toronto wedding photographer Archives

2021 Love Actually Exhibit

February 4, 2021

Hello lovers! The new year is finally here and with it marks the arrival of the 2021 Love Actually Exhibit! Every year, Scarlet O’Neill curates this amazing collection of real wedding moments. I am so thrilled that this year one of my images was selected. It truly is an honour and a privilege to be among so many talented photographers! You can check out the whole collection here!

2021 Love Actually Exhibit couple in front of a sign

Putting Myself Out There

As some of you may know – I have a tremendous fear of rejection (UGH can we say PhD PTSD?!) It is always a struggle for me to put my work out there to be judged by others. I constantly feel like an imposter, and it prevents me from really showcasing my art sometimes! But this time, I decided to get over myself and my fear and take a leap! I’m so happy I did, because not only was this photo selected in the exhibit, but Wedding Bells Magazine also featured it on their website! (WHAAAATTT!?) I guess it pays to give old fear a good kick in the %$# sometimes!

As a photographer, I am forever capturing memories for couples, families & business owners. I have hard-drives upon hard-drives of immortalized moments, special occasions, and moments in time. I am so lucky that others trust me to immortalize their most precious memories. It is an absolute privilege and I am so grateful for what I do.

As a documentarist, it is my job to capture these moments in time. But as a photographer, it is always amazing to see your work recognized as art, especially in this difficult pandemic climate. This year’s virtual exhibit is a true reflection of the massive shift we, as photographers, experienced in the wedding industry. It’s been a very tough year, but the incredible photos in the 2021 Love Actually Exhibit demonstrate that Love Is NOT Cancelled!

“Love Me Till I’m Me Again”

2021 Love Actually Exhibit couple standing in front of a parking lot with a sign

I drive by the “Love me till I’m me again” installation all the time. It always evokes such a strong emotional reaction. Especially during the pandemic, which has been so difficult for all photographers, it really resonates. I knew that I needed to incorporate it into a wedding, especially a wedding that was impacted by the virus. I envisioned it as the backdrop for my couples many times. And then, one day, along came Glynnis and Alan…

The Story of Glynnis and Alan

Glynnis and Alan met online, in the US! They dated long distance before Alan decided to make the move to Toronto to be with his love! Originally, they both planned for a small intimate wedding in downtown Toronto. With only about 40 guests in attendance, it seemed like the perfect, intimate wedding. Alas, as we all know, by early October things were starting to look a little dire, even for the most intimate weddings. On top of all the restrictions, the couple’s family were not able to travel to Ontario. In light of the circumstances, Alan and Glynnis made the decision to go ahead with their wedding, but in a very different way. Instead of 40 guests, they narrowed their list to a mere 5: themselves, their officiant, one witness (Glynnis’ dad), and myself, their photographer (and the other witness!) It was beautiful.

A late afternoon ceremony at Preto Loft studios, The Marrying Lady officiated their small ceremony. With the soft afternoon light streaming in, their nearest and dearest friends and family joined Glynnis and Alan via Zoom. Tears were a plenty, but so was joy and celebratory drinks for the happy couple! Golden hour and early evening photos on the streets of Toronto followed their intimate ceremony…

You can check out the happy couple’s full collection here, but here is a little teaser!

Couple saying their vows at the Preto Loft Studio

Bride laughing when the ring come son her finger

2021 Love Actually Exhibit couple having drinks at studio

couple in front of the door wearing masks

2021 Love Actually Exhibit groom kissing bride on her throat

2021 Love Actually exhibit couple standing and hugging in front of a car

couple walking away into the sunset in an urban parking lot

Vendors:

Hair and makeup: Amber Bentley

Alan’s Suit: Indochino

Flowers: Quince Flowers

Officiant: The Marrying Lady

Ceremony: Preto Loft

Photos: Mint Room Studios

Fall High Park Mini Sessions

December 4, 2020

Fall High Park Mini Sessions: 2020 has not been exactly what we expected! In fact, I would wager that it’s been a lot more of the unexpected! But, hey, that’s okay – we make the best of it and we keep on keeping on! Am I right? That being said, this was a year of learning, reflecting, and adaption. It was also a year of the minis – mini weddings, mini ceremonies, and, of course, mini sessions! For me, it was so lovely to revisit more intimate ways of capturing love, happiness, and families! That is why I was so excited to do something this year, that I was too busy to do in the past: Fall High Park Mini Sessions!

