We’re super excited to finally share the images from our most recent amazing adventure. Congratulations to newlyweds Sam + Adam on your perfect wedding day. We enjoyed every minute of our time with you and your families, and it was an honour to capture
so many wonderful moments. We hope to catch up with you two in Grimsby one day soon!

Our second wedding of the year was one of those days that just makes you want to capture a wedding every day. The lovely Rebecca, in her Ines Di Santo gown, and her girls in their Jim Hjelm dresses, all greeted us with such joy.  We then met Michael soon after, with his incredible confidence, and their friends and family were amazing to meet and spend the day with – it just flew by!  When we have the opportunity to work with people like Rebecca and Michael, we don’t think about the fact that this was one of the coldest days of the year – in fact, we actually shot some photos outside. Thanks to the wonderful Liberty Events for hosting us, yet again. Also special thanks to Fern Cohen for her amazing ability to keep things calm and organized, and thanks to Big Ticket Productions, Stemz, Sole Power, Bruna Mata, Maureen Greenstein for all doing what they do best. It’s so incredible working with the top wedding vendors in Toronto.

Enjoy!

Imagine starting college with your whole future ahead of you. You’re at the beginning of your journey as an adult, and you know that the sky is the limit when it comes to how much you can accomplish. Your mind is set on a career and you are on a planned path to reach your goals. Everything goes according to plan, except for a happy surprise that you discover in the home that your share with your schoolmates. You meet the love of your life, and by the end of your college days you truly have it all: the education, the career and a partner to start your life with.

This is how it happened for Kate and Nick! They met at Queen’s University where Kate studied to be a nurse and Nick was on a path to become a successful Microsoft employee. They shared a house, became fast friends, started dating and moved into their very own home full of love and promises. They shared an interest in fashion which inspired Nick’s gift to his bride on their wedding day: a pair of sassy black Christian Louboutins – like a modern day Cinderella story!

On the day of their wedding, the party got ready in contemporary style at the One King West hotel in downtown Toronto. The bridesmaids wore light grey off-the-shoulder dresses with sweet little black shawls and softly swept up-dos while the bride slipped into her amazing gown. The gown had a long beaded bodice and a full skirt of sheer white ruffled rosettes, and a long train that would cause any girl in her right mind to swoon.

Kate allowed Nick to see her before the wedding so they could take full advantage of the hotel’s picturesque architecture together. Nick looked positively giddy as his bride-to-be descended the winding lobby staircase. From there we got some incredible shots of the couple in the historical Toronto Dominion Bank vault downstairs in the hotel.

The rest of the photos we done outside at the Monte Clark Gallery and ceremony itself was held in the Arta Gallery, both in the Distillery District. The buildings exteriors are classic with green shuttered doors and beautiful old brick. It was an intimate affair with close family and friends in attendance.Everyone then moved over to the Boiler House restaurant for the reception. Cocktails were had by all and the 22-foot wine rack offered a fantastic backdrop to group photos. The venue bordered on industrial and warm, and definitely offered a unique ambiance to the event. Jackie O Floral Design incorporated stunning white and green centerpieces which played nicely with the Boiler House’s raw wooden beamed walls and ceiling.Kate and Nick delighted their guests with an impressive profiterole tower rather than a traditional wedding cake, which they cut with a sword that belonged to Nick’s grandfather! They showed everyone what a fun, happy and loveable couple they are and we could all see that they’ll have a beautiful future together.

< Click here to see Kate and Nick’s E-Session >

It’s been another winter of ah-maz-ing destination wedding locations for Andrew and I.  Andrew shot weddings in both Mexico and then India, while I traveled to Jamaica. Andrew and I have now photographed weddings in over 50 locations around the globe and ironically my very first destination wedding was here in Jamaica.

Jerry + Ginny are the most adventurous souls, so it’s no surprise that their wedding took them a long way from home … last month to the Caribbean! After three wonderful years together, they decided to tie the knot at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Rose Hall in Jamaica, and I was so lucky to join them along with 50 family and friends.

