The Ultimate Urban Elopement Experience

You may have heard a lot of talk around eloping these days. Maybe you’ve just considered it (thinking of how much less organizing it would take) or maybe you’ve always thought an elopement was the perfect fit for your wedding day.

The flexibility you have for an elopement is 10 fold the flexibility of a more traditional wedding day. Whatever you dream up, you can do it. You don’t need to look for a venue that holds a certain amount of guests, you don’t need to make seating charts that pleases the whole family, and if you’re a bit more introverted you don’t have to look forward to the nerves and anxiety of saying your emotional vows in front of an audience.

I want to share with you how truly unique an elopement can be. You can cater every aspect of the day to incorporate what you love, making it an unforgettable and meaningful experience. This is a FULL DAY elopement that I call the “Ultimate Urban Elopement”. As your wedding photographer & guide, I do a lot more than just document one of the most important and meaningful days of your lives, it’s a priority for me to help you create an incredible and entire experience for your elopement. 

Throughout all my years in this city and being a part of over a hundred weddings (elopements or other intimate weddings), I’ve seen so much creativity and heart that goes into the planning process. Toronto is the perfect city to elope in, there is a restaurant for everyone, there is an activity for everyone, and there are places that will fit your vibe no matter what it may be.

I could have probably written one hundred different elopement ideas but this one really shows off what this city can offer and ways to make your elopement experience truly unique and fun. Here’s a sample of an Urban adventure elopement I planned using some of my favourite areas and locations in Toronto.

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THE ULTIMATE URBAN ELOPEMENT TIMELINE

9:00am

Wake up at 9 or 10.. (sleep in a little, it’s your day!)

9:30am

Exchange cards that you wrote for each other to read on the morning of your wedding day.

11:30am

Have Brunch at Bonjour Brioche. The have the sweetest covered patio and are located in Leslieville , it’s the perfect way to start out your day relaxed and full of delicious food. Try the eggs benny, it’s legendary. If you’re more of a west ender, I would head to Pray Tell or Cafe Cancan for a decadent celebratory brunch (and they both also have patios! A prerequisite for any brunch in my opinion).

Pro Tip #1: If you didn’t get engagement photos or think you would want some photos in your every day casual attire, on your way to brunch would be the perfect time to snap some pics in your favourite neighbourhood in the city.

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2:00pm

Check into your boutique hotel of choice. Leaving your home base is a fun and easy way to eliminate dealing with small things like cleanup and it adds a new dimension to the entire elopement experience.

 The top of my list is definitely the Kimpton Saint George. It’s in an ideal location in the Annex which makes it easy for travel. The modern vintage aesthetic of the hotel offers a beautiful balance between luxury and comfort (and it makes for a great place to get some amazing photos together). Do you prefer Queen West or the East End? Book your stay at the Drake or the Broadview Hotel.

2:30pm

Get ready together at the hotel. I would suggest having a makeup artist come in to do your makeup and once you’re ready you can help one another get dressed and adjust the final touches on your looks. Make sure you’ve written your vows in your vow book and that you have your rings and marriage license ready to go. Your florist can delivery any flowers you decided to have at this point as well. Pro Tip #2: Make sure to snag a snack through your room service to power you through until your dinner reservations.

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4:00pm

The car that you rented gets dropped off, a 1990’s convertible Cadillac (or any vintage sports car or cruiser) and we set off for a short drive to your secret ceremony location. If you aren’t car people then we can hop on some bikes or the streetcar to get to our destination.

6:30pm

We arrive at Allen Gardens for your intimate and private ceremony. Just you two, the officiant and witnesses (we can sign as witnesses if you want ultimate privacy and to keep it ultra romantic). This is where you will get to enjoy your stress-free and highly intimate vow exchange. Take it all in, express your love and commitment to one another while being surrounded by the tropical foliage. You’re now officially married! 

7:00pm

You’ll have a few quiet moments together and get the opportunity to explore the greenhouse. A perfect opportunity for you both to soak in all your emotions and get use to actually being married!
Pro-Tip #3: As you go off and enjoy your time together, strolling through the gardens we will do a few couples portraits along the way. You’ll most likely be on an emotional high which will translate so well into genuine portraits of you as a MARRIED couple.

