Giselle and Aleksej’s Sassafraz wedding photos were the first wedding I photographed in 2024. Giselle and I originally connected at my booth at the Modern Bride wedding expo last winter. Aleksej wasn’t with her at the time, so we arranged a meeting at my place in Guelph to discuss plans. With Aleksej being of Serbian heritage, we connected instantly and started planning how to approach their wedding at Sassafraz, a modern city wedding venue in the Toronto Yorkville Area.

Our first photoshoot together was for their engagement session, which we held at Humber Park and Sheldon Lookout. Here are some of those engagement photos posted to my Instagram account.
Having a spring wedding, we were curious to know how Sassafraz’s wedding photos would turn out. We depended on many factors, such as unpredictable weather conditions like rain, cold, wind, and traffic in the city.

Scouting the Perfect Spots for Sassafraz Wedding Photos

During our final meeting before the wedding, we decided to have both of them visit the Yorkville area and scout places where they wanted us to go on the wedding day. I photographed Stephanie and Constatin’s wedding in the Yorkville Area many years ago. From experience, I knew that while Toronto’s busy streets could create a cool city vibe. On the other hand, they might also make it challenging to avoid background traffic.

Although I couldn’t visit Sassafraz in person beforehand, I looked up photos online to get a feel for the space. Sassafraz is a stunning, two-story restaurant. The lower floor is divided into a casual dining area with a bar and a larger event space. The second floor is open and bright, with windows on three sides—perfect for the ceremony and cocktail reception. A small part of the 2nd floor was dedicated to a bridal suite, and my favourite part was the balcony overlooking the reception area and the head table for my couple. This is where I later took some favourite shots of Giselle and Aleksej with their bridesmaids and families.

Capturing Special Moments at the Sassafraz Wedding

Before I arrived at Sassafraz, I stopped at Aleksej’s place, where the boys were getting ready. I only had a little time for their photos. Luckily, they were all set when I arrived. This put me ahead of my schedule and gave me plenty of time to take some fun candid shots of Aleksej and his friends, as well as some group photos in the lobby.

The atmosphere was amazing! It already felt like a fantastic wedding day just watching Aleksej and the guys interact with each other. Aleksej had pointed out a few small details that were especially important to him, so I also made sure to capture those. We even got a great shot of him with his dog. The dog looked puzzled by all the commotion. He didn’t understand why so many people were in the house or why he wasn’t allowed out of his room.

On the Way to Yorkville

After finishing up with the boys, I headed to the Yorkville area well ahead of schedule, fully prepared for any unexpected challenges that might come up at the venue.

As with most Toronto venues, the most stressful part was finding parking close enough to offload my photography equipment efficiently and avoid multiple trips. Anticipating this, I had scouted all the nearby parking options beforehand, knowing exactly where I planned to park and how to get to Sassafraz.

Despite having an extra 30 minutes, heavy traffic ate up all my buffer time, and I arrived just in time to start photographing Giselle at the venue. The cocktail area had been transformed into a space for hair and makeup, which provided a great opportunity to capture candid photos the moment I walked in.

Equipment for Excellence

For this wedding, I used my Sony camera—purchased just two months earlier—alongside my two Canon bodies. While I originally planned to use all three cameras, I had replaced my Canon 50mm lens with a 50mm Sony lens. Shooting with a wide-open f/1.4 aperture and a shallow depth of field, it created an incredible experience, perfectly suited for capturing the beauty of Giselle’s wedding day.

Excited to get started, I dove into photographing every detail, and time seemed to fly by instantly. I managed to capture all the getting-ready photos on schedule, including some lovely shots with Giselle’s bridesmaids, before heading to the first-look photos with Aleksej.

The Outdoor Challenge

After leaving them at the venue, I headed outside to scout the best spot for their photos. The moment I stepped out of Sassafraz, I realized this was going to be a challenge.

The wind was gusting through the Yorkville buildings, and the unshaded areas were bathed in harsh, bright sunlight. On the other hand, the shaded spots were bitterly cold, with reflections from nearby buildings casting a blue hue into the shadows. This created a tricky split-lighting situation.

I decided to work with the shade and the blue hue, positioning Aleksej in the shadows and facing the bustling road. My goal was to expose for them in a way that softened the busy street behind them, creating a more serene backdrop.

The Moment of Connection

While I was setting up, Giselle had already come outside, visibly eager and not too patient with the wait. Realizing I couldn’t keep them apart for long, I asked Giselle to walk toward Aleksej, deliberately choosing the longest path to give me a chance to capture her journey. This allowed me to document some beautiful candid moments, including her curious and heartfelt expressions as she approached him.

Knowing there was little room for mistakes, I double-checked all my cameras. I wanted to make sure they were ready for this unforgettable first look. The photos turned out beautifully. Both Giselle and Aleksej radiated joy and excitement, ready to say their “I do’s” after this special moment.

