DIY Backyard Wedding in Toronto

There’s a real and conspicuous nostalgia associated to homes. We all have one, but somehow, our homes are these ever evolving places, unfamiliar over time until we find comfort in our current circumstance. Home and the various ideas of its definition have always fascinated me and been a driving core concept in my work as an artist beyond weddings. My background in photojournalism and social documentary photography were birthed through that interest of “home”, so to have had numerous opportunities in the past several years to incorporate that into the wedding photography I was asked to document and create, it was something my artistic mind eye gravitated to naturally. Brady & Sarah, Anne & Colin and Katie & Chris  and recently Sarah & Chris all had such memorable backyard weddings with special and unique DYI details that made the wedding day exclusively their own.

When I met Sandy & Kevin it was clear to me that having their wedding held in their own backyard, surrounded by nature, friends and family was going to make the wedding day that much more special and memorable to them, and of course, they were absolutely right in thinking so. For me, as the wedding photographer, I was excited to get to experience first hand  the minutiae of their every day life, getting a deep and intimate insight into who they really are in order to further elevate their wedding photos from merely beautiful to something with actual meaning ringing with timelessness. 

The getting ready included sincere and candid moments that most families of 5 children would experience, including drilling a couple of extra belt holes for the youngest one, but otherwise there were few mishaps and mostly laughs throughout the morning. I knew how important it was for both the bride and groom to have their children be integral for this momentous occasion, making them their bridal party. A modern family bridal party isn’t something I get to experience very often as a wedding photographer, but seeing their kids enjoying the moment and experience as much as their parents really manifested a jovial and memorable atmosphere.

The second I arrived at their beautiful home surrounded by forest and greenery, I instantly knew why Sandy was so excited to have her end of summer wedding at this location. The handcrafted wooden arch they had made was minimal decorated with striking florals that helped bring out this unexplored element of the forest that was in the background and went as far as the eye could see. A four-piece jazz band performed perfect atmospheric tunes for the intimate event. It was a phenomenal scene for their guests to be part of as they witness the bride and groom exchange vows and say their I dos. 

As the golden sunset light hit the bride and groom during the first kiss, I took advantage of that energy and cinematic imagery to take them through a walk in the woods to check out their personal pond in hopes of giving them a moment to soak in the moment for themselves. I remember how at ease they both were, despite traversing treacherous terrains and elements to get there, they embraced the moment for all it had to offer. It was as if they were floating on clouds, not water.  Another perk of being outside Toronto, is that you get a bit more space to play with, and the bride and groom took advantage of their neighbouring field to watch the sun make its way behind the tree line.

The reception was held in a beautiful tent in their backyard adjacent to their stunning home, and it’s there that the night began with a playful first dance, an emotional father-daughter dance, and an emotional acapella  performance by one of their guests. With the wedding being small and intimate, everyone was familiar and acquainted, giving the bride and groom candid moments with everyone in attendance. Usually close-knit groups don’t shy away from the dance floor and this particular group did not disappoint, busting moves under the full moon and star-riddled night’s sky.  Standing at a distance looking at the events unfold, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic for all those incredible moments and memories made thanks to the concept of home and its importance to the bride and groom. 

Sandy and Kevin are deeply sensitive individuals, and I don’t mean that they cry at the end of My Girl ( I surely do), but they are very in-tune with their own emotions which is likely why they are both so artistically inclined and uninhibited by their love for one another.  I always hold dear moments I get in my career to photograph people in their own homes. There’s truly no better way to discover and learn about someone, and for me, its the pinnacle of opportunities because it’s so important to me to understand the people I work with, it’s part of an integral process to create sincere and poignant photographs. If I know them deeply, they no longer become characters in my movie, but they become the writers and directors.

Song of the Day

Pain- The War On Drugs

- 3B

VENDORS
Venue: Bride & Groom’s Backyard - Ontario
Flowers / Coordinator - By Francesca, xo
Stylists: Ashleigh - Wild Vine Hair
Wedding Dress: One Love, One Dream Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: JJ's House
Tuxes / Suits:Tip Top Tailors
Jewelry Bride: Marjorie Tunney Designs
Jewelry Groom: Graziella
Catering: Stuttering John's
Cake: Sweet Couture Cakes by Adele
Invites: Minted.com
Lodging: Woodland Gardens B&B
Second Shooter: Ryanne Hollies

Garden Wedding at the Doctor's House

Lisa & Alan decided to host their intimate wedding at the Doctor’s House in Kleinburg on one of the most beautiful Friday afternoon’s of the entire summer. Although they couldn’t control the actual weather, I don’t think it would’ve really mattered to them, these two would’ve lived every moment of the wedding day rain or shine. Both the bride and groom had an essence of calm, cool and collectiveness from the get go and that energy was echoed by all their closest friends and family in attendance.

The Doctor’s House has a quaint stillness to it that gives you a slice of the countryside while only being minutes from Toronto.  It’s not too difficult to get inspired by the surrounding greenery and vintage aesthetic of the venue, but what really captivated my attention was both Lisa and Alan’s demeanours throughout the wedding day. With the wedding being small and intimate, both the bride and groom got the opportunity to spend quality time with the people who mattered most to them, including their children and grandchildren. This special opportunity to share in the celebration of love with their immediate families wasn’t something that was lost on them, they absolutely took the time to cherish the small moments and take everything in at every given opportunity.