High Park has always been a place close to my heart! I remember visiting it with my family when we first came to Canada. I marvelled at how such a beautiful natural space was just minutes away from the busy city. Now that I am lucky to live so close, it just made sense to capture some memories surrounded by High Park’s natural beauty!

This year, my fall High Park Mini Sessions were a lovely combo of family, maternity, couple, & newborn photos. It was wonderful to re-connect with past couples & families, but also to connect with some new clients. I included some snaps from the session along with some great suggestions for what to expect during a fall High Park Mini Session. Enjoy!

Beautiful fall leaves during fall high park mini sessions

Maternity High Park Mini Sessions

Maternity sessions are some of my fave sessions to capture. I love immortalizing those moments right before a new human comes into its new family. The happiness, anticipation and love is so beautiful and palatable – this truly is a magical time. I usually have clients asking me what to wear & what to expect. The first thing I always tell my clients is to be themselves! I love to capture authenticity in my photos. Therefore, wear something comfy, something you always feel good in – no matter what the session! I love movement, so you can expect to be walking and moving at least a little bit even in a shorter amount of time!

couple kissing under a tree during fall high park mini sessions

Pregnant belly during fall high park mini sessions

pregnant couple kissing under a fall tree during fall high park mini sessions

Couples High Park Mini Sessions

Think of this as a mini engagement session (if you are newly-engaged) or a fun, mini-romantic photoshoot! Whatever your preference the same rules always apply: be snuggly, be kissey, (I love PDA), but above all else be yourself and have fun!

Couple in love during fall high park mini sessions

Two photos of a couple snuggling in High Park

Walking through high park during fall high park mini sessions

Two photos of couple hugging during fall high park mini sessions

intimate photo of couple kissing during fall high park mini sessions

Family High Park Mini Sessions

Families are so fun to capture (check out some fun sessions here!) Families tend to be full of energy, enthusiasm, and love! My favourite combination. Kids are always a pleasure because they aren’t shy, they love movement, and aren’t afraid to be silly! Parents don’t sweat it if your little ones don’t want to stand or sit still, their silliness always makes great photos! Just enjoy the ride! Oh and if you have pets, please bring them!

Family with toddler during fall high park mini sessions

Two photos of toddler and parents during fall high park mini sessions

Black and white photo of toddler holding hands with mom

family walking away during fall high park mini sessions

Family portrait in High Park during fall high park mini sessions

Boys being silly with dog during fall high park mini sessions

Cute puppy at fall high park mini sessions

Parents having a really cute moment during fall high park mini sessions

Newborn High Park Mini Sessions

While I prefer to do a combo of indoor and outdoor spaces for newborn sessions, with the current pandemic restrictions, outdoor mini sessions are the perfect compromise! Just bundle up, bring your stroller, carrier, whatever, and smile!

family with newborn wearing sunglasses during fall high park mini sessions

Mom and newborn baby hugging during fall high park mini sessions

Intimate moment between dad and newborn baby during fall high park mini sessions

That’s it – those are all the rules! Be comfortable, be yourself, and have fun – leave the rest up to me!

2019 Year in Review – Couples

January 29, 2020

2019 – what a year! We had so many wonderful adventures with so many amazing couples! It’s been one for the books for sure! As in pervious years, we went down memory lane and reminisced about our favourite moments of the year. And, as in previous years, it is, once again, time for our annual 2019 year in review – couples slideshow!

Reflecting on this year, I can honestly say that it taught us some big lessons. For one, it taught us not to take anything for granted! The work we do and the people we work with are precious and the memories we capture are equally so. We are so lucky to be able to capture love, intimacy, genuine emotion and to immortalize it for our couples and families. And that is a precious gift!

