For this Vineland Estates Winery wedding, I connected with Joanna and Matt locally in the Niagara region. More specifically, I met Joanna at the Niagara Wedding Ring Expo. Joanna loved the images I had on display in my wedding albums, and we spent some time discussing her plans for her own wedding. At that point, she didn’t have a location or a date set for the wedding. She had an engagement ring, a man she wanted to marry, and the excitement of starting to plan. And really, isn’t that all you need to begin the wedding planning process?

Joanna+Matt Vineland Estates Winery Wedding

Fast forward a couple of months after my initial meeting with Joanna, and we scheduled a time for me to meet Matt, the groom-to-be. During that meeting, I was able to listen closely—and read between the lines—to gain a sense of what Matt and Joanna truly wanted for their wedding, as well as their concerns about the planning process.

At that point, they still hadn’t chosen a reception venue, but they were certain about having a church ceremony and knew they wanted a winery wedding in the Niagara region. Having attended many weddings as guests, they had a clear sense of what they wanted to replicate—and what they wanted to avoid.

I offered my honest feedback and support without pressuring them to commit to anything right away.

As time went on, Joanna and Matt came back and officially booked me for their wedding at Vineland Estates Winery. In the custom photo collection we built together, they included an engagement session I was really looking forward to.

We ended up having an incredible Cherry Hill Gate engagement session, where we created some unique and personal images that reflected their connection. We used that time not only to celebrate their engagement but also to rehearse for the big day and explore what photography style they liked best.

Matt’s Getting Ready Photos

Since Joanna and Matt chose the option of having only one photographer, we created a timeline that allowed me to photograph both of their getting-ready moments.

Matt was getting ready with his groomsmen at his parents’ house, so I started there first. True to his Italian roots, Matt’s family was focused on food and making sure their guests were well taken care of.

When I arrived, Matt was already dressed and ready for the day, but clearly very nervous. He was determined to make everything perfect for Joanna, anticipating potential issues and trying to solve them before they even happened.

That pressure was building stress, so I made a conscious effort to lighten the mood and capture more fun, relaxed moments to ease the tension in the photos.

His groomsmen were incredibly supportive, helping with whatever he needed, and before long, we had completed all his photos. From there, I made my way to Joanna’s getting-ready location.

Airbnb Getting-Ready Location for this Vineland Estates Winery Wedding

Joanna had chosen a beautiful Airbnb that was perfect for photography. The atmosphere in the house was calm and relaxed. It was also conveniently located very close to the church, which made it easy for me to arrive on time for their ceremony.

I had the chance to photograph the accessories and details Joanna had thoughtfully set aside for me, along with all the candid moments as the girls got ready in the house.

At one point, I took the bridesmaids outside in their matching robes for some cute group photos.

Once Joanna got into her dress, her dad came in for their reveal. I captured this candid and emotional moment before we headed to the church for her first look with Matt.

The First Look Photos at the Church

For Joanna and Matt’s first look photos, they opted to have them taken outdoors at the back of the church property, just before the ceremony. Joanna’s dad drove her to the spot where Matt was already waiting, turned with his back to us.

The weather was perfect—a sunny fall day that lit up the escarpment in vibrant colours, with a bright blue sky and fluffy clouds overhead.

The area behind the church was spacious, giving me plenty of time and room to capture Joanna’s approach. Matt waited, facing away, for nearly 10 minutes. As Joanna got closer, I could see both of their expressions slowly change—nervous, excited, and full of emotion.

When she finally tapped him on the shoulder, it was a heartfelt and quiet moment between them, just minutes before they would say “I do” inside the church.

They read their vows to one another privately, and I stepped back to let them share that time without interruption.

It was one of the most unique first-look locations I’ve photographed, offering complete privacy and the perfect atmosphere for couples to connect and spend a few quiet moments together.

Afterward, Matt headed into the church to greet the guests, while Joanna slipped into a private room to wait for the ceremony to begin.

The Church Wedding Ceremony in Stoney Creek

The church was beautiful and spacious, decorated with a lovely fall theme—pumpkins and lit candles lined the aisle from the pews all the way to the altar.

