Boakview Photography

Intimate Toronto Engagement

So here’s the thing – when a couple asks us to come to their home and take photos of them hanging out and doing their thing we will NEVER say no! We squeal in excitement, nod our heads, pack our gear and zoom right over! And that is exactly what we did when Megan and Eddie asked us to capture their intimate Toronto engagement session in their home – this is what we live for as photographers!

Because we are lucky to work with couples who put their trust in us & our (sometimes) quirky ideas, we have been able to capture some pretty amazing e-sessions in some pretty amazing locations all over Canada and beyond! (Ahem – super cool Fredericton e-session in the water -yup that’s still one of our faves!) But that also means that we have an ever-growing wish list of places and spaces we want to photograph. An at-home intimate Toronto engagement session has been on the top of our list for a while for several reasons, the main being that your home is a space where you feel most comfortable, cozy, and hyggelig – which can translate into some really beautiful moments, both on and off camera (although we make sure to capture most of them!)

There are oodles of advantages for having a session in your own home – a big bonus is that you can enjoy a glass of wine (or two) to ease that camera shyness (see we are always thinking practically!) But aside from the beverages, your home is also a place that you are most familiar with and that comfort level can instantly create a sense of intimacy and calm in your photos. When we plan e-sessions with our couples one of the first questions we always ask is, “What speaks to you as a couple?” Followed by, “What is it that you love to do together?” Whether that translates into a cozy engagement session in your own home, or a walk to the beach – we encourage you to think about the places and spaces you love to frequent together and are reflective of you both.

Don’t worry about limiting your choices to one location, usually the 2 hours we book together are long enough to travel to two separate places as long as they are not super far apart! For Megan and Eddie we started in their home and then made our way to a park that Megan used to go to when she was little – both locations were near and dear to the couples’ hearts and translated into a pretty rad engagement session! Check out their photos below, and if you can’t get enough you can also see their full gallery here! Enjoy lovers!

Intimate Toronto Engagement Session at home
Intimate Toronto Engagement Session out of focus

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!

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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

Deanna & Robbie ~ A Lakeside Wedding in Oakville

Deanna and Robbie’s story is an epic tale of love from two separate coasts – Texas & Ontario… Their story begins at a wedding, a photo-booth at a wedding to be exact, after some flirting and laughing Robbie, ever the clever jokester, asked Deanna to take a photo-booth photo together. Once the photo was captured he tore it and handed one half to Deanna and departed for Dallas, Texas. The months following the epic photo tear the two kept in touch via social media and midnight texting. Not to be deterred by the distance between them, Deanna made her first trip to Dallas – it was to be the first of many…

Robbie proposed to his love in his hometown, knowing that a wedding would most certainly take place in Deanna’s, and boy are we sure glad it did! When we first met Deanna and Robbie a one-hour meeting quickly turned into a two-hour evening of laughs, pop-culture banter, and jokes – we were smitten and ever-so happy when they asked us to be part of their beautiful day. The wedding itself took place in the historic St. Andrew’s Church in Oakville followed by a reception at Piper’s Heath Golf Club, where we ended the evening with a brilliant firework display ~ and to bring in an element of their first meeting, Deanna and Robbie took oodles of photos in their very own photo-booth, but this time no photos were torn in half…

Venue: Piper’s Heath Golf Club

Dress: Sottero and Midgley from Heirlooms Bridal Shoppe

Suit/Tux: English Laundry from Moores

Bridesmaids Dresses: Sorella Vita from Heirlooms Bridal Shoppe

Groomsmen Suits/Tux: English Laundry from Moores

Engagement Ring and Wedding Band- Nadis Diamonds

Décor:  Set the Mood Decor

Invitations: Etsy- Oh Darling Paper

Limo Service: White Shadow Limos

Flowers: Set the Mood Decor

DJ: EJ Entertainment

Cake: Cakes by Natalie

Selvia & Jeffry ~ A Vintage Engagement in Toronto

One chilly November afternoon, I met with Jeffry and Selvia downtown Toronto. Despite the cold weather, these two were all smiles ready to have me follow them around downtown and capture their obvious adoration for each other. Jeffry and Selvia’s story is an epic international tale. The two met in school on their first day in university in summer 2006 in Asia. They were instantly smitten with one another and went out of their way to spend as much time together as possible – they secretly signed up for all of the same group projects and any free time they had was spent talking, laughing, and dreaming about their future together. But even despite their mutual commitment and love for each other they had some bumps along the way. Selvia decided to continue her studies abroad in Japan for five years without Jeffry and they endured a long distance relationship for that entire time. After such a long time apart they just couldn’t imagine being away from one another for any longer and both came to Toronto, Canada to study together. After just two years in Toronto, Jeffry popped the question and without any hesitation Selvia  said “YES”! This May the two will be tying the knot in Indonesia and although we can’t be part of their big celebration we are so lucky have captured their love in the city where they re-connected and solidified their future together!

This engagement session was featured on The Wedding Co.

We were thrilled to have shot this session with Dipak Parmar, see more of Dipak’s work here!

