Wedding Vendors
Venue: LIUNA Station
Bride Getting Ready Location: Homewood Suites by Hilton Hamilton
Makeup & Hair: Pro Makeup by Natasha
Officiant: Rev. Robyn Elliott
Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal
Suit: Moore’s Clothing
Flowers: Flower Frenzy
Dessert: Donut Monster
LIUNA Station Wedding
It’s not everyday you get to shoot a wedding at a National Historic Site, so when we got the opportunity to come back to LIUNA Station in Hamilton for Carolyn and Tom’s wedding, we were just so excited! We were last there for Jeanine and Reza’s spring LIUNA Station wedding, and while weddings this year are nothing like what they were then due to the pandemic, we knew we could still count on the extravagance and opulence of both the architecture and decor of LIUNA Station, plus their fantastic events team, to make the fall wedding of Carolyn and Tom absolutely stunning and special.
Bride and Groom Getting Ready
Carolyn got ready with her bridesmaids at the Homewood Suites in Hamilton, where Natasha from Pro Makeup by Natasha, along with a talented bridesmaid, got all the girls ready and looking fabulous. Carolyn looked so elegant and graceful in her beaded sheath dress from David’s Bridal, with a timeless orchid bouquet from Flower Frenzy completing her look.
Tom got ready with his groomsmen at his brother’s home. While their morning started slowly and quietly with some breakfast and coffee on the back patio, the guys got dressed in no time so they could go outside and play with the big boy toys - vintage cars, cigars, and shots of cognac. The guys definitely preferred having their photos taken with the vintage car than while getting dressed, happily posing in every which way, looking badass in the process.
Ceremony at The Grand Lobby in LIUNA Station
The ceremony took place at The Grand Lobby in LIUNA Station, by far our favourite space at LIUNA Station. We were completely blown away by it when we first walked in for Jeanine and Reza’s ceremony, and it had the same impact on us this time again. We simply cannot get over how stunning the space is, how regal it looks. The Grand Lobby still boasts many of the original details from when it was built as a train station in the 1920s and are now accentuated with warm lighting and rich colours throughout the hall. It was such a treat being back here to capture the sweet ceremony of Carolyn and Tom.
Following the ceremony, all the guests stepped outside for some socially distanced coffee and donuts. If you haven’t tried Donut Monster before, let me tell you, you are in for SUCH a treat! There were boxes and boxes of donuts, with so many fun and unique flavours. Each one better than the other. Diego and I managed to snag a couple to try and we were hooked! We may have even made a pitstop in Hamilton the very next weekend before Jassica and Steven’s Fort Erie wedding to pick up a whole dozen donuts just for ourselves (Don’t judge us! We had to try them all!).
Portraits in LIUNA Station and at Dundurn Castle
Following the donuts and coffee, we headed back inside LIUNA station with Carolyn and Tom for a couple of portraits in The King George room, which was supposed to be their reception space before Covid forced them to change their plans. One of the things we love about this room, and really about all of LIUNA Station, are all the unique light fixtures that can be found throughout the space. It gives the photos a warm and cozy quality, and looks absolutely stunning and majestic. We finished off the portrait session at LIUNA Station at the bridal suite, which is elegantly decorated in a vintage style and perfectly matched Carolyn’s classic and sophisticated bridal look.
While Carolyn and Tom were unable to host an evening reception due to the pandemic, we did get to have an extended portrait session with them, which is quite unusual for a wedding day, so following the portraits at LIUNA Station, we headed to Dundurn Castle in Hamilton. When Carolyn and Tom suggested this place as the location for their portrait session, Diego and I could not believe that we never heard of this place before - it looks like a mansion taken straight out of the English countryside, complete with neoclassical architecture, stunning gardens, and even a folly. Don’t know what a folly is? It’s ok, I had to look it up as well. It’s kind of a funny thing actually. A folly is a building that’s generally meant for decorative purposes, but looks like it has a greater purpose or function. So true to it’s name, that’s exactly what happened with the folly in the gardens of Dundurn Castle. When I saw the folly, I assumed it must have been a chapel. It’s a small and elegant building, and we were lucky enough to capture Carolyn and Tom’s portraits in front of it just as the sun was setting and creating a stunning purple and pink backdrop. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful day. Carolyn and Tom, thank you so much for introducing us to Dundurn Castle and Donut Monster, and of course, thank you so much for having us be a part of your special day!
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