The wedding day began in Ginny’s bridal suite, which had the most stunning ocean view beyond the wraparound balcony. As you can see, it was impossible to resist taking advantage of the rustic romantic suite’s incredibly high ceilings. Ginny and her bridesmaids had a grand time jumping on the bed to calm some pre-wedding jitters.

The weather had everyone a little nervous in the morning as rain showers toyed with us, but they quickly departed and made way for a beautiful warm day. Fifty friends and family travelled from London, Ontario to spend a dreamy wedding day on the beach with the happy couple. Among the guests were Ginny’s sister, Jamie, and her fiancé, Greg. We will be shooting their wedding later this year!

The ceremony took place in the sand right near the water. Everyone was in awe of the clear blue ocean. That is, until Ginny emerged in her stunning gown and rendered everyone speechless. She was such a beauty, and Jerry was beaming with pride as he took his bride’s hands in his. Their vows were sweet and the crowd cheered as they officially became husband and wife!

Like I said in the beginning, Ginny + Jerry are adventurous souls. The day after the wedding proved this in spades. We spent the afternoon roaming the resort in search of the perfect photo ops for their bridal portraits, which lead us underwater and to a sandy volleyball court. The photos that were captured are proof that they are going to spend a long, happy life together stumbling upon adventure after adventure along the way!

Congratulations, Ginny + Jerry!

He asked her to sit down on the beach and told her he was going to take her photo as she looked out at the Longtail boats of Maya Bay… as she stared out wondering what was taking so long, he wrote “Will You Mary Me?” in the sand behind her and placed the ring box right in the middle… Her reaction was priceless and he caught the whole thing on video and captured a few photos like any good photographer would do!

What an amazing proposal!

I would like to say congratulations to two of the most amazing people a person could ever meet, and I wish you all the best as you begin planning your lives together!! I can hardly wait until you get back so we can start this epic year!

The couple met at University and fell deeply in love. With architecture as their common ground, they earned their masters degrees and built their own foundation for a long-lasting, loving relationship.

Naz started her day off at the sophisticated Cosmopolitan Hotel where she got ready in a stylish, contemporary loft suite. She was surrounded by the women in her life that she holds dear to her heart, and they helped her slip into her Helena gown by Vera Wang as well as her gorgeous white rosette Giuseppe Zanotti heels. With makeup by Angela Porter, a birdcage veil (also by Vera Wang) and a lush bouquet, she was ready to meet her husband-to-be for their first look before the ceremony.

Nick met Naz at her hotel suite where he anxiously awaited her appearance. As she walked into the living area and saw him facing the wall, a huge smile spread across her face. I kept thinking “if only she could see the smile on his face!” as we had a bird’s eye view of both of them! Once they had seen each other and the excitement in the room hit a new high, we trekked to the rooftop for some wonderful portraits set against city buildings.

The traditional Persian ceremony took place at the Walker Court at the AGO. The ceremony décor was stunning and simple with bare walls, Lucite chairs and perfect floral, yet rich with decadent traditional foods and soft candles that lit the altar. The contrast was beautiful.

The reception immediately following the ceremony was also at the AGO. It began with a cocktail hour which was sectioned off from the grand reception area with a wall as guests gathered and mingled. When it was time to move into the artfully decorated reception hall, the wall was removed and the party began on the spot! The room was romantically lit and the tables were laced with branches of golden flowers that were reminiscent of candlelight. The décor and flowers were all done by one of Toronto’s most amazing companies – Stemz.

Dancing, toasts and the bouquet toss kept everyone busy until it was time to cut the incredible 6-tiered cake that had been garnering quite a bit of attention all night! It was yellow with intricate white damask detailing on each of the squared layers – absolutely amazing!

The newlyweds were then jet-setting to Spain and Italy for their honeymoon. How splendid! Congratulations, Naz + Nick, we wish you all the best!

