Natural Light is Key

When it comes to photography, natural light is your best friend. It enhances the photos and brings out the best in your hair and makeup. Natural light is soft and diffused, creating a beautiful and timeless look. When choosing your getting ready location, make sure it has plenty of natural light. A room with large windows or one that’s flooded with natural light is ideal.

Neutral Colors and Backgrounds

The background of your getting ready photos is just as important as the lighting. A neutral background provides a timeless look that won’t distract from the bride. A room with neutral walls, such as white or beige, or one with simple decor, such as a plain couch or armchair, is perfect. Avoid busy patterns or bright colors that can be distracting.

Large Windows

A room with large windows has multiple benefits. It provides more natural light, creating a sense of space and making for beautiful photo opportunities. The natural light also enhances the bride’s features, making her look radiant and glowing. Additionally, large windows provide a beautiful backdrop for the photos, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Enough Space for the Bride and her Bridesmaids

Finally, it’s important to have enough space for the bride and her bridal party to move around and get ready comfortably. Being cramped or rushed can create stress and anxiety, which can show up in the photos. A spacious room with enough seating, mirrors, and outlets for everyone is essential. Make sure there’s enough room for the photographer to move around and capture all the special moments without feeling cramped.

In conclusion, choosing the right location for your getting ready photos is key to capturing the special moments of your wedding day. Natural light, neutral colors and backgrounds, large windows, and enough space for the bride and her entourage are all important factors to consider. With these tips in mind, you’ll have beautiful and timeless getting ready photos that you’ll cherish for years to come.

Check out some of our wedding galleries below for some getting ready location inspiration!

Noemie and Jason

Chelsea and Rob

Cassandra and Marc

Pinterest Board for Bridal Details

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Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of finding the best wedding venue in Toronto. Don’t worry; we won’t judge if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed. It’s not every day you have to pick a spot to celebrate your love that will make even your in-laws happy.  Think of it like choosing a Netflix movie, but with higher stakes. You need something that will appeal to both you and your partner, but also something that won’t make you want to pull your hair out.

We get asked all the time at the studio if we’ve photographed weddings at a specific Toronto wedding venues before, and almost always, our answer is “Yes!”. With nearly two decades of experience in the wedding industry, we’ve had the privilege of shooting all over Canada, the United States, and even internationally. Wedding venues come in all shapes and sizes, with varying lighting conditions. As photographers, we often categorize venues as either “light” or “dark” locations. When helping clients choose a venue, we highly recommend looking at a venue’s lighting in addition to its capacity and aesthetic.

Whether you’re interested in a classic hotel ballroom, a trendy restaurant, or a country club, each type of wedding venue comes with its own pros and cons. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together a list of our top five most popular wedding venue types and what you need to know before booking.

1. Restaurant Wedding Venue

2. Country Club Wedding Venue

Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if a Country Club wedding venue is the perfect match for you!

Pros:

• Nature: The natural surroundings make for a stunning backdrop, no matter the season.
• Blank canvas: There are no restrictions on decor, so you can get as creative as you want!
• Unique location: Country clubs often have beautiful scenery, like lakes and woods, making for unique photo opportunities with your photographer.

Cons:

• Temperature control: Outdoor and tented receptions can get chilly at night, so be sure to plan accordingly.
• Transportation: Country clubs are often located outside the city, so transportation can be a challenge.
• Restrictions: There may be limitations on the setup or use of amenities, like golf clubs not allowing guests to go outside designated areas.

3. Private Toronto Estates Wedding Venue

Do you love the classic sophisticated look of a private estate for your wedding venue? Let’s see the pros and cons of having your wedding venue here.

Pros:

• Both indoor and outdoor locations: What we love about private estate weddings like Graydon Hall,  is that they have a great variety of photo locations indoors and outdoors.
• Nostalgia vibe: Historic venues are cozy for family-centered celebrations and ethereal bridal portraits.
• No restrictions on decor: These venues are pretty flexible when it comes to decor and have no decor restrictions: Perfect for those looking to create a sophisticated ambiance.

Cons:

• Rentals required: Furniture and DJ rentals add to costs.
• External catering: May need to bring in catering company, increasing expenses.

4. Toronto Banquet Hall Wedding Venue

Are you looking for a Banquet Hall venue to fit your large guest list but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit? Here are some pros and cons to help!

