So like so many of our weddings this year, this was the celebration part of their wedding and they'd had the official ceremony back in the spring when the restrictions were extra tight. This day was filled with all of the very most important people in their lives, except Nadine's brother who was unable to get a flight. But they had the most hilarious stunt double for him, you guys will see what I mean below. Everything went off beautifully and I have to say that Nadine is probably wearing my dream dress, she looks absolutely perfect in it. You can tell that Josh does too - even though they are already technically married, just his reaction of seeing her walk down the aisle is so beautiful. 

As always, Earth To Table Farm did a fantastic job here and we always highly recommend them if you want an upscale farm wedding. You really can't beat their gorgeous ceremony location next to a field of wildflowers and because it's done be Pearle Weddings, you know the food is going to be amazing. 

Take a look at some of my favourite images from Nadine & Josh's intimate wedding! If you're interested in having our team come out for your wedding, contact me (Kate) today and lets set up a chat! 

Contact us today to discuss how we can help you capture your beautiful day! 

Chelsey & Patrick and their cutie little boy celebrated their marriage in their parents backyard. Not their first choice, but looking back, everything that mattered was there. And it was seriously beautiful. All of the laughter and happy tears and funny moments and stories, everything was there and everyone that truly, truly mattered to them was there too. You can see it in their faces and in the gentle way their family touches and supports each other. In the way that they just dote on the very cutest little ring bearer. 

If you're considering an intimate wedding, honestly - and this is coming from someone who has run and operated a wedding photography company for almost 10 years - the intimate weddings are always the most special. So don't worry about not having that huge wedding you dreamed of. Or even, lets be honest, maybe it's the huge wedding your parents dreamed of. It's up to you, but these little ones? They are just as special. If you're interested in having Mike or Jessica capture your special day - no matter how big or small, connect with me today and lets chat. 

Isn't that actually the cutest thing?

Needless to say their wedding was super emotional, honestly I just can't help but squeal a little when I see emotional grooms like Dane. Mike was teary eyed on our wedding day and it's just the best thing ever to make a grown man cry because he's so happy.

Jessica and Dane not only share a long history together, they are both professional rock climbers. Mike got a chance to do a really cool rock climbing engagement shoot with them and it was such a fun experience. 

These two opted to have a first reveal at The Cotton Factory and it'll just melt your heart. Later on they headed over to a Hamilton, Ontario classic wedding venue, Carmen's Banquet Hall. It was such a pleasure shooting this wedding with so many elements to it that made us fall in love with our job all over again. 

Take a look at some of my faves! If you're interested in having our team be a part of your day, let me know, we'd love to chat! 

Wasn't that the sweetest wedding? If you're interested in seeing how our team can capture your day, give us a shout! 

All photographs in this blog were take by Mike Tigchelaar, Lead Photographer & Owner of Zekar Photography Inc. 

1. Interesting Venues

Some of our favourite small wedding venues in the Hamilton area include some cool restaurants in Hamilton's booming restaurant scene. Kendall & Greg had a fun, relaxed wedding at The Diplomat. You can't beat the cool vibe of this restaurant and all of the interesting urban and nooks and crannies to take photos in. 

There's also The Art Gallery of Hamilton. They have a pretty  little ceremony spot on the rooftop and their indoor ceremony space has the most beautiful natural light. Even though the hall can accommodate some larger weddings, it's also perfect for a sophisticated cocktail party style wedding.

You'll also want to check out The Spice Factory, especially if you're into the rustic, factory-chic vibe. You can get ready in their bridal suite, plus they have a cool fire table outside for late night drinks. 

Don't forget Aberdeen Tavern, Radius Dining & Lounge and Shawn & Ed's Brewery in Dundas. If you've got a smaller guest list, you can really get creative with your venue spots, plus the food is going to be more than just your standard chicken or beef. 

2. Smaller Guest List means only your VIP's

Have you ever been to a wedding where you can really tell that the couple doesn't even know 1/3 of their own guest list? These weddings are fun, don't get us wrong, but it's so much more of a meaningful celebration when you only have your very most important people around you. Weddings should be less about the show and performance of an event and more about a celebration of love and intimacy and forever promises to eachother. When Mike is working a wedding where everyone knows eachother, there are so many hugs and kisses and special moments between the guests that it makes his candid style of photography an absolute dream. Since you get all of your photos digitally, you can share your online album with your dad's bosses housekeeper (if you wish) and keep the real life stuff to the ones that love you the most. 

3. Relaxed vibe 

It is scientifically proven that time goes by way quicker on your wedding day than any other day of your life. :) Especially because its so busy, with all the prep and the hustle and bustle. They are always a ton of fun, but they can be socially exhausting, especially for us introverts. Rather than having a big long receiving line and a ton of speeches, small weddings tend to be a lot more relaxed. There are more barefeet on the dance floor, more outside hangouts on the venue steps, more fun drunken conversations with your best friends. And while you're having fun, Mike's out there capturing the whole thing for you to relive in your wedding album again and again.

Hopefully these three reasons are enough to encourage all of you who are seeking to have a small wedding and aren't sure how it's going to turn out. It's going to be awesome, I promise. Especially if you get Mike and the team at Zekar Photography to capture it - but I'm a little biased. 

Here are some more examples of intimate weddings we have photographed, these are definitely worth checking out:

Amanda & Steve's wedding at Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-On-The-Lake. 

Gillian & Alan's wedding at Jonathan's Restaurant in Oakville, Ontario. 

Davina & Jonathan's unique wedding at Orange Art Gallery in Ottawa, Ontario. 

If you're interested in chatting more about how we can make your day special, give me (Kate) a shout. We are currently offering special discounted rates for clients who book between August 2020 and October 2020, and we always have special rates for small and off season events. 

Nicole & Terry's wedding day took place at the beautiful Whistlebear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ontario. With soaring ceilings, enormous picture windows that let the most perfect natural light and a magical forest just near by, its no wonder this is one of our clients'  favourite venues. 

Here are my favourite photos from Nicole & Terry's magical day. I usually only include one or two from a certain series within a wedding day, but there was so much story to tell here I had to share them all. Enjoy these, and if you're interested in having all of the beautiful moments captured on your wedding day, we'd love to get in touch! 

To find out how you can have the team at Zekar Photography Studio capture your day, contact us today! 

Shawnette & Tony and baby Hendrix had a blast together, doing simple things like reading a book, snuggling and tickling eachother. It was the best and these shots will definitely make you smile. If you are interested in having Mike come to your home for a Day In The Life documentary family shoot, give us a shout and we'd love to connect with you! 

All of the photographs in this blog were taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Owner and Lead Photographer of Zekar Photography Studio Inc. We're based out of Hamilton, Ontario and we absolutely love to tell the story of your beautiful family. Connect with us to find out more information! 

Take a look at some of my favourite photos from Valerie & Seth's wedding. If you're interested in having the team at Zekar Photography be a part of your special day (no matter how short or long you've planned it!) give us a shout, we'd love to chat. 

We love focusing on fun, candid moments between you and the people who are the most special in your life. Connect with us to see how we can capture your amazing memories! 

All photographs were taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Owner and Lead Photographer of Zekar Photography Inc, based out of Hamilton, Ontario. We have been a professional photography company for over 8 years and our passion for our clients and love of storytelling has never changed. Contact us today to find out more about how we work and what we can do for you. 

The second really cool thing they did - they got ready together. They didn't have a bridal party crowding around, instead they opted for a quiet morning, helping each other look their very best for each other. There were so many sweet moments, from Davina helping Jonathan snip a few stray threads, to Jonathan zipping up Davina's absolutely stunning dress. This way of doing things may not be for everyone, but it was absolutely perfect for Davina and Jonathan and that's what every couple should do on their wedding day. Things that are important to them. 

After they were finished getting ready, Mike headed over to The Central Experimental Farm. The blossoms were out in all of their glory and with all the rain we'd had that day, they were absolutely stunning. (When I talk about rain here, I'm talking about the Ottawa River rising so high they closed the bridges, it was kinda cool but kinda scary at the same time) 

The wedding itself took place a really cool independent art gallery called Orange Gallery. It was intimate, funky and stylish all at once. All of the couples most treasured friends and family got to witness these two profess their forever love to each other and it was a beautiful ceremony in so many different ways. 

As is Mike's style here at Zekar Photography Studio, as soon as the sun went down Davina and Jonathan headed outside to get some amazing nighttime shots. The rain didn't let us down this time either by creating beautiful reflections and naturally curated bokeh. 

At last it was time to finish off the night with dancing and celebration. I'm loving how many more couples we see who have a choreographed dance that they have learned to make their first dance even more special. It adds a lot more importance to this tradition and its fun to work together on something for your wedding. Plus you look pretty amazing in front of all your guests! Or at least you look like you tried your best :) 

If you are interested in having our team out to capture your day, give us a shout! 

This was honestly one of my favourite weddings that Mike did in 2019, there's so much in each photo and I just really love how candid the whole event turned out. If you love our style and would like us to be a part of your wedding day, we'd love to hear from you! 

All photographs were taken by Mike Tigchelaar for Zekar Photography Inc. Still searching for the perfect wedding photographer? Check out our post 11 Things To Ask Your Wedding Photographer, it'll help cut through all the fluff and get right down to what you should be looking for when hiring the right professional for your big day. Contact us if you'd like to chat more! 

If you're interested in having one of our team come and document your special day, give us a shout - we'd love to connect with you! Feeling overwhelmed by the task of choosing a wedding photographer? Check out our blog called 11 Essential Questions To Ask Your Photographer. It'll help break everything down and hopefully ease the stress of this important decision! 

Take a look at my favourite shots from this incredible engagement shoot. These two highschool sweethearts have a deep connection and strength with each other in so many ways. These two look like they are models for a rock climbing ad or something, I just love it! 

