2021 Wedding Season Highlights!
Well… this season was certainly one for the books!
I don't even know where to begin, so I'm just going to do it in sequence, to be fair to all the beautiful couples I met and photographed this year…
…and so that I don't miss anything that was super important.
Here we go! 🤩
Wedding #1, a Winter Wonderland at Rockport Barn, Rockport (near Kingston)
The very first wedding of the year that was Pam and Steve.
They got married in mid-winter and in between lockdowns.
But they've been together 19 years and it didn't much matter what time of year their wedding would take place. They just knew they wanted to make it special and unique to them. Incorporate something that was really meaningful for them, and no one else.
Because they've both been married before, they were done with big weddings. Been there done that, got the T-shirt, so to speak.
They had the most amazing winter wedding at Rockport Barn, just the way they wanted it, with their two sons as witnesses, and it was absolute wintry magic.
(oh, and the magic was also thanks to the magical unicorn that is Heather of Bowtied with Love! If you’re getting married without a planner, why?? When you can have Heather to help!)
Pam and Steve on their wedding day.
Then… we had a lockdown. It lasted a few months, and a couple of weddings had to be postponed. But that was OK, because when they did finally happen they were just as epic if not more.
Wedding #2, a beautiful Afternoon Affair at the Rosemount Inn, Kingston
First up were Danielle and Zach. They got married at the Rosemount Inn in Kingston, in a beautiful and tiny ceremony right inside the venue.
In fact, the restrictions at the time were so strict that the only people allowed in the room were the couple, me, the officiant, and one other guest.
The other few guests had to remain outside the room until the ceremony was finished. Danielle and Zach didn’t let that affect them. After the intimate ceremony, we all went upstairs for a glass of bubbly and a few laughs in the couple’s spacious suite, with a giant window providing lots of beautiful light for the photos.
Danielle and Zach posing after the wedding.
After that, we all went for a nice walk outdoors. It was a beautiful warm day. We spent some time in a beautiful garden under the shade of their lovely prune trees, and finally we made it to the grad club which was a special venue to Zach, during his university days. (or rather, because he used to live right next door when he was a student!)
When I think of couples making the best of their wedding during a pandemic (I don’t like to call it a pandemic-wedding… it has a weird ring to it :P), I think of Danielle and Zach.
🌈 Wedding #3, a gorgeous afternoon elopement at Pangea House, Gananoque
In July Maire and Wendi got hitched.
This was in Gananoque, at a beautiful (absolutely gorgeous) & brand new Airbnb called Pangea house.
The owners of Pangea House were old friends of Maire and Wendi's back from their days in Toronto. Geoff is a spectacular chef, and he whipped up multiple incredible delicacies on that day.
Jody was the most gracious host. She was not only amazing kind to the two brides and their guests, but also with me. In fact I felt like one of the family.
We had a lot of fun that afternoon and even though I was only there for a few hours, we captured so many beautiful memories for them.
The couple’s daughters were also there to support and create awesome memories with their moms.
Maire and Wendi are an unforgettable couple. Their love for each other shines so bright, and the way they chose to celebrate this with a low-key elopement with just a handful of guests, in a gorgeous airbnb reflects the maturity of their relationship. ❤️
Maire and Wendi’s walk to their new journey together.
Wedding #4, a Back-yard Summer Afternoon Elopement in Yarker, Ontario (near Kingston)
The next wedding in July was with Leah and Kwesi.
They are such a sweet couple.
They're both very outdoorsy, and they love running and staying fit together. The day they got married was a really hot day, and Kwesi had to contend with the heat in his three piece suit. He did amazingly well throughout the ceremony, before he was able to take off at least his topcoat.
But despite the heat, this was definitely a wedding to remember.
In the backyard of Leah's parents home in Yarker, decorated by wonderful floral arrangements created by a family friend, this afternoon elopement with a small guest list of under 30 people, shows just how much fun and love you can have even in in a private setting. Leah wore a lovely summer midlength dress, which helped a little with the humidity.
