Caitlin and John’s Guild Inn Estate Wedding is a beautiful celebration of their bond and the connection between their families. Caitlin has embraced John’s Macedonian heritage, and they planned their wedding ceremony at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto.

In this blog post, I’ll talk more about Macedonian wedding traditions, the beauty of their Guild Inn Estate Wedding, and how we overcame the rain that almost interrupted our photo session.

The Early Stage of Planing This Guild Inn Estate Wedding

For the first time, I meet Caitlin with her future sister-in-law at the local Toronto wedding show. At that time, Caitlin did not have a date, venue or even plan for their wedding. Freshly engaged, Caitlin and her sister-in-law came to the wedding show to start the process of planning.

Caitlin’s sister-in-law learned about my heritage from my wife, and she helped refresh my memories of Macedonian wedding traditions and her own experiences in wedding photography. She recognized the advantage of my Macedonian background, and in addition, they loved the images they saw in my sample albums.

I then showed them my documentary book, filled with unposed black-and-white images that captured the essence of wedding traditions and true photojournalistic storytelling throughout the wedding day. As we bonded over our conversation, Caitlin said, “One day, when we get married, I’ll reach out to you.”

A few years later, she did just that—asking if I could photograph their Guild Inn Estate Wedding. I was thrilled, not only because they had chosen one of my favourite wedding venues but also because their ceremony would take place at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto. Having photographed many Macedonian and blended weddings at that church, I couldn’t wait to capture their special day.

Shaving of The Groom, The True Macedonian Wedding Tradition

Caitlin and John decided not to have a second photographer, so I was responsible for covering both of their getting-ready events. I started with John, as he and Caitlin had agreed that the Macedonian tradition of shaving the groom was an essential part of their family celebrations, and I couldn’t miss capturing it.

When I arrived at John’s parents’ home, I immediately felt the warmth of their Macedonian heritage and the hospitable atmosphere. John’s mom had prepared an array of delicious Macedonian sweets and food, and after photographing the beautifully set table, I couldn’t resist sampling each of them.

As soon as John’s “Nunko,” or godfather, arrived, we got right into the traditional groom’s shaving ceremony. To add some vibrancy to the photos, we stepped outside under the cherry tree, where the godfather began the ceremonial shaving with the help of John’s dad and the groomsman. Though it was a traditional moment, I could feel its significance, so I captured it in a documentary style, blending the classic with a modern twist.

Once the shaving ceremony was complete, I took photos of John reading Caitlin’s letter before opening the beautiful watch she had chosen for him. After capturing some moments with his family, the groomsmen, and everyone at his parents’ house, Gorge, the videographer for the day, and I headed to Caitlin’s place.

The Airbnb Location for This Guild Inn Estate Wedding Getting-Ready Photos

Caitlin had rented a beautiful Airbnb close to John’s parent’s house, where she was joined by her parents and bridesmaids. The house was lovely and spacious, with a large, bright lobby, and I already had a vision for how I would capture the space.

Caitlin looked stunning as she finished her makeup, though she was feeling a bit stressed, trying to handle all the logistics while sitting in her chair. To avoid adding to the stress for her and everyone else, Gorge and I began focusing on the incredible details Caitlin had prepared for her wedding. I hung Caitlin’s wedding dress on the railing from the second floor and captured some beautiful shots. Her shoes were gorgeous, and the flower bouquet perfectly complemented all the other details.

Meanwhile, I worked with her parents to help them relax a bit. By the time Caitlin was ready, everything was falling into place smoothly. Seeing how well everything was coming together with her parents and the other details, Caitlin began to relax, and from that moment on, the magic truly began.

Even though we had limited time for the getting-ready photos, I managed to capture everything we had planned. Caitlin slipped into her dress, put on her beautiful shoes, and adjusted her veil before she exited the house, ready for her wedding ceremony at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto.

The Macedonian Traditions at St. Clement Of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral Wedding Ceremony

Having familiarized myself with the church’s layout, I arrived early to a spot that allowed me to enter quickly and set up my lighting. The church is stunning, but without sufficient natural light, it can feel darker than other venues. The stained glass windows and the painted icons on the walls and ceilings add to the dim ambiance, especially with the red carpet running from the entrance to the altar.

Once my lights were in place, I began photographing the details that the church had arranged for the ceremony. Guests started to arrive, and John and his groomsmen were already there, eagerly awaiting the big moment.

After capturing some adorable shots of the little flower girls, I closed the main door and stepped outside to wait for Caitlin’s arrival. The clouds parted slightly, revealing patches of blue sky, which gave me the perfect opportunity to take some breathtaking photos of Caitlin and her bridesmaids walking up the stairs, with the breeze gently lifting her veil behind her.

Having been to this church before, I knew the person responsible for opening the door for Caitlin and her parents. I asked him to keep the door open for just five extra seconds, allowing me to capture the beautiful backlight as Caitlin entered. The results were stunning—those five seconds made all the difference in creating some incredible images.

The Beauty of Macedonian Wedding Ceremony in Church

If you’ve never attended a Macedonian church wedding, you might not know how relaxed and welcoming the atmosphere can be for everyone involved. The priest (or sometimes two priests) is always kind, respectful, and accommodating, not only to the bride and groom but also to the guests, switching effortlessly between Macedonian and English. As photographers and videographers, we’re often given more flexibility than with other officiants, with a special focus on allowing us to capture the important moments. If, for any reason, I miss a key moment, they’ll make sure to wait and give me the time to get the shot.