If you're interested in having us capture you doing what you love best, connect with us - we'd love to chat! 

Interested in having the team at Zekar Photography capture your special event? Contact us today! 

Wasn't that beautiful? Plus, what a cool idea to hire an artist to do character sketches of each of your guests! Way more meaningful than a jar of jam :)

Did you love this wedding as much as we did? Contact us to discuss how we can be a part of your special day! 

Gillian & Alan's wedding took place on a cold December evening in the very romantic Jonathan's Fine Dining in Oakville, Ontario. This venue is a cozy haven in the wintertime with wonderful rich dark wooden beams and low candlelight. In other words, its a cozy haven with a wonderful vibe but it's also a delightful challenge from a photography standpoint, which Mike was totally up for. 

Check out some of my favourite shots from this beautiful evening, Gillian & Alan were just beaming the whole night and it was so special. Enjoy!

All photos were taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Zekar Photography Studio based out of Hamilton, Ontario. For event inquiries please contact us, we'd love to chat! This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography Inc. 

Sophia and Vince got ready at the C Hotel by Carmen's here in Hamilton. I love the themed room that Vince got ready in, it really suited his style and even matched his cool cufflinks. And can we talk about the absolute perfection that are Sophia's red lips? I am a super pale blonde person so a deep red lip doesn't always work on me, which is too bad because I think it's super beautiful. I'm pretty sure Vince was a big fan of how amazing Sophia looked too - just look at his expression as she walks down the aisle! This wedding was the perfect mix of Italian and Greek traditions, complete with the traditional greek dance with the koluk at the end of the night. 

The wedding ceremony was held at the Old Ancaster Town Hall. This is a really good alternative if you aren't into having a wedding at a church, it can fit just as many people and you can call your own shots. Plus from a photography standpoint, the natural light streaming through those windows is a dream. I love how Sophia and Vince did the traditional confetti toss as they walked out of the building, these two had a lot of fun with traditions throughout their day.  Before heading off to the reception hall, we made a quick stopover at The Cotton Factory. Our studio is located there and we love doing wedding party shots there, its so diverse and when its cold outside it's a great place to warm up. 

The reception was held at Carmen's Banquet Hall in Hamilton, Ontario. Carmen's does an excellent job at their weddings, they are super professional and they've been doing it forever so you know you're getting a venue that has a ton of experience. Kinda like our team here at Zekar Photography :) 

What did you think of this Hamilton winter wedding? If you'd like a member of our team to capture your special day, connect with me and I'd love to help you out! 

This blog post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager of for Zekar Photography Inc. All photos were taken by Mike Tigchelaar and Kamila Kuzmicka for Zekar Photography Inc. 

Later on at their post-ceremony celebration, they had the talented Candice Sand serenading their guests as they enjoyed their romantically relaxed day. 

Take a look at some of my very favourite images from Amanda and Steve's beautifully intimate, cocktail style wedding day! 

Did you love this wedding as much as I did? If you are interested in having us out to capture your event, give us a shout, we'd love to chat! 

These two met online (coincidentally on the same dating site Mike and I met) and even though Mat lived in another province at the time, it didn't take long for this long-distance relationship to become something they both knew they couldn't live without. Mat moved back to Ontario and the two of them fell deeply in love, bonding over everything from their similar life-goals to their love of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. I'll tell you more about their connection with Tom Petty in a second, you guys will definitely want to keep reading to find out about how these two ended up in a music video of their favourite band. 

On their wedding day, we started at Mat's house. He's a pretty cool cucumber, no nerves at all, just fueled himself up on Timmies and waited to meet his bride. His mom is one of the cutest mothers of the groom ever, she had the biggest, happiest smile the whole day. Like actually, the WHOLE day :) 

There are so many ways to honour a loved one who is watching from Heaven. The way that Pia had her Dad with her as she walked down the aisle was so special because it was kind of like they were holding hands as she held her bouquet. It kind of takes my breath away to think about the range of emotions that must have been going through Pia's heart that day as she was taking steps towards her husband, without her beloved Dad giving her away like she had dreamed of. 

"Imma gunna smoosh-a ya face." Kids are weird :)  

Before we go down the aisle, lets take a break so I can tell some more of that Tom Petty backstory. One of his last big concerts happened in Hyde Park, England. Pia and Mat just happened to be in Europe at the time and Mat surprised her with tickets to this huge, incredible concert. They had the very best time and Pia picked up a Tom Petty t-shirt to remember that incredible day.

Fast forward to the day Mat proposed.

He had driven 5 hours away to pick up her wedding ring and when he got back, he couldn't wait to surprise his girl again. He got down on one knee and proposed, and Pia, wearing the t-shirt she'd picked up from that fabulous concert, said YES! 

The day after her wedding, Pia noticed that The Heartbreakers were looking for videos and pictures from fans who had had a connection to Tom Petty. She sent in a clip of their first dance, which was set to "Here Comes My Girl", and it actually made it into the video! Check it out at 1:23 here :) 

Pia's gorgeous lipstick made a few extra appearances a couple of times that day :)

Pia's dress is one of my favourites from the year. It fits her completely perfectly and the delicate beading adds just enough glamour without being over the top. 

So Mat has held it together pretty well so far. But even Mike had tears in his eyes when Mat stood up and professed not only his love for Pia, but his deep desire to have met her father, the man who shaped who Pia is today. It was very emotional and truly beautiful. A girl who marries a guy who loves and respects her dad, even when he hasn't met him, is a very lucky girl.  

I love how this shot looks like it's something straight out of the Little Mermaid. One thing we love about Liuna Garden's is how dynamic the shoreline can be - we've shot weddings here where there has been everything from the most stunning sunset to an epic lightning storm. 

"We gonna last forever,’ And man, you know I can't begin to doubt it. No, because this feels so good and so free and so right, I know we ain't never goin' change our minds about it"
-Here Comes My Girl, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Wasn't that a beautiful wedding? So much fun and so many tears - happy and bittersweet and just perfect. Here's a list of vendors that helped make this such a special day: 

Hair: Anthony Diletti from Diletti Salon and Spa

Dress: Saratina Bridal

Suits: Moore’s

Makeup: Makeup by Chantal (and oh my goodness, were Pia's lips not THE perfect shade of red!) 

Flowers: Rose’s Craft's & Things

Did you love that wedding as much as I did? Give us a shout to find out how we can be a part of your wedding day, we'd love to chat! 

All pictures were taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Lead Photographer and Owner of Zekar Photography. This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography. 

We are Award Winning Winter Wedding Experts! Contact us today to find out more about our
off-season wedding discount!

We placed 12th in the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada Competition - Spring EditionWe placed 12th in the Professional Wedding Photographers of Canada Competition - Spring Edition
 

1. The Weather

It hardly ever pours rain in winter. Pouring snow (is that such a thing?) is so much prettier. And Mike, the owner and Lead Photographer here at Zekar Photography, gets really super excited when it snows on our couples wedding days. He's gotten some of the coolest (pun intended) shots he's ever taken in the middle of a snowstorm. See these two chickadees? They were totally into our surprisingly snowy shoot that day. 

It's also not so insanely hot that everyone and everything is melting. Your makeup will stay in place, your groom will not get woozy due to being in a suit in 35 degree weather and you can totally wear long johns under your dress. Actually, wouldn't that be hilarious to surprise your groom when he goes in for that garter at the end of the night? 

If you're worried about snowstorms and such, we recently did a wedding this past February and the day of the wedding was actually being called Snowmageddon. It snowed all the snow for the whole winter, on one day. All at once.

https://knowyourmeme.com

So everything ran quite a bit behind schedule (we're talking hours) and it was absolutely nobody's fault. So Mike offered to take this couple out on a separate day to get their wedding portraits done at no cost. We will always try and offer that if the wedding day gets sidetracked by things that are way out of anyone's control like that. The bride was so, so grateful for Mike's calm and optimistic demeanor that day, because man, that weather was a nail biter. It just goes to show how our 8 years of experience in the industry can make a big difference on your big day. And in all of our years of doing weddings, that was the only time we've ever actually had to do that. Weather things just seem to work out for the better somehow!
 

2. It's So Romantic

It really is! When you're hot, you kind of want to stick to high fives and dropping ice cubes down the backs of eachothers clothing. But when you're cold, there's not much else to do but snuggle right up and keep eachother warm. I'm thinking faux fir stoles, beautiful evergreen and cranberry bouquet creations and twinkly lights and candlelight as far as the eye can see. You could give hot chocolate kits as favours or even mistletoe Christmas ornaments, if you're into that kinda thing. 

3. Budget Friendly

This is a big one. No matter what the size of your wedding is, most wedding vendors offer off-season discounts. At Zekar Photography, we give a special discount to our couples who are getting married between November and May. Since the heart of wedding seasons is in the fall and summer months, we have lots of flexibility in the wintertime. Contact us for more information on our off-season wedding discounts. Plus, I know for a fact that many of the venues in the area like Carmen's and Ancaster Mill offer off-season discounts. You can have the wedding of your dreams at discounted rates and who can say no to that? 

Contact us today to find out more about our off-season wedding discounts! 

4. Great lighting and night time shot opportunities

From a professional photographers perspective, the lighting in the winter time is primo. It's not usually glaringly sunny, but the light is more muted, making natural lighting a dream. And because the sun goes down a lot sooner, we get to do some really amazing snowy nighttime shots and don't have to wait till way into the night to do so. If you're looking for a photographer for your winter wedding, make sure you ask them if they know off-camera lighting because they'll definitely need to bust out those flashes for anything after sundown. Speaking of questions to ask your photographer, check out this blog I wrote called 11 Essential Questions To Ask Your Photographer. It can help make sense of some of the really important questions you need to ask in your search. 

