Sarah and Mike’s Edgewater Manor wedding photos capture a documentary-style celebration set against Lake Ontario, featuring an emotional outdoor ceremony, intimate sunset portraits, and a rare fireworks display during late sunset and early twilight. As one of the few venues permitted to host fireworks, Edgewater Manor provided an unobstructed lakeview backdrop for signature nighttime images, perfectly balancing natural light, fireworks, and candid emotion. This blog highlights how a storytelling approach, minimal posing, and expert lighting create timeless wedding photos—from getting ready through the fireworks finale and guest-filled exit walk.

As a preferred photographer for Edgewater Manor in Stoney Creek, I have the privilege of working with many couples who are referred to me by the venue, and I am very thankful for those opportunities.

At the same time, with that privilege comes the responsibility to deliver exactly what my couples want and need from their wedding photos.

It’s fair to say that no two of my Edgewater Manor couples ever have the same expectations or requests when it comes to photography, which makes each wedding unique and rewarding, while also carrying the responsibility of ensuring my work aligns with their individual styles and expectations.

Getting Ready for These Edgewater Manor Wedding Photos

I met Sarah and Mike for our first in-person meeting in Guelph, where I learned about their ideas, photography needs, and who they are as a couple. I needed that meeting not only to hear what was said, but also to listen to what wasn’t, so I could fully prepare for everything they needed. As we planned their day, the timeline was very straightforward.

We scheduled photos of Sarah getting ready, along with a few of Mike, shortly before their wedding ceremony. Neither of them wanted a first look, which helped preserve the excitement leading into the ceremony.

While capturing the getting-ready photos in the wedding suite at Edgewater Manor, I learned many angles that allowed me to tell the full story of this part of the day without slowing my bride down during her preparations.

I had promised both of them that I would work almost the entire day in a documentary style, posing them only for key moments such as immediate family photos, intimate sunset portraits, and, at the end of the night, the fireworks images. I was especially excited to offer them my exclusive experience during this part of their day.

Knowing this approach ahead of time allowed Sarah to focus on having fun and truly use her getting-ready time for herself, rather than spending long periods posing for photos.

Edgewater Manor is extremely accommodating for getting-ready photos, so while the girls prepared in the wedding suite, the boys arrived in the next room to get ready for the day.

Being able to move from room to room and capture the moments as they unfolded was one of the most important elements in creating such a strong wedding documentary for their Edgewater Manor wedding photos.

The Outdoor Wedding Ceremony by The Lake

While working with both parties separately, I kept an eye on the progress of the outdoor ceremony setup and monitored the weather conditions we would be working in. It was sunny with some rain in the forecast, but feeling the gentle breeze, I knew the rain wouldn’t reach us.

Once I captured the reveal with Sarah and her dad, I took Mike and the boys outside, where wedding guests were beginning to arrive.

I wasn’t spending time posing or asking for specific photos. Instead, I focused on capturing moments as they unfolded, creating a beautiful, story-driven set of images from this part of the day.

I have photographed many Edgewater Manor weddings on my own, without a second photographer, so I was fully prepared to cover the wedding ceremony as well.

Once the guests were seated and I captured the boys’ arrival, it was time for my bride to make her walk, escorted by her dad.

There was an incredible amount of emotion on many faces, so I stayed completely focused on not missing a single moment while capturing Sarah’s arrival flawlessly.

I captured the hidden tears in Mike’s eyes as Sarah and her dad approached the altar. When Sarah’s veil came loose and began to fly away, her dad caught it, which sparked spontaneous laughter from many guests. I was able to capture Sarah’s reaction, supported by her mom and nearly half of their wedding guests.

The wedding ceremony itself was beautiful, filled with emotion and balanced by the funny expressions that Sarah and Mike naturally brought to the moment.

After documenting their recessional walk, I took the two of them aside for some photos together while their guests began enjoying cocktails and finger food.

Edgewater Manor Wedding Photos With Lakeview Scenery

Edgewater Manor has so many unique features, and beyond the food, incredible staff, and beautiful property, one of the standout elements is the grounds. If I have five hours dedicated to photos, I can easily fill that time with images that never feel repetitive and always reflect a unique atmosphere, shaped by my couple.

Knowing my couple would get too hot if we stayed outside for the entire photo session, I decided to work with them for about 10 minutes along the shore of Lake Ontario, capturing a sense of calm and serenity in their photos before bringing them indoors.

Stepping inside was a treat for many reasons, but this time, it was the air conditioning and a chance to rest from the heat.

