If you told me I’d be photographing Doug and Emily’s Nodo Toronto micro-wedding during a pandemic, I’d never have believed you. But there we were: eight months into ever-changing regulations and they’d planned, re-planned, re-re-planned. It was time.
Being with Doug and Emily for this entire day was particularly special because they are particularly special. Doug is my brother. Emily has been in our family for eight years. It didn’t take a wedding to bring her further into our hearts – she was already firmly cemented there – but were we ever excited to celebrate them making it official.
Their whole day was as low-key and filled with laughter as they are. Whiskey with friends over Zoom. Kitchen selfies. Technology set up to cover the event from every.single.imaginable.angle. A sister flown in from Halifax, willing to sacrifice isolation from her own children in order to be there. Mothers shedding tears. Sisters (this one included) also shedding tears. :P Vows said through yet more tears on the front porch followed by a drive-by parade of cherished friends, some of whom drove great distances to be there. Offers of grappa from Tito and Anna next door.
I can’t say I’ve ever felt as much self-induced pressure on a wedding day, but I also haven’t felt as much joy for the couple getting married. At times, it was hard to concentrate because it felt like I was smiling so loudly, if that’s even possible.
Doug and Em, thank you for tuning out all of the “noise” that can come with a wedding so that you could really be with each other and there for each other this day. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for asking me to document your day for you. I don’t know of any better wedding gift that I could’ve given you than these photos. Someone asked how I felt about not being in the photos but I think that, by choosing how to tell your story, by choosing where to stand and what moment to click the shutter, by curating your collection, I’ve put a little bit of of me in every one of these photos. I love you both!
Hair by Twenty Seven Toronto; Makeup by Jen Cronin; Flowers by Hunt and Gather Floral; Event hosting by Nodo Hillcrest.
I’m Ang. I’m a Cornwall, Ontario-based photographer offering wedding and documentary family coverage throughout Eastern Ontario, Toronto, and destinations further afield. Visual storytelling is what I do best, so laughter and connection is important in my work. I love working with couples who are emotionally present on their wedding day and who love spending time laughing with loved ones, so celebrations like this intimate Nodo Toronto micro-wedding are a great example of the kind of relaxed, family-oriented day I love being involved in. If you’d like to see another example of how I approach weddings, start here.