5. Vendor Availability

Some of you might be reading this because you really really wanted to get married at a specific venue or you had your heart set on a specific vendor, but they were booked solid. As I mentioned before, wedding season in Ontario hits its peak from June-October. Since there are less couples getting married in the off-season, there's a much better chance that your favourite florist, makeup artist and live band will be available on your date. And of course, your favourite photographer too! 

Bonus Reason:

Because our photography studio is located at The Cotton Factory here in Hamilton, Ontario,  we often have access to really cool inndoor photography locations. So if you love the idea of winter but you don't actually want to be in winter, we can help you out! 

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below, there's probably some I hadn't even thought about! If you're interested in having our team shoot your winter wedding and would like some more information, give me a shout, we'd love to chat!

If you'd like to see a real winter wedding done by the team here at Zekar Photography, click on either of the links below.

Michelle & Justin 

Natalie & Nathan

This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography. All pictures were taken by Mike Tigchelaar or Kamila Kuzmicka for Zekar Photography. 

This wedding was fully of the cutest little gaggle of flower girls I ever did see. I just adore how the oldest literally herds the little ones around. And the moments between Elizabeth and her dad? And her mom? Get your tissues out! I also love the way Elizabeth & Blake ate the same first slice of cake together, it's pretty freakin' cute.

Take a look at some of my favourite photos from their wedding day, enjoy! 

I love this new trend of the bride seeing her father for the first time and having it be something separate and special. No matter what modern culture says, it's still deeply emotional for a Dad to see his daughter 'given away' to another dude. 

The mother of the bride knew her daughter and husband were about to walk down the aisle and she just could not look she was so overwhelmed with happy emotions. It's the sweetest thing! 

Father of the groom, also losing it. :) 

Like what you see so far? Let's chat about how we can help capture your special day! 

Wasn't that beautiful? If you are interested in having a member of our team come out and capture your day, give us a shout! We'd love to chat :) For our Top 5 Reasons why you should get married at Ancaster Mill, click here. 

All wedding photos in this blog were taken by Mike Tigchelaar of Zekar Photography Studio Inc. This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography Studio Inc.

Here's a few practical reasons why you should consider hosting your wedding at this beautiful venue.

1.  Rustic AND Close By

If you are looking for that timeless, rustic look, but don't want to drive forever to get there, this venue is definitely one that you should consider. We've been in the wedding business for about 8 years now and we know that whenever you can cut down on travel time it's always a good thing. For example, you don't want to add an extra hour of travel from your hotel room to your venue, its way better to get there quickly and start the celebration. Since The Farm is located only 20 minutes outside of Hamilton, Ontario, its just a hop skip from one place to the next.

2. Fully Air Conditioned

Hey all you mid-July / end of August brides: This barn. Is. Air-conditioned! No worries about your makeup sliding off or getting crazy sweaty as you rip up the dance floor, you're going to stay nice and cool and your guests are too. As far as I know, its one of the only air-conditioned barns around!

3. Amazing Photo Locations Right On Site - Think Sunset Photos!

There’s the beautiful path leading out towards the fields and the barn itself is over the top beautiful inside. So much natural light pours in and this venue is just perfect for long tablescapes, overflowing with flowers and glowy lights. Plus its situated perfectly to get some gorgeous sunset photos as well. You don't have to worry about going anywhere else and can simply enjoy your day all in one location. 

4. Big Enough for Lots of Guests

Many of our couples have a ton of family and friends they want to invite, and that usually means you are stuck to only a few options, most of them banquet halls. The Farm can accommodate up to 240 of your besties and it still feels spacious. Plus you get the whole venue to yourselves which is a big bonus.

5. The Food

As with all of the wedding venues that Pearle Weddings runs, the food here is simply amazing. But the most unique part is that you will be dining on food that is grown fresh, right on the farm itself. Talk about eating local! You will have very happy, well fed, well watered guests at this venue.

Here are some more examples of real weddings we've shot at Earth To Table: The Farm. If you'd like to find out more information on how our team can capture your day, give us a shout! Not sure of what you're looking for when searching for a wedding photographer? Check out our blog 11 Essential Questions to Ask when searching for the perfect team for your wedding day.

This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography Inc. All pictures were taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Lead Photographer at Zekar Photography Inc. 

First, some vendor shoutouts to all of the people who helped make this day so amazing for Krista & Samir. 

Venue: Carmen's Banquet Hall  

Decorator (Saturday night): Carmen's

Florist (Saturday night/bridal bouquets): Jodi Leigh Designs 

Hair and Makeup (Friday and Saturday): Eryn Shannon Makeup

Officiant: Robin Woollard

Saturday Ceremony -- McMaster University Club

Saturday Reception -- Carmen's Banquet Hall

Caterer: Carmen's and Farida's Catering 

This wedding was shot by Mike Tigchelaar, Lead Photographer here at Zekar Photography. 

After the beautiful celebration yesterday, Krista and Samir were so excited to spend another day in celebration of their love. Honestly, these two did not stop smiling the entire day, and you can see why. They are just head over heels for eachother and it was such a pleasure to photograph this day.

I always like to ask about extra little details to get a feel for how our couples love stories unfold. So many of our clients meet during school - either highschool or in post-secondary, and these two met while training together at University. Their mutual love of learning brought the two of them together, both of them are highly intelligent experts in their field. It's always nice when you've got another smarty-pants to bounce ideas off of and before they knew it, they loved more than each others study notes. 

When Krista told me how Samir proposed, I knew that these two were for keeps. It was a simple enough idea, a sweet proposal at home one day after Krista had been away with work for a couple of weeks. Because he proposed bright and early one morning, but wanted to create a moody candlelit ambiance, he had to figure out how to block out all that light - and what a better way to do it than to cover every single window in christmas wrapping paper. Ladies, any man who goes to that length to create the absolute perfect proposal for you, is a man who is going to go to great lengths for you for your whole marriage. 

Take a look at some of my favourites from their beautiful day. Pay special attention to the absolutely adorable father / daughter reveal - I am so glad these are a 'thing' these days and I hope they never stop, it's so, so special. 

I adore Krista's lace wedding gown, it's so timeless and fits her absolutely perfectly. 

So this was REALLY cool. The fire is to symbolize the forging of two rings into one eternal, everlasting ring. This is the first time I've seen this type of thing and its incredibly meaningful, don't you think? 

When the evening pulls the sun down,
And the day is almost through,
Oh, the whole world it is sleeping,
But my world is you

-Bloom by The Paper Kites 
 

Wasn't that gorgeous? If you are interested in seeing how we can capture your day, give us a shout - we'd love to chat! 

This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography Studio Inc in Hamilton, Ontario. 

This post is part one of Krista and Samir's beautiful wedding ceremony that took place at the Dundas Valley Golf & Country Club in Dundas, Ontario.  To see the full wedding, check out my next post with all the traditional wedding details. 

I adore all of the rich, beautiful tradition that is incorporated into the Nikah ceremony, it just speaks to generations of love and life and happiness. I think us human beings become more rooted and grounded when traditions are passed on like this, and what could be a better way to start your new life together than having your friends and family lavish flowers and gifts and honour upon you. 

A few vendor references that I'd like to mention:

Makeup / Hair: Eryn Shannon Makeup

Decorator: Naphisha Vohra 

Venue: Dundas Valley Golf & Country Club

Did you enjoy this wedding as much as I did? So much happiness, it's hard for me not to smile looking back at the photos myself :) If you'd like a member of our team to photograph your special event, give me a shout and lets get the conversation started! 

Knollwood Golf Club is such an excellent venue to get married at. I'm always partial to venues where you've got the whole place to yourselves. It's got the rustic, cozy charm that sets the perfect tone for a big family gathering, but it also has a lot of really interesting locations for photos right on site. Which saves a ton of time and hassle when it comes to planning your day. There's so much green space that you could set up lawn games to keep your guests entertained, like Seana and Keith did.
The staff is super professional, they really know what they are doing and our team is always really impressed every time we go. Speaking of being impressed, the food is also amazing, especially the pumpkin soup. Definitely a must have! 

Take a look at some of my favourite images from Seana & Keith's wedding, enjoy! 

Pretty amazing wedding, right? If you'd like our team to capture your special day, contact me to get the conversation started! 

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography. All photos taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Owner & Lead Photographer at Zekar Photography. 
 
 

I am a big fan of winter in general - the coziness, the sweaters, the warm fireplaces, the hot chocolate. It's all good in my books. So a winter wedding is my idea of perfection, and Michelle and Justin's early December wedding was exactly that. Here in Southern Ontario, you never do know what your going to get weather-wise, but luckily it was one of those cool, crisp, clear days that reminded me of something from a Robert Frost poem. 

Before we get into more details about the wedding day, I wanted to share with you the sweet love story behind these photos. The reason we love doing what we do is because we actually get to bring a love story to life through art, and Michelle & Justin have such a sweet story. Back in highschool, Michelle and Justin were on each others peripheral - they knew each other through friends, but didn't fully connect until Michelle's 25th birthday. After her recent breakup, the last thing Michelle was looking for was a new relationship, but her best friend (also a good friend of Justin's) had other ideas when she and her partner, Matt, dragged Justin to the bar to hit up Michelle's birthday party. That night was the start of something amazing, and just after midnight on the day after Valentines Day 2018, Justin spoke the words that would forever be in Michelle's heart - will you marry me? And 4 years later, almost to the day they met, these two tied the knot. 

"And now here we are, how could we ever know I knew I loved you then and I've watched you grow

So it came to be, that I raised you and you raised me We're lucky that way, 'cause our love can never fade"

- Michelle & Justin's First Dance to Never Fade by Jack Johnson
 

The wedding took place at the quaintly beautiful Inn on The Twenty. We love this venue because there are so many interesting locations for photography, all on one location. That's always a bonus when planning your day as it saves time and hassle and your photos will all have the same look and feel to them. Plus, when the accent colour of venue literally matches your wedding colours, like they did for Michelle, you know it was meant to be! 

