Spearhead Brewery Patio Wedding | Craig and Joanne's Awesome Summer Wedding
If you could travel in time with your partner, would you visit the past or the future?
Past. We would have gotten together a lot sooner!
Joanne and Craig love each other deeply, even more so because they found each other later in life.
To be fair, they met about 30 years ago, but didn’t really connect until much later. They were married once before, and have older children (who were an amazing and important part of the wedding day!).
So for this wedding, they just wanted to make it really their own. Not to stress about what you should do on your wedding, but rather - what they wanted to do.
Nothing fussy or stuffy.
That’s why they chose the Spearhead Brewing Company for the venue.
I mean, the outdoor patio in summertime is pretty perfect for this! (And there’s plenty of indoor space, should there have been rain).
The day started out at Craig and Joanne’s place, as everyone got ready.
They got ready together, with Joanne having her hair done in the kitchen.
As I arrived and started snapping photographs of Joanne getting ready, Craig remarked,
“I don’t understand why people take photographs of this part. What is so exciting about getting your hair done?”
Oh, Craig. 😆
Not only did I capture photographs of Joanne sitting facing the window and the beautiful directional light, during this contemplative phase of her wedding day….
But I also got photographs of their dog (in a tie!) - who otherwise wouldn’t have made it into their wedding album…
And I got pictures of the boys all tying their ties together…
And grandpa milling around and petting the dog…
And the kids snacking on a charcuterie platter…
And some of the details we otherwise might have forgotten (like the beautiful charm tied to Joanne’s bouquet, depicting her parents when they were younger…)
And so many other moments.
So yeah, it’s not all about pretty photos of hair and makeup.
It’s about MUCH more than that during the getting ready.
We drove to Butternut Creek Farm for the group photos.
Once we arrived, they popped some bubbly first, and celebrated.
The family photos were quick and easy, and everyone laughed a lot.
There was a fair bit of squinting as well, because it was quite sunny. This will remind them what a gorgeous warm day it was on their wedding.
One of my favourite series was the one of Craig’s son hugging his grandfather. He told me his grandfather was his “favourite person in the world”, which I thought was super sweet 🥰 I hope one day when I’m old, I’m someone’s favourite person in the world!
After the group photos, the family left, and Joanne and Craig stayed behind to take a few couple’s photos.
Oh, also?
They brought PROPS!
Like their Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens jerseys, and their hockey sticks… and their golf clubs…
It was quite epic, really.
At one point, we tried to stage an angry photo between the two of them, as if they were ready to throw down… except that they couldn’t keep a straight face! They burst out laughing multiple times. We finally got a semi-serious photo, though, so it was all worth it.
We headed to Spearhead Brewery and I arrived first and took photographs of the venue as the guests started to arrive.
The venue staff had made a beautiful outdoor ceremony area, and were moving all the heavy furniture around.
They worked TIRELESSLY that entire day!
The bar was open, and the guests got a few drinks, milled about, and greeted each other.
Soon, Joanne and Craig arrived and welcomed their guests, handing out favours (hand-carved wooden coasters, and drink tickets!)
I got four drink tickets, which was entirely too many, so I gave away three of them.
The ceremony began at 6pm, and was a beautiful thing.
It started with a candle-lighting, to honour the folks who were no longer living, whom Joanne and Craig would otherwise have loved to have at their wedding: dear friends and family.
After the candle lighting, there were a few words by the officiant…
And then Joanne’s vows: the most creative of all. In fact they were not vows at all, but rather a montage of songs that depicted what Joanne wanted to say with words.
I guess you had to be there…
It was emotional, for sure.
And Craig’s daughter joined via telephone: she was in covid-quarantine and very sadly had to miss the wedding, but saw the entire thing via zoom (she’s even in some of the photos!)
After the signing of the papers, the couple were pronounced married, and the party moved inside for the first dance.
The first dance was a bit challenging, because things were a bit cramped and dark, but I think it also made it nice to frame the guests in the background.
I generally don’t worry too much about lighting (i.e. putting up lights in the venue) at a place that has such a low- ceiling. It would just be nearly impossible to light it properly without blinding everyone.
The result is slightly grainy photographs, that I think give the moment a little extra gritty beauty. But I’ll let you be the judge of that.
After the first dance, there were desserts and then dinner!
Oh, and I missed to say there were a speech in there by the couple, to thank everyone for coming - and there were MANY MANY hugs and tears, mostly by Craig’s son, who was just the sweetest.
Right before I left, we took a few photos of Joanne and Craig walking through the back of the brewery. I loved the lighting in there - nice and bright! - and all the kegs and stacks of beer crates. It made for a very quirky and unique backdrop for couples’ photos :P And we LOVE quirk around here!
And we stepped outside to take a photograph of Joanne and Craig in front of that beautiful mural.
Magic Vendors for the day:
Dress: Limestone and Lace (bridesmaids); Lily’s Bridal (Belleville)
Suit: Murano’s
Hair: Mane Obsession
Makeup: Debbie Goulding
Food/Catering: Smoke n Barrel
Flowers: Loyalist Flowers
Venue(s): Spearhead Brewing Company