Featured on La Bride | Restaurant Wedding in Toronto
Janine & Chris met in teacher’s college through mutual friends. And Chris just knew that she was the one for him. They seem to be opposites in a lot of ways, but I think they complement each other perfectly. They have been teaching overseas the past few years, from South Korea to Bangladesh, and traveling to many places while they taught. Now they are on their new adventure in Qatar. You know what they say, couples who travel together stay together. :)
So on a warm summer’s day at the end of July, Janine & Chris got married at the Earth Bloor West restaurant (sadly this location is now closed). It was nice and warm and the sky threatened to pour down on us all day, but it held off until after their wedding. Janine and her bridesmaids got ready at her parents’ house, then we went to the Evergreen Brickworks for her and Chris’ first look and some portraits before heading to Earth for their ceremony and reception.
Not only was it a day of happiness and love for the couple, it was also a reunion with friends & family alike. Thank you Janine & Chris, for inviting me into a small but significant chapter of your adventures together!
I think a wedding has different meanings to different people. For May & Brandon, they wanted something a little less traditional, a lot more fun, relaxed and personalized. And with the help of their amazing wedding party, that’s exactly what happened on their wedding day. May didn’t want a long wedding gown, so she chose a short dress that’s beautiful, unique and playful, totally reflective of who she is. They didn’t really care for real flowers, so May made a bouquet of gorgeous paper flowers. Instead of a traditional suit, Brandon paired his white shirt & grey pants with a purple tie (May’s favourite colour & their wedding colour) and sneakers. My favourite part of the day was probably their ceremony, they read their own vows which made everyone both laugh and tear up. Then they had a lovely Estates of Sunnybrook wedding reception that featured a barbecue menu, their favourite candies, and a photo booth.
The day was definitely infused with their personalities and the people and things they loved most. Everyone present on that day were witnesses to the special connection they have. May & Brandon, thank you for having me there to document this special day for you! I hope these photographs captured not only your day, but how it felt to be a part of it. Wishing you a life time of love, laughter, games, and delicious treats! ;) xoxo
Rustic Elegant Alton Mill wedding | Featured on The Wedding Co.
Sarah & Sean had a beautiful Alton Mill wedding in Caledon early last month (you can also check out their Woodbine beach engagement session). After a week of rainy and humid weather, the Saturday came and it was just right for an outdoor wedding: a little bit of sun, and a little bit of breeze.
Sarah was beautiful in a lace gown and Sean was dashing in a three-piece suit and bow tie. The lovely Laura and her team from Marvelle Events styled the wedding with rustic yet elegant touches.
Christiane from Ceremonies to Remember crafted a personalized ceremony with Sarah and Sean with tidbits about what it was that originally attracted them to each other, the obstacles that they have since overcome in their relationship, and the future that is to come. They exchanged vows as they exchanged rings. It was also here that I heard one of the most beautiful and moving readings of Pablo Neruda’s Sonnet XVII by a dear friend of theirs. For the icing on the cake, their adorable pooch Duke made a guest appearance during the ceremony.
And that was just the ceremony.
Here is the story of Sarah & Sean’s wedding day.
Congratulations you two! Wishing you a life time of happiness together.
Remember this sweet couple and their engagement session? Helen and Adam had a beautiful Auberge du Pommier wedding on a sunny day in May. It was an intimate and heartwarming celebration with their nearest & dearest.
I must confess that as a photographer, of all the different weddings I shoot, the smaller, more intimate weddings have a very special place in my heart (perhaps partly because that’s what M and I had). They are more relaxed, more intimate, allowing you to actually be able to spend some time with your guests, and focus on being present for that special day. It doesn’t just blur past you, and it doesn’t have to be.
I don’t even know what else to say, but that the people I get to meet, and the stories I get to tell, that’s what it’s all about.
Thank you, Helen & Adam, for being genuine, authentic, for being you; for being in love the way you are; for loving the way you do, each other, and your friends and family; and most of all, for inviting me into your story and trusting me to tell it. Here’s to love & laughter. xoxo
Karen & Marcus had a beautiful Argonaut Rowing Club wedding on a warm, sunny day last month. Karen was radiant in a sequin ball gown and sparkly shoes, and Marcus couldn’t stop beaming for the whole day. They had an intimate and lovely ceremony with personalized elements. One of which was a passage from Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda (one of my favourite).
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other way
than this: where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.
Also I love it when couples do things their own way, instead of having a full reception at the ARC, they had cocktail and hors d’oeuvre and then a sit-down dinner at Pearl Harbourfront.
Thank you Karen & Marcus, for inviting me to share your wedding day with you and to document it all.
Denis & Kim had a wonderful Mildreds Temple Kitchen wedding last month, where they had a heartfelt celebration with terrific food (best bread pudding I’ve ever had!), amazing company and lots of love.
I’ve been thinking about this blog post for a long time, ever since Denis and Kim first got in touch. Words fail me sometimes, especially when it comes to some of the people I get to meet and the weddings I photograph. Naturally, that is why I’m not a writer. But I will try a little here, and then let the photos tell the story.
I’ve gotten into the habit of sending a Q&A to my couples in an effort to get to know them better. They usually come back to me in the form of snapshots of the couple’s lives, but I was not prepared for the 4.5 pages that Denis & Kim sent back to me (you see, they are both writers). They shared so much of themselves and their story with me, I was deeply moved. As much as what I do on a wedding day is about being an unobtrusive observer and documenting the story as it unfolds, the true magic happens when the people I photograph trust me enough to let me into those stories and moments. Their personalities and sense of humour and love for each other just seeped through the pages, and made a great impression on me. I suspect that’s how everyone they know feel about them (and I think I’m correct in that regard based on what I saw and experienced on their wedding day).
When I met with them in person, they expressed to me how much they loved my work and the photos I took at Greg & Thea’s wedding. They had complete trust in me as a photographer. Whenever something like this happens, I feel two things: 1) absolutely floored; and 2) a bit unnerved. Because I felt that they had more trust in my ability and vision than I did myself. An individual’s personality and their connection with others are so complex, multi-faceted and intangible, that sometimes I think something like a two dimensional photograph will never be able to capture. But I try anyway. And I truly hope I was able to so, even if just a little bit, with the photos I took.
Finally, here’s a snippet from Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, which Kim’s brother, Cade, read at their ceremony:
Often a man wishes to be alone and a girl wishes to be alone too and if they love each other they are jealous of that in each other, but I can truly say we never felt that. We could feel alone when we were together, alone against the others. But we were never lonely and never afraid when we were together.
Thank you Denis & Kim, for entrusting me to tell the story of your wedding day, for being so genuine and kind, and for sharing your story with me.
Greg & Thea, whose wedding I photographed last fall.