The wedding ceremony took place at the vintage Chapel at the Doctor’s House providing an intimate space for Alan & Lisa to share in an emotional vow exchange in front of their own friends and families.  The wedding ceremony touched on both sides of the emotional spectrum as there were tears during overwhelming moments balanced out by Lisa’s children’s laughter and excitement as their mom embarked on this new chapter of her life. Whether I was capturing the groom wiping his tears away or the bride’s family unconfined excitement, it was obvious that there was a lot of love in that room and that it was palpable.

After officially becoming husband and wife, Lisa and Alan took a few moments to themselves to explore the beautiful gardens and grounds of the Doctor’s House, soaking in the beautiful light on their summer skin as they embraced and enjoyed a few intimate and candid moments rooted by their undeniable love for one another. As the afternoon continued the bride and groom joined their guests on the garden patio to enjoy a few cocktails and hugs of congratulations.  They benefited from the intimate size of their wedding as they took the time to sincerely engage with everyone in attendance and share in a few laughs as they create mutual memories to reminisce over in the coming years.

I learn something new about myself and life at every wedding I photograph. I’ve always believed that my career as a social documentary photographer and photojournalist would lend itself well to this industry as weddings showcase so much about the human condition and life experience. Lisa and Alan taught me that love is meant to be shared and celebrated amongst friends and family. Love means you can laugh and cry all at the same time, but most importantly, I learned that love has no timeline and that love is indeed timeless.

I know when I look back on my career as a wedding photographer that these are the moments and lessons learned that I’ll cherish and carry with me as I evolve as an artist, and I’m incredibly humbled to be put in a position where I can create something meaningful for people like Lisa and Allan.

Song of the Day

Wild Imagination - Kurt Vile

- 3B

VENDORS
Venue: The Doctor’s House
Second Shooter: Ryanne Hollies

Simple Toronto City Hall Wedding

Photographing Jill & Jon’s rainy Toronto City Hall Elopement was an amazing experience for me as a wedding and elopement photographer .

We were treated with a beautiful sunny summer day (at first)  and a rarely (mostly) quiet atmosphere at Nathan Phillips Square.

I knew going into this city hall elopement that the photography was one of the most important things for this bride and groom. Jill, coming from a photography background, knew exactly what she wanted when searching for a Toronto based wedding photographer, so the entire process of working with them was extremely relaxing since I had complete creative freedom to capture the authentic of the candid moments throughout the day through my photojournalistic lens.

The bride’s father is also an avid photographer and I quickly discovered where Jill’s passion and enthusiasm for photography stemmed from. Her father couldn’t help himself as he captured some of his own memories throughout the wedding day and it was inspiring to see his love shine through in those moments. It was obvious this event was important to everyone involved, and that family and friends were at the core of this celebration. It wasn’t about creating anything over the top or elaborate, it was about finding the beauty in simplicity and companionship, the very core of what every wedding should really be about.

Once the bride and groom exchanged vows in the City Hall chambers, we got to explore the grounds for some intimate portraits before venturing off to Osgood Hall where both Jon and Jill really let go of any anxieties and pressures to really enjoy their first few moments as husband and wife. The vintage aesthetic of Osgood Hall mixed with the modern architecture of Toronto City Hall made for a wonderful playground for us to capture some quiet moments and couples photos with an editorial vibe and twist that really highlighted their personalities.

Even though the rain started to hit us during the portrait session, the bride and groom kept a positive attitude and made the most of the situation, getting a little wet while cuddling one another closely to protect each other from the elements.

Although the day was brief and went by in a flash, it was a special elopement to capture for me as I understood how important and meaningful the wedding photos were for both the bride and groom.

I’ve photographed over a dozen elopements at Toronto City Hall, they never cease to captive me with their genuine simplicity and focus on what really matters, the love between two people.

Song of the Day -

Better Views - Yellow House

- 3B

VENDORS
Venue: Toronto City Hall
Photo Location: Osgoode Hall
Second Shooter: Ryanne Hollies

Elisha and Matt at Dowswell Barn

Elisha and Matt’s intimate wedding at Dowswell Farm in Beaverton Ontario was nothing short of spectacular. The authentic and rustic vibe of Dowswell Farm created the ultimate atmosphere for the the bride and groom to showcase vintage details, but most importantly, to officially unite their family. The spirit and essence of family was a large reoccurring theme throughout the wedding day, with numerous elements paying homage to their current families, but most importantly, the wedding day was an official right-of passage for the Bride and Groom to unite their own family, in the presence of their young baby boy Maddox.

The morning of the wedding was one of the foggiest days I’ve ever seen and having a moment to take in the fog roll in over Lake Ontario near the hotel where Elisha and her bridesmaids got ready was an incredible way to get my creative vision rolling. With her friends and family gathered within the confines of the hotel room, Elisha couldn’t contain her excitement as everyone got their hair and makeup ready, looking forward to showing off her beautiful modern vintage bridal look to her closest.  A large part of her excitement was the mere fact she was able to get her wedding vision complete by having her wedding held at Dowswell Barn in the first place, something she worked very hard to accomplish, and it was totally worthwhile.