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7:30pm

We’ll drive around the neighbourhood stopping in a few cool spots in the East End, taking advantage of that cool vintage car and grungy urban aesthetic. Pull up to Godspeed Brewery in the Riverdale neighbourhood, enjoy a toast to some Yuzu Saisons before walking down the road for dinner.

8:45PM

We head to a beautiful and understated boutique restaurant around the corner, Lake Inez in the East End of the city. You enjoy a private dinner for two in the back corner of the restaurant, sipping on champagne and eating crazy delicious food (there are vegan options too). We’ll take a couple of photos without the dinner but we will be at our own table so you can enjoy your first dinner together as a married couple. Pro Tip #4: If you want to include your immediate family in your celebration you can invite them to a dinner and book a private room at one of your favourite restaurants.

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10:00PM

Your designated driver (a close friend or family member) pulls up in the vintage car and takes you to the West End to link up with some friends ready to celebrate your big day!

10:30PM

Arrive at TILT Arcade Bar where your small group of friends and family are waiting with drinks in hand. Time to party! Drink a little too much, play some pinball and eat some late night grub before walking across the street to Dundas Video where you put on your dancing shoes and rip up the dance floor to everyone’s favourite 80’s and 90’s classics. 

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1:00AM

Hail a cab, make your way back to the boutique hotel, kick off your shoes and enjoy a late night dessert from the room service while watching your favourite show and falling asleep in each other’s arms.

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After your incredible day we’ll make sure you get some sneak peaks within the week so that you can announce that you’re married! You can either send out announcement cards or you can simply make a social media post. All your friends and family will be so excited to see the photos and how you spent your elopement day, so make sure you share the photos with them and get ready to receive a whole lot of love!

The only thing left to do is receive your full wedding gallery and photo album to help you relive one of the greatest days of your lives over and over and over again.

Engagement Session at Casa Loma

Of course every couple wants a different vibe for their photos. You want the location you have your session in to reflect you, your relationship, and even highlight a place that holds meaning for you both.

The greatest thing about being in Toronto is how easy it is to find cool and unique spots to shoot. I’ve lived in the city for almost 10 years (which is crazy to say) and I’ve spent a lot of time exploring. I’m always trying new restaurants, looking to support local shops, and sometimes just walking around with my pup to take in the beauty of the busy (and not so busy) streets and hidden parks. What’s especially great about my exploration over the years is that it’s allowed me to create a whole resource of locations that are unique, have different vibes, and would make for crazy awesome engagement sessions photo locations. You let me know what you’re looking for and I’ll provide you with some specific spots that I think are a great fit for you from the laundry list of locations I have in my notebooks.

Mariyam and Aaron wanted to explore a quintessential Toronto neighbourhood to really capture that old Toronto feeling and aesthetic. Why? They were in the process of moving out of the city and they wanted to document memories of the place where their relationship had grown. I loved that idea and was completely on board. We walked around the Casa Loma steps and explored all the way along Dupont, detouring down some cool alleyways and following the light. We finished off our session at the Spadina subway station (which I actually think is the coolest subway platform in the city) and was so stoked to have a couple as excited as I was to take some photos there. The vintage and throwback vibe was perfect for the understated and calming mood that Mariyam and Aaron brought to the engagement session.

If you are in need of some guidance on how to choose an engagement location, maybe try thinking of a place that holds meaning for you. If you’re still stumped, think of what activities you love to do together or where you are hanging out on Saturday nights. The possibilities are endless and creating something that revolves around your true personalities will always create memorable and timeless images that you can hold dear and near to your hearts.

