New Year’s Eve wedding photography has been on my wish list for a long time. Growing up in Europe, I understood the significance of the day, so it never occurred to me to work on such an important occasion. However, since my family in Canada focuses more on Christmas celebrations than New Year’s, I started considering offering coverage for this special occasion. Despite this, the right couple had yet to come along—until now.

When Ginnie and Malcolm reached out to see if I was available for their New Year’s Eve wedding, I couldn’t say no—and I didn’t want to. Ginnie is the mother of one of my past clients, Nicki, whose wedding to Brandon I had the pleasure of photographing just last year. Their family was such a joy to work with that I eagerly said yes, looking forward to another amazing experience.

Just like for Nicki and Brandon’s wedding, Ginnie asked if Erika could join my team again for the big day. I made it a priority to ensure Erika was available, and I was so relieved when she agreed to work alongside me for Ginnie and Malcolm’s celebration.

How to Plan a New Year’s Eve Wedding

With everything finalized, I officially booked my first New Year’s Eve wedding and began planning for the big day. Since I had never photographed a wedding on New Year’s Eve, it was an entirely new experience to envision how the day would unfold.

The ceremony was scheduled for late evening during the winter, which meant no outdoor photos and no natural light to work with. This made the experience very different from the weddings I typically photograph throughout the year. Still, stepping outside my comfort zone and collaborating with such an amazing group of people was refreshing.

As this was a second marriage for both Ginnie and Malcolm, they had a clear vision of what they wanted, which made the planning process straightforward and enjoyable. They selected Whistle Bear in Cambridge as their venue and held both the ceremony and reception in the Grandview Room—a space I had never photographed before.

Getting-Ready Wedding Photos

I began the day with Ginnie while Erika joined Malcolm to capture his getting-ready moments. Ginnie was preparing at their home in Conestoga, a familiar setting where I had also photographed her daughter’s getting-ready photos.

This time, the room we used for photos was beautifully decorated in a Christmas theme, adding a warm and festive touch to their wedding pictures. A special highlight of the day was their dog, who seemed to sense the importance of the occasion. The dog was incredibly cooperative, posing perfectly for Erika and me.

As I finished capturing Ginnie’s getting-ready photos, I waited for Erika to return with Malcolm so they could have their first-look moment. They chose to have this special reveal in the lobby of their house, creating an intimate and meaningful backdrop.

The atmosphere throughout was so calm and serene, allowing me to document genuine, candid moments from this part of the day.

New Year’s Eve Wedding Photo Session

When Malcolm arrived, Ginnie didn’t waste any time. We dove straight into their first-look photos, followed by the immediate family portraits Ginnie had planned.

While ensuring I captured every shot on Ginnie’s list, I also kept my own vision in mind—photos that truly reflected the joy and love within this family on such a happy occasion. One of my personal goals was to take candid pictures of Ginnie with her dog, and I’m incredibly proud of how they turned out. The images are filled with Ginnie’s radiant smile, her evident joy, and her dog’s remarkable behaviour.

Next, I focused on a set of big family portraits in their spacious family room. Since Ginnie and Malcolm have a blended family, it was important to include all their children and their children’s significant others. My aim was to highlight the connections within this blended family while keeping the biological families close in the composition. The resulting photos exceeded my expectations, balancing warmth and togetherness with elegance.

With those portraits complete, it was time for some fun, less formal pictures. Their basement, equipped with a bar and a pool table, provided the perfect setting for candid shots. I arranged the group so everyone was visible within my camera’s range and instructed them to play pool as they naturally would. In just 10 minutes, I captured genuine interactions and moments of laughter that felt authentic and full of life.

For the first time on a wedding day, I completely forgot to check the weather—and for good reason. It simply didn’t matter. As we left the house, I noticed it was briefly snowing and raining, but the fleeting weather was inconsequential to the joy and energy of the day.

Wedding Ceremony at The Grandview Room at Whistle Bear

Not knowing the specifics of the room where I would be working all day, I made sure to arrive early to plan the placement of my off-camera flashes. My goal was to position them in discreet spots that provided optimal coverage for this wintery nighttime wedding.

As I familiarized myself with the Grandview Room, experimenting with how the ceiling mirrors and their reflections might affect my photos, Erika was already capturing candid moments of Ginnie, Malcolm, their children, and close family.

One unique aspect of this New Year’s Eve wedding was the timing of the ceremony. Ginnie chose to hold it close to the reception, allowing enough time for a cocktail hour but leaving no extra time for photos. This made perfect sense, as an earlier ceremony would have left guests with a long wait, potentially dampening their energy and enthusiasm to celebrate the new year at midnight.

