Natasha and Shaun had to postpone their Nottawasaga Inn Resort wedding three times. As the saying goes, the third time’s the charm—and that was certainly true for them.
We originally started planning their wedding before the pandemic, with a set date and location. But when the pandemic hit, they had no choice but to cancel. They later shared a new date and venue with me, but life had other plans. They welcomed a beautiful baby girl, and their date changed once again.
And that’s how we finally arrived at the perfect date and location for their Nottawasaga Inn Resort wedding.

How Our Connection Grew For Their Nottawasaga Inn Resort Wedding

While waiting for their new wedding date and location, Natasha and Shaun remained actively involved in planning, sharing every detail with me along the way.
We scheduled their winter engagement session in Mono at their favourite spot—where they love spending time together, especially playing Shaun’s favourite sport, hockey.

Their engagement session was a wonderful opportunity to connect and get a sense of how we would work together on their wedding day.
The following year, Natasha reached out again, this time asking me to capture maternity photos at the same location. I was thrilled to be part of yet another meaningful chapter in their lives. I understood that for Natasha and Shaun, life was unfolding in its own order, and they were embracing each moment in the way that felt right for their growing family.

The following winter, Shaun invited me to his family home to photograph the arrival of their baby girl. I marvelled at how they stepped into their new roles as mom and dad. The love they shared for each other and their little one warmed my heart.

This young family never gave up on their dreams and plans for the future. Instead, they adjusted, adapted, and made space for life’s beautiful surprises, all while navigating the challenges the pandemic brought to everyone.

The Third Time is The Charm

That same year, as I documented their family photos and the arrival of their baby girl, Natasha and Shaun finally set a date and location for their wedding.

They chose the Nottawasaga Inn Resort & Conference Centre in Alliston, with their big day set for September 3rd. The date wasn’t too far from their original plan—just a couple of years later than expected.

This was my first Nottawasaga Inn Resort wedding, and I was excited to capture their long-awaited celebration. With all the events taking place at the resort, it was a relief to work without worrying about travel time or other logistical challenges that can come with a wedding day.

I felt excited to have Erika as my second photographer, ensuring that Natasha and Shaun would receive a fantastic collection of memories. I arrived early to capture Natasha’s getting-ready moments, while Erika planned to work with Shaun and the groomsmen later.

Their little girl was with Shaun’s parents, and with the extra help of a babysitter, they had peace of mind knowing she was well cared for while everyone else was busy preparing for the day.

The Getting-Ready Pictures at Nottawasaga Inn Resort Wedding

As a hairstylist, Natasha had everything perfectly organized for herself and her bridesmaids.

When I arrived at their bridal suite, I could sense the room’s excitement and happy atmosphere. Rather than being the center of attention, Natasha was in her element—helping her bridesmaids with their hair while sipping mimosas and enjoying the getting-ready moments.

Understanding how tight wedding day timelines can be for everyone involved, I didn’t want to take up their time with posed images. Instead, I focused on capturing candid moments, ensuring a natural and documentary-style coverage of this part of the day.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the resort, Erika worked with Shaun, his parents, and their daughter as the groomsmen gradually arrived at his room. Once she had taken all the necessary photos, she made her way to Natasha’s bridal suite, bringing Natasha’s daughter with her. This allowed us to capture some truly heartwarming moments as Natasha dressed her little girl in her first wedding ceremony dress.

I focused on capturing these moments naturally, without posing, before heading to meet the groomsmen at the outdoor ceremony site. Erika stayed with Natasha and her bridesmaids, documenting the final preparations until it was time for the ceremony.

The Wedding Ceremony at Nottawasaga Inn Resort in Alliston

Although it was September, and I expected milder weather, the wedding day turned out to be extremely humid. Inside the resort, it was hardly noticeable. Still, as soon as I stepped outside toward the ceremony site—a large gazebo at the edge of the pond in front of the Nottawasaga Inn Resort—I immediately felt the heat.

With varying forecasts predicting rain, sun, and wind, I felt relieved that we only had to face humidity instead of dealing with unpredictable weather conditions.

While waiting for a few late guests to arrive, I took the opportunity to work with the groomsmen and capture some sweet moments between Shaun, his daughter, and his parents.

As the ceremony began, I took my position at the front of the gazebo while Erika covered Natasha’s arrival from behind. With perfect positioning, we were able to capture the entire ceremony beautifully.
There were so many heartfelt moments—Natasha’s tears, her junior bridesmaid’s emotions, and the joy on Shaun and his groomsmen’s faces—all preserved in candid photos.

