Unveiling the Setting: Villa Astor

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Amalfi, Naples, Italy, lies the stunning Villa Astor. Perched atop a cliff, this majestic property offers unparalleled views of the Bay of Naples. In addition, a treasure trove of Greek and Roman antiques adorns the exquisite interiors, adding to its allure.

A Dreamy Ceremony in the Exotic Garden

Meanwhile, the intimate ceremony took place in the villa’s exotic garden, providing a breathtaking backdrop of the iconic Vesuvius mountain. Surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature, the couple exchanged vows in a setting straight out of a fairytale.

An Elegant Reception with Panoramic Views

Further, transitioning to the cocktail and reception, guests were greeted with a terrace boasting a 270-degree panorama of the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Most importantly, against this stunning backdrop, elegant table settings and flickering candles set the stage for an evening of refined celebration and sophistication.

Freezing the Moments Through Our Lens

One of the most picturesque spots at Villa Astor is the terrace and the stunning window. Meanwhile, against this stunning backdrop, the bride and groom stole away for portraits, framed by the villa’s beautiful windows overlooking the scenic beauty.

Reflecting on Memories Made

Lastly, as the night unfolded, laughter and joy filled the air, creating unforgettable memories for the newlyweds and their loved ones. Certainly, with each moment carefully crafted against the backdrop of Villa Astor’s splendor, this wedding was truly a romantic affair to remember.

To sum up, Villa Astor offered a dreamy setting for a picturesque wedding celebration, capturing moments of love and beauty. With its breathtaking views and elegant ambiance, this Intimate and Elegant Wedding in Amalfi created unforgettable memories for all involved.

More Wedding Inspirations:

Destination Wedding in France

European Inspired Wedding in New York

Romantic Candlelit Wedding in Florida

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The post Top 5 Wedding Reception Photo Ideas appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Spring is here, and wedding season is fast approaching! As a bride-to-be, we know the struggle of juggling multiple wedding decisions. Who has time to search for the perfect photography locations amidst all the planning chaos?

Breathe easy, lovely brides and couples! Mango Studios has got your back. We’ve taken the stress out of finding the ideal wedding photography spots in Toronto. With our carefully curated list, you can focus on what truly matters while we handle the rest.

Picture-Perfect Gems Unveiled

If you’re a nature-loving couple planning a spring or summer wedding, look no further! Prepare to be amazed by some of the most stunning gardens and parks in Toronto for your next wedding photography location. We’ve scoured the city for hidden parks and nature filled areas in Toronto that will make your wedding photos truly unforgettable. Bursting with vibrant flowers, captivating gardens, and stunning architecture, these spots are a dream come true for your nature-inspired creative session. Our guide has it all – and here are some of Mango Studios’ all time best Toronto wedding photography spots!

Top Toronto Wedding Photography Locations for Nature Lovers

GARDENS & PARKS

• Lakeshore Blvd. E. & Coxwell Ave.
• Features: Situated on Lake Ontario, features expansive beaches, a harbour, marina, and boardwalk cafe.

• 1575 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON M6K 3C1
• Features: Perfect spot if your reception is happening at Palais Royale. Beautiful gardens right by the lake alongside a boardwalk. Sunny side Beach area is a stunning spot to take photos with the city in the background.

Casa Loma

• 1 Austin Terrace, Toronto.
• Features: A magical venue and castle that has stunning views of the city and architecture that will make any wedding photo look like a fairytale wedding!

Cherry Beach

• South end of Cherry St. Toronto.
• Permit: None required.
• Features: Situated on Lake Ontario (East end of Toronto), featuring sandy beaches, boats in the distance, and wooded areas with a paved path.

Evergreen Brickworks

• 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto.
• Features: Nestled in Toronto’s lush ravines in a setting of awe-inspiring heritage buildings, Evergreen Brick Works is the ideal venue for a wedding creative. Beautiful nature surrounding the venue space, historical architecture that has an urban vintage look.

Guild Inn Gardens

• 201 Guildwood Pkwy.
• Features: Located west of Guild Inn, a waterfront park and woodland area awaits. With its mature forest, pleasant walking trails, and historic stone sculptures and arches, it’s no wonder this spot is a crowd favorite. However, note that a photography permit is necessary to capture its allure.