Preserving your Memories…

Photographs are meant to be looked at, admired, and shared – no matter the medium in which they appear. That being said, there is no denying that although looking at your images on a computer screen can feel inspiring, seeing a photograph in print imbues an image with a unique kind of tangible feel.  Think about the last time you came across your parents or grandparents’ family photo album – if you are anything like us then you probably spent a good chunk of time looking through it, admiring the longevity of the beautiful photographs encased within, and laughing at some of the ridiculously outdated fashions (or maybe that’s just us?!) No matter the reaction, the way a photo album feels in your hands, the texture of the pages, the vividness or fading of the images, tends to bring the photographs to life. An album can evoke forgotten memories and incite a sense of nostalgia for moments passed, not to mention it can be a beautiful showpiece to display and enjoy. 

As wedding photographers, it is our job to capture and preserve memories, and while we love digital media, we also know that having your memories curated in a photo album can be invaluable. The beauty of albums is that they are accessible, easily shared, and lovingly passed on from one generation to the next, which may not be the case for digital files. Furthermore albums, especially wedding albums, are a beautiful physical reminder of the intimate moments shared between the bride and groom and family and friends, all the while providing a timeless snapshot of captured celebrations. 

In addition to the beauty and longevity of having an album, however, there is also a very practical element.  As I sit here writing this post I (shamefully), think to our own wedding photos, tucked away in a folder, on a hard-drive, on one of our computers somewhere, rarely looked at and rarely enjoyed. Sure we posted some of the highlights on Facebook and one photo sits framed in our living room, but after the excitement of our wedding day and the inevitable commencement of everyday activities, we somehow pushed the work of making our own album to the bottom of the priority list. Sadly, this is not an uncommon narrative, most of our friends who enjoy their photographs on a more regular basis, do so because they were organized enough to make an album or had their photos carefully and beautifully bound by their photographers. As a result families sit together album in tow, share stories of their special day, and collectively laugh together at the memories – but best of all they can pass on those memories in a very visual way. 

Here are some things to think about when considering a wedding album:

There is difference between an “album” and “coffee table book”. Coffee table books tend to be smaller, lighter, and easier to transport but they also need more care because the pages are usually not as thick. While they are also cheaper in price they may not last as long as a lay-flat albums with thicker more durable pages. Either way both are amazing options to have your memories preserved.

Aside from the importance of having your own album made, think about who else would enjoy looking and reminiscing about your special day. Parent albums are a great gift idea for mom and dad and are sure to win you some serious cheek pinching and tears or joy from grandpa and grandma.

When working with your photographer, make sure you always specify what you would like the focus of your album to be. Is it family photos, detail shots, photos of you and your hubby, or do you prefer to hand over the reigns and give your album-maker full creative control? Some couples like to be more involved in their album creation than others, but it also important to remember that your photographer is a professional and they’ve been trained to curate your images in a beautiful and timeless fashion.

Engaged ~ Orla & Ian

Orla and Ian’s story is an international affair! Orla, an Irish expat, met Ian while working in Toronto – the two fell in love almost instantly and have been inseparable ever since, so much so that Orla now calls Canada her home. Although Toronto is the city where they met, they decided to be married in Wicklow, Ireland this coming spring – how romantic is that? In order to stay true to their whimsical wedding plans (they will be married in an Abbey in the Irish country-side – swoom!) we wanted to re-create that same kind of magic right here in the middle of the city. What better place to do that than in High Park. Nestled in the midst of the busy West end of Toronto, we took Orla and Ian through the quiet and peaceful park and snapped as the two cuddled, kissed, and laughed. Orla, a lover of wild flowers, brought with her a hand-made bouquet that matched the mid-autumn colours of the surroundings and we couldn’t help but be reminded of the Irish country-side. We are also super excited to mention that Orla and Ian’s whimsical engagement session was also featured on JoyWed, see their story here!

Mike & Kerri Post-Wedding Portrait

Mike and Kerri are good friends of ours and we were honoured when they asked us to join them in Jamaica to capture their special day (week) in May. Unfortunately because of previous wedding engagements we were unable to attend but offered the lovebirds a post-wedding session in their hometown of Cambridge. We absolutely loved spending time with the two newlyweds walking around their hometown, snapping some photos, and stopping in to one of their favourite juice bars! Mike and Kerry’s energy was absolutely infectious and even despite the heat of the day, these two just loved laughing, kissing, and posing for the cameras!

Niki & Kyle Post-Wedding Portrait

Niki and Kyle are not only adorable and crazy in-love they also happen to be two of our closest friends, so you can imagine our delight when they asked us to photograph their wedding (featured on the Desire Hartsock Blog here) in Mexico this past winter. As it sometimes goes, scheduling wasn’t exactly in our favour and we only had a small amount of time between the reception and ceremony to take photos, so to make up for the short amount of time on the day of, we convinced the duo to let us take some post-wedding photographs. We scheduled the session for the late afternoon, so not to disrupt their first day of newlywed bliss and we were lucky to have one of the loveliest dusks of the whole trip. The sky was beautifully lit and the beach virtually deserted – the perfect backdrop for an intimate early evening portrait session.

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