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Peaceful Backyard Micro Wedding in Kitchener, ON

October 6, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Natalee & Justin had a micro wedding before it was cool. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in August 2019, long before government-mandated gathering limits was something I had ever considered an option. I’ve been wanting to share this beautiful wedding since I shot it last year, and now seems like an appropriate time to explain what I love so much about micro weddings. Natalee & Justin opted for an intimate backyard wedding ceremony, with just their closest family to witness their exchanging of vows and rings. Without so much as a maid of honour, Natalee got ready for the day virtually alone. It was the most zen wedding day preparations I’d ever witnessed. Though maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, I could really see the peaceful appeal of such a scaled-back wedding, right from the moment I arrived.

Bridal details, including royal blue shoes, jewellery and bouquet by Designs by Cate

bridal makeup by angie norman jacha beauty

bride's makeup is applied with dress hanging in background

Makeup artist Jacha Beauty applying makeup to bride by large window

On the other hand, Justin opted to invite a few buddies over to his apartment, complete with a pinball machine, to spend the morning before his wedding. I left Natalee for a short time, to check in with Justin. The energy was much different, but still very relaxed. Since his closest friends weren’t rushing to get dressed for the ceremony, or memorize their speeches. The whole time, they were just hanging out like it were any other day.

grooms and his friends laughing in a kitchen

groom and friend play with frankenstein pinball machine

groom's brown leather shoes, purple tie and belt

Groom and his friends hanging out in large studio apartment

When I returned to Natalee, her hair and makeup was complete and she was already in her gorgeous wedding dress. She said I was the first to see all ready – what an honour! We had some time before everyone arrived for the ceremony, so we took some solo portraits of her around her mother-in-law’s gorgeous house, the venue of the couple’s micro wedding.

bride stands in shadow by front door of historic house, holding large bridal bouquet

bride portraits in spaghetti strap lace dress by Anais Annette with large bouquet by Designs by Cate

bride sits in white lace dress, holding bridal bouquet by Designs by Cate

bride laughs with mother of the bride in blue dress

Before long, those on the exclusive guest list arrived at the mother of the groom’s gorgeous backyard deck and with the sun shining and a light breeze sweeping through, the ceremony began.

family gathers before micro wedding ceremony

closeup photo of groom's boutonniere by designs by cate

blue brick historic house in baden ontario

father of the bride walks her down the aisle

father of the bride kisses bride in emotional moment during backyard wedding ceremony

guests stand at start of micro wedding ceremony on backyard deck

strips of light on backyard deck micro wedding ceremony

father of the bride wipes a tear during ceremony

mother of the bride wipes her eye during emotional ceremony

grandfather of bride says a prayer during backyard wedding ceremony

mother of the groom smiles while watching wedding ceremony

grandparents of the bride watch on during wedding ceremony

bride and groom make eye contact during backyard wedding ceremony

bride and groom laughing during wedding ceremony

first kiss during backyard wedding ceremony

grandmother of the groom signs marriage register

officiant nancy knowles officially announces couple to be married

mother of the groom smiles while hugging bride

bride hugs a family member in celebration

With such a small group present for the ceremony, there was no need for a microphone and the emotion was palpable. Everyone was close enough to clearly pick up on subtle trembles in voices and see tears rolling down cheeks. The ceremony was beautiful and in a gorgeous setting that has so much meaning to Natalee & Justin. For a short time after the ceremony, everyone snacked on some sandwiches and refreshments before moving on to family photos.

bride shares an emotional moment with a family member

guests celebrate on backyard deck after micro ceremony

formally dressed baby boy looks toward camera in his father's arms

bride and groom pose with their Portuguese water dog in a blue bow tie

family photos against a decorative garage door

bridal bouquet sits on the hood of an antique car, designs by cate stratford

bride sits atop antique convertible with groom in driver's seat

bride and groom kiss, leaning against antique car

bride and groom sit together in antique convertible by fancy garage

Natalee & Justin invited me to the farm house they had recently bought and were fixing up. Between the character of the property and the gorgeous golden sunlight streaming through the trees, it was the perfect setting for newlywed portraits. Their wedding day really proved to me that, whether you’re forced to have an intimate micro wedding due to public health recommendations or not, there are so many amazing reasons to have an intimate wedding. You may be missing out on sharing the day with all of the people in your life who mean the most to you, but intimate weddings just hit different. Your experience of the day just might be less chaotic, slower-paced, more emotionally present and more focused on each other.

