GTA wedding photographer Archives

District 28 Wedding | Caslon & Nick

January 9, 2020

District 28 Wedding: Caslon & Nick

District 28 is one of those ultra cool artistic loft/studio kind of spaces.
The District 28 studio spaces are literally blank canvases – not just because they are white… you can actually transform/paint the space for every event!
Where else can you find a venue that will literally let you paint the walls how you want?

Caslon and Nick opted to stick with the clean white that already comes standard with the space and decorate it with whimsical, lush, crawling greenery expertly set up by florist Rikki Marcone.

They added rustic wood harvest tables draped with soft fabric table runners and sprinkled with relaxed florals and industrial modern table numbers, as well as hand calligraphed place cards and marble cookie favours. Nick made the cake topper out of copper wire that tied in with the copper pipe table number accents and arch used at the ceremony, then repurposed as the head table backdrop. All of this executed by The Event Design Co.

The vibe of their wedding’s style stuck a perfect balance between cool and classy. Not just the decor, but the couple themselves too!

They both shed tears during the exchanging of vows, as did some people in the crowd – I love that so much. Not only do they love each other, but you could feel the love amongst everyone in the room. They have cultivated a beautiful crew of supportive peeps.

Here’s a glance at Caslon & Nick’s District 28 wedding!

Now from the couple!

Tell us about your love story! How you met and/or how you got engaged! (If you have shared this with me before you can just copy that text here.)CCa
How did ‘we’ meet? We met in grade 9 English class and the rest, well it’s a long story. The engagement is a little shorter. We were getting ready to celebrate our 10-year anniversary with a trip to Spain. Caslon joked that if Nick wanted to see the 11th anniversary he better take her to Spain. Nick did her one better- he proposed just before they headed to the airport! Even though it was 10 years in the making, she never saw it coming! The next two weeks were filled with romance, tapas, and Damm Lemons.

What is your wedding theme / style / colour palette? Why did you choose this?
Modern Greenhouse with romantic accents. We wanted an outdoor wedding but couldn’t stand the idea of getting rained out so we brought the outside in! We chose green with accents of dusty pastels and gold/copper to weave in a romantic feel.

What have you been looking forward to most about your wedding day?
The ceremony- it was 13 years in the making and after so much time together we were just excited to express what and how much we mean to each other in front of all the people we love. After so much anticipation, it did not disappoint! It was truly one of the most beautiful moments of our lives– ugly crying and all!

Venue: What made this venue the one for you?
District 28 was perfect for us in so many ways.
The Riverside location– we grew up in the Eastend and wanted to get married where it all began. Plus it was easily accessible for Westenders & out-of-towners.

The industrial & modern aesthetic– The industrial loft space was modernized with white walls that really acted as the perfect blank canvas for us to create our modern greenhouse. Not to mention how nicely all that greenery popped against the white.

One & done– We loved the idea of being able to have the ceremony in a separate space than the reception while staying within the same venue! It really helped to separate the evening without adding any extra stress to us, our guests or our vendors.

The Staff: We loved our Venue Coordinator, Diana! She made it such an enjoyable process (and it was a long one– we signed almost 2 years out!) The chef and venue staff were top notch and the videographer was such a pleasure to work with. Everyone really made us feel special & comfortable throughout the planning process and on the big day.

Photographer: How did you know you had found the right photographer?
Olive Photography (Anastasia) had done our friend’s wedding and not only did we LOVE the photos, but we loved her energy! She felt less like a photographer than an old friend, which made engagement photos and photos on the big day so much more natural. It was one of the easiest decisions we made throughout the planning process.

Any words of advice for couples planning their wedding?
B R E A T H E. It helps to hire a planner/day-of coordinator so that you can take a step back and enjoy the ride!

