Shadi & Michael | Arta Gallery, Distillery District

Wedding Rings Being a Toronto Wedding Photographer, I am often surprised at how many different wedding venues there actually are in Toronto.  A popular site for engagement photography and wedding photography is the Distillery District.  Shadi & Michael’s wedding was held at the Arta Gallery  just inside the Distillery District.  Their wedding consisted of a traditional civil ceremony mixed with a Persian Wedding Ceremony complete with the  Sofreye Aghd (or spelled Sofreh Aghd). (For a glimpse at Shadi & Michael’s engagement session at McMaster University, click here) We started out at the King Edward Hotel in Downton Toronto.  What a beautiful spot, so regal and elegant.  Shadi’s room was gorgeous and had beautiful light streaming through the windows!  Perfect for getting-ready, wedding day photos. Toronto Wedding Bouquet wedding shoes Persian Wedding The bride was absolutely radiant, as she got ready for her wedding day… Toronto Wedding Photographer, Mississauga Wedding Photography, Woodbridge Wedding, Arta Gallery Wedding Photographs, Distillery District Engagement Session Distillery District Wedding, Arta Gallery Wedding photography, Toronto Wedding, Mississauga Wedding Photography Toronto wedding photographer, Mississauga wedding photography, Woodbridge Wedding, Arta Gallery, Distillery District Wedding Once the dress went on though, even more gorgeous! Shadi looked absolutely stunning! Bridal Portraits Arta Gallery Wedding Photography Wedding Photographer in Toronto Toronto Wedding Photography Wedding Dress Toronto Wedding Dress Shadi’s mom couldn’t take her eyes off her daughter…You could just see and feel the pride she has in her. Mother and daughter wedding photography Distillery District Wedding Photographer King Edward Hotel Lobby We hopped into the limo waiting outside to take us to the wedding ceremony… Wedding Limo Bridal wedding portrait Shadi’s beloved Michael was inside, hanging with the boys, looking calm and relaxed and trying to figure out how to tie his best man’s shoes no less! Arta Gallery Wedding Photography and once the shoes were figured out, he started helping the boys with their pocket hankies. Must be the engineering side to him, wanting to fix all the “difficult” problems his grooms men were having that day! Shadi & Michael were married, surrounded by loving family and friends. Persian Wedding Toronto Persian Wedding Ceremony Toronto Persian Wedding The Sofreh Aghd was a gorgeous spread decorated with pastries, fruits, nuts, honey, sugar and of course a gorgeous mirror and the Holy book… Sofreh Aghd Toronto Sofreh Aghd Mirror After the ceremony we wandered around the Distillery District, trying to keep warm.  I don’t think Shadi and Michael had a problem with this at all, rightfully so, they couldn’t keep their hands off of each other!   Winter Wedding Photography When we couldn’t take the cold anymore, we headed back to the Arta Gallery to get the reception started. To end the night a brother-brother dance off started and everyone got involved…I don’t judge the dance moves, I just photograph them 😉 Arta Gallery Wedding Reception Shadi & Michael, I can’t tell you what a pleasure it was to photograph your special day.  The love you two share is really inspiring.  Thank you for letting me be a part of it! Distillery District Wedding photographs

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  • Shahrzad

    Thank you Elaine,

    Once more you did a great job. Shadi and Michael, their love and their beautifulness are wonderful but you showed them very artistically too. I enjoyed a lot of pictures and reviewed them many many and many times. They saved every moment of wedding with all feelings on them very well and sustained them forever.

  • Great Wedding images. Love the mood and feelings that these images give to me, very sentimental and loving. Nice work.

Favourite Superbowl Commercial – Leon Sandcastle

SUPERBOWL 2013 COMMERCIALS

Ok, so I admit it, even though my favourite team didn’t make the superbowl “Go Bills Go” (anyway I can put that in a really small font???) I still watched the Superbowl! I decided before the game started that I was cheering on the Ravens (Sorry San Fran). We were a dominantly Ravens fan household for the Superbowl 2013, it was 3 against 1. One of the draw backs to watching the game in Canada is you don’t get to see the really awesome million dollar/30 second commercials (or however much it costs, all I know is I can’t afford it!)  So for those of you in the same boat as me, I thought I would put a tiny compilation of the much viewed Superbowl 2013 commercials.

So I end up watching the commercials on TSN the next day.  The only commercial I saw that was even remotely Superbowl worthiness was Psy’s Pistachio Nut commercial, cause really, the guy fits right into a Nut commercial.  Here is Psy’s Gangnam Style Pistachio Nut Commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fnSTxtVMXkI

Beating out Paul Rudd & Seth Grogan (sorry didn’t get it, I mean I get it, but why?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5ae7E8J7h7Y

and also besting Taco Bell’s “Live Mas” Commercial (another commercial I could have done without)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KvxZcULxfKw

Or this sappy Budweiser commercial, which really just makes me mad at Budweiser for carting away the guy’s horse!! WHYYYY Budweiser??? WHY????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=o2prAccclXs

My fave, handsdown commercial of the Raven’s vs San Francisco Superbowl 2013 commercials  has to go to….(Drumroll please)

Leon Sandcastle.  A commercial regarding the NFL combine and draft for 2013.

 

“Did I play football?!?!? …PLEASE!”

What was your favourite Superbowl 2013 commercial?

 

 

 

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  • Melissa

    Oh my goodness that Leon Sandcastle commercial is hilarious!!

