Kate and Bryce had eagerly anticipated their Chateau des Charmes wedding for almost three years. We met just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. When the pandemic caused disruptions to their wedding plans, they made a smart decision to move their wedding date not just one season or year but two years ahead, ensuring that they could celebrate their special day without any interruptions.
Extra guest for this Chateau des Charmes Wedding
Kate and Bryce welcomed their baby boy before their wedding day, as life was taking its own path. Planning a wedding with a little one can be challenging, but going through the parenting stage gives you extra experience. It helps you not to sweat the small stuff and enjoy the day and life as it comes. Now that their baby boy is here, he will be able to witness his parents’ wedding, which is a beautiful moment for the family.
The Charles Hotel for getting ready
Kate chose to stay at the Charles Inn, one of the most picturesque and serene hotels in Niagara on the Lake. The hotel is located in the city’s heart and provides the perfect backdrop for getting ready photos. Kate’s room was situated on the bottom level of the hotel, offering a beautiful view of the well-maintained garden maze. Meanwhile, Bryce and his groomsmen were staying on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the hotel. Overall, the hotel gave them a relaxed and stress-free environment, which made their stay all the more enjoyable.
First-look at the Charles Hotel
We decided to take the first look photos and most of the other pictures around the hotel’s beautiful gardens. This way, we could enjoy the garden while reducing travel time to and from the photo session area and back to Chateau des Charmes. Kate and Bryce were happy with our relaxed documentary coverage at the hotel. They had a great time with their bridal party and immediate family.
Chateau des Charmes Winery
When we arrived at Chateau des Charmes, I wasn’t sure what to expect since it was my first time taking photos there. Kate asked me where I wanted to start with our photos, and after learning about the available options, I chose the wine cellar because we were still waiting for the rest of the bridal party. We captured some very romantic photos in the cellar, then moved to the ceremony spot to complete all the images we had in mind. We took pictures with Kate, Bryce, their little one, and the rest of the bridal party.
Golden hour at the vineyard estate at Chateau des Charmes
Capturing moments at a winery during the time right before sunset is a real treat. The serene ambiance and soft light make for perfect scenery, especially when a lovely couple is involved. We took turns photographing Kate and Bryce, trying to make the most of our time before returning them to their guests for the cocktail hour. As the sun began to set, we also captured that breathtaking moment and left Kate and Bryce to enjoy the rest of their day with their loved ones.
Tent Wedding reception
Their outdoor wedding ceremony was perfect, and the cherry on top was their tent reception. The spacious reception area, illuminated in pure white light with no other colour pollution, provided the perfect backdrop for capturing fantastic photos. Once the DJ announced their arrival, I was fully immersed in capturing candid and documentary moments. Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was time for me to leave. But I couldn’t resist taking advantage of the beautiful entrance area at Chateau des Charmes for some nighttime photography. With a clear plan in mind and all my equipment ready, I invited Kate and Bryce to join me for a quick photo session under the stars. We captured some great shots and then let them dance the night away with their guests, ending my photography coverage on a high note.
Kate and Bryce’s Chateau des Charmes wedding stands out as one of the most relaxed weddings I had the pleasure of photographing that year. We captured so many amazing photos, yet nothing felt missing. It was a celebration enjoyed by everyone, and I felt blessed to be part of creating lifetime memories for the couple. This was my first Chateau des Charmes wedding, but it certainly won’t be my last.
Looking forward to the next one!
Credits to below wedding professionals and locations that helped Kate and Bryce’s wedding to be one-of-a-kind.
Florist: Brad Baker from BBBloom Floral Studio
Cake and sweets: Ali Bakes Cakes
Videographers: BlackLight Exposure
If you want to see another winery blog please see Alyssa and Adrian’s engagement session.
My passion and biggest asset is taking the time to make every client comfortable and relaxed before I even pick up the camera. The result? Photos of you that actually look like you at your best! I can prove to you how much you can enjoy having your picture taken. Lifestyle photography is about the experience that happens to be served up along side of some great photos.
Specialties:
Family Photography for families that like to move around and enjoy their photo time, Wedding Photography for couples looking for a mixture of photojournalistic, contemporary and traditional images and Professional Corporate headshots that are far from cheesy and stiff.