Take a look at some of my favourites from the day. 

We have had a lot of brides lately who have planned a special reveal for their Dad's. I think its one of my favourite parts of the day now, because the fathers are just SO cute. Michelle's dad is no exception - kinda shy but with super a emotional, hopeful, adorable expressions as he sees his beautiful girl all dressed up on the biggest day of her life. 

Next up is Michelle & Justin's first-look reveal. This is proof that it really doesn't matter where you are, Mike can find a cool spot to do photos just about anywhere. For example, this parking lot was the perfect backdrop for these two to see eachother for the first time. 

See what I mean about Michelle's bridal party totally matching the venue? It's like this old house called Michelle up and was like, "hey, you wanna be twinsies?"  

The starkness of the Niagara Escarpment, just the bare bones of Mother Nature here, really keeps the focus on how beautiful Michelle & Justin are. They aren't competing with crazy sun or huge flowers, its just so simple and pretty. Whenever I notice a picture that is really, really good - the first thing I notice is how sweet the couple is, but the second thing is, there are usually only a few colours in it. Here, you've basically gray, cranberry, brown and white and everything just flows together. 

Adorable keepsake detail? Check. 

Cozy firelight and cranberries for a simple, timeless and classic atmosphere? Check.

SUPER DELICIOUS STEAK DINNER? CHECK. 

I'd say these two did a pretty good job creating the perfect winter atmosphere! 

These two are dancing to Bad To The Bone. Which is the best. :)  

This next picture makes my heart so happy, simply because no matter how old you get, it's always fun to spin around in a twirly princess dress. It's just something that is ingrained in us girls from a young age, we are all genetically predisposed to finding joy in the twirl. 

Aren't these photos just beautiful? Winter romance at it's best! 

Vendor shout-outs include: 

Hair and Makeup: Pamela and Kathryn with La Belle Fille Hair and Make-up

Dress: Angie's Bridal Boutique

Flowers: Freckled Florist

If you would like our team to come capture your special day, contact me today and let's chat! 

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography. All photos taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Owner & Lead Photographer at Zekar Photography. 
 

1. Incredible Photo Locations

This had to be the top of our list, because we're (obviously) pretty invested in what the photos are going to look like. While we always take a fairly candid approach to our weddings, its always nice when the backdrop to the day is as gorgeous as it is at Elora Mill. The town of Elora is so quaint and so pretty it looks like its right out of a fairy tale. Cobblestone and old-world charm abound!

There is a gorgeous park just nearby called Elora Gorge Lookout. It makes you feel like you're somewhere up North with all the gorgeous Evergreen trees.  

And then of course you've got the Elora Gorge itself. Mike, the Lead Photographer and Owner here at Zekar Photography Studios, gets very excited when he gets to explore a new angle or new photo ideas. So it wasn't surprising to anyone that he scrambled down with one of our adventurous couples and got this intimate moment right in the middle of the gorge. 

2. Rustic Luxury At It's Finest

I don't actually know if "rustic luxury" is an actual term, but its the perfect way to describe the beauty that is Elora Mill. They have three different decor themes throughout the hotel which means they cater to every style of bride. They've got modern, rustic and french styles - all of the rooms are done to the absolute finest. Plus there is a spa on site, imagine going there with your bridal party the night before? Or heck, the day after. This is definitely a venue that puts pampering their guests to a whole other level. 

3. The Food Is Top Notch

Very important! One of the main things a guest will remember from your wedding (apart from how much they love you guys and how much fun they had) is whether or not the food was good. If you want your guests to feel spoiled, this venue is perfect for you. After doing hundreds of weddings in the GTA, the team here at Zekar Photography votes the food at Elora Mill as one of the best. 

4. Elora Mill Caters To you

You can tell that they really care about you as a guest because they do everything they can to make you comfortable. There is even a shuttle that will take you and your guests from photo location to photo location so you can just enjoy your day.  They've also got three different rooms so you can find the perfect fit for your style and your guest list. 

5. Rooftop Balcony For Cocktails

The gorgeous views from this cocktail patio are absolutely perfect, including stellar sunsets and, if you're really lucky? Rainbows. It's the perfect outdoor space for you and your guests to have fun, with the opportunity for even more beautiful photographs. 

Stay tuned for some upcoming blogs about the weddings we have shot at Elora Mill in Elora, Ontario. We can't wait to go back! If you are interested in having a member of our studio team come out and capture the story of your day, give us a shout, we'd love to chat! 

Written By: Michael Tigchelaar. Lead Photographic Ninja and founder of Zekar Photography Inc. 

Choosing a Wedding Photographer is one of the biggest decisions you’re going to make in your wedding planning.  You’ve worked hard to have everything to come together perfectly, so hiring the right photographer to capture it all is probably on one of your top three most important elements of your day.

In this blog we will cover some important factors you should look for when hiring your wedding photographer. You’ve probably never hired a professional photographer before and the task can seem really overwhelming. We’re here to help break it down for you.  Fair warning: There is a ton of information here. We love our craft and could probably talk about it for days. So if you’re interested in just one specific topic, click on any of the question links below to find out more information. But if you’re up for an in-depth crash course on the exact questions you need to ask your potential wedding photographer, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine (no judgements on what time of the day it is!) and let’s get started.

11 Questions To Ask Your Potential Wedding Photographer

Pre-Wedding Essentials

1. Style: What style of photography suits me best?

2. Budget: How do I get the most out of my investment?

3. Pre-Wedding Planning: How do I know my photographer will be prepared?

4. Contract: How do I protect my investment?

5. Engagement Session: Do I really need one?

Wedding Day Essentials 

6. Camera Gear: How is a professional photographer equipped to handle my wedding?

7. Lighting: Why is advanced lighting important to my wedding?

8. Experience: Why does it actually matter?

9. Assistants and Second shooters: Are they necessary?

Post-Wedding Essentials

10. Editing: What happens after the wedding to make my images awesome?

11. Printing: Can’t I just go to Costco?

1. Style: What style of photography suits me best?

In our opinion, there are really there just two fundamental styles in wedding photography.

The first is traditional. It leans more to the posed and staged shots, controlled images, advanced lighting setups, shots you might see in a magazine. They can take on a modern feel, or old school but at the end of the day they have one thing in common- they are situations controlled by the photographer.  

Second is candid or story-telling. Often called ‘photojournalism’ or ‘documentary photography’. This is where the photographer steps back and allows the moment to happen and uses their experience to tell that story without interference.  A good photographer should provide a mix of both, but most tend to excel more in one area than another.

When you start your search, keep the question of style in mind for how you will feel in the long run and less on how you feel when you see a single picture you like on a given site. Lean into the style you feel suits your personality best and something that you feel has longevity.  Years down the road you’ll want to look at a photo that really captures the relationship between you and your new spouse and all the memories you had that day. You won’t necessarily appreciate something that is trendy in 2018 and very dated in 2043 when your kids throw you a 25 year anniversary party and there is a room full of snickering young people.

In the end however, don't settle - it doesn’t have to be an either-or decision. Here at Zekar Photography, we pride ourselves on our ability to not only get traditional stunning wedding-scapes, as we like to call them, but we also focus on our passion of capturing all of the beautiful little moments that happen throughout the day. Here is a blog covering more aspects of our photojournalistic wedding style.

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2. Budget:  How do I get the most out of my investment?

Your budget is generally one of the biggest deciding factors in how you choose as your photographer and it’s important to know what goes on behind-the-scenes in your photographers studio.

Like most things in life, the money you pay often reflects the quality of the product. At Zekar Photography, every hour we spend taking pictures on a wedding day will have 5 extra hours of work put into it, from pre-wedding planning to post-production. A regular 10 hour wedding day represents a total of 60 hours of labour from a team of professionals, and that's how we deliver the overall product you see on our site.

Look around in your area and see what the average price is for wedding photography. That  price in your area will be a good indicator of what you should expect to pay. From city to city it can change, and even demand alone can change a price point on a product so we’ll leave it up to you to do basic price comparisons and figure out the average.  

If someone comes in under that average, there are questions you need to ask and that’s something we’re going to cover in the following paragraphs.

Generally speaking though, don't expect to get the same quality from something significantly less than the norm. That’s not to say you won't find it, but be prepared to find out why by asking pointed questions. Don’t let your hope for an awesome deal blind your natural instinct to find out if its too good to be true.  Often a lower price can represent a lack of something in an area you are not able to see, something that might affect the final product.

For example. A wedding website has only a small collection of images. The average photographer, over time, can get a few good pictures. They can spend an hour editing a single shot to make it look like an award winner for their site. The question is, can they provide high quality over the whole wedding day in every lighting situation?  If it is dark and cloudy on your wedding day, if your wedding venue does not have a lot of natural light, or if the sun is beating down hard, will they be able to take professional photos in any weather and atmosphere? Even if you are on a tighter budget than what the average photographer asks in your area, and you must find a inexpensive option, you're still spending hard earned money. Education before you spend is always a bonus, no matter the budget range.

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3. Pre-Wedding Planning: How do I know my photographer will be prepared?

Your photographer should offer a thorough initial consultation and, if needed, continuous correspondence via phone or email when it comes to the planning of your day.

Knowing you have an hour vs thirty minutes to accomplish a given task can alter exactly what you do. One brides getting ready pictures can be 30 minutes because she has a simple dress and only her mom there as she prepares. While another will need an hour because she has a group of friends, a more complicated dress to get into and has some cultural aspects to her pre-wedding preparations. Or she might want to do a father reveal and hand out gifts to bridesmaids. If your photographer does not have a system to figure this out, you could over pay and have them out for too long, or worse be under prepared and not have enough time and miss memories you would want to have later.

