Not a wedding, but a wedding dinner celebration! When you live in Australia, but you also have lots of Canadian family, it’s a great idea to celebrate in both places - in different ways! that’s exactly what Simone and Victor did.
Theirs was one of the first weddings I had last year, and it was such a great way to kick off the busiest season I’ve ever had. This blog is their wedding day story.
Couples' sessions - whether you want to call them 'engagement sessions', or 'day in the life' sessions, or whatever... they can be really fun, even if you're shy or awkward in front of the camera (like me).
There's literally never any pressure to do anything.
Check out this blog to see for yourself how something you enjoy together (e.g. a hike) can turn into a beautiful and meaningful photo occasion. :)
There are so many beautiful places to take photographs at the Hidden Meadows (A.k.a. Bee Spot) that it’s almost difficult, because you have to choose…
Luckily owner Nadine pointed us to a place in the fields that was easy to access and I loved it because it had a generous smattering of pink echinacea! It was so beautiful to use that as the backdrop (and foreground) to the wedding party photos.
We didn’t take too long here, because it was bright and sunny and we didn’t want people to have to squint too long in the sun. We took a few photos and went back to enjoy cocktail hour.
Denise and Kevin are awesome, and I’ve already gushed about them and how cute they are together over here on their engagement blog.
But today’s all about their wedding.
Their gorgeous, GLORIOUS, backyard wedding, right in the back of their lush property, very near to where I live.
(So close, in fact, that at the end of the wedding, when I headed home and parked my car in my driveway, I could still hear the distant pumping of the music from the tail-end of their wedding… and swallowed through a major case of FOMO haha.)
To be fair, they met about 30 years ago, but didn’t really connect until much later. They were married once before, and have older children (who were an amazing and important part of the wedding day!)…
So for this wedding, they just wanted to make it really their own.
Nothing fussy or stuffy.
That’s why they chose Spearhead Brewery for the venue.
Since it’s nearly Halloween, how about a Halloween Wedding blog?
Now, just because you decide to have your wedding on Halloween doesn’t mean you need to dress up like a ghoul, or involve any aspects of horror.
In fact, it could mean that you’re just into all things goth and vintage, and you want to wear a black dress and a red cape and—
Oops, I’m giving it all away before I’ve properly introduced the story!
Let’s start from the beginning.
Amber and Pete are two cool kids in love. They are young, but their love is mature, like the kind you cultivate after years being together and weathering all sorts of shite.
The beautiful thing that happened over the course of the pandemic is that folks realized there is no right or wrong way to be married.
Elopements, small weddings, back yard weddings…. living room weddings - it ALL works.
It really all depends on who you are and what is important to you.
If having lots of nature and greenery is important - then go for a forest or field ceremony.
On the other hand, if you just simply want to gather your nearest and dearest - parents, siblings, and a couple of friends - and you don’t really care where you do it… and the forecast calls for rain anyway….
Bailey really wanted a queer-positive team to make her guests feel safe and seen and heard. Some of Bailey’s most important people - her most loved ones - are queer. So, it was super important for her to have a photographer who not only knows their way around a camera on a wedding day… but also (and perhaps even more importantly!) makes everyone who Bailey and her partner Chris invited to their wedding feel welcome and loved.
And this is my jam.
Libby and Bernie’s children had put together a gorgeous slideshow of photographs from Libby and Bernie’s 65 years of life.
This is when I got all choked up.
There were imaged of them as a newlywed couple…
Images of them as parents to very young kids… the same kids that were gathered here today to celebrate their parents… and had brought their OWN children…
Wow, do I have a good story for you today! (it’s a bit different from usual, because the images you’ll be seeing are actually the full spreads of the couple’s wedding album)
FINALLY I’m able to blog about this wedding, because Val & Thomas have revealed their surprise elopement to their family and friends. All in all, the news was received really well!
Some family might have been completely thrown off, and maybe even unhappy. When I had a spur of the moment elopement, my aunt wasn’t thrilled about missing it. But it was nothing personal - we didn’t omit her because she’s not special to us - she definitely is! We didn’t invite anyone because we literally had two days to plan, and it required an overseas trip…
I was completely excited for this day, even though I didn’t know many of the details. All I really needed to know was that the colours would be gorgeous, all the important folks were attending, and that everything else would be just right.