Please also check out Asal and Naz’s new company called Bits and Blooms.

From wine to relationships, it seems that all of the wonderful things in life only get better with age. Rhandi + Bob have been together for ten blissful years, and they’re one of the sweetest couples that we’ve ever met! Their journey to the altar had some truly fantastic milestones, one of which was Rhandi’s most recent accomplishment: a PHD in medical studies.

Rhandi was a vision as she and her bridesmaids prepared before the ceremony. Her strapless Pronovias Genova gown was simple yet elegant with an artfully pleated bodice and a white rose bouquet to match. The girls shared a champagne toast before the bride set of to meet her groom.

The ceremony was filled with worldly guests who traveled from Sri Lanka, Australia and various parts of North America. Since Rhandi is Singalese, she and Bob chose to incorporate cultural elements into their ceremony to pay tribute to her heritage and signify their union.

After the ceremony, we took a series of group photos in the courtyard with the bridal party. The bridesmaids were dressed in scarlet gowns, the groomsmen wore matching ties and the newlyweds pulled everyone together with their bold black and whites. They were a beautiful group!

Their reception was held at the gorgeous Liberty Grand. Arched windows and French doors offered a softly dramatic effect to the photos that paired nicely with the warm tones of the Centennial Room. Shooting there is always such a pleasure! The décor was breathtaking and granted everyone a front row seat to a fairytale.

Rhandi + Bob’s first dance silenced the crowd as they swept across the floor, oblivious to anyone else in the room! When it was time to cut the cake, everyone stared in awe at the 4-tiered masterpiece. It was intricately embossed and adorned with frosted pearls and white roses.

With many heartwarming toasts and delicious fare and wine, the evening was everything that we could have hoped for! Congratulations, Rhandi + Bob!

The first time we had the opportunity to spend some time with Vicki and Alvin was during their Fall engagement session, where we captured the couple in some of Toronto’s trendiest areas with a funky, urban theme to their photos. From that day, we could already tell that the time down in Mexico would be a lot of fun.

The morning of the wedding started with a drive into Playa Del Carmen to Waves Beauty Salon, which is owned by an expatriate Canadian! On this picture perfect Caribbean morning, we captured the girls getting primped and pampered, while having fun and joking around.

From there it was back to meet up with the gentlemen who were relaxing in Vicki’s brother’s villa. We spent most of the time goofing around and creating some fun images with this hilarious group of guys. Alvin’s witty sense of humour made it hard for the other groomsmen to stop smiling and laughing!

As the gents left to make their way to the church, I had some more time with the ladies who are all dolled up and fresh from the salon. The bridal suite overlooked a gorgeous part of the resort and made for some wonderful and fresh photos.

The church was a thirty minute drive from the resort, but it was definitely worth the trek. The El Dorado Maroma Beach Chapel is about 20 metres from the Caribbean Sea and was a picturesque location for their catholic ceremony. As I followed Vicki on the long walk to the beach chapel, the wind picked up her veil and swirled it around in the air.

After the ceremony, we had plenty of time on that silky beach to have some fun with the sun low on the horizon. The long shadows made for some dramatic effects, as the cheerful group had fun playing in the sand.

From the very moment we met Vicki and Alvin back in Toronto, we could tell that they had fantastic chemistry. This really shined through in the photos of the two of them together. Their intro dance routine showed how well they work together and it really pumped the crowd up as they danced the night away only a few metres from the sea.  Congratulations Vicki and Alvin!

Richard’s father owns the stylish Davids Footwear in Yorkville. It’s a family-owned business and Richard actually works there as well. The wedding had a subtle shoe theme to honour the family business, which worked out quite well for the bride and her bridesmaids!

Shauna wore the most incredible strapless Vera Wang gown that had curves in all right places, a scalloped neckline, dainty train and impeccable lace with a flower accented ribbon belt. Her silvery Cinderella-esque stilettos were custom made for her by Manolo Blahnik, and custom is an understatement!

