Believe it or not we have never officially shot on the McGill downtown campus before! I imagine a lot of Montreal wedding and portrait photographers have photographed couples here before numerous times but this was a first for us.

Barbara and Olivier met while studying here so it meant a lot to them to come back and have some sentimental engagement photos captured here. It was a super quick last minute shoot since they’re not from here but we are so happy to have spent at least this short amount of time with them. It’s always such a pleasure working with sweet couples like Barbara and Olivier who are up for anything and are all smiles throughout the whole photo shoot!

Here is a handful of many many photos we took on this sunny afternoon.

Now that the weather’s finally starting to get warmer up here in Canada, we’re getting to use the outdoors again for photos! It’s been a cold and long winter and it’s still kind of chilly, but Aileen and Hans really wanted to get their pre-wedding photos done, so we headed to Montreal’s beautiful Old Port.

After meeting them nearly a year ago, we couldn’t wait to get to work with Aileen and Hans. They are absolutely adorable together, super positive and genuinely fun to hang out with! We spent the morning casually getting to know each other more while walking around the Old Port looking for nice places to take photos at. The Old Port is a very iconic and beautiful staple in Montreal so it’s no wonder a lot of our couples want their memories to be captured there. It is quite the tourist attraction which could make it a little tricky for a photographer to dodge everyone. So we always take it upon ourselves to work twice as hard to make it feel unique every time for our couples! This time, we found some beautiful courtyards, vines of lights, gorgeous empty old streets of Montreal and last but not least Hans brought along his second love…a 1974 Alfa Romeo, which just added to the photos. Thank you for a super fun morning and we can’t wait to hang out with you guys on your wedding day this year! Enjoy a handful of our favourite frames from the shoot…

I can’t believe the 2013 wedding season has officially started. After cleaning our gear, charging all our batteries and packing the car, Magda and I were off to a fairytale winter wedding east of Montreal.

Veronique and JC first came by our office back in April of 2012 I think? Sharply dressed with incredibly organized folders in hand, they both charmed us right away with their personalities! They knew exactly what they wanted. A beautiful wedding with their closest friends and family at a place full of character. That’s where Manoir Hovey comes in! Inspired by George Washington’s home, this turn of the century upscale retreat was the perfect place for Veronique and JC. What made it even more magical was that they decided to have their wedding smack dab in the middle of winter…which is always a risky choice! However, everything aligned for them, and out of the 2-3 days a year where the snow is as perfect as in a hollywood movie…they got one of them.

We don’t even have the words to describe what the weather was like. Snowflakes as big as frisbees were slowly settling on branches, there was barely any wind and the temperature was absolutely perfect. They couldn’t have picked a better day, it was magical!

They picked an adorable little church to have their ceremony in, with an equally adorable priest to officiate the marriage! Magda and I then took Veronique and JC on a very quiet but beautiful photo session nearby Manoir Hovey. The air was still and it felt like we had everything to ourselves as our canvas. A warmer winter day makes quite a difference for the bride who usually has uncovered shoulders! We have nothing but gratitude for Veronique and JC for being especially awesome at working every photo opportunity. I don’t think there was a moment when Veronique didn’t smile when she looked at JC. An undeniable connection between them made for some very intimate moments…and they’re both quite easy on the eyes too!

The food was unbelievable. Matched perfectly with wine, the party moved from room to room making use of all the wonderful interiors Manoir Hovey has to offer. I could go on and on about the wonderful time everyone had that night but I think I’ll leave it off here and let the photos do the rest of the talking! Veronique and JC, thank you for having us with you on one of the most important days of your lives. It means the world to us and we hope you love your photos as much as we do!

We have gotten a crazy amount of snow this year in Montreal and surrounding areas so when Joanne and Karim’s day came near, we thought it would quiet down for a while. Mother nature wasn’t done with the snow and decided to bless us with crazy winds and a ton more snow on their special day! Most people would say that it must have been difficult to shoot in such conditions but nothing could be further from the truth.

Firstly, Joanne and Karim and both their families invited us in to their lives with open arms, hugs and kisses and made us feel right at home. That alone makes our day exponentially more amazing but when it came time to brave the weather, Joanne wasn’t afraid to get out there in her gorgeous strapless dress and without a complaint, enjoy spending time in Karim’s arms…both full of smiles. Magda and I had such a blast finding angles shooting through the blizzard snow and on the rooftops of the famous Place d’Armes square. It really felt like we were capturing a winter dream for Joanne and Karim.

