The Course for Brides / Wedding & Family Photographer

Luma Wedding Reception.jpg
Posts tagged Secular Humanism
Wedding Photographer Reviews - Denise & Charlie - Toronto Island
Toronto-Island-Jewish-Wedding_055.jpg
 

"Kate did my wedding and I can't say enough wonderful things about her. Her pictures are absolutely stunning! She is creative and looks at things with such an artistic eye. She gets shots that I have never seen captured before - nothing like boring, stuffy photographers. She is also a pleasure to have around on the day. She is calming, flexible, funny, caring. In every way a dream. I already have one* close friend who was so impressed with her that she booked her for her own wedding. I can't recommend Kate highly enough!"

– Denise & Charlie

*Update: now three and counting! ;) Click here to see Denise & Charlie's gourmet BBQ wedding on Toronto Island!

 
Charlie & Charlie's Garden Party Wedding
 

Charlotte and Charles, AKA Charlie and Charlie, met in Thailand and fell in love. When they contacted me, Charles was living in the Dominican Republic on business, and Charlotte was in her home country of England. Throughout the coordination I got to know Charlotte as a funny, lighthearted soul who LOVES to laugh. Their beautiful garden party wedding took place at Charles' parents amazing property in Stouffville, Ontario.

Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_01.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_02.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_03.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_04.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_05.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_06.jpg

This beautiful outdoor affair was made only more joyous when Charlie and Charlie announced that they were expecting a baby! Charlotte was glowing with happiness, and had already coined the term her "dancing pickled bean" for their on-the-way daughter Thalia!

Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_07.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_08.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_09.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_10.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_11.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_14.jpg

At-home weddings are so personal, and having a tent in the garden is a great solution for the "what if it rains" question. The added bonus is the soft, flattering light inside the tent. 

Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_15.jpg
Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_16.jpg

Charles and Charlotte had an outdoor garden party wedding that was butterfly themed, with homemade bunting flags sent from the UK. During the reception a butterfly landed on Charlotte. I think it was attracted to her amazing energy - just like everyone else present at this special occasion.

Butterfly-Themed-Garden-Wedding_17.jpg

It was so much fun spending the day with Charlie and Charlie and their loved ones! Please enjoy this slideshow for wedding photos of the rest of this happy day.

Photographer: Kate O'Connor

Thank you to the creative team!
Caterer: Chef Andrew Munro
DJ: Impact Entertainment
Dress: Jenny Packham
Event Planner: Laura Gatti at Signature Weddings
Flowers: Lindy's Floral Boutique, Stouffville
Headwear: Urban Bride
Jewelry: designed themselves!
Men's Clothing: Studio Suits
Marquis: Gervais Rentals

You can read Charlotte's Wedding photography testimonial here.

 
Sarah & Pierre's Wedding at the Bata Shoe Museum

Most brides tell me that they basically want two things on their wedding day - they want to look beautiful and they want to throw a kick-ass party. And hey - for one of the biggest milestones of your life, I don't think that's too much to ask! I photographed Sarah & Pierre's wedding at The Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, and I can tell you right now that Sarah lived the dream of every bride. Both she and Pierre were total knockouts; their friends and family were awesome; the party was unforgettable.

Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_01.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_02.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_031.jpg

Sarah looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day. Her hair was styled by Judy Marini, and her makeup by Noemi Lavoie; surrounded by the special women and girls in her life, she seemed to almost glow.

Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_04.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_05.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_06.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_07.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_08.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_09.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_10.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_11.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_13.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_14.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_15.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_16.jpg

Both the ceremony and cocktail reception were held at the museum, against a backdrop of floor to ceiling windows and a candle-lined staircase. It was an unexpectedly romantic setting, and the perfect stage for this highly emotional and joyful ceremony. I loved Sarah's look of triumph as she and Pierre were proclaimed husband and wife, by their Humanist officiant Mary Beaty.

Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_17.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_18.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_19.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_20.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_21.jpg

Before the cocktails, we roamed through the museum. We had the whole place to ourselves, and it felt like being in a playground! It was also a fashion- and vintage-lover's haven, with shoes from all over the world, throughout the ages.

Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_22.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_23.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_24.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_25.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_26.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_28.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_29.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_30.jpg

After all the preparation, ritual, reflection, food and drink... what came next was a party of epic proportions, and these people like to get down.

Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_31.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_32.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_33.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_34.jpg
Bata-Shoe-Museum-Toronto-Wedding_35.jpg

Sarah and Pierre met and fell in love very quickly. They experienced life in all of its craziness, and their passion and commitment to one another has only grown. To hear the touching words of their friends and family on this joyous occasion, and to feel the gratitude in the atmosphere for being present on that day... actually it still puts a lump in my throat, and I feel pretty honoured to have witnessed it.

Thank you Sarah and Pierre for including us in your amazing day.

Photographers: Kate O'Connor and Rudo Vacula

Thank you to the creative team! Caterer: Encore Food with Elegance DJ: Andrew Graham Hussey Dress Designer: Allure Bridal Dress Shop: Becker's Bridal Invitations: Adam Patterson Favours & Gifts: Donation to Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research, Princess Margaret Hospital Flowers: Margo's Flowers Makeup: Noemi Lavoie Men's Attire: Freeman Formalwear Venue (Ceremony, Reception, Décor): Bata Shoe Museum, Victoria Pereira