Kwesi’s grandmother was there, and we ensured to get a photograph of the two of them together, without making her walk at all! When grandparents come to your wedding, we need to make it as easy as possible to create memories with them. Especially if they have mobility challenges. It’s the photographer’s job to work to provide an easy experience, not the guests’ or couple’s job!
I'll always remember Kwesi wiping the sweat off his face during the ceremony, and trying to not let it get into his eyes. What a trooper.
I love the lengths we go to to make sure that we celebrate each other’s love. ❤️
Leah and Kwesi enjoying their wedding festivities.
Wedding #5, a ceremony at Marshland Conservation Area in Kingston, and a home-reception for close family
In August, it was Alison and Mitchell's turn.
Alison and Mitchell had delayed their wedding and they had changed plans for their wedding because of Covid.
They ended up having it in their home, and honestly it couldn't have gone any better any other way.
The ceremony was outdoors near one of their favorite trails at the Marshland Conservation Area in Kingston (just off Front Street, across the street from Lake Ontario Park). There, we had the ceremony under the canopy of trees in midday. The shade provided for respite from the heat; and afterwards the couple took a walk in the gorgeous trails near by, and we even went to Lake Ontario Park for a few photos!
Afterwards we all headed back to their house for lots of great food and party times. And of course how could we ever forget the amazing Soka, their huge Leonberger pup, who at just 11 months was already bigger than most dogs I've ever seen in my life!
She was a joy to have at the wedding. For how young she was, she handled all the guests at her house really well, and was curious and playful, but also was able to chill out when she got too tired. She was like the big kid celebrating along with mom and dad, and their two bunnies. Oh yes, did I forget to mention that they have two bunnies?
Alison and Mitchell are awesome. They are such a young and vibrant couple, super driven and loving. They have big dreams, and I have no doubt that they will accomplish them all! ❤️
Alison and Mitchell with their much loved family member.
Wedding #6, a full day wedding at Furnace Falls Farms on the hottest day on record!
Moving right along on August 21st Bronwyn and Andrew got married, at Furnace Falls Farm.
It was the hottest day on record since 1916 (!!), but that didn't stop literally anyone.
Bronwyn was a little worried about how people would handle the heat during the ceremony, but once the clouds rolled in and the storm began to brew right at the start of the ceremony, everything cooled down by about 15 degrees.
So all the guests enjoyed the ceremony without having to sweat under the sun.
Then we all headed to the big barn for the cocktails and reception. The Furnace Falls Farm couldn't have been more accommodating hosts. They really took care of me and my plant based food preferences, and make sure to include plant based goodies in every single snack or meal they provided. The delicious meals they whipped up for all the guests were swiftly devoured before the dancing started.
The day was full of colour, laughter, joy, drinks...
And in the end, we took a massive group shot of the entire crowd, including grandma up on the deck, up on the porch after that the dancing began. It was all outside, let under the stars, and the full moon was bright.
I'll always remember this wedding. ❤️
Bronwyn and Andrew happily looking into each others eyes.
Wedding #7, a Full-day Private Beach Wedding on Wolfe Island
The last wedding of August was Ellen and Tim.
My fantastic second shooter, Joanna Semrau, accompanied me for this wedding, so that we wouldn’t miss anything important.
Ellen and Tim had an outdoor ceremony under a massive tree in Ellen’s parents’ backyard, right along the water. They are both such sweet people, and they are loved and adored by SO many, reflected in the large wedding party they had.
Ellen looked absolutely STUNNING. One of my favourite moments of this wedding was Ellen’s first look with her dad. Check out the photo below…
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
And did I mention how beautiful the property was? And the sandy beach? We took some sunset photos of the couple there, and they all looked glorious and gorgeous kissed with sun.
There was lots of laughter during the speeches and good food under the white tent.
