Beth + Mike

Ricarda's, Toronto, Wedding
A joyful walking portrait of the happy couple
A joyful walking portrait of the happy couple

A fun and modern Toronto wedding with classic, elegant details

Mike's a working drummer and an accomplished one. He plays a lot of Toronto weddings, which means we've been running into each other on the job. Beth's the perfect match for him and the day they put together felt completely like them.

Mike was at his mom's place, the kind of unhurried family morning you hope to walk into as a wedding photographer. Tea and breakfast spread on the table, everyone milling around, Mike taking his time before suiting up. Beth was at home with her mom and her friend, hair and makeup nearly finished, the room calm. One of my favourite small details of the whole day was her evening jumper; a contrast against her clean strapless gown. Small punch of personality and exactly her.

The ceremony was at the University Club of Toronto, which is one of those venues that doesn't need help looking good. Wood-panelled halls, big light-filled rooms, and the ceremony space itself with mint-green walls and a fireplace banked with flowers. Mike was walked in by his mom, Beth came down the aisle with both her parents, and the whole thing was warm and personal start to finish. They sealed it with a kiss and got the flower petal recessional of a lifetime on the way back down the aisle.

We stuck around the Club for family photos and couple portraits. The afternoon light coming through those big windows did most of the work for us, which is the dream as a Toronto wedding photographer. After that we took Beth and Mike out into the streets. They were game for it and the laneways nearby gave us plenty to work with. It was a fun shift in gears from the formal indoor stuff we'd just shot.

Reception was at Ricarda's, a different vibe from the Club. High ceilings, modern lines, a proper bar, the whole space built for a party. The personal touches were great. Custom wedding cake with little turtle and snail figures on top, Polaroid place cards that had everyone laughing as they hunted for their seats.

Speeches were the right mix of funny and genuinely moving. Beth and Mike together with a real proper thank-you to everyone in the room. Beth changed into that white jumpsuit before the dance floor opened up and that was it for the rest of the night. The band, knowing Mike, was always going to be a good one. Packed floor, every age group out, the kind of party that holds its energy start to finish. Easy night to shoot.

Beth and Mike, congratulations again!

