Found for St. Catharines Wedding Photography
Hydee and Wislaire were an interesting couple to work with. We were connected by a mutual acquaintance, Howard, with whom I had worked on a number of short films throughout the years. When he heard that his friend, Wislaire, was getting married and searching for a Toronto wedding photographer, he suggested that I touch with Wislaire. And so it began… :-)
I spoke with Wislaire by phone because he was living in Ottawa at the time. He told me that his fiançé—who was studying in Australia—had entrusted him with finding and vetting a Toronto wedding photographer. A few days after our conversation, it was time for me to speak with Hydee. We spoke for about thirty minutes, during which I explained the benefits documentary wedding photography has over the more typical approach. Needless to say, she entrusted me with photographing their wedding.
Driving to St. Catharines
Fast forward a few months and I find myself driving to St. Catharines through Friday morning rush-hour traffic on the Queen Elizabeth Way. As stated in the previous post, a Toronto wedding photographer can never be too careful when considering unforeseen congestion into their travel plans. That said, I typically arrive one hour to half-hour early. Not only does this provide me with a much-needed buffer against unexpected delays, but it also gives me time to talk to the wedding planner, get up-to-date on the day’s schedule, and properly don my equipment (trust me, it’s an art!).
The bride and groom were staying in separate hotels a few hundred metres apart. I had photographed Wislaire and his family first and then headed over to document Hydee’s preparations. She was staying at the lovely White Oaks Resort & Spa. Whether by chance or intention, Hydee and her makeup artist were positioned perfectly by a large window, allowing me to take some stunning bridal preparation photographs. When she was ready, I ran to my car and followed the wedding procession to the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria, where the ceremony took place. As the guests made their way to wherever guests go between the ceremony and the reception, Hydee, Wislaire, their family, and I headed over to Queenston Heights National Historic Site for family portraits.
After getting the formalities out of the way, everyone headed back to White Oaks, and that’s when the real fun began. The misteress of ceremonies was delightful. The DJ turned out some amazing beats. There was great food, great fun, and most importantly, great people. I hope they’ll treasure the memories for many years to come.
P.S. I forgot to mention that we’ve now become friends. Hydee and my girlfriend really kicked it off. :-)