Pros:

• Capacity: Banquet halls are made for grand, glamorous celebrations so go all out! They usually fit the most guests and are perfect for dancing the night away.
• Variety: There are so many banquet halls to choose from in the city and you can find any aesthetic to your liking.
• Experienced staff: As banquet halls specialize in weddings, their in-house staff is knowledgeable and can help with wedding planning.
• Built-in accommodations: Banquet halls usually provide tables, chairs, and may even have a DJ and lighting equipment already.
• Location: Banquet halls are usually located in the city, making it easy to find great locations for photos and parking for you and your guests!

Cons:

• Hidden costs: Watch out for extra fees like overtime, valet parking, and cake cutting services.
• Limited flexibility: Popular wedding venues might have other weddings happening at the same time, limiting photo locations.
• Tricky lighting conditions: Grand ceilings and spotlights can make lighting difficult, so make sure your photographer is experienced with these lighting conditions.

5. Barn Wedding Venue

Do you love the outdoors and want a country side feel to your wedding photos? Let’s see if our list below can help you decide on booking a barn for your wedding venue!

Pros:

• Capacity: Barn weddings can host unlimited guests inside and outside, perfect for large groups. The sky’s the limit!
• Charm & textures: As artists, we love that barn locations offer diverse textures and lighting scenarios for stunning wedding photos inspired by the countryside.
• Intimate wedding feel: Barn weddings provide an intimate and laid-back setting with a small wedding feel and vibe.
• Blank canvas: Barns are a blank canvas for decor and styling, from dramatic chandeliers to intimate candles. You have free rein over decor and styling!
• Natural light: Barn weddings offer ample natural light for ceremonies and creative portraits in nearby nature. Taking some creative couple portraits during golden hour here also makes for beautiful photos with your partner!

Cons:

• Unpredictable weather: If you’re committed to an outdoor ceremony or reception, make sure you’re prepared for the craziest of weather scenarios.
• Indoor lighting: Barns can be dark, so ensure adequate reception lighting. Wooden walls and ceilings can pose flash challenges, hiring an experienced photographer is important.
• Transportation: Barns and farms are usually located at least an hour or two away from the city. Make sure you consider transportation time for your guests and make necessary accommodations.

Ultimately, choose a venue that fits your style, vision, and budget. We’re here to help you capture all the special moments of your big day, regardless of the venue you choose!

We hope you find this guide helpful! Whether we’ve shot at your venue or not, our photographers always prepare ahead and scout your venue. We also pride ourselves in maintaining great relationships with top venues who pinpoint the best backdrops, suites and views. As always, feel free to pick our brain on all things weddings and reach out to us using the form here.

Some more Wedding Venue Tips and suggestions

Take Our quiz: to find out which Toronto Venue is for you

Some of our Faves

Small trendy Wedding venues

The post Top Toronto Wedding Venue Ideas appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

So many of our couples ask me if they should have a theme for their outdoor engagement photos. I always tell them that it’s such a special set of photos before the wedding. Tying in a theme can make it a really memorable set of images. In general, I like to think of them as a practice session for your creative portraits together on the wedding day. They help to make you comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera. They also give you a good excuse to indulge in dressing up and having some fun together! That’s why I love this Old Hollywood Inspired Engagement Session with Alicia and Phil. It ties in all my favourite parts of an engagement session – a great story, a beautiful theme, and amazing clothes. To help the rest of my couples make the most out of their outdoor engagement photos, I’ve come up with three tips to keep in mind when you’re planning.

1. Tell me YOUR story

Are you ready for some backstory on this amazing couple and their Old Hollywood inspired engagement session? Alicia and Phil have known each other for 8 years. They were introduced to one another by a friend who had hoped they’d all just become good friends. Little did they know their friendship would blossom year after year. After many many deep conversations together about friendships, spirituality, careers and life, they soon realized that they had fallen in love! We’re so happy they did! Knowing these details helped up get to know them quicker and made the whole experience really comfortable.

2. Incorporate your wedding theme

It’s easy to see how in-love this couple is from their Old Hollywood inspired outdoor engagement photos below. The love the classic Hollywood look and chose that for their wedding day. Naturally it was a good tie in to carry through the engagement session. When they have both sets of images in their wedding album, everything will flow super nicely.

