adventure photographer Archives - Boakview Photography

Magical Hockley Valley Resort Wedding

February 21, 2019

Hilary and Mike are awesome! I know we say that about all of our couples (and we totally mean it) but these guys really are awesome! (Oh and so funny too)! They are both in fashion (and it shows) and both have a quirky sense of humour that compliments our own – so what’s not to love? So when they asked us to be part of their Hockley Valley Resort Wedding last spring, we were thrilled! Not only because Hockley Valley Resort is one of our fave out-of-Toronto venues, but also because we just knew that this was going to be a wild party! Nestled in the hills near Orangville, Hockley is a photographer’s dream – it’s scenic, beautiful, rustic yet elegant, and the food is to die for (try the arancini balls, you won’t regret it!) it’s the perfect setting to say your “I do’s”!

As we mentioned, Hil and Mike are both in the fashion industry so it wasn’t a big surprise that their wedding was beautifully styled. Both used the natural elements and backdrop that their venue is so attractive for and created an incredible vibe in an already beautiful space. With soft and muted tones, such as blush, white, and deep greens – the reception decor brought the outside in and felt like an extension of the gorgeous grounds of the venue. Soft candlelight provided a romantic and intimate dinner atmosphere, as happy chatter and wild laughter of guests rang throughout the evening. Dinner concluded with a romantic kiss under the sparklers while guests mingled outside and inside with cocktails and warm beverages, patiently anticipating the night’s dancing festivities! And let us tell you, the dancing was on point! We are pretty sure that no one was left off the dance floor, where young and older generations alike kicked off their shoes and got their groove on! But don’t take our word for it – scroll through the photos and take a look for yourself!

Funky Hotel Ocho Wedding in Toronto

February 1, 2019

There are so many things we love about doing what we do! We get to see some pretty awesome places and spaces, we get to play tourists in our own city and explore new nooks and crannies, we get to meet some pretty amazing couples and families, and we are trusted to do some pretty creative and sometimes kooky things with the people who we work with! I’m not going to lie it’s a pretty sweet gig! And then, once in a while we are asked to really step outside the box and our sentiments about what we do is 100% confirmed! This is exactly what happened with Yalda and Geoff at their Hotel Ocho wedding. Yalda and Geoff are one of those couples that just ooze cool, but in a very unassuming and honest way (you know, like they don’t actually realize how freaking cool they really are!) so when we started chatting about what to do for their portraits, traditional settings just didn’t cut it. Being huge fans of records, we knew one thing for sure: we somehow needed to incorporate their love for vinyl into their wedding. And what better way to do that then to have them visit their favourite records shop, Sonic Boom, (which happened to be located just a stone’s throw away from their venue! Lucky us!) But I am getting ahead of myself let’s start at the beginning!

Yalda and Geoff are adorable, they have contagious belly laughs, they love craft beer, they are kind and thoughtful, and they dance like EVERYONE is watching! Their wedding was a reflection of all of these beautiful qualities and then some. We started the day downtown, Ocho Hotel and their condo respectively. Yalda got ready with her sister and mom in the Ocho’s beautiful bridal suite, while Geoff clinked craft beer with his best buds and his dad at their condo listening to, what else – records! When we made our way for the first look in downtown Toronto in Graffiti Alley, the excitement and anticipation was evident – Geoff admitted he was a little nervous, but that all melted away once he saw his beautiful bride! As luck would have it, hanging out with this cool crew also brought on a celebrity sighting, when none other than GEORGE STROMBOULOPOULOS made an appearance and actually agree to take some photos with the bridal party (common if that’s not cool, we don’t know what is!) After our Strombo sighting (and some fan-girling from my end!) we made our way to Sonic Boom for some record shopping and photo-taking. We always tell our couples that on thier wedding they will more than likely stop traffic – and boy was this ever the case! I think almost every person at the record shop strained their neck to see this beautiful couple peruse the vinyl selection and canoodle in the aisles. (So much fun!)