Shauna’s bridesmaids wore special peep toe heels which were black, dressy and comfortable. Keeping with the shoe theme, she gave her girls pairs of Toms as gifts. If you’re not familiar with the brand, Toms makes incredibly comfortable shoes with the added bonus that for every pair sold, the company donates a pair to a child in need. It’s a great way to treat yourself (or a loved one) and do something good for the world!

Before the ceremony, Shauna + Richard had their big reveal. Since the day was wet and wintery cold, we kept everything inside at the Thompson Hotel in downtown Toronto. The hotel was amazing with a sleek modern edge, so we didn’t mind the indoor limitation at all! Shauna walked through the large lobby toward Richard, who was sitting in a chair with his back to her. As she reached him, she glanced down at his shoe cufflinks and gave a little smile. With a slight touch to his shoulder he turned around and saw his beautiful bride. They were so sweet together! From there we took a little tour of the hotel for some extra portraits, and then made our way to the ceremony.

This was a traditional Jewish wedding at Adath Israel Synagogue in North York. The room was filled with loved ones who came to see the wonderful couple who had been friends since elementary school.

After the beautiful ceremony, the guests had a blast celebrating with the newlyweds! First they grabbed their unique place cards made from black shoe horns, and then they danced the night away thanks to the fabulous band Sole Power.  Judy Stein, the wedding coordinator, did such a stellar job as always in every visible detail. It was such a great night!

Congratulations, Shauna + Richard!

Simon was travelling with his two best friends, Rob and Sean. The trio saw a lovely group of girls sitting at a patio bar where they were being harassed by plenty of local Italian men, so the guys devised a plan to “rescue” the damsels from the deluge of advances! It was the perfect plan because Holly was in that group of girls, and she and Simon hit it off right away.

Like a storyline fit for a movie, the two little groups merged and they all travelled together for the rest of the trip. Holly + Simon were absolutely inseparable and bonded over their passion for travel and photography, and they came back home deeply in love.

Little did they know, when they first met at that patio bar, that they would soon find themselves exchanging vows at the altar, with Rob and Sean standing by as groomsmen. It goes to show just how serendipitous life can be!

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This particular wedding party was especially close with one another. Holly knew that her bridesmaids had always adored her stylish Longchamp handbag, so as a special gift she gave each girl her very own Longchamp handbag from Betty Hemings in the color of their dresses. Along with the covetable handbags, each girl received a sleek gift box tied with an anticipatory pink ribbon and a personal hand-written “thank you” note. The black boxes were filled with beautifully silver framed group photos from Holly’s surprise bachelorette party in New York. The photos depicted a group of vibrant ladies who were thrilled to have just been picked up by a swanky limousine, courtesy of a very sweet and thoughtful Simon!

After “oooing” and “ahhhing” over their fabulous gifts, the ladies tended to Holly and adorned her with makeup, jewels and finally her stunning Vera Wang mermaid style gown with dreamy ruched tulle. She slipped her feet into the silver Jimmy Choo heels and was ready to see her groom. The bridesmaids themselves changed into their gorgeous Amsale dresses in a matching shade of Navy Blue – yet with slightly differing cuts and styles for some added intrigue and eye candy.

*As you can see, a precious little girl has just been touched by the magic of a fairytale wedding and is no doubt planning her own dream wedding as you read this! We’re thrilled to have caught that wonderful moment and hope that one day she will look back at that photo and remember the exact moment when the realization of love and magic hit.

The ceremony was held at the beautiful Blessed Sacrament Church in Toronto, where Paul + Nina were married just 2 years ago! From referring Holly + Simon to us, to advising them on the day, Simon’s brother and his lovely wife were undeniably thoughtful and helpful in the wedding planning process!

As the processional began, Holly’s mother and father both walked her down the aisle. Her parents looked so proud of their daughter as they handed her off to her soon-to-be husband. Simon looked absolutely dashing in his handsome suit and Holly was as photogenic as could be – the camera loved them! The camera also loved their friends and family outside the church after the ceremony as we captured some of the most vivacious laughter and congratulatory embraces that we’ve ever seen.

