Highlights: Engagement Photos 2011

It's a new year which means new plans, new resolutions, new couples, and new weddings! But before I get all eager and excited about what's to come (and trust me, lots of fun things are on the way) I want to highlight my favourite engagement photos from 2011. I absolutely adore engagement sessions, and with my wedding packages, I offer them complimentary. I do this because I feel that it is the perfect time to get to know my brides and grooms before their big day. Sure, we've already had our first initial meeting, and sure we already love each other (my couples are the best!), but the engagement session is a step further. After the session, they know my approach, how crazy fun I am (ha ha!), I know how they photograph in front of my camera, and I can get to know more about their story and their love for one another. I want to feel like we are old friends when I show up on the wedding day and an engagement session helps to ensure this. It's also nice to put up some photos on display at the wedding. Everyone loves that.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have worked with such amazing people in 2011. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have made my year so very memorable! Now without further adieu, here are some of my favourites from this past year.....

*Stay tuned for the Highlights: Wedding Photos 2011 coming soon!*

Though this was an anniversary shoot, not an engagement, I couldn't leave them out! :)

Published: Wedluxe Magazine, Winter/Spring 2012 Issue - Andy Warhol

I love making new years resolutions. I am the kind of person who isn't happy with average and am always trying to push myself to be better and to work harder in order to achieve my goals. I try my very best to follow my resolutions and can happily say that most of them from last year have come true. In 2011, one of my goals was to be featured in a magazine for the first time. It was a big dream, and I knew this, but I still wanted to give it my best shot. I didn't know how or when it would happen, but I knew it was something I wanted to strive for.

This past summer I met the amazing Crystal of Distinct Occasions. Crystal saw my passion and believed in me - probably even more than I believed in myself. She asked me to photograph her Andy Warhol inspired styled shoot that we would send to Wedluxe with hopes of being published in their winter/spring issue. It was definitely going to be a challenge but I was eager for it. We had an absolute blast shooting and when I got news that they had featured the shoot and given us 5 pages (!!!!!) I was ecstatic! What an amazing feeling! I absolutely adore Wedluxe and it was an honour to be featured inside their beautiful pages alongside so many talented Canadian wedding vendors.

This past weekend, Wedluxe had their first annual wedding show and words cannot describe how gorgeous it was. If you missed it, be sure to check out some of the photos here on the Toronto Wedding Society Blog.

Incase you didn't pick up the magazine yet, you can check out our spread here...

Cheers to a fabulous group of vendors who made this possible:
Planner and Stylist: Crystal Adair-Benning, Distinct Occasions
Photography: Elizabeth Kaye, Elizabeth In Love
Floral Designer, Decor, and Styling: Paras Mehta, Design2Decor Inc.
Stationary Designer: PALETTERA Custom Correspondences
Dress: Sarah Houston
Makeup and Hair: Sarah Smith
Location: Oliver and Bonacini's Malaparte

Style Me Pretty Canada Feature - Anniversary Love Shoot with Hey Gorgeous Events

Today I woke up extremely excited to see that Style Me Pretty Canada had featured a shoot that Rhiannon of Hey Gorgeous Events and myself put together :) If you've read my blog this past year, I am sure the name Rhiannon is a familiar one to you. For those of you who don't know her (go check out her blog now!) - she is an outstanding event planner extraordinare located in Michigan who in one year, has created a name, a brand, and an amazing little business for herself. I can't help but notice how similar the two of us are and not just because we are young entrepreneurs either. Our love for soft, pastel colour palettes and everything girlie, has only made me love her more and realize we truly are kindred spirits :) She inspires me every day to dream bigger, smile often and to count all of life's many blessings.

Last year, Rhiannon married the love of her life, Andrew, on September 24, 2011. Though we didn't meet in time for me to photograph their wedding (I secretly cry about this all the time), documenting their wedding anniversary a year later was something I was truly looking forward to. On September 24, 2012, Rhiannon and Andrew came to visit and allowed me to come into their lives and photograph them as they celebrated their 365 days of love as husband and wife. They were no longer worrying about their wedding, planning it to be perfection (which it was!), or finding their dream home (which it is!), but rather looking forward to their life together. Just the two of them and their road ahead. What they have is beautiful. Something so special you would think they were actors in your favourite love story. I can't thank you enough Rhi for all you've done for me and for giving me the honour of capturing these photos for you. I also want to thank the sun for coming out :)

Again, thank you to Style Me Pretty for featuring us today!

Here are some of my favourites:

this one makes me smile. big.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2012. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing in this exciting journey with me. I can't wait to share what's in store for the new year and I am so incredibly blessed and thankful for all you who read this blog and enter into my life. Thank you! Enjoy this beautiful holiday season with your family and friends :)

Jessica + James - Hamilton Engagement

Jessica and James are extremely adorable. The grab-each-cheek-and-squish-them kind of adorable. They met in high school - a story that never gets old for me. I can't imagine knowing the man I would marry in high school, but I secretly get a little jealous that they didn't go through as much heartache as the rest of us. Just kidding :) When you know, you know and that's exactly how Jessica and James felt. That is, when they finally worked up the nerve to admit their feelings. Jessica can recall seeing James talking to other girls, and even though they were just friends at the time, it hurt her deeply. She knew it must have been more than just a crush. James had a total thing for Jess too but neither of them were brave enough to say it. They ended up getting lead roles in a high school musical, (doesn't that just make you want to break out into song? just me?) and found themselves spending all their time together. Before practise, during practise, after practise, on weekends; it was getting out of hand and they loved every minute of it. There was one moment in particular where Jess remembers knowing that James was the one. They were under the stage hanging out during practise and they hugged for what felt like an hour. It just felt right.

On their recent trip to Italy, James proposed but only after asking for Jessica's fathers permission of course. Because well, James is just that sweet. They will be married at the Lakeview in Hamilton this summer and I am so excited and thrilled to be their wedding photographer! Until then, enjoy some of their adorable engagement photos!

Jess has the absolute BEST laugh. James brings it out of her.