Afterwards, the dancing got fun and wild! People truly enjoyed this awesome day. And I was right among those people. ❤️
(Mad props to Chantal of CC Weddings and Events for helping plan and pull off this flawless wedding!)
Ellen and Tim after their wedding.
Wedding #8, an afternoon elopement at Finkles Shore Park, Bath, Ontario (near Kingston)
Now we get into September, and the first wedding of September was Ren and Dan's wedding.
They went to Finkles Shore Park, for a couple of hours of fun, fish-and chips food from the red food truck (Fryway 33), and lots of laughs.
In fact at the end of the wedding, when Ren and Dan were both standing chatting with their guests, there was so much laughter, I seriously thought that I should suggest they consider comedy as a career.
Maybe a stand-up comedy duo. They were so funny.
And they loved each other so so much.
This was a quirky wedding, for sure. What do I mean by that? Well, the couple didn't want any of the “traditional” stuff.
Ren was wearing a dark red dress, and we didn't pose the couple for any couples photos.
They describe themselves as awkward in front of the camera, and much prefered to have some family photos with their boys, siblings, and friends.
We took a group photo of all the guests standing on a log.
I didn't really notice that they were awkward with the camera, mind you, because they were so natural and had so much fun together. It was obvious just how much they love each other. All in all, it was an awesome outdoorsy beautiful wedding. ❤️
Ren and Dan in love on their big day.
Wedding #9: An intimate Bruce Peninsula elopement at an A-frame AirBnb with Stunning Sunset couple’s photos
A couple weeks later, I drove to Bruce peninsula, where Brianna and Brandon got hitched.
They are an amazing couple, and I met them years ago at another lovely couple’s wedding I photographed.
Since then, I've always secretly hoped that I'd get to photograph their wedding. My dream came true when sadly their wedding out east had to be cancelled because of Covid. It was frustrating for them to have to change their date so many times. I felt for them, and was ecstatic to finally make this day happen on September 18th.
Their Bruce peninsula wedding was magical and beautiful in every single way.
They rented an A-frame “cabin in the woods”, which housed their closest friends and family.
The ceremony was in the forest out back, in the super magical setting under the tree canopy.
It was kind of like out of a movie…
Their little pup Lyla was there too then there was a dinner on the porch, and then first dance is by the fire in front. We can't forget the axe throwing. That's an activity the couple really enjoys and of course they had to incorporate it on their wedding day as well. Did I mention there was a Sasquatch sighting?
And then, we took a short drive to the beach on red Bay. It had been breathtaking that morning when I had taken a walk there to explore it, but I wasn't prepared for just how beautiful it would be in the evening. We took sunset photos on the beach and then on the pier, and those are some of my favorite photos that I've ever made.
I love Brianna and Brandon and wish them every happiness that they so much deserve after all the hardships they’ve been through.❤️
Brianna and Brandon much in love.
Wedding #10, a Warm first-day-of-fall Amherst Island Private Wedding with a yurt and labyrinth!
I barely had time to drive home, and then came another island wedding, this time on Amherst island near Kingston. (I loved being an island hopper this year!)
It was Kim and Graeme's wedding.
Before their wedding, we had talked a bit with the couple about the many unique elements they wanted to incorporate into their wedding day.
First there was a labyrinth. They'd get married right in the centre of the labyrinth, which was perfectly positioned to be lit by the late afternoon sun.
Then there were other details too. They have a beautiful Mongolian hand-made yurt on their property, and that is where Kim got ready with her mother.
She also had ordered a hand embroidered blue cloak from the Ukraine, which looked absolutely majestic in the moonlight. It was a full moon that night, as planned. There was a private chef, and so much more, and those photographs seems so ethereal to me, even though I was there. It was simply beautiful.
Kim and Graeme at the beautiful island.
Wedding #11, a Camping Wedding at KOA 1000 Islands Gananoque, complete with the Couple’s ‘camping family’
At the end of September, Crystal and Rob got married.