The bride and groom took a series of photos at Alexander Muir Park across the road from the church, and then some more at the Historic Distillery District in Toronto where the lighting was divine. We curated a nice mix of classic and urban shots to fit everyone’s personality. Holly and her girls had the most amazing rose bouquets that called for a few extra, special photos to freeze their beauty in time.Holly and her mother planned both the wedding and the reception, and they did a truly fantastic job. The reception took place at the Fermenting Cellar which was beautifully decorated by Avenue Flowers. Each table was set with crystal, incredible floral arrangements and chic Lucite chairs which reflected the candlelight in the most magical of ways. Chandeliers hung over the head table, all tables were draped with silk linens and flutes of bubbly champagne were added as the final touch.

Seeing as how Holly + Simon met in the Cinque Terre on the coast of the Italian Riviera, an authentic Italian band called The Sensations serenaded guests throughout dinner. Later, the dance floor became the place to be as guests formed a conga line and danced well into the night!

Other highlights of the evening were the memorable speeches from the groomsmen and bridesmaids. All of the speeches touched on how the bride and groom met but, while the girls’ speeches were sweet and touching, it was the guys’ speeches that had everyone in stitches! They even went so far as to present Simon with a deep fryer, deeming it as “Something every man needs, but isn’t allowed to put on the registry.” Be it adorable or hilarious, all of the speeches showed just how much they all care for one another!

{Looking back} While shooting Holly + Simon’s engagement portrait,  we realized that we were working with a very special couple. They were so head over heels in love and infatuated with each other that frame after frame came out virtually perfect. The energy was amazing and we couldn’t wait for the wedding day to arrive!

I’d like to give a special thank you to Nina and Paul (who happens to be Simon’s brother) who referred the bride and groom to us a while back. As a collective group, Nina, Paul, Holly and Simon have also referred us several other couples including {Janine and Kyle},  {Ashley and Evan},  {Shauna and Richard} and more coming soon. We shot Nina and Paul’s wedding back in 2010, and are so humbled by the wonderful gesture of the referrals. Later this month we will be with yet another wonderful couple from this group, {Tania and Sean}, who actually referred us to Nina a few years back, after Tania saw {Amanda & Michael}’s images from their day. Building these tight-knit lasting relationships with clients is the highlight of our job!

We feel so lucky to have been part of not only this wedding day, but also this entire group of wonderful people. We’re looking forward to seeing the whole group again at the next one!

And this year, magic happened again when we escaped to the Dominican Republic to photograph the wedding of Candace & Mike – also known as our High School Sweethearts. If you missed our engagement session with these two – take a quick look.

Maybe the magic had something to do with the beautiful setting that the Dominican Republic provided. Perhaps the gorgeous white gazebo which served as an altar for Candace & Mike as they recited their vows played a small part. It may have been the overwhelming feeling of love and friendship that emanated from their guests hearts and hugs. All of it played a part, for sure. But what it came down to was this – we were witnessing a destiny, a moment that was written in the books long before it happened. They were the purpose in each other’s lives and we captured the entire day, a lifetime of moments being fulfilled, with our magical little cameras.

Mike & Candace are two amazing, AMAZING, individuals who live life like there’s no tomorrow, who dance like no one is watching, who smile often and laugh hardily because life is a gift and it’s worth celebrating. We had so much fun with the two of them. From a simple ceremony on the white sandy beaches to the palm tree covered cocktail hour, where they were serenaded by a local mariachi band. And to their guests surprise, a stunning trash the dress session amongst the gorgeous turquoise ocean waters. Candace & Mike were willing to try anything – and so we did everything!

The night concluded with an intimate candlelit dinner on the beach, with all of their loved ones toasting to this amazing couple. We really couldn’t have asked them to do anything else, but we’re pretty sure their future is going to be filled with surprises for those lucky enough to be a part of it.