The remainder of the wedding was equally as magical. Despite the fact that their wedding was a modern and non-traditional affair, Yalda incorporated some cultural elements to her Ocho Hotel Wedding. Being of Persian descent, Yalda, her mom, and sister all set up a gorgeous ceremonial table. All objects within were representative of the couples’ past, present and future and matched with the wedding’s burgundy, forest green, and gold theme. The guests dined amid candlelight, while listening to heartfelt conversations and some hysterical anecdotes! The gifts for everyone included mini succulents, a beautiful keepsake to remind everyone how Yalda and Geoff’s relationship will grow and nourish much like a plant does when sprinkled with oodles of TLC! The first dances after dinner were equally as intimate as the whole day, and when Geoff and his mom took the dance floor there was not a dry eye in the house (see the photo below – it was one of the most touching moments we have ever witnessed!) And then came the party, that just like our super cool couple, this one was OFF THE HOOK!

Whimsical Toronto Wedding in Distillery District

January 6, 2019

It’s been a while since we blogged a wedding! But with a busy season behind us, I finally had a chance to sit down and take a look at some of the beautiful weddings from the last few months. So today we are sharing a whimsical Toronto wedding in the Distillery District. Caileigh and Simon’s Kate Spade-inspired wedding was full of adorable little details, even a custom-made Toronto jean jacket made by our bride. Even the rain that loomed on the horizon of the city couldn’t damper anyone’s joy for being part of such an amazing day (you’ll see!)

We first met Caileigh and Simon through a dark Skype screen. While we happily chatted about all the things we had in common (there were a few), we also came to the realization that these two lovebirds actually lived in our neighbourhood…on our street…on our BLOCK! We were ecstatic – not only because we were neighbours, but also because they suggested doing their engagement session right here in our ol’ stomping ground – Roncesvalles! We had a blast, but don’t take our word for it – check it out for yourself here! This totally set the tone for their quintessential Toronto wedding (getting ready at the Thompson Hotel, photos in Graffiti Alley, and dinner & drinks at the Distillery District – I mean, common, how much more “Toronto” can you get?)

For Caileigh, the day began with a leisurely morning with her girls – giggles, clinking of champagne glasses, and “ooohs” and “ahhs” over our bride’s gorgeous gown. Tears were shed as C’s parents read their heartfelt cards from their daughter but were soon followed by more giggles and “ooohs” & “ahhs” as our bride made her grand reveal. On the other side of town, the boys – from all over the world – reunited at a sweet Air BnB with the most breath-taking view of the city. Although Simon was a little bit nervous (sooooo cute!) his long-time friends made sure that our groom was well-hydrated and cared for. It was the perfect start to a perfect day!

If we had to use one word to describe Caileigh and Simon’s first look on the Thompson Hotel rooftop, it would be, without a doubt, “whimsical”! There was not a dry eye in the house (or rooftop in this case) when Simon finally locked eyes with his bride, the love between this gorgeous couple and joy they felt when they first saw one another in that moment was absolutely palatable! (I may have wiped away a tear or two…or ten…) The rest of the day was no different. Caileigh and Simon were great sports while dodging the rain in Graffiti Alley and then again at the Distillery District. They softly spoke their vows in front of close friends and family, all of whom travelled from all over the globe just to be witness to this amazing event. The southern cuisine of fried chicken, potato salad, and other yummy goodies still makes my tummy grumble and the dessert table enticed guests to “treat ‘yo self” (and we did!) And finally after some serious dancing, the night ended with the beautiful couple dancing under the stars and rain. “Whimsical” was definitely the word of the day for this wedding and we have no doubt that it will also be the theme for Caileigh and Simon’s marriage!

Intimate Fredericton Engagement Session

May 25, 2018

Danielle & Jeff ~ An Intimate Fredericton Engagement Session in the Water

As photographers, we have a never-ending bucket list of creative ideas. We admit that some are a little nutty and need some persuading of couples. But once in a while we kind of throw an idea out there and a couple gets just as excited as we do! This is exactly what happened with Danielle and Jeff’s Fredericton engagement session. When we visited New Brunswick last summer we suggested to take D & J’s engagement photos somewhere in the wilderness, because well you know, we love to get a little wild (okay not the greatest pun, but it fits!) As a pisces, I am particularly partial to the H2O and have always wanted to shoot a couple in some body of water (ocean, lake, pond, shower, puddle whatever!) So when Danielle and Jeff agreed to my kooki idea of having them run fully-clothed into a lake, I was ecstatic!

