Wedding Ceremony
A mix of professional and family/friend pictures below when the actual ceremony began at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Toronto.
We started going to this church shortly after we got engaged - we hadn't attended since we moved to the city but we wanted to have a church wedding. We immediately loved Father Mick for his honesty and hilarious personality. He plays hockey and swears like a sailor in private, and he is a wonderful priest to his congregation. He even came to our reception danced up a storm!
The programs were designed by me and Marta and printed and assembled by Marta - thank goodness because by the week before the wedding, I had no time to do it! The were in a fan shape, since the church was not air conditioned, and could be used for information and fanning!
The ceremony started at 3pm, and we had about 150 guests. The grandparents and Matt's parents came down the aisle first. The bridesmaids walked down with their groomsmen, except my maid of honour, Steph, who walked down the aisle alone until Jamie, the best man, met her halfway and walked her the rest. He stayed at the front with Matt the rest of the time. I walked down the aisle with both of my parents, and was met by my then fiance, now husband.
The priest was nice enough to have Kleenex and bottles of water on standby. The tissue was not necessary (heart of stone, remember?), but the water was appreciated. I'm a heat fainter, and this was not the day to show that side of me to the world! We had readings by both moms (old and new testament). My mom's reading was the same one she read at her own wedding 30 years ago! Matt's sister, Megan, also did the responsorial psalm. My brother, Adam, did the prayers of intercession, and the dads brought up the gifts. We kept everything in the family and it made it a very nice ceremony. Father Mick gave such a nice, personalized homily. He made us write letters individually and give them to him the week before the wedding, so he could include personal touches and really make it tailored to us as a couple. Everyone loved his speaking and I'm so glad we chose St. Patrick's in general, and Father Mick, specifically.
We did traditional vows, and exchanged rings, and of course did some kissing. I was glad in the end that we had a full mass - it might have been long for our guests, but it really gave us a chance to look out and see everyone, and take in the moments. We were actually up at the front, facing everyone, instead of facing the alter. It was nice to smile and wave to people as the ceremony progressed. Once we were married, we went into the sacristy and signed the register with our maid of honour and best man, had some photo ops at the alter with the bridal party, and went back down the aisle!
We started going to this church shortly after we got engaged - we hadn't attended since we moved to the city but we wanted to have a church wedding. We immediately loved Father Mick for his honesty and hilarious personality. He plays hockey and swears like a sailor in private, and he is a wonderful priest to his congregation. He even came to our reception danced up a storm!
The programs were designed by me and Marta and printed and assembled by Marta - thank goodness because by the week before the wedding, I had no time to do it! The were in a fan shape, since the church was not air conditioned, and could be used for information and fanning!
The ceremony started at 3pm, and we had about 150 guests. The grandparents and Matt's parents came down the aisle first. The bridesmaids walked down with their groomsmen, except my maid of honour, Steph, who walked down the aisle alone until Jamie, the best man, met her halfway and walked her the rest. He stayed at the front with Matt the rest of the time. I walked down the aisle with both of my parents, and was met by my then fiance, now husband.
The priest was nice enough to have Kleenex and bottles of water on standby. The tissue was not necessary (heart of stone, remember?), but the water was appreciated. I'm a heat fainter, and this was not the day to show that side of me to the world! We had readings by both moms (old and new testament). My mom's reading was the same one she read at her own wedding 30 years ago! Matt's sister, Megan, also did the responsorial psalm. My brother, Adam, did the prayers of intercession, and the dads brought up the gifts. We kept everything in the family and it made it a very nice ceremony. Father Mick gave such a nice, personalized homily. He made us write letters individually and give them to him the week before the wedding, so he could include personal touches and really make it tailored to us as a couple. Everyone loved his speaking and I'm so glad we chose St. Patrick's in general, and Father Mick, specifically.
We did traditional vows, and exchanged rings, and of course did some kissing. I was glad in the end that we had a full mass - it might have been long for our guests, but it really gave us a chance to look out and see everyone, and take in the moments. We were actually up at the front, facing everyone, instead of facing the alter. It was nice to smile and wave to people as the ceremony progressed. Once we were married, we went into the sacristy and signed the register with our maid of honour and best man, had some photo ops at the alter with the bridal party, and went back down the aisle!
Family Formal Shots
Here are the family formal pictures - both before and after the ceremony - some taken professionally, others by family.
Right after we did family pictures in the beautiful backyard grotto of the church. We did a few separately beforehand as well, but did the ones together after the ceremony. We also did the big family pictures when we got to the cocktail hour at the Royal York. Our wedding party went to a pub across the street along with most of the guests while they waited for their formal pictures.
Right after we did family pictures in the beautiful backyard grotto of the church. We did a few separately beforehand as well, but did the ones together after the ceremony. We also did the big family pictures when we got to the cocktail hour at the Royal York. Our wedding party went to a pub across the street along with most of the guests while they waited for their formal pictures.