Wedding Vendors

Venue: McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Flowers: Country Lane Florals
Live Music: L&T Entertainment
Officiant: Enduring Promises
Catering: Food Dudes
Photos: Diego Moura Photography

Getting Ready - Capturing the Magic

The morning of Christine's wedding began with energy and a house full of her family. Encircled by her tight group of bridesmaids and the with the support of her family, the day started with laughs and good-natured teasing. Picture Christine, commanding attention in her striking Chinese red Cheongsam, marrying tradition with her unique touch, while her friends heightened the sense of celebration.

So, when Patrick and his group arrived for the door games, it was time for some serious fun! If you've never witnessed a groom take on those entertaining challenges set by the bridesmaids, you're truly missing out. I personally believe that door games should be a tradition at every wedding. Essentially, it's a tradition where the groom and his groomsmen must complete challenges set by the bridesmaids before he's allowed to see the bride. In Christine's case, her bridesmaids organized a clever game involving different drinks for Patrick and his groomsmen to identify.

Once Patrick passed the door games and was allowed to enter the house, a traditional tea ceremony took place. This isn’t merely about drinking tea; it is a homage to heritage and familial bonds. The emotional exchange between Christine and her grandmother during this ceremony was profoundly touching.

Moving on to Christine stepping into her white wedding dress. I love this moment, as a photographer, it’s a great opportunity to create photos with layers, texture, and emotions. I would say, I was very lucky at that day, to have a perfect group of people who were super excited and happy for Christine and let me participate in every moment. As Christine was getting the laces tied in the back of her wedding dress, I was able to get the perfect shot of this moment, which ended up winning a Fearless photographer award. As with every Fearless photography award, it’s a combination of skill, using what is already around you in a creative way, and also the luck of having every person in the right spot at the right time. And then of course, putting myself in the right place at the right time - and with my amazing second shooter Leemarc adding the mirror to my composition (on the left side of the image) I was able to create a complex image. Thank you to Fearless Photographers, the most competitive wedding photography association in the world, for this award.

One of the standout moments of the day was when Christine and Patrick shared their first look. Patrick, with a mix of nerves and anticipation, stood at the foot of the staircase in Christine's childhood home. Their initial glance was special, filled with genuine emotion and excitement.

Following their preparations, they moved to the garden, where Christine's mom had arranged a picturesque setting for family photos among the flowers. It provided a beautiful backdrop for capturing their love in a natural and serene atmosphere.

Couple Portraits - Christine and Patrick's McMichael Wedding

It was a beautiful sunny fall day at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Surrounded by the stunning fall colours, Christine and Patrick's excitement was contagious, and I felt right in my element. With every snap, we caught traditional poses and then let our creativity flow, to capture something truly unique.

And let's not forget Christine's beautiful bouquet from Country Lane Florals. It was bursting with those fall colours and added an extra touch of charm to our photos, perfectly complementing the natural beauty all around us.

The colourful backdrop and the grounds of McMichael Canadian Art Collection made my life very easy. At that point, I just had to make Patrick feel comfortable with the camera and poses, which wasn’t a challenge at all. Most of the grooms are very nervous and not very excited about the portraits. But as I always tell my couples: “we are going to walk around and chat, and if we see a nice spot along the way, we do something,” and at the end of every portrait session I hear: “that wasn’t painful at all, it was actually very fun”. This is how I like to go with my portraits and engagement sessions.

Wedding Ceremony at the Hilltop

Nestled in the serene beauty of the Humber River Valley, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection provided the perfect backdrop for Christine and Patrick's outdoor wedding ceremony. As they exchanged heartfelt vows, surrounded by their family and close friend’s, the atmosphere was filled with emotion on that perfect fall day. Capturing every moment behind the lens, I couldn't help but be moved as I witnessed Christine's tears of joy during the ceremony.

The soulful melodies from L&T Entertainment set the perfect mood, they are not just the best duo band for a wedding ceremony — but amazing people as well. Also, the stunning arch of flowers from Country Lane Florals that added such a delicate touch, and gave that extra pop for the photos.

During the ring exchange part of the ceremony, I was able to do the shot that is becoming one of my signatures, the ring shot under the couple’s hand. I just love the different perspective — and seeing a thing from an unexpected angle to incorporate that into the story of the day. As the ceremony drew to a close, the golden sunset was starting to cast a warm glow over the hilltop, marking their exit, which made it even more of a magical moment. The McMichael Canadian Art Collection had provided the perfect backdrop for their special ceremony, a place where nature and art intersected to create an unforgettable experience.

Wedding Reception at the Grand Hall Reception

After the heartfelt ceremony at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Christine and Patrick's party moved to the Grand Hall for their reception. It was buzzing with excitement as everyone eagerly waited for the newly-weds to arrive. The bridal party and parents kicked things off with a lively entrance, setting the tone for the night. Christine and Patrick joined in, bringing their infectious energy to the festivities.

The Food Dudes buffet was a hit, with delicious dishes that satisfied everyone's taste buds. Dinner was filled with laughter and heartfelt speeches, each one sharing stories and memories that brought tears and smiles. The parent dances were emotional, especially when Patrick shared a special moment with his mom. It was a beautiful reminder of the bond between them. Then came the couple's first dance, accompanied by the soulful tunes of L&T Entertainment. As they danced, surrounded by loved ones, they savoured every moment of their unforgettable day.

But that wasn’t the end of the night…

The Nighttime Portrait Session

As huge fans of my out-of-the-box and nighttime photography—hey, I'm your go-to nighttime creative guru—Christine and Patrick set aside an hour at the end of the night to get funky and creative with some cool portraits.

While I find all nighttime photography to be a unique and creative challenge, I wanted to do something extra special for Christine and Patrick, that they would appreciate as uniquely their own. There was a new technique I'd only read about it in theory, but hey, why not give it a shot, right? Well, it totally worked! We ended up with this killer shot that's unlike anything I've ever done before. And that's what I absolutely love about my job as wedding photographer—being able to create something totally fresh and unique for each awesome couple — based on what they want and what they like.

And with that final stroke of creativity, we called it a night, knowing we'd captured not just snapshots, but memories that Christine and Patrick will treasure forever.
Christine and Patrick, thank you so so so much for trusting me on your spacial day. You are the best. 😘

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