On a warm & dusky afternoon, the three of us made our way to a lake just outside of Fredericton. It was the prefect evening to stroll and explore the cool forest. It was also wonderful to tag along and capture this young couple’s very obvious love for one another. And when it came time to cool down in the water, they gladly jumped in clothes and all! Despite the marshy and murky bottom of the lake (and I know because I was right there with them!) the two lovebirds still managed to get cozy and close. It was a bucket-list dream come true!

Let me get you in on a not-so-secret-secret: We LOVE engagement sessions! We especially love engagement sessions that are outside of the box! It’s so much fun for us to get to know our couples and to test our chemistry together. It’s also the perfect time to be a little daring. To really think about what makes you so unique as a couple! So whether it’s something outdoorsy and adventurous, like Danielle and Jeff’s session. Or something more cozy and intimate like Ida and Nolan’s session, which we shot in their home a while ago. The world is really your oyster when it comes to planning your engagement photos. Oh and don’t be shy, ask us for advice! Trust me we have PLENTY of nutty ideas to throw your way!

Sarah & Austin ~ A Beautiful & Rustic Wedding in Balls Falls

March 29, 2018

Honestly I don’t even know where to start with this wedding – it makes my heart so happy to look at these photos all over again and re-live the memories we created with Sarah and Austin (who, incidentally, just welcomed an adorable little nugget into their lives! Congrats guys!) We originally bonded over craft beer, (Austin is a brewmaster at Leftfield Brewery – yeah I cannot think of a cooler gig than that), books (Sarah is a librarian – yeah these kids are awesome!) and of course Star Trek (I’m seeing a theme develop here LOL!) Honestly, words cannot express how cool we think these two humans are – I mean, we captured their engagement session at the brewery! Their wedding was equally as amazing, a small and intimate ceremony in a tiny chapel in Balls Falls Park – Austin cried when Sarah first walked in and it took all of our resolve not to start crying along with him, I’m not going to lie though, a few of our own tears were shed! Their reception, or more aptly, their party, which was in a small barn opposite the chapel, went into the wee hours of the morning and was filled with craft beer, dancing, more craft beer, shenanigans with old friends and family, and even more craft beer – it was magical to say the least! I can gab on about this one for hours, but instead I am going to let the photos do the talking! Enjoy, and I dare you not to smile…

Anna & Andrew ~ A Whimsical Wedding in Toronto

March 16, 2018

So we consider ourselves pretty humble people, but one thing both Hugh and I always like to brag about are the relationships we like to foster with the amazing couples and families we have the privilege to capture – I’m not going to lie, we are kinda like bad pennies, and for the most part it’s pretty hard to get rid of us! But despite the fact that we LOVE all our couples and we maintain friendships with them long after their big day is done, once in a while we meet someone that we just instantly click with, like they have us at “hello!” This was absolutely the case with Anna & Andrew! From the moment they stepped into our lives both Hugh and I just fell in love with their energy, quirkiness (keep in mind we, ourselves, are pretty darn quirky), their obvious affection for each other, and their natural ability to just relax, chill, and have a good time – we were kindred spirits right from the start! I think they kinda picked up on that, because what was meant to be an hour “business” meeting turned into a two hour gab session about everything from weddings to Star Trek, Thailand, Lululemon, and on. So when, a couple of days later, they asked us to capture their big day, we were beyond thrilled – and a beautiful friendship was born… (well either that or they just still can’t rid of us!) Just like Anna and Andrew, themselves, their wedding was equally beautiful, chill, and hilarious (Andrew is a pretty funny guy – get Hugh and him together and there is no stopping their silliness!) They got married in a beautiful old church in Oakville, the chapel was filled with laughs, and tears as they committed to a lifetime with each other, after the ceremony we whisked the couple away to an old estate where we hung out, laughed some more (probably more than is actually appropriate for a work day) and snapped the happy couple as they snuggled, danced, and laughed (a lot of laughter at this one folks!) with us. I am told that the night ended on the same high note, and the party went into the wee hours of the morning. I honestly would not expect anything less from these two – but I will let them tell you their story in their own words. Scroll down, and enjoy – oh and I dare you not to smile…

Anna & Andrew’s Love Story:

Andrew and I met in high school however, despite having the same group of friends, we never really talked or hung out. In 2008 I got a summer job between second and third year university where Andrew worked full time and through a mutual friend, we started talking and hanging out more and more and the rest is history!

