Boakview Photography

Magical Hockley Valley Resort Wedding

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!Hockley Valley wedding landscapeBridal details invitationVogue book and ringsHockley Valley bridal dress Bride getting ready at Hockley Valley Bride getting ready at Hockley Valley black and white Bride getting make-up ready at Hockley Valley Bride getting hair done at Hockley Valley Bride getting flower crown at Hockley Valley Bride getting dress at Hockley ValleyBride getting ready at Hockley Valley with bridesmaids Bride getting ready at Hockley Valley collageBride putting shoes on at Hockley Valley Bride putting shoes on at Hockley Valley with birdesmaids Bride reading love letters at Hockley Valley Bride reading love letters at Hockley Valley and opening presentsbrides ring at hockley valleyGroom getting ready at Hockley Valley Groom reading love letter at Hockley ValleyGroom getting ready at Hockley Valley his suitGroom putting on suit at Hockley Valley Groom getting ready at Hockley Valley with groomsmen Bride coming for the first look at Hockley Valley Bride coming for the reveal at Hockley ValleyBride and Groom and the first look at Hockley ValleyBride and Groom first look at Hockley Valley groom seeing his bride for the first time at Hockley Valley Bride and Groom shoes at Hockley Valley Bride and Groom at Hockley ValleyGroom helping his bride at Hockley ValleyIntimate coupe portrait at Hockley ValleyBride and Groom at a barn at Hockley Valley Wedding Bride and Groom in the vineyard at Hockley Valley Bride and Groom holding hands at Hockley ValleyBridal Party at Hockley Valley bridal party at Hockley valley in the forest Groomsmen at Hockely ValleyBridesmaids at Hockley ValleyButterfly at Hockley valley Bride holding dress at Hockley Valley groom kissing bride's shoulder at Hockley Valley Intimate Bride and Groom portrait at Hockley ValleyBride and Groom at Hockley Valley on hillBride and Groom portrait at Hockley ValleyBride and Groom kissing at Hockley ValleyBride and Groom walking away at Hockley ValleyTrees at Hockley Valley Bride and father walking to ceremonyceremony at Hockley valley Bride and Groom exchanging rings at Hockley valleyCouple's first kiss at Hockley valleycouple's first kiss at Hockley Valley ceremonyReception Decor at Hockley Valley Reception Decor and flowers at Hockley ValleyReception Decor at Hockley Valley restaurant Polaroid Booth at Hockley Valley Couple's entrance to reception hockley Valleydinner at hockley valleycheers at hockley valleybride selfie at hockley valleyreception at hockley valleygroomsmen hanging out at the bar at hockley valley couples first dance at hockley valley first dance at hockley valleydancing at hockley valley couple kissing on the dance floor at Hockley Valleyparty at hockley valleyreception party at hockley valley bride dancing at hockley valley guests dancing at reception at Hockley Valley reception dancing at hockely valley couple kissing under sparklers at Hockley valley

Funky Hotel Ocho Wedding in Toronto

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!

Wedding InvitationsWedding RingsBride getting makeup done at Ocho Hotelmakeup at ocho hotel bride in Ocho hotel bridal suite bride's gown at ocho hotel bride getting dressed at ocho hotel getting ready at ocho hotel sisters getting ready at wedding in ocho hotel bride at ocho hotel black and whitereveal with mom at ocho hotel mother daughter hug at ocho hotelblack and white photo of bride at ocho hotelvinyl records groom and groomsman getting ready groomsman getting ready groom getting ready in toronto left field brewery groom and dad groom looking out at the city groom walkin in toronto bride looking out of hotel ocho bride coming out of hotel ocho bride walking on queen street bride and bridesmaid in grafitti alley groom at grafitti alleyfirst look in graffiti alley bride and groom first look in graffiti alley fun first look in graffiti alleyintimate first look in graffiti alleyintimate portrait in graffiti alleyintimate portrait of bride and groom in graffiti alley black and white intimate portrait in graffiti alley colourful intimate portrait in graffiti alley bridal party in graffiti alley george stromboulopoulos in graffiti alley bridal party in graffiti alley toronto bridal party portrait in graffiti alley couple walking through graffiti alley couple at sonic boom recordsrecord shop bridal portrait record shop bridal portrait sonic boom record shop couple portrait record shop wedding record shop couple sessionintimate couples session in sonic boomhotel ocho ceremony decor hotel ocho ceremony decoration hotel ocho ceremony bride and dad ocho hotel wedding couple getting married at hotel ocho hotel ocho ceremony couple first kiss at ocho hotelmarried at hotel ochoreception decor at hotel ocho reception set up at hotel ocho table set-up at hotel ocho cake and flowers at hotel ochoreception at ocho hotel dinner reception at ocho hotel bride crying at reception couple kissing at ocho hotelspeech at hotel ochofirst dance at ocho hotel father daughter dance at hotel ocho family dance at hotel ocho mother son dance at hotel ochohotel ocho reception hotel ocho party dancing at hotel ocho dance party at hotel ocho bride dancing at hotel ocho party at the ocho hotel hotel ocho wedding hotel ocho party at weddinghotel ocho night wedding photos night wedding photography couple crossing spadina ave

Whimsical Toronto Wedding in Distillery District

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!