Location: Casa Loma Area

Best Wedding Photographs of 2019 Roundup

2019 has come and gone and all that’s left are the memories and photographs to bring me back to the moment. Boy, what a year it was. I can start with the obvious highlight, travelling to Los Angeles for an epic wedding and getting to take a sun filled vacation in the middle of our busy wedding season. It was an incredible and unforgettable experience that has left us lusting to get back to the California coast ever since. Having the opportunity to photograph in the stunning venue that is the Grass Room in DTLA and also heading out to Malibu to explore and create work at the Frank Lloyd Wright Ranch were dreamlike experiences. My memories feel like a nostalgic music video where everything was beyond expectation and imagination. We were also able to spend a lot of personal time in LA, documenting our travels in both film and Super 8 (which is most likely what has influenced my memories to feel like a music video). As artists, we were able to fulfill some visions and explore scenes we had never even conceptualized.

On top of going to one of the most gorgeous wedding venues in Los Angeles, I also had the opportunity to return to some of my long time favourite venues here in Toronto; The Gladstone Hotel, Madsen’s Greenhouse, The Drake Commissary, and The Broadview Hotel, to name a few. Each one of them have their own unique aesthetic, and I always get excited when I get the chance to revisit them to capture a wedding day. I think the coolest thing about shooting in a venue more than once is to see how my couples really infuse their own personalities into the space and into the events of the day, things never feels repetitive or overdone. The uniqueness of each wedding is something to take notice of and something I definitely focus on documenting as a wedding photographer.

I also got to shoot at some venue and locations for the first time. Ricarda’s for a gorgeous restaurant wedding with modern vibes, Hotel Ocho which is super cool and trendy, and Archeo which is a quaint little restaurant in the heart of the distillery.

After Los Angeles we headed out west to photograph a gorgeous wedding in the mountains of Canmore (which you can check out in Brian’s best of the best over on his blog). Being able to work in Alberta is extremely special for me as it gives me the opportunity to visit and spend time with my family. I’m extremely grateful to have a career that allows me to travel, especially when that travel takes me bak to my home province. On top of that of course, Canmore is absolutely breathtaking and I will never ever get tired of photographing weddings in the mountains. Even though it was 12 degrees in July, I still love the province I’m from and am planning many trips back home in 2020.

As epic as those locations were, it was 100% the amazing people that we got to share these experiences with that made them so perfect. 2019 represents the most couples Brian and I have ever worked with and it was a whirlwind year. I feel like I’ve honed in on my craft and that I’m able to explore the world of wedding photography through my own eyes and tell stories in ways I’ve always envisioned. I’ve been refining my editorial approach to weddings and have been able to find a balance between the editorial and documentary elements that make up an entire wedding day. The way I see it, a wedding needs a photographer equally skilled at capturing the narrative elements of a wedding day and the ability to capture beautiful atmosphere that we see in our mind’s eye.

Another 2019 win that I don’t feel like I should go without mentioning, is that I hosted my first workshop on Albums. With Album x Print I want to be able to share my knowledge to help other photographers make albums a real, viable part of their business. The workshop covers everything from how to sell albums to how to design them, and everything in between. Since the first workshop that took place February 2019 I’ve had the opportunity to refine the curriculum and am hosting the next workshop on March 29, 2020 in my home studio in Toronto. For more information you can check out the Album x Print Workshop under Education and I look forward to making albums and education a core part of my wedding photographing business going forward into the new decade.

2020 is already off to a great start and I have so much to look forward to for this exciting new year. Here’s hoping that 2020 is as good to me as 2019 was but in the meantime, here’s a brief look back on this past year for Ryanne Hollies Photography.

Wedding Portraits at Osgoode Hall

2019 seems to be the year of vogue-esque brides, and I have absolutely no complaints. Amber and Trevor decided to have an intimate, family-only wedding in downtown Toronto at the Chase Oyster Bar.

Although they were not allowed to have professional photographs of their ceremony we were able to take advantage of the Shangri-La Hotel and Osgoode Hall for some editorial portraits and family photos beforehand. Amber channeled her bold style it into a modern, elegant, and fierce wedding look. She was able to achieve the look of a stunning bride while continuing to be total badass babe at the same time. Every detail had been thoughtfully taken care of ; from her blush Chanel lipstick, her vintage jewellery and even the meaningful roses she had in her trendy updo.

