Marisa & Kyle’s wedding was an incredible and honest reflection of who they are.
Winter weddings are a rarity with how harsh Canadian winters can get, especially in January, but Kyle & Marisa really couldn’t imagine getting married at any other time of year. The ambiance and atmosphere of early winter evenings was the ideal setting for all of their friends and family to feel cozy and at home inside of the Gallery Grill at the Hart House - University of Toronto.
The old historical building that the intimate wedding ceremony and reception were held in had an incredible presence. The gothic architecture and fine art oil paintings were brought to life thanks to the candlelight and understated vintage decor. I don’t watch Game of Thrones otherwise I’m sure I could make some sort of reference here… I’m more of a movie guy so I could only compare the environment to a mix of Dracula and Eyes Wide Shut. I’m sure to some that this would seem off-putting, but there is truly something deeply beautiful from the dark and moody settings of those films, and their wedding was no different.
Most people (or photographers) tend to think that shooting in dark, sombre places for weddings is a “bad” situation, but I welcomed the change and appreciated the timelessness created by this unique atmosphere. I naturally gravitate towards interesting dichotomies, so a wedding with a dark, gothic and almost medieval like setting was a beautiful experience for me as a photographer.
Marisa very much appreciates and enjoys this sort of aesthetic as her dark lipstick and black suede shawl showcased. The cool climate isn’t unfamiliar to her either as she has spent (and is currently spending) time in St. Petersburg, where she is expanding her knowledge and research.
Kyle is currently visiting her there and they were kind enough to send me this message for the blog post :
