Michelle & Adrian’s wedding at the Steam Whistle Brewery in downtown Toronto was one of the more memorable experiences I had as a wedding photographer in 2021, and considering how amazing of a year I had, that’s definitely saying something.
I got to know these two quite intimately leading up to their wedding day, spending time with them (and their pup) in their home, tasting some exotic tequila and wine before exploring their surrounding neighbourhood, it was an amazing ice breaker and created a genuine friendship between us that brought forth a level of trust and comfort that is so integral to the work I do as a photographer. (If you wanna check out the resulting photos from our hangouts just CLICK HERE to check out our adventures - serves as a great introduction at just how cool and stylish this bride and groom are in their every-day life and not just on their wedding day).
Back to this incredible wedding day that was kick started with a casual hangout at Michelle’s brides maids’ house while Adrian and his life-long boys hung out smoking sheesha in their hotel room listening to Drake’s new album “Certified Lover Boy” as it just dropped a few days earlier. The vibe and tone for the afternoon was set and the bride and groom were scheduled to meet at the historical Union Station in downtown Toronto for their first look and to knock out a few photos before heading to Steam Whistle for their wedding ceremony and reception.
Looking back through the images, it’s impossible not to smile and feel absolutely wholesome seeing the cheer joy and emotion on Adrian’s face when he set eyes on Michelle for the first time. Naturally, Michelle looked breathtaking, rocking a beautifully simple and elegant dress that was both modern and stylish, an incredibly perfect find at Loversland, one of my favourite bridal boutiques in Toronto. As I mentioned above and evidence of our first shoot together, Michelle and Adrian have an aura of effortless coolness, style that is genuine and true to who they are and they didn’t stray away from that for their wedding day looks. Combine that with the beautiful light and grandiose scenery of union station and you got yourself one hell of a recipe for timeless wedding photos.
Steam Whistle Brewery set the stage for the wedding but it’s the smaller handmade details that truly brought everything together in a way that was elegant and uniquely Michelle & Adrian. The bride having a knack for design and creative aesthetic created A LOT of things for the wedding; invitations, seating chart, table numbers, place cards, signage and even the cool modern ceremony backdrop, yes, that’s right, the bride made all those things herself and those details were incredibly thoughtful and memorable. Although I’m sure tackling such a task is arduous, Michelle told us she genuinely loved having a direct hand in those elements of her wedding and as far as I’m concerned, the hard work paid off as everyone in attendance spoke highly about the small details, most not even realizing that the bride was the creator.
There’s no denying that the ceremony was beautiful and sincere, the bride and groom exchanged personal and hand-written vows, prompting a few tears as both vows had a message deeply rooted in values and retrospection on the journey before their arrival in that very moment in time. As someone who was deeply entrenched in writing my entire life, I always have a fond appreciation for couples who can muster the willpower to write out how they feel and have the courage to then look their partner in the eye while revisiting those deep thoughts. It’s something I’ve always fond poetic in and of itself and seeing Michelle and Adrian exchange heartfelt words hit different and reminded me how much I enjoy that moment during a wedding ceremony.
As great as the ceremony was, the highlight of this wedding was undoubtably the reception and ensuing party. Both the bride and groom held their friends and family in high regards and after dealing with a tough pandemic year, it was a priority for Michelle and Adrian to throw the party of all parties. But, before people put their party hats on and before people went extra hard on the dance floor the guests in attendance were treating to the most incredible set of speeches that sprinkle a bit of sentiment and a lot of Comedy Central style roasting. A few embarrassing childhood photos made their rounds and the uproar of laughter could probably be heard at the neighbouring Roger’s Centre. I’ll let the photos of those moments speak for themselves and I won’t spoil anything here, but it’s certainly worth scrolling down for, I promise.
The atmosphere and ambiance were electric, the dance floor didn’t have a chance to recover because it was constantly in use, people living their best lives and in honour of Michelle and Adrian’s love. There are few places in the city where throwing an epic party like this is matched by the surroundings, but Steam Whistle offers up a cool space while being in view of the most iconic elements of downtown Toronto, it’s pretty much impossible to not be a in party mood when the vibrancy of the city is right at your helm, in plain sight from beginning to end. I wanted to make sure that within all the chaos of the evening that the bride and groom still got to enjoy a few quiet moments together, and what better time to do that then when the sun goes down and the bright city lights create an unmatched energy that was seeping through the bride and groom’s veins. There was something cinematic, romantic and beautiful about Michelle and Adrian living in the moment, beneath the moonlight. It was cool, natural and it led to some of my favourite images of the entire day.
Look, there’s a reason I had Michelle and Adrian over for dinner recently, we’re legitimately like minded, two pairs with similar outlooks on life, similar aesthetics and mentalities, it’s been beyond cool to connect with them and be part of their wedding day. I look forward to future hangouts where we eat great asian food and sip on unusual wines, I mean, what other small pleasures in life can bring friends such joy?
Anyway, enjoy this incredible wedding and hopefully you can live vicariously through these images.
Song of the day - Life Of The Party (with André 3000) by Kanye West, André 3000