Being in the Place d’Armes square, you may have guessed that they got married in the back of the Notre-Dame Basilica in the Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur Chapel. Both the Basilica and the Chapel are breathtaking in their own way and we always enjoy taking photos there.

We wrapped up the evening taking a few night time photos and then heading to SANTOS tapas bar for the reception just down the street. Bright red decor, chic lighting and staff in matching outfits made it a hit for all the guests. The evening was filled with delicious music, amazing drinks and even an amazing performance by Charlie from KO Entertainment on his traditional Derbake drum!

We would like to thank Joanne and Karim for trusting us to capture these memories for them and for treating us as friends from the start. We hope you enjoy these photos as much as we do and perhaps our paths will cross again one day…maybe even on the other side of the world! Here are our favourite images from the day and don’t forget to click on the button below to watch the slideshow.

Being together for many many years already, having grown up kids and an already long and happy life together, they decided it was finally time to tie the knot! It really is something special to see two people with a very strong relationship want to take that extra step together.

Nathalie and Ron are two of the most sincere and genuinely caring people we have had the pleasure of meeting this year. Ron has a permanent smile on his face and Nathalie just wants to make everyone around her feel comfortable, and their love for each other and their family was incredibly touching. You could really see the bond they have for one another when they exchanged their vows and just through the little things they did throughout the day.

The always wonderful Selina put the wedding together at the stunning newly renovated Ritz-Carlton hotel here in Montreal. This being a very intimate evening soiree, the flowers, the food and the ambiance fit just right at the Ritz! It just recently re-opened after four years of renovation so if you are in the area, I highly recommend popping in to see this piece of history.

Nathalie and Ron, thank you for having us capture this very important day for you and your family. I would wish you a lifetime of happiness, but it’s already quite apparent that you already have one! So all we could wish for you is even more love with each passing year! It was a real pleasure spending time with you, so without further ado, here are our favourite photos from your day.

In the summer we had the pleasure of taking Tara and Jon (or as they call each other Pot and lid, because Tara is the Lid to Jon’s Pot!!! Adorableness overload!), for a pre-wedding photo shoot out on a farm here in Montreal. It was a fabulous time for the four of us to get to know each other and take some casual photos for them. Essentially it was a teaser for us for what was to come, and we couldn’t wait to spend time with them on the big day! Every time we got together with them it’s hard not to notice how much Jon cares for Tara and vice versa. Tara and Jon are a one of a kind couple; extremely determined to make their wedding exactly as they imagined, not only for themselves but for all their family and guests. Seeing as this was our first Jewish wedding, we had our work cut out for us!

Magda and I were super excited to finally get to experience a full on Jewish wedding after hearing about how wonderful these ceremonies are. From the traditions to the customs and dances, we loved taking photos of every moment! The wedding took place at Montreal’s Jewish Synagogue Chevra Kadisha where we witnessed Tara and Jon become a couple under the Chuppah. It was very obvious that Tara and Jon’s families are incredibly close and caring. We routinely had tears in our eyes as we listened to all the beautiful wishes and stories everyone shared at the wedding, including the wonderful things the Rabbi had to say throughout the day.

On to the party.

Helmed by the amazing Showmen Band, the reception was a a collection of touching speeches, music, dancing and lots of people being raised into the air on chairs! We can safely say that Tara and Jon created an incredible experience for everyone on their wedding day…including us. So on that note, we would like to thank you for trusting us with our vision to capture every special moment on this once in a lifetime day. We had an absolute blast and if your parents are a testament to a lifetime of happiness…then you have nothing to worry about.

Here is a collection of our favourite photos from the day. And of course please don’t forget to click on the slideshow link below to see a ton more! 

On one of our last trips to Vancouver, we got a chance to meet Matt’s fiance, at the time, Ginette! Just like Matt, she comes from an incredibly faithful and loving family. That along with her completing every bit of Matt’s life made us immediately see that they were perfect for each other. Did I mention that Ginette is a chef? And a pretty spectacular one at that too!