Since the ceremony site was conveniently close to where we had planned to take bridal portraits, there was no need to rush. We allowed the wedding party and guests to make their way to the cocktail hour at their own pace while I began working with Natasha, Shaun, and their little girl on capturing their portraits.

The Bridal Portraits at Nottawasaga Inn Resort Wedding

I wasn’t sure how long their little girl would be in the mood for photos, so I prioritized capturing their young family first before moving on to other portraits.

Once those were done, we took some immediate family photos by the gazebo before I began working with the bridal party. We had plenty of time, but I knew lingering too long might affect everyone’s energy. To keep things moving smoothly, Erika focused on the groomsmen while I worked with Natasha and her bridesmaids.

Natasha’s bridal party was a mix of her sisters and close friends, so we captured a variety of group combinations to include everyone. After finishing the bridal party portraits, we sent them inside the resort to enjoy some cold drinks and appetizers while we focused on the newlyweds.

By this time, the sun had begun to set, casting a gorgeous golden-hour glow. Without wasting a moment, I started working with Natasha and Shaun on the bridge while Erika positioned herself on the opposite side to capture different angles and perspectives. Knowing we had limited time, we made the most of the warm evening light.

Gradually, we moved through the garden toward the resort, allowing Natasha and Shaun to enjoy the moment while soaking in the beautiful sunset. Just a few feet from the resort, at the garden’s edge, we captured some of my favourite photos from the day. With smiles all around, we wrapped up their photo session, closing a beautiful chapter of their Nottawasaga Inn Resort wedding.

The Wedding Reception Dinner at Nottawasaga Inn Resort

I knew that Natasha and Shaun weren’t rushing back to the resort just for their cocktail reception—they wanted to spend time with their little one and check that the reception setup was exactly as she had planned.

Without her needing to say a word, I could read her body language and understood how important this was to her. So, while they took their time, Erika and I headed to the reception area and cocktail party to capture candid moments of their guests enjoying the celebration.

The temperature was much more comfortable inside, and we were relieved to have completed the outdoor photos. While the Nottawasaga Inn Resort offers access to a golf course, rolling hills, and many picturesque locations, Natasha and Shaun had chosen not to use them. Their wedding plans and priorities had shifted since we began planning, and I completely respected their decisions. Instead of questioning, I focused on understanding their needs and checked in regularly to see if they wanted anything else from me.

Natasha and Shaun had arranged for Erika and me to be seated with Shaun’s parents at the first table next to the head table, which was an incredible honour. As we chatted, they shared some horror stories from a wedding they had attended, where the photographer was nowhere to be found and refused to extend coverage simply because their time was up.
I completely understood their concerns and made sure that kind of experience would never happen with me.

The First Dance With Party of Three

As Natasha and Shaun entered the reception hall, they went straight into their first dance. Midway through, Shaun’s parents brought out their daughter, who had changed into her second dress—a beautiful blue gown for the reception. Natasha and Shaun held her tiny hands and danced with her, creating a heartwarming moment that perfectly captured their joy.

Watching them together, I couldn’t help but admire how far they had come. Despite all the changes and uncertainties leading up to the day, they had embraced it all, and now it was time to celebrate with their loved ones. Their immediate family knew the challenges they had faced, making this moment even more meaningful.

Dinner was quick but memorable, filled with delicious food and heartfelt speeches. Natasha and Shaun soaked up every moment, enjoying being at the center of attention. Once the dance floor opened, nearly 90% of their guests rushed to it, keeping the energy high and the celebration in full swing.

It’s not always obvious how big the dancing crowd will be until the bar opens and the music starts—but for Natasha and Shaun’s wedding, the dance floor was packed from the start. Not wanting to interrupt the fun, I made my way onto the dance floor to check in one last time, asking if there was anything else they needed before I left. After sharing a big hug, I said my goodbyes, leaving them to continue the night surrounded by love and laughter.

Being part of Natasha and Shaun’s journey and capturing their milestones and memories was truly an honour. Thank you, Natasha and Shaun, for inviting me to be part of your Nottawasaga Inn Resort wedding—it was an unforgettable experience!

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

Here is another celebration with amazing golf wedding venue in the blog post Dundas Valley Golf Club Wedding in Summer with Taylor and Dominic.