Berkeley Fieldhouse Wedding — Ryanne Hollies Photography -

Nestled in an easy-to-miss part of downtown Toronto is one of the best hidden gems for wedding venues, the Berkeley Fieldhouse. Although I’ve been photographing weddings for 5 years now I haven’t had the opportunity to work at this unique wedding venue before. Originally planned to be hosted at Airship 37, Sam and Conner had to switch things up but their wedding turned into anything but a plan B as they delivered a beautiful, honest and overall super chill wedding day. This wedding was the perfect start to the summer wedding season and I appreciated spending an entire day with a bride and groom that gave off the ultimate chill and relaxed vibes while looking absolutely incredible to top it all off.

I met these two back in 2019, and we enjoyed an evening of beer and good food as we chatted about our various wanderlust and all the memories attached to our travels. At this moment I discovered how important photography, especially film photography, was to their overall travel experience and memories. I knew from that moment that documenting Sam & Conner’s wedding at the Berkeley Fieldhouse was going to be a fantastic experience as it was clear that these were my like-minded kind of people.

It was a gloomy and rainy wedding day but it only added to the romantic atmosphere and made the first look at Evergreen Brickworks have a mood that was truly unforgettable. The environment at Evergreen Brickworks provides so much variety to work with, the blooming trees and plant life offer up some wonderful natural elements that seem foreign when you think of a city wedding in Toronto, but you also have some cool industrial architecture that add some modern flair and keeps things interesting. The vibe was perfect for Sam and Conner’s laidback personalities and the first look provided a bunch of sweet moments between the bride and groom as they couldn’t help but keep smiling at one another throughout the entire time.

As the rain continued Sam and Conner made their way towards downtown and the Berkeley Fieldhouse where their ceremony and reception were to take place. While guests began to stream in, the bride and groom took advantage of the beautiful surroundings of the converted chapel to enjoy a few quiet moments together as the stained glass windows created a soothing cast of light that create a magical moment between the two. The Berkeley Fieldhouse’s patio provided the perfect intimate venue and setting for this wedding day, without trying too hard and focusing on the important elements of the wedding day, Sam & Conner allowed themselves ample opportunities to truly have real experiences with their friends and family throughout the entire wedding.

The ceremony was a spectrum of emotions that included a few laughs, a few tears and several earnest and sincere gazes between Sam & Conner as they exchanged vows and rings. It was the perfect example of how simplicity often adds a complex layer of beauty to the atmosphere. As Sam and Conner were pronounced husband and wife the entire patio erupted in a deafening cheer that lifted the energy of the entire event and created a rush of momentum that continued up until the hora began later that evening. Hora’s are always some of my favourite moments to capture as a photographer because there’s an energy and excitement that is truly infectious, this hora was particularly fun because Conner’s family was experiencing it first hand as newcomers to the tradition. Although there was a glimpse of terror in Sam’s eyes as she was lifted high into the air, the hora brought together their entire group of friends and family as they celebrated in unison with countless smiles and laughs echoing throughout the Berkeley Fieldhouse up until the final moments of the wedding celebration.