The weather seemed ominous that day, but after a little drizzle during the first look at the Shangri-La the skies opened up and we headed to Osgoode Hall for the rest of our time together.

From a photographer’s perspective it felt like an interesting in-between mixture of an editorial portrait session and an intimate elopement. We got to explore the beautiful grounds of Osgoode Hall and with the high-fashion look that the bride and groom were presenting, it wasn’t overly difficulty create some gorgeous wedding images. The trees in were blooming a vibrant magenta creating the perfect contrast to the stone buildings and lush greenery surrounding Osgoode Hall and downtown Toronto.

I had the opportunity to shoot with my medium format camera to give Amber and Trevor an authentic editorial film experience. The film photographs from the day are timeless and really brought out the essence of vogue. There’s something about weddings on analog film that really pulls together all the little things in a much more artistic and authentic way. It was the perfect compliment for this elopement since the vibes were so haute-couture and the bride and groom had the perfect were truly something out of a magazine. It was such a pleasure to work with these two and their families on the day of their intimate wedding, although their looks were some of the best I’ve ever seen from a bride and groom, it’s really their personalities and the people involved in the wedding day that make it truly special and memorable for me as a wedding photographer.

VENDORS
Stylist - Parlour Beach
Wedding Dress - Reformation
Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Groom's Suit - Tiger of Sweden
Accommodation: Shangri-La Hotel
Photo Location: Osgoode Hall

Downtown Toronto Wedding at Hotel Ocho

I’m so excited to share this gorgeous Hotel Ocho wedding. To say Joanna was a stunning bride is putting it lightly. She was something pulled straight out of a high fashion magazine and Dave was the perfect complimenting groom in his dapper Tiger of Sweden suit. Their style worked hand-in-hand with the rustic and authentic downtown Toronto vibe that Hotel Ocho is so famous for; the red bricks, exposed beams, being right by the busy intersection of Queen Street and Spadina, it all felt very quintessentially Toronto. Hotel Ocho is a one the best wedding venues in Toronto, it checked off all the right boxes for me as a wedding photographer, but most importantly, it felt so right for Joanna and Dave’s intimate wedding.

This was one of those weddings where fate played an important role. When Joanna and Dave were looking for a last minute wedding photographer, Joanna’s close friend, Angela, connected us. Angela is a makeup artist and we’ve worked together on past weddings, including Ali and Alex’s wedding at Airship 37. After we met with the bride and groom, we knew that somehow it had all worked out and we couldn’t wait to be a part of their beautiful wedding day.

Their wedding day was simple; a heartfelt church ceremony followed by a gorgeous reception at Hotel Ocho with all their closest family and friends. Although we didn’t know each other for a long time before the wedding, we really got to bond throughout the day, especially during our portrait session at David A. Balfour Ravine. Dave is seriously goofy and could make Joanna laugh no matter what situation I put them in. He jokingly threw in a few funny faces during our photo session but when it came time to share private moments with his bride he was affectionate and warm. It was hard for them to contain their emotions and sentiment for one another during the portrait session since they really allowed one another to live in the moment and truly take in their feelings and embrace them for all their worth. As the day progressed we got to see more of the nuances of their relationship and how truly perfect this bride and groom are for each other. Looking back through the images I could really feel the love they’ve cultivated for one another over the years and although they had their doubts (as every couple does) about being in front of the camera, they couldn’t have been any more natural or themselves throughout the entire process.

The simplicity of the wedding day rang true in their choice to not have a bridal party, only their witnesses acting as maid of honour and the best man. The reception was full of genuine conversation, Joanna and Dave made sure to talk to every single person throughout the dinner to express their gratitude and importance of their presence. In true Dave fashion, he cracked everyone up during his speech and Joanna reminded everyone how grateful they were to have their loved ones share this day with them.

It was a perfect day, filled with so many acts of love, including Joanna’s brother performing a song on guitar to accompany the father-daughter dance, which had her dad in tears. It was a sweet moment between father and daughter and it truly highlighted the importance the bride’s family played in her life leading up to the wedding day.