Graydon Hall Manor

• 185 Graydon Hall Dr, North York, ON M3A 3B1.
• Features: Step into Graydon Hall Manor, where unparalleled elegance, romance, and luxury blend seamlessly. This grand Georgian manor transports you to the glitter and glamour of the 1920s. Sip Champagne, savor hors d’oeuvres, and capture stunning moments on the stone terrace, surrounded by cascading fountains and formal gardens.

High Park

• Bloor and Parkside (west, just north of the QEW).
• Features: Stunning endless views of forests, ponds, and city landscapes. This spot is a perfect for couples who enjoy nature, and want their photos to look like they are outside of the city! Additionally, the spring and fall seasons here are especially beautiful.

Harbourfront, Toronto

• Queen’s Quay Blvd. West (between Spadina Avenue and Bathurst Street), Toronto
  No permit required for outdoors.
• Features: Lakeside views with ships in the background!

Humber Bay Park

• 100 Humber Bay Park Road East, Toronto, ON M8V 3X7
• Features: There are a variety of nature like mature trees, bridges and walking paths along the lake where you can see the most beautiful skyline.

James Gardens

• 121 Edenbridge Rd
• Features: Located in the Toronto district of Etobicoke, this four hectare park is very formal. The ponds here are fed by a spring and are crossed over by rustic bridges. The colourful flower gardens add to the beauty of the park.

Kortright Center

• 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge
• With its magnificent trees, the Kortright Centre is a remarkable destination for photos. Nestled in a lush forest, the towering pines, vibrant maples, and graceful oaks create a magical ambiance.

Leslie Spit

• Near Tommy Thompson park.
• Features: A manmade 5-kilometre long urban wilderness, built by lakefilling, that juts into Lake Ontario close to downtown Toronto. Beautiful skyline views on the lake, great golden hour photo spot. Many couples bring a vintage car here to park on the side of the road for photos!

McMichael Canadian Art Collection

• 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg
• Permit Required.
• Features: Beautiful forested area with white birch trees, and paved walking areas for photos in thee woods.

Music Garden

• 475 Queen’s Quay West.
• Features: Paved path with tall grasses, willow trees, boardwalk along the lake, and a peek of the Toronto city skyline in the background.

Philosophers Walk 

Queen’s Park

• An urban park in the Downtown area of Toronto. The park is the site of the Ontario Legislative Building, which houses the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
• Beautiful in the spring time as there are cherry blossoms blooming at that time!

Royal Botanical Gardens

Spadina House

• Location: 285 Spadina Rd.
• Call for permit information.
• Features: Victorian mansion surrounded by restored victorian gardens. Beautiful flowers and elegant architecture.

St James Gardens

• Take a ferry to Toronto Island, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the lake views of the city, beaches, and parks filled with trees and quiet intimate spots.

The Arlington Estate

• 8934 Huntington Rd, Vaughan, ON L4H 4X1
• Features: Manicured event grounds and walking paths for on-site wedding photos. Private outdoor terrace that overlooks the pond and event grounds.

Overall, we hope these Toronto Wedding Photography Locations will help guide you and your partner to your perfect backdrop for your wedding photos! We can’t wait to see which locations you choose! 🙂

Additionally, here are some more blogposts that may help inspire you further:

Top Toronto Venue Ideas

Which of these Engagement Photo Locations Is Perfect For You? 

Permits and Fees for Toronto Parks

The post Our Top Toronto Wedding Photography Locations – Gardens and Parks appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

In 2020, two nurses, Alana and Darren, had a Covid wedding in their backyard. However, they always dreamt of having their Dream Destination wedding in St. Lucia, and two years later, their dream finally came true! With only 25 of their loved ones present with some family coming from Trinidad, they even made sure that our team felt welcomed and like part of the family during their magical week-long celebration at the Royalton Resort in Saint Lucia.

The Wedding Day

On the initial evening of their island getaway, the couple hosted a warm welcome gathering for their esteemed guests. The following day, everyone indulged in leisurely moments by the pool, unwinding and making arrangements for the momentous occasion of Alana and Darren’s wedding day. Meanwhile, our team explored around the resort to find the best locations for creative photos for the wedding day.

The Reception

Our team captured every moment of their big day, including a quick creative on Pigeon Island after the ceremony, surrounded by colourful architecture, and a walk on the beach during blue hour to capture some intimate moments. Creative sessions were a must during this Dream Destination wedding in St.Lucia! Alana’s grandparents shared their first dance during the reception after 67 years of marriage after not getting the chance to have their special moment on their big day years ago. It was such a sweet heartfelt moment to witness! Their lively reception was followed by an after-party where they danced the night away. Even our photographers joined in!