As long as you invest in quality photography, you’ll be able to share your special day with all of those special people and celebrate with them in smaller groups for months. That doesn’t sound so bad at all, does it? Congratulations Natalee & Justin! Your wedding was absolutely gorgeous and I look forward to filling my calendar with many more weddings just like yours!

silhouette of bride and groom standing by farmer's field

closeup of bride and groom's hand with wedding rings

bride and groom lean against wooden barn wall

bride and groom laughing, bridal bouquet by designs by cate stratford

bride and groom stand together by stone shed

bride and groom sit in grass by stone shed, bouquet by designs by cate stratford

newlyweds stand in golden hour light coming through trees

golden hour light shines onto bride and groom in emotional portrait, wedding flowers by designs by cate stratford

Vendors

Colleen Herner (Wedding Planner)
Designs by Cate (Florals)
Jacha Beauty (Makeup)
Lisa Eccles of Pure Hair Studio (Hair)
Reverend Nancy Knowles (Officiant)
Chef Adam Brenner (Catering)
Anais Annette (Bride’s Dress)
Parkside Drive (Live Music)

Stylish E.V.O. Kitchen Wedding (Cambridge, ON)

March 4, 2019 by 1 Comment

bride and groom kiss in dramatic light at EVO Kitchen cambridge

wedding first look at black lace wedding dress

Alexandra & Aaron’s wedding took place at the gorgeous industrial E.V.O. Kitchen in Cambridge, Ontario. I met up with the couple at the venue for their first look. It was a hot, sunny mid-September afternoon, exactly a week before my son was born. Alexandra made the bold choice of not wearing white on her wedding day, which was a pleasant surprise for me. Her black, lace wedding dress looked gorgeous on her and completely reflected her personality and style. Alexandra and Aaron had a (mostly) private moment to see each other, shake their nerves out and mentally and emotionally prepare themselves for the day ahead.

wedding photography sign at black lace wedding dress

groom casual portrait at EVO Kitchen cambridge

black lace wedding dress bride cambridge ontario

bride and groom smile cambridge wedding photography

After some couple’s photos, we were happy to cool off in the air conditioning at the historic venue, as the guests arrived. With gorgeous light streaming in from the huge factory-style windows of the nearly 100-year-old building, the quiet couple said their “I dos,” as friends and family watched on.

bride and groom walk up stairs at EVO Kitchen cambridge

wedding ceremony details at EVO Kitchen cambridge

father of the bride walks down island while groom waits at EVO kitchen cambridge

father walks bride down aisle at EVO Kitchen cambridge

parents smile during wedding ceremony at EVO kitchen cambridge

wedding ceremony at EVO Kitchen cambridge

bride and groom exchange rings during wedding ceremony at EVO Kitchen cambridge

first kiss wedding ceremony at EVO Kitchen cambridge

The day smoothly transitioned right into cocktail hour, complete with beautiful (and delicious) hors d’oeuvres and one of the most stylish, beautifully decorated receptions I’ve ever witnessed. Some of the many unique details that shaped the style of Alexandra & Aaron’s wedding included: the typewriter on the gift table, a donut bar with a sign that read “Donut mind if I do” and the wedding favour – a bottle opener shaped like an ornate key.

card and gift table at wedding reception

wedding reception details at EVO Kitchen cambridge

wedding reception decor at EVO Kitchen cambridge

wedding reception bar details at EVO kitchen cambridge

wedding reception at EVO Kitchen cambridge

gourmet donut doughnut dessert table at wedding reception EVO Kitchen cambridge

The vibe of Alexandra & Aaron’s wedding was romantic, but very low-key and relaxed; much like the newlyweds. After a delicious meal, and a few funny and touching speeches, dancing begun with some formal dances, followed by a very enthusiastic dancefloor. My night wrapped up with the cutting of the wedding donut, but I have no doubts that the old floorboards felt the energy of the dancefloor for hours after I left.

Did I have an incredible time photographing these two lovebirds and their gorgeous wedding day? Donut doubt it.

bride and groom kiss during wedding reception at EVO kitchen cambridge

bride smiles during wedding reception at EVO kitchen cambridge

bride and groom's first dance at EVO kitchen cambridge

bar during wedding reception at EVO kitchen cambridge

dancefloor dancing during wedding at EVO kitchen cambridge

donut doughnut wedding cake cutting at EVO Kitchen cambridge

First Look vs Aisle Reveal?