The forest was adjacent to Lu’s parents’ place, in Landsdowne. It was a beautiful drive there, the trees were just starting to turn colour. I drove onto a forest county road lined with yellow and orange trees.
Sarah and Mike are a bit of an exception. Theirs was one of the earlier weddings I photographed this year, though I also had one in March, and previous years, I’ve photographed a fair share of winter weddings.
April can be a beautiful month to get married, especially if you have a great indoor venue, like the Frontenac Club Inn, with access to the outside in case of great weather.
There’s nothing to fear in having an early spring wedding. Sure, trees aren’t blossoming quite yet in Ontario (I always get a bit envious when I see my European friends and family posting all sorts of beautiful blossoms and flowers in March and April, while we’re still covered in ice here in the Kingston-Toronto area…)
A Beautiful Sunny Day For An Elopement In Tamworth, Ontario
We had planned to meet at the Hidden Meadows in Tamworth just a few minutes before 2pm. Rebecca would change into her dress and shoes quickly, and we would head to the fields.
I met up with them at about 1:50, just in time to see Rebecca and Dave pulling in.
Baby Cole was in the baby seat, and they took him out. He was very curious about this place, and sat patiently in his car seat as his parents unbuckled him and got him dressed for the elopement.
Not sure how to best celebrate your love? Quirky Love is here to offer up some unusual options, because who doesn’t want a memorable celebration. Pairing a celebration that suits your personalities are our favourite events to photograph.
What can we say? The first kiss as newlyweds is an important part of the wedding ceremony. And as with dancing, there are many different kinds of kisses. We love to capture this important ritual, its another favourite part of any wedding.
Kissing helps couples bond, improves compatibility, and boosts happiness. It also improves your immune system, reduces stress, and lowers blood pressure; what could be better?
Flowers have been a key visual aspect of weddings since Roman times, where garlands represented fertility, fidelity, and new beginnings. Although during the Middle Ages, herbs & spices were added to banish evil spirits. Modern bouquets can be personalised based on the colour, shape, scent or symbolism, while providing a lush visual effect. And what could be more perfect for a photographer than that?
Oh and we almost forgot to mention the ever-popular bouquet toss, this activity always produces fun shots!
They weren’t looking for anything stuffy and formal, mind you.
They just wanted the folks who were near and dear to their heart to be photographed all in a group!
This is why having me, their photographer, at their rehearsal dinner made so much sense.
We could take time to get a bunch of group photos on the Friday at the rehearsal, and reduce the amount of time we would need to take group photos on the Saturday, their actual wedding day.
When I meet with folks who’re getting married, and we’re not in a rush (say, the wedding isn’t in like 3 weeks), we always get to chatting about doing a little photo-session before the wedding.
You know, documenting the ‘ordinary’ moments of life.
And the first question that comes up is: “What do you all LOVE to do together?”
Everyone has a different answer. All folks in love like to spend time together in different ways.
What can we say? We love it. It's our absolute favourite part of any wedding. Weddings are a celebration and we don't think there's any better way to celebrate than by having a dance party. We love the faces, the movements, the wild abandon, the romance, the groping - ALL OF IT! Bring it…
It's our bread and butter. Whether DJ, live band, or iPod on shuffle, we're IN!
This is the story of a secret proposal.
When Ashis (pronounced ‘ah-shish’) contacted me, it was because he wanted to plan the perfect proposal for his partner, Meenu, and needed my help to photograph it.
As a wedding and engagement photographer, the photos would be no problem. But the planning - well, for that, I recruited the help of Heather (of Bowtied Services).
Margaret and Vincent’s story is such a sweet one.
We met ages ago, when I was having a free giveaway for an engagement session. I think this was probably back in 2019, and definitely before the pandemic.
I chatted with the couple on Skype (back in the day this is what we used, believe it or not! I cannot imagine a time before zoom in my life, but there you have it)…
From the moment we started planning Maeve and MacKenzie's engagement photo session, I knew that it would be a really unique one.