The Island Tour

The day after the wedding, the couple and their guests went on an island boat tour to enjoy the landscapes and beaches of St. Lucia. They went snorkelling, saw dolphins, went on a hike, and even took mud baths. Our team came along for every part of the adventure to capture all their fun moments on the island. We even captured drone shots of the island from above!

Did you LOVE this blog post? Here are other posts you might like:

Destination Wedding Guide

Alana and Darren’s Backyard Wedding

Insider Tips from a Destination Wedding Photographer

Alana and Darren’s St.Lucia Resort – For couples looking to plan a St.Lucia destination wedding!

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What do you think of when you hear “A garden party in the south of France”? Is it lush, green gardens on a gorgeous property in the hilltops of France? Because that’s exactly what Aymara and Giovanni’s party was. The day before their wedding, Aymara and Giovanni held a private market-style garden party for their family and friends at the Chateau Saint-Martin, a hotel and spa in the town of Vence on the French Riviera. Talk about the perfect way to relax and spend time with their closest loved ones who flew from all around the world to celebrate with them.

Besides the picturesque rolling hills in the background, there was live music, great local food and drinks. As day turned to dusk, the garden party was lit by a canopy of string lights above, creating a glow as guests shared warm words and raised a glass to Aymara and Giovanni. The party continued into the night as Aymara and Giovanni and their guests danced the night away.

Photography: Mango Studio
Videography: MG Image
Venue: Château Saint-Martin & Spa
Event Planning: Lavender and Rose

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As a destination wedding photographer,  I find this experience can be a little different as I really become part of the experience. Most of the time I am traveling with the couple or their guests and getting to know them on a more personal level over several days. (i.e. eating with them, staying at the same hotel or going for an early morning swim with Aunt Sue 🙂 etc). I get a really close and multifaceted experience with the couple and their loved ones. This immersion into the families life makes capturing the candid moments between family and friends one of my favourite parts of the wedding day. Destination weddings really seem to bring everyone together and produce an outpouring of genuine emotions. This is my favourite part of the day.

There have been so many great memories at my destination weddings that it’s hard to pick a favourite. The common element would have to be that they all evoke powerful emotions. For example, I remember one creative session during the magic hour – just at the height of sunset – when the light was slowly dipping below the trees as the bride and groom walked into the sunset holding hands. It was a candid and quiet moment shared by the couple just when the quality and beauty of the light was at its most intense, and I think that the image really captured their love and joy.

On the wedding day I like to take a simple approach by capturing photographs that are true to the moments and people. I want your images to help you remember the day and feeling. My pre-wedding “ritual” is more of an “organizational system”. I remove everything from my bag and meticulously re-pack all the gear I need. It must all fit into one bag no matter what as I like to be portable and want everything available as I travel between locations during the wedding day.

Photographing weddings on destinations in part keeps me inspired because of the new environments. I feel grateful to be able to explore these beautiful locations, learn new or unique details about the place, and develop a feel for the unique possibilities that different light conditions offer. At Mango we always travel to a destination wedding early to explore the area, get a feel for it and to find inspiration for our wedding photographs. I like to create a story by representing the moments that unfold throughout the day. The clean and elegant feel comes from keeping my eye out for the in-between moments that are already happening and framing them in a simple but evocative way.

Overall, I think planning a wedding remotely can be very difficult and stressful with language and time differences. So, start the planning process early and hire a wedding planner that is experienced with the area where you want to get married. Having a photographer who is experienced in destination weddings also helps, and at Mango we are very good at it! 🙂

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The 10 must have top wedding photos you do not want to miss are:

BRIDE PORTRAIT

Many say a woman is her most radiant on her wedding day. You’ll want to have this beauty captured in a stunning portrait so make sure your photographer captures a portrait of just you alone. This can happen anytime while she’s getting ready, at the church, during the creative and even at the reception.

CLASSIC FULL-BODY PORTRAIT

A full-body portrait is a Wedding Photography Checklist MUST HAVE! For years to come you’ll look at this portrait and see how happy the two of you looked in your stunning wedding attire and be able to think back to that day. Don’t forget to let your personality and love for one another shine through. Just because it’s a portrait, doesn’t mean it needs to be boring!

