The Toronto Brickworks is my new favorite spot for engagement photos! Michelle and Steve are a great couple – just wait until you see their stunning wedding day pictures at the Distillery District! As I’m sure you can tell from these engagement photos Michelle was a very glamorous bride!!!

- Lindsay

Greg and Gabrielle are an incredibly sweet couple. After spending the afternoon photographing these lovebirds, I was looking forward to the big day even more!

- Lindsay

Laughter is infectious and I can tell you that my cheeks hurt after photographing Chuck and Shannon’s beautiful Wedding day.

- Lindsay

Describe the vision/theme you had for your wedding in 5 words or less: Comfortable, Warm and Welcoming, Laid-back

What are you favorite memories of your wedding day?
Bride: Getting our pictures taken after the ceremony in front of the hall when it was just the two of us.
Groom: My mom re-visiting later in the night for a last dance in her hotel bathrobe

Best wedding related decision: Beer pairing menu and two cocktail hours

Favourite detail: The table names. We chose to name each table after a city we had lived in or visited during our 7 year courtship.

Advice for future brides & grooms: Figure out what is important to you and only do that. For us it was food and drink.

Would you change anything if you could do it all over again? Plan our ceremony music a bit more thoroughly and get a more reliable “DJ”  to play it.

Best surprise of the day: The weather – it looked liked clouds and rain in the morning but by the time we arrived it was only sunshine and the perfect temperature.

VENDORS: Ceremony Location :Windermere Manor | Reception Location : Windermere Manor | Officiant (if not a church ceremony) Grey Currie | Cake  : Denyse Speciality | Dress (designer and/or store) Jenny Yoo, White Toronto | Wedding Planner – None.  | Event planner at the location-  Julie Ann | Flowers/Decorator Janet Atkinson | Hair/Makeup DeVog Hair, London. Make up – Kirsten Hone | Caterer Windermere Manor | DJ – dj ipod

Favorite HRM picture from the day (and why?): Laughing together on the steps of the hall after the ceremony because it showed our genuine feelings of love and enjoyment with the day. (below)

I am always up for new ideas for engagement sessions. Michelle and Jeff were definitely the first couple to ask me to meet them at a boxing ring! These two are lots of fun and completely in love. Stay tuned for photos of their double ceremony wedding weekend!

- Lindsay

Describe the vision/theme you had for your wedding in 5 words or less: Elegant, Non-Traditional and Fun!

What are you favourite memories of your wedding day?
Bride: My first dance with Tyler, the song we danced to meant so much to both of us and I loved dancing with him and singing the song to each other. The speeches were also one of the my favourite memories. Everyone’s kind words and memories shared meant so much to us. Lastly, spending the day with so many of our close family and friends we loved seeing everyone having such a good time

Groom: Mine and Courtney’s first kiss.

Best wedding related decision: Waiting to get married in OUR church.

Favourite detail: The décor. The black and white was so elegant and the crystal “bling” just added so much to it. My decorator was amazing!

Advice for future brides & grooms: Breathe! Everything always comes together in the end and if it doesn’t no one will ever know!

Would you change anything if you could do it all over again? We wouldn’t change anything, Our day was absolutely perfect

Best surprise of the day:
Bride: Being able to wear my blue high heeled shoes, It’s a long story but it was something so small that made my day that much better. Also, the gift I received from Tyler while at the hair salon while I was getting ready, it was such a thoughtful memorable gift that I will cherish forever.

Groom: When my daughter Ali got up on the microphone and told a story about playing hockey with me. She’s only 8 and she was brave enough to speak in front of so many people.

Anything else you’d like to add:We would like the thank Lindsay and her assistant Jess from the bottom of our hearts for being such an important part of our day. The pictures taken captured every special moment we shared that day with each other, family and friends perfectly. Lindsay and Jess did such a great job at putting up with us and it really meant a lot!

