district have that benefit.

Maria and Jacob started their day with getting ready at the Broadview Hotel. Then we did some photos at Eastbound Brewing Co, which is where they went for their first date! Then we did some portraits around the Distillery where their pup Jerome joined us for a bit. And then it was on to the wedding ceremony and reception.

It was an intimate evening full of good food, their nearest and dearest, and lots of laughter and happy tears. Here is Maria and Jacob’s wedding story.

xo

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Best Restaurant Wedding Venues in Toronto Part 2

A while ago I shared a few (actually it was 3+1) of my favourite restaurant wedding venues in Toronto. Archeo was actually also a favourite pick of mine when I first wrote about restaurant wedding venues in Toronto. Today I’m going to share another three that I really like! 

4. Archeo

Archeo is a restaurant in the Distillery District that offers Italian comfort food in a rustic urban setting. If you like the exposed brick walls at the Distillery, you will like Archeo. 

Why I like the venue:

  • Both the indoor dinning space and the outdoor patio at Archeo is very nicely sized, and also very private. As such, you can easily have both your ceremony and reception at the venue. 
  • The patio is decorated with string lights, which is also great for having your first dance outside in the warmer months. 

Things to consider:

Booking your wedding here may also include a permit for taking photos around the Distillery! 

5. Caffino

Caffino is an eclectic restaurant serving Italian fare nestled amongst 18th century buildings in the carpet factory district in Toronto.

Caffino is an eclectic restaurant serving Italian fare nestled amongst 18th century buildings in the carpet factory district in Toronto. 

Why I like the venue:

  • The unique decor and atmosphere. 
  • The venue features both indoor and outdoor areas for wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. 
  • The carpet factory area works nicely as a backdrop for some portraits as well.

Things to consider:

The outdoor area for wedding ceremonies is not strictly private, though it is very quiet. 

 

6. Cluny Bistro

Cluny Bistro is another restaurant in the Distillery District, featuring modern French cuisine. 

Why I like the venue:

  • Stylish modern French decor with exposed brick walls.
  • Also featuring indoor dinning space and a patio.
  • Can seat up to 80 people but can also be divided into two smaller spaces, each still with access to a part of the patio. 

Things to consider:

The main dinning area at Cluny is not available for buyout but the event space is at the back of the restaurant and is still private. 

That’s it for this round of top restaurant wedding venues in Toronto. I’d love to hear some of yours too!

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Bandit Brewery Wedding // Jes & Kevin

Today I’m sharing one of my favourite weddings from the past couple of years. Jes and Kevin’s Bandit Brewery wedding was so fun, and full of warmth. I had a huge smile on my face looking through the photos again as I put together this post.

Bandit Brewery is also one of my favourite restaurant/small wedding venues in Toronto, check out that blog post here.

Jes and Kevin met during the Covid years, both of them had been staying with their parents in their hometowns when both decided to get back to the city and start dating again. Jes had a goal of going on 5 dates. Kevin was date number 4, and she never did make it to number 5. Their timing was impeccable, and goes to show that some things are just meant to be. This was also the case when they contacted me about photographing their wedding. I was originally booked for their wedding date, but the other couple emailed me about postponing their wedding a couple of days before Jes’ email. And boy am I glad that I was able to capture their special day.

Thank you so much for having me be a part of your day Jes and Kevin! Here is the story of their intimate wedding at Bandit Brewery. xo