Sabrina and Andy’s Islington Golf Club wedding was a picture-perfect winter fairytale, beautifully celebrating their blended family. Photographing a December wedding in Canada always comes with its uncertainties. However, this day unfolded as a heartwarming reunion of two wonderful people and their loved ones.

Of course, the day wasn’t without its challenges—we faced a few curveballs. Yet, it was how we navigated those moments that made Sabrina and Andy’s wedding truly unforgettable.

The OPP Officer Getting-ready Photos at this Islington Golf Club Wedding

For this Islington Golf Club wedding, I photographed by myself without the help of a second photographer. Therefore, careful planning was essential to stay efficient and avoid wasting time moving between locations.

My first stop was Sabrina’s brother’s house, where the boys were getting ready. Just as I parked in the driveway, the rain started pouring heavily. As a result, I had to decide—should I run inside and risk getting drenched or wait for the rain to stop, knowing it might cut into the time for capturing their preparations?

Since I arrived a little early, I chose to wait for the rain to ease. Once it stopped, I was able to enter the house without any issues and focus on their getting-ready photos.

Andy, an OPP officer, decided to wear his uniform for the wedding—a unique touch that I hadn’t encountered before. While I appreciated the overall look, I did briefly wonder if his hat might block his eyes in the photos. However, it wasn’t something I spent much time worrying about.

Inside, the atmosphere was warm and energetic. Andy’s dad, his son, Sabrina’s brother, and his teenage nephew were all there, creating a lively and relaxed vibe. I enjoyed capturing candid moments of them preparing and even got creative with the details, using the twinkling lights of their Christmas tree as a backdrop for the wedding rings.

Andy’s punctual and composed nature made the session smooth and stress-free. Undoubtedly, the group was organized and cooperative, making it easy to capture the moments naturally. If I had to sum up their getting-ready photos, I’d say the theme was relaxed, efficient, and enjoyable—a great start to their special day.

The Girls Getting Ready for this Islington Golf Club Wedding

To my delight, the girls were just as prepared. From the moment I arrived at Sabrina’s parents’ house, I jumped straight into capturing their preparations. Including the kids in the bridal party was especially enjoyable. It added a playful and heartfelt element to the photos.

Since everything was running smoothly, I let Sabrina set the pace. This gave me the flexibility to focus on candid moments with her bridesmaids and parents. I saved the posed shots for after everyone was dressed. The house was filled with just the right number of people. It created a calm yet lively atmosphere, perfect for photos.

I moved seamlessly between documenting Sabrina’s preparations and capturing fun, creative shots of the three girls playing with their reflections in the front lobby mirror. Then, after finishing the final portraits of Sabrina with her bridesmaids on the terrace, I headed to the church for the ceremony.

The Wedding Ceremony at Kingsway Lambton United Church in Etobicoke

The church Sabrina and Andy chose for their wedding ceremony was truly picture-perfect. It struck a great balance—spacious enough for me to photograph from multiple angles yet compact enough to move between those angles without missing any key moments.

The priest was wonderful, and it was evident he genuinely enjoyed officiating their union. The warm wooden walls and rich red carpet created a cozy atmosphere, a welcome contrast to the cold, windy, yet thankfully dry weather outside.

Sabrina and Andy opted for an intimate wedding, inviting only close friends and family. This kept things personal and ensured the ceremony started right on time without delays. One memorable moment was Sabrina’s arrival in a vintage white Bentley, assisted by her father. From that point, I switched to a documentary, photojournalistic approach, capturing the authentic emotions and details of the ceremony as they unfolded.

The intimacy and warmth of the church made the ceremony feel special, even as I anticipated the brisk winter waiting outside. The timing was ideal, leaving us with a window to capture outdoor photos after the ceremony.

Once the ceremony concluded, I started with family portraits inside the church. Afterward, we stepped outside to photograph Sabrina and Andy together, making the most of the winter setting before the day continued.