The idea behind their choice in location stemmed from wanting a spot that was a little out of the ordinary.  Alicia and Phil both agreed that the perfect spot needed to hold some meaning for them. As a sentimental couple, they thought it best to say something about their relationship. Looking back years from now, they imagined reflecting on how far they’ve come together. A few days later, they were driving through their hometown of Caledon, they came upon these railroad tracks. The tracks would symbolize their new journey and the possibilities it brings with them. They finished off the vision with a sleek, black GTO.

3. Dress to Impress

The clothes you wear on your engagement session are so key. I always encourage couple’s to dress up. There’s nothing worse than regretting not putting your best foot forward when you’re having professional photos taken. Alicia and Phil’s clothing added an urban twist that will carry through on the wedding day. Accessories wise, I love Alicia’s white floral headpiece and Phil’s sharp fedora. The elegance and personal touches make these photos truly stunning.

A word from Alicia, the Bride, about her Old Hollywood Inspired Engagement Session:

“When it came to decide who would photograph this memory, there was no doubt in our mind that we would ask Mango Studios. Because I am an event planner, I have been following their work for some time now, and have always appreciated their natural efforts in capturing memories. On the day of the shoot, they were nothing short of what we expected. Our photographer, Tyler, had an amazing personality, and as we pre-warned him we were camera shy, he knew exactly what jokes to make to take us out of our comfort zone.”

I can’t wait for more Old Hollywood inspired fun with Alicia and Phil. Next up: their wedding at Toronto’s The Factory Lounge! xo

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What do you need to consider when choosing a location for your engagement photos? You might want to think about what the location is going to say. You can say something about your relationship and what you like to do together or maybe pick a location that means something to you. In doing this, you’ll be sure to create images that are meaningful, timeless, and memorable. We promise you’ll look back on them as the years pass and be able to remember exactly how you looked and felt.

For Jennifer and David, they went with a desert engagement session because it held significant meaning. David grew up going to Palm Springs on vacation with his family. He remembered the beauty of the desert and just how fun and amazing it would be to shoot there. He knew the mountains, the desert landscape, and the stunning sunsets. So, with this in mind, he gave us the project of scoping out the perfect desert location for photos.

We set out to find different locations that would showcase the beauty of the desert, and give way to windswept and dream-like photos. Whether it was the base of a mountain, straight or winding dirt roads, or a friendly Californians front yard, this couple was game. Jennifer and David were so in love with the locations we brought them to.

Jennifer wore an open back, long sheath lace dress with a train that perfectly hugged her body. This dress against the sandy paths gives the impression of a soft desert goddess. She wanted her hair down so it would blow in the wind, further adding to the stunning windswept look of the shoot. David complimented her and wore a simple striped shirt and trousers. As they walked through the desert hand-in-hand, they couldn’t help but dance and have fun. We love how she later wore this dress during her wedding reception to tie the events together.

Jennifer’s second dress, if possible, was even cooler than the first! We love the way the soft mint green, lace and chiffon dress with metallic gold belt popped out of the background especially against the hot pink desert cactus flowers we found in the garden of a very friendly Californian’s backyard. (This couple was so obviously in love, complete strangers offered their property for the shoot!)

Their choice of a desert engagement session was so sweet for this couple. Together we accomplished a glamorous and whimsical engagement shoot that sums up their relationship. It was a way of tying together their lives; taking from his youth and bringing it together into their present and future. They’ll be able to bring more memories with them to Palm Springs as they embrace their marriage and grow their family together.

We can’t wait to share more from their gorgeous wedding at The Parker Hotel soon!

The post Desert Engagement Session in California appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Below are a few words form the bride about her wedding day:

People always tell you that your wedding day will fly by and to just enjoy every minute.  They were right.  Our entire day felt like the best dream-from the moment we had a private reveal outside my parents house to our ceremony.  It is hard to mention how great the night went without mentioning the food-especially since I’m in the culinary industry.  We trusted Oliver Bonacini’s catering and they did not disappoint.  Our menu included Asian-inspired treats like the soy and lemongrass braised beef short ribs and a five-spice-rubbed branzino.  Of course, their famous fried truffle mac and cheese made its appearance during cocktail hour- it was a party favourite.  Four our wedding theme we chose to go with an elegant gold and pink palette.  The Arcadian Court ballroom is a big white canvas, which we decorated with bright coral peonies and pink garden roses.  Fiona from Stemz helped bring our vision to life-she is beyond talented and has a real passion for flowers.  The swan was one of our fave details of the entire night.  My sister and Elliot had purchased inflatable swans for the horah, without telling each other the had the idea- but two swans are definitely better that one!  The guests ended up using them for their photos in the Mango Photobooth.  I guess you can thank Taylor Swift for that.

