For Sana and Jonathan’s Tangle Creek Wedding, I witnessed a beautiful love story between two people. They seamlessly blended their religions into one marriage. Sana is Muslim, and Jonathan comes from a Chinese cultural background. Together, they chose to thoughtfully honour both their religious and cultural traditions. They did so in a way that was meaningful to them and their families. They celebrated their union at Tangle Creek Golf Club, a stunning venue in Southcentral Ontario known for its breathtaking views and rolling hills.

I had the pleasure of photographing my first Tangle Creek wedding 12 years ago, and I was excited to return to this beautiful location. Back then, I captured Connie and Oliver’s fall outdoor ceremony. I truly enjoyed both their celebration and everything the venue had to offer.
Coming back to the exact same spot after more than a decade, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But I was genuinely excited to be there again.

The Bond of Two Religions in This Tangle Creek Wedding

For Sana and Jonathan’s Tangle Creek wedding, most of my communication had been with Jonathan. Since they opted for wedding day coverage only, without any pre-wedding sessions, I hadn’t had the chance to meet them in person beforehand. Everything was arranged entirely online. All the information I had came from the detailed wedding questionnaires they completed as part of their contract.
Jonathan had requested that the coverage begin with the photo session, followed by the first of two wedding ceremonies. The day included an Islamic ceremony led by a local Imam, followed by a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

Excited and anticipating a beautiful celebration, I arrived at the venue well ahead of time to get familiar with any new or unknown areas and to scout out the best spots we could use throughout the day.

The first thing I noticed upon arriving at Tangle Creek was how much the landscape had changed. I wouldn’t have recognized it if I hadn’t known I was returning to a place I had photographed before.
At the front of Tangle Creek Golf Club, a large artificial pond had been added. I immediately started envisioning how perfect it would be for nighttime photos.

Stepping into the reception area, I was struck by how unrecognizable it was. The entire space had been renovated since my last visit. The flooring had been completely replaced, and brighter colours gave it a more spacious, modern, and polished look.

The Fascinating Transformation of The Wedding Venue

When I looked out from the balcony toward the outdoor ceremony site, memories of its beauty came rushing back. The rolling hills and stunning forest views were just as breathtaking as I had remembered.
The reception area was already set up. After setting up my lighting equipment, I started capturing all the small details Sana and Jonathan had carefully planned to create a memorable experience for their guests.
Every element had been thoughtfully curated. From the charming honey jar favours to the beautifully designed cake and the carefully arranged cake-cutting setup, everything showed intention.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Christine, the wedding coordinator. Right away, I could tell that working with her and her team would be a great experience.

I finished photographing the reception space and the balcony, which was set up for the cocktail hour. Then, I headed to the outdoor ceremony area to capture its setup. The newly improved pathway leading to the ceremony site immediately inspired me to adjust my approach for later in the day. The contrast of the white chairs lined up in front of the gazebo against the lush green grass created a striking visual.

By capturing these setup shots early, I gained extra time later in the day. That was crucial since I had to photograph two back-to-back ceremonies.Being the only photographer, I knew that taking care of these images in advance would allow me to focus on capturing more moments later without feeling rushed or stressed.

The Photo Session at This Tangle Creek Wedding

I met Jonathan before Sana, and his cheerful smile immediately reassured me that we were in for a fantastic wedding.

Since they arrived together, we skipped the traditional first look and went straight into the photo session. With the help of an assistant wedding coordinator and one of their friends, we made our way to a scenic part of the golf course to begin.

I was a bit nervous—this was my first time meeting both of them, and I had just 30 minutes to come up with the perfect poses, locations, and directions on the spot. There was no room for mistakes.

Hiding my nerves, I focused on reading their body language and getting a sense of their dynamic. I quickly noticed they both had down-to-earth personalities and a naturally happy, smiling presence. They shared such loving glances that I didn’t waste any time getting started.

I positioned them in a shaded area to keep them comfortable in the midday sun, with the stunning Tangle Creek landscape as their backdrop. As I began capturing their photos, it became clear how deeply in love they were. Their connection was so natural and effortless. So much so that it inspired me to use poses I typically reserve for couples I know well or have worked with multiple times before their wedding.

As we made our way back to the venue, we paused at different spots that caught our eye, taking advantage of unique locations to create even more stunning images. Despite meeting them just 30 minutes earlier, we captured a full set of wedding portraits in half the time I usually need.
By the time we returned to the reception area, I was amazed at how smoothly the entire session had gone.

The Islamic Wedding Ceremony on a Golf Club

As I mentioned earlier, Jonathan told me they would begin with an outdoor ceremony led by the Imam, followed by their indoor Chinese tea ceremony.

Before the ceremony started, I introduced myself to the Imam and asked if there were any specific guidelines I should follow. He was very relaxed and assured me there were no special instructions—I was free to work as I saw fit. His openness allowed me the creative freedom to capture this moment in a fully documentary style.