At Zekar Photography, we like to say we ‘prepare to be laid back’. A good photographer does not just show up and do an awesome job, just because they are a good photographer. It’s really important for a professional to take the time to get to know you and your partner and what you have envisioned for your day. Whether you are having a simple backyard party at your Aunt’s farm or you are going all out and having an elegant soiree at Casa Loma, it’s important for your photographer to get to know your personal style and expectations.

One of the ways we do this at Zekar Photography is through our Wedding Day Details sheet that Kate, our Studio Manager, sends out to each and every couple. It’ll have all of the times and addresses on it, as well as the names and contact information for the important people on the day-of. We also want our clients to share all their details with us as they plan so we can get to know every detail of the day.

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4. Contract: How do I protect my investment?

Another very important pre-wedding aspect is a proper contract. If your photographer does not have one, RUN! Any professional photographer will have a contract and you should never take anyone at their word alone. Not because people will lie, but because what one person's expectations are might not be what another person's standard is, so a misunderstanding can lead to problems. Contracts resolve this on the big issues. It should outline exactly what the photographer will deliver, what your responsibilities are versus the photographers responsibilities and what the total cost will be. A contract shows they take what they do seriously, and a good contract will be clear on the important details. It will be built to protect you as much as your photographer. Read it over and always ask if you’re not sure of something.

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5. Engagement Session: Do I really need one?

Although it is not a ‘must’ like the other areas of pre-wedding planning, it can help in many ways. First, it gives you a glimpse into what it will be like to work with the photographer you have chosen. It allows both you and your photographer to get to know eachother better so that on the wedding day it’s more of a professional friendship than a stranger hanging around you on your big day.

Photo Credit: Mike Tigchelaar, Zekar Photography

Almost everybody is nervous around the camera, especially the big cameras that a photographer carries, so it really helps to take the edge off by having a low-key engagement session to get used to having your photo taken. Plus, you will have quality images to use for announcements, maybe to use for decorations to display at your wedding tables or a guest book.   

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6. Camera Gear: How is a professional photographer equipped to handle my wedding?

Your photographer needs to be prepared! They need to carry at least two professional cameras, multiple lenses and lighting equipment. If anything breaks they need to have backups. Don’t be afraid to ask what kind of gear your photographer carries. Even if you aren’t familiar with all the makes and models of cameras (not everyone is a camera geek like we are!) you can always do a Google search when you get home.

Long before Mike (the Lead Photographer here at Zekar Photography)  was in the photography industry, Mike’s brother had a friend do his wedding photography. Mike was his best man, so there was no way he could do both. The photographer dropped one of his lenses and it broke. He had to send one of our family members to go get him a new one and was left with a somewhat less versatile lens to finish the rest of the coverage.

Now it was not so bad that it was his only lens, but it was enough to put a dent in the plans. Later that same person lost the hard drive he had stored the pictures on. To this day it burns Mike’s brother to think of that experience and how he did not go the professional route.

Part of the operating cost that a wedding photographer has is to have twice as much gear as they need, that way the never really have to worry about stopping. And enough file storage redundancies that all of your files are not stored in one place.

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7. Lighting: Why is advanced lighting important to my wedding?

This is a bigger issue than most understand, even trained professional photographers can underestimate the importance on controlling light. Cameras are just machines and they need help to see in both bright and dark situations. If your photographer says they are a “natural light photographer” you need to ask what they will do in a dark venue, or if it’s really sunny and there are shadows in your eyes. How will they remove those shadows so everyone doesn’t look like a squinting racoon?

A purely “natural light photographer” simply wont get high end pictures in a dark reception hall, or fill in shadows in your eyes on a sunny day. In fact, if someone says “I’m a natural light photographer” in the industry, professionals taken it to mean “I dont know how to use a flash”. Now thats not always the case, even we prefer natural light when we can use it, but to limit options to just that one on a wedding day would be, well, crazy!

A Moment For A Flash Photography Explanation:

A good photographer will be able to use both natural light as well as flashes when needed. There are two types of flash photography that can be used at your wedding. Bounce flash and off-camera flash.

Bounce means the flash is on the camera and the photographer will point it at a ceiling or wall and bounce the light to brighten things up. Off-camera is the most advanced. A really experienced photographer will be able to use multiple lights at once, combining natural light and multiple flashes.

Imagine a wedding outside, candle-lit, at night. There is only one photographer that can work a venue like that proficiently. One who uses off camera flash and uses it well! There is nothing to bounce flash off but the moon, so off camera is the only option worth using.

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8. Experience: Why does it actually matter?

Before we get into this part, we want to say, there are plenty of great inexperienced photographers. Part of the way we run our studio is to always have a couple of inexperienced photographers working underneath our experienced ones to be trained up. Everyone has to start somewhere, we started out very inexpensive to compensate for our lack of experience. 

So this is not say you should never consider someone who hasn’t done very many weddings, just know that inexperience should be compensated by lower price. If you are willing to pay less to exchange for higher risk, take the leap. However as a rule, they won't be able to perform as fast or as creatively as one who has experience. This is true in all things in life and certainly the more complex a situation, the more it holds true. Wedding photography is very complex, just because you have a good camera doesn’t mean you can shoot a wedding.

There are two ways to find out how much experience a photographer has. Ask how many weddings they have done. And secondly, ask to see a few full weddings. Their blog should show their breadth of experience. Are all the pictures posed outside on a sunny day? Not a single one of a first dance in a dark venue? No really good church shots? A well documented and professionally shot wedding does not add up to a good picture in a park where there is perfect light available. It is a total accumulation of many great images in many different conditions. A professional photographer will have the vision to take any situation and make art out of each image. Some of our favourite shots have been on fire escapes right downtown or in the corner of a stairwell that nobody ever notices. We love the challenge! Judge their work by the worst possible spots not just the nice ones. Look at all possible wedding picture scenarios before making any decision, keeping in mind the atmosphere of your own venue.

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9. Assistants and Second shooters: Are they necessary?

Every photographer has different opinions on having a second shooter come out with them on the wedding day. Second shooters come in handy if you and your partner are getting ready at different locations and you can’t stagger the timing. They will also get different angles than your main photographer will. Be sure that the second shooter who comes with your photographer has comparable level of expertise and is proficient with a camera. You don’t want your final wedding photos to have 90% professional photos but the ones of the groom getting ready look like they were taken on a cell phone.

As for a photographers assistant, this is not a “must-have” but they do help. If you have a low key wedding in one location it might be overkill to have a gaggle of paparazzi running around. However, during a regular sized wedding, they blend in more and become more unobtrusive. In fact, they can calm things down by being able to bear part of the workload. Our assistants are responsible for 10-20% of the final images. But more importantly, they can be where your lead photographer can't be during your event. Multiple angles at a ceremony or in a different room. They will ease the responsibility of the lead photographer if things get rushed, help carry gear, get water, and help to make sure your photographer does not have to stop taking pictures for any minor things like switching out batteries etc.

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10. Editing: What happens after the wedding to make my images awesome?

As we mentioned earlier, for every hour we shoot there are 5 hours behind the scenes in planning and post production. Most of those hours are in post production. If we do a 10 hour wedding, we will invest 25-30 hours in editing for that wedding. Some people have asked us, “Oh you are a wedding photographer? What do you do during the week?” Well, we edit. A lot!

Your photographer is not finished when they hit the shutter release button. They are done when they edit the image. This has not changed even from film days. In fact, the amount of time a photographer spends on their images has increased since the film days, if they do the editing work themselves.

An important question to ask is if the photographer runs “actions”, automated computer generated edits, or if they edit each image by hand. A good honest answer should be a little bit of both.

Every image can receive an automated “starter edit”. Maybe a bit of contrast and color adjustment. Then after that each image has the editor look at it and determine a specific retouch that it will need. Maybe lighten a portion and darken another portion  (known as dodge burn). Or maybe make the ambient light more colorful so it looks like it did on the day. We like to refer to this as “painting”. These are small details that set an automated edit apart from one manually done. This is such a massive part of creating a good image it can't be understated. So make sure to ask your potential photographer what they will do to your wedding in post-production.

Remember, simply saying they will spend time is not a replacement for experience. A photographer who has never been through editing hundreds of weddings with different lighting conditions at different venues can’t simply come up with the experience that this very important aspect needs.

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11. Printing: Can’t I just go to Costco?

Your photographer might offer albums and prints within their package. It might look like a really great deal - coverage, album, prints, all in one spot. But make sure you ask for examples of what their prints look like and if you can see some albums. There are lots of album companies out there that make low quality, quick production albums. If the spine of the album is glued, chances are, it’s going to fall apart sooner than later. A good quality album has a very thick, bound spine and high quality paper that’s going to last through generations. So if your package comes with prints and albums, make sure you’re getting quality through and through. You don’t want to end up with supposed heirlooms that fall apart or fade.

One way to think of it is this:  Would you buy a Lamborghini only drive it on a pothole filled dirt road? Well, that’s the same as hiring a professional photographer and printing their work at Walmart or Costco. Commercial labs will never be as good as a high-end, boutique lab. You will lose sharpness color and impact. We have clients who have chosen to print at Walmart and they always come back. Your photographer should have the ability to provide high end printing options that will last for years and display your wedding images in a manner worthy of the effort put into them and worthy of their emotional value. When we deliver our high-end prints to our clients, we often hear that it looks even better than it did on the computer.  Your .jpg’s won’t matter to your children, but a tangible piece of yours (and theirs) history will.

We hope that after reading this blog you feel a lot more empowered and educated to make a good decision. When you meet with your photographer, every question you ask should be met with enthusiasm and excitement. The passion that your photographer has for their business will only translate into gorgeous photographs.