The exterior of Mike's mother's house before the wedding
The exterior of Mike's mother's house before the wedding
Mike and his family share a joyful moment over breakfast
Mike and his family share a joyful moment over breakfast
Mike laughs with his mother and sister on the couch
Mike laughs with his mother and sister on the couch
A candid, playful moment with Mike and his family
A candid, playful moment with Mike and his family
Mike and his family take a selfie together
Mike and his family take a selfie together
The groom reaches for his shoes before getting dressed
The groom reaches for his shoes before getting dressed
The groom ties the laces on his dress shoes
The groom ties the laces on his dress shoes
Mike's vow book and ring box on his suit jacket
Mike's vow book and ring box on his suit jacket
The exterior of the bride's apartment building
The exterior of the bride's apartment building
A small note on a picture frame reads 'Hi, You're Cute'
A small note on a picture frame reads 'Hi, You're Cute'
A polaroid of Beth and Mike on the refrigerator
A polaroid of Beth and Mike on the refrigerator
A profile shot of Beth's wedding day hairstyle
A profile shot of Beth's wedding day hairstyle
A close-up of the hairstylist braiding Beth's hair
A close-up of the hairstylist braiding Beth's hair
Beth takes down her wedding dress to put it on
Beth takes down her wedding dress to put it on
A close-up of a mother buttoning her daughter's dress
A close-up of a mother buttoning her daughter's dress
Beth gets help with her dress from her mother
Beth gets help with her dress from her mother
Beth puts on her engagement ring
Beth puts on her engagement ring
Beth and her family wait for the elevator
Beth and her family wait for the elevator
A joyful portrait of Beth with her mother and bridesmaid
A joyful portrait of Beth with her mother and bridesmaid
A classic bridal portrait of Beth looking over her shoulder
A classic bridal portrait of Beth looking over her shoulder
A full-length portrait of the bride, Beth
A full-length portrait of the bride, Beth
A joyful, candid portrait of the bride laughing
A joyful, candid portrait of the bride laughing
The exterior of the University Club of Toronto ceremony venue
The exterior of the University Club of Toronto ceremony venue
An arched window inside the University Club of Toronto
An arched window inside the University Club of Toronto
The ceremony room at the University Club of Toronto
The ceremony room at the University Club of Toronto
A close-up of the groom's monogrammed shirt cuff
A close-up of the groom's monogrammed shirt cuff
A father helps Mike with his tie clip
A father helps Mike with his tie clip
Mike smiles as a father pins on his boutonniere
Mike smiles as a father pins on his boutonniere
Mike pins a boutonniere on the bride's father
Mike pins a boutonniere on the bride's father
A guest takes a photo during the pre-ceremony moments
A guest takes a photo during the pre-ceremony moments
Mike laughs with a guest before the ceremony starts
Mike laughs with a guest before the ceremony starts
A father holds a camera before the ceremony begins
A father holds a camera before the ceremony begins
A portrait of the groom, Mike, waiting for his bride
A portrait of the groom, Mike, waiting for his bride
Guests mingling in the grand hallway before the ceremony
Guests mingling in the grand hallway before the ceremony
The bride hugs her father before walking down the aisle
The bride hugs her father before walking down the aisle
The bride and her father laugh together
The bride and her father laugh together
A joyful candid of the bride looking at her bouquet
A joyful candid of the bride looking at her bouquet
A dramatic portrait of Beth looking out a large window
A dramatic portrait of Beth looking out a large window
Guests watch the ceremony via a video call
Guests watch the ceremony via a video call
A heartfelt moment between Mike and his mother during the processional
A heartfelt moment between Mike and his mother during the processional
The ring bearer throws petals down the aisle
The ring bearer throws petals down the aisle
A candid and funny moment with a crying flower girl
A candid and funny moment with a crying flower girl
Beth walks down the aisle with her parents
Beth walks down the aisle with her parents
Beth and her parents walk down the aisle
Beth and her parents walk down the aisle
Beth laughs with her mother during the processional
Beth laughs with her mother during the processional
The couple and officiant during the wedding ceremony
The couple and officiant during the wedding ceremony
A close-up of the couple holding hands during the ceremony
A close-up of the couple holding hands during the ceremony
Beth and Mike share a laugh during their ceremony
Beth and Mike share a laugh during their ceremony
The couple smiles while signing their marriage license
The couple smiles while signing their marriage license
The couple's first kiss in front of the fireplace
The couple's first kiss in front of the fireplace
The ring bearer reaches for the couple during the recessional
The ring bearer reaches for the couple during the recessional
Guests cheer as the couple walks down the aisle
Guests cheer as the couple walks down the aisle
A wide shot of the couple's kiss during the recessional
A wide shot of the couple's kiss during the recessional
Guests applaud and take photos of the newlyweds
Guests applaud and take photos of the newlyweds
Beth walks down a spiral staircase in her wedding dress
Beth walks down a spiral staircase in her wedding dress
The couple walks up the stairs together
The couple walks up the stairs together
The couple kisses in front of a bright window
The couple kisses in front of a bright window
The couple kisses, reflected in the window pane
The couple kisses, reflected in the window pane
The couple smiles at each other in a University Club hallway
The couple smiles at each other in a University Club hallway
Beth and Mike smile as they walk outside the venue
Beth and Mike smile as they walk outside the venue
The couple walks down a Toronto street together
The couple walks down a Toronto street together
Mike throws his head back in a joyful laugh
Mike throws his head back in a joyful laugh
Mike and Beth share a laugh during their portraits
Mike and Beth share a laugh during their portraits
A quirky detail of a 'NO FUN' sticker found on the street
A quirky detail of a 'NO FUN' sticker found on the street
The couple shares a smile while walking in Toronto
The couple shares a smile while walking in Toronto
The couple sits on a bench as a streetcar blurs past
The couple sits on a bench as a streetcar blurs past
Mike looks at Beth as they sit on a bench
Mike looks at Beth as they sit on a bench
The exterior of the reception venue, Ricarda's
The exterior of the reception venue, Ricarda's
The exterior sign of the reception venue, Ricarda's
The exterior sign of the reception venue, Ricarda's
The live band performs during the reception
The live band performs during the reception
A wide view of the cocktail hour at Ricarda's
A wide view of the cocktail hour at Ricarda's
Guests mingle during the cocktail hour
Guests mingle during the cocktail hour
A guest takes a photo with a polaroid camera
A guest takes a photo with a polaroid camera
Guests enjoying a lively discussion at the reception
Guests enjoying a lively discussion at the reception
Guests in an animated conversation at the reception
Guests in an animated conversation at the reception
A wide view of the reception space filled with guests
A wide view of the reception space filled with guests
Two guests chat during the wedding reception
Two guests chat during the wedding reception
Mike shares a laugh with a friend at the reception
Mike shares a laugh with a friend at the reception
Mike and Beth laugh together during their welcome speech
Mike and Beth laugh together during their welcome speech
Mike laughs through tears during his heartfelt speech
Mike laughs through tears during his heartfelt speech
Guests raise their glasses for a toast
Guests raise their glasses for a toast
A wide, creative portrait of the couple against a wall
A wide, creative portrait of the couple against a wall
A blurry photo of the couple walking away
A blurry photo of the couple walking away
The couple walks away hand-in-hand down an alley
The couple walks away hand-in-hand down an alley
A dramatic, shadowy portrait of the couple
A dramatic, shadowy portrait of the couple
A candid moment between the couple in an alleyway
A candid moment between the couple in an alleyway
A romantic portrait of the couple in a graffiti alley
A romantic portrait of the couple in a graffiti alley
Mike smiles as he follows his bride
Mike smiles as he follows his bride
Beth looks back at Mike as they walk
Beth looks back at Mike as they walk
The couple throws their heads back laughing during a speech
The couple throws their heads back laughing during a speech
The couple laughs before feeding each other cake
The couple laughs before feeding each other cake
The couple holds each other close during their first dance
The couple holds each other close during their first dance
A heartfelt hug between the bride and her father
A heartfelt hug between the bride and her father
An emotional hug during the mother-son dance
An emotional hug during the mother-son dance
A couple dances together on the dance floor
A couple dances together on the dance floor
Parents of the groom make funny faces for the camera
Parents of the groom make funny faces for the camera
A father dances with a guest at the reception
A father dances with a guest at the reception
Beth poses in her stylish white reception jumpsuit
Beth poses in her stylish white reception jumpsuit
A full-length portrait of the bride in her second outfit
A full-length portrait of the bride in her second outfit
A joyful photo of the couple walking at night
A joyful photo of the couple walking at night
A candid shot of the couple walking at night
A candid shot of the couple walking at night