From father-daughter moments that had me tearing up, to the spontaneous dance parties with the bride’s niece between speeches, to both sets of parents laughing together all night—this winter wedding at the Ivy Lea Club in Kingston was a great reminder of so many things I love about wedding photography. As much as I adored the disco balls, the dark and moody palette, and the fruit-and-silverware tables capes, it’s always the people that make it a special day.

Venue: Ivy Lea Club | @ivy1000islands
Photo: Sonia V Photography | @soniavphoto
Content Creator: @writtensocial
Florals: West Briar Floral | @westbriarfloral
Dress: Joy Bridal Boutique | @joybridalboutique
Makeup: Blush and Brush by Mir | @blushandbrushbymir
Hair: Hair by Adamo and Co | @hairbyadamoandco
Earrings: Olive and Piper | @oliveandpiper
DJ: @do.not.push
Jewelry: @hawkinsfinejewelers
Cake: @kelsey.rsl

Winter Wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston: Morning Flat Lays

This winter wedding at the Ivy Lea Club in Kingston had so many fun décor details—I had so much fun capturing these flat lays. Before every wedding day, I chat with my couples about their photography timeline, so I was especially excited when they wanted to set aside plenty of time for these shots. Flat lays might seem small or unimportant, but they help tell the story of your day through objects and give those special items a moment of their own when they may otherwise get overlooked. If you’re looking for ideas on what to include, I’ve put together a blog here that will help you out.

Typically I do flatlays before or during the getting ready time in the morning, so that I’m able to use some of the jewelry, florals (while they’re still fresh and lively), perfume or cologne, shoes and anything else you may have wanted to include. Ideally we get it done before you need to put on your jewelry so you don’t need to fuss about taking it on and off. Some of the things included in this flay lay were:

• Seasonal fruit (also used in their tablescapes)
• Florals
• Custom matchboxes
• Disco ball clusters
• Jewelry: her engagement and wedding band, earrings, and necklace
• Sentimental glass dishes
• Perfume
• Stationary: table numbers, invitation and personalized thank you card

This past wedding season I dove into doing nighttime flat lays as well, so keep an eye out for those from this wedding, because you won’t want to miss them!

Winter Wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston: The First Look

First looks with parents are always special, and this couple made it even more meaningful by carving out time to connect with the people who matter most before seeing each other. N+G also read their wedding vows during this intimate moment. Their winter wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston had a moody, romantic atmosphere, with light streaming through the massive windows that perfectly framed this moment.

Winter Wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston: The Wedding Party + Bridal Portraits

I wanted to share a few of the wedding party photos and bridal portraits here because this corner of the venue fit their wedding perfectly. The moody, romantic vibe came alive with the fireplace, antique-style accents, and the piano, making it the perfect backdrop for these shots.

Winter Wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston: The Ceremony

As I mentioned in the intro, both sets of parents were laughing and seemed so connected all day, and this moment was no exception. The moms shared a little pre-ceremony ritual to ease the nerves (taking a shot together) and their reactions afterward were absolutely priceless. If you’re wondering about the little someone with them, she had a lemonade “shot” of her own to calm her nerves too!

I know I’ve already mentioned the windows, but they’re incredible. From the chandelier to the beautiful floral arrangements, the space was gorgeous for their ceremony.

Winter Wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston: Cocktail Hour + Reception

Having the ceremony and venue in the same location makes it so easy for everyone to transition seamlessly into celebrating, catching up, and grabbing a drink to cheers. For this wedding in particular, the photos captured such a beautiful glow from the candlelight paired with the decor.

A quick pause to highlight some of the details — the seemingly endless candles, lush florals, fresh fruits, and carefully placed silverware that brought the table decor to life. I loved this wedding’s colour palette, and I’m still just as obsessed with it every time I look at these photos.

This year, I had two weddings that included a fun twist during the reception. To break up the speeches, the bride and groom planned a dance break to get everyone moving. As we all know, dinner and speeches can be a long stretch of sitting, but this trend keeps the energy up and gets people ready to dance later in the night — plus, it gives us the perfect chance to capture some amazing dance photos.

Winter Wedding at The Ivy Lea Club Kingston: Nighttime Flatlays and Decor

As promised, here are a few of the nighttime flatlays I captured, giving a playful, undone glimpse into the post-reception party. This has quickly become one of my favorite ways to wrap up a wedding gallery. It’s a chance to highlight all the thoughtful (and fun) details couples include — from food and stationery to party accessories and personal touches. At this wedding, guests signed a deck of cards, donned New Year’s headbands, and other little details.

As the party kicked off, N+G had a shot luge set up spelling out their new titles as MR and MRS, followed by their first dance together as newlyweds. They were ready to let loose, and their guests were right there with them.

Sonia V Photography

From the laughs shared between parents to the energy of the dance floor and all the little details in between, this wedding at The Ivy Lea Club in Kingston was such a joy to capture. Seeing couples celebrate in moments that feel genuine is why I love what I do. If you’re planning a wedding and want photography that tells your story authentically, I’d love to hear from you!

If you’d like to take a look at more photos from this wedding you can take a look at that here or if you’d like to see more of my weddings you can take a peak at my portfolio here.