Our love story, wasn’t without it’s hardship though, in 2013 I moved out west to Vancouver for a dream job and for a few years Andrew and I did the whole long-distance thing. After three years of west-coast living and long distance, we decided it was enough, we missed each other and hated being so far apart! Plus, I felt that it was time for me to move back home. Andrew flew out to help me pack up my Vancouver life so we could drive my car back across the country. Our first night on the trip back home, we stopped at the Fairmont Lake Louise as a bit of a “celebration” that we were reunited & despite all the odds made a long-distance relationship work. We went out for a late-night walk around the lake, no one was around, the sky was clear and the moon was shining so bright that it reflected beautifully onto the lake… that’s when Andrew got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Obviously I said “yes!” and got to admire my new bling for the rest of the ride back to Toronto

What inspired your wedding?

I always wanted a fall wedding, the time of year is so beautiful & the weather isn’t too hot or too cold. We decided on a neutral & rustic themed wedding because of how many beautiful colours already exist during this time of year. We are also a very casual couple and wanted something for our wedding that we could look back on in 10, 15 years and still love and think was timeless.

What was the most unique aspect about your wedding?

We loved having a Portuguese & Polish wedding! We were able to incorporate all friends & family and everyone seemed to have a great time, which is all that we wanted! It was also very special to have so many friends & family come from out of town. We had family come in from Poland & Germany and friends fly in from Vancouver & San Francisco. To be able to have so many people fly in from so far to be there to celebrate with us was so special and something we will cherish forever!

Our wedding was such a party and everyone was having such a great time that when they closed down the bar, we asked them to re-open it and the venue did! Even the DJ continued playing and it was as if we could have partied all night long!

What was your most favourite part of your day?

Honestly, all of it! The day flew by so quickly that I often ask Andrew if we can re-do it! From the morning with my family & bridesmaids and putting on my dress with all of the laughs that followed to walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time and then partying the night away, it was all so perfect and better than I even imagined it would be!

What is your top advice for future couples?

Everyone says it, but don’t sweat the small stuff. If something isn’t going to plan on the day of, laugh it off and enjoy the moment! It goes by so, so quickly that getting worked up over a small detail is not worth it!
I would also say to take a few moments every now and then to take a mental photo of everything! So much work and planning goes into this one day that you need to ensure you soak it all in and enjoy it.
Bring more shoes than you think you will need! You’re on your feet literally all day! The weather can change, your feet could hurt and the last thing you want to do is ruin your wedding shoes in the grass if it is muddy! I threw a pair of Hunter rainboots into the limo and it ended up making for some pretty awesome photographs!
Enjoy your first dance and make it a reflection of who you two are as a couple. It doesn’t have to be something super formal or fancy – just have fun with it!
Make the day about you two as a couple – yes you want to ensure that everyone who attends your wedding will have a great time, but remember, they are there for you! In all the planning and prepping, bring some of your personalities to light. Andrew loves superheroes, so we incorporated that into the groomsmen’s attire and everyone’s entrances into the hall.

Vendor Info:

Church: St. Andrew’s Church

Hall: Lakeshore Convention Centre

Dress: Maggie Sottero

Suit/Tux: Strauss Men’s Wear

Bridesmaids Dresses: Sophie’s Gown Shoppe

Groomsmen Suits: Michael Kors

Hair: Schulz Make-Up & Beauty Studio

Make-up: Schulz Make-Up & Beauty Studio

Jewelry: (Bracelet) Tiffany & Co. (Earrings & Hairpiece) Bittersweet Jewelry

Décor: Art of Celebrations

Invitations: Designs by A

Limo Service: Erin Mills Limousine Service

Flowers: Art of Celebrations & Flower Parade

DJ: Good Vibrations

Cake: Piece of Cake by Shivani

Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Groom & Groomsmen’s Shoes: Steve Madden