Capturing the Essence of Sassafraz Wedding Photos

The images we captured of them were short and sweet, and we quickly transitioned to taking family and bridal party pictures. Our goal was to give their families and bridal party time to finish their final preparations at the venue while we took photos in the Yorkville area. Once we wrapped up, we sent everyone inside, leaving just the three of us to continue.

I led Giselle and Aleksej to an alley nestled between two reflective buildings. Despite the cold wind, the lighting was perfect, so I asked Giselle if we could linger there before moving to the storefront area for the remainder of their outdoor photos.

One spot caught my eye—a mural on the wall depicting a couple embracing in a window. Inspired by it, I positioned Giselle and Aleksej just below the painting, replicating the pose with them. This part of the street was sheltered from the wind, making it an ideal spot to spend most of our 10-minute photo session.

As we returned to Sassafraz, I took advantage of their candid walk to snap some charming photos. I constantly changed my perspective, capturing them from storefront entrances, the second floor, and basement levels to create dynamic shots.

Finally, we ended the outdoor session with a few photos in front of Sassafraz itself, wrapping up this segment of their wedding day photography with some truly memorable images.

A Perfect Ceremony Setting

We arrived right on time for the wedding ceremony. The room was packed with their guests, and everything was perfectly set up. The space chosen for the ceremony and reception was ideal, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that suited the crowd beautifully. Their personal vows added a heartfelt and unique touch to the ceremony. Before we knew it, Giselle and Aleksej were walking out as husband and wife, ending with Aleksej dipping Giselle for a celebratory kiss.

Before the ceremony began, I captured a few photos of the couple from the balcony overlooking the reception area—a spot with a stunning perspective. Afterward, it was time for family portraits. Unlike the outdoor session, the warmth of the indoor setting made for a much more comfortable experience, resulting in plenty of genuine, smiling faces.

Before the reception dinner started, I took Giselle and Aleksej to the lower part of the restaurant. We found a gorgeous ivy wall just behind their head table, which provided the perfect backdrop for a few intimate photos of the two of them.

The Mariachi Surprise

Aleksej’s father, a talented musician and professional performer, had planned a special surprise for the newlyweds. He arranged for a Mariachi trio to perform at his son’s wedding, a thoughtful nod to Giselle’s Latino heritage. And what a surprise it was—delightful and heartwarming for everyone involved.

After the grand entrance, the Mariachi trio entered the restaurant and began their performance. The vibrant music filled the space, creating an unforgettable experience. Aleksej’s father clearly moved, teared up as he recorded the moment from the sidelines. The trio’s performance added an uplifting energy to the evening, setting a joyful tone as they welcomed the couple. Before departing, we captured some fun photos of the newlyweds wearing sombreros, making the memory even more special.

The atmosphere throughout the evening was nothing short of magical—warm, cozy, and perfectly tailored to Giselle and Aleksej’s tastes. During the dinner, I documented a few heartfelt speeches between courses. As the evening progressed, I began moving my lighting equipment to the upper level of the venue, preparing for the reception party that would carry on the celebration in style.

The Joyful Celebration

Giselle and Aleksej kicked off the evening with their first dance. They were followed by dances with their parents and more joyful moments. I love working in intimate venues like Sassafraz. The ceremony, reception, dinner, and cocktail hour are held in separate rooms, which keeps the flow fresh. It also offers unique photo opportunities. Moving and resetting lighting and equipment in these venues can be challenging, but good planning makes it manageable.

My coverage for their wedding was limited to 8 hours, so I had to be mindful of time. To make the most of it, I asked Aleksej to step outside and light the cigars he had planned to share with his friends. Standing across the street, I captured candid shots of the group laughing and enjoying the moment. However, I also wanted to create my signature nighttime photos. To save time, I decided to take these indoors instead of braving the cold and busy streets.

Creating Stunning Indoor Nighttime Portraits

In the corridor of the venue, I found the perfect setup. One side featured mirrors, while the other had glass-covered shelves and cupboards. I positioned Giselle and Aleksej in the middle and lit them from behind, creating beautiful reflections on both sides. This indoor session worked perfectly, allowing me to deliver stunning shots without losing time.
Wrapping up this final set of photos was the perfect ending to an incredible day. Giselle and Aleksej’s joyful personalities and warm wedding atmosphere made capturing such unique and meaningful moments a pleasure. Despite concerns about rain, wind, and the cold, we captured every image we had hoped for.

Thank you, Giselle and Aleksej, for trusting me to document your special day and for the wonderful experience. Your Sassafraz wedding photos turned out beautifully, and I’m so grateful to have been part of your celebration!

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

Here is another elegant city wedding celebration at Casa Loma, Kelly and Phil’s wedding.