If you would like to talk more about anything you've read so far or you have other questions you are curious about, contact us today!

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Here are our top 5 reasons why you should consider Ancaster Mill for your wedding. 

1. Their Brand New Wedding Chapel Is Stunning

A couple of years ago, the only place to have your ceremony on site at The Mill was a sweet little garden area just over the bridge. But with the recent addition of the Miller Chapel, Ancaster Mill has completely stepped up their game as far as beautiful ceremony locations goes. The natural light from the surrounding forest just fills the whole hall up with warmth and beauty. Soaring ceilings and elegant chandeliers add a touch of elegance, while the wooden beams retain the warm rustic ambiance that is the theme through the whole venue. This ceremony site is also completely magical for off-season weddings and rumour has it, you can inquire about their special off-season wedding discounts. (Rumour also has it, we here at Zekar Photography are happy to chat about your off-season wedding as well!) 

2. Waterfalls

If Hamilton is the City of Waterfalls, then the Ancaster Mill is the venue of waterfalls. The on-site waterfall which runs under the building makes a beautiful backdrop for wedding party photos. You can expect to have about a half an hour with your bridal party at these falls, but if you are wanting more natural waterfall-y goodness, Sherman Falls is just down the street and also makes a great place for some photos. Just a tip, most waterfall areas in Hamilton do need a permit so be sure to check into that before you go ahead and book your shoot. 

3. Accommodates Any Size of Wedding

From 50 guests to well over a hundred, Ancaster Mill has different rooms for almost any size of guest list. But no matter what size your wedding is, each room offers the same cozy atmosphere, the same incredible food and all of the other amenities that this venue offers. 

4. The Food Is Amazing

As with all Pearle Weddings, you will never be disappointed with their food. They have top notch chefs who cook with farm fresh ingredients (literally, its from one of their own local farms!) and your guests will be super satisfied. 

5. They Run A Tight Ship

When you book your wedding at Ancaster Mill, you can't help but notice it - they are incredibly organized. This is a huge relief for all you non-planning types, they really do all the work for you. No guessing or stressing, its all right there. And for all of you who love to plan? This team speaks your language! It's also really nice on the photography end of things too. Even though we do take a very candid, relaxed approach to your wedding, its nice to have a solid framework on the day to help keep everything on schedule as much as possible. 

Want to find out more about how we can make your Ancaster Mill wedding dreams come true? Contact us today, we'd love to chat! 
 

Not sure of what you're looking for when searching for a wedding photographer? Check out our blog 11 Essential Questions to Ask when searching for the perfect team for your wedding day.

This blog was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography Inc. All pictures were taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Lead Photographer at Zekar Photography Inc. 

Natalie & Nathan were married on a magical December day in Hamilton, Ontario. These two best friends have been together for 7 years and you can really see their solid and deep connection to eachother in every thing they do - the small looks across the room, the way they subconsciously turn their bodies towards each other and the genuine belly laughs that filled their whole beautiful day. Even though these two are quite the globe trotters, they decided to get married at The Spice Factory, one of our favourite venues here in Hamilton. 

Usually the calmest, most reserved part of our day is the very beginning when we get the groom getting ready. But not Nathan and his hilarious group of close friends. These dudes took their duties as groomsmen to heart and made sure they fawned and primped and preened their friend as much as possible, and it was all laughs the whole time. I can't think of a better way to send your buddy off into official married life than rib the heck out of him as he gets ready to meet his bride.

Natalie and her girls got ready in the bridal suite at The Spice Factory. Her hair and makeup was done by the talented ladies at Beyoutiful Brides from Niagara Falls. The soft curls and laid-back side braid that Natalie chose is the perfect compliment to her gorgeous dress which you'll see in a minute. 

I adore the beautiful shade of blue of the bridesmaid dresses, nothing suits a winter wedding more than jewel tones and they were the perfect choice from Azazie.

This picture makes me laugh, I mean, that's what friends are for right? These girls always have Natalie's back. And her teeth :) 

Natalie's seriously gorgeous wedding dress was by a British designer, Needle & Thread. I honestly can't think of a much more perfect gown to wear to a cocktail style wedding - sexy open back, easy flowing skirt but still completely elegant with all that stunning beadwork on the sleeves and bodice. 

Natalie's unique style really shines with these amazing velveteen shoes from Lord and Taylor. Don't they just look like they are begging to be danced in? Such a cool mix of femininity and edgy style, I just love them. 

We've been seeing these really cool bouquets popping up lately and I think they are such a great idea. Especially for off-season weddings when local flower selections aren't always the best, earth-friendly options like the ones that EcoFlower does are a great option. If you're the bouquet-keeping type, these beauties keep forever or if you're a crafty sort, you can deconstruct and make a new memory from your bridal bouquet. 

One last sweet little detail before we get on to the rest of the day: this stunning aquamarine beauty. Natalie's mom had been given a set of aquamarine earrings from her Aunt, but since she didn't wear them too much because they were so heavy, she had the brilliant idea to have them made into two rings. One for Natalie and one for her sister, to be given on their wedding day. Isn't that the sweetest? And the perfect 'something old, something blue' accessory as well! 

Interested in more information? Let's chat! 

As I mentioned earlier, Natalie and Nathan are quite the globe trotting couple. There are people who say they love to travel but spend most of their time travelling on Pinterest, and then there are people who actually do it in real life. Natalie and Nathan have travelled to nearly 50 countries together and have even lived in South Korea and England for a couple years to make it easier to get to all the cool little countries near by. One of their favourite things to do is explore new cultures and foods together.

I think its amazing when people choose to live a life that makes them live their dreams - not everyone has to be stuck in a 9-5 the minute they graduate. After being with Mike  for nearly 13 years now, I've learned a couple things about marriage and one of them is, if you can travel together, you're definitely going to stay together. And I'd say these two love birds have had lots of practice! 

But even though they've travelled so much, their super sweet proposal story surprised me a bit and made my little homebody heart so happy. The two of them had been staying in a whole bunch of low-key places while they were backpacking around Indonesia. They decided to splurge on a bungalow for a couple nights and chose a place in Gili Meno. And oh my goodness if you have a chance, Google that place - it's what dreams are literally made of!

The fact that their prosal happened as they were travelling was no surprise, but I love that Nathan chose to ask Natalie to marry him first thing one morning as they had been laying in bed together, enjoying the tropical sun pouring into their room. Is that not the coziest, sweetest thing ever? And then he had breakfast delivered (definitely a good move!) and they spent the day just enjoying being together and planning and dreaming by the sounds of the ocean. Paradise! 

The perfect pine boughs around the trellis was provided by Natalie's Aunt's tree farm, Benjamin Tree Farm in Waterloo.

One of the best things about The Spice Factory is its proximity to all sorts of cool urban spots to take pictures in. Hamilton is full of them, but this awesome graffiti wall is within walking distance and we loved the bright colours - perfect for this fun loving couple! 

I always smile at super fun, super happy Daddy-daughter dances :) You know the tears are there, but the laughter and fun of the day pours out and it's just really fun to be dancing with your Daddy on your wedding day! 

As much as the Dad's can usually hold it together for most of the day, it's another thing for the Moms. I'm kind of glad that my daughters won't be doing a mommy-daughter dance at their weddings because I would need a truckload of tissues. Nathan's mom could not hold all her beautiful tears in and they had one of the most emotional mother son dances we've seen. 

As their friends and family watched on, faces filled with loving smiles and laughter, Natalie & Nathan danced their way into married life to the beautiful and haunting tones of Bon Iver.

Before I show you guys the incredible night-time shots that Kamila captured for these two, I have to share this epic dance face that Natalie's super cute mom has - Natalie's parents are seriously great dancers and they mean business! 

During all of her weddings, Kamila and her assistant keep a close eye on whats happening with the weather outside. During rain or epic sunsets, some of our best pictures come from just being aware of every surrounding. We couldn't have asked for a more magical thing to happen during this December wedding then this delicate dusting of the first snow of the season. 

As the world rushes around them, Natalie and Nathan stand still and quiet and peaceful together. With the memories of the first time they were introduced back at Brock U, to their worldy adventures, to their beautiful vows and the incredible future towards them, they sealed their night with a tender kiss. 

Interested in more information? Let's chat! 

Did you love this wedding as much as I did? Tell us about it and be sure to contact us today to see how we can be a part of your special day! 

And p.s If you're looking for an amazing caterer, Natalie highly recommends City Farm Catering!

All pictures taken by Kamila Kuzmicka for Zekar Photography.

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography.

Written by Kate Tigchelaar, studio manager for Zekar Photography

All pictures featured in this blog were taken by Mike Tigchelaar and Kamila Kuzmicka from Zekar Photography Studio Inc. 

Before I get into the gorgeous details of Nicole & Joey's wedding this past November, let's start off with a few snapshots from their engagement shoot we did earlier in the year. 

Mike started off their shoot with a walk around the beautiful country property that we were lucky enough to shoot on, but at the end of the session they (or rather Joey) decided that it would be a good idea to jump off the dock.

The top of the dock.

Like 10 ft up in the air.

It took some convincing, but Nicole was up for it, and these two besties jumped right in and made the best engagement pictures we got all year. 

Isn't that the best?! 

Okay, fast forward to the wedding day. It was a lot colder, and a lot windier, but 1000% absolutely perfect. Starting off with the guys getting ready - Joey's mom is so cute, she looks like a mom from a sitcom or something, bustling around tying the ties, pinning the pins, loving on everyone. 

