Fairmont Royal York / Bymark Wedding

Mar 14

Laura & Alex at the Fairmont and Bymark, what a dream. Every single wedding captured has a special place in photographers’ hearts, yet some weddings serve to also ignite a fire of creativity. I felt this day was one that reminded me of my ability to shoot intuitively, to push my creative eye, and ultimately it’s some of my best work. It’s a miracle I narrowed this image selection down as much as I did for this post, surely you’ll understand why.

The Royal York is infamous for a reason. It’s practically straight out of a movie (Home Alone 2, maybe?) and the juxtaposition with Laura’s sleek and minimalist Eva Lendel gown against the traditional, warm decor could not have been more perfect. It was old world mixed with modern every step of the way. The couple got ready with their families in separate suites at the Fairmont, with a first look on the deck overlooking the Library Bar. Sadly no celebrities were spotted checking in as this was happening during The Toronto International Film Festival (maybe next year). The classic 19th floor was unavailable for photography because of TIFF, so instead we adventured through the various halls to find the perfect backdrops for their portraits. Afterwards - one of my favourite things to do - we walked the streets of Toronto from their hotel to their venue, snapping along the way.

Bymark transitioned the street-level part of their restaurant to serve as the ceremony space. The matte black walls and pops of white florals were so stunning and chic. Following the ceremony, the second half of their staggered guests arrived for the cocktail hour which really was one of the best, and not only because it was insisted upon me that I also have an aperol spritz in hand. I don’t make the rules!

One of my favourite segments of the portraits taken, was when we popped our heads outside to could see that the sun was finally peaking through for the first time that day, and reflecting off the buildings in the downtown core, and knew it was go-time. We raced outside to capture a rare bit of golden glow on King Street and within 10 minutes it had already disappeared, perfect timing and makes them all the more special.

Reception time began in the lower part of the restaurant; romantic, intimate and candlelit. Heartfelt speeches and dances commenced. The vendor meal of choice at our table was something along the lines of a truffle oil burger and fries but all I remember is that it was incredible. Getting to reunite with the Mad Bash planning team for this wedding is always a dream, it makes those vendor meals all the more enjoyable. Additionally, the staff at Bymark was so gracious, and I cannot wait to return as patron soon.

Once the reception wrapped up, it was back upstairs to enjoy more drinks and dancing. The DJ was spinning a playlist made up entirely of vinyl records, which was presumably not an easy feat but such an incredible touch. The couple also included a champagne tower, which is truly never a bad idea. I hugged Laura and Alex and thanked them for trusting me with their vision and to get so creative, before leaving them to dances the night away.