A Gorgeous Frontenac Club Inn Small Wedding in Early Spring | Sarah and Mike Tie The Knot
In Canada, most weddings happen in the late spring, summer, and early fall months.
Sarah and Mike are a bit of an exception. Theirs was one of the earlier weddings I photographed this year, though I also had one in March, and previous years, I’ve photographed a fair share of winter weddings.
April can be a beautiful month to get married, especially if you have a great indoor venue, like the Frontenac Club Inn, with access to the outside in case of great weather.
There’s nothing to fear in having an early spring wedding. Sure, trees aren’t blossoming quite yet in Ontario (I always get a bit envious when I see my European friends and family posting all sorts of beautiful blossoms and flowers in March and April, while we’re still covered in ice here in the Kingston-Toronto area…)
But the memories will be just as deep and meaningful, even without the blossoms on the trees.
Right?
I mean, ultimately, you’re not marrying this person because you need to celebrate your love in JUNE and only JUNE.
You’re marrying them because they’ve been with you through thick and thin, and even in the darkest months of winter, they’ve stood by you.
So should you decide to say ‘I Do’ in late December, we’re there for it!
Anyway, this is a very long story to say: get married any time of year you please!
(Plus, there are perks to getting hitched a little early in the season, like special discount rates and easier time finding a date… and so many others!)
Getting Ready: Hair and Makeup At The Refinery
I met up with Sarah and her girls at the Refinery Spa, on the corner of Springer Market Square.
I loved starting out the day in the middle of the city, seeing folks walking past with their morning coffees. There’s a kind of energy the city lends you on a weekend morning, and that’s exactly what I needed. Plus, the market was on, so I actually stopped and bought some kimchi on my way haha.
Having a couple of hours to get ready (or as long as you need, depending on how many people are in your party) is the best way to start the day with peace of mind and a bit of serenity.
What I mean is… if you’re trying to rush through getting ready, it can be frenetic. It can make you unnecessarily stressed.
Having more time that you need is always a good idea.
What’s the worst thing that can happen? You get bored?
Haha, no chance!
As a photographer, having plenty of time to take getting ready photos is actually kinda nice. We can be super careful with compositions, and we can also take this time to shoot slower, so as to get everyone used to us being there… make people feel comfortable.
So yeah. Plan for extra time to get ready, and invite your photographer to document a part of this experience.
I love the images of Sarah getting her hair ready.
I also love the fact that there are a few images of the girls all connecting, chatting, having a good time. Supporting Sarah. Those are important moments to capture so you can later remember your support team. And if it’s just you and your partner getting ready together, those are super meaningful, too, for obvious reasons.
Snacks and Rest Up Before the Ceremony
After hair and makeup, we went to the Frontenac Club Inn, to have a snack and get dressed for the wedding.
Sarah and Mike had written each other letters. Sarah’s letter to Mike was longer and….
The point was for Mike to read her letter, and for her to read his letter (separately)... and for me to be there, like a fly on the wall, to photograph the ensuing tears.
We were sorta joking that we need to get the "emotion" shot...
Mike was all laughs and humouring this bit, until he ripped open that envelope and began to read...
and then, sure enough... the emotion shot was made.
Ceremony At Sydenham St United Church (a.k.a. The Spire)
I must admit, even though I’ve photographed multiple concerts at Sydenham St United Church, i’d never photographed a wedding ceremony there.
The other times I’d had to be in my seat…
This time - not so much.
The pastor officiating the ceremony had told me she has no rules for me, just that she didn’t want to hear my shutter clicking during the ceremony. Fair enough.
At that time, i didn’t own a mirrorless camera with a truly silent shutter, so I made myself scarce and relied on my zoom lens to capture some close-up images; plus my wider lenses to get that beautiful scenic scape of the full church.
After the ceremony, I loved the completely candid photographs we made of the bride and groom exiting the church, walking down the rainbow stairs.
When folks saw this photograph, everyone wanted to know WHICH CHURCH IN KINGSTON was this queer positive? Because, while it’s become the norm for local businesses to post up little pride flags in their store windows (rightfully so!), to see a church loudly and proudly proclaiming to support LGBTQ+ rights by painting a big bright rainbow on their stairs… it’s quite another thing. I guess we have accepted that churches can be quite regressive in this respect.
Anyway, I applaud the rainbow stairs, and I think it also made for a pretty visually stunning backdrop to these candid shots.
After this, we hopped into a car and drove the couple of blocks South back to the Frontenac Club Inn. (It was raining, or we would have walked).
Reception At The Frontenac Club Inn
The remainder of the night was a joyous whirlwind of activity. There were speeches, dances, dinner, drinks, mingling, laughter, kids running around…
So much happened, in such a small space.
It was about 35 guests in total, but it sure felt like more! Going back through the gallery, it really was difficult to narrow down the photos - there were so many smiles, cute faces, awesome expressions, and emotions on display!
And the Frontenac Club Inn was the perfect place for a group of this size. Though it was a little tricky to have everyone watching the first dances, they managed it without too much trouble. People spread out on both sides of the hallway, to get a better view. And I had another vantage point from the top of the stairs, which was neat and unique.
Drinks On The Patio
At the end of the night, we made a few outside photos. It was important for Mike to get a shot with all his friends, so I put on my flash and snapped away as they cheers-ed and laughed.
The weather was nice - not too chilly - and they stayed outside a little longer, as I started to pack up my gear to leave.
This was a magical wedding. I’d spend the previous evening with Sarah and Mike and their families while photographing their rehearsal dinner, and it was so nice to continue the festivities with them the next day.
I’m lucky to have been asked to photograph them: they are a really sweet, funny, and caring couple, and their big hearts made this day unforgettable for everyone there.
Amazing Vendors who made the day beautiful:
Dress: @whitesatinbridal
Suit: @harryroseninc
Hair & makeup: @therefinerykingston
Food & venue: @frontenacclub
Cake & desserts: @cardsbakery
Hope you enjoyed your photos, and remember: no month of the year is too early to get married :)