Our week in Vancouver went by incredibly fast. We hung out with Matt and Ginette, cousins, visited uncles and aunts and enjoyed all the things we miss about Vancouver from when we used to live there. Our daughter Klementine bonded with the kids of the family… especially with her “twin” cousin Miss. Samara… They were both born on the same day of the same year just an hour apart, it was awesome. Then came time for the wedding…

This was a unique opportunity for us since we were also guests at the wedding. Balancing that can be quite tricky, but we always manage to enjoy the best of both worlds. Lucky for us, Vancouver decided not to rain this time! We had beautiful sun pouring through the stained glass windows in the church.  It also followed us to the beautiful rainforest, hills and waters of the city during the photo session.

Now, we had a really hard time looking clearly through our viewfinders at the reception. See, we learned just how powerful a bond between twins can be when Matt’s brother Andrew took the podium. It is a bond like no other, even different than a parent with their child or a couple. It is so incredibly strong that Andrew had a hard time putting into words just how much he will miss his brother…but yet that he will always be happy and be there by his side wherever they may go. I’m starting to well up just remembering this.

Once the traditional Polish dancers hit the floor, it was time to party…and for us to put our cameras down!

Matt and Ginette, we wish you and your families the most blessings we can wish for. Knowing your families, we have no doubt that you two will have an incredible and fun journey together and we thank you for taking us along for this special day. We hope you enjoy your photos…and don’t forget to click on the link below for the slideshow!

In the morning, I (Bartek) got to spend time with the guys at one of the groomsmen’s really cozy apartment near the Atwater Market. As they prepared for the big day and listened to good music, I snapped away at every moment I could. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy a delicious mushroom pizza from a local place! Of course, Magda too got to spend a relaxing morning with Christina and the girls before heading to the church downtown.

The ceremony at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church was really touching. Christina and Matthieu exchanged some really deep and beautiful words with each other.

As mother nature has it, it turned out to be one of those rainy days. Having a wedding this time of year is beautiful, but it can be risky as the weather is incredibly unpredictable! However, as we drove to the rainy day photography location (the Westmount Greenhouse Conservatory), it started to clear up beautifully! We had to share the space with a few other wedding photographers doing their thing too! Regardless, we still decided to shoot inside the historic building since the light was so soft and warm that we just couldn’t ignore it.

The wedding reception was held on the top floor of the Vieux-Port Steakhouse in the Old Port of Montreal. If you have never been and are in the mood for a seriously great steak, we highly recommend it. Having never shot a wedding there before we were welcomed by a cozy atmosphere accompanied by great food and a great party. With some really hilarious games, a swing dance lesson and our photo booth, the night was off to an incredibly fun start.

Christina and Matthieu, thank you for trusting us with our vision for your day and we hope you love your photos as much as we do. Your faith and the things you and your families said to each other are a clear sign that you will live happily ever after.

When the morning started off with Jagermeister on the rocks and Mimosa’s, we knew the day was going to be fun. Having been married in the same church, it was really special for Magda and I to photograph a wedding there. St. Hyacinth church is Ottawa’s only Polish church and it’s design follows the traditional folk Polish architecture featuring beautiful wooden sculptures which you can find especially in cities close to the mountains like Zakopane! After the ceremony we drove all the way up to the Gatineau hills to take photos at the Mackenzie King Estate. It was our first time taking photos there and we loved the variety!

The wedding reception was held at the chic Restaurant Eighteen in the Byward Market. We find it very difficult to make a restaurant your own to fit your wedding, but Lidia and Sandro and the staff at the restaurant really made it happen! The mood lighting, the cozy atmosphere and the top shelf food and drinks came together like the best ingredients in an award winning dish. Not to mention the beautiful stationary made by Wishtree Invitations and Stationary Inc.!

The genuine love between Lidia and Sandro can only be translated into years and years of a beautiful marriage. Thank you so much for having us a part of your special time in your lives! Enjoy the slideshow and our favourite moments from the day.

We have known Diana from the Ottawa Polish community from way back so we were thrilled to find out we would be hanging out with some familiar faces that weekend! After a little rain scare it cleared up and we were fortunate enough to find beautiful places to photograph at like the historic Waterloo Sun Life building. Complete with a traditional folk Polish dance group, the amazing live band Impuls, a ton of amazing Polish food (pierogies!) and a fantastic party, I can safely say everyone was finished by the end of the night…even Father Paul was it up on the dance floor all night!

Thank you guys so much for getting us down there to spend the weekend with you covering your special day. Judging by both your parents, you two will have absolutely no problems living many many happy years together. Here are some of our favourite images from your day and be sure to click on the slideshow just below for more crazy dancing moments!