VENDORS:

Bride’s Dress Designer: Mikaella Bridal by Paloma Blanca
Bride’s Dress Shop: Kleinfeld Bridal
Veil: Sash & Bustle
Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo (David’s Bridal) Badgley Mischka (Nordstrom)
Other Accessories: Olive + Piper (Earings), Kleinfeld Bridal (Headpiece) Clutch (Lovers Land)
Groom’s Suit: Indochino
Groom’s Tie: Indochino
Groom’s Shoes: LodinG
Bridesmaid’s Attire: Show Me Your Mumu
Wedding Planner/Stylist: The Wedding Design Co. Katie, Planner/ Event Designer & Alysee, Day-of Coordinator
Ceremony Venue: District 28 (Studio 3)
Reception Venue: District 28 (Studio 1)
Flowers: Rikki Marcone
Cake: Nat Bakes Cakes
Hair: Salon K, (Bridal hair by Kathryn Lenarduzzi) & Toronto Beauty Group
Makeup: A Lavish Affair (Bridal make up by Camesha) & Toronto Beauty Group
Videographer: District 28, Josh Harmer
Photographer: Olive Photography
Rentals: A Lavish Affair
Caligraphy: Bona Fide Craft
DJ: Jason Parker Quinton
Ceremony Music: Mark Herrera
Late Night Pizza Truck: Forno 450

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If you enjoyed this modern East End Toronto wedding you’ll be sure to enjoy Amanda & Markus’ day too!

The Doctor’s House Wedding | Megan & Aaron

March 28, 2019

The Doctor's House Wedding| Olive Photography Toronto

When two of the sweetest people ask you if you’ll photograph their wedding day, you say yes!

You might remember these two from their at-home & neighbourhood engagement session – it’s been so great spending time with them!
Megan & Aaron’s special day was held in Kleinberg at the Doctor’s House.
A Doctor’s House wedding is quite unique to other wedding venues offered in Toronto/the GTA. There’s a fairytale quality to the picturesque grounds – a long, lush, landscaped garden, a quaint wood chapel lit purely with candlelight, a cobblestone courtyard cocktail hour area… and the reception space is lovely too – updated with lots of natural light coming through the large windows.

Needless to say I was excited to photograph this day!

You may remember these two from their at-home engagement session!
Their wedding was timeless and romantic with a perfectly balanced mix of traditional elegance and chic boho flair.

Some fun highlights to watch out for:
– The most epic bouquet toss catch
– A sweet father moment peeking at his daughter as a bride
– Kids being adorable
– Tonnes of full-on heart happy smiles & laughs

Flawless planning & coordination by Designed Dream, stunning flowers (as always) by Quill & Oak.

Here are some photos from the day! (It was so hard cutting out so many great moments to fit into this post, but I’m always happy to share a full gallery if anyone asks! Just email me! info@olivephotography.ca)
Be sure to catch more from the couple themselves at the bottom of the post!!

Here are some thoughts from the couple that were written as they anticipated their day:

What is your wedding theme / style / colour palette? Why did you choose this?
Boho chic, lots of floral / greenery, rose taupe. We chose this because we wanted to break from the traditional wedding style – so not us.

What words best describe your wedding?
modern, romantic

What have you been looking forward to most about your wedding day?
Walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing Aaron’s reaction (I think he’s going to cry; he doesn’t haha) (Update: He did!)
Venue: What made this venue the one for you?
We wanted something that didn’t have the look and feel of a traditional wedding hall, but would accommodate our guest count.

Photographer: How did you know you had found the right photographer?
You’re brilliant at what you do and so down to earth. Once we saw our friend’s wedding photos that you took, we knew we wanted to talk to you. But once we met you, we knew you’d be our girl!

Any words of advice for couples planning their wedding?
Enjoy every moment of the planning process, regardless of how stressful it might be. The time you spend planning for your wedding is just as special as the big day itself.

VENDORS:
Bride’s Dress Designer: Theia Brides
Dress Shop: LoversLand
Veil: Veiled Beauty
Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
Stationery: DIY
Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply
Groom’s Tie: Calvin Klein
Bridesmaid’s Attire: All different
Wedding Planner/Stylist: Day-of coordinator: Fidan at Designed Dream
Ceremony Venue: The Doctor’s House Chapel
Reception Venue: The Doctor’s House, “The Great Hall”
Flowers: Quill & Oak
Cake: Le Dolci
Hair & Makeup: Makeup Artist Stefania
Photographer: Olive Photography
DJ: DJ Big Jacks
Band: Re.verse
Photobooth: ReLivePhotobooth

Get in touch if you’d like to inquire about your own wedding photography! I’d love to hear from you!

Anastasia Giaouris

olivephotography.ca
416.520.1093
@OlivePhotoTO
facebook.com/olivephotographyTO

Alton Mill Wedding | Julia & Josh

April 14, 2017

Soo, going through this wedding to pick out photos for the blog made me tear up.
Yup, I’ll admit it. I’m such a sap for love-filled gazes – and this one had SO many.
I especially loved the tearful and heartfelt moments with the parents and grandparents. *sigh*
And their first dance under the twinkly lights!