The couple wanted to take me to MacKenzie's family cottage near Peterborough, on Stony Lake.
The only way to access this property, they told me, was by boat!
They were so sweet about this: Making sure I was okay with the boat ride, that my camera would be fine, and all.
Today I bring you the story of Nik and Kathlena’s surprise proposal.
What I actually mean is that it was a surprise to Kathlena, not Nik. It would be funny if it was a surprise proposal for both of them…. How would that even work?
Anyway, for this surprise proposal, Nik was the one planning everything.
He wanted to propose to the love of his life, and he wanted to keep it a complete surprise!
When we planned Andi and Tim's engagement session, there was one thing that was on the top of our minds.
We simply wanted make sure their two children could meet me and become comfortable with me before the wedding, so that they wouldn't be stressed out being photographed on their parents’ actual wedding day.
I think that's incredibly sweet: the way Andi and Tim prioritized the children, and included them in their engagement session that day.
So we did a lot of fun things, like visit their cottage in Prince Edward County. There’s a small trail behind the cottage, and just up the hill is a nice forest. We went for a walk up there for about ten minutes. Beautiful candid photographs don’t have to take a long time, you know.
I'm excited to bring you the story Leah and Kwesi, an adorable and kind-hearted couple, and their afternoon summer elopement.
(Kwesi is such an awesome name. When she first said his name, I jotted it down phonetically, as Quacey, before I asked for a correction :P Leah told me that he once had someone at Starbucks write "Weston"... haha.)
You might have first read about this wedding in our Highlights 2021 blog here.
But now I’m going to go into all the delicious details, so read on!
It’s super easy when couples choose to get ready in the same venue, either together or in different suites.
It’s easy for me, I guess, because I can run between the two places and take photographs without hiring a second shooter. Though having a second shooter is super fun, because we have so much fun on the wedding day. So… I guess what I’m saying is - don’t worry about what the photographer needs, and just schedule your wedding day the way it makes sense for you.
Anyway, Maire and Wendi were in different suites at Pangea house, but because this is an old converted and renovated Inn, there are charming passages you need to traverse to get from one suite to another.
And then the question is: which suite to go to first?
An “Engagement Session” can be anything you want it to be.
Recap of the “pandemic months”: 2020 & 2021!
Years ago… two years now… during the first summer after the start of the pandemic, a few of us wedding vendors got itchy to create. We had taken a hit in bookings that year, and even though things perked up a bit in the summer, we were LONGING to get immersed in community and creativity.
Moreover, Christina of KnifeySpooney (and the mastermind behind this styled shoot), really wanted to showcase an eco-friendly, sustainable approach to micro-weddings.
Ellen and Tim are both incredibly sweet people, and they are loved and adored by SO many, reflected in the large wedding party they had.
With big wedding parties, it’s important to arrive with enough time during the getting ready portion of the wedding, so that you can capture not just the folks getting married but everyone else in their midst.
They’re super sweet together. They have the kind of mature love you’d expect people who have been together for 30 years to have. She even wears his underwear! (I’ll admit, I’ve been known to do the same with my hubby. Men’s undies are just so much more comfortable! Don’t judge!)
I knew they were awesome from the moment of our consultation together, a few months before the wedding. We laughed so hard. My cheeks hurt afterwards.
So yeah, their wedding day was going to be just as quirky and funny and unique as they are.
Alison and Mitchell's wedding is an awesome reminder that you can get married just about anywhere that is special and meaningful to you, and have the most memorable wedding day, even if the pandemic or other unforeseen events mess up your original wedding plans.
Today I want to tell you about one of my favourite days in 2021.
It was the day of Bronwyn and add Andrews wedding add furnace Post Farms in Lyndhurst.
This blog is going to be swarmed with filled with photographs of Furnace Falls Farm: their barn, the property and small details around both indoors and outdoors.
Aw, Denise and Kevin. 🥰
This was such a sweet and meaningful engagement session.
When we were first planning this engagement session with Denise and Kevin, I asked them: what would make this something memorable and meaningful for you?
