Wedding Vendors

Venue Village Loft
Event Planner Luxe Designs
Officiant Chrisyu The Wedding Officiant

A Modern Love Story: From Tinder to “I Do”

Victoria and GuenChan’s love story is a perfect blend of digital connection and real-life magic. Like so many modern couples, their story began with a Tinder match — right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. With lockdowns in full force, their relationship grew over texts and long video calls, filled with laughter, curiosity, and the kind of slow-burn anticipation that comes from not being able to meet in person.

But GuenChan wasn’t the type to wait around. In true Romeo & Juliet fashion (with a much happier ending), he climbed up to Victoria’s balcony for their first real-life meeting — and that’s when their online spark turned into something truly unforgettable. It was bold, a little wild, and totally them.

Getting Ready: Morning Joy & Quiet Anticipation

The wedding morning started off filled with excitement — and just the right amount of butterflies. Victoria got ready at her apartment with her best friend Jackie, who flew in from Vancouver. Between sips of coffee, last-minute details, and lots of laughter, the atmosphere was full of warmth, love, and that kind of electric anticipation only a wedding day can bring.
Across the city, GuenChan was getting ready too, quietly reflecting and feeling the build-up of emotions before seeing his bride.

First Look: Playful, Emotional, and Perfectly Them

Their first look was everything a photographer could hope for — honest, joyful, and so full of heart. Victoria snuck up behind GuenChan, then peeked playfully from under his arm with the biggest, goofiest smile. It was the perfect representation of their relationship: fun, easy, and grounded in real connection.

When GuenChan turned around and saw her for the first time, he was floored. Without missing a beat, he gently spun her around, taking in every detail of her dress, her presence, her glow. That spin wasn’t just a sweet gesture — it was a celebration of everything they’d been through together.

They shared a quiet kiss, surrounded by calm, and in that moment, everything else faded away. Their first look wasn’t just about the outfits or tradition — it was about honoring their journey, their growth, and the love that brought them to this exact moment.

The Village Loft: Contemporary Elegance Meets Laid-Back Charm

When Victoria and GuenChan were searching for the perfect wedding venue, they knew they wanted something modern, intimate, and effortlessly stylish — a space that felt welcoming but still elevated. The moment they saw The Village Loft tucked inside Bayview Village in North York, they knew it was the one.

Recently renovated, The Village Loft blends clean, contemporary design with warm rustic charm. Exposed brick walls, wooden ceiling beams, and oversized windows fill the space with natural light — the kind of glow every photographer dreams of. It’s cozy without feeling cramped, refined without feeling too polished. In other words, it was the perfect reflection of Victoria and GuenChan themselves: grounded, elegant, and full of heart.

The venue offers a large indoor dining room and an open-air terrace, which gave us multiple backdrops to play with throughout the day. Whether it was the soft window light during speeches or the romantic glow of string lights outside, The Village Loft gave us room to move, explore, and create magic without ever needing to leave the space.
From a guest experience perspective, it doesn’t get much more convenient — it’s TTC accessible, right off Highway 401, and has plenty of free underground and street-level parking through Bayview Village. For their friends and family, it made everything simple and stress-free.

And with options like the Burbank Room, Wilfred Room, and Foxwarren Room, couples can easily tailor the setup to match their guest list — whether it’s 30 people or over 200. For Victoria and GuenChan, that flexibility meant being able to have the size they wanted without sacrificing atmosphere. Every corner of the space felt thoughtful and personalized.
Beyond the aesthetic, it’s worth saying: the staff at The Village Loft truly delivered. Every detail — from the setup to the service — was seamless. There’s a calm professionalism to the team that makes the entire day feel smoother, and that kind of behind-the-scenes magic is what really allows couples to relax and enjoy their moment.

Victoria and GuenChan’s day felt intimate and joyful from beginning to end, and a big part of that was the environment The Village Loft created. It wasn’t just a venue — it was part of the story.

Walking Down the Aisle, Together

Some wedding moments are loud — the cheers, the music, the confetti. But others? Others are quiet. Gentle. Deeply personal. And as photographers, it’s those quieter moments that often stay with us the longest.

Just before stepping into the ceremony space, Victoria and GuenChan paused at the threshold. The air was still. Guests waited just around the corner, music softly beginning to play. But for a brief second, it was just the two of them. No audience. No cues. Just a whisper from GuenChan to Victoria — a reminder to breathe, to slow down, to soak in the moment. That one, quiet exchange said everything about their relationship. Grounded. Supportive. Full of heart.

We watched, cameras ready but hearts full, as they took that first step together — not one waiting for the other, but walking down the aisle hand in hand. That decision alone broke with tradition and reflected exactly who they are: partners in every way. As “Just the Way You Are” by The Piano Guys played softly in the background, their steps were slow and intentional. The aisle wasn’t just a path to the altar — it was a symbol of everything they’d already walked through together. A promise that whatever came next, they’d face it side by side.

