Gladstone Lower West Side NYE 2016 | Small Wedding Venue Toronto

 

The New Year Eve countdown at the Gladstone is an unique, must-go spot for those of you who're into fun themed parties with an artistic crowd. Everybody dressed as they're in the Roaring Twenties in the Lower West Side. The Gladstone Hotel itself is a historical 19th century Victorian building with lots of characters. This night, the unique venue is dressed up in vintage and classic designs. The fun, hipster crowd come in nostalgic yet trendy costumes. Don't think this is only for party animals in their early twenties. Some of the best dressed guests are in their 50s and 60s. Who says there's an age limit for being playful. This is the work hard, play hard crowd. The living life to its fullest crowd. I enjoy a lot making documentary, candid pictures at this amazing party with photojournalistic eyes. As I'm photographing the NYE party, I fall more in love with this intimate venue. It makes an unique small wedding venue in downtown Toronto. It's a one of a kind space in the core urban area. The artist-designed hotel rooms upstairs also make the perfect space for getting ready photos. I know that the Gladstone hosts intimate weddings and I have to yet to finally photograph a wedding here. Inside out, The Gladstone has a lot of potential for photography for a wedding day. Urban brides and hipster grooms or just any couple who are throwing an intimate wedding and are looking for a local, unique wedding venue should definitely take a look at the Gladstone. If you end up choosing this venue, I wish I will be there to document it. I promise to make the most out of your special day. xoxo.

Lots of love,

Ally 

Caffino Wedding | Alysha + Malcolm

 

If you like this Caffino wedding and want to explore other similar venues with a cool vibe in downtown Toronto, you might enjoy seeing photos from my Berkeley Church wedding, Steamwhilstle wedding and this wedding at 99 Sudbury too.

Alysha and Malcolm are two loving souls. They are both registered nurses. When I first met these two they were a bit quiet and very sweet. As we get to know each other more, they appear to be two adventurous and down-to-earth young professionals. They chose a trip to Thailand for their honeymoon and had a lot of fun backpacking. I always adore backpackers as I'm a backpacker myself. I also find Alysha and Malcolm very charming with their professions, life experiences and personal values. In fact, these two almost eloped! It's a lot of fun photographing their wedding. Alysha and her bridesmaids had their getting ready at a cool Airbnb house in downtown Toronto. I had a few brides getting ready at Airbnb. I find that an amazing idea to have an unique space as well as to support local Toronto businesses/ residents. Then of course they picked one of the coolest small wedding venue in Toronto. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, Caffino is a charming ex-factory space on King West, in Liberty Village. Caffino Ristorante is a cool Italian eatery with eclectic decor and rustic, urban interior design and industrial looking exterior - lots of bricks, concretes. It's a unique wedding venue for intimate wedding and for urban couples. It's a perfect fit for Alysha and Malcolm. The day was also a "when traditional meet modern" kind of wedding day when the traditional wedding ceremony and Alysha's family in those absolutely beautiful, colourful indian wedding guest outfits. Just when I thought the day was good enough, Alysha and Malcolm's guests turned out to be great dancers on the wedding dance floor, the outdoor dance floor where Alysha and Malcolm did their romantic first dance in sparklers.

Alysha, Malcolm, thank you so so much for having me on this cool, sweet, fun wedding day!

Lots of love,

Ally

Click here to see their engagement on Toronto Island. 

St Lawrence Market Wedding | Nathalie + Alex

"Ally shot our wedding and engagement and did a remarkable job. She's a talented photographer with a real knack for catching the moments when they occur and documenting events in a natural manner. Neither of us are great or comfortable with posed pictures but Ally put us at ease, rolled with our unconventional wedding and really represented us and our event in all her work, engagement shoot and wedding shoot. We cannot recommend her enough...she truly is one of Toronto's most talented wedding photographers and will surely gain the fame to match her talent in the near future! Get her if you can!" 

Thank you Natalie and Alex for leaving me such a sweet review on Google.

I enjoyed photographing weddings in Saint Lawrence Market. Their wedding reception space in Market Kitchen was intimate and rustic with big vintage windows and brick walls. It's an amazing historical and iconic building. I found it the perfect wedding venue in downtown Toronto for creative couples and hipster weddings. Nathalie and Alex made the perfect venue choice. The two are unconventional at heart and their vintage wedding dress and custom made wedding suit and edgy, DIY decorations blew me away. They had an intimate crowd of off-beat friends and close families which made the space even warmer and cooler at the same time (if this makes sense). Everything on Nathalie and Alex's wedding day was very much eye-pleasing and heart melting.

If you like these pictures, I urge you to also check out part 1 of Nathalie and Alex's wedding featuring their getting ready photos in their sweet home and their ultimate wedding ceremony on Toronto Islands as well as their Kensington Market engagement session. 

I must admit that I am an advocate for creative wedding ideas and alternative wedding photography that focuses on the people. I don't just support the idea so that one's wedding can stand out and be edgy. I promote the idea because I strongly believe that a wedding should reflect who we are instead of trying too hard to follow the traditions, so much so that it loses a sense of identity. Nathalie and Alex's wedding's so cool not just because it's creative and adventurous but that it tells one a lot about who they are. 

Lots of love,

Ally

Special thanks to the following amazing vendors:

Flowers: Botany Floral Studio  | Hair: Nicole Kelly at Curl up and Dye | Make-up: Milena Iaizzo at Blush and Bows  | Venue: The Market Kitchen at St Lawrence Market | Catering: Michelle Pollack and Shauna Teiko McDermott M&S Catering

As featured on Bonjour Bride.

King City Rustic Barn Wedding // Hyun Mi + Max // Part 1 Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

Dear Hyun Mi and Max,

Thank you so much for having us at your beautiful DIY barn wedding. Thank you for throwing such a beautiful, rustic country party. It's such a honour to document this special day for you on your family farm and the first wedding on this unique wedding venue in Toronto. You both, your bridal party and your families and friends were amazing. Henry and myself felt so welcomed and enjoyed every bit of the celebration. On a less serious note, thank you for picking up my sunglasses at the end of the crazy night!

I wish you lots of happiness and beautiful memories together. I also wish your barn wedding venue to be a great success. Can't wait to come back and photograph more cool rustic weddings there!

Lots of love,
Ally

 

Second Shooter: Henry Chen | Wedding Planner: Danielle Paik | Venue: Garden of New Eden | Bride's Dress : Alfred Sung, Jai International | Hair: Hair Sketch |Make Up: SOYU M.U.A | Groom's Attire: GGIO | Cake: Steffies Sweets and Treats | Flowers: Delight Floral   | Caterers: SEOUL HOUSE on Steeles | DJ: Teddy Hwang | MC: Sung Bang