I’m not sure why I doubt – but at every wedding, when I meet the bride in the morning, I am filled with reassurance and so pleased.   It’s not because everything is on time and Mirette looks fabulous and her dress is outstanding.

It’s her attitude.  … and Kwan’s attitude, when we touched base the night before and again this morning.   The plan to have, “All You Need Is Love” sung right after their joining was not lip service or a theme.  That really is their attitude.   I love your values, your attitude and your priorities, Kwan and Mirette.

The ceremony was at the Timothy Eaton church in Toronto:

Genuine happiness – they are now together:

There was a theme at the wedding and it was colours, with people mixing it up in a rainbow of tones, reflecting the 2 different worlds – Chinese and Egyptian – coming together.

Recognize this place from Kwan and Mirette’s engagement photos?    ….. this was great, getting together with friends in the wedding at a favourite hangout, between the ceremony and reception!

Jess and Derek and Faika were there.  Jess and Derek’s wedding in October was where we met Mirette and Kwan. – so 2 of our wedding couples together – and right after Heather and I  arrived , who came back to greet us – but a 3rd couple from last summer – Deb and Grace!    …… that was cool!

The dancing was a riot – so much fun and celebration!

The slideshow video of some wedding images:

He’s from North York.   She’s from KW.   They met in Japan, where they both live.

Tracey’s dad was dying with cancer.  He knew he wouldn’t last many days.   So he made a suggestion.

Two weeks before their announced wedding date, Tracey and Mike were wed in a small, living room ceremony in a Southampton cottage  -  in front of her dad.

In the last days of his life, Lorne Shantz saw the daughter he was so close with,  married.

Two weeks later, on Dec 5th, I joined friends and family celebrating Mike and Tracey’s 2nd wedding in as many weeks.

With a mad, impossible schedule, not enough days – and through difficult times, Tracey and Mike remain friendly, relaxed, easy-going and funny.  Their great attitude was like a guarantee that this wedding would be a happy celebration.   No plans, details or scheduling hiccups could change that.

A Japanese Wish Tree:

SMOOOOOTH! :

… and the wedding slideshow video:

Jess broke out ballet shoes to wear with her dress!

Derek and Jess both radiated a calm, stress free attitude and it was contagious.  All were affected.  (me too).

On their own, each of these two have a relaxed self assurance that I admire.  Together, they have that same sense of assurance,  like an implied  “of course we are made for each other”.     ……  I’ll just be Captain Obvious here and report that it’s true.  Jess and Derek are kindred spirits.

The groomsmen.  Crikey Mark!   Look at that air!!    Paul, Corey and Art on air guitar:

Amazing, original bouquets!   …… and beautiful, adventurous friends, who were up for going out under-dressed on a chilly October day:

Captain Morgan! :

We were rained on for about 1 minute.   ….. then we scared it off with umbrellas.   There’s a metaphor at work here:

I love this:

You both were amazing!   Dancing on a country highway – and the wind was kicking up, so it wasn’t just chilly, now it was cold! :

This is my favourite variation yet on the tapping of spoons on tableware to get the bride and groom to kiss.   Kisses were performed(!) by request when guests placed a donation in the UW Well-Fit charity basket! :

Derek, with Them Cultured Vultures rocked out a number at the reception!  How cool! :

I met Jess and Derek last year, when I did their engagement photos .   Jess is doing fitness, nutrition and all around wellness coaching (could be photos of this coming soon!).  She has a decidedly positive influence on people around her (waist lines are even shrinking).  As the 2nd vegan(most days!) at the dinner, I was treated to the same healthy – gourmet – vegan cuisine that St George’s great chef prepared for Jess.  It was outstanding!  Thanks Jess!

Derek is an IT specialist who can relate to clients, communicate clearly with them in english (not assembly code!) and he gets it about great client care and customer service.  That really is a big deal (and rare!) when your technical expert understands people too!   I can report from direct experience that Derek would be a great business coach if he ever goes in that direction (thanks Derek!).

