Katie and Rick’s Cambridge Mill wedding photos are a beautiful reminder that your wedding day is one of the best days of your life, no matter the season or weather. For their wedding at Cambridge Mill, they chose March, a month known for being unpredictable. The weather can be difficult to forecast, sometimes bringing gray scenery—or, in their case, a stunning winter fairytale with blue skies, sunshine, and fluffy clouds.

How We Did Their Cambridge Mill Wedding Photos

I first met Katie at the Guelph Wedding Ring Expo, and she immediately knew I was the photographer she wanted for her wedding. Her keen eye for detail and love of vibrant photography brought us together, setting the stage for some incredible wedding photos.

Even though Katie had already decided, I later met with her and Rick so he could also feel confident that I was the right fit for their special day. It was less about reviewing my portfolio and more about making sure our personalities clicked, but I was happy to meet them again.

They chose a wedding photography package that didn’t include an engagement session but opted to add a second photographer for extra coverage. While I always recommend engagement sessions as a great way to build a strong connection with my couples, I respected their priorities and adjusted accordingly.

Having previously photographed Nicki and Brandon’s winter wedding at Cambridge Mill, I was already familiar with the venue’s ceremony and reception spaces and Mill Race Park, allowing me to make Katie and Rick’s Cambridge Mill wedding photos truly unique.

With Jacquie as my second photographer, I felt even more confident we would capture something special. Katie and Rick gave me complete creative freedom for their wedding day, trusting me to bring their vision to life—and we certainly created some magic together!

Getting Ready Pictures at Hilton Garden Inn in Cambridge

On the morning of the wedding, Jacquie and I met in the Hilton Garden Inn in Cambridge parking lot.

For the getting-ready photos, we had everything scheduled at the same hotel but on different floors and in separate rooms—Jacquie headed to the room with the boys while I stayed with the girls.

A fresh layer of snow covered the ground from a snowfall two days earlier, and the low temperatures had kept it almost untouched. I hoped the weather would stay the same throughout the day, with a bit of sunshine to brighten things up.

As soon as I stepped into Katie’s room, I could feel the excitement and happiness in the air. The room was bright and filled with smiling faces, giving me plenty of great moments to capture. Seeing Katie’s nieces and nephew, I had a feeling this would be a fun family wedding—with the little ones likely stealing the show, even if unintentionally.

Katie had thought through every detail, so there was no need for me to calm or organize anything—I simply had to document the morning as it unfolded. When working in a hotel room, it’s always important to plan ahead so there’s no wasted time moving people around. Fortunately, Katie’s room had a spacious layout, giving us plenty of room to work comfortably.

While photographing Katie and her bridesmaids in their robes, I also planned for group photos in the hotel lobby. When I first arrived, I had spotted the perfect location—knowing that most of our shots would be indoors, I wanted to find a bright and lively backdrop to bring their photos to life.

The Bridal Suite Beauty For This Cambridge Mill Wedding Photos

After we wrapped up the group photos in the lobby, Katie headed to Cambridge Mill while Jacquie brought Rick and the groomsmen to the same lobby—just on the other side of the wall where I had been working.
Jacquie’s choice of location was perfect. The wooden accents and brick tones gave the space a more masculine feel, making it an ideal backdrop for the groomsmen’s photos.

While she finished up with the boys, I was already at the Cambridge Mill bridal suite, capturing moments with Katie and the bridesmaids in a new setting. The suite’s elegant atmosphere and stunning balcony view provided the perfect backdrop for their photos.

The weather couldn’t have been better—clear blue skies, a few scattered clouds, and no wind. I was thrilled with the conditions and hoped to capture most of the portraits immediately after the ceremony while we still had the beautiful sunlight.

Katie and Rick had chosen to have their wedding earlier in the year because Katie’s father had been unwell, and they wanted to ensure he could attend. Sadly, he wasn’t able to be there in person.

When Katie connected with him over a video call, I wanted to document the moment without interrupting. It was a deeply personal exchange, and my priority was to capture it respectfully—giving them the space to cherish that time together.

The Wedding Ceremony at The Cambridge Mill Pavilion

As the ceremony began, I headed to the chapel to capture candid moments and the overall atmosphere. Jacquie was already with the groomsmen as they made their way toward the chapel.

The chapel at Cambridge Mill is an incredible setting for wedding photography, and under the right conditions, it offers stunning shots. However, when ceremonies take place in the afternoon, the sunlight streams through the windows from the opposite side of the mill, creating strong contrasts of highlights and shadows that make it challenging to achieve vibrant, balanced photos. To work around this, I carefully selected a few spots with better lighting and planned to position myself there for most of the ceremony.