Photo Session at Kingsway Lambton United Church

The church grounds provided a beautiful backdrop for Sabrina and Andy’s photos. In particular, I loved everything about the setting, from the stunning architecture to the golden hour sunlight gently illuminating the church walls. As they exited, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. As a result, it gave us the perfect chance to incorporate the vintage Bentley into a few shots.

I decided to focus more on the church session rather than what the Islington Golf Club might offer later. Since I hadn’t photographed there before, and with the heavy morning rain, I expected much of the course to be off-limits.

Working with Sabrina and Andy in this picturesque setting was the right choice. Within just the first 15 minutes, I realized the weather was colder than expected, so we took a brief break. While the couple reconnected with their guests inside, I used the time to plan the second part of the session.

When Sabrina returned, ready for more photos, I captured portraits of her alone before Andy joined her. Then, for the second part, I focused on creating images with more movement. It helped us work quickly in the cold and brought a fresh energy and mood to the photos, in contrast to the earlier stationary shots.

Photography Session at Islington Golf Club

As I wrapped up the last couple of shots, I realized we were quickly losing light for photos at the Islington Golf Club. I suggested we start heading to the venue. Since I was driving ahead of them—and they were travelling in a vintage car—I had a bit of a time advantage and arrived at the golf club first.

I parked in the perfect spot, got my equipment ready, and waited for their arrival. By the time they reached the venue, the sun had already set, but there was still enough daylight to capture a few final outdoor moments.

For this part of the session, I made full use of the vintage Bentley, now complemented by a gentle snowfall that began to frame Sabrina and Andy beautifully. Wanting to keep Sabrina’s hair intact, I opted to photograph them seated in the car’s backseat. The driver added to the moment’s charm, pouring champagne for the couple as they shared a quiet, joyful moment together.

These turned out to be some of my favourite photos of the day. They captured the couple’s genuine happiness and the magical atmosphere defining their wedding so far.

Once I finished the nighttime shots with the vintage car, I sent the couple inside to relax, refresh, and prepare for their wedding reception dinner. With some time to spare, I set up my lighting equipment and focused on capturing detailed shots of the reception room, ensuring every aspect of their special day was beautifully documented.

Wedding Reception at Islington Golf Club Wedding

The reception room was surrounded by large windows on two sides, offering stunning views of the golf course. While we hadn’t managed to capture photos on the course itself, the couple was thrilled with what we had accomplished so far, and I didn’t want to push for more.

After setting up my equipment and photographing the room’s decor and design, Sabrina and Andy made their entrance. The atmosphere was filled with joy; their reception dinner was a warm, family-centered celebration. Smiles and laughter echoed throughout the room, with special attention given to the little ones, family members, and close friends.

Much like during the ceremony, I focused on capturing candid moments during the reception. From heartfelt interactions to lively party scenes, every moment added to the story of the day. The evening was brought to life by incredible music from a talented duo of performers and an excellent DJ, creating the perfect soundtrack for a memorable celebration.

The Nighttime Photography in Winter

As my time of coverage came to an end and I began packing up my equipment, I couldn’t resist capturing a few more moments to give Sabrina and Andy some extra cozy, feel-good memories.

The lobby of Islington Golf Club featured a beautifully decorated fireplace, perfect for the Christmas season. It was an ideal spot for some playful and heartfelt photos of the couple. Another fantastic location was near the glass wine cellar. The neatly arranged bottles in the wine racks created stunning reflections, providing the perfect backdrop for intimate and creative shots.

Noticing that snow had begun falling outside, I seized the opportunity for a few magical nighttime photos. I briefly brought Sabrina and Andy outdoors, capturing the moment’s romance before returning them to their friends and family to enjoy the lively after-dinner party.

Thank you, Sabrina and Andy, for allowing me to be part of your special day. Your Islington Golf Club wedding was truly one of a kind, filled with unforgettable memories that will be cherished for years to come.

Credits to below wedding professionals and locations that helped Sabrina and Andy’s wedding to be one-of-a-kind.

Here is another celebration help at a golf course in winter, Ginnie and Malcolm’s wedding at Whistle Bear in Cambridge.