VENDORS: Ceremony Location- St. Joseph’s Catholic Church  | Reception Location The Festival Inn | Cake- Cakes by Julie | Dress (designer and/or store) Barcelona from Blue by Enzoani | Flowers/Decorator Kim Foster From Above and Beyond Decorating- Absolutely Amazing | Hair/Makeup Hair-Expressions Make Up- Bronwyn Summers | Caterer The Festival Inn | DJ Joe Tigani

WEDDING SONGS: First Dance -Broken Road by Rascal Flatts | Parent Dances: Bride and Father- I Loved Her First by Heartland | Groom and Mother- Because You Loved Be by Celine Dion | Wedding Party- Time by The Black Eyed Peas | Last Song- Lost In The Moment by Big and Rich

Favorite HRM picture from the day (and why?): We love ALL of our pictures however the one that stands out the most is picture number 525 of Tyler and I on the couch. The picture captures how happy and in the moment we were. (below)

Kara and Matt may look familiar to our blog readers as they have been a part of 4 weddings that I have had the pleasure of photographing over the past 5 years! They are part of a fabulous group of friends and I can’t wait to share the photos from their wedding day.

- Lindsay

I don’t think it has ever rained quite so much during a wedding day, but thankfully it added to the romance and beauty of Julie and Leopold’s celebration. I am always delighted to photograph unique and intimate weddings and this little Liberty Village gem fit the bill perfectly.

- Lindsay

Describe the vision/theme you had for your wedding in 5 words or less: Good food, classic venue, lots of atmosphere and fun.

What are your favorite memories of your wedding day?
Bride: Having close family and friends together to celebrate in an intimate setting (and the dance!)
Groom: Julie coming down the aisle

Best wedding related decision: Getting married in a restaurant we both loved (Caffino)

Favourite detail: The speeches

Advice for future brides & grooms: Don`t get caught up in all the little details and other people`s expectations; focus on what really matters to you.

Would you change anything if you could do it all over again? Have a rehearsal with the officiant in advance

Best surprise of the day: Being called Alex instead of Leopold during the ceremony!

VENDORS: Ceremony Location Caffino Restaurant | Reception Location Caffino Restaurant | Officiant (if not a church ceremony) Mary Beatty | Cake No cake! (Tiramisu for dessert done by the restaurant) | Dress (designer and/or store) Online (Light in the Box) | Wedding Planner n/a | Flowers/Decorator Handiwork of a talented friend  | Hair/Makeup John Steinberg / Celeste Morton | Caterer -Caffino | DJ -My sister Carolyn via iTunes

WEDDING SONGS: Processional Never Quit Loving You (Jill Barber) | Recessional I Don’t Want to Set the World On Fire (Ink Spots) | Entrance n/a | First Dance Nothing On but the Radio (Gary Allen) |Other Violinist Anatol McGinnis

Favorite HRM picture from the day (and why?): The picture of us with champagne at the bar. (below right)

Now that the snow has melted, it is so nice to look back on a lovely winter day.  I truly enjoyed every minute of April and Mark’s beautiful winter wedding and to top it all off…we got free Starbucks!

- Lindsay

Describe the vision/theme you had for your wedding in 5 words or less: elegant, vintage, warm, cozy, fun!

What are you favorite memories of your wedding day?
Bride: Right before walking down the isle. I was so excited. I remember catching a glimpse of Mark and couldn’t wait to get to him. Also being in the limo right after the ceremony with all our closest friends.
Groom: Watching April walk up the isle. And being with our wedding party between the ceremony and reception.

Best wedding related decision: Getting married in February. It turned out beautifully and we loved having the celebration in the “off” season. So many of our friends and family were able to join us.

Favourite detail: The colour orange and lots of candles

Advice for future brides & grooms: The best advice I got over and over was try to soak it all in. Take time to stop and appreciate what is happening. My matron of honour was really good at getting me to pause and appreciate each part of the day.

Would you change anything if you could do it all over again? We had some sound issues at the church, so maybe get that ironed out before hand. But I believe every wedding has it’s “mishaps” and it certainly didn’t ruin our day. Everything was beautiful.