May 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment

groom crying during wedding ceremony bride reaction revival house stratford

bride and groom first look in green garden

Danica & Tom’s First Look

The wedding day “first look” has been growing in popularity in recent years. Rather than the tradition of the couple first seeing each other on their wedding day as they meet at the altar, they meet earlier in the day, revealing their wedding attire and having an intimate moment. Seeing each other ahead of the ceremony relieves a lot of the growing anticipation the two may be feeling and allows for the two to really take in this authentic moment. When a couple sees each other for the first time during the ceremony, not only are they in front of an audience of guests, but they have a number of rehearsed things to do and say, possibly taking away from their ability to have a real moment with each other. The main reason, however, for a First Look is to allow the formal photos to be taken before the ceremony. It means the ceremony can be scheduled for later in the day and allow your guests to immediately go to the cocktail hour from the ceremony, rather than have to wait around for 3 hours while the wedding party goes for photos – it also often means the newlyweds can attend their cocktail hour and be present at their own party.

In this post, I’m looking to explore pre-ceremony “first looks” and the traditional moment of reveal, during the ceremony, from either end of the aisle. Some who go the traditional route may feel that seeing each other before the ceremony will take away the special moment during the ceremony, but in my experience, the couple seeing each other ahead of time doesn’t negate an emotional response during the ceremony. Take Danica and Tom, for example. They opted to see each other before the ceremony, allowing us to get the majority of their formal photos out of the way, and giving them the freedom to join their party earlier in the night. The above set of photos is their first look before we began their wedding party photos. The moment was emotional and special and in a beautiful, private location by a waterfall. Below is the moment they saw each other during their ceremony. Though they had already spent several hours together, they still had a beautiful, emotional reaction.

groom's emotional reaction to seeing his bride during outdoor ceremony

Danica & Tom’s Wedding Ceremony

bride and groom first look in carmen's hotel lobby hamilton

Brenda & Reid’s First Look

bride and groom's crying during carmen's banquet hall ceremony hamilton

Brenda & Reid’s Wedding Ceremony

Reid’s reaction to seeing Brenda walk down the aisle brought tears, while at their first look he was all smiles. My wife and I also had a first look on our wedding day and I can say from first hand experience that even after seeing your bride earlier in the day, the emotion really hits when you see her walking towards you at the beginning of the ceremony. I was calm and collected all day long until that moment and that’s when I started getting choked up. During Sarah & Ari’s first look, Sarah couldn’t hold back the tears, while Ari held it together.

bride and groom first look fantasy farm wedding toronto

Sarah & Ari’s First Look

groom sees bride for the first time springer estate wedding

Beverly & Vish’s First Look

groom bites fist upin seeing bride during first look

Becky & Wyatt’s First Look

bride and groom backyard deck first look

Sarah & Joel’s First Look

bride and groom first see each other during steinmann mennonite church ceremony

Sarah & Joel’s Wedding Ceremony

The first look can hold more surprises than each others’ wedding outfit. At Sarah & Joel’s first look, the couple exchanged a letter they each wrote to the other and the other’s wedding band, which made the moment even sweeter. John also gave Melissa a few gifts at their first look, including an engraved jewelry box and a beautiful pair of earrings.

bride and groom's first look under tree victoria park kitchener

Melissa & John’s First Look

bride & groom emotional first look staircase hotel inn on the twenty

Ashley & Matt’s First Look

bride and groom first look by backyard fence

Laura & Jarred’s First Look

bride and groom winter first look white gloves

Dana & Joe’s First Look

bride and her father's first look at revival house stratford staircase

Jamie and her father, Marc’s First Look

Some brides with special relationships with their fathers, like Jaime, will opt to also have a first look with their dad, so that the moment he sees his little girl in her wedding dress is documented. Jamie also shared a first look with her then husband-to-be, Steven on the balcony that overlooks the Revival House’s gorgeous event space. Steven’s reaction during their first reaction was sweet, but not overly emotional, which made his reaction during their ceremony, after several hours of formal photos, even more surprising.

At the end of the day, whether you and your husband or wife-to-be share a private first look hours before the ceremony, or keep the tradition of waiting until the processional to first see each other, and whether you’re all smiles or reaching for the nearest box of tissues, your moment will be its own sweet, unique mix of emotions, as you each look into the eyes of your best friend, preparing yourself for the official beginning of your journey through life together.

bride and groom indoor first look revival house stratford

Jamie & Steven’s First Look

Jamie & Steven’s Wedding Ceremony

Granite Ridge Wedding – Milton, ON

April 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Marissa & Daniel’s beautiful wedding took place at Milton Ontario’s Granite Ridge Golf Club, which overlooks the hills of the Niagara Escarpment. Marissa & Daniel travelled from their home in Ottawa to say their vows closer to where their family and friends are. When I arrived at Marissa’s mother’s home, bridesmaid makeup was in full swing and the mood was incredibly calm, with a subtle undertone of nervous excitement. While the bridesmaids were given the final touches on their makeup, the mother of the bride helped her daughter complete her wedding day look. And, in turn, she helped her brother get his boutonnière attached.