A special thank you to Angela for connecting us, you are so talented at what you do and it was a pleasure collaborating with you again.

Joanna and Dave, you are two in a million and it’s clear you bring out the best in each other. Here is a little look into your intimate wedding day at Hotel Ocho in downtown Toronto.

VENDORS
Second Shooter - Brian Bettencourt, 3B Photography
Makeup Artist - Angela Xuereb
Hairstylist - Cutz by Carla
Wedding Dress - Mona Richie
Groom's Suit - Tiger of Sweden
Florist - Charisma Florist
Venue / Catering / Coordination - Hotel Ocho

A Family Wedding at The Drake Devonshire Inn

Here is the last wedding of my 2018 season, and I must say that Ali and James made this day the perfect note to end on. Their small, intimate family wedding was hosted at the Drake Devonshire Inn in Prince Edward County. Although the winds were strong and the waves were angry, the sophisticated interior of the modern inn created a perfectly warm environment to celebrate a meaningful day.

In celebration of the Bride’s Ukrainian heritage, Ali and James walked down the aisle together and stood on a hand-embroidered cloth called a Rushnyk, which was passed down by her parents.

With the entire hotel all to ourselves we explored each unique space, from the owners suite to the waterfront, we spent little moments throughout the day taking portraits and taking in the moments that had unfolded.

Our dining experience was incredible, but it came at no surprise.. every single meal I have had a Drake restaurant has been insanely delicious (and I’m not just saying that). Throughout the evening, the kids kept us all entertained with shuffleboard competitions, handmade cards for the bride and groom, and more than a couple of trips to the photobooth.

I love every opportunity that I get to shoot at the Drake Devonshire as I find it always provides a new source of inspiration. The ever-changing art installations and the 70’s themed living room lobby provide a stimulating atmosphere to explore and create in. Being able to share this space with two people who were literally up for anything (including sunset photos when it was no more than 2 degrees outside) made it a refreshing and enjoyable way to cap off the 2018 wedding season.

VENDORS
Second Shooter - Brian Bettencourt, 3B Photography
Hair and Makeup - Village 272
Wedding Dress - Jealous Bridesmaids
Groom's Suit - Pasqualino
Bride's Shoes - Nine West
Groom’s Shoes - Johnston Murphy
Wedding Bands - Elizabeth Blythe
Florist - Flower Fantasy
Venue / Catering / Coordination - The Drake Devonshire

A Sunrise Engagement Session that Started at Underpass Park

I very briefly met Jackie and Skylar at the Gladstone Love Market back in February and it was not until a few months later where we were able to connect and get to know each other. Little did I know, these two people are both remarkable individuals (though I could have guessed) and incredibly talented dancers for the National Ballet of Canada. As you would expect, they are both very elegant and graceful (which made my job easy) but their relationship is also so soft and deliberate. Their appreciation for being present and embracing their environment really created the atmosphere of these images.

In an homage to Skylar's skater days back in LA (where he grew up) we started at Underpass Park and then headed west to where they now call home, The Candy Factory. They told me they are continually inspired by the industrial charm of the building and that they have spent a lot of time making it into their home. So maybe the photo of their couch with their stuffed animal dogs may seem hilarious or trivial, to them it's a documentation of their space in this moment in time. Where, in one year of living there, their philodendron has spread across the wall and taken over.

When I think about the photography that I do for others, being able to capture things just the way they were becomes really important. Photos will always trigger memories but they should also trigger emotion and I feel like that is my job. 

I can easily say that I am looking forward to their wedding next year in Los Angeles, but I'm even more excited to spend more time with these two and sharing what will definitely be a once in a life time experience. 

Intimate Restaurant Wedding In Oakville, ON

Sweet and simple, is probably the best way to sum up this wedding day. With plans to have a larger celebration back in their home country of Italy, Luigi and Alessia had an intimate wedding ceremony in her home town of Oakville, Ontario.

Although their ceremony was shorter than the amount of time it will takes you to look through these photos, the significance of their union was not lessened. I think as much as it’s important to capture epic and grandiose moments of a wedding day it’s just as important to capture the small, significantly personal moments as well.