Best surprise of the day: Free Starbucks for the wedding party (and HRM)! We stopped to take a couple shots outside of a Starbucks and one of the groomsmen ran in to ask for a beverage for the bride and groom. They did one better and invited the whole party in for complementary drinks. It was so much fun.

Anything else you’d like to add: Thank-you to HRM for managing our large wedding party, families, different photo locations and the elements so well!! Lindsay did an awesome job getting great shots and keeping us on time.

VENDORS: Ceremony Location: Kingsview Free Methodist Church | Reception Location: The Old Mill Inn & Spa | Officiant (if not a church ceremony): Dave Drinkwalter | Cake: Just Temptations | Dress (designer and/or store): Jasmine Couture purchased at Best for Bride | Wedding Planner: Mark and me | Flowers/Decorator: N’Dezine | Hair/Makeup: Cinelli on Bloor | Caterer: The Old Mill | DJ: Just For You Entertainment

WEDDING SONGS: Processional: Love is Waiting by Brooke Fraser | Recessional: Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland | Entrance: Forever by Chris Brown | First Dance: When You Got A Good Thing by Lady Antebellum | Parent Dances: Father/Daughter: Walk With You by Edwin McCain, Mother/Son: My Wish by Rascal Flatts

Favorite HRM picture from the day (and why?): oh so many to chose from! I’m going to say for me it’s #218. It was taken right after we walked down the isle as husband and wife (and unaware of any onlookers). It was a really great moment of realization and pure joy (below)

Many couples infuse unique details that represent who they are as a couple but aside from Angela & Neil’s Wedding…I don’t think I will ever see the amazing combination of Happy Meals, live music from the Great Canadian Nobodies (featuring my handsome hubby), light up stripper heels, matching hot dog tattoos, a cow themed wedding cake and Doritos. Well done guys!

- Lindsay

Describe the vision/theme you had for your wedding in 5 words or less: School, fun, simple, winter and US!

What are you favorite memories of your wedding day? Bride: bird seed hail storm!

Favourite detail: old school lunch boxes filled with flowers for our centerpieces. Keeping with the schoolhouse theme!

Advice for future brides & grooms: don’t stress the small stuff, enjoy every second of your day… it goes by in a flash!

Would you change anything if you could do it all over again? maybe a smaller venue or less guests…. not that I didn’t love everyone who attended… it was just a little overwhelming!

Best surprise of the day: Justin Bieber done bluegrass style!

Anything else you’d like to add: I could not be happier with Lindsay  as our photographer. I hardly noticed she was there taking pictures all day and night… the pictures are so wonderful and honest.

VENDORS: Ceremony Location: St Jacob’s Schoolhouse Theatre | Reception Location: Federation Hall, Waterloo University | Officiant (if not a church ceremony): KW wedding. Martti Pajunen | Cake: Lindseybakes.com     cupcakes in cow paper!! | Dress (designer and/or store)  Bridal outlet world. Custom made for me | Wedding Planner; me and help on the day of from Melanie Cote | Flowers/Decorator: centre pieces and bridesmaids bouquets made by us. My bouquet was from Lilies White | Hair/Makeup: Hair.. my sister make by Tara | Caterer; Federation Hall! brunch for dinner! | DJ: Maya Killtron (bridesmaid) | Other: Photobooth by fotofun booth

WEDDING SONGS: Processional: Drappery Falls- Opeth… played by three acoustic guitars. No one knew it was actually a Swedish Death Metal song | Recessional: Super Mario brothers theme song played by three acoutsic guitars | First Dance: Only Exception by Paramore (performed by our closest friends) | Parent Dances: Daughters by John Mayer (performed by our closest friends)  | Other:  We had a Blue grass band play before dinner. “The Great Canadian Nobodies” consisting of our close friends…including Lindsay’s husband Matt!

Favorite HRM picture from the day (and why?): black and white picture of me (bride) and my mom. It was candid and was SO us

I’m looking forward to photographing Courtney & Tyler’s wedding in Stratford next weekend – this beautiful spring weather will be quite the contrast from their winter engagement session!

- Lindsay