We started in the main room by the windows before moving toward the staircase. I photographed them from a higher perspective, highlighting the stairs and the stunning chandelier that fills this part of the lobby.

As we moved to the upper level, I brought my couple into the lobby area, which was slightly darker. This gave me the opportunity to capture some of their most intimate images before we went into the room, where each of them took a shot of Fireball. After that, I brought them back outside to mingle with their guests.

Once outside, I told them to call me whenever they wanted posed photos. At the same time, I focused on capturing the authentic atmosphere of their impressive cocktail hour, held on the outdoor grounds of this wedding venue.

The Reception Dinner with an Intimate Feel

Sarah and Mike invited around 80 guests, which, for Edgewater Manor, was the perfect number. It gave everyone enough space to enjoy themselves while still creating a cozy atmosphere for the seated dinner reception.

Sarah and Mike’s grand entrance included just the two of them—quick, full of smiles, and leading straight into their first dance.

Without wasting any time, I moved up to the second floor to my unique vantage point and captured the entire atmosphere of their first dance from above, making sure to include their guests, not just my couple.

The evening continued with beautiful, heartfelt speeches and a perfectly timed cake-cutting ceremony.

At one point, I stepped outside to scout the area for sunset photos. While looking for the best spots, I ran into John, a friend of mine from Sky Jewel, who was preparing to set up the fireworks equipment. I’ve worked with John on many weddings and have photographed their incredible fireworks displays at Edgewater Manor before.

On the horizon, the sun was just about to dip into the lake, creating an incredible view for my couple. I ran back inside, brought Sarah and Mike out, and they were more than happy to step away for a moment to enjoy the fresh breeze and stunning scenery.

The set of photos we captured of just the two of them became one of my favourite collections from that year. These images brought their Edgewater Manor wedding photos to another level—full of raw emotion, joy, and endless smiles. At the end, I took a few candid pictures of my couple with John and his team before escorting them back inside to continue their wedding reception.

The Fireworks Signature Images at Edgewater Manor

Edgewater Manor is one of the very few wedding venues permitted to host fireworks, which makes it incredibly unique and especially worth booking if you are looking for this type of light display for your wedding.

The best part is that the view is completely unobstructed, allowing both the wedding couple and their guests to enjoy the fireworks without interruption.

John and his team offer several options, but most of my couples choose the five-minute fireworks display, which has the feel of a Canada Day celebration.

To ensure I captured everything perfectly, I went outside before the guests were aware of the fireworks and discreetly set up my lighting for both the viewers and my cameras. This also helped prevent any equipment from being bumped or repositioned during the display.

Once everything was ready and John confirmed we were set, the guests were invited outside while I positioned my couple in the middle of the pathway leading to the ceremony site.

As soon as the first spark lit up the sky, there was no time to think—I focused on photographing my couple from multiple angles so they would stand out beautifully while the fireworks unfolded in front of them.

If you’ve never photographed fireworks with people in the frame, achieving perfectly lit images can be challenging. With over 25 years of experience, I’ve developed the skills needed to consistently capture photos that my couples will cherish for a lifetime.

This particular fireworks display was especially stunning because it took place during late sunset and the early stages of twilight.

In many of the images, the fireworks are clearly visible, my couple is perfectly lit, and the sky is beautifully coloured, with soft, fluffy clouds shifting in tone.

The Exit Walk Photos

It was truly one of the most incredible fireworks displays I’ve ever photographed at Edgewater Manor.

As the fireworks came to an end, Sarah and Mike planned to be surrounded by their guests, still outside on the grounds. Their guests held up their phones with the lights on instead of sparklers, and Sarah and Mike wanted to run toward the end of the line of guests.

Knowing this would require a completely different lighting setup and very quick adjustments, I repositioned my light stands and moved to the end of the line.

As my couple ran toward me, I captured some incredibly candid images of their joy and happiness, ending with Mike lifting Sarah into the air and giving her a gentle kiss.

“What a fantastic way to finish my coverage,” I thought to myself. Although I went back inside afterward and captured some dancing images, my mind kept returning to the fireworks and their grand exit, surrounded by their wedding guests.

Thank you, Sarah and Mike, for trusting me to capture the authentic feeling of your love and the candid moments of your wedding day. Your Edgewater Manor wedding photos will inspire many future couples who choose to celebrate their weddings at Edgewater Manor.

Are you planning fireworks on your wedding day? Get in touch to see how my photography can help bring your vision to life.

Here is another elegant and timeless wedding celebration with fireworks. In the blog post Tropical Glam Fireworks Extravaganza: Featured on The Wedding Ring Magazine Cover with Amanda and Brandon.