Julia and Josh met at Ryerson while doing their undergrad – funny story, I though Josh looked familiar when we initially met, and then we discovered we actually had a class together too! Small world, eh?

On their wedding day they got ready at the Millcroft Inn, then got married at Alton Mill. Both locations are so lovely, surrounded by picturesque nature.

Their day was so beautiful. Read all about it and their love at the end of the photos below – and until you get there, enjoy checking out these memories from their wedding!

So heartwarming, no?

And here are some words from the couple themselves!

Your Love Story: How did you meet? Do you have a sweet proposal story?
We are Josh and Julia and we met in university while studying in the same program. Since then, we’ve made each other laugh every day!

What is your wedding theme / style / colour palette? Why did you choose this?
The theme just naturally evolved from our love for summer nights outside on a beautifully lit patio with string lights, our closest friends and family with good food and wine. From there, we used many local vendors and small shops off etsy to make it more personal. That’s actually how I found my dress! It’s from a talented designer from Vancouver that started on etsy a couple of years ago, making dresses with the help of her mother. She now sells her dresses all over the world. There were many personal touches, including some amazing macaroons used as favours and made hand painted with flowers by the groom’s mother.

What 3 words best describe your wedding?
Intimate, relaxed and rustic.

Favourite wedding moment(s)?
The entire day was so special and fun, filled with many unexpected tears of joy. Our ceremony took place outside on the grass, under an arbour Josh built with birch we picked up on one of our hikes. We also loved our first dance on the patio with our guests surrounding us and the string lights on.

Venue: What made this venue the one for you?
It’s a little gem we found in Caledon many years ago, and quickly became our favourite place to visit on a Sunday morning for coffee. When the time came to plan our wedding, there was no doubt we’d have it at Alton Mill. The beautiful outdoors, old stone walls, patio with romantic lights and all the history it has to offer made it for the perfect venue.

Photographer: How did you know you had found the right photographer?
We were looking for someone that captures the natural light and candid photos we like and knew we found our photographer when we met Anastasia. She was the calm and fun presence we needed to make us feel at ease on the big day.

Any words of advice for couples planning their wedding?
Start the work early, pick the details that make you happy and have fun while you go through the process.

WEDDING VENDORS

Getting Ready Location: Millcroft Inn
Reception & Ceremony Venue: Alton Mill

Dress Designer: Truvelle Bridal
Hair & Makeup: Jen Evoy Makeup Studio
Bridesmaid robes – Plum Pretty Sugar
Groom’s Suit: Esco

Delicate Headband: A Bit of Love Wedding (Etsy)
Stationery: Charlie Whiskey (Etsy)
Men’s Tie Bar: Perpetuum Mobile Shop (Etsy)
Flowers: A friend
Cake & Macaron favours: Groom’s Mother
Catering & Planning: TK’s Catering
Officiant: Garry Francis–
Other weddings with similar locations you may enjoy: Meghan & Matt’s Ancaster Mill Wedding and Melody & Darren’s Cambridge Mill Wedding
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Maybe you want to follow Olive Photography behind the scenes? Fun stories are posted regularly on Instagram – Follow along!

Earth to Table Farm Wedding | Caitlin & Josh

January 4, 2017

Caitlin and Josh had an Earth to Table Farm (by Pearl Events) wedding – it’s a secluded and *stunning* venue. A cool thing about this place is they happen to grow many of the ingredients in their delicious food!
And the grounds are just SO scenic and lovely.

Their wedding day was absolutely beautiful and full of joy. My favourite moment by far is Josh’s emotional reaction when he saw Caitlin during their first look. Guys, it was so touching. I got teary myself. Aaah.

I’ll let you enjoy their photos now, and be sure to check out their own reflections at the bottom of the post!
Your Love Story: How did you meet? Do you have a sweet proposal story?
We both went to high school together but weren’t in the same year (Josh was 2 grades above me). We never actually spoke in high school (although we both knew who each other were), but connected 6 years later after Josh recognized me in the elevator of his building while I was looking for my first apartment in the city. He reached out online after that and the rest is history. 5 ½ years later we couldn’t be more excited to tie the knot.

