It goes without saying that COVID-19 has changed the world we live in and as a wedding photographer I’ve seen how Corona Virus has directly effected the wedding industry and everyone who had a wedding planned for 2020. Although I naturally seem to work with couples having intimate weddings and elopements here in Toronto and Ontario, the current pandemic has definitely create a trend where more and more couples are looking for this style of wedding. Don’t get me wrong, I love shooting ALL types of weddings and don’t pick and choose intimate weddings and elopements over any other, but it seems my natural photojournalistic and fine art wedding photography style tends to lend well to these types of weddings and elopements because I can naturally integrate myself into the experience and feel more involved, resulting in more natural candid images and it’s easier to tap into the trust of the bride and groom to create editorial and fine art inspired portraits of them on the wedding day that balance beauty and honest emotion.
Helena & Antonio were supposed to get married in May at the Gladstone Hotel on Queen Street West in Toronto, but amid the current travel restrictions they decided to postpone their wedding to 2021 to ensure that their families travelling from the Ukraine and Portugal could all be there to celebrate this special moment together. Although their original wedding plans got changed, the bride and groom remained positive and instead of waiting until next year to make their commitment to each other, they decide to elope instead.
When they reached out to me about their idea to have a private elopement in a backyard I was 100% on-board and extremely excited for the opportunity to photograph a wedding during this historical time in humanity. Of course, we kept everyone safe by adhering to all social distancing measures and practices and with the intimate setting our minds were all put to ease. The idea was that they were going to be exchanging vows and legally marry while still hosting their wedding celebration in 2021 at the Gladstone Hotel with their friends and family as originally planned.
For the elopement, the bride and groom rented a beautiful vintage home out in the countryside of Guelph Ontario, allowing themselves access to stunning rooms and a massive outdoor backyard to host their intimate ceremony that they also broadcasted live on Facebook for their friends and family around the world to watch live and feel like they were part of this amazing experience with them. Although Helena’s family was in the Ukraine and Antonio’s in Portugal, they all stayed up late to FaceTime each other and give their well wishes before the ceremony. Although it was difficult to not have their parents present during the wedding, there was something impactful and sweet seeing their video conversations, showing their support and happiness despite not being able to be physically present. The bride even had one of her best friends chatting with her via FaceTime as she did her own makeup, it was special to see such powerful bonds maintained even though they were separated by distance of the Atlantic Ocean.
Aesthetically this elopement was a dream. The bride was stunning in her lace vintage wedding dress and the groom’s look matched her and the location perfectly. Along with their two best friends (who were also their witnesses) the entire elopement day experience was extremely intimate and very easy-going, with no timeline pressures or obligations besides living in the moment and embracing the entire elopement experience to its fullest.
From the first look to the ceremony, the wedding day was emotional and deeply passionate. I could tell the moment they first saw each other that a rush of emotions overcame them and they were ready to embark on this journey together knowing that they made the right choice to pursue this elopement. The ceremony was full of tears as Helena and Antonio wrote their own vows to each other proving once again that speaking from your heart and own experiences will always be a powerful way to express your love to someone. I fought back my own tears when the bride and groom simultaneously wiped tears off one another’s face during the ceremony, it was so cute I couldn’t help myself from smiling ear to ear. The bride and groom had a positive attitude and really let go on their wedding day, enjoying the experience to its maximum, allowing themselves to feel and express their true emotions in a natural way without the pressure of worrying about guests and the usual wedding details you’d have to think about in traditional circumstances.Even though it was mostly overcast that day, the sun peaked through the clouds once in a while and even created one of those golden hour sunsets that made the sky look like a Monet painting as Helena and Antonio shared a quiet moment together by the horses as the sun set in the distance. Following that ethereal experience, they decided to have a first dance on the front lawn by the garden as their 3 guests watched on with smiles and beating hearts before heading inside the vintage home to enjoy a champagne toast and some wedding cake.It goes without saying that this elopement proves that you CAN have a beautiful wedding day even if you elope and that elopements / intimate weddings truly give you an opportunity to tap into the core of what a wedding day is all about and if you fully commit yourself to the experience as Helena and Antonio did, you’ll without a doubt create a magical and unforgettable experience that you will look back on for the rest of your lives and truly cherish.
I can’t wait until next year when I get to hangout with Helena and Antonio again during their 1 year anniversary as they have a vow renewal with their friends and family at the Gladstone Hotel, it’s going to be as memorable as their elopement and I’m lucky to have the chance to be part of another beautiful experience with two of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and photographing. It’s an incredible honour being part of such intimate events and it’s something I won’t ever take for granted and Helena and Antonio reminded me, yet again, that I’m so lucky to work with such amazing human beings.