While I can’t claim to be biased, I’m proud to say that the Macedonian church wedding personnel are among the most accommodating I’ve worked with in my 25 years of photography experience. Thanks to their support, I was able to beautifully document Caitlin and John’s Guild Inn Estate wedding ceremony.

After the exchange of rings and crowns by their godfather, Caitlin and John walked around the altar three times before sharing their first kiss. Following the ceremony, instead of heading outside, they went into the room next to the entrance to wait for the guests to exit the church first.
Caitlin and John had planned a grand exit, during which their guests would throw flower petals as they made their way out. As agreed, I captured the grand exit perfectly, followed by a large group photo of their 100+ wedding guests.

To wrap up, I took a memorable shot of the priest taking a selfie with the couple, which was a delightful moment. In my opinion, this act adds a special touch and invites future couples to consider this beautiful Macedonian church in Toronto for their wedding ceremony.

The Photo Session at The Guild Inn Estate Wedding

With half of the day’s work completed, I knew it was time to focus on Caitlin and John’s portraits, as well as the immediate family photos.
When I arrived at the Guild Inn Estate and set down my equipment, I quickly made my way outside to wait for the couple. To maximize our limited time, I had already set up my lighting earlier that morning, anticipating a tight schedule after the ceremony.

As I waited, I could feel rain approaching, but I refused to look up, hoping the overcast skies would hold off for at least another hour.

When Caitlin arrived, I took her with the bridesmaids to Guild Inn Park and Gardens to begin working with them. I sent out messages to gather the rest of the family for the immediate family photos at the Greek Theatre. Once everyone was in place, I began with the larger groups and gradually worked my way down to the smaller ones, all the while hoping the rain would hold off just a little longer.

After wrapping up the larger family photos and the bridal party shots, I only had a few minutes left with the couple before the rain began to fall.
Thankfully, we didn’t have to travel far for photos, as the Guild Inn Park and Gardens offered everything we needed in one location. Just as we stepped inside the patio, where the cocktail reception and photo booth were set up, the sky opened up, and the rain began. Perfect timing, I thought to myself. I quickly moved inside to begin photographing the décor and setup for the reception.

A Guild Inn Estate Wedding Infused with Macedonian Traditions

Being Macedonian, I was already familiar with the sequence of events that follow the grand entrance, so I made sure my equipment was ready to document the reception.

When Caitlin and John entered the reception hall, they headed straight to their first dance, followed by the pig dance. The pig dance is a symbolic tradition meant to bring good fortune and prosperity to the couple’s future. A man from the wedding guests carries bottles of alcohol, forks, and knives and dances into the hall with a roasted pig. They perform the dance and sing in front of the godfather, demanding ‘payment’ for the feast. This represents the couple’s first meal together as husband and wife.

As the night unfolded with fantastic food, heartfelt speeches, and a lively mix of Macedonian traditional music, there were two more traditions I knew I couldn’t miss capturing.

The first was the fight for the biggest piece of bread (pogaca) between the bride and groom. Both put their hands on the handmade round bread and, on command, tried to break off the largest piece. According to Macedonian tradition, the one who ends up with the bigger piece is considered the head of the household.

Once I captured that moment, the bread dance with the second pogaca followed. The godfather started by lifting the bread over the couple’s heads as they danced underneath it. Each person took a turn dancing on the dance floor while carrying the plastic-wrapped bread. The round bread symbolizes something with no beginning or end, much like their marriage.

The dance floor soon filled up again, and the “Oro,” a traditional Macedonian circle dance, began. I focused on capturing key moments with the important people leading the dance, such as their parents, and then we moved on to cutting the wedding cake.

The Nighttime Photos by the Greek Theatre

I wanted to give Caitlin and John a bit of a break from photos, so I stepped outside to see if I could capture some nighttime shots at this amazing wedding venue. While I had photographed the Guild Inn Gardens during the day and at golden hour, I’d never had the chance to photograph it at night.

I headed over to the Greek Theatre to see if it would be possible to get some good shots. It was pitch black with no lighting in the park, and light rain was falling. I wondered if I’d even be able to see my couple if I posed them in the archway of the theatre.

After a quick pause, I returned to the reception and was pleasantly surprised to find that Caitlin had changed into a shorter, adorable dress — perfect for our nighttime photos.

I explained my plan for the outdoor shots and gave them a heads-up about the rain. They were totally fine with it, which was great. I asked John to turn on the light on his phone and point it back toward them so I could see them in the dark and lock the focus. And that’s how I captured these breathtaking nighttime photos at their Guild Inn Estate wedding.

Before heading back inside, I couldn’t resist taking one last shot of the patio string lights, which turned out to be the perfect final image for the night.

I’m so grateful I was able to capture the true essence of Caitlin and John celebrating their Guild Inn Estate wedding with Macedonian traditions, surrounded by family and friends. I can’t wait to share more smiles with you soon.

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

Here is another orthodox wedding ceremony in Toronto in the blog post Royal Ambassador Wedding Photos in Caledon with Julie and Peter.

If you’d like to share your own traditions at your upcoming wedding, I’d love to learn about them and create photos that truly highlight your heritage.