What is your wedding theme / style / colour palette? Why did you choose this?
Rustic romance. Our colours are blush, white and gold with a lot of greenery. Our venue is set on a stunning farm, so we didn’t want our wedding colours to overpower any of the natural beauty of the space.

What 3 words best describe your wedding? Romantic, dreamy and fun.

Venue: What made this venue the one for you?
We looked at a few venues (which were all beautiful) but they didn’t feel very private. The moment we pulled up to The Farm, we knew it was “the one”. We were so giddy the wedding coordinator that met us there didn’t need to sell us on anything. We immediately asked what dates they had available and booked the only weekend left in the books. The team at Pearle Weddings have been so incredible, and have helped make this such an enjoyable planning experience.

Photographer: How did you know you had found the right photographer?
We LOVE online reviews and do a ton of online research before doing anything. As soon as we came across Anastasia’s glowing 5 star reviews, and saw her work, we knew she was the one. We actually didn’t even meet in person before booking. We just had a feeling and we were right!

Any words of advice for couples planning their wedding?
HAVE FUN! Enjoy every single little moment. It truly goes by SO fast and before you know it your wedding day is 1 month away (AH! We are so excited). Remember that it’s your day but be thankful for the friends and family who will dedicate so much of their time. Work together as a team, ask for help and don’t sweat the small stuff.

Anything else you’d like to share? We have to give a big shout out to all of our wedding vendors. We are truly blown away by how amazing everyone has been. We feel SO lucky that we picked such amazing vendors to help with our special day.

VENDORS

Venue: Pearle Weddings Earth to Table Farm
Wedding Planner/Stylist & Flowers: Jodi Leigh Designs
Dress: Essence of Australia from Felicia Bridal
Veil: Becker’s Bridal (custom)
Bride’s Shoes: Nina Shoes
Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss
Stationery: Minted
Bridesmaid Attire: Nouvelle Amsale
Cake: Patricia’s Cake Creations
DJ: Copeland DJ
Strings: Duo d’Amore String Trio
Photographer: Olive Photography
* This wedding second shot by Olive Photography’s amazing associate photographer Gillian – Ask about having her photograph or second shoot at your wedding! *
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Can’t get enough of this beautiful couple? Revisit their engagement session where he proposed, at the Leslie Street Spit!
Or if you’re loved this country wedding you may enjoy this Kurtz Orchard wedding.
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Interested in getting in touch about your own wedding or engagement photography? Get in touch! Would love to hear from you <3

Kurtz Orchards Wedding Photos | Randy + Jovy

December 10, 2016

Randy and Jovy’s Niagara Vineyard Wedding at Kurtz Orchards was a day full of heart.
You could feel the sweet love these two share, as well as so much warmth in the love of their family and friends.
This was especially evident during speeches, when tears were flowing anywhere you looked. So touching.
Kurtz Orchards is such a scenic place for wedding photography – Not only is there the beauty of the vineyard (vineyard weddings are so lovely as it is!), but they have a historic house for getting ready, an orchard for an outdoor ceremony, a tent for an outdoor reception (yay, natural light!), and the most AMAZING sunset on their horizon! The warm fiery glow was absolutely perfect for some magical sunset shots.
Here are some snaps from their happy Kurtz Orchards wedding day <3

More about this wedding from the couple themselves:

SOME FUN STUFF – TELL US ABOUT YOU & YOUR WEDDING!

• What is your wedding theme / style / colour palette? Outdoor garden wedding/relaxed/Blush/Navy
• What 3 words best describe your wedding? Relaxed/family/friends
• Venue: What made this venue the one for you? Beautiful scenery, outdoors, fits our relaxed personality
• Any words of advice for couples planning their wedding? Plan ahead, budget and enjoy the process

• How many Bridesmaids? 1
• How many Groomsmen)? 1
• How many guests attended? 112

VENDOR INFORMATION:

Photographer
Company: Olive Photography
Site: www.olivephotography.ca
Instagram: @OlivePhotoTO

* Many thanks to my amaaazing associate photographer Gillian for being such an incredible second shooter at this wedding! *