With the beautiful summer morning light coming through the room, the stage was set for beautiful and genuine candid moments between the bride and those in her presence that morning. With Elisha’s mother and one of her bff’s giving Elisha a hand to put on her custom gown, the bride’s mother was unable to contain her emotion as the beautiful bride revealed her completed look. 

Before the wedding day itself I knew how important family was to Elisha so it didn’t surprise me to see minor details paying homage to that even within her modern-vintage bride look. An incredible detail she included was wearing a pendant that contain the ashes of her grandfather. A beautiful touch to have someone significant in her life remain close to her heart in a monumental and important event.

As the bride and her crew wrapped up getting ready and rushed off to Dowswell Farm for the wedding celebration, Matt and Maddox got dressed back at the groom’s parents house in Georgina.  Seeing the bond between Matt and his son as they got ready together was memorable. Maddox’s mini suit and shoes were beyond adorable if I can admit.

The wedding ceremony symbolized and manifested both the bride and groom’s family and heritage. Maddox playing the role of ring-bearer, refusing to walk down the aisle without the assistance of his dad was equally as cute and memorable as Matt’s grandmother playing the role of flower girl, also walking down the aisle with the assistance of the groom.  On the flip side, to honour Elisha’s aboriginal heritage and family, there was a traditional blanket ceremony performed by the aid of one of the bride’s cousins. The ceremony brought forth a sense of calm and spirituality that I haven’t ever witnessed during a wedding ceremony. It was utterly beautiful and impactful, something that resonated with everyone in attendance, including the bride and groom.

Once the Dowswell Barn wedding ceremony finished up, the bride and groom along with their bridal party made the most of the rustic environment that Dowswell farm has to offer, allowing us to capture and document intimate and candid portraits within a cornfield around the farm’s numerous barns and locations. We were treated with the summer’s most beautiful and poignant sunsets. The clouds had a hue of pink and shades of purple as the bride and groom appreciated every second of it as they spend some quiet time alone together before dinner. A big bonus of having your wedding on a farm is that you have few distractions and limitations when it comes to witnessing the beautiful sunsets that nature has to offer. A far cry from the usual chaos and distractions that come from photographing weddings in Toronto!

As the light began to dwindle and seep through the cracks of Dowswell Barn, the bride and groom took a moment to share in an intimate moment and dance together in the middle of the barn, creating a surreal and cinematic moment that was purely instinctive and natural, chasing the light and making the most of every moment, allowing me to capture it purely as a documentary wedding photographer, allowing my photojournalistic approach to take over and providing the bride and groom a moment of quiet intimacy to gather their thoughts and emotions. 

Something I absolutely loved about Dowswell farm’s barn was how authentically rustic and vintage it was, providing slivers of light to seep through from all directions, providing beautiful natural light in every corner for every moment, truly breathtaking.  

Once the light faded dinner began to be served as we were treated to authentic smoked BBQ, copious amounts of wine, and genuine speeches by close members of the bride and groom’s family. Something that was truly beautiful and natural about the entire wedding reception was Elisha and Matt’s unwavering attention and inclusion of their son Maddox. They subconsciously included him in every joyous moment, every tear shed and every detail of the wedding day. It was equally about their union to each other as it was a commitment to their son and their immediate family.

Despite being beyond full from the amazing BBQ dinner served at the wedding reception, Matt and Elisha had a few late night surprises in store for their guests. I remember hearing a faded tune in the distance along with some faded neon lights approaching. I was caught in a weird moment in-between nostalgia and surrealism, as an ice-cream truck slowly began to approach the barn, I was able to capture that moment and feeling that resonated “Stranger Things” vibes and offered up a weird and cool moment in the wedding day.

Of course, with the addition of the ice-cream truck, the bride and groom couldn’t neglect to have street-meat on offer, as there were gourmet hot-dogs for the late-night munchies from all the partying and dancing that was had, effectively tackling the usual midnight munchies problem through and through.

Beneath the moon and stars above Dowswell Barn, the bride and groom indulged and shared a blue slurpee with one another before we took some night time portraits to cap off the already incredible wedding day.

An authentic wedding with vintage aesthetic and vibes, only to be surpassed by the authentic presence of love and family. An unforgettable day and evening at Dowswell Farm with a beautiful bride, a down-to-earth groom, and their adorable baby boy.

Song of the day

I Love It [(Freaky Girl) Edit] - Kanye West ft. Lil Pump

 

- 3B

VENDORS
Hair Stylist: Jennesa
Makeup Artists: Sarah J and Jenna Collins
Wedding Dress Designer: Laudae
Wedding Dress Boutique: Sash and Bustle
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal, Amanda-Lina’s, Boutique 1861
Suit: Moore’s
Florist: Room to Bloom
Catering: BBQ Gourmet
Coordinator: I Do Weddings!
Invitations: Minted
Second Shooter: Ryanne Hollies