Jessica and Will’s Club Roma wedding photos were among the first spring images we captured that year. I was excited to see the lush greenery and vibrant colours of their carefully chosen location come to life. They planned to take their first look and wedding photos at Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park in Thorold. Their ceremony was held in the beautiful Tuscan Garden, followed by a reception at the Garden Pavilion at Club Roma.

The Beginning of These Fresh and Beautiful Club Roma Wedding Photos

I really enjoyed capturing Jessica and Will’s getting-ready photos at the Best Western St. Catharines Hotel & Conference Centre. With both groups getting ready at the same location, we didn’t have to spend time travelling between places, which made the morning run smoothly. Jessica and Will had also chosen to add a second photographer for their wedding day, and this time, Jacquie was helping me by photographing the groomsmen.

As I arrived at the hotel, I realized it would be a very warm and sunny day—great for creating beautiful images but also challenging if we spent too much time in direct sunlight. Keeping that in mind, I planned to take Jessica and the bridesmaids’ photos indoors after they finished getting ready so they wouldn’t be too exhausted by the time we headed outside.

Although the hotel didn’t offer many photo locations, I focused on making the most of the available spaces. Jacquie wrapped up with the groomsmen earlier than expected and went ahead to Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park in Thorold. There, she started working on group shots and other images Jessica had included in her must-have list.

Meanwhile, while waiting for the limo to return for the bridesmaids, I took individual photos of Jessica with her bridesmaids at the front of the hotel, staying in shaded areas to avoid harsh sunlight and unflattering shadows. My goal was to complete these portraits before heading to Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park, where Jessica and Will would share their first look.

The Wedding Photos at Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park

As I arrived at Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park, I saw Jacquie had already taken all the planned photos while the groomsmen eagerly awaited Jessica’s arrival. Jessica had decided to reveal herself to the groomsmen first before meeting Will, who was waiting for her on the boardwalk.

After capturing Jessica’s reveal with the groomsmen, I quickly made my way toward Will to document her arrival. Jacquie positioned herself behind them while I climbed onto the observation deck in the middle of the boardwalk to capture the scene from a higher vantage point.

The distance Jess needed to walk to arrive at the first-look photos location was quite far, but I had in mind to use that walk for a few candid photos instead of staging the same walk. This idea has given us amazing photos.
Arriving at the location where Will was waiting, Jessica could not wait any longer. Once we positioned ourselves with Jacquie on different sides with different photography perspectives, I gave them the green light. From that point onwards, we let them spend uninterrupted time with each other.

This first-look photo scene was one of the rarest moments when I decided to capture a first look from higher ground, and it was as unique to them as it was to me.
They read their vows to each other and spend a good amount of time reflecting on their relationship, the things that are dear to them, and what makes them embark on this life journey.

The First-look Scene of This Club Roma Wedding Photos

Once we had captured their private vow exchange and first-look photos, I could tell they were eager to reunite with their bridal party.

With plenty of space on the boardwalk, I moved ahead while Jacquie stayed back, and we guided them to walk toward their waiting friends. This part of the shoot was purely documentary, allowing us to capture natural, heartfelt moments as they walked together, now entirely at ease after their emotional first look.

After finishing these candid shots, we rejoined the bridal party and worked through their group photos. With enough space to move around, we made the most of multiple locations at Mel Swart Lake Gibson Conservation Park, capturing a variety of shots.
Keeping to the wedding timeline, I then headed toward their ceremony location to prepare for their Club Roma wedding photos.

The Wedding Ceremony at the Tuscan Garden

Once Jacquie and I arrived at Club Roma, we split up to cover different areas. Jacquie concentrated on capturing the décor and setup of the Garden Pavilion, where we would hold the reception, while I took photos of the Tuscan Garden, the setting for their ceremony.

The tall trees behind the garden provided beautiful shade, creating soft, natural light that was perfect for photos and a welcome break from the bright sun. Jessica had chosen a stunning selection of flowers, which made the Tuscan Garden even more picturesque.

