Tracy & Brent’s Caledon Inn Wedding
I first met Tracy and Brent in Port Credit, Mississauga for their engagement session on October 28th, 2018. We actually had a mix-up about where we were supposed to meet in Oakville; but, boy, am I glad we ended up where we did! We met at Snug Harbour where they had just finished dinner. I had never been to the waterfront in Port Credit and was amazed at how gorgeous it was! We explored the area, getting to know each other, stopping every once in a while to take some adorable photos. Now I take so many of my beautiful couples to Mississauga for their engagement sessions!
If you know me, then you know I love giggly couples, so after their engagement session I couldn’t wait to see them on their big day! And that was the next time I saw them: August 17th, 2019. (Except when Tracy did my hair for me last May! If you’re looking for a hairdresser in the Alliston area, reach out to her - she’s amazing:: https://thehairgallerysalon.ca/ or https://www.instagram.com/tracyannehair1/). Ok, back on track… their wedding day had arrived! First I went to get shots of the groom and groomsmen getting ready. My favourite photos include the little monkey that Tracy had embroidered inside Brent’s suit jacket (an inside joke of theirs), the knives that Brent gave his groomsmen as gifts, and of course Jaxson, the Best Dog!
Next I headed over to capture the bride, her bridesmaids, man of honour, and family getting ready. Here is where I laid eyes on Tracy’s absolutely gorgeous dress from Amanda-Lina’s in Woodbridge/Vaughan! This elegant wedding dress suited her perfectly, and was a mix of sexy, classy, and breathtakingly beautiful.
My favourite shot from the girls (and boys!) getting ready is probably this photo of the bride and her mother after they were all dressed. Tracy gave me a few ideas of shots that she envisioned and this was one of them! I love it when my couples show me photos they love so I can use them as inspiration to get amazing images like this one. <3
After having a blast with the bride’s side, it was time to head to their amazing wedding venue: Caledon Inn. Now I have to say, this GTA wedding venue has everything I love as a wedding photographer: an intimate outdoor ceremony location as well as a huge white tent for the reception! The way they personalized the decorations made it all the more romantic.
After exploring the venue and capturing some of their wedding details, I went to visit Tracy in the naturally-lit bridal suite at Caledon Inn. This is where we took a few more of my favourite shots of the day!
Tracy and Brent chose to do something a little bit different from the normal “first look” on their wedding day. They decided instead to do an exchange of letters to each other before their ceremony. I won’t say much about this emotional experience because the photos speak for themselves.
After their very moving letter exchange, it was time for the ceremony to begin. The Best Dog as well as the Man of Honour and the Maid of Honour really set the bar high!
In my opinion, Tracy and Brent’s officiant Sarah Hall enhanced the entire ceremony experience (as well as the photos!) Her reaction behind the groom in this next photo is priceless! Definitely check her out if you’re looking for a wedding officiant in the GTA.
This next image is another favourite. This is the mother of the groom looking back to see her son’s face as his bride walks down the aisle. She happened to glance over at my lens and thank goodness I clicked when I did. These are the kinds of moments you want captured to remember for the rest of your life - this is why you choose a documentary wedding photographer! We are always on the lookout for an outstanding moment, even if it is not necessarily of the bride or groom.
Tracy and Brent’s wedding really had an all-star cast of GTA wedding vendors. Next, I’d like to mention Snowberry Botanicals that did an incredible job with the florals! They really brought together the whole decor and theme of Tracy and Brent’s fairytale wedding. I also need to praise Akil McKenzie of Falling Motion who I had worked with before and ALWAYS enjoy spending the day with! Your vendors make up such a huge part of your wedding, so make sure you choose ones you vibe with!
As they began signing their marriage certificate, Tracy was overcome with emotion. Her Maid of Honour was right by her side to get her giggling again!
Next was the moment we were all waiting for! The first kiss. Once everything was made official and some celebratory hugs were exchanged, it was time for some portraits.
The portrait portion of the day might be my favourite of all… it’s time to get those album shots - the ones that will hang on your wall and sit on your families’ mantels for years to come. With Tracy and Brent my job was easy! Everyone was ready to create some magic and have a blast getting some fun and sweet photos.
Finally the time came to start the party! Tracy and Brent went straight from their reception entrance into their romantic first dance, under the tent at Caledon Inn, surrounded by their family and closest friends.
After their first dance, Tracy and Brent went right into their speech. Some couples prefer to get the formalities taken care of at the beginning of their reception so they can relax and truly enjoy the rest of their night. :)
After some very heartfelt speeches, it was time for the father-daughter and mother-son dances. Okay, I have another favourite part of weddings! I love the whole darn day!
Since all of the formal wedding moments were over… it was time to dance the night away! And time to shout out another amazing vendor: Dave Puzzo the DJ! In no time, he got the party started and kept the dance floor hopping all night long.
Once my legs were tired from the hard-core dance party, I decided it was time to steal the bride and groom for my signature night shots… another favourite part of my job!!
The day had come to an end, and it was time for me to head on home to edit some sneak peeks for these newlyweds. A huge thank you to Tracy and Brent for choosing me to capture their day, and for trusting me to catch these beautiful moments. <3