Bride and groom approach the dining room.

Toronto Wedding Photographer at Sleepy Hollow Country Club

One of the perks of being a Toronto wedding photographer is the great food we’re treated to at the weddings we photograph. If you’re a foodie and love photography, you should give your current job serious reconsideration, because wedding photography may be your true calling. Just kidding! I rarely get the time to truly savour the experience; the nature of my work means that I’m constantly looking out for the next captivating moment. In such a context the food becomes a delicious way to quickly refuel for the rest of the night.

Keeping with the topic of food, I would like to introduce you to Ally and Chris. Their wedding last year had a novel and refreshing approach to the wedding dining experience: a delicious buffet cooked up by the fine kitchen at Sleepy Hollow Country Club.

My day started shortly after noon, when I drove out to meet the bride at the Aurora salon and spa at which she was preparing. They had booked the entire facility for her entourage of bridesmaids and family. After finishing up with the ladies, I drove over to the Hilton where the groom and his men were preparing. They were booked in the “presidential suite”, a large and well-appointment hotel room. There was plenty of natural and artificial light, as well many opportunities for creative framing. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

I followed the brigade to Sleepy Hollow. The groomsmen were ushering guests towards the terrace where the ceremony would take place. As the guests were taking their seats, I surveyed the immediate grounds for a unique angle. My goal was to avoid taking the same pictures as last week’s wedding photographer. This is always my goal, but there is a very fine distinction between avoiding the ordinary and being too avant-garde with your approach. The images need to have a sense of novelty while maintaining the good taste and sensibility that photography at a wedding deserves. I found just the angle from an area beyond the trellis that dropped towards the golf course. The position provided me with a great view of the proceedings while minimizing, if not completely nullifying, my presence to both the bride and groom and their guests.

After the ceremony was complete and Ally, Chris, and their witnesses signed the marriage documents, the guests dispersed and the fun commenced. There were plenty of drink, hors d’oeuvre, and jovial chatter. This continued for the rest of the evening. The self-serve buffet encouraged many conversations as guests formed lines leading to the gastronomic delights.

As the night was drawing to a close and I was packed to leave, I decided to take a breather before driving out. I went for short stroll along the path surrounding the golf course. The air was heavy with humidity and must’ve attenuated the noise from the party behind me, because it quickly became very quiet and very creepy. The silence turned into an eerie soundtrack as I approached a small depression that was overgrown with cattails. I’m not familiar with the terminology of musical instruments and sound, but I would describe the sound as a mixture of low cords on a banjo and a didgeridoo. I figured I was near a knot of toads. Never a dull day being a Toronto wedding photographer.

The collection below features some of my favourite photographs from the day. I hope you enjoy them.

Requisite bow-tie shot.

Cheers!

Closing doors.

Birdeyes view of Hilton lobby.

Smooches!

Bride and groom, first dance.