The bride and groom celebrated with their closest friends and family at the authentically Italian Borgo Antico in Oakville, on a cool day in November and it really couldn’t be anymore perfect. These are the short, but sweet moments that I got to share with Alessia and Luigi on their wedding day.

VENDORS
Venue/Catering - Borgo Antico

A Rustic Wedding Bellamere Winery

Kayla and Fiodar got married at Bellamere Winery on a beautiful (but chilly!) Fall day in London, ON.

Kayla and Fido met playing varsity volleyball, which is actually how Brian and I met as well (if you didn’t already know) so before you even look at a photo of them you can probably infer that they are both very tall and very beautiful people. Speaking of volleyball, the reason I met these two special people is because I played volleyball with Kayla’s sister Krystyna while I was completing my undergrad at Ryerson University in Toronto. Krystyna is one of my closest friends (and a badass, talented architect) so it was pretty cool to see her doing her thing as the maid of honour.

Bellamere Winery has a vast field in the back of the property which was where we spent most of our time doing portraits. We also found a gorgeous tunnel of evergreens which made an ideal stop for couples portraits. The field created the perfect scene for the Bride and Groom’s first look, which I don’t mind saying myself, was pretty cinematic and emotional. Since the moment Kayla and Fido set eyes on each other they couldn’t wipe the grins off their faces. These two expressed their love in such an outwardly joyous way, it really was a pleasure to capture. I felt inspired by the season, the earthy natural surroundings and these two people that are so genuinely in love.

The ceremony, albeit a little on the cold side, rang true to their relationship with kind, honest vows and no shortage of laughter. They said their I do’s under a seemingly symbolically circular pavilion and continued on to celebrate in the warmth of the charming rustic winery. It’s cottage-like feel and beautiful DIY decor created the perfect setting for a eventful evening.

The night before the wedding, Krystyna showed me some photographs from their mom’s wedding in 1985. I immediately fell in love with them and with a little push from Brian, we decided that we would recreate some of these images on Kayla’s wedding day. There are only a few, but throughout the post you will see the 1985 version and the 2018 version of a couple of images. This gave me an opportunity to blend an older, more traditional style with new and modern idealisms of wedding photography. I found myself reflecting of what a timeless image really consists of and exploring with my camera, a space between nostalgia and the creation of strong, impactful images.

I think most of these images speak for themselves and share the memories that we created on this very important day.

Congrats Kayla and Fido, and thank you for including us and trusting us on your wedding day..

Kayla’s Mom’s Wedding, 1985

Kayla’s Mom’s Wedding, 1985

Kayla’s Mom’s Wedding, 1985

VENDORS
Second Shooter - Brian Batista Bettencourt
Hair and Makeup - Selah Vie
Wedding Dress - Allure Bridals
Bridesmaid Dresses - Dessy Group
Florist - Amy Leigh Art
Venue / Catering - Bellamere Winery
Officiant - Patti

A Brunch Wedding At The Gladstone Hotel

Mariyam and Aaron got married on a Sunday morning at The Gladstone Hotel.

Now, this wedding didn’t revolve around throwing a big partying or celebrating in a grandiose way, rather it had an emphasis on self-reflection and life-long commitment. The bride and groom sat in front of all the people who were close to them, who had ultimately played important roles throughout their relationship, and took in every aspect as their ceremony unfolded. Mariyam and Aaron had careful chosen the speakers for their ceremony as well as hand picked the musicians who each played a prepared piece. During the ceremony all the guests sat in silence, eyes closed, letting the impactful moments wash over them. The unique ceremony really gave you a strong understanding of way Mariyam and Aaron have felt and expressed their love for each other.