Socks: Harry Rosen

Markie & Bella ~ An Epic Creative Bridal Session on Horseback

February 16, 2018

I think it’s safe to say that when someone asks you to do something completely off the beaten path and epic the resounding answer should be a joyful “Heck Yeah!” This is exactly what happened when I was asked to do a creative bridal portrait for a former bride / equestrian, Markie! Markie and Bella have been friends for a long time now, basically since Bella was a wee little thing, but they’re not what you would expect BFFs to be. For one, Bella is about 10 times the size of Markie, has four legs, and would most like be asked to leave any restaurant, bar, or club, which limits one’s dining and hanging out options! Bella is a horse you see, a magnificent and magical beautiful white horse! When we first met Bella on the day of Markie and Andrew’s wedding, we were instantly in love – not only is Bella super photogenic (every photographers’ dream!) but she was also the most unique part of any wedding we have captured to this day. Markie rode in on Bella to the hilltop ceremony (stay tuned for the blog coming soon) and stuck around to witness the vows. Apparently a party animal (pun fully intended) she did not want to leave once the festivities began and hung out at the wedding into the later evening – if this isn’t a sure sign of a good friend I don’t know what it! Fast forward a few months, I opened an email from Markie asking me whether I would like to capture her in her wedding dress riding her beautiful Bella. To say I was beyond excited is a gross understatement, I was over the moon – I mean, how often does a bride ask you to photograph her riding a horse!? It was a dream come true (I love horses myself just never really took the time to learn how to properly ride one – one day!) So, on a sunny fall afternoon, I made my way to Creemore to meet Markie and her Bella to take some photos of the two of them doing their thing. I am beyond excited to share some of my favourite photos of this amazing creative adventure – and have to extend a very special thanks to these two beautiful ladies for letting me capture it all!

Best of 2017 ~ Engagements

February 14, 2018

Words truly cannot express how grateful we are for the couples we work with! You guys truly make what we do absolutely magical. Being around so much emotion always reminds us that love, just like life, is a journey never a destination – it is fluid, adaptive, forgiving, & selfless and we have the absolute privilege to be able to capture it as best we can and to immortalized its beauty. 2017 has been a bit of a tough year for me – running a business and having a baby at the same time is not an easy endeavour but going into 2018 I’m making a point of staying positive and grateful for the wonderful job I have (I get to photograph love! Thats pretty neat!) So to remind myself of how much I truly love what I do despite some of the difficulties, I have been going through our photos from last year and I couldn’t help but smile at all the wonderful memories we created! So part two of our “Best of…” series includes some of our favourite engagement moments and serves as a reminder of the amazing couples we get to hang out with and their love which we get to document. So turn up the music lovers, and enjoy!

The Best of 2017 ~ Weddings

January 19, 2018

This has been a year full of many new adventures and experiences, both personal and professional – not all have been super positive but they all definitely made us learn something valuable about ourselves as people, creatives, and as business owners. We are so grateful to be doing what we do – to have the freedom to be creative on a daily basis (sure it’s not always easy, but it sure is rewarding and fun!) and to bear witness to some of the most vulnerable and emotional events in people’s lives – We feel humbled that couples trust us to capture their most sacred memories and to immortalize their most precious moments, that truly is an honour! So thank you, to all of our friends and family, to our amazing couples that make what we do possible – we couldn’t have done any of this without your support and your trust! Hugs all around!

PS: Choosing a a limited amount of photos for our “Best Of…” slideshow was probably the most difficult thing we had to do so far in the new year! Please turn up the sound and enjoy!

Kirsty & LuKas ~ A Beachside Wedding at Artscape Gibraltar Point

July 21, 2017

As photographers, we have the pleasure of seeing and capturing countless locations and venues, this is one of the great perks of our job. But even despite the fact that we get to shoot in really cool places and spaces, our bucket list for weddings seems to grow each year! So when Kirsty and Lukas contacted us about their wedding on the Toronto Island we were thrilled. An island wedding has been sitting on our bucket list for years, and now someone wanted us to come along for the ride?! YES PLEASE (Happy Dance!) Not only were we thrilled to capture a wedding at such a cool location, but as soon as we met Kirsty and Lukas our hearts just melted – I mean these kids are just adorable – there is no better way to describe them (check out their love story bellow)! What began as a regular meeting in our dining room quickly became a chat-fest of epic proportions that lasted for over 2 hours! We were hooked!