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Bride ’s Dress Designer: Stella York
Bride’s Dress Shop: Sophies Gown Shoppe (sophiesgownshoppe.com)
Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan (colehaan.com)
Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply (suitsupply.com)
Groom’s Tie: Simons (simons.ca)
Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan (colehaan.com)
Wedding Hair and Makeup Stylist: Allure Hair and Makeup (allurehairandmakeup.com)
Venue: Kurtz Orchards (kurtzorchards.com)
Flowers: Regal Florist and Garden Centre (regalflorist.com)

Cambridge Mill Wedding – Melody & Darren

January 12, 2016

Melody and Darren’s wedding day was graced with the most intense rainstorm ever. (Ok not ‘ever’, but it was serious!)
Maybe some of you remember some of the crazy rain we had this Summer – buckets of water an inch deep on the ground, wind that flipped umbrellas inside out and if at your back pushed you along to walk a bit faster, and cool temperatures that made you want a sweater.

But, despite these things, this wedding day turned out to be so warm, lovely, and wonderful.

This couple and their family are super sweet and so much fun, and everyone remained in such great spirits for this happy day.

We had scheduled some time for outdoor photos and had prepared with umbrellas, ready to brace ourselves for some super quick snaps before having to head inside again.
Amazingly, though, right on time, the skies opened up and the rain subsided to a super light mist when it was time for photos.

Melody and Darren’s wedding party had an extra special member as well, their heartbreakingly cute son Dezmond. Guys, I can’t tell you how adorable he is! You’ll get a peek at that in the photos below.

With that said, here are some snaps from their special day, with some reflections from the couple themselves at the bottom of the post!

KEY PLAYERS
– Bouquets: Vanderburgh Flowers – Georgetown
– Hair: Fad Hair Studio – Cambridge (Amanda)
– Makeup: Makeup by Tash (Natasha) – she’s mobile and stayed for touch ups after the ceremony and pictures!
– Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply – Yorkville
– Groom’s Accessories: same as suit
– Centrepieces: same as flowers plus DIY vases (repursosed from goodwill and spray painted gold)
– Invitations: Esco Invitations (online based out of Toronto)… excellent service, great prices and beautiful product
– Cake: N/A – we saw this as pointless because of dessert; opted for late night poutine instead
– Favours: donation the the Salvation Army
– Getting Ready Location: Homewood Suites by Hilton
– Ceremony Venue: Central Presbyterian Church, Old Cambridge (Galt)
– Photo location: Mill Race Park, Old Cambridge (Galt)
– Reception Venue: Cambridge Mill
– Photography: Olive Photography

And some reflections from the newlyweds themselves!

– A little bit about where you met?
Online… not too much to say about that lol

– What was the style/vibe of your wedding, and why did you choose to make it that way?
We wanted to keep it simple. The venue, church, old ruins and river/nature were so beautiful we wanted them to shine, not our decor
Also we didn’t have a colour scheme (not a fan of colour) so simply had touches of soft gold with off white

– What made you choose to have your wedding in the season you did?
Not too hot and not too cold. We hoped for pretty good weather that time of year ( the weekend before AND after our wedding were great weather lol)… nothing worse than everybody sweating in the hot sun or freezing in subzero temps.
We tried to make most of our decisions for our guests (ie. location, open bar, food choices, time of year, hotel affordability, etc.).. there’s 120 of them and only 2 of us!!

– What was your favourite wedding moment (bride & groom)?
Groom: saying our written vows
Bride: the ceremony
For both of us, actually getting married was the most special time of that day. The party, food, speeches, pictures and dancing were amazing but being able to get married meant the most to us

– Any advice for engaged couples planning their wedding?
Darren: don’t spend money on things that aren’t important (we didn’t and we’really happy with that)
Melody: take your time. If you’re planning to spend the rest of your lives together don’t rush to get married. It’s truly the most important decision you’ll ever make and you must make sure it’s the right one
Also, a wedding planner told us to expect approx 20% of who we invite to not come… we thought that was crazy but it was true!! So plan accordingly.

Congratulations again, you guys!! Thanks for inviting me to celebrate your beautiful love!

If you enjoyed this Cambridge Mill wedding, you may enjoy this Ancaster Mill wedding!

Wedding at The Manor – Chloë & Andrew

November 7, 2015

Chloë & Andrew had their wedding at The Manor in Kettleby Ontario at the very edge of Summer – when the leaves were still green but the temperatures had cooled. Though it rained that day, the cloud cover acted like a big, natural softbox which was *amazing* for their photos.