You know what, I'm pretty sure Nicole was supposed to get the first kiss of the day...:) 

Before we get into part one of Nicole's getting ready, I'll give a shout out to her incredible makeup artist, Rhonda from the incredible team at Makeupworx. Every time we do a wedding that has had a Makeupworx professional do the makeup, the girls always look flawless. I love Nicole's old-hollywood shout out with her perfectly set waves, done by the talented Sasha, also from Makeupworx. The gold and blush accents in her eyeshadow make her blue eyes even more stunning, absolute perfection! 

After Nicole's makeup was done, we headed on out to Casa Loma. It's a pretty amazing place, full of everything you would expect from an early 1900's mansion. Gorgeous deep walnut panelled walls, luxurious silk covered chairs, epic chandeliers and soaring ceilings which make the ambience of the place perfectly regal. The bridal suite that Nicole and her girls got ready in is to die for - the way the late autumn light was pouring in just bathed everything in the most painterly way. And honestly, Nicole is so gorgeous, it really kind of made our job easy :) 

Could these bridesmaid dresses be anymore perfect? Gold brocade with a modern twist, it fits so perfectly with the elegance of the day.  This is Nicole's stunning sister, putting the finishing touches on. Literally all of Nicole's bridesmaids legitimately look like she cut them straight out of a bridal magazine or something. So beautiful!  

Nicole's beautiful wedding dress is by Casablanca Bridal and her shoes are Manolo Blahnik.

Interested in more information? Let's chat! 

Before I show you guys the adorable first reveal, let me tell you a bit about Nicole & Joey. They first met at a Blue Jays game and bonded over beer and sticky stadium seats and the satisfying crack of that ball on the bat. 

They'd been together 6 years before Joey popped the question and the way he did it is so simple and romantic and perfect. Each year the two of them hold a big Christmas party with all of their friends and loved ones, so naturally the most perfect place to pop the question would be when everyone was in one room. So many guys plan (or stress out about planning) epic proposal adventures, but honestly, the only thing a girl really wants is to be able to shriek and hug everyone all at once. It saves her thumbs a lot of pain from not having to text a million people. So their Christmas party turned into a beautiful engagement party and it was the perfect start to a new chapter in their lives. 

Joey has the best laugh and such an infectious smile, I can't help but smile as I'm typing this out! 

We popped outside for a few photos but um...it was a little windy. :D 

Interested in more information? Let's chat! 

I adore this ceremony set up. Not only does it come pre-decorated, the intricate gothic windows are absolutely the most perfect backdrop.

Big smiles from these two as they are finally, finally married! High-fives all around as everyone cheered and clapped and the joy rose up to surround the newest Mr & Mrs! 

I love this tablescape  - it's so elegant and fresh. All of the gorgeous flowers at Nicole & Joey's wedding were done by the talented Sue Bober at Blossoms in Burlington.  The masculine feel of the library juxtaposed with the feminine delicacy of the flowers makes my artists heart so happy. 

Nicole is not only super gorgeous, she's also a super smart and succesful #bossbabe. She owns the iconic Brown Dog Cafe , located on Hamilton's own Locke Street South. I can just imagine little baby Nicoles and little baby Joey's running around the cafe, the smell of Nicoles uber famous hot apple fritters wafting through the air, Joey's laughter ringing through the air...ahh. 

These two picked their favourite love song,  Stay With You by John Legend. 

"And in the end I know that we'll find Love so beautiful and divine

We'll be lovers for a lifetime, yeah

And I'll stay with you "

Couldn't be more perfect for this sweet couple! 

At the end of the night, Mike and Kamila popped outside to do some night time shots by the castle and the Toronto Skyline. It was starting to snow a bit, but it just gave another reason for these two lovebirds to snuggle. 

Interested in more information? Let's chat! 

If you guys loved Nicole and Joey's wedding as much as I do, contact us to see how our team can tell your personal lovestory. Or pop on over to our Instagram @zekar_photography_studio to see what we've been up to lately! 

Your home is your nest. It's where you are most comfortable, where the best memories are born and where your kids learn and grow. Everyone is truly themselves at home, and thats what we love to capture most. Your authentic, beautiful love story. 

Teresa and Trung invited us into their gorgeous home to help document the precious early moments of their beautiful baby girls life. I don't think I need to point out how head-over-heels these two are for their incredibly adorable little baby. You can see it all over their faces, it's like they just can't keep their eyes off her.

And who could blame them? This little girl has the most fabulous chubby little legs, I actually squealed a little when I saw the finished proofs. I know Kamila probably had a hard time not picking this little squish up and just giving her the biggest hug ever. But we leave all that to her parents and instead, stepped back and enjoyed capturing this new little family in love. 

Super sweet, right?! Ah, I just love it. It's shoots like these that just fill us with so much gratitude to be able to capture every day life like this and give the gift of beautiful photos to our clients. 

Interested in booking a family photoshoot with one of our team members here at Zekar Photography? Contact me today and lets get the conversation started. 

All photos in this blog were taken by Kamila Kuzmicka for Zekar Photography. To see more information about our family shoots, click here.  

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography.

One of the biggest decisions when planning your wedding is picking the right venue. With so many choices out there, it can be really overwhelming and time consuming to research. That's why we've started to put together a series of posts highlighting all of our favourite wedding venues in Hamilton, Ontario, just to make things a little less overwhelming. 

We’ve been shooting weddings in Southern Ontario for almost 7 years now so we’ve got a lot of experience when it comes to the different options and atmospheres that Hamilton has to offer.

The first venue I’d like to highlight is our home base, The Cotton Factory. What started out as an industrial textile factory has now been transformed into a bustling creative arts facility.

We’ve had our studio located in the Cotton Factory for 5 years now and we absolutely love it.. And since we’ve been there for so long, we know all the very best angles and most interesting nooks and crannies.

Here are my Top 5 Reasons Why The Cotton Factory is one of the best locations

if you are looking for something a little less traditional but with tons of style.

1. The Special Know-A-Guy Discount

Because we love doing weddings on our home turf, we’re offering a 5% discount off of your Wedding Photography package for any Cotton Factory wedding booked with Zekar Photography. 

2. Have a big guest list? No problem!

If you’re looking at a large guest list for your event, you might think you’re relegated to a big banquet hall. Not so with The Cotton Factory. Their main event space is 10,000 sq ft, so you are definitely going to have enough space for all your aunts, uncles and 5th cousins twice removed.

2. Unique Atmosphere

Because the building was constructed in the early 1900’s, you can be sure that there is a ton of character and charm in every corner of this place. We’re talking really awesome old doors, antique windows, rustic wood beams and more exposed brick than you’ve ever dreamed about. Not too many of your friends are going to have the wedding theme of ‘industrial chic’. Think tables overflowing with greenery set against industrial strength in-house decor. Or, like Jessica & Steve's candle-lit wedding, create an incredibly intimate atmospehere and super romantic vibe with glowy lighting and simple decor.

3. Indoor Location

If you’re having an off season wedding, you really can’t beat The Cotton Factory as the perfect solution to any weather related stress. You could easily do your portraits, ceremony and reception in one location. And a big bonus - if you’re our client, you have full access to our studio to get ready in. This is going to save you money on transportation and hotel rooms and cut out unnecessary travel time. 

The outside of The Building is also pretty amazing - take a look at a shot from one of our recent engagement shoots: 

4. Food

While The Cotton Factory doesn’t have any in-house food available, you can certainly hire your own catering company that fits your specific style and budget. I love this idea because you can really customize your menu and make it completely unique. Deep fried Mac N' Cheese? Check.  A smorgasboard of tacos? Check.

With the incredibly delicious and diverse restaurant and catering industry in Hamilton (seriously, it’s one of the best things about our city right now) you’ll have your choice of all sorts of different kinds of food.  And we have a few of our our top faves to work with, contact me for more info!

5. Central Location

The Cotton Factory is located in Hamilton's East End, at 270 Sherman Ave North. If you don’t want to stick around the building for your bridal party photos, there are plenty of interesting locations that are not too far away that make for a great backdrop. Some of my favourites:

Van Wagners Beach

Gage Park

James Street North

Royal Botanical Gardens (permit required)

Dundurn Castle (permit required)

One of the biggest tips I have for planning your wedding day, is to keep things as close by and as simple as possible. Having a location that is near so many other photographic opportunities will definitely keep your stress level to a minimum and will allow even more time for incredible photos. Take a peek at some of the featured weddings we've done that have chosen to do their bridal party and bridal portrait photos with an urban feel. 

To inquire about booking your event with The Cotton Factory, contact info@cottonfactory.ca.

If you’d like our team at Zekar Photography to document your special day, contact me, Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography at kate@zekarphoto.com. And remember, we’re offering a 5% discount off your wedding photography package with us if you book us for your Cotton Factory wedding.

To see more of our work, check out our Instagram account @zekar_photography_studio.

All of the photos in this post are taken by Mike Tigchelaar or Kamila Kuzmicka for Zekar Photography.

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography.

Here are my very favourite photos of the day! 

Danielle and Cole incorporated so many beautiful mementos and traditions into their wedding day. They really made sure that everyone that was important to them was near to them, even if their loved ones could only look on from heaven. While they were in highschool, Danielle's very best friend passed away. As young girls, they had planned to do everything together growing up. So while her friend couldn't be there on Danielle's big day, she did carry a bit of her friend with her, in the sparkles that were sprinkled throughout her hair, as her friend was a big fan of everything sparkly. 

So this next series is one of my favourites for sure. Danielle is opening up a letter that Cole had written to her about how much he loves her and his favourite memories of their lives, and dreams he has for the two of them in their future. I just love how her little daughter completely anticipates her moms reaction and is ready with the tissues, just in case. It's just so sweet! 

Danielle's gift to Cole was also a very special reminder of those who could not be with them on their special day. Cole's cousin, who was as close to him like a brother, also passed away far too young. What a beautiful way to carry the memory of his best friend with him. 