As Katie arrived with her mom, I noticed Rick growing more emotional. At that moment, I left Jacquie to capture Katie’s arrival while I focused on photographing Rick as he wiped away his tears. Watching him, I couldn’t help but see a bit of myself in that moment—remembering how I secretly swallowed my own tears when my wife walked down the aisle.

Once the ceremony began, time seemed to fly by. Jacquie and I captured every meaningful moment from as many angles as possible, ensuring these Cambridge Mill wedding photos would be unforgettable.

The setting was breathtaking—the river shimmering in the background, the golden sunlight reflecting off the pristine white snow. I couldn’t wait to wrap up the ceremony and move on to capturing their immediate family portraits.

Photo Session at Mill Race Park in Cambridge

As soon as Katie and Rick exited the chapel, we began capturing their immediate family photos. With the freezing temperatures, many family members were eager to head indoors as quickly as possible.

After wrapping up the family portraits, we gathered everyone for one large group photo before sending the guests inside. Meanwhile, Katie, Rick, and their bridal party moved to the front staircase of Cambridge Mill for their photos. While these images would undoubtedly be special, I had my eye on an even better location—Mill Race Park, just across the street—where the snow remained untouched and pristine.

As we crossed over, the last wisps of clouds disappeared from the sky, leaving us with perfect blue skies and warm sunlight. The conditions couldn’t have been better for capturing the vibrant, lively photos that Katie and Rick had envisioned.

We began shooting in the snow, occasionally moving into the shadows of the Mill Race ruins to give their eyes a break from the brightness. While I had photographed at Mill Race Park in the snow before, the conditions that day were among the best I had ever seen.

With Jacquie assisting, I was thrilled to have multiple angles covered, especially since we planned to capture more portraits on the bridal suite balcony for their Cambridge Mill wedding photos.

To make the most of our time, I crossed the bridge to the other side of the river while Jacquie accompanied Katie and Rick to the bridal suite. Once they stepped onto the balcony, Jacquie started capturing them up close while I took wide-angle shots from across the river.

The Wedding Reception at The Falls Room

I was relieved we weren’t losing precious daylight, especially during this time of year. Everything aligned perfectly, allowing us to capture stunning, sunlit moments before moving on to the next part of their wedding day.

After we wrapped up the planned photos, Jacquie focused on capturing details of The Falls Room’s décor, including the reception dining room and cocktail ceremony, while I set up my equipment.

One of the things I appreciate about photographing intimate weddings at Cambridge Mill is how seamlessly everything flows. With the photo session area, chapel, and reception space all within close proximity, there’s no need for guests to travel or worry about navigating different locations—something that can be challenging when venues are spread across a city.

Once the reception began, I shifted into full documentary mode, focusing on candid moments that captured the energy and emotion of the evening.
After Katie and Rick cut their wedding cake, the dancefloor opened, and the kids were the first to jump in. Their enthusiasm quickly spread, drawing more guests in as they danced to DJ Nitro’s music.
By this point, I had finished my scheduled coverage but suddenly realized we hadn’t taken the nighttime photos that Katie had requested. There was no way I was leaving without them.

Before bringing them out into the cold, I stepped outside to scout the best locations. I already had a few spots in mind, but with fresh snow on the ground and light snowflakes falling, I needed to adjust my plan to take advantage of the conditions.

Once I mapped out the best spots and planned a quick route to minimize their time in the cold while maximizing our shots, I headed back inside to invite them out.

The Night Time Winter Photos at Cambridge Mill

Katie, noticing I was still there, asked if I was okay. Her thoughtfulness stuck with me—it’s rare to have people check in like that amid their big day. That small gesture made me want to stay even longer, reinforcing why I love working with genuinely kind and considerate couples like Katie and Rick.

Ignoring the time and fully embracing the moment, we headed back to the front staircase—this time with delicate snowflakes falling around us, adding to the magic of the evening. We even crossed the street, where I captured some breathtaking winter shots from just outside the park gate.
Returning to the staircase, I shifted my perspective to photograph the little bridge from the chapel side, adding variety to their collection of images.

Once we stepped inside, I couldn’t resist taking photos with the charming chandeliers in the lobby. Moving upstairs, I took advantage of the second-floor vantage point, capturing shots of Katie and Rick standing at the entrance below.

For their final nighttime portraits, I posed them on the staircase inside the mill, visible from the outside. This allowed me to frame them with the venue’s name glowing in the foreground—a perfect way to close out their Cambridge Mill wedding photos.

The combination of snowfall and crisp winter air transformed the night into a true fairytale.

Katie and Rick, thank you for an incredible experience, stunning moments, your thoughtful thank-you envelope, and the warm, joyful atmosphere we all shared on your wedding day!

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

Here is another wedding at Cambridge Mill in the blog post You might need a Kleenex for this emotional Cambridge Mill wedding, with Alicia and Jeff.