Hands down, my favourite thing about being a photographer is my connection and involvement in the lives of cool people I admire.  Thank you Jess and Derek so much for having us as part of your wedding day!

…. and some wedding slideshow goodness:

This is Stefane and Nathalie.  They’ve been married for years.  They’re in love.   They’re adventurous.    ….. and they’re up for something completely different from traditional wedding portraits.      ….. So we set out to capture interesting, creative images that reflect their personalities and their bond.

Why Trash the Dress??

…

Trash the Dress is a wonderful wedding photography movement that inspires and encourages brides, grooms and photographers to try something new;  let go of the comforts of tradition,   …. and create something more meaningful, more expressive of yourselves.

It’s not about destroying the gown –>  it’s about creating images and memories that are interesting, artistic, passionate and fun  ….. without worrying about what it’s going to do to your dress.  Approach this session with care free abandon and your gown will get dirty  …. and probably wet too   -  but you will be making beautiful, expressive images that you will pull out again and again (unlike the dress, sealed up in a closet for decades).

This preserves your dress in a way you can actually enjoy:  in photographs.   Marvel at just how fabulous you looked in your diva gown.  Use great locations you couldn’t try on your wedding day.  Have imagery you could not possibly dare to get done on your wedding day.

This dress was not destroyed.  After a cleaning, it can be sealed in plastic, pristine and spotless – to never be used again! ….. or it could be sold,  or donated.

For something really interesting at your wedding reception, why not choose to have your trash the dress session done several weeks before your wedding?  –> then clean the gown back to brand new condition for the wedding day   ….. and have us project a large screen video slideshow  of your stylish, edgy, creative images at your reception!

In the end, you’ll have images that are far more valuable to you than that dress on a shelf.

Here’s the video slidshow of their session:

No kidding,  ….. and it’s not photoshop.  A real rainbow made an appearance at Grace and Deb’s wedding reception.  How perfect!   This wasn’t the highlight of the wedding though.   This was a very emotional event.  The ceremony took place at the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto.  Wedding guests were clearly moved  …. it was like everyone was close family.  I saw the same thing again through the reception.

These two are genuine, compassionate ladies who show a deep understanding of themselves and of others.  Something I notice is that they never take each other for granted.  A hand on Grace’s back,  ‘Can I get you something?’,  … an obvious sense of appreciation and enjoyment with each other.  They still have that after 6 years together.

The reception was held at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington.    ….  champagne in the meadow …

A video selection of images from the wedding:

I’m nervous.  I’ve been looking forward to this as my biggest day ever, as a photographer.

My first wedding.  I’m shooting a couple I have come to admire and respect so much.  They were both helping others when they met.  … that’s a steady part of  their lives, before meeting each other.

Jeff, it’s rare that I meet someone who makes such a strong 1st impression as you.  As articulate as you are, that strong impression comes more from your calm self assurance, the small things you do for others – and some kind of non-verbal mojo that says “trust me”.  If I could point to someone as a poster child for how to connect with others – how to be sincere, authentic, caring and interested in others – and to enjoy yourself along the way – that poster child would be you Jen!

In a gathering rich with open, kind hearted and talented people, there was genuine celebration and joy that these two remarkable people have found each other.  I hope I have captured some of that.

Jen, her father and sisters all performed at the ceremony.  I loved it!

Fantastic 1st dance!

Jeff broke into spontaneous Ukranian Cossack dancing – this was the real deal!

A video showing a selection from the wedding:

I had a great deal of help from fellow photographer Heather Guy, who joined me on this wedding. Heather saved me on several occasions with timely reminders about what I needed to do next! When she wasn’t running my lighting and lugging heavy gear, she had a few moments to fit in some second shooting duties. Here are a few from her: (Thank you Heather!!)

Heather shooting in our ghetto-fabulous studio on wheels –> she had her butt perched on the dashboard and seriously contorted her body to get these shots. Fantastic!! :