Kristina and Brandon decided, after postponing their original wedding two years in a row, that they would officially get married this year (2021), city elopement style. I mean, if you had to draw up the ideal city themed elopement it would probably contain the following elements - giant cityscapes, a badass vintage car, a fashion forward bridal & groom style, an instagram worthy loft apartment and one of those summer sunsets that make you stop and stare. Well this elopement had all of that and then some.
The idea to elope in the bustling city of Toronto was the perfect juxtaposition to the west coast nature-filled wedding that they have planned for next year in British Columbia. Kristina, being an incredibly talented photographer herself, has incredible taste and pulled together a very chic day (in a very short amount of time). The details were on point and came together in the sort of stylistic way that reminded me of a fashion editorial shot for Vogue by the great photographer Helmut Newton. I knew Kristina had a very fashion forward style but I was still blown away by her entire look when I saw the final result. Since we’re both so heavily influenced by the editorial essence of vintage fashion photography, I really wanted to lean into that concept and mindset when I photographed this elopement, creating something that presented a narrative but with attention to detail in enhancing the unique elements of the elopement. Of course, capturing the real and raw candid emotions is something I always focus on, but it’s been refreshing to approach wedding & elopements this year with more intention on my own personal influences that drive the work I create outside of weddings. Since the bride is a photographer herself, I knew that I could take a few extra risks and that no idea would be too weird or awkward. With Brjánn’s help and a stack of 35mm film, we were ready to shoot this elopement “our way” and continue to push out to the world a vibe and style that is unlike what’s being put out there in the wedding photography world around us.
Speaking of stylistic element and attention to detail, for the city elopement they borrowed a baby blue mustang from Brandon’s Dad and Kristina made her bouquet and the ‘Just Married” sign (tin cans and all). The entire aesthetic of the elopement just screamed anti-bride in the most genuine way possible. If not only for a moment in time, Kristina was truly a bridal fashion icon, a beautiful archetype for the anti-bride philosophy, she was a page out of a vintage Vogue magazine and the baby blue mustang really helped bring the entire elopement aesthetic to another level entirely.
Although they opted out of having a traditional ceremony in front of their family, Kristina and Brandon signed their legal documents and while overlooking the Dundas strip of the Junction neighbourhood, they decided to read letters to each other on the rooftop at sunset. The orange glow of the sunset breaking through the stormy clouds amplified what was already an emotionally charged moment in their elopement day, creating a painterly background, enhancing the surreal tangibility of what they felt as they quietly ready the words on the pages. It was important to the two of them to create a scenario where they could express what they felt to one another, they wanted to do something truly special and unforgettable and the hand written love letters were the perfect blend of sharing their vows and deeper thoughts with one another without creating a theatrical performance to a small crowd. It was utterly perfect, a beautiful reminder that the love between two individuals is what truly drives the idea behind any intimate elopement.
Their creative and care-free approach to their elopement made the day extremely fun and it was a great celebration for everyone who had the opportunity to attend. It certainly was not a traditional wedding, nor even a traditional elopement, but the intention of this experience wasn’t to follow any trends or preconceived ideas of what a wedding or elopement should be, but instead, it was an exercise in following your heart and allowing yourself to have fun and enjoy the experience of marrying your partner, an opportunity to look back and remind yourselves that you were cool at some point in your life and you have the pics to prove it. What better way to get the best of both worlds as a bride and groom than to create a truly curated elopement experience to go hand in hand with your larger celebration with friends and family. I hope anyone who reads these words or see’s these images can now realize they can absolutely have it all when it comes to their wedding experience, this is all the proof you could ever need.
As the day turned into night and after a lot of orange wine and delicious food, we snapped some late night photos of Kristina and Brandon hanging out in the loft like they owned the place. I mean, once you see the photos you’ll wish you owned this place too, it’s seriously the coolest apartment in the entire city of Toronto, no exaggeration. It was the kind of place everyone wished was available to rent on Airbnb but isn’t and is undoubtedly the perfect place to host an intimate city elopement thanks to its primo location in the Junction in the West downtown of Toronto. It has all the urban charm of a Toronto loft with 60s/70s style decor, secret rooms, and a two-tiered rooftop overlooking the Dundas strip.
These two people are very genuine, fun, and kind-hearted and I’m grateful to call them my friends. This sort of fun filled, light-hearted elopement would be hard to forget, but being able to document it for people who are part of my life is what made the entire experience unforgettable.
VENDORS
Stylist: Andi Clifford
Dress: Alexia Maria
Suit: Top Shop
Jewellery: Attic Gold
Second Photographer: Brjánn - 3B Photography