They had a modern colour scheme was subtly echoed everywhere – from their invitation suite to their table linens to the polkadots on his pocket square, and gold belts for the bridesmaids (cool!)… they certainly have a keen eye for attention to detail.

What was even more unique than their bold choice to use black as her main colour was the incredibly vibrant and exciting pops of fuchsia they infused in the day’s florals. This, combined with the fun popcorn favours, celebratory wands and sparkling gold details helped ensure the atmosphere felt light and effortless. It was the perfect balance of classic with modern touches, giving this wedding a timeless feel.

They themselves also looked incredible – From her ethereal looong, flowing veil and delicate gold tiara, to his tailored navy suit and patent leather shoes with blue stitching to coordinate – their wedding getups were on point!

Sidenote: It was so sweet that Chloë used one of her childhood hangers for her wedding dress <3

I won’t say too much more since you can see how beautiful their big day was through the photos — but at the bottom of the post is more about their wedding from the couple themselves!

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Ah, so much fun!
Now, here are some words from the newlyweds themselves!

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What was the style/vibe of your wedding, and why did you choose to make it that way?

We wanted our wedding to be a big celebration, lots of laughs and lots of dancing! We are not very traditional and neither are our families so we decided to have our ceremony and reception at our amazing venue, The Manor. We used black, white and gold in our invitations and incorporated polka dots and stripes to emphasize the black/white theme. We didn’t want the hall itself to look too drab so we used bright fuchsia flowers to add some dimension to the tables. We felt it was a great reflection of us as it was a very sophisticated party but a fun loving day!

What was your favourite wedding moment?

Bride – it was literally the best day of my life so to pick one moment is very difficult! My top fave memory of the day was when Andrew and I had our first look before the ceremony. It was such a sweet and special moment for the two of us and really helped to ease any nerves that either of us may have had. Plus he looked so handsome in his tux! Another special moment for me was when I saw our reception hall for the first time. Wedding planning is stressful enough but trust me when I say it’s not easy sticking to your gut and choosing black linens in a sea of ivory and blush weddings! after months of picking all these little details at some point you start second guess all your decisions. It was such a relief to see how perfect everything looked!

Groom – my favourite moment was watching Chloë walk down the aisle with her father. She looked so beautiful and so happy. Being surrounded by all of the most important people in our lives meant the world to me.

Any advice for engaged couples planning their wedding?

Wedding planning can get really emotional for so many different reasons. Chloë was super organized and had spreadsheets for everything! She was determined to be the most organized so that during the day she could let our vendors take care of everything. It really was a stress free day for her.

Bride – I had so many spreadsheets for everything, which I use a lot at work so why wouldn’t I use them for our wedding?! If you’re not the spreadsheet type maybe ask someone in your bridal party who is savvy at excel to help you out. Everything from organizing our guestlist to keeping track of gifts and thank you cards and then our day of timeline these really helped me relax and enjoy the day. My parents poked fun at me when I handed out a wedding guide (it was only 3 pages!) And mentioned that something wasn’t included in my flow charts. I didn’t make any flow charts but you get the point!

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Vendors:

Photographer: Olive Photography

http://www.olivephotography.ca/

Twitter + Instagram: @OlivePhotoTO

FB: https://www.facebook.com/olivephotographyto

Dress designer: Mori Lee

http://www.morileecanada.com/

Twitter + Instagram: @morileebridal

Suit: Tiger of Sweden

http://tigerofsweden.com/

Twitter + Instagram: @tigerofswedento

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Tigerofsweden

Bride & Groom’s Shoes: Ted Baker

http://www.tedbaker.com/

Instagram + Twitter: @ted_baker

Hair: Bridal Hair Collective

http://www.bridalhaircollective.com/

Instagram: @bridalhaircollective

FB: https://www.facebook.com/amygriffithshairstylist

Flowers: Pink Twig

http://pinktwig.ca/

Instagram + Twitter: @pinktwigfloral

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Pink-Twig-Floral-Boutique

Popcorn Favours: Beau-Coup Favours

http://www.beau-coup.com/

Twitter: @beaucoupfavors

Instagram: @beau_coup/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/beaucoupfavors

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

https://www.weddingpaperdivas.com

Twitter + Instagram: @weddingpaperdivas

Venue: The Manor Kettleby by Peter and Paul’s

http://bypeterandpauls.com/themanor/

Instagram + Twitter: @bypeterandpauls

FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheManor1982

Wedding planner/Decor : Event Decor and More – Tish Mihelic

http://www.eventdecorandmore.ca/

Photobooth – Photobombbooth

http://www.photobombbooths.ca/

Instagram + Twitter: photobombbooth

FB: https://www.facebook.com/photobombboothsTO

Toronto Island Engagement Session

June 25, 2015

Xanthi and I went to high school together, so this Toronto Island engagement session was extra special. When she messaged me to let me know she and Mani got engaged I was so thrilled for them! When she asked if I’d photograph their engagement photos for their public engagement reveal I was beyond excited.