As two very unique people of their own, Mariyam and Aaron were such a pleasure to work with. Although we only really got to know them in a few shorts weeks, we seemed to develop a bond over our concept of love and how we express it. Through that understanding of each other, we were able to find beauty in the quiet, almost melancholic moments that we shared on this meaningful day

VENDORS
Second Shooter - Brian B. Bettencourt of 3B Photography
Venue / Catering - The Gladstone Hotel
 

A Barn Wedding in Bradford, ON

I met Megan and Warren last September at Lauren’s (Megan sister) wedding. Lauren and her now husband, Richard (who actually just celebrated their one year anniversary) threw a two day wedding bash starting in Price Edward County on a Vineyard and then finishing at Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in Toronto. There was a lot of love that weekend, and A LOT of dancing. Lauren, Richard and Megan are all trained dancers so you can image the quality of the dancing was way above average. But Warren definitely held his own with some killer dance moves, fitting right in with his (almost) in-laws.

Fast-forward a couple of months and I got an exciting email from Megan letting me know that Warren had proposed and that they were planning a barn wedding at an old family friend’s barn up in Bradford. I was looking forward to this wedding all year, to see familiar faces, experience the genuine kindness that these people had shown me a year earlier, and of course witness some insane dance moves.

Megan and Warren’s day started off with Megan putting the final touches on her wedding cake. Megan and her mom have a side-hustle of baking and decorating wedding cakes so it was a no brainer that they would be the ones making the cake for her wedding. Of course the morning wouldn’t be completely without sharing a toast with some sparkling rosé, which had become a theme over the two weddings.

Their first look took place at Warren’s family farm in Newmarket under a gorgeous willow tree. This farm had it all, from lush cornfields to a pond that created a perfect reflection of the trees above. Not to mention it was the farm Warren grew up on, working out in the fields for the majority of his childhood. With all the love and excitement culminating after their first look, they were greeted by cheers and tears from their family.

The wedding ceremony took place at a barn in Bradford. This barn happened to be owned by some old family friends of Warren’s family and they were ecstatic to share their space on his wedding day. They had recently redone the interior and exterior of the barn and had it set up to be the perfect wedding venue. From the reclaimed wood walls to the ample string lights overhead it was a romantic and rustic dream.

I could go on and on about this day but I will try to sum it up for you. Being in a room with so many people who are generous, kind, and know how to have a good time, creates an energy that you can feel in the air. The buzz from this energy gave the whole event a sort of surreal feeling, and I spent the evening trying to capture that feeling in photographs. Whether it was the heartfelt sentiments that were spoken during the speeches or the hilarious group photos with the bride and groom at sunset, there was always something exciting happening and worth capturing.

Megan and Warren, you are two very special people and this was, without a doubt, a day to remember.

VENDORS
Second Shooter - Kristina Ruddick
Hair Stylist - Rikki Zucker
Makeup Artist - Orly Kahn-Waldman
Bride's Dress - Lea-Ann Belter Bridal
Bridesmaid’s Dress - Monique Lhuillier
Florist - Country Cut Flowers
Venue/Coordination - Bradford Barn
Catering - Custom Catering
Cake - Megan and Lori Scully
DJ - DJ SHAMZ

A Backyard Family Wedding in Chatham, ON

Danni and Jake got married in Jake’s grandparents’ backyard in the small town of Chatham, ON. Danni and Jake met and live in England but decided to return to Jake’s hometown to celebrating their wedding with all of their family. Danni’s parents and sister even flew in from Scotland for the special day.

Living so far away from where they had their wedding, Jake’s mom played a big role in the planning and organizing of the day. Everything was DIY from the string light ceremony backdrop to the flowers on the harvest tables to the wedding cake that Jake’s mom made herself. I think my favourite DIY detail was the leather “just married” jacket that Danni designed and made herself. She is, however, a talented graphic designer, so I wasn’t surprised at all that she pulled it off so well.

After the ceremony, it really felt like these two families had become one. An atmosphere of inclusion and love was amplified by the warm lanterns, the gorgeous sunset and the Jack Johnson playlist that filled the air. The joy that could be felt is really not easily explained in words but it was felt in the energy. There were many moments of tears, but they were always happy tears, as this new family was so grateful to be sharing such an important and wonderful day together.

It might have been the quaintest of weddings but it was full of emotion and without a doubt, it was memorable.