Over the years I’ve gotten to photograph a few weddings in the Niagara on the Lake region but it never feels the same when I head out there, there’s always a feeling that my surroundings are fresh to the eyes and I’m always welcomed to some incredible landscapes provided by the countless wineries in the region.
This time around I got to explore the Sue Ann Staff Winery in the Niagara region, dear friends of mine decided to host their wedding there in the prime time between summer and fall, gracing me and Ryanne with the opportunity to come along for the ride and document the wedding from that rare perspective of friend’s with a camera. Our history with Lauren and Rob goes back nearly a decade. We all met playing varsity volleyball at Ryerson University and quickly got to know one another through the unique and special bond that athletes share during a rigorous season. Lauren and Ryanne played on the same squad, while Rob and I were teammates for the better part of 2 years. Rob was not only one of the best volleyball players I ever got to share the court with, but he was one of my favourite teammates and someone I could shoot the shit with and connect with off the court. Despite being 10 feet tall, Rob was always this sort of little brother to me and someone who understood me better than most, we shared great times in those impressionable days as broke students so for things to come full-circle and being involved in this huge occasion in Lauren and his life is absolutely special.
The rustic and laid-back atmosphere that the Sue Ann Staff Winery had couldn’t of been a more perfect scenario for this pair. Low-key and intimate, Lauren and Rob curated their wedding to be a fun experience for their guests and themselves as the day had a casual pace to it and the bride and groom created ample opportunity to soak in every moment of the wedding day. The winery gave us a few epic landscapes to explore thanks to the large outdoor space at our disposal, it gave Lauren and Rob every opportunity to share a few quiet moments together before the whirlwind of the wedding day took over.
The ceremony was emotional and intimate, a curated guest list of close friends and family provided an assembly of familiar faces and throwback stories to the glory years of our athletic primes during our tenures at Ryerson. Along with the good times and great conversation, we were also treated with one of those perfect days that combined a mix of sun and clouds, creating beautiful light and an even prettier sunset that had golden hues breaking through the purple skyline. Sue Ann Staff Winery was ideal for a wedding, the open landscapes and vineyards as far as the eye can see provided a painterly backdrop for the festivities and for the bride and groom to enjoy a brief escape into what seemed like an entirely different place, but really, it was just across the street.
There was something about seeing Lauren and Rob together, seemingly all grown up right before my eyes as I embarrassingly glanced at them through teary eyes like an older sibling reliving the good old days through my head, but what I also realized was how rare and genuinely special it is to share my abilities as a wedding photographer to be involved in the deeper layers of my friends’ wedding experience, involved in the fibres of people’s memories and how they will relive these moments over and over again for the rest of their lives. I used to feel uncomfortable at the thought of photographing a friend or family members nuptials, thinking to myself that the best case scenario was just to show up and just be a guest, but I’ve grown to realize being hired by your own friends or family is sort of the highest possible honour, the ultimate form of validation from the people who matter most in our lives, nothing beats that feeling, nothing feels better than being trusted to engage and be an active observing and hands on participant to a monumental occasion in people’s lives.
All that being said, I absolutely got to party and relive the glory days, and it was an unforgettable experience.
Song of the day - Out of your league by Blood Orange ft. Steve Lacy
