Kicking off our very first international Local Wedding Guide is Ontario, Canada — highlighting wedding pros in the area not just for local brides, but to anyone who fancies hiring talented folks. After all, they love to travel! We’re selecting various locations to highlight the numerous resources available from our vendor guide members and their favorite pros they love to work with. To recap, we have showcased 7 locations to date: North Carolina, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida, the Pacific Northwest, Indiana + Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Want your area to be featured next? Let us know in the comments and we will make it happen!

Ontario:

Sandy Tam:

Tell us a little bit about you and what you do.
Sandy Tam: My previous life was an auditor at one of the big four accounting firms here in Toronto. When I made the transition to become a full-time photographer, everyone around me told me I was giving up an amazing career and that I was crazy. I told them I was not doing it for the money. I was doing it because I wanted to be happy. I cannot describe how grateful I am for everything I have today. My couples treat me as their friend. I am able to photograph in the most beautiful locations and be blessed with couples who have such amazing personalities. Many fellow photographers I have met along the way have become my greatest support to pull me through stressful times (and yes, there are panic-attack moments). I cannot say I am better than other photographers out there but I can pretty darn well say that my couples wouldn’t become my friends if they didn’t like what I did for them. That, I believe, is the best feedback I could ever ask for.

What is your favorite tip for couples for being photographed on their wedding day?
Sandy Tam: My #1 Tip To Brides: Focus on your husband. This proved to be very helpful when I got married last year and it was my turn to be on the other side of the camera. I am usually very camera aware and camera shy. What helped me most was to focus on having a great time with my husband. Looking at him, chatting with him and just recalling what a great day it was. By doing all this, it distracted me from where the photographers were standing. When I am shooting my couples, I generate topics for them to talk about as a way to have them focus on each other rather than me.

Any favorite photo spots for engagement sessions or must see sightings?
Sandy Tam: I don’t have any one particular spot. I do find that some of the events and festivals we have in Toronto are quite interesting and make a very good backdrop for engagement photos. I often time my engagement sessions so that we can hit up one of the events or festivals. Nuit Blanche is one of them where we had spectacular lighting and was one of my favourite engagement shoots from last year. Doors Open Toronto is another good one. At the end of the day though, the advice I always give to my couples when choosing a location is to pick something that reflects who they are and what they like because if they are not comfortable in an environment, then they won’t look natural in the photos.

Above images from John Schnack Photography

Venues:
Windermere House, Muskoka ON
Bellamere Winery, London ON
The Rosewater Room, Toronto ON
Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, Toronto ON
Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton ON
Miller Lash House, Toronto ON
Idlewyld Inn, London ON
Ancaster Mill, Ancaster ON
The Berkeley Church, Toronto ON
Strathmere, North Gower ON
At the School House, Ottawa ON

Above images from Scarlet O’Neill Photography

Photographers:
HRM Photography (view portfolio), Ontario + will travel worldwide
Scarlet O’Neill Photography (view portfolio), Toronto ON + will travel worldwide
Sandy Tam (view portfolio), Toronto ON + will travel worldwide
Amy and Stuart Photography, Toronto ON + will travel worldwide
A Brit and A Blonde, Toronto ON + will travel worldwide

Event Planners + Stylists:
Cynthia Martyn, Toronto ON
Casamentos, Toronto ON
Oh How Charming, Toronto ON
Weddings Unveiled, Ottawa ON
Marry Me Productions, Ottawa ON

Florists:
Durham Florist Durham ON
Seasons Floral Studio, Tottenham ON
Dandie Andie Designs, Hamilton ON
Petals Stems and Leaves, Richmond Hill ON
Rachel A. Clingen, Toronto ON
Pink Twig, Toronto ON
Mimosa Flower Studio, Niagara Region ON
De Rose Designs, Toronto ON

Above images from John Schnack Photography

Catering:
The Green Door Cafe, Wiarton ON
Glenn Burney Lodge, Seguin ON
Whitfield Farms, Shelburne ON
Ida’s Kitchen, Richmond Hill ON
Dish Catering, Ottawa ON
Thyme and Again, Ottawa ON

Bakeries:
Flour Studio, Toronto ON
LPK’s Culinary Groove, Toronto ON
Hello Cupcake!, Richmond Hill ON
The Wedding Cake Shop, Toronto ON
I Do Wedding Cakes, Toronto ON

Above images from Scarlet O’Neill Photography

Beauty:
Chobeauty, Toronto ON
Amplified Soul, Toronto ON
Allure Hair and