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 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 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.