For Dragana and Kosta’s Kariya Park wedding photos, we chose one location to celebrate two beautiful milestones. When Dragana first contacted me to inquire about my photography services, I was surprised to hear from someone in Canada who shared my name. Although “Dragi” is the male version of Dragana in Macedonian, I didn’t assume she was from Macedonia, especially since she spoke without an accent—unlike me. Still, I was curious and decided to ask if they were from Macedonia. Dragana responded with excitement and confirmed that both she and Kosta were indeed from Macedonia.

Macedonian Twist on These Kariya Park Wedding Photos

Dragana had initially planned to book me for a short, two-hour assignment. She wasn’t sure if I had a minimum requirement or if such a brief booking would even interest me. She also mentioned they were expecting and hoped we’d have time to take a few maternity photos with her belly and some props she planned to bring.

I was excited to hear about Dragana’s vision. She and Kosta were planning a celebration that broke away from the traditional Macedonian-style wedding. Their plan was for me to photograph them during the first hour before the ceremony. In the second hour, they would have a short ceremony under the covered area at Kariya Park, followed by time for photos with their family and friends.

Since the pandemic, I’ve become accustomed to working with couples who celebrate in unconventional ways—choosing flexible coverage and meaningful, nontraditional locations. I told Dragana I’d be happy to be part of their unique celebration. From there, we finalized the plans for their wedding day.

The Japanese Garden in The Middle of The City

Dragana chose Kariya Park, a beautiful Japanese garden in the heart of Mississauga, as the setting for her event. I had photographed there before and was happy to return. In fact, the first Macedonian wedding I photographed in Canada, also at Kariya Park, was over ten years ago. Now, more than a decade later, I was back to capture Dragana and Kosta’s Kariya Park wedding photos, marking another special Macedonian celebration in the same location.

Dragana and Kosta arrived at the park dressed entirely in bright colours. Dragana wore a comfortable white dress that highlighted her baby bump and pregnancy glow. Kosta matched her in a relaxed light grey suit without a tie and wore Lacoste white sneakers. It wasn’t the traditional Macedonian wedding attire, but it completely suited their personal style—and that made it even more meaningful to photograph them just as they were.

The garden was incredibly peaceful when we arrived, and I was thrilled to find a beautiful spot free of large crowds. Since we only had one hour for this first portion of the wedding, we got started right away. Dragana was relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera, while Kosta seemed a bit nervous at first. I knew I needed to build some trust before he could truly connect with me. Thankfully, I’m familiar with this common Macedonian dynamic, so it didn’t take long for us to click.

Kariya Park Wedding Photos: Capturing Two Special Moments in One Stunning Location

As I mentioned earlier, my couple was expecting a baby girl. They wanted to include a few maternity photos at the end of their wedding photo session. While I’ve photographed some of my brides who were pregnant before, this was my first time doing a combined wedding-maternity shoot.

Knowing how much this little bundle of joy meant to them, I made sure to complete most of the wedding photos in the garden and under the covered area first. Then we began the maternity portion of the session. For the second half of the first hour, Dragana brought a pink bow, which we used in a few photos and gently placed on her belly.

As we prepared to use their final prop for this part of their Kariya Park wedding photos, I noticed guests starting to arrive. Dragana and Kosta had brought matching beach hats they loved, so I placed them in a setting that complemented their outfits. Near the pond, I spotted a beautiful view and asked them to walk around the water and come toward me.

This relaxed stroll created a lovely moment to photograph. More importantly, it gave them a chance to transition naturally from the photo session to their ceremony, which was just minutes away.

Casual Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Kariya Park in Mississauga

Once we had finished all the planned photos, I quickly headed to the ceremony spot to check the lighting and get set up while Dragana and Kosta greeted their guests and guided them to the ceremony location.

As I took photos of the arriving guests, I noticed a familiar family I had connected with before. It turned out to be the groom’s oldest brother—I had photographed his daughter’s christening back in 2010. “What a small world,” I thought.

Once everyone had taken their places, the officiant began the ceremony. Although it was a hot and humid day, the shaded area where the ceremony took place provided ideal conditions for great photos.

I documented their ceremony in a completely candid, documentary style. After the signing was complete, we moved on to the next part of the session: family photos. I made sure to capture the entire group of more than 30 people in a couple of different locations within the garden. For the immediate family portraits, we moved into the inner garden area.

A Beautiful Blend of Love and Legacy in Their Modern Wedding

As we wrapped up every combination of immediate family and friends’ photos, Dragana and Kosta said their goodbyes and headed off to enjoy an intimate reception dinner with their guests.

We accomplished everything we had planned within those two hours. Their Kariya Park wedding photos turned out beautifully, and I was truly grateful for the opportunity to capture their private ceremony and photograph such a lovely couple.

It was the perfect way for Dragana and Kosta to celebrate and preserve two special milestones in one meaningful celebration.

I found myself driving a little faster on the way home, eager to begin working on their photos. It was a beautiful day filled with love, culture, and milestones in full bloom.

Thank you, Dragana and Kosta, for trusting me to capture your Kariya Park wedding photos.

View our post The Guild Inn Estate Wedding with twist of Macedonian Traditions for some inspiration of Macedonian weddings.