I met Laura and Phil in Mississauga, at a cute little coffee shop. Immediately I could feel how kind and welcoming they are, and felt so comfortable with them. Most of my work that they had previously seen showcased candid shots, and was a way of telling a story which is the style they wanted for their Malaparte wedding in Toronto. After our initial meeting, we agreed to meet a couple of weeks later to take their engagement pictures at Bronte Creek in Oakville, where they frequent to walk their dog. Sophie is such a big part of their lives, they decided to include her in the engagement shoot. We had such a fun time with their fur baby, and getting her to pose for shots.

Laura and Phil moved to Oakville from Ottawa for job opportunities, but they have friends and family all over the world so it was very important for them to pick a location for their wedding that was elegant in downtown Toronto to showcase the best the city has to offer. The Malaparte rooftop complete captured their hearts with its breathtaking views of the city, and as soon as they saw it they knew it was the place for their wedding.

Both Laura and Phil wanted to capture all moments of their special day – from getting ready to the very last guests at their reception. We started with pictures of them getting ready, and all the moments they each shared with their wedding party. On the rooftop, we had arranged to do a first look shot before the ceremony started. The moment Phil laid eyes on Laura you could tell how much they loved each other, and how this day was so important to them. Laura’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Phil, and Phil just could not stop smiling. Following their first look pictures, the wedding party moved a couple blocks down to an area with more green space for a different look.

Summers in Ontario can get really hot and humid, so sometimes it’s a risk to have an outdoor wedding where your guests will still enjoy it without being uncomfortable and miserable. Luckily, the Malaparte rooftop had a tent for the ceremony so the guests could remain comfortable but the tent was open on the one side so it was kind of like the best of both worlds. Laura and Phil were married with the Toronto skyline in the background, and it could not have been more perfect.

Following the ceremony, there was a beautiful cocktail hour and reception. All of the guests were taking photos with the bride and groom, with the skyline in the background. The reception was crisp and clean, with a very modern décor theme to it. The tablecloths were a fresh white, and the centerpieces featured rich coloured flowers. The floor to ceiling windows gave a great view of the city as guests enjoyed their dinner.

About five minutes before sunset, I was able to sneak away with the bride and groom to get a special photo shoot as the sun was going down with the Toronto skyline in the background. As the night went on, guests enjoyed the Malaparte dance floor and the sweets table. Everyone had so much fun, and the bride and groom got the perfect candid pictures telling the story of their love on their big day.