Wedding Day Venue list:

Wedding Planner: Melissa Baum

Bridal Gown: Reem Acra from Kleinfeld

Cake: The Rolling Pin

Flowers: Fiona at Stemz

Stationary: Smudge Design

Venue: Arcadian Loft

The post Arcadian Court Wedding featured Weddingbells Magazine 2016 appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Sara and Daniel wanted their outdoor wedding to be as magical and whimsical as the day they were engaged (over-the-top type magic, picnicking under the Eiffel tower in Paris!) The feeling of fun and excitement is what they wanted to share with their guests at their wedding and they hired the team at Melissa Andre Events to help bring their vision to life.

Evergreen Brick Works; once a brick factory, was reformed into a tranquil city park with reflecting ponds and lush gardens for visitors to escape into. The old buildings have been restored and opened as an environmentally focused community and culture center. The moment Sara and Daniel toured the grounds, they knew that it was meant to be!

Sara and Daniel said their “I Dos” in the gardens overlooking a lily pad-filled pond in the park surrounding Brickworks. Their altar was marked by floating floral “air balloons” with lilac, soft pink and white flowers draped as the “balloon”. The simplicity of their altar allowed for their guests to look out at the park’s scenic views.

Their decor was like a forest fairy’s dream, complete with twinkling lights overhead like stars in a night sky. It absolutely looked like a lush enchanted garden. When you entered the reception room your eyes met towering, leafy tabletop trees and foliage chandeliers as alternating centerpieces making you feel like a bird flying through the trees. The natural textures and accents Sara and Daniel chose paired perfectly with the venue’s more rustic feel. Soft pink and white mixed bouquets in gold vases sat on the table tops giving off the sweet scent of a blooming floral garden. The mood was set by the combination of twinkling overhead lights and flickering candles on the tables among the greenery.

The tiny details of this wedding are what make it even more special and magical. Each guest was able to take home pieces of this magical, outdoor garden wedding and create their own little garden at home! They received a mini potted succulent with their escort card. When they arrived at their seat, waiting for them was a gold rimmed glass terrarium box filled with metallic pebbles, plants and blooms. Also at their place setting was an engraved cutting board with the couple’s initials in a heart. One of the most unique takeaways this couple gave to their guests was their menu cards. At each place setting was a menu card, but it wasn’t your ordinary piece of paper. The menu was printed on wildflower seed paper, which for those with a green thumb, could be taken home and planted to make a lovely garden in the coming years. This garden theme not only lasted the night, but with these thoughtful favours their wedding garden will bloom for years to come.

Congratulations Sara and Daniel! xo

Wedding Day Vendor list

Planning and Event Design: Melissa Andre Events

Wedding Cake and Sweet Table: Nadia & Co.

Catering: The Food Dudes

Suit: Indochino

Gown: Jenny Packham from White Toronto

Invitations and Escort Cards: Paper & Poste

Ceremony Chairs: Chairman Mills

Reception Chairs: Contemporary Furniture Rentals

The post Whimsical Evergreen Brickworks Outdoor Wedding in Toronto appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Some words from the bride about her wedding day:

When Marco and I met on a summer abroad program in Italy at 16. we never would have thought we’d be married someday.  But, after 10 years of dating, Marco proposed in August 2014 on the construction site of our future home.  The next 13 months went by at lightning speed, filled with wedding research vendor appointments dress fittings and marriage classes.  We both wanted our wedding day to be a celebration of our commitment to one another,with personal touches as well as traditions that incorporated our families and Italian heritage.  While we took care of most of the planning, we enlisted the help of Tea for Two events for same day co-ordination to ensure everything ran smoothly and we could enjoy the day without a worry.  The morning of the wedding was shockingly calm.  Marco and I got ready at our parents’ homes along with our bridesmaids and groomsmen and were able to relax before it was time to get ready for the afternoon church ceremony at St.Claire of Assissi in Woodbridge.  The Bridesmaids wore navy blue Ralph Lauren gowns and carried bouquets of white roses wrapped in navy ribbon.  The groomsmen wore navy Hugo suits with black blow ties.  Marco chose a black Prada suit, bow tie and patent leather Salvatore Ferragamo loafers.  I was so excited to put on the dress I’d been dreaming of for months- a vintage inspired beaded Jenny Packham gown – and my custom made earrings, bracelet and hair piece by Tara Fava Jewelry.  My something blue was my pastel pedicure and my something old and borrowed was checked off with a small gold charm of my father’s that was sewn inside my dress.  I remember feeling nervous as I walked down the stairs to see all my family and friends waiting, but as soon as I saw them all, I was overcome with so much happiness.  Although the church was a short distance from my parent’s home the ride there was one of the best parts of the day because my father drove me in his Alfa Romeo Spyder convertible.  He always spoke about wanting to drive me to church on my wedding day and we were both thrilled the weather held up to make it happen.  Before I knew it, Marco ad I were standing at the altar in front of everyone, saying our vows and suddenly the priest announced us as husband and wife.  Loud cheering and applause broke out as we walked out of the church hand in hand as a married couple for the first time.  In the limo ride to our reception venue Cooper Creek Gold Club  we celebrated with a champagne toast.  Although we battled some cloudy and rainy skies as we zipped around in the gold cart to take some photos with the best wedding photographers Mango Studios we had some fun taking shelter under the canopy of trees and with out clear umbrellas.