When the bridal party arrived in the party bus, the groomsmen headed straight to the ceremony area to assist guests in finding their seats. Meanwhile, Jessica and the bridesmaids went inside Club Roma to make their final preparations. Having previously photographed Candace and Steven’s wedding at this venue, I was already familiar with the layout, which helped in planning the shots.

As with every wedding ceremony, I prefer to photograph it journalistically, so I did the same in these Club Roma wedding photos.
I hadn’t seen half an hour go that quickly, but the ceremony was already close to the end when the first kiss happened, and Jess and Will started to walk towards me, waiting for them at the end of the path leading out from the Tuscan Garden.

The Wedding Photos at Club Roma in St. Catherines

As planned, we set out to take immediate family photos and additional bridal party portraits at the Tuscan Garden.

While I waited for the guests to clear the area for preparation of the cocktail reception, I took Jess and Will to another ceremony site at Club Roma for a few portraits.. Meanwhile, Jacquie captured candid moments as guests made their way out.

Once the Tuscan Garden became available again, we returned to finish all the planned photos. By this time, the sun had started to set, creating a stunning backlight that added warmth and depth to their portraits.

Although we had plenty of great images, I wanted to give them even more variety. I revisited a location at Club Roma that I had previously used for Andrea and Dylan’s wedding, and it worked beautifully once again for Jess and Will. Meanwhile, the pavilion had been fully transformed into a gorgeous reception space, and I couldn’t wait to start capturing it.

Club Roma Reception at The Garden Pavilion

I truly believe the Garden Pavilion at Club Roma is one of the venue’s most stunning wedding reception spaces. It’s bright and open, and with the right decor, it becomes an incredible place for a celebration.

That evening, I had a small concern in the back of my mind. Once the glass doors enclosing the pavilion were closed, I wasn’t sure if my flashes would reflect off them, creating an unwanted glare in my photos. Fortunately, I already had a solution in mind in case it became an issue.
The wedding venue planners positioned the head table, where the entire bridal party sat, elegantly opposite the entrance and adorned it with candles and flowers, creating a picture-perfect setting.

After Jessica and Will’s grand entrance, the night unfolded with heartfelt speeches, laughter, incredible food, and a lively atmosphere. As darkness set in, the warm glow of the string lights and candles enhanced the rich colours of the flowers, creating a cozy and romantic ambiance for their Club Roma wedding photos.

Once Jessica and Will took to the floor for their first dance, the entire Garden Pavilion transformed into a vibrant dance floor. After capturing a few fun moments, I left the couple to enjoy their evening with their guests while I stepped outside to scout locations for my signature nighttime portraits.

The Signature Nighttime Photos at Club Roma

The venue had strategically placed string lights around the pavilion and throughout the Tuscan Garden, though some weren’t turned on. I made sure to switch them all on, instantly enhancing the ambiance.

From the entrance of the Tuscan Garden, I saw some incredible photo opportunities. Still, something was missing—I wanted to capture the glow of the string lights in a reflection, but I needed a large reflective surface. Then it hit me: one of the glass tables in the cocktail area would be perfect. I positioned it carefully and then invited Jessica and Will to join me in the garden for their nighttime portraits.

With the vision already mapped out in my head and everything set up, it was easy to let them simply be in the moment—gazing into each other’s eyes, reflecting on their incredible day while I captured it all.
As I took the final shot of the nighttime session, I noticed the late-night snack display had been set up. I couldn’t resist grabbing a photo of the beautifully stacked Krispy Kreme Donuts on the snack table—a fun and delicious detail!

With those last captures, it was time to say goodbye. I thanked Jessica and Will for an amazing day and for trusting Jacquie and me to document it. Kicking off the spring wedding season with these Club Roma wedding photos was a fantastic experience, and I look forward to returning to this beautiful St. Catharines venue again.
If you’re planning a wedding at this stunning venue, I’d love to chat about how we can make your Club Roma wedding photos just as magical!

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

Here is another wedding at Club Roma in the blog post Emotions, laughter and true love exuded from this outdoor Club Roma wedding, with Andrea and Dylan.