I knew all along this was going to be a different kind of wedding, but it was difficult to imagine until I actually GOT to KOA 1000 Islands campground, and met the “camping family”.
Crystal and Rob wanted to get married at the campground, because it was super meaningful to them. They’d spent MANY weekends and holidays camping there in their fifth wheel with their two kiddos.
And of course they were going to celebrate their wedding with their closest camping friends and family.
That day was so much fun, and it was the perfect blend of beautiful and also chill.
You could tell just how much fun these people have together on a weekly basis when they camp together. There was delicious cupcakes, cake, a big campfire, and so much laughter. And did I mention SHOTS?
Crystal and Rob celebrating their togetherness.
Wedding #12, a Magic Forest Elopement Near Landsdowne, Ontario
In October, Mads and Lu got hitched.
They are both nature lovers. For their engagement session, we went to Frontenac park and had a lovely hike.
On their wedding, they got married in another forest, this time behind Lu’s parents house. It was ma-jestic. The colours of fall, combined with the beautiful floral crowns the couple wore… it all blended perfectly.
I don't really know how to describe it in words, so I'm just going to let the photos do the talking.
Mads and Lu wearing beautiful crowns on their wedding.
Wedding #13, A Fall Afternoon Ceremony at Finkles Shore Park, Bath (near Kingston)
Then we come to Desiree and Shane.
They got married in Finkles Shore Park, and even though it was October, we had some lovely beautiful weather.
The sun peeked its head out after the ceremony, and we ended up taking beautiful photos by the water of the couple and their friends. The highlight probably was when there were scuba divers who were diving in the water.
Shane, the groom, ask them if we could take a photo of the couple in the foreground with the scuba divers in the back. They agreed. So we made that photo happen!
A few other favourite moments of mine were when guests threw leaves at the couple right after their ceremony… or when their sweet pup Josie (an adorable French Bulldog!) lied patiently on the couch while her mom got her makeup ready for the wedding…. or when Shane delivered the world’s most memorable speech to his bride (the contents of that speech were hilarious but also probably best left undisclosed…)
(I give major props to Heather of Bowtied with Love for orchestrating this wedding; I love working with Heather and immensely enjoy each wedding she plans!)
Desiree and Shane ❤ Just Married ❤
🌈 Wedding #14, a Bus-Limo Wedding complete with the world’s best wedding gown and a pit-stop at McDonalds!
You read that right! This was an unbelievable wedding day. Completely different from anything I’d ever photographed before, and delicious in every single way.
Rochelle and Hudson got married in Guelph, but their wedding day actually started in Toronto.
In fact, the majority of their wedding took place in a bus limousine. That’s right, folks. We rode into town (and outta town) in style…
Have you ever taken a ride in a bus limo?
If not, I highly recommend it.
Especially if you can gather up group of awesome funny gorgeous queer friends to be there with you. That's exactly what Rochelle & Hudson did! (this was after more than a year of wedding plan pandemic disruptions, after which they both said, FUCK IT, we’re GETTING MARRIED AND DOING IT OUR WAY)
First we stopped off at Blue Ivory Bridal store to pick up her dress.
The dress itself probably deserves a separate blog post. It's one of the most epic wedding dresses I've ever seen on screen or in real life.
She hopped onto the bus limo (with help from friends getting that magic dress loaded onto the limo) and we took the drive to Guelph, where they got hitched at City Hall. There was a lot of hushing us and telling us not to take photos inside of City Hall. But we did it anyway…
After that we took some photos outside and the friends all had a chance to connect and have some laughs, get a little bit high, and celebrate.
Then we hopped back in the limo and made it back to Toronto right before dinner. (Mind you, we definitely stopped off at McDonalds on our way home, cause #WeddingFries should be a real thing)
I bid the couple goodbye at that point, but I hear that they had a splendid celebration at dinner as well. ❤️ I’ll always be grateful that they included me in this magic day.
Rochelle and Hudson so happy and excited on their big day.
