Alyssa and Adrian’s documentary beautifully captured their Manor wedding, one of the first events where we embraced full documentary and photojournalistic coverage. While we did include some posed shots, our main goal was to give them a genuine documentary experience of their special day at the Manor.

The Manor Wedding Documentary Photo Coverage

We met with Alyssa and her mom at our last National Wedding Show. The emotions Alyssa’s mom displayed while viewing our documentary album, filled with raw and genuine black-and-white wedding images, left a lasting impression on me. We finalized the booking a few months later, and Alyssa and Adrian began planning their engagement session. Their unique winery engagement session allowed us to capture great photos at multiple locations in the Whitchurch-Stouffville area.

Getting-Ready Photos Italian Style

Alyssa and Adrian chose the newly created documentary coverage collection. It offers full-day coverage for up to 14 hours with two photographers and includes three sets of albums: one for the couple and one for each set of parents.

Erika was my second photographer for the day. She went to Adrian’s parents’ house, where Adrian and the groomsmen were getting ready. That year, we covered many Italian weddings, which were always lively with the boys’ activities and antipasto. While Erika captured Adrian’s preparations, I had a full four hours to focus on Alyssa’s getting-ready photos.

I went to Alyssa’s getting-ready location at her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s place. With lots of time available, I decided to capture their getting-ready photos candidly, avoiding any posed shots. I worked as quickly as the environment allowed, capturing images I rarely had the opportunity to focus on. However, as often happens with getting-ready photos, makeup ran behind schedule. This meant we needed to rush to the ceremony with less time for pictures than initially planned.

The Manor Wedding Venue at Kettleby by Peter and Paul

The Manor at Kettleby, a one-stop wedding location, was an amazing place for Alyssa and Adrian’s wedding. For their Manor wedding, they chose the tent on the lower part overlooking the pond and the nearby gazebo for their ceremony area. Erika was already there when I arrived, capturing photos of the decorations and the reception setup.

After aligning our photography plans, I met Adrian and worked with the groomsmen as they welcomed guests to the ceremony area. Meanwhile, Erika went up to meet the bridesmaids and took photos, adding her unique style. This approach allowed us to provide multiple coverage styles, giving Alyssa and Adrian a wide range of images to choose from for their keepsakes.

The Outdoor Wedding Ceremony by The Pond

The outdoor wedding ceremony was beautifully set up, with the sun shining and everything going as planned. At the scheduled time, the bridal party started arriving. Wedding ceremonies are exceptionally important for Erika and me because they are full of raw emotions and offer perfect opportunities for documentary-style photography. Adrian’s tears flowed freely, showing the depth of his emotions. He had recently lost his grandfather, which made his feelings even more intense whenever he looked at his sweet grandmother. The outdoor setting was ideal, allowing me to capture different perspectives by climbing the nearby elevated hill or positioning myself behind the gazebo to photograph the guests and the ceremony.

The Immediate Family and The Bridal Party Photo Session

Once the ceremony finished and two of them left the area, we did not need to walk too far to set ourselves up for their photo session. We were right by the designated photo spot, where we started taking lots of photos with the family and bridal party. Italian weddings usually move quickly into the receiving line, so we had limited time for personal shots of Alyssa and Adrian. Still, I reminded myself it was all part of capturing their day in full documentary style. The tent and photo area at The Manor gave us great shade, so the lighting was very consistent and beautiful.

Tent Wedding at The Manor

The reception line was set up perfectly, creating a great opportunity for guests to mingle with the bridal party, the bride and groom, and their families. Everyone was having a fantastic time, enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of the venue while servers treated them to tasty appetizers and cool drinks on this hot August day.

After their grand entrance, Alyssa and Adrian moved to the dance floor. It was set up right in front of the tent beside their head table by the pond. The atmosphere was amazing, especially with a breathtaking rainbow appearing overhead during their dance. It took some maneuvering to capture the full 180-degree arc of the rainbow and the couple below, but I made sure to get the shot.

I loved how their head table was arranged. It allowed me to capture unique and memorable photos of their wedding without interrupting their dinner and other activities.

Full Moon Nighttime Session with Water Reflections

Being outside at a tent wedding, I realized that we had a full moon for their wedding. I got excited about being able to capture it. However, I had to plan as fast as possible to avoid making my couple bored. While ensuring the pavilion’s beauty and reflection were captured in the pond’s water.

I was glad I had brought my tripod that day, which allowed me to set up for my favourite nighttime photography session of the summer.
While I positioned myself on the rocks across the pond from the gazebo, Erika guided Alyssa and Adrian into the pavilion. We used continuous lighting to backlight them while I opened the shutter and allowed all the available light to flow into the sensor.
With that setup, I could capture not only the moon and the gazebo’s reflection in the water but also the gentle sparkle of lights on its roof. Most importantly, I was able to capture the couple perfectly framed within the peaceful ambiance of the pavilion.

Wedding Party Time

After capturing the images we wanted, I was happy to focus on their party photos while Erika prepared to leave. The party and dance floor were set up in the Manor, next to the tent where the reception dinner had previously been held.

This setup allowed guests who preferred seating to stay outside while others moved indoors to enjoy dancing, drinks, and the delightful sweet table towards the end of the evening. I covered every aspect of their day, and once I finished the last one, it was time for me to say goodbye.
It was a fantastic experience documenting Alyssa and Adrian’s wedding in a journalistic style, just as they had opted for. I’m eagerly anticipating photographing another Manor wedding at this location in September.

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

Here is another wedding as part of Peter and Paul Hospitality Group. The wedding of Dorota and Glenn at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, ON.