A little story from Danielle about the beautiful baskets her two giggling girls are holding here: 

"The baskets were made by a man named Richard Nolan. He is from Kahnawake, Quebec. The baskets were made for our traditional wedding. During that ceremony I am to bring white corn bread to handle out to our guest and give to Cole and Cole is to fill his basket with wild meat to handle out and share with me. This is to signify our roles to one another. "  Isn't that  just amazing? Such a perfect symbol of love, and generosity and hospitality and taking care of eachother. 

Wasn't that such a fun wedding? I can totally imagine their kids just looking through these pictures, year after year, and remembering how special this day was for everybody. 

Some vendor shout outs: 

Hair & Makeup: Amanda Zack

Amazing Cake Stand: Gerry Burning, Danielle's Dad

Cake: The Cake Box (can we get a high five for those gorgeous icing anemones?!)

Flowers: Kayware Event Design & Decor

Videography: Brad Howe 

And of course, the always gorgeous Whistlebear Golf Club. We've been doing weddings for over 8 years now, and one thing we do know - Pearle Weddings and Events is top of their class when it comes to each and every one of their venues. The food is always amazing, the service is so professional and everything is just so flawless every time we go there. 

Interested in having one of our wedding photographers come out to capture your special day? We'd love to chat! 

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography.
Pictures taken by Mike Tigchelaar, Lead Photographer, Zekar Photography. 

So, full disclosure here - I think I cried like three times when I was going through Sarah and Rob's amazing wedding we did for them this past October. It's one of those ones where the romance between the couple is so real and true it's almost palpable.  These two have the kind of love story that you read about in only the best kinds of love stories.

But before I get into the sweet way these two met, let's start with Rob getting ready - and here comes the first set of tears. See that dog tag? That's Rob's dad's handwriting. He's going to be walking down the aisle with his Dad right close to his heart, exactly where all the beautiful memories of such a special man live now that he's not here on Earth to be with Rob on such a special day. 

Next, Mike and Jordan headed off to the couples amazing Victorian home where they live with their 3 gorgeous kids.  I love the handkerchief idea, it really gives you a sense of how fun loving this couple is, and also about how hard it is to keep your tears looking graceful ;) 

Let me tell you a little story about that gorgeous amethyst ring that you see there. The two of them were shopping for antiques on Ottawa St North, and this ring caught Sarah's eye. Even though she had explicitly told Rob that if they were ever going to get married, she didn't want an engagement ring and instead wanted to pick out wedding bands together. Well. Rob had a different plan, and he snuck back to the store a few weeks later and proposed with the ring she had fallen in love with! And one of the coolest parts? It's Rob's birthstone too :) 

We've been seeing a lot of flower crowns lately, and I think they are so sweet. Everyone feels like a princess when they are wearing a flower crown! 

When Sarah was shopping around for her gown, she had one thing on her mind - cathedral bridal veil. I adore a long, gorgeous veil and I'm glad they seem to be coming back in style. It's just the epitome of the quintessential bride and Sarah is true royalty in her customized gown from David's Bridal. She added the gorgeous flowers herself and had a last-minute snip-snip to get rid of the straps, an excellent decision for sure. The thing that makes Sarah's look complete though, is the diamond hair piece. I adore it - its so simple and elegant and fits so perfectly with the rest of her jewelery.

Sarah's hair was done by one of her close friends Kristin and the bridesmaids hair was done by Jody Roshko.  Makeup expertly applied by Emily Beveridge @beyoutifulbyemilynicole.

So here's another instance of tears from me, your overemotional bridal blog writer. Sarah's reveal to her friends and family. Just look at the expressions on everyone's faces - every single person in this shot is so amazingly happy for her and full of love and can't you just hear the squeals of delight? Love it! 

Interested in more information? Let's chat!

Okay so before we get into the ceremony photos, let me give you a little background in this sweet couples love story. The two of them have known each other since Sarah was 9 years old.  Their families were friends and when Sarah's family moved to Hamilton, they moved close to Rob's family as there were lots of kids in that area. One night the families got together for dinner, and Rob was in charge of wrangling all of the little kids. With kids climbing all over him he asked Sarah how she was and if she was liking her new home and all sorts of really thoughtful questions that 9 year old boys don't generally ask other little girls.  It kind of freaked her out and she remembers pretty much just not answering :) 

 They went to school together, were in the same circles of friends, but never dated. I love this because it reminds me of how Mike and I met - we went to the same school, and I knew of him (he was too scary and 'bad' so I would have been way too afraid of him to even look at him) but we passed each other every day, not knowing we were actually soulmates. And that's the same as Sarah and Rob, knowing of each other but having to go through a whole lot of life before realizing that they were actually the loves of each others lives! Isn't it romantic?!

So how did they actually meet up again? Years later, Sarah ran into Rob's sister and cousin in Shoppers drug mart. And isn't it the way when you run into old friends, she's holding a copy of 50 Shades and a Cosmo magazine. Haha! Anyways, word got back to Rob and they ended up chatting on Facebook and one thing led to another and these two fitness buffs turned a quick jog into a hike that lasted 3 hours. You know you've got a good thing going on when you literally never get tired of talking to eachother.  

Fast forward to 2017 and Sarah's getting ready to walk down the aisle towards Rob, who, if you can't tell, is over the moon seeing this seriously gorgeous babe walk towards him, ready to be his wife. 

Before we start - Sarah's beautiful flowers were done by Roger at Grayton Designs 905-774-1398. 

Some dainty crying going on here! :) 

The reception took place at one of our favourite new venues in the city, The Spice Factory. It's the perfect place to have a casual and relaxed atmosphere with a healthy dose of industrial chic.  One of the best parts about it is that there are all sorts of cool spots to have your bridal party and portraiture pictures taken, our favourite is James Street North. Always something going on and the cool buildings make a great backdrop. 

Sarah and Rob had a ton of fun together during the bridal portraits and thats the way we like it best. When you're having fun and laughing, you always look gorgeous. 

I love the gaggle of random Hamiltonian's in the background. Street photography combined with wedding photography is our favourite! 

Just move along. Nothing to see here!

When love becomes art! Taken right outside the Spice Factory in Hamilton. 

Interested in more information? Let's chat!

Do not look at the next picture of you are hungry. Seriously, you will want to lick your computer screen. That'd be weird though, so maybe just give the talented folks at Jonny Blonde a call to do your catering like Sarah and Rob did. We've done quite a few weddings with these guys as the caterers, and in Mikes words - "best food I've had, hands down." He gets so excited when he knows Jonny is there cause everyone just dies over how good the food is! 

These two had their perfect first dance to the most perfect song. Perfect because Tupelo Honey is Sarah's very favourite Van Morrison song, perfect because (unbeknownst to her) it was Rob's dad's favourite song. Perfect because she and his dad actually share a birthday. So it was a combination of every beautiful thing, combined into one most beautiful start to their lives together.  An angel to the first degree, I can certainly agree to that!

So that's Sarah's man of honour right there, her amazing big bro. She's acting out how he basically man-posed to her, asking if he could be her man of honour, something they'd talked about since they were kids. It's so cute I can't even handle it! 

The kids kicked off an epic night of dancing with a little tribute to their parents, isn't that the best ever? 

Interested in more information? Let's chat!

So what'd you guys think? Honestly one of my favourites of the year for sure. Such a fun, gorgeously emotional and perfect day for these two and we were so happy to be there to capture all the incredible moments. If you loved this wedding as much as I do and are interested in having our team come out to shoot your special day, give me a shout! 

p.s I had to add this. Because, life is so beautiful and because marriage so beautiful. This picture is just a snapshot - no fancy lighting, no crazy angles. But it is everything to Rob and Sarah and that's the kind of thing that makes our job so special. Rob's Grandma passed away on Christmas Eve, just a few short months after this picture was taken. She got to see her handsome grandson marry the love of his life and she was ready to go join her husband in heaven for Christmas. They had been married for 70 years and he'd passed away just 6 months earlier. Mike and I will probably never be married for 70 years - I'd have to live to 99 and he'd have to live to 102.  But my goodness you guys, what a beautiful testament of how marriage intertwines our souls!

Okay, the end. Take a breath and take a tissue and go back and enjoy these pictures again :) 

All pictures were taken by Mike Tigchelaar and Jordan Browne for Zekar Photography. 

This post was written by Kate Tigchelaar, Studio Manager for Zekar Photography.

Kayla and Taylor's wedding took place this past September, downtown Toronto. These two lovebirds created a wedding style that was all their own - laid back, fun loving, but with a thread of sophistication and class woven throughout the day. With a first-look that took place within the iconic eyes of the CN Tower and a cocktail reception that was held at 2nd Floor Events, this is one wedding you guys will definitely want to take a look at. 

When Kamila arrived at Taylor's suite at the Hyatt Regency, he was just slipping on his elegantly tailored (pun intended) suit that he'd picked up at Nordstrom's. I seriously love the navy blue and black details with subtle brocade design of this suit - its so classic and yet has that edge of style that seems to be a hallmark of this handsome groom.  

A over in the bridal suite, the elegant Kayla was also putting on the finishing touches. Her cocktail style wedding dress was the perfect fit - fun and sophisticated all at once. 

I love this sweet little flower girl. Kids on wedding days are always the best, especially little girls. It's like all of a sudden this person they knew and loved, turns into a princess for the day and it's just so magical for them. 

The perfect family photo! :D 

As Kayla steps into the elevator on her way up to see Taylor for the first time, I love how this bridesmaid is all like 'HEY-OOOO!' haha! 

Interested in more information? Let's chat! 

Kayla & Taylor's first look took place on top of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Toronto. One of the cooler first look locations we've done by far! I'm imagining how many people might have looked out their windows and saw this sweet couple embracing for the first time :)