This year, as with other years in the past, we were able to step outside of our comfort zones with our couples. We had new adventures, new experiences, and are once again humbled by the trust all of you place in us. Thank you! We feel so very blessed that our couples trust us and our quirky requests. But also that we can work together as partners to create some pretty amazing memories! Photography is, after all, a relationship, a team effort, not a solitary enterprise!

This year when I was putting together our annual 2019 year in review – couples, I was struck by how much more comfortable I am with going outside of my own comfort zone! (Does that make sense?) I no longer doubt (or care) if a shot is not perfectly lit, or positioned. For me, this year has been about exploring the human connection with our couples. It was about capturing raw human emotion, as opposed to the perfect composition. This year was all about the feels! (Check out some of those feels here – hope they give you goosebumps! 🙂

As usual, the endeavour of selecting images for this year’s slideshow was not easy. Choosing some of our favourite photos is like choosing a favourite child or pet! And as you know, we love our children and we love our Bubi! But I, somehow, managed come up with a lovely assortment of some of our most favourite captures. These are not exclusive by any means, and if we could find a song that was longer than a mere 3 minutes, we would include more photos!

So lovers, that is it! Another year older and another year wiser (maybe?!) With another season to look forward to, more couples to meet, collaborate with, laugh with, cry with, dance with and make memories with – we cannot wait to get started! In the mean time, turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy while we share this…

2019 Year in review – Weddings

January 14, 2020

Bridal Party with confetti at the Gladstone Hotel

It’s that time of the year again lovers! It’s time for our 2019 year in review wedding slideshow! Woo Hoo!

It’s definitely been a year lovers! So many amazing couples, venues, families, parties, and the list goes on and on and on…
We are so grateful and our hearts are so full that we get to work with so many incredible humans, vendors, & venues throughout the year! We can’t even begin to describe how much we love what we do! (And believe me, we REALLY love what we do!)

Every year, when we look back, we always think that it can’t get any better in the new upcoming season and then it does. Surpise! New couples, new places & spaces, new friends – what can we say but Thank YOU! Thank you for trusting us, for laughing with us (and at us), for being silly with us, but most importantly for letting us do us! We could not do it without you – our couples, our families, our friends!

As you may know, because I say it every year, but this is always super hard for me to do. It is so incredibly difficult to select only a limited amount of photos from our past year’s weddings since we love them all! Seriously I’m the worst at this! It takes me hours and hours of sorting through all of our couples’ most precious memories. In the end, in order to come up with a mere 3 minute video! There are compromises, laughter, a bit of rage, and the inevitable tear or two as I sit and narrow down the count. I don’t envy me LOL!

With that being said, here it is, our annual 2019 year in review – weddings slideshow! Turn up the sound and enjoy lovers! Oh and cheers to another amazing year!!! 2020 here we come!

Intimate Toronto Engagement

April 11, 2019

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

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!

Best of 2018 – Engagements

January 15, 2019

What a year it’s been! So many adventures and a few misadventures along the way as well (no one is perfect – no year either). But it’s been one for the books for sure. This year has taught us not to take anything for granted, particularly the work we do and the people we work with – we get to capture love, to immortalize it for our couples, and for ourselves. It’s not just about one or two days of partying (although that is indeed a bonus!), but it’s also about capturing a lifetime of memories in their most raw visual form and we are so grateful for that. This year we also stepped outside of our comfort zones with weddings but also with engagement sessions. We experimented with different locations, vibes, technologies, etc. – it’s been a fantastic learning curve, one we hope to develop even more this season! We feel very blessed that our couples trust us and our (sometimes) quirky ideas, and that we can work together as partners to create some pretty cool memories! Photography is, after all, a relationship, one we try to foster above all else! So as is or annual tradition, we put together a little best of 2018 – engagements. As usual, this has not been easy. Choosing our favourite photos is really like choosing your favourite finger or toe (I’m not kidding – we like them all!!!) but we managed to squeeze them all into a 3 minute song! (Turn up the volume, it makes the video so so so much better!)

So lovers, that’s it. Another year older and another year wiser. Another season to look forward to with more couples to meet, collaborate with, laugh with, cry with, dance with and make memories with. We can’t wait to get started, but in the mean time we share this…

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!

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

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