Thankfully, we had taken all the necessary photos before arriving at Whistle Bear, which meant there was no added pressure to squeeze in portraits after the ceremony.

Once the last guest was seated, the ceremony began. Malcolm was escorted down the aisle by his daughter and son, while Ginnie made her entrance accompanied by her daughter, Nicki, and son, Jack. The ceremony was beautiful—elegant, joyful, and filled with heartfelt tears of happiness.

One of Ginnie and Malcolm’s few specific requests was to capture a group photo of all their guests. I knew the perfect moment for this would be during the recessional exit. With my lighting set up and a wide-angle lens ready, I climbed onto a guest chair to capture a stunning shot of all the guests, their smiling faces radiating happiness, with Ginnie and Malcolm perfectly framed in the centre.

Cocktail Celebration Time

After my couple exited the room, they headed to the Woodland Room, where the cocktail hour was about to begin. Erika accompanied the guests to capture candid moments while I stayed behind in the Grandview Room to adjust my lighting and photograph the beautifully arranged setup that Ginnie and Malcolm had meticulously planned with their wedding decorators.

Once I finished documenting the room’s details, I joined Erika in the Woodland Room. Together, we focused on capturing candid photos of the guests as they enjoyed themselves. Ginnie and Malcolm made their way around the room, mingling with each group, ensuring they connected personally with everyone in attendance.

The Wedding Reception at The Grandview Room

The reception setup featured harvest tables with Ginnie and Malcolm’s children and their significant others seated beside them at the head table.
Just like at Nicki and Brandon’s wedding, Erika and I were seated with the same group of people we had sat with a year ago. This thoughtful gesture made us feel like not just photographers but also part of the celebration, warmly accepted as guests alongside everyone else.

Knowing how much this family valued their speeches, I stayed alert to capture every heartfelt word while also keeping an eye out for candid moments. The atmosphere was everything you could hope for—cozy, joyful, festive, and incredibly relaxed.

New Year’s Eve Wedding Party

Once Ginnie and Malcolm opened the dance floor with their first dance, it stayed lively and full until the moment I left the wedding.

The celebration struck the perfect balance—just enough nods to the New Year’s Eve festivities without overshadowing this wonderful couple’s wedding. I admired how Ginnie curated the evening and how the guests appreciated her thoughtful planning.

During the dances, Ginnie reminded me of her wish to have group photos of their guests and families—not in a typical photo booth style but something more elegant. I suggested we use the fireplace in the lobby of Whistle Bear as a backdrop, which allowed us to accommodate larger groups and create timeless photos.

I captured many beautiful group shots there, giving their guests a chance to commemorate both the wedding and the New Year’s Eve celebration. The last time I checked the clock, it was 11:15 p.m., and I wondered if the energy in the room would carry everyone through to the countdown and the arrival of the new year.

The McDonald’s Burgers as a Late-Night Snack

At the far end of the room, two projector screens displayed the countdown to the new year. At one point, I noticed people munching on McDonald’s burgers, which struck me as unusual. But as I continued working, I saw a table full of wrapped McDonald’s burgers, and to my surprise, Ginnie and Malcolm were enjoying a couple themselves.

Given the amount of alcohol consumed earlier, I wasn’t sure how their guests would keep going through the night. But the burgers made sense—they helped absorb the alcohol, kept everyone from getting too tipsy, and energized them for more dancing and fun.

As I marvelled at the McDonald’s phenomenon, I realized it was only minutes until midnight. With Erika having already left, it was just me left to document the rest of the New Year’s Eve wedding.

Most of the guests had gone outside, where local fireworks were being prepared, and it seemed like the main celebration was about to unfold. I decided to focus on capturing documentary-style images, documenting the genuine, candid moments of the night.

Before I knew it, the countdown had arrived, and everyone rushed back to the dance floor as Ginnie and Malcolm went to cut their cake and share a sweet bite together.

After capturing those moments, I said my goodbyes and left the party. Little did I know, the following year, I would return to photograph Ginnie’s son Jack and his now-wife Quinn’s wedding at the same venue—this time in The Rose Room, just one floor above. Here are a few of their Instagram photos from this past fall.

Thank you so much, Ginnie and Malcolm, for inviting me into your family’s memories and treating me like part of the family. It was a true pleasure being a part of your joyful celebration.

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

Here is another celebration at Whistle Bear, Hunter and James’ wedding.