UP AT THE ALTER

The moments you spend standing together at the alter are among the most important of the day. Those candid moments of tears, loving glances, and goofy smiles are the ones you’ll appreciate most.

THE FIRST LOOK REACTION

The reaction of seeing each other for the first time is such an emotional moment. The smiles, tears, and pure joy on your faces are moments that need to be documented. Whether you choose to do a separate “first look” before your ceremony, or save it for when you’re walking down the aisle, these are great must have moments to have captured.

GUEST’S EMOTIONS

Your guests are so happy to be able to share this day with you and it’s equally important to capture their emotions. You’ll be too focused on your vows and “I do’s” to see just how elated your Grandma Elis or Great Uncle Tony are. It’ll be so sweet down the road to look back on.

IN-BETWEEN MOMENTS

In-between moments might be having fun with your bridal party, family hugs, or little ones dancing, or maybe someone sneaking a taste off the dessert table. These are the sweet memories you may not see but they’ll be something special to see later.

YOUR VENUE

The location always tells a story. So much thought goes into selecting the perfect venue and the special details you fill it with.

A CANDID FROM THE HEAD TABLE

When we look at the head table, we’re looking at a brilliantly happy couple. We see smiles, whispered remarks, kisses, and stolen moments.

THE GRAND PHOTO

The big, sweeping photo of you in a beautiful landscape. This photo exudes magic, is playful and one to hang on the wall. See some framing examples here.

PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY

Once the champagne has been popped and the dinner dishes have been cleared away the real party begins. We want to see you really cut loose during these remaining hours of your wedding. You’ll be having fun or dancing with your friends and these photos are going to create playful memories that last a lifetime.

The post Essential Wedding Photography Checklist appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Below is what Natalie the bride had to say about the Best Day of her life:)

Creating an intimate and warm atmosphere for everyone was challenging with a large guest list.  We accomplished that feeling by selecting a church with lots of wood and bringing some elements of the outdoor inside, such as the moss aisle-runner. Our reception space was in a cozy greenhouse with lots of twinkly lights for our guests to dance around.  We love our florist, Flowers 597.  They were incredibly gracious to work with and gave us exactly what we envisioned.  They really brought my blush mint, gold and glitter dream theme to life, especially with my bouquet and terrarium like centre pieces.  Some elements of the wedding were particularly meaningful because they were created by us, friends and family.  Jacky’s sister made custom cake toppers and the illustrations for our letterpress invitation suites.  Our friend Cheryl hand-wrote all the stationary.  Marrying my high-school sweetheart was everything I could have wanted and more.  I wish I could relive our wedding day over and over, but I’m looking forward to growing old with him even more.

Toronto Wedding Vendor list

Bridal Gown: Monique L’huiller

Cake: Bakin’ Bits Bakery

Flowers: Flowers 597

Reception: Madsen’s Greenhouse Banquet and Chapel

Wedding Planner: Distinct Occassions

The post Madsen’s Greenhouse Wedding featured in Weddingbells Magazine appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Check out some of our favourite spreads of the art gallery wedding below and be sure to pick up the full issue to see more! Enjoy!

The post Art Gallery Wedding featured in Wedluxe Magazine Summer/Fall 2015 appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Andrea and Nilesh’s classy affair started with the bride doing her finishing touches at Graydon Hall before sneaking out for an adorable first look with her groom in the manor’s beautifully landscaped gardens. A gorgeous outdoor ceremony followed with friends and family beaming as the bride walked down the aisle in a stunning fit and flare gown by Lazaro. Lazaro Perez, acclaimed designer of the Lazaro Bridal and Bridesmaid collections, invokes old-Hollywood glamour by combining his signature hand-beading, embroidery, and lace with dramatic silhouettes and impeccable fit.  Luscious white blooms by Fuscia Designs decorated the venue in abundance: adorning the gorgeous wedding arbor, the bride’s bouquet, along the aisle and into the reception. At dinner, guests were seated to decadent details like gold rimmed dinnerware and royal purple accents. The entire day was exquisitely planned and designed by Cynthia Martyn Events Inc. The night was capped with a cake provided by Graydon Hall as guests danced the night away with The St. Royals. We loved spending your beautiful day with you, Andrea and Lesh! Congratulations and we wish you every happiness!

You can also check out the couple’s wedding video here

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