On my drive to Granite Ridge Golf Club in Milton, the skies opened up and an enormous amount of rain poured onto the streets. Knowing the couple had planned for an outdoor ceremony, I was upset that things hadn’t gone as Marissa & Daniel had planned. But as I entered the clubhouse, the reception hall had been set up beautifully for an indoor ceremony. By the time the ceremony was over, the sun had made an appearance and the ground managed to dry quickly, so thankfully we had the beautiful grounds of Granite Ridge to take formal photos, as planned.

After Marissa & Daniel and I headed back inside, where their party had already started. The place settings and dessert table looked beautiful and before long, the guests of honour were announced into their reception, and began their first dance.

Between courses, I managed to sneak the newlyweds outside for a couple photos during golden hour, before the sun disappeared behind the escarpment. These were some of my favourite photos of the day. After speeches concluded, a couple more formal dances took place and the cake was cut, before the dance floor was officially opened, ready for the energetic party ahead. Congrats again to Marissa & Daniel!

David Springer Estate Wedding – Burlington, ON

April 13, 2018 by 2 Comments

You would never know it by the photos in this post, but when I arrived at David Springer Estate in Burlington, ON for Beverly & Vish’s June wedding, I was preparing myself for a wet, rainy day of wedding photos. It had already rained earlier in the day and another dark cloud was moving over this beautiful 1830s home, threatening to pour as I was unloading my gear from my trunk. I took a look around the gorgeous property, nearly grieving for the beautiful wedding photos I could have taken, if the rain wasn’t an issue. Attempting to stay positive, I went inside to find Beverly & Vish, each getting ready in separate rooms of the beautiful historic building.

After a couple hours of rain, the bride and groom were each ready to take their pre-ceremony formal photos. I took a peek outside, pleased to see that the clouds moved on and the sun made its first appearance since I arrived. As we were setting up for Beverly & Vish’s first look outside Springer House, we could see that the sunlight’s heat was causing steam to rise from the wet grass on the front lawn. Thinking we might only have a short time before the rain returned, I took a walk around the property with Beverly & Vish, capturing their incredible connection and love for each other through portraits.

Before too long, it was time for the guests to begin arriving and for the ceremony to start. To my surprise, the clear skies stuck around and the ceremony could be held outside as planned. The ceremony was set up behind the house, near a gorgeous old shed, which stands in front of the ruins of an old stone wall. The wall, I would guess, was once part of a larger barn, shed, or perhaps a house. Beverly & Vish really wanted their wedding to feel authentic to them, so some of the formalities and traditions normally associated with weddings were abandoned for a more causal, low-key occasion. It was sweet, beautiful and perfect for Beverly & Vish. They said their vows in front of a wall of hanging origami cranes, which symbolize happiness and eternal youth.

After the ceremony, the couple joined their guests for an outdoor cocktail hour on the patio and yard to the side of the Old Springer House, as the staff prepared for dinner service to begin. Beverly & Vish put an enormous amount of work into personalizing the details of their wedding, including a custom picture frame for photo booth style photos, a window pane seating chart, a chalkboard “guestbook” and small potted plants for each guest, each with their own personalized, illustrated tag. Their reception was packed full of interactive games, which had guests chuckling throughout.

To end off my night, I invited the newlyweds out to the back of the David Springer Estate property, which opens up to a field that offers a gorgeous distant view of the hills of the Niagara Escarpment. The golden, late-day sun peeked out from behind the clouds for a brief few moments before disappearing below the horizon. Congratulations Beverly & Vish!

Farmhouse Wedding – Roseneath, ON

March 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Tara & Jeff’s wedding took place on Tara’s family’s farmhouse in Roseneath, ON. It was a gorgeous June afternoon on a beautiful farm road, north of Port Hope. An enormous amount of work went into making sure the farm property looked its very best for the big day and it paid off, since everywhere you looked was beautiful, inviting and set the perfect tone for a country wedding. Tara and her bridesmaids got ready in a bedroom of the old farmhouse, before the guests arrived for the ceremony.

The sunny ceremony took place on the steps of the farmhouse porch, under a white chandelier. Tara was walked down the aisle by both her father and her step-father, who both have a close relationship to her. The ceremony had touching and humourous moments, and all took place in a location that means a lot to the bride.

After some photos around the property, the wedding party joined the rest of the guests for some drinks and delicious food in the tent behind the farmhouse, which had been beautifully decorated to continue the farmhouse vibe into the second half of the wedding day celebrations. My personal favourite part was the cupcake table.

