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!

How to Maximize the Time with Your Photographer on Your Wedding Day

A wedding day is one of the happiest days in a couples’ lives. Long after the wedding is done, the moments and emotions captured are some of the most important tangible memories a couple has to look back on. Therefore, how can a couple maximize the time they have with their wedding photography team on their wedding day?

Read our top FIVE tips below!

1. Rely On Your Photographer’s Expertise. Wedding photographers and wedding planners have so much expertise on how wedding days go and how much time is needed in order to capture the day’s events in a relaxed and unhurried manner. Reach out to check with your photographer when planning your wedding day’s schedule-we have all sorts of helpful tips when it comes to wedding day timing!

2. Logistics. If possible, plan to have most of the day’s events in close proximity. Time can be lost due to traffic and/or long commute times between locations; therefore, to fully maximize the time with your photographer, think about the possibility of getting ready and hosting your events in close proximity.

3. Wedding Day Timeline. Plan and stick to having specific times during the day for alone time with your wedding photographer. Whether it be during a first look, a few minutes after the ceremony, during sunset or escaping for a few late night photographs, these are really important times to reconnect with each other and have your photographer capture the moments.

4. Book extra time. We are happy to add extra time to a couple’s wedding day if they feel it’s needed once their plans are firm. It’s better to book extra time before the wedding day as opposed to looking back after it’s all done and regretting that one didn’t have their photographers there to document a really memorable element of the day.

5. Consider hiring two photographers. Hiring two photographers ensures total coverage on a wedding day. As an example, as one photographer is capturing the first kiss during the ceremony, the other can be photographing the guests and bridal party’s reactions. Having two photographers move around during the day naturally means more is captured and different perspectives and moments are documented. It definitely results in a more complete storytelling of day’s memories. We offer the option to couples of booking both of us on the wedding day; therefore, reach out to us if you’d like more information on the difference of one photographer versus two.

Contact us for more tips and advice to make your wedding day as memorable as possible!

How to Achieve Timeless Winter Wedding Photographs

Canadian and Northern Spain winters are notorious for being unpredictable.  It’s true that the unpredictability of the weather systems definitely requires some thought for your wedding and engagement photographs; however, with a bit of planning, the photos can be incredibly beautiful and memorable.  How can you plan for beautiful photographs no matter the winter forecast?

Our first tip is: be realistic.  Winter can provide a gorgeous background for photos; however, that background usually includes a windchill, slippery conditions and at times, snow squalls and blustery winds.  Posing for photos while trying not to fall or get a frostbite is a challenge.  Therefore, be realistic with your expectations of how long you can have your photos taken outdoors.  It IS doable; however, we would recommend only a few minutes before having an indoor space (or car) nearby to warm up in.  Having the ability to warm up between photographs can help you brave the elements and look good while you’re doing it.

Our second piece of advice, especially for a couple’s wedding day, is to plan for and book an indoor space for the bulk of your bridal and family photographs.  Having a warm space with lots of natural light allows us to focus on capturing timeless wedding photographs at an unhurried pace.  Everyone present (bridal party, family and you) will feel relaxed and comfortable which will definitely add to the ease of your wedding day.

So what types of indoor photography spaces would Junilo and I recommend?  There are so many great options for couples here in Toronto.  Here are some of our favourites:

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS:  More and more professional photography studios are popping up in Toronto, the GTA, Hamilton and Niagara regions.  Their whole purpose is to provide a location to create and capture beautifully curated professional photographs.  Talk to us about some of our favourite locations suited for different sized groups and parties.

YOUR WEDDING VENUE:  Arrange with your wedding venue to arrive before your guests to take the bulk of your photos before your ceremony.  Your ceremony set up can provide the perfect backdrop for your photographs.

HOTELS:  High ceilings, loads of natural light and large, open indoor areas make some hotels an ideal space for wedding photographs.  Some hotels allow couples who are getting ready there to use their spaces for photographs and others allow wedding photography in their common areas if the couple is hosting their wedding in one of their event spaces.  Ask us about some of our favourite locations in and around Toronto and the GTA.

PERSONAL RESIDENCES AND CONDO BUILDINGS:  Some of our favourite group photos have been in people’s personal residences and condo buildings.  It feels personal, keeps everyone relaxed and even allows time for an extra sip of champagne ;)  Condo buildings very often have stylish party/common rooms which can very easily fit wedding parties and family members.  They can be a great winter alternative for wedding day photographs.

YOUR FAVOURITE CAFÉ/BAR:  This is a great alternative for more intimate wedding parties and bridal photographs.  With a little coordination with the café/bar, a couple can enjoy the prettiest intimate shots in their favourite spot, all the while enjoying a coffee (or favourite drink ;) to kick of their wedding celebrations.

Our final tip for planning for your winter wedding photographs is to keep in mind the number of hours of natural light during the winter months.  If you would like photographs during daylight, your plans may have to include having the bulk of your photos done before your ceremony or planning for an earlier ceremony to slip away for wedding photos afterwards.  

Timeless and beautiful winter wedding photographs are possible not matter what the winter forecast says!  Please contact us for more information on anything discussed above!

As seen on 100 Layer Cake

Venue: Archive Studios | Host: Alix Gould Photography | Planning & Design: Narelle Janine Events | Flowers: Billie Flower Co. | Makeup: Leena Heravi | Hair: Styled By Nadia | Stationery: Olumis Calligraphy | Rentals & Tablescape: Simply Beautiful Decor | Cake: Sweet Celebrations | Gown: White Toronto | Suit: My King and Bay | Bowtie: House of Tytan | Shoes: Bella Belle Shoes | Accessories: The Loved One | Rings: Stor By Margot

New Wedding Venue Spotlight: Three Feathers Terrace, Innisfil ON

We couldn’t be more honoured to be a preferred vendor at one of Ontario wedding industry’s most talked about new venues, Three Feathers Terrace. It is an absolutely STUNNING venue for wedding celebrations during any of the four seasons! It’s architecture and facilities have been so thoughtfully designed - which is really no surprise due to the owners’ vast knowledge of everything related to weddings. Co-owners and sisters, Rebecca and Vicki have over 20 years of combined bridal, planning, and wedding decor industry experience, making the experience of getting married at Three Feathers an absolute seamless one!

Something really unique about Three Feathers Terrace is the sheer number of options a couple has for their ceremony, cocktail and reception locations and design. Just depending on the weather and a couple’s vision for their wedding day, any one of the outdoor and indoor spaces can be used to make wedding day personalized and unique.

For both large celebrations and small intimate wedding days, Three Feathers Terrace has something for everyone! We look forward to all the beautiful wedding days captured here in the years to come!!!

Five Wedding Photography Tips for Timeless and Elegant Getting Ready Photos on Your Wedding Day

A wedding day morning is full of excitement and anticipation!  It is the beginning of the one of the most special days of a couple’s lives and the photos are the memories that live on for years to come.  What advice would we give couples in order to achieve timeless wedding morning getting ready photos?  We have our top FIVE tips below! 

A DEDICATED SPACE FOR PHOTOS 

Whether you are getting ready at home, in an Air BnB or in a hotel, we would recommend you think about having a dedicated space for photos. It doesn’t have to be a large space, even a corner can work! Whether you decide to use a bedroom or the living room, etc., it should be neat and tidy.  Things such as having the bed made and having a space cleared of clutter makes for clean, timeless photos! 

AMPLE NATURAL LIGHT 

Closely related to our first tip is thinking about a space for photographs with ample natural light.  As our style of photography is very much inspired by natural light, this is a big one!  Think about where most of the natural light is in your getting ready location.  The natural light source provides the perfect backdrop and lighting for your photographs!

ENSURE YOUR BRIDAL ‘GETTING READY’ SQUAD ARE PRESENT 

As it gets closer to ‘go time’, the day gets busier!  It’s time for last minute touch ups and final getting dressed photos.  In order to have sufficient unhurried time for photos, it is important for those who are helping you get ready to be present, dressed and ready!  The moments shared with your loved ones are so special to document and should not be rushed.  Therefore, having your loved ones present and ready on time is so important.  

HAVE YOUR BRIDAL WEAR AND ACCESSORIES READY FOR PHOTOGRAPHS

Your wedding dress and all your wedding details such as your stationery, jewellery, bouquet, boutonnières and accessories are beautiful elements to photograph.  After all, a lot of time and money goes into designing and choosing what you will wear!  We love photographing all the details and we would recommend that you have your dress ready on a wood or brass hanger (we love when brides have personalized bridal hangers!!) and having all your bridal wear accessories handy for us to photograph.  An extra element which ties all your wedding day details and styling together a few blooms and some greenery.  Most florists are happy to provide a few little ‘extras’ so it might be worth asking.  It just adds so much to the photos!

BOOKING UNHURRIED GETTING READY TIME INTO THE DAY’S TIMELINE

We talk about it a lot in our wedding planning posts but it’s worth mentioning again; timeless and memorable getting ready photographs require unhurried time.  Feeling relaxed and not having to rush to get ready shows in your photographs.  That is why we value our wedding day timeline meetings with our couples so much!  Sitting down before the wedding day and coming up with a personalized timetable allows us to properly plan and be ready to capture the cherished moments with your closest family members and friends who help you get ready. 

There you have it! Five of our top tips to achieve the timeless and elegant wedding day getting ready photos you have dreamed of! To contact us for more information on our timeless wedding photography, follow the link below!

A Wedding Photographer's Perspective: Five Things That Make The Biggest Difference on A Couple's Wedding Day

How do you envision your wedding day? Whether it be a relaxed, laid back celebrations with your nearest dearest or the party of the decade, a level of planning is necessary to ensure that the day runs the way you’d like it to. We have had the privilege of being a part of hundreds of wedding celebrations and it’s always our wish that a couple’s wedding day is as memorable as possible.

Here are FIVE things that, in our opinion, make the biggest difference on a wedding day from our perspective as wedding photographers:

1. LIVING IN THE MOMENT: Genuine and authentic photos come from couples living ‘in the moment’ on their wedding day.  Take it all in, focus on your partner and celebrate with your loved ones and friends.  Your photos will reflect it!!

2. LOGISTICS: When planning your day, it’s important to take into account travel times and locations.  The more locations and distance between locations, the more travel time involved.  You don’t want to look back on your wedding day and wish you had another five minutes for photos with the important people in your lives, so if possible, plan to have your getting ready, ceremony, photo location and reception all nearby, if not in the same location to save tons of time!

3. BOOKING ALONE TIME DURING THE DAY:  As mentioned, the wedding day can be a very busy blur - a very happy blur but a blur nonetheless.  So book time for just the two of you in the day by doing a first look, reading your vows privately, booking time for couple photos, etc…We promise that you won’t regret it! It’s the needed time to reconnect and remember the importance of the day and your love for each other.

4. GOLDEN HOUR PHOTOS: Don’t miss out on taking advantage of the beautiful evening light just before sunset.  As golden hour usually takes place during dinner service or just after, guests won’t even notice that you’re gone for 10-15 minutes. Many times our couples’ tell us afterwards that they are some of their favourite photos from the day!

5.HAVE FUN: Closely related to living in the moment, just have fun!!!  Planning a wedding requires A LOT of time, effort and investment so when the day finally comes, HAVE FUN!!! It’s your day and you deserve to enjoy every minute of it!!! 

Contact us below to begin planning for your beautiful wedding day photographs!

Venue: Omni Amelia Island Resort | Planning and Design: Ema Giangreco Weddings | Florals: Flower Bar Co. | HMUA: Makeup By Christina Burns and Beyond a Salon | Ring: Susie Saltzman | Dress: The Find Bridal Outlet