While I was setting up my lighting, one of the church helpers approached me and informed me that flash photography was not allowed inside the church. This caught me by surprise, as Matt and Joanna hadn’t mentioned anything about that restriction. I went to speak with the priest for clarification, and he confirmed it, simply saying he doesn’t like flash, with no further explanation.

Not wanting to create any conflict, I packed up my lighting gear and decided to photograph the entire ceremony in a fully documentary style, without using flash.

I didn’t let this unexpected change affect my excitement for the day. Instead, I focused on capturing the ceremony as it naturally unfolded.

It was actually the first time I photographed a full church ceremony without flash, so I made sure to be extra mindful of every moment, aiming to produce the best images possible—ones I could bring to life in post-production.

The wedding ceremony for this Vineland Estates Winery wedding ended with a large group photo outside the church, followed by a small cocktail reception held in the church’s reception area.

Photo Sessions at this Niagara Winery

Arriving at Vineland Estates Winery, I realized I had passed by this location many times on my way to Lincoln Estates, where I’m the preferred photographer. I was excited to finally explore what Vineland Estates could offer in terms of photo opportunities and the overall experience for my clients.

I set up my equipment right away, knowing I wouldn’t have time to do it later, and then rushed outside to capture the couple’s arrival.

As we began taking family photos, Matt’s best man struck up a conversation with one of the winery guests, who happened to be driving a Ferrari. Since Matt’s last name is Ferrari, the best man jokingly asked the guests if the couple could take a few photos with their car. The guest’s wife was more than happy to agree, and I was able to capture some incredible shots of the newlyweds with the Ferrari, complete with actual Ferrari sunglasses. What a perfect match.

As the session continued, we made our way through all the key photo spots on the property, capturing unique moments and creating a fun, memorable experience.

After the bridal party wrapped up their photos, the three of us—Joanna, Matt, and I—headed to the vineyards for a few more shots before going into the winery’s interior and shop area, where I captured some of my favourite images of the day.

But I saved the best for last. Joanna had specifically requested photos in the wine cellar, so we made our way downstairs. What an incredible space—it opened up into a beautifully arranged, atmospheric cellar with endless photo possibilities.

I took so many photos there that by the time we finished, there was nothing left to photograph—except our final nighttime shots to close out the day.

An Intimate Reception Dinner

With some time left before dinner, I returned Joanna and Matt to their guests so they could enjoy the rest of the cocktail celebration.

The Carriage House, their reception space for the evening, was small, intimate, and perfectly suited to their needs. Decorated with their signature pumpkins, the head table was tastefully arranged by the decorators.

During our timeline planning call, Joanna had expressed concern about the four air conditioning units mounted on the walls of the reception room. She asked whether I could avoid photographing them or at least minimize their appearance in the images. Keeping that in mind, I made sure to frame my shots carefully, knowing I could remove any visible units during post-processing if needed.

As the reception began, the whole setting felt warm, cozy, and family-oriented, like an intimate family dinner celebrating the love between two people. I focused on capturing the joyful, candid moments as they happened, all while noticing the full moon rising outside the reception space.

Not wanting to miss that beautiful moonlit backdrop, I asked Joanna and Matt if we could step outside for a few nighttime photos in front of the reception area and around the winery grounds. Once again, we created some breathtaking images that perfectly rounded out their Vineland Estates Winery wedding.

Great Connection for Amazing Photos

As we wrapped up, I could see the appreciation in Joanna and Matt’s eyes. They were genuinely thankful for the time we spent together and for all the photos we created—and truthfully, I felt exactly the same.

The connection we built, along with the open and thoughtful communication throughout, led to a truly memorable experience and a beautiful collection of photos that will last for years to come.

Thank you, Joanna and Matt, for your trust and for choosing such amazing locations for your wedding photos.

It was an honour to be part of your pumpkin-themed fall Vineland Estates Winery wedding.

Credits to below wedding professionals and locations that helped Joanna and Matthew’s wedding to be one-of-a-kind.

Here is another vineyard wedding. In the blog post Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery wedding with traditional Serbian twist with Claire and Andrew.