Wedding Photography Advice for Couples Planning an Intimate Wedding Celebration

It’s no surprise that intimate weddings are trending! With a general shift to more personalized ‘wedding experiences’ for couples and their guests and the high cost of living here in Toronto, intimate weddings are on the rise. We personally love the unique, modern and stylish ways couples are choosing to celebrate their weddings!

First things first, what do we mean when we talk about ‘intimate’ weddings? Although there are a few different opinions among wedding professionals, as a general rule, an intimate wedding is a celebration with any where from 20 to 75 guests. The day can include the all important wedding ceremony and a sit-down dinner or the ceremony and a cocktail reception…there are a ton of different ways to plan an intimate celebration! Due to the smaller guest count, the sky is literally the limit as to the venues and spaces couples can use; from restaurants and cocktail bars to stylish rooftop terraces and backyards! Whatever the space or location, intimate weddings are very memorable and personalized experiences.

As with all weddings, intimate events require advanced thought and planning. What wedding photography advice we would give to couples planning their intimate wedding day?

LIVE IN THE MOMENT

One of the biggest advantages of intimate celebrations is that couples have more time with each other and their guests; therefore, we wholeheartedly recommend to soak it all in and enjoy the moments with the people closest to you! The photos will reflect all the natural and authentic interactions and moments together.

SPLURGE ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT

Having a smaller guest count allows couples to use their budget for other aspects of the day that are important to them. Some choose to budget for a food experience that will blow their minds, floral installations that they’ve dreamed of, wedding day signage and/or stationery that really personalize the event, etc! Whatever it is, it’s important to communicate to your photographer that you would love to have photos of all the details so that you can remember what made the day truly ‘you’.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME TOGETHER

As mentioned above, a smaller event naturally allows couples more time on the wedding day. Take advantage of the time to connect, celebrate together and have more couple photographs taken! It might not surprise you to hear that we think a couple can never have enough photographs together on their wedding day ;)

COMMUNICATE ANY PHOTOGRAPH REQUESTS WITH THE VENUE & YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER

Many intimate weddings here in Toronto take place in busy establishments that have both private dining options (for weddings and events) as well as dining areas for patrons. If you haven’t planned for a full venue buy-out, it is important to speak to the venue beforehand to find out if there are any areas where photographs are not permitted. Privacy laws could restrict a couple from where they can have their photos taken if the establishment has paying patrons. We always recommend to couples just to check with the venue before the wedding day and to confirm any wedding photo requests.

It makes us so happy to see and photograph the very personal ways couple celebrate such a huge milestone in their lives! If you have any questions about intimate weddings or you’d like to book us for your wedding day, click below. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Upscale Winter 'Lodge' Vibe at Intimate Wedding Venue: Braestone Club, Oro Medonte

We couldn’t have been more excited with our visit to one of the most talked about venues north of Toronto; Braestone Club and The Kitchn in Oro Medonte. And let us tell you, it lived 110% up to the hype. If you could only hear all the ‘wows’ from Junilo and I while we toured Braestone’s latest intimate event space with Sarah, Director Of Hospitality & Events at UpCountry Venues. From a wedding photography perspective, Braestone Club literally ticks all the boxes for an ideal intimate wedding venue: ample natural light, impeccably manicured green spaces for outdoor wedding photos, Oro Medonte’s beautiful rolling hills for photographs, incredible architecture and tasteful modern decor and styling. It literally felt as if we were touring an upscale and modern lodge! As Sarah explained the history and thought behind the design of Braestone Club and The Ktchn, we couldn’t help imagining the timeless wedding photographs here!

As Braestone Club primarily functions as a popular golf course during golf season, the venue hosts weddings and events from beginning of November to April. It’s fireplace room sets the tone for a cozy yet modern space for wedding ceremonies. All the furniture can be moved so that the couple’s wedding ceremony is in front of the mesmerizing stone fireplace.

We can just imagine all the couples walking down the majestic stairs to their wedding ceremony! Once the ceremony is done, couples can use the bar and the clubhouse’s pro shop to host cocktail hour. The main dining space opens to a beautiful stone terrace which overlooks the pristine golf course. Guests and the newlyweds can enjoy a cocktail and appetizer while taking in the beautiful natural beauty of Oro Medonte’s Horseshoe Valley.

Another advantage of Braestone Club’s location is its proximity to hotels and Air BnBs. One of the most popular destinations in Ontario for skiing and winter getaways, Oro Medonte is full of accommodations for any out of town guests. Couples celebrating their wedding day at Braestone Club can make their celebration not only a day, but a whole weekend getaway with their family and friends!

We couldn’t have been more inspired by Braestone Club and The Kitchn and look forward to photographing many couples’ elegant and timeless weddings here in the months and years to come!!!

Contact us below to book your special day with us!

Venue: Braestone Club & The Kitchn | UpCountry Venues