Their vows followed, spoken not just as tradition but as truth. Words filled with intention, emotion, and that same easy comfort that defines them. And for us behind the lens, it was one of those moments you don’t rush. You just breathe it in and capture it with as much care as possible. Because this — these glances, those whispers, the small squeezes of the hand — this is the real story. The one that deserves to live on in more than just memory. The story of two people walking into their future, together.

Reception at The Village Loft: Personal, Playful, and Full of Heart

As the sun set and guests made their way into the warmly lit reception space at The Village Loft, the energy shifted into something cozy and electric all at once. The space looked incredible — soft lighting, elegant details, and a relaxed atmosphere that invited connection. Everything about it reflected Victoria and GuenChan’s personalities: thoughtful, welcoming, and full of heart. The evening flowed with laughter and ease, but it was the personal touches that truly made it feel special.

One of the crowd favorites? The wedding shoe game — a classic, but when it’s played by two people who know each other this well, it becomes something else entirely. Sitting back to back, each holding one of their partner’s shoes, they answered questions about their relationship — and the room loved it.

When asked who said “I love you” first, both raised GuenChan’s shoe without hesitation, followed by a round of laughter and “awwws.” But the moment that really stuck with everyone was when they were asked: “Who’s more likely to say sorry first?” Without even looking, each lifted the other’s shoe. It was sweet. Honest. A perfect reflection of the mutual respect and care that’s at the heart of their relationship. And then came the moment that hit everyone — us included — right in the heart.

As Victoria stood to thank her mom during a quiet moment in the speeches, emotion overtook her. She bowed deeply, and the tears came — unfiltered, raw, and full of gratitude. It was one of those moments that stops the whole room. No one moved. You could feel how much it meant, how much love was wrapped up in that gesture. And from where we stood behind the camera, it was impossible not to be moved.

These are the moments we live for — not just the perfectly lit portraits, but the honest, unrepeatable feelings that weddings bring to the surface. And this one? This was pure.

The rest of the night flowed beautifully — conversations, hugs, dancing, and that kind of golden-hour feeling that settles in when everyone’s fully in the moment. The reception wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. Every detail, from the speeches to the laughter, told the story of Victoria and GuenChan’s love — one that’s playful, grounded, and deeply connected. And that’s what we aim to capture. Not just the wedding, but the why behind it.

Photography: Telling the Story with Light, Emotion, and Connection

As photographers, our goal is always the same: to tell the real story. Not just what the day looked like — but what it felt like. And Victoria and GuenChan gave us so much to work with.

The Village Loft, with its clean lines, open spaces, and warm textures, offered a gorgeous canvas to play with. We leaned into the natural light during the early part of the day, focusing on the little in-between moments — soft glances, hand squeezes, that kind of quiet emotion that says everything without a single word. One of the standout moments came during their portrait session inside the grand reception room. We had a creative vision for this part of the day — using directional lighting and a bit of smoke to create something bold, cinematic, and totally unique. The result was a set of images that felt both intimate and epic — a perfect reflection of their dynamic as a couple.

But it wasn’t just the big, dramatic portraits that stood out. There was a moment between GuenChan and his parents that hit us all. No posing. No planning. Just a real, honest exchange between a son and the people who raised him. It was full of pride, emotion, and connection. And for us, moments like that are everything.

Because yes, the portraits matter. But so do the quiet hugs, the subtle tears, and the laughter that erupts mid-speech. That’s the magic of what we get to do — we freeze time, just long enough for people to remember how it felt.

Reflecting on a Day Full of Heart, Laughter, and Real Connection

Looking back at Victoria and GuenChan’s wedding, one thing stands out above all else: this day was theirs. Every detail — from walking down the aisle hand in hand, to the shoe game, to the emotional thank-you moments — reflected their story, their personalities, and their love in the most authentic way.

It’s a beautiful reminder to all couples planning their day: there’s no “right way” to do a wedding. There’s only yourway.

Victoria and GuenChan blended tradition with modern touches effortlessly. They kept the parts that felt meaningful, skipped the ones that didn’t, and never once tried to fit into a mold. From writing their own vows to choosing songs that made the room smile, they built a celebration that felt honest, joyful, and uniquely them. For any couple reading this — let that be your permission slip. Your wedding can be as playful, heartfelt, chill, bold, emotional, or offbeat as you want it to be. At the end of the day, what people remember most isn’t perfection — it’s how the day felt. That’s exactly what I aim to capture: the feeling. The real stuff. The hugs, the chaos, the happy tears, the inside jokes. We don’t just want to give you beautiful photos — we want to tell your story in a way that feels like you.

Victoria and GuenChan, thank you for letting us be part of your day. It was an honour to witness and document a love that’s so rooted in friendship, trust, and joy. Your wedding was unforgettable — and your story is one we’ll never stop smiling about.