Intimate Outdoor Wedding

It was a perfect day for an outdoor fall wedding on Sept.19th as Erica & James joined in marriage! The sky was clear blue, the sun was out and a gentle breeze kept it from being too hot. The ceremony site was decorated with 180 votive candles in red glass holders, all lined up over a bridge & along the grass, defining the 'aisle' at the park.


Fragrant rose petals marked the actual ceremony location and a harpist provided wonderful background and processional music. The wedding was witnessed by an intimate group of 34 friends & family, who gathered in a small and secluded park in Burlington. A nice touch was that each guest was given a red rose when they arrived. Then, when Erica - looking amazing in a red wedding gown - arrived, she went to each guest, greeted them with a hug and received the rose from them. At the end, two women wrapped the flower stems together with ribbons to create her bouquet. A very sentimental touch I thought! James' son and daughter stood up with them as their attendants and everyone looked amazing!

After taking photos at the park, the bride & groom & guests headed to "The Black Tree" restaurant in the Roseland Plaza in Burlington for a unique reception, all based on Alfred Hitchcock theme! It was not "a night of mystery & mayhem", but rather "a night of mystery & marriage"! Congratulations Erica & James!

Photographer: Stephen Dominick, Niagara
Florist: Blossom's, Burlington
Ceremony Venue: Hidden Valley Park, Burlington
Reception Venue: Black Tree Restaurant, Burlington
Tent for Reception: Pat's Party Rentals
Ceremony Harpist: Kristen Theriault

Despite the Traffic, the Wedding was a Success!

It was the long weekend. The CNE was on. The airshow was starting. A BlueJays game was playing. And all of this was happening right along the QEW highway just at the very time that the girls' limo had to drive by that way in order to get to the church! And then, on the grounds of the church (located at the University of Toronto) there were Frosh Week activities going on! These things certainly caused a few moments stress & noise and delays for the wedding! Brian Whittaker deserves a medal for being a very patient groom, as his bride and the girls' bridal party were delayed in all that traffic and arrived about an hour late!! However, despite the late start... it was a beautiful wedding! The bridal party were stunning in deep purple dresses with silver accents. The groomsmen were handsome as all get out!! After some photos on the U of T grounds, the party enjoyed the comforts of a limo-bus from downtown Toronto to the reception at Liuna Gardens in Stoney Creek. Guests were treated to a steel pan player during the cocktail hour and to a take-home gift of a piece of wonderful Caribbean Rum Cake made by both families.


After more photos taken on site in the gardens and by the lake, the bridal party enjoyed a wonderful reception with all their guests - many of whom came from long distances to share in this special day. It was truly a day that honoured family, friendships and faith!

Congratulations Kamara & Brian!

Photographer: Ambient Photography, Jason Hendricks, Toronto
Videographer: Michael Soo-Chan, Toronto
Florist: Debbie's Flowers, Stoney Creek
Decorator: The Wedding Depot, Hamilton
Cake Decorator: Andra Owen
DJ: Damien Mitchell
Limo: Dynasty Limo, Jordan
Church: St. Basils, Toronto
Officiants: Fr. Jim, Pastor Kevin
Church Musicians: Mark Yensen, Justine Owen, Paul Sanvidotti
Reception: Liuna Gardens, Stoney Creek
Steel Pan Player: Kayla Owen