The day turned into evening and we welcomes 250 family members and friends to celebrate with us.  The best part of the night was when Marco and I stood up on stage and joined the band to perform Michael Jackson to the delight of the crowded dance floor.

The post Toronto Copper Creek Golf Club Wedding featured in Trends Magazine 2016 appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

Everyday we’re inspired, amazed and swept off our feet by beautiful affairs from all over the world and the work of the amazing wedding vendors we work with that make our job easy. This creative was no exceptions.

Hope you enjoy the images!

Big thanks to everyone that collaborated on this shoot:
Creative Producer: One Fine Day
Make-up: Dawna Boot
Hair: Ladylyn Gool
Floral, Furniture and Props: 5th Element
Stationary and Table Menus: Palettera
Cake: Cake Opera Co.
Gowns: Ines Di Santo and Mikael D
Fascinator and Tiara: David Dunkley
Tableware: Chairman Mills
Chairs: Detailz
Decals: Dance Floor Decor

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So many couples these days are opting for wedding packages that offer only the high resolution images on disc with royalty free reprint rights, and no prints or an album.  So what should you do? Instead of taking your images to the pharmacy and printing out all of them on low grade photo paper, look at the images at home carefully, and select the ones you really like and create some awesome art work for your home.

MANGO Resin Art pieces are high-end investment pieces best suited for contemporary loft spaces or condos with high-ceilings. They’re the perfect option for both contemporary and transitional décors. The photograph is mounted on wood and then epoxy wax is poured over the piece, creating a glossy, lavish look and feel. When creating MANGO Resin Art, we recommend choosing large pieces that will make a dramatic impact in your living space. These pieces can be made into one, two or three panels, which makes them ideal for framing a series of photographs. The edges are stained to match the rest of your décor, giving this frame a highly refined, customized appearance.

The post A Great Way to print and Display your wedding Images appeared first on Toronto Wedding Photographers.

When we heard Abbey and Justin wanted to do a farm engagement session this past summer, we jumped at the chance to photograph it! We were so excited to meet with Abbey and Justin this past summer. So, What do you get when you take one very sweet couple, a picturesque farm setting (complete with beautiful horses and a quintessential red barn)… magic!  The two were so comfortable walking through the tall grass, hand in hand, enjoying the beautiful, sunny day at their favourite country escape.  As soon as the forecast calls for sunny and warm weather, we’ve got picnic on the brain. Lazing on grassy lawns, alfresco dining (Aren’t picnic foods are the best?)  An adorable and perfectly planned picnic was made complete with homemade pie, fresh cherries, and a couple of classic cokes for this engagement session.  Abbey and Justin planned the shoot to a “T”  and no details were spared.  I love it when our couples are excited about taking pictures as much as we are. And As if it couldn’t get any sweeter, Abbey and Justin stopped in to feed the family cows just after our little picnic!  Yup,  you heard correctly…. cows in an engagement session and it couldn’t have been more perfect. For someone who is not intimately acquainted with cows, it was a bit intimidating. Cows are pretty big, and for someone not frequently aquatinted with them such as myself they could be a little intimating at first.  But after spending a little time with them, I realized these cows were nothing short of gentle giants who are pretty photogenic might I add.  You may even see some more cow engagement sessions in the near future 😉

All our best to Abbey and Justin and can’t wait to shoot their wedding this year! xo

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