Candace & Mike – thank you again for being so open and so inspirational to those around you. We were and still are, honored to be included in your beautiful day. Here’s to your magic – may it burn brighter and longer, ever more!

We took wedding portraits as Andrea + Don slipped into their wedding attire once again. Andrea’s gown from Ella Bridals had a beautiful neckline and open back, and her hot pink Nina Shoes stilettos were a wonderful statement piece that complimented the pink feathered fascinator in her hair. Her bridesmaids stood by her in navy blue cocktail dresses. Don and his groomsmen wore traditional Philippine cloth shirts and cotton pants, complete with stylish fedoras.

The Boiler House was transformed into an Andrea + Don wonderland filled with mementos from their wedding which included heart shapes with Spanish love poems inscribed on them. Like many receptions, the guest tables were themed to reflect the bride and groom’s personality. Uniquely, though, these tables boasted awesome photos of celebrities riding motorcycles since the couple love and ride them as well. One table had a photo of James Dean, another had Elvis, then there was Mick Jagger and, would you believe it: Barbara Streisand!

The group sat down for an incredible brunch which included a spread of eggs benedict, smoked salmon, bagels, cheese platters, seafood, perogies, French toast, bacon and various sweet treats. Everyone had a wonderful time dressing up for such a celebratory meal with family and friends!

< Click here to see Andrea and Don’s engagement images >

We flew down to the Dominican Republic for a very intimate wedding of just 20 guests, held at the RIU in Punta Cana. The temperature that day was a sweltering…HOT.  But as Betty & Gian walked along the palm tree lined white sandy beaches, and wed under an altar of sheer white linens and pink roses at the ocean’s line, a light breeze passed through as if to welcome us all.

Betty was breath-taking in a gorgeous white, satin gown – rouched at the sides to show off her beautiful figure, with a beaded lace princess-cut neckline.  Her matching crystal necklace and earrings picked up the radiant glimmer of the Dominican sunshine. And Gian was quite the looker himself in an all-white suit, his shirt loosely opened at the top, flip flops and a definite necessity that day – the sunglasses.

We had so much fun photographing the two of them all over the beautiful Punta Cana resort. There wasn’t much these two wouldn’t do, which made the whole experience so fresh and exciting. It also helped to create a ton of extremely romantic images for this beautiful couple, including some under water shots.

 Betty & Gian – thank you for including us in your special day. We wish you a lifetime of warm, beautiful days and can’t wait to hear what life has in store for you both! Congratulations again!

Flash forward a bit and I found myself reunited with Brandy + Trevor for their wedding at the Ancaster Mill. The old mill is a beautifully rustic venue built over a creek with lush gardens and natural waterfalls which are connected to the Niagara escarpment. There was magical scenery in every direction we looked, making for the perfect backdrops to our photos: deep blue skies, rich foliage in an array of colours, wood and stonework, and varying levels of stairs to add depth to the images.

The ceremony was marvelous and featured the stunning bride in a gown from the Dina Alonzi Bridal Boutique. Her shoes were made by Jimmy Choo and her jewelry by Disegno Donata. While all eyes were on Brandy most of the time, you couldn’t help but notice the stellar Love by Enzoani bridesmaid dresses and, of course, the handsome groom in his Z Zegna suit.

The reception was decked in glowing candles, lanterns and fireplace light, which was the perfect representation of how warm and loving this couple is. The guests were cozy and the ambiance benefited from the care that they took to keep everybody toasty.

It might surprise you to know that Brandy planned the entire wedding herself, and it went off without a hitch! Her friend designed their 3 tiered modern black and white cake, and Sue Gallo Designs provided spectacular floral arrangements which garnered plenty of compliments.

The night ended with Brandy + Trevor dancing by the fireside, with warmth in their hearts and smiles on their faces!

< Click here to see Andrea and Don’s wedding images >