A Disney Wedding – Tanya & Frank

Boardwalk Inn Disney Wedding Photography by Best Toronto Wedding Photographer

About a year ago, I met Tanya and Frank over a coffee to discuss their upcoming wedding. Just like every other meeting, I packed up my album samples and new client questionnaire, and made the trek to Starbucks! (I love meeting at Starbucks, but that’s a different post all together!) Little did I know what was in store for me! A wedding in Orlando just outside of Disney! Ummm…”HECK YA” was my answer before Tanya & Frank even asked me too! Thank goodness they did, and one year later, I found myself sitting beside Tanya and Frank (and Frank’s mom) on my way to Orlando to photograph their wedding, leaving the cold climate of Toronto!

We arrived in Orlando to hot hot weather.  But just like Toronto weather has become unpredictable, Orlando weather came crashing down about an hour after I arrived! It was almost like I brought the cold with me, packed away in my neat little suitcase, all the way from Toronto Pearson Airport!  I arrived at the Pop Century hotel, took a quick nap, showered then quickly headed out the door in my shorts and t-shirt, only to turn back around almost as fast and head back into my room. BRRRRR! I put on my jeans, a sweatshirt, and yes, I admit it, my winter coat! It was that cold!! The wind had picked up and the cold air had come blowing in.    I took one of the Disney buses to Downtown Disney and walked around for awhile enjoying the “disney-eque” of it all!

But I was there for a much grander plan! The wedding of Tanya and Frank, and what a wedding it was.  TRULY!   Tanya and Frank were married in the Boardwalk gazebo off the water at Seabreeze Point on a Saturday morning in January.  Thank goodness the weather came around, because it turned out to be a spectacular day!

Here’s Frank:

Toronto Wedding Photographer

and his handsome entourage…

Disney Wedding Photographer Orlando Florida

and his very cute entourage…

Boardwalk Inn Wedding Photography
(The little one in the middle broke into a toe tapping nervous dance every time the camera was on him! It was the cutest thing! Here he is trying to hold it in, but have no fear, I did capture some toe tapping moments!)

And now the bride…Tanya was absolutely radiant, gorgeous…there just aren’t words.  Frank asked me before the wedding, “how does she look?” And I just shook my head and said…”Beautiful!”

Toronto Wedding Photographer

TOLD YOU!

Wedding Dress

Tanya carried a gorgeous brooch bouquet.

Brooch Bouquet

Her beautiful bridesmaids!

Bridesmaid_Dresses

And of course her so sweet flower girls!

Boardwalk Inn Disney Wedding Photography

We wandered over to Disney’s Boardwalk Gazebo at Seabreeze Point where the groom waited in anticipation.   I can’t help but love the look on Frank’s face here, waiting…wondering, soaking it all in.

Wedding Ceremony Seabreeze point Boardwalk Gazebo

Waiting for his bride to arrive…

Seabreeze Point Disney wedding

Ceremony wedding photography

After the ceremony, we just strolled along the boardwalk.   I can’t tell you how beautiful the Boardwalk Inn really is!  It’s got a definite old-world Victorian Charm to it.

Boardwalk Inn Wedding Photography

 

Seabreeze Boardwalk Inn Wedding Photography

 

Disney Boardwalk Inn Wedding Photography

 

Disney Boardwalk Inn Wedding Photography

We were then off  to an afternoon reception.  Which I must say, was such a great idea!! Especially if you have kids there, Tanya and Frank’s reception started at 12 and ended at 4pm.  There was a full course meal, with speeches and dancing.  Everything you would have in a traditional reception, except in the afternoon! I loved the idea!  We had a special guest stop by the reception, and just like Disney promises, he brought out the kid in everyone!! There was such a loud scream as Mickey entered the room…Let’s just say Mickey Rocked it out “Gangnam Style”

Mickey Mouse Disney Wedding

After the reception, we all journeyed back to the Pop Century while Tanya and Frank headed to their new digs as newlyweds (The Grand Floridian), but we weren’t done yet! A few hours later we boarded a bus to meet up with Frank and Tanya at Epcot Centre for a private Dessert party overlooking Epcot’s Firework show! I wasn’t allowed to take photos of guests at this party, as Disney had their own team of photographers there, but I did take some beautiful shots of fireworks!

Disney Fireworks

Once fireworks were over we had some fun on the boardwalk at night.  Tanya brought her game face for the amusement park style games they have along the boardwalk…I think Frank may have dropped the ball on the watergun race? Frank the target is in front of you!!

Tanya & Frank, what an absolutely perfect wedding.  I am sure it was everything you dreamed it would be and more! Thank you for letting me be a part of it!  Mickey has left the building…

 

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  • Beautiful clarity and rich colours in your photos……and Mickey Mouse 🙂

  • nice wedding photographs

  • I love the opening image, the composition, the use of empty space, her look. Great image!

  • How wonderful. A wedding at Disneyworld. You have done an awesome job capturing the romance and also the fun of the day. Now that is the sort of wedding I would love to be at. Well done.
    Carol

  • Really lovely work .. nice compositions

  • Michelle D

    Check out Tanya and Franks wedding! Congratulations :))

  • Wow, what a funtastic wedding, beautifully captured…you did a great job using the setting to create elegant photos without them being overly cliche. I thought the inclusion of the last photo with Mickey was a perfect finale, well done.

  • Very nice.Wow, beautiful!