We chose to shoot their photos on Centre Island because of the wonderful variety of locations it offers – beach, nature, farm, and Centreville! Though Centreville was closed, it was so much fun walking around and reminiscing about the place we’d visited as kids. I’ll be honest, it made me want to go back when it opens again to go on the log ride, train and buggy driving rides again!

We explored and chatted and goofed around whenever we were inspired by a nifty location. We were super excited to see horses and peacocks, and we of course had to go say hello.

The ‘Yes’ cupcakes that we photographed on the beach were actually saved from when Mani proposed! (He didn’t have any ‘No’ ones made – ha.)

Read more about this cupcake and their love story in a blurb from these lovebirds themselves, at the bottom of the post!

And if you like this location for an engagement session, check out this one, and this one! (I looove it there.)

And now some words from the lovebirds themselves!

“Friends. Lovers. Partners. Family. When Mani first asked me out eight years ago at York University, I told him I preferred being friends. Seems like we all say that when we’re not interested right? Wrong! In fact, this is the time we really got to know each other and build on our friendship.

How did we get out of the “Friend’s Zone” you ask? Well, after spending late nights studying at York, lifting weights together at the gym, and working double shifts serving tables, Mani made his second move. This time I knew there was something special.

Our biggest challenge as a couple was spending 10 months apart while I was living in Barcelona. Despite the time difference, our long distance was a success mostly thanks to Mani visiting me- twice! Our mini adventures around Barcelona, Mallorca and Rome was just the beginning of our craze to travel and explore the world.

Coming home to Toronto and moving in together brought us closer as partners sharing a life. Four years later and we’re engaged!

We knew for a while we’d be together “forever and ever”, but it was a fairytale that came true on a proposal that surprised me on a sunny Friday evening after work. “Καλό μήνα” he said (Greek phrase and fun game we play meaning “have a good month”). Without sharing too many of Mani’s romantic secrets, the cutest touch of the evening was the cupcakes saying “Will You Marry Me” and another one printed “Yes”!

Over the years we’ve strengthened our bond and have become a family whose love is unconditional and forever passionate. Our secret? Respect. Trust. Friendship.”

Guelph Engagement Session

June 7, 2015

Nikki and Andrew decided they wanted a Guelph engagement session to bring them back to their roots.
They met at the start of their university careers, at the University of Guelph. Both of them didn’t know what the future had in store for them, and they became really great friends throughout their undergrad.

Back then they would hang out around their dorm residence (featured in the photos here), and they’d toss around a football and enjoy each other’s friendship.Little did they know that some time after graduating they’d reconnect and sparks would fly.

Now, 6 years later, after an intimate and thoughtful home proposal (Andrew took time off to make sure he could clean the house and prepare the perfect home-cooked meal – love that), these two have decided on forever. Their wedding will be taking place in a little over a month from now at Berkeley Church – I cannot wait. Thanks for a beautiful evening, lovebirds.

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** UPDATE! ** These two are now married! Check out their wedding photos here!

Alicia & Curtis’ Enchanted Summer Wedding

April 6, 2015

There’s definitely something inexplicable about the way the sun beams gently kissed Alicia and Curtis’ shoulders and the way the greenery reached all around them, encircling them, almost as though it were reaching to hug this clearly completely enamoured pair.

They exchanged vows in a wonderful outdoor ceremony which included a sand ritual to honour those who could not physically be there… perhaps the sun beams and amazing good vibes were coming from those passed loved ones they had taken the time to honour.

Curtis’ father is a pastor, and it touched my heart to see him officiate this union – how beautiful to have a parent take such an involved and supportive role in ushering their union.
It was also really touching to see the groomsmen together in prayer before joyfully walking over to the ceremony – where Curtis positively *glowed* with pride and joy as he saw his breathtaking bride-to-be walking toward him, with her parents beside her.