Wedding #15, A Gothic Halloween-Vibe Wedding on Howe Island, With a Secret Garden Inn Reception
At the end of October, on Halloween,... yes on Halloween, Amber and Pete got married.
Amber loves everything gothic and Victorian.
So it was a no-brainer to get married on Halloween. She also wore a black wedding dress. She was incredible. Simply stunning. Again, I'm going to let the photos do the talking for me, simply because I don't know how to describe it any better.
After the ceremony which was in the backyard of her parents’ home on Howe island, we took the ferry across to Kingston and drove into town.
For dinner, we were at the The Secret Garden inn, a brand newly renovated beautiful Airbnb right in the heart of Kingston.
The hosts were wonderful, the chef was simply out of this world, and the room where we all had dinner looked magnificent.
There was a long table decorated just perfectly. And at the end of the long table, there was a ornate mirror. In fact the mirror was a TV. But you couldn't tell that. The cake was black, the roses were dark red, and everything about this day it was pure Halloween magic.. Just take a look for yourself.
Gothic and Victorian wedding of Amber and Pete
Wedding #16, A Beautiful Full Day Wedding At the Old Mill, Toronto
A week later I drove to Toronto for Megan and Matt's wedding.
Megan and Matt got married at the Old Mill in Toronto. What a beautiful venue.
I know I say this a lot, but the couples that come to me seem to be booking the most incredible locations, whether it's their backyards on an island somewhere, or some gorgeous Airbnb or hotel.
I felt so lucky all season long to be included in each of these celebrations.
Megan and Matt not only love each other madly, but they are surrounded by people who love and support them. There were so many hugs and so much laughter, that it was almost difficult to keep up!
The reception hall made for a beautiful backdrop for the first dances, while the courtyard served beautiful for group and family photos. Although I don’t take very long with these photographs, we can still make sure to capture whatever is important.
My favourite moments were when the couple explored the Old Mill together, finding cool places to take a photo; and when they had their first dance! ❤️
A romantic dance of Megan and Matt
Wedding #17+#18: A two-day Multi-Location Wedding Spanning Amherstview To Downtown Kingston, To Fort Henry!
The final wedding of the year was Andi and Tim.
And it wasn't a one-day wedding, it was a two-day wedding.
Because… why not?
Andi and Tim got married two separate days, and each day was very different. They had TWO ceremonies, one rehearsal dinner, and one reception…
On the first day, they got married in a church ceremony in Amherstview. After that, they had a rehearsal dinner at the Residence Inn, on the water’s edge in downtown Kingston.
On the second day, they got married at the Great Hall Fort Henry. (this used to be called the Discovery Centre, and I still sometimes call it that by accident).
We didn't think we'd be able to do an outdoor wedding because of the weather, but the elements aligned, and so we did in fact manage to get everyone seated outside.
It was just after dusk, so I had to use my lighting to make sure that there was enough light to take the photographs. But, the view was simply stunning.
Probably my favorite moment from that wedding was when I took the couple outside after dinner to grab a quick photo of the two of them with the backdrop of the downtown Kingston lights behind them. So while they’re getting ready for this nice photo, Tim licked Andi's face.
There is a backstory to that moment, which I will probably tell you all about it when I write a blog dedicated solely to this couple.
Suffice to say, it was the perfect way to end this epic 2-day long wedding that spanned multiple locations all across the greater Kingston area!
Couldn’t have asked for a better ending of the wedding season either! ❤️
Andi and Tim in the church during wedding rituals.
Well, for now that wraps up all the highlights of the wedding season.
In the next few weeks I'll be writing blogs about each of these special, magical weddings and these amazing couples that made it all come true and trusted me to be their photographer. For now I hope this whets your appetite a little bit and keeps you holding on for more.
Believe me there will be more. Plenty more!
Now, if you got this far, leave me a comment and let me know which of the weddings SPOKE to you!
If you’re not already married - which of these ideas appeals most?
Leave me a comment and I promise I’ll reply :)