Their wedding at Gibraltar Point was everything we imagined and more. From the boat ride to the island to the shaking of everyone’s booties until the wee hours of the morning, their wedding was simply amazing (s’mores included)! We can gush about it for pages, but instead why don’t we let the photos do the talking…Enjoy!

Lukas & Kirsty’s Love Story:

Lucas and I met on the online dating website, Plenty of Fish. He had been on several dates, I was new to online dating. My inbox was full of tiring “ur cute” messages from guys until Lucas’ came in. “Hey! If you could send one thing into outer space, what would it be? Everyone asks what do you do and that’s boring. If you could do anything you wanted for work, what would it be?” Intrigued, I messaged him back. We met a week later after spending countless hours chatting over Facebook. It took him eight years to propose, but he did it in the most magical way. We were on vacation in Vancouver visiting my brother and his then girlfriend. We took a few days trip to Vancouver Island and headed up into Tofino. We had a few cocktails at brunch (little did I know, Lucas was building some liquid confidence!) and headed to a secret beach some of the locals had shared with us. As we combed the shore for shells, Lucas got down on one knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. We collapsed in the sand, holding and kissing one another. At that moment, no one except for us existed.

What inspired your wedding and your venue?

Lucas and I have a strong passion for the outdoors. We spend every weekend from spring until fall camping, rock climbing, paddling our cedar strip canoe and hiking. We wanted to find a venue that was a good balance between a rough outdoorsy place, yet comfortable enough for our guests that don’t enjoy the outdoors as much as we do. Artscape Gibraltar Point was so beautiful! It provided a stunning natural background for our ceremony, reception and photos. I wanted a bohemian vibe to our wedding and with minimal d?cor and I feel Artscape met that requirement for us. Our fabric bunting was handmade by one of my bridesmaid’s father for her wedding last year, we felt honoured to have them hanging at ours. In fact, almost all of our d?cor was handmade!

What was the most unique aspect of your wedding?

I felt the location of our venue made our wedding unique. 75% of our guests travelled from out of town to come to our wedding on Toronto Island. We chartered a ferry that brought our guests through a section of water channels and dropped them off at Artscape’s private ferry dock. Our guests then had to take a short path through tall grasses to get to our ceremony. Everyone raved that they felt they had attended a destination wedding, yet it was right in downtown Toronto. We also kept the vibe to our wedding incredibly laid back. We had guests in shorts and t-shirts and others in full blown designer suits!

What was your favourite part of the day?

My favourite part of my wedding day was that incredible, overwhelming feeling of absolute elation after being pronounced husband and wife. The positive energy at our wedding was palpable. I have never in my life experienced anything like it!

What’s your top 3 pieces of advice to future brides?

1) Always give each other enough space to grow. Each day we have new experiences, learn new things and meet new people, all of which impact who we are and how we see the world and shapes us into who we are today. That will constantly evolve and that’s an amazing thing.

2) Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t waste time being angry about things that aren’t worth it, and keep in mind that the wedding is a celebration for you and your closest!

3) It’s okay to not be on the same page as each other especially where wedding planning is concerned, it’s bound to happen as you each grow and change. The most important thing is being able to recognize when you are both butting heads with each other and having an open conversation about what you each need to feel loved and accepted again.

Vendor List:

Venue: Artscape Gibraltar Point

Dress: BHLDN

Hair: Melody Bostelaar at Lebel & Crowe

Make-up: Carley Chamberlain Makeup

Rings: Charm Diamonds

Tapestries: The Fox and the Mermaid

Paper Garlands: Maisy and Alice

Terrarium Card Box: Ikea

Bar Sign: Michael’s

Invitations: Lipamea

Officiate: Wayne Wright from Kettle Creek Weddings