kate spade inspired wedding invitation mrs ring boxcolourful bridal bouquetbride getting make-up donebride getting readybride reading love letterbride reading love letter black and whitebridesmaids bridesmaids drinking coffee bridesmaids laughing in bedbride with parentsbride's parents' reactionbride's parents' reaction to giftbride dress against windowbride grabbing her dressbridesmaid helping bride get readybride getting zipper donebride showing her parents her dressmom doing necklace for bridehelping bride with veilbridal veilbride putting on earrings just married jean jacketskyline of torontowall collage groomsmen hanging out groomsmen cheering with drinks groomsmen chilling before wedding groom's detailsgroom reading his card groom reading card from bride bride's letter to her groomgroom getting readygroomsmen helping groom get readygroomsmen giftsgroom with shoes groom putting on shoes groom putting on his jacket groomsmen laughing groomsmen abbey road shotgroom waitingbride waiting to see groomfirst look on thompson hotel rooftopgroom's reaction to seeing his bridegroom's reaction to his bride's dressintimate photos of couplegroom kissing bride on Thompson hotel rooftopblack and white couple kissingkissing on the thompson hotel rooftoptwirling on the Thompson Hotel rooftop bride and groom twirling on the Thompson Hotel rooftop bride and groom twirling on the Thompson Hotel rooftop black and whiteseeing family members at wedding groom seeing his mombridal party on Thompson Hotel rooftopbridesmaids on Thompson Hotel rooftop groomsmen on Thompson Hotel rooftopbridal party at the lobby bar in thompson hotel torontostylish bridal party at the lobby bar in thompson hotel toronto

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

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

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?

  1. 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!
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. 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!
  5. 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

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!

An East Coast Maternity Session

When I got pregnant with little Ms. Vie I had no plans whatsoever to do a formal maternity session, definitely not one we would capture ourselves. But being out on the ocean in the East Coast of Canada, seeing the beautiful clouds rolling in we just couldn’t resist. So I quickly threw on my new Anthropologie dress (really the only one that fit me and looked good on camera), dragged my fingers through my hair, stripped my poor child down to his undies (that session will be blogged later!), and dragged Hugh out onto the rocks with my ever-expanding belly. We had a total of 20 minutes before our lovely moody sky turned down-right mean and was followed by a torrential downpour but it was totally worth it! I can’t get over how amazing the east coast of Canada is, the ocean, the rolling hills, the people, the food (the sea food), the everything – can’t wait to visit this summer again and hopefully take advantage of another beautifully moody day with my camera.

Jen & Dave ~ A Funky Urban Wedding at the Spoke Club in Toronto

Jen and Dave are not only a crazy artistic, unique, and quirky couple but they are also parents (to an adorable little 2.5 year old – Ronin) movie aficionados, adorably awkward dancers (please don’t tell them we said that!) and just overall amazing human beings. 

We met Jen before we met Dave and fell instantly in love with her energy and great sense of humour – we connected on everything from our love of all things nerdy (we’re talking Star Trek and comic books!) to our mutual experiences being parents to “spirited” little boys – it really was love at first chat (at least from our end!) When we finally met Dave, it only solidified our happiness at being able to capture such a wicked couple’s special day. Hugh and Dave bonded over pretty much everything including the “hardships” of fatherhood and their mutual love of horror flicks – it was a bromance from the get-go!

Jen met Dave on Valentine’s Day 2009 at an indie video store in Vancouver. Her friends had cancelled on their exciting VDay plans of eating copious amounts of peanut m&ms and watching old episodes of the Simpsons, so she decided to head to the local video store to rent some b-horror movies. When she got there, about 25 people were partying inside, celebrating the one year anniversary of the shop. Stoked to be drinking with a bunch of film geeks, Jen stayed, and started chatting to a handsome stranger. Dave and Jen hit it off instantly, bonding over their mutual love of b-horror films, music documentaries, riff rock, 70s funk, Alan Moore graphic novels, and sushi. Although they didn’t end up getting together until a few months down the line when they were both living in Toronto,  when they did things just felt right… Like they had been together for years! 

Their wedding at The Spoke Club reflected not only their mutual love for one another and their family and friends, but also their love of vintage media and horror films – it was a night filled with laughs, love, and oodles of dancing!

Venue: The Spoke Club, Wedding Planner: Events by Grace, Officiant: All Seasons Weddings, Invitations: Pam Sloan Designs, Flowers: Berries & Blooms,  Suit: TopMan, Makeup: Jessica Lyons Makeup, Hair: Bridal Hair Collective, Doughnut Tower: Glory Hole Doughnuts, Bride’s Shoes: Poetic Licence, Rings: Made You Look Designs, Bride’s Hair Accessories: Rightful Owner 

Steph & Lauren ~ A Beautiful Cottage Wedding in Muskoka

Steph and Lauren’s wedding is very special to us as the girls are so genuine and warm and instantly made us feel like part of the family and we remain friends to this day. 

Steph and Lauren met playing varsity hockey but as rivals! The ladies were first introduced in their last year of university at a national all-star camp, but didn’t actually connect until they had both graduated. One night they saw each other out on the street and promised to connect later that night … one big bar bill later, Lauren was telling Steph how she would be an amazing girlfriend.

After six years of dating, Steph proved her right and popped the big question on a beach in Hawaii – the rest is history…

There was never a doubt in both girls’ minds that they would have their wedding at Lauren’s family cottage. One of the first things that they each admired so much about one another is their mutual love for family and since the cottage  is a place where they gather time and time again with family and friends it was really a “no-brainer”.  Their ceremony was absolutely magical and took place right by the lake on which their cottage resides. Everyone held their breath as massive thunderstorm clouds raced past – but luckily the rain waited until after the girls said their “I dos” and once everyone was safely en route to the reception at the Kee to Bala – an amazing space that has housed many musical legends throughout the years. It was a party for the books – guests danced into the night and laughter and merriment could be heard into the wee hours of the morning.

Lauren’s Dress: Sash & Bustle, Steph’s Dress: Nordstrom, Reception: Kee to Bala, Catering: Morandin, Flowers: Bala Garden Centre, DJ: DJ Grant, Hair & Make-up: Sharp Images Salon & Spa, Groomsmen Suits: Surmesur, School buses for transporting guests: First Charter Bus

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