We were lucky to have an extended amount of time after the ceremony to enjoy the gorgeous day and take some photos to commemorate this time for them.

Hope you enjoy!
And don’t forget to read Alicia and Curtis’ love story, written by the lovebirds themselves, at the bottom of this post!

And now, some words from the newlyweds themselves!– Tell us a bit about your love story – How you met and/or how you got engaged?Ours was a true love at first sight story. It began at a Christmas banquet for young adults at a church in Grimsby, Ontario. Alicia was a first time guest there, and Curtis had been attending for some time. Alicia immediately caught his eye. It began with a simple introduction and quickly spiraled into an all out romance. The two became inseparable, not able to go a day without seeing each other.

From then it was only four months before the couple was engaged (to the day from when they became boyfriend and girlfriend). It was a beautiful spring day. Alicia was busy setting up and attending her sister in-law’s baby shower, for her very first nephew. This was the perfect opportunity for Curtis to set up a few things of his own. Curtis picked Alicia up from the shower telling her he had made dinner reservations because he knew how busy she had been throughout the day. She was already dressed up for the shower so it was the perfect opportunity. As she got into the Chevy pick-up truck there was a single red rose resting on her seat beside him. Curtis had planned to give her flowers three times that night.

It began with a romantic candle light dinner in an upscale restaurant Alicia had been wanting to go to for some time. Curtis had gone there earlier and dropped off a dozen roses to be waiting for her at the most romantic table (as requested) when they arrived. They shared an amazing meal together, which included live music as entertainment (perfect with Curtis’ background). From there they proceeded to go on a drive through the scenic back roads of Fonthill, Ontario. Their drive led them to a spot near a river where they had shared romantic walks together many times in the past.

Curtis had excused himself from the vehicle only to return with an acoustic guitar in his hands. He told her he had written her a love song and he wanted to share it with her. After finally calming his nerves he began singing. Alicia was in tears. It was at this time she knew something unforgettable was about to happen. Curtis left the truck to go get Alicia‘s final gift. He returned with a beautiful blue orchid in his hands (Alicia‘s favorite flower). Tied to the the flower was a small bag with an engagement ring in it. Curtis untied the ring from the flower, got down on one knee (in the mud I might add) and asked her to marry him! The rest in now history.

-The Groom

– What was/were your favourite wedding moment(s) (bride & groom)
Bride: My Favourite wedding moments were the ones spent together, just the two of us. With the hustle and bustle of the day, going for a wild ride in the Chevy Bel-Air, taking pictures and walking down in the enchanted forest, and of course stopping to play with the squirrels and ducks, felt as if I was able to hit the pause button; they will forever be ingrained in my memory.
Groom: My Favourite moment was seeing my bride for the first time, it is a moment I will never forget. I also loved the opportunity to share our special day with all my Family and Friends!

– Any advice for engaged couples planning their wedding?
Don’t let the little things get to you. Do your best to plan and be prepared, but not to the sacrificing of your relationship. On that special day, simply enjoy each other. Enjoy your family and friends. Most importantly… HAVE FUN!

Any final thoughts about the big day/experience of getting married that you’d like to share?
The day will go by faster than a blink of an eye. Try your best to really take in the moment (especially the alone ones with your spouse-they will be rare) … And if you think you won’t be able to, Hire a great photographer like Anastasia (Olive Photography) …it will help when that moment has past and you look back at what it really was… to Marry the Love of Your Life.

-The Bride

Details:
– Dress: Annette’s Bridal, St. Catharines, Ontario

– Shoes: Nine West

– Bridesmaids: The Dessy Group

– Veil: Borrowed from Maid of Honor, Iva Laska

– Groom & Groomsmen Suit(s): Tommy Hilfiger, The Hudson’s Bay Co.

– Bouquets: Vermeer’s Garden Centre & Flower Shop, Welland, Ontario

– Centrepieces: Custom-Made by Bridal Party

– Cakes : Above and Beyond, Welland, Ontario (salted caramel)

-Favours: The Madsen Family Apiaries, Lowbanks, Ontario

– Venues: Illuminaqua Centre, Merritt Park, Welland, Ontario

Reception: John-Michael’s Banquet Hall, Thorold, Ontario