The food was delicious, the speeches were both emotional and funny and led the party straight into an energetic night of fun and dancing on the dancefloor. I loved that even the catering staff took a break to join the guests on the dancefloor for a song. A big congratulations to Tara & Jeff on their incredible wedding day and their beautiful marriage!

Omni King Edward Hotel Wedding – Toronto, ON

February 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Alyssa & Michael travelled all the way from their home in New York City, for their wedding in Michael’s hometown of Toronto. The couple’s rainy wedding day started at SS. Salvador do Mundo’s Catholic church in Mississauga. The ceremony included live music with a choir and many of the symbolic traditions that make Catholic ceremonies so beautiful.

Our plans to head to Toronto’s Distillery District for photos after the ceremony had to be altered due to the rain, so instead the wedding party headed straight to the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto’s downtown core to eat lunch and wait out the rain. After lunch, the rain passed, so I recommended we head across King street towards St. James Park for some formal photos outside. With only a short time before the reception was to begin, I captured a set of relaxed, fun wedding party photos and some romantic newlywed photos, across the street at Toronto Sculpture Garden.

Once we returned, the Vanity Fair Ballroom at Omni King Edward Hotel was decorated beautifully and ready for the party to begin. The reception began with the formal dances, a first dance between Alyssa & Michael, then Alyssa with her father and Michael with his mother. After a few games and a delicious meal, a few short toasts were shared from family and friends. The cake was cut, the bouquet and garter thrown. While guests had fun taking group photos at the photo booth, the band set up and once they started playing, they pumped the party to the next level. Alyssa & Michael’s was one of my favourite dancefloors to photograph in 2017. What a day! Congrats to the newlyweds!

Farm Wedding – Plattsville, ON

February 5, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Becky & Wyatt decided to have a wedding that was close to home – in fact, their outdoor wedding took place on a warm, sunny day at Becky’s family farm in the small town of Plattsville, near Stratford, ON. The couple had a ‘first look’ on the property, before taking a trip to a few other locations for photos with their maid of honour and best man.

We first headed to Becky & Wyatt’s brand new home, before stopping at a relative’s farm for some photos inside a rustic, wooden barn.

We returned to the family farm as guests were arriving for the outdoor wedding ceremony, on the lawn next to the farm house, with hay bales for seating. Immediately after the ceremony, a receiving line began next to the house, followed by family photos.

Before the reception, I took another short trip with Becky & Wyatt, and their wedding party to the dairy farm where Becky works, to hang out with her bovine coworkers. This was the first time I had to make sure to not step my dress shoes into a cow patty while shooting wedding photos. We also took a few photos with a newborn calf. Then, as is customary at a country wedding, more photos by another gorgeous, old barn and farm equipment. Once we returned to the farm farm, the party was already well underway in the machinery shed, which was decorated with hay bales and chandeliers. Before the first dance, Becky & Wyatt joined me for one last photo session as the late day sun began to set. After that, they joined their guests for a night of dancing and fun. Congratulations Becky & Wyatt!

Whistle Bear Golf Club Wedding – Cambridge, ON

January 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Alaina & Steve's Whistle Bear Golf Club Wedding

Three words I could use to describe Alaina & Steve’s winter wedding are: laid-back, chilly and magical. When I arrived at Alaina & Steve’s house to capture getting ready photos, besides the hair and makeup, you’d barely know it was just a few hours before a wedding, since everyone was incredibly relaxed. Soon after that, we all headed over to the beautiful Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ontario.

While Whistle Bear is capable of hosting several weddings at once, the beauty of Alaina & Steve’s off-season wedding was that they had the entire space to themselves, which meant they could really spread things out. The ceremony was in a beautiful room on the main floor and the reception in a bigger space on the second floor. And while it was a beautiful day, we also had a great, private indoor space in a third hall for some formal indoor photos.

The staff at Whistle Bear were amazing. Alaina, Steve and their wedding party were willing to brave the cold for some photos, and while we were outside, a couple of the ladies coordinating the wedding brought us out a basket of blankets for everyone to warm up under. Unsurprisingly, the groomsmen seemed to have a harder time dealing with the cold than the bridesmaids, despite their three-piece suits. We decided to take a quick break, where the newlyweds cuddled up next to the fireplace, before heading back outside, up the path to the forest for a few more couples photos. Towards the mid to late afternoon, the sun was low in the sky and produced a magical golden light, which was perfect for both outdoor and indoor photos.

We returned to a warm reception, of drinks, delicious food, amazing speeches, great music, all in a beautiful space. After the meal, the dancing began with a couple of formal dances, followed by a lively party. Alaina, Steve, with their friends and family, danced the night away, completing a beautiful day of love and happiness. Congratulations!