You know, something where we’re not just going to look for a pretty backdrop and take a bunch of awkward posed photos?
So, we chatted about recreating their first date, in downtown Kingston.
Wolfe island is a pretty magical place, and as I've learned, there is a long and rich history to it.
Another thing I've learned about Wolfe Island, is that there are the “Islanders”, and then there’s everybody else.
You might have lived on the island for 10, 20 or even to years, but unless you, your parents, and your grandparents was all born on the island, you're probably not really considered an “Islander.” (Right? Islanders, help me out here!)
That doesn't mean you can't have an absolutely amazing experience living there, mind you. Even if you move there later on in life, like Sally and Arnie - the matriarch and patriarch of this family.
Danielle and Zach’s was a beautiful elopement right in the heart of downtown Kingston.
It was during the last post-winter restrictions in 2021, so we moved the date a couple of times. Luckily, the venue (the beautiful Rosemount Inn in Kingston) were super accommodating.
And Danielle and Zach themselves were the most wonderful, friendly, and easy-going couple. They had to deal with a lot, because of the shifting rules… but they didn’t bat an eyelid, and ended up having a simply fantastic sunny day in June for their wedding, instead of the originally scheduled date in mid-May.
The bonus was that there was so much colour & greenery.
Now let’s get to the photos!
Well… this season was certainly one for the books!
I don't even know where to begin, so I'm just going to do it in sequence, to be fair to all the beautiful couples I met and photographed this year…
…and so that I don't miss anything that was super important.
Here we go! 🤩
Let’s talk about microweddings! It’s been a long year but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the couples we’ve photographed, it’s that humans have an incredible gift for resilience and being creative during times of limitation.
Microweddings could be the way people choose to get married this year, and maybe for a little while longer this decade, just until things calm down a bit and people feel safe. Or it’ll be like the roaring 1920s and all the weddings are going to turn into 90’s style raves complete with glow sticks and love bombs.
I don’t like to start with a brag, but this styled wedding shoot was recently featured in Today’s Bride!
That feels pretty epic.
I cannot take most of the credit though, because that goes to the amazingly talented wedding planner Heather McArthur of Bowtie Services.
She planned the theme (FIRE & ICE!), the colours, and scouted the models & vendors. All I had to do show up and shoot. And that’s what I did.
For Jon and Lindsay, it was just about this deep love that they have for each other. Somehow that was felt during the entire day. I don’t know how to put it in words… I don’t even know when I felt it. I think it’s in the extremely easy way in which they connect with each other, how they talk to each other - not really needing to explain the whole story, but implicitly understanding each other.
The most magical winter elopement you've ever seen. I was immediately blown away. The setting was gorgeous and cosy, intimate and warm, inviting, and filled with rich textures and colours.
Kelly was walked down the aisle by her son, and all the flowers in the bouquets were handpicked onsite. After the ceremony, Kelly and Ben shared their first dance under the maple, and everyone celebrated with glasses of bubbly (non-alcoholic, but still delicious… well, unless you ask the kids who pulled grossed out faces).
It’s the most unique wedding we’ve photographed, and we want you to see it & wish this couple well in their life together <3
When I got married, we didn’t tell my aunt’s family (who are very close to us), OR my husband’s family.
It wasn’t a malicious or intentional omission; it was simply that we eloped with like two days “planning”, and we were travelling abroad for it (to my home-country, Bulgaria), so most of those two days were spent on an airplane, at the airport, or jetlagged. The thought of calling family to explain was an afterthought. I was 23 years old and in love, and marriage or wedding traditions weren’t a huge deal to me at the time. Don’t hate me!
Many couples yearn for a quiet and magical elopement, full of nature’s wonder. And this is exactly what you’ll find at the Hidden Meadows, any week between June and October.
They just can’t keep their hands off each other.
They had these big plans, you know? Big venue downtown, a large guest list, family coming in from other provinces - the whole deal. This is how weddings go and we all know how wonderful those celebrations can be.
I’ve been photographing weddings for just under a decade (lots of them have been under the banner of Quirky Love, so you might be familiar with them:) ) and when JM and I decided to get married, we wanted to go a different route from a lot of the weddings I’d photographed.
