Real Wedding at Gracewood Estates

Over the summer, I had the honor of photographing Kristen and Matt’s wedding. I met Kristen in 2017 at my first wedding as a wedding photographer with a real wedding photography business. Kristen was the bridesmaid at that wedding and then two more the following year, where I got to meet Matt as well. So when they reached out about their own wedding years later, I was extremely flattered and immediately excited. Their real wedding at Gracewood Estates at Kurtz Orchards in Niagara-on-the-Lake started with an emotional first look with Kristen and her bridesmaids and then another emotional first look with her almost husband, Matt.

First Look & Ceremony

Having a first look before the ceremony meant that we could do most of their formal portraits beforehand and they would be able to spend much time with family and friends during cocktail hour. I prefer doing family photos immediately after the ceremony since it can be a logistical headache to get everyone there before the ceremony begins and it splits up the photos so the couple is overwhelmed with all the formal photos at one time. This is what I recommended and what we ended up doing for Kristen and Matt.

Cocktail Hour

Kurtz Orchards has a beautiful cocktail hour set up with charcuterie boards hidden in the English garden and small tables and chairs like ones you’d find in your grandmother’s famous garden set up for guests to sit and chat while they eat. I have a lot of love for gardens and curated experiences, so I was particularly impressed with this garden.

Dinner

Speaking of curated experiences, following the cocktail hour, guests were directed over to the orchard where they were sat at rows of tables under the apple (or peach, maybe?) trees to enjoy their dinner and listen to toasts given by family and friends. That was as dreamy an experience as you would imagine it to be.

Dance

After dinner, we head over to the tent for the first dance and gelato and then Kristen changed into her reception outfit to kick the party off.

This wedding was photographed on a mix of film and digital.

The Vendor Team for this Real Wedding Gracewood Estates

I’m extremely grateful to be let into days like this and take my hat off to all of the vendors that were involved in making this day such a success. Kurtz, your team is truly full of professionals and I look forward to being back again next year!

VENUE & CATERER @kurtzorchardsweddings Gracewood Estates
PHOTOGRAPHER @soniavphoto
FLORIST @lmw__events
CAKE @gallzprovisions
JEWELRY @cadettejewelry
HAIR @haircreationspaige and @haircreations.maddy
SHOES @bellabelleshoes

And a big thank you to my assistant, Eden, for all her help at this real wedding at Gracewood Estates!

What Kristen & Matt said about their experience with Sonia V Photography:

“I was a bridesmaid in 3 weddings photographed by Sonia before hiring her and she still managed to impress me. Sonia is such a professional – responsive, well organized website, contracts and gallery, and photography is phenomenal. We are beyond grateful we had her for our engagement and wedding photos! We will cherish these photos for a lifetime. Not only is her photography amazing, she is a lovely soul to have at your wedding. I cannot recommend her enough.“