There’s fewer better ways to end my 2018 wedding season than with a pop-up wedding at the Drake Hotel in Queen St. West.
I’m lucky enough to be part of this “one-stop-shop” that the Drake Hotel has for couples looking for a no-hassle, low-key elopement. A collaboration between some of the Drake Hotel’s favourite like-minded vendors, Courtney & Justin opted to take advantage of the Drake’s Hotel pop-up elopement option and instead focus on the most important element of the wedding, each other.
There are few places in downtown Toronto that would make for an ideal all-in-one location for a wedding, and with their modern-vintage aesthetic, the Drake Hotel provided an atmosphere that highly resonated with Courtney & Justin’s appreciation for the arts and their love for the unordinary.
Getting ready in the same hotel room, Justin suited up while Courtney finished the final touches to her hair and makeup, surrounded by the Drake Hotel’s iconic bizarro vintage decor and aesthetic, including a creepy painting of the Queen (?) with her eyes poked out. Those little details, as subtle as they may have been, without a doubt added to the vibe of the wedding day.
The bride’s background as a ballet dancer was very apparent, with her grace and sophistication being the perfect partners for her authentic vintage dress and style. I’d like to point out, that when I say vintage, I really mean VINTAGE, a real ANTIQUE of a dress. Dating back to the 1930’s, Courtney’s dress provided this long-lost subtly and simplicity no longer found in modern-day wedding dresses. It was truly a time capsule, and Courtney’s personality fit it perfectly.
Usually couples tend to choose to elope because they want something highly personal and deeply intimate. With a total of 6 people (counting the Bride and Groom), the Drake Hotel’s sky lounge modern artistic flair set the stage for the intimate and emotional ceremony.
Another bonus of the bride and groom’s choice of eloping at the Drake Hotel was our ability to have the entire hotel at our disposal for beautiful, natural and intimate portraits. With every room and every corner of the hotel adding a new dimension and character to the ambiance, providing endless opportunity to document the bride and groom’s first moments of marriage, absorbing every minor detail, but most importantly, allowing them to gather their emotions and take in the fleeting moments.
It was a beautiful experience to be a part of such an intimate wedding, but what truly made it great was being able to witness first-hand the deep affection that resonated between Courtney and Justin. There seems to be something about elopements that brings out this unwavering love and affection between those involved. It’s incredible and something I look forward to being part of again sometime in the near future, and hey, if it happens to be at the Drake Hotel again, then all the better. It’s an amazing feeling to have two highly-creative people trust you enough to capture something so deeply personal and important to them, and it’s also humbling that such a fantastic venue trusts me enough to include me in such a personalized and intimate experience.
So to the Drake Hotel, to the bride and groom, thank you.
Song of the Day
Labyrinth - Toro y Moi
- 3B