After this, we headed to the gazebo, which was a super important place for both of them. They’d shared their first kiss there and later they got engaged there exactly a year ago! It was all too serendipitous. Their engagement story is so sweet and hilarious; but it’s theirs to tell. I’ll just say that Rochelle literally didn’t get it was all for her - despite the romantic lighting and engagement vibes - until the VERY end…
Engagement & Wedding Blogs from 2019 😍
Julian is camera shy, and yet he still wanted to smooch with Helena ALL THE TIME.
And we ended up with lots of kissy photos ❤️
She had to wear a black garbage bag for a part of the day, but it was for a good reason! ❤️
Read the story of Sara and Iain’s wintry wedding day on the blog today!
At their ceremony, Sarah played the ukulele and sang a beautiful rendition of Ingrid Michaelson's "Giving Up" for Oliver. LOTS OF TEARS were shed. Rings exchanged, and a kiss to seal the deal and it was OFFICIAL: THEY WERE MARRIED!
When I hear people saying, “you’re too young to know true love”, I call BS.
I think Britni and Andrew know exactly what I’m talking about, because they fell in love in Grade 9 and have been in love EVER SINCE. And you guys, they are TOTALLY ENAMOURED with each other and it’s awesome to behold. 😍
I have no idea! Honestly, I thought I already had… but then when I was trying to show these photos as an example of what kinds of things you could do on your “engagement” session (otherwise known as a day in the life session around these parts), I couldn’t find it.
So anyway, Sarah and Oliver already got married, and we were there to celebrate with them, and we even blogged it (yay us!)
So this story takes us even farther back in time, to a very warm and mosquito-y day in June of 2019, just a few months before their wedding took place.
holy 💩! We didn’t blog at all in 2018 😱🙊
Wedding photos & stories from our 2017 season!
So much fun can happen as a second shooter to a wedding - here’s one of those stories!
One of my favourite images is the first dance photo, where I used a technique called shutter drag to make the tealights in the background into little squiggly lines of light.
Photographs From Our first Year in Business: 2016 👇
My aim is always for the photograph to feel as though I wasn’t even there. A true wedding photojournalist wants to celebrate the reality created by those they photograph; not create their own reality.
If you’re asking yourself whether a second photographer is necessary for your wedding…
Or you’re wondering how I got my start as a wedding photographer…
Read this blog with photos from one of my first weddings, back in 2016, shooting for the talented Tim Forbes.
Back in 2016, we had this zany idea. We thought - wouldn’t it be awesome and quirky if we approached couples in love in YGK, and took their photos?
Completely free. Completely out of the blue.
We wanted to FIND love and CELEBRATE love on the streets of Kingston. And that’s what we did.
Below you’ll find the story of the very first Quirky Love Pop Up, with a very sweet couple who are still - to our knowledge - very much in love, five years later!
On the chill factor vibes, this gay summer wedding got 11/10. 🤩
That reflects the nature of the two grooms, Dan and Huw. They had the great wisdom to know what was important to them and what wasn’t, and to include all those things that were and none of the things that weren’t.
Once in a while, a bride’s mother calls you up out of the blue, and asks if you’re free for wedding photography at a rural Ontario Bed & Breakfast. Then, once you find out all the details, it’s even more magical than you ever could have imagined it to be!
I’d met Mia years ago. I photographed her a few times through roller derby, so when she messaged me to ask if I had May 27th 2023 free for wedding photography, I just about fell off my chair with excitement. 🤩
So there you have it—a wedding day filled with love, laughter, and unexpected rain showers. Remember, the most extraordinary adventures are the ones that don't go exactly as planned. So, embrace the chaos, dance in the rain (if you want! Just a suggestion. no one at this wedding danced in the rain, it was just a … metaphor for having fun, which was definitely had at this wedding!), and let your wedding day be an unforgettable experience that reflects who you truly are—quirks, raindrops, and all!
12+ hours of non-stop action on the shutter, with amazing people, from the couple to their friends and family, to the vendors.