Backyard ceremony/Downtown Reception
From a rain-soaked backyard ceremony, to a candlelit dinner party at one of their favourite Toronto restaurants
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Annabel and Jean-Luc’s wedding day was the perfect reminder that the most meaningful celebrations are often the ones rooted deeply in personal history. Held at Annabel’s childhood home, their intimate backyard wedding in Toronto was emotional, intentional, and entirely reflective of who they are together. With her parents preparing to sell the house, it was incredibly important to Annabel that this chapter of her life was woven into the story of their wedding day—and you could feel that significance in every moment.
The couple first met at The Artful Dodger, a pool bar in downtown Toronto, and their wedding carried that same effortless, lived-in feeling, perfectly captured by that end of summer heat. They knew there was a storm coming, but Annabel and Jean-Luc embraced "It is what it is" mindset perfectly.
Before the outdoor ceremony (when most of their guests would be arriving), they held a traditional tea ceremony in the living room surrounded by only immediate family and their elders. Annabel wore a borrowed red gown, adorned beautifully with gold embellishments, adding another layer of sentimentality and tradition to the day. As guests arrived, Annabel and Jean-Luc said some quick hellos before Annabel popped back upstairs and changed into a full lace gown complete with a veil and blusher for the outdoor ceremony—another elegant look that fit the garden setting perfectly— and as if by magic, the rain stopped and the sun briefly broke through the clouds, meaning everyone was hustled outside to help towel off the rain covered chairs. Luckily the rain held off long enough, allowing Annabel and Jean-Luc to exchange their vows in the whimsical backyard garden her parents had spent months planting and tending leading up to the wedding. The garden felt lush, romantic, and tucked away from the suburbs surrounding it, with pastel floral arrangements scattered throughout. Annabel's father walked her down the aisle, and her and Jean-Luc read their personal vows to each other as their mothers both co-officiated. After the ceremony and completing some portraits with their guests in the garden, I hurried to the upstairs balcony to grab a group portrait of the couple with all their guests, before sneaking to the front garden for a quiet moment of the bride and groom under the plum trees. And of course, the rain began again just as we were finishing, so naturally we hustled inside to dry off. Annabel changed again into her vintage customized, pale pink sequin dress, before sharing a celebratory bottle of champagne with their families.
One of my favourite parts of the day was when Annabel and Jean-Luc held back as guests headed to downtown and shared a private first dance (or two) together in the foyer of her parents’ home, a quiet moment that perfectly reflected their connection with each other. Afterwards, they headed to join their guests at The Constantine for a cosy dinner reception tucked away in the restaurant’s secluded back room. Surrounded by warm candlelight, modern architecture, and trendy artwork, guests shared plates and conversations in a setting that felt more like an intimate dinner party than a traditional wedding reception, just the way the couple wanted it. And in true Annabel and Jean-Luc fashion, the night ended with karaoke alongside their closest friends and family—something they’ve loved doing together throughout their relationship.
Photographing their wedding on both digital and 35mm film felt especially fitting for a day so rooted in memory, texture, and emotion. I loved documenting all of the unique and personal sentiments woven throughout their wedding day—a perfect blend of tradition and non-traditional celebration, centred entirely around the people, places, and moments that mattered most to them.