I always appreciate when I’m able to document a wedding naturally, as it allows me to preserve the couple’s memories in their true essence.
>Sana and Jonathan walked down the aisle together and took their seats in the gazebo alongside their parents—Jonathan on the left and Sana on the right, from the guests’ perspective.

Throughout the Imam’s Muslim wedding ceremony, I was struck by the deep respect shown by every guest, regardless of their religious background. It was a beautiful moment of unity and reverence. Once the ceremony concluded and Sana and Jonathan were officially announced as husband and wife, we took immediate family photos while everyone was still gathered in the outdoor ceremony space. After that, we sent their families inside for the Chinese tea ceremony.

While guests transitioned to the indoor reception area, we stayed outside a little longer to capture additional photos with the bridal party, including group shots of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony

The tea ceremony took place in one of the smaller rooms at the golf club, making it a challenge to photograph in such a tight space filled with guests.

Having experience with tea ceremonies, I ensured there was enough room between the chairs and the wall to capture the moment from multiple angles. I’ve always loved this tradition—the act of offering tea to family members and the exchange of red envelopes is such a meaningful gesture. It was especially touching to see Sana’s family respectfully embrace and engage with this unfamiliar custom.

As is tradition, I also received a red envelope—something that happens at nearly every tea ceremony I photograph.

This part of the wedding is always rich with emotion, full of heartfelt hugs and authentic moments. There is so much respect and appreciation between the couple and their guests as they offer tea and express their gratitude for their presence on this special day.

Photographing their Tangle Creek wedding, I was struck by the incredible diversity of their guests and how seamlessly everything unfolded. There was no sense of stress, frustration, or tension—just joy and celebration.

The Wedding Reception at Tangle Creek Golf Club

Through their wedding questionnaires, I learned that Sana and Jonathan’s reception would be quite different from most. Instead of heavy dancing and drinking, they planned a series of interactive group games for their guests. As a non-alcoholic wedding, it was refreshing to see people fully engaged in the festivities, genuinely enjoying themselves without relying on alcohol for excitement or energy. It was one of the rare receptions I’ve photographed where the joy and laughter were entirely natural, with no risk of misbehaviour or forced merriment.

Their reception struck the perfect balance between structure and relaxation, featuring many heartfelt speeches from close friends and family. The atmosphere was warm, emotional, and filled with love. At one point, as I stepped outside to take in the scenery, I was completely taken aback. I had to pause for a moment just to appreciate what I was seeing!

The sky was ablaze with one of the most breathtaking sunsets I had ever witnessed. The sun was sinking into the horizon, casting a golden glow over the rolling hills. I immediately set aside the schedule for the next ten minutes and invited Sana and Jonathan to step outside and see it for themselves.

As they walked toward the fading sun, completely mesmerized, I followed behind them, capturing every moment. The wildflowers, the landscape, the angles, the light, and most importantly, their undeniable happiness all came together to create some of the most stunning sunset photos I have ever taken.

As we wrapped up, I turned around and realized their entire reception had come outside, captivated by the view. Guests were taking photos on their phones, trying to preserve the beauty of the moment in their own way.

The Night Photo Session at Tangle Creek

It was incredibly heartwarming to capture something so special for a couple as kind and deserving as Sana and Jonathan. Their love for each other and for those around them made it all the more meaningful.

As the night settled in under the glow of the incredible sunset photos, I captured the dancing and games inside while the venue was blanketed in the warmth of the evening.

Working through the groups, I made sure we covered everything that Sana and Jonathan had requested. Slowly, I started preparing to wrap up my coverage.

But then I remembered—we hadn’t done our nighttime photos yet. So, I stepped outside and headed straight to two spots I had in mind.

The first was the balcony. I had a vision of them there, bathed in a beautiful backlight, while their guests mingled inside, softly blurred in the background. I brought them outside, explained the idea, and set up to capture the moment.

 

Tangle Creek Signature Photos

The night sky was pitch black, free of light pollution, which made it easy to catch the stars in the frame. However, it was challenging to keep the focus on my couple, but we made it work.

Once we finished those shots, we moved to the front of the venue, where I had planned to take some photos by the pond. It was so dark there that my camera couldn’t even detect them from the angle I wanted to shoot. No worries, though! Just as I was about to head back toward the venue, I spotted a large tree right in front of the side door to the reception.

I set up my flash to bounce off the tree branches and positioned Sana and Jonathan in front of it. And that was the final photo I took of their beautiful Tangle Creek wedding.

Thank you, Sana and Jonathan, for allowing me to witness and capture the profound and unique bond between two religions, united by the most powerful force in the world—your true love.

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

Here is another golf club wedding. In the blog post Beautiful Pipers Heath Wedding Photos: Sunset and Rolling Hills with Jessica and Chris.