Laura and Matthew’s Toronto church wedding was a wonderful mix of unique downtown Toronto locations. The day began with getting ready at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel, followed by an intimate first look at Harbour Square Park East, the park just beside the hotel. For their bridal party and family portraits, we made our way to Kew Gardens, and then finished at 1871 Berkeley Event for the wedding ceremony, reception dinner, and party photos. Even though all the spots were in downtown Toronto, arriving at each one—and finding parking—was an adventure of its own.

The Beginning of This Toronto Church Wedding

Laura and Matt chose to get ready and have some of their photos taken in their rooms at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel in downtown Toronto. I was photographing on my own up until the first look, when Salina, the second photographer, joined us for the rest of the day.

Taking photos in a hotel setting can be very creative, as long as there’s enough time and the rooms offer sufficient space for photography. Thankfully, Laura’s premier suite was spacious, with a separate room and a studio-like space. In one area, the hairstyling and makeup were set up, while in the other, everything was arranged for my detail shots. Walking into a setup like this was truly a treat and gave me the perfect start.

Until then, I had only met Laura briefly at our local Toronto wedding show many months earlier, so this was the first time we had the chance to connect in person. Her bridesmaids were incredibly helpful, which made my work even easier.

After reviewing their wedding questionnaire, I learned that Laura and Matt preferred candid photos. With this in mind, I focused on capturing natural moments without giving much direction, only encouraging posed shots when absolutely necessary. The room gave me endless opportunities to be creative, and I didn’t waste any time deciding what to photograph.

The Groomsmen’s Morning at Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto

After I finished most of the photos with Laura and the bridesmaids, I headed over to the boys’ room. The contrast between the two spaces perfectly reflected the difference between the bridesmaids and the groomsmen. Their room was smaller and a bit messier, but everyone was ready and waiting for me.

The limited space didn’t allow for much creativity, but I was still able to capture some candid shots of the final touches, along with a few moments of Matt’s parents when they arrived at their son’s room. After making plans with Matt for the first look and arranging a spot for him to wait before heading to the location, I returned to Laura’s room to complete the getting-ready photos.

By then, everything was finished, and Laura was ready to get into her dress. Her mom helped her zip it up while I stepped back to let them share a quiet moment together—one filled with the realization that her little girl was about to walk down the aisle and get married.

Toronto Church Wedding First-look Photos

Although the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel offered some great spots for a first look, Laura and Matt preferred to be outside, where it would feel more intimate and less crowded. The closest option was Harbour Square Park East, a small park across from the hotel near the ferry terminal entrance.

I walked with Matt to position him while Salina stayed back with Laura, waiting for my signal to bring her over. Once everything was ready, I knew their first look would be quick, so we prepared to capture plenty of candid moments afterward for their Toronto church wedding. Keeping a distance, as the space allowed, we were able to photograph some truly unique candid shots of that intimate moment.

Rather than losing time travelling to other spots, we used their walk back to the hotel for additional candid photos, occasionally stopping near trees or structures to create a few different looks in the area. When we finished, I escorted the couple back to the hotel and then headed to my car.

I was feeling stressed because I still needed to find parking at Kew Gardens, where spaces were very limited. It was a sunny mid-July day, and many locals were out enjoying the nearby Lake Ontario beaches that are part of Kew Gardens. After a long drive and some searching, I finally found a single available spot, parked, and made my way to the park area.

The Photo Session at Kew Gardens in Toronto

When I arrived at the front of the park, I learned that the bus carrying the bridal party and parents had broken down. Everyone scrambled to get an Uber so they could still make it on time. Knowing how stressful that must have been, I didn’t bring it up—instead, I immediately started photographing. At that point, only Matt and the groomsmen had arrived on time.

We used the extra time to create some creative shots of the guys, something we hadn’t had the space or opportunity for back at the hotel. Soon after, everyone else began to arrive, and we moved straight into immediate family photos. Once those were finished, I gathered the bridal party, and we headed deeper into the park. Salina worked with the groomsmen while I photographed the bridesmaids, and together we completed all of the bridal party photos.

Since Laura and Matt preferred more candid moments, we captured some unposed images as their attention began to shift toward the upcoming wedding ceremony. Not wanting to risk them running late, we wrapped up our coverage there, and I headed off to our final location—the stunning 1871 Berkeley Church Event Space.

The Wedding Ceremony at 1871 Berkeley Events

The day I found out I’d be photographing at 1871 Berkeley Church in Toronto, I couldn’t wait to see what this incredible venue had to offer. After setting up my lights and capturing the beautiful décor in the lower part of the church, I headed upstairs to the second floor, where the wedding ceremony was about to begin.

The space was unorthodox, with both its pros and cons, but I was ready to adapt to whatever the setting required. As I ran through possible scenarios in my head, the ceremony began. Large windows flooded the space with natural light, beautifully backlighting the moment Laura and Matt met to begin their vows. Photographing in such a unique environment was refreshing, and I truly enjoyed every part of it.

As the ceremony took place, wedding planner Joline Christiani from Pure Dutch Weddings actively set up the reception area to ensure everything was perfect. Once the vows concluded, I remained upstairs to capture extended family portraits. At the same time, Salina covered the cocktail hour in the garden and the underground level of the church. She also photographed the reception details, which were stunningly styled by Vintage Bash, complete with gorgeous floral arrangements.

The large MR & MRS letters stood prominently on the stage behind the head table, creating a perfect backdrop that complemented the church’s vintage interior and enhanced the overall atmosphere.

Berkeley Church Reception Dinner and Party

Setting up my lighting on the second floor brought a sense of relief for several reasons. Most importantly, I was able to put away my tripods, avoiding any risk of guests tripping over them and reducing the need to edit them out later for a clean background. The setup also added to my creativity, giving me the option to photograph from a higher vantage point—either zooming in to focus on the couple or pulling back for wide shots that showcased the entire setup and atmosphere of the space.

We enjoyed an excellent dinner at our vendor table, and after Selina left, I focused on documenting the evening in a more candid, energetic style. Following the final speeches and the couple’s first dance, the floor opened and the guests quickly filled it, ready to celebrate with music and dancing. Immersing myself right in the middle of the action, I was able to capture unique photos that told the full story of this incredible couple and their celebration.

Later in the evening, Laura changed into a shorter party dress, allowing her to join in and enjoy the dancing just as much as everyone else—yet another wonderful highlight of their Toronto church wedding.

The Creative Nighttime Photos at Berkeley Church

As the night went on, I wanted to give this wonderful couple a unique perspective of their Toronto church wedding at 1871 Berkeley Church. The front of the church looked beautiful, but the street was busy and filled with cars, which made it challenging to capture the photos I had envisioned.

I stepped outside and spoke with two security guards about my idea. It turned out that two of the cars parked directly in front of the church belonged to them. That’s when it clicked—I could use the roof of one of the cars as a reflective surface to block out the distractions while positioning the couple in front of the church doors. The security team moved one car and positioned the other perfectly for me to set up the shot.

Once everything was ready, I went inside and asked Laura and Matt to step out for some quick photos. They were happy to join me. Since all the setup was already done, I was able to create some fantastic night shots that became a true signature of their Toronto church wedding.

Thank you, Laura and Matt, for choosing such an incredible venue and for trusting me to capture your Berkeley Church wedding in a creative way.

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

Here is another celebration with amazing city vibe. In the blog post Elegant Hotel X Wedding: Toronto most modern wedding venue, with Sandra and Paul.