Jessie and Jonathan: Toronto Wedding at Canvas Event Space

THEY MET AT SUMMER CAMP, TEACHING SWIMMING

 (does it seem like some of the best couples meet at summer camp?)

When Jessie first wrote me to inquire about wedding photography, she said “We love your candid and vibrant photography style”. Heart eyes.

After Skyping with them, it was pretty clear that we were a match <3 They were super smiley and chill the whole time. I probably said some dumb chatter-boxy things, and they didn’t bat an eyelid. They said shortly afterwards that they’d love me to be their wedding photographer, and that was that!

Engagement session on U of T campus

When I met up with them in Toronto for their engagement session (which reminds me – I need to blog that!), I felt really comfortable with them from the start. I think they felt it, too. I even had the need to blurt out a disclosure about how I still carry around some shame about not becoming a medical doctor. (they’re both MDs and graciously told me I’m irrational to think that way :P).

Throughout their engagement session, they were cute and quirky. They told me they were both awkward in front of the camera (high-five! me too), so I made sure not to be a stressful person. I let them do their own thing for the most part, and got some candid photos of them smooching, too. We went for a walk around downtown GTA with their dog and around U of T campus, on the same quad I’d spent my youth studying zoology…

The wedding day

I drove in with my assistant for the day, Joanna Semrau (Joanna was set to jet to California that day after! I was so excited for her). We had breakfast and coffee at a little café on Eglington just West of Dufferin, and then I walked like a turtle with my bag full of gear to Jessie’s house while Joanna drove to meet up with the guys. 

Jessie had her sister, mother, and closest friends there, and things were already happening. They were mostly clad in pale pink robes and looked stunning even before their faces were done up. The makeup and hair people were in full swing, bagels with lox and salmon were out on the counter, along with lots of fruit and desserts. They asked me to eat a million times, which I think is an incredible sign of openness and care to show your photographer and so I definitely helped myself to a bagel… and some other things.

Jessie’s eyes… 

Yes, Jessie’s eyes get a whole paragraph to themselves. I cannot really say enough. They were so gorgeous. I think I spent a good 45 minutes of the getting ready coverage on trying to do justice to her eyes through my photographs. In some shots, she has the kind of old Hollywood glamour look. She was just beautiful, gah. And Kris of Blushing Belles did an amazing job emphasizing that fact.

The flowers arrived around this time: absolutely gorgeous roses in pastel pinks and whites from Coriander Girl.

Once everyone was ready and the Uber was ordered, we all headed over to Jonathan’s parents’ house for a first look. I snagged a quirky shot of Jessie and her sister with their GoodLife bag, locking up on the way out of their house.

Jonathan is the sweetest groom.

He is COMPLETELY smitten with Jessie and his eyes cannot hide his adoration. There are so many photographs of him looking at her lovingly and it’s just the best. They had their first look, and after that he and Jessie were inseparable, walking together around the house and chatting with family.

 After everyone was ready (and had plenty more food and coffee – I love these folks!), they headed over to CANVAS Event Space for the ceremony.

This venue is quirky & cool

First we took some group photos at LTE, a furniture store at the back of Canvas. The lighting there was pretty gnarly, and I didn’t have time to set up lights because we had a ton of stuff to get through, but the atmosphere was pretty damn cool. Every group got to choose their own setting for their portraits. Some were in front of hanging rugs, others were on the couches and other furniture vignettes. It was EXACTLY the kind of quirky thing that excites me.

Then came the bedeken – the jewish wedding ceremony – which was just for close friends and family. This was also held at LTE. People sang and clapped, and Jonathan unveiled Jessie, and everyone was merry and happy. We all went upstairs, making sure to hide Jessie from the gathering crowd above before the main ceremony began.

 The thing I remember so vividly was that the ceremony room upstairs was PACKED. There were so many people who came to watch these two get married.

 After they were married, and Jonathan broke the glass, they walked up the aisle GLOWING. That photo is one of my favourites of the day.

Take selfies with cool folks & dance like there’s no tomorrow

Then we did some outdoor shots of different groups, and I even managed to get myself in a group selfie with some of Jonathan’s friends from school. It was pretty awesome and I felt cool :P

Before dinner, there was the hora (a Jewish dance where everyone holds hands and dances in a progressively larger and larger circle of people… it’s hard to explain, but is totally familiar to me, as we also have our own version of this in Bulgaria: it’s called a ‘horo’, and it’s an ESSENTIAL part of every Bulgarian wedding).

Then Jessie and Jonathan were hoisted up on chairs, and I snapped some funny faces there. I had to think fast and decide where I wanted to be, because the crowd was insane, and there was no opportunity to move around. I chose to stay close to the couple and shoot with a wide lens to get as much of the ensuing happy chaos as I could! I am happy with this choice, as the alternative would have been to stand farther and take photographs of a sea of people :D

Dinner was AMAZING. I go to a lot of weddings, but this food (Food Dudes) was one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Hands down.

Speeches were short and heartfelt. Then the first dances, and eventually the floor was opened up to everyone, and the party began.

The thing about being a high-rise window cleaner…

I made some friends at my dinner table – one of them is a high-rise window cleaner in the GTA, and he had some shocking stories to share about his experiences being on top of the world and attached only to cables… Once he nearly fell off because he wasn’t strapped in correctly! He laughs it off now, but wow. What a story. He said there’s a shortage of window cleaners out there… so in case you’re looking for a new career…

On the other side of me was an adorable couple who kept stealing kisses and making lovey eyes at each other. NATURALLY, I snapped a couple of photos. 

I stayed for a couple of hours into the dancing, because I was having a great time (thanks to DJ Sean Stealth). As always, I was sad and reluctant to leave, but it was a long drive home back to Kingston. (Also, I forgot my camera charger at Canvas, and they were kind enough to ship it to me!)

I loved being in the city, and spending time with these two families – Jessie and Jonathan’s. They are the best kind of people – loving, accepting, fun-loving, and GOOD.

 Without a doubt, Jessie and Jonathan have a great future ahead of them, surrounded by so much support and love. 

[wipes tear] I wish you could have been there with me, but the photographs will have to do. ❤️

You can also check out the slideshow I made for Jessie and Jonathan that has some of the photos above and some other ones, too! Make sure to play it with SOUND. It takes me ages to choose the music for these things, you know ;)

Are you thinking of this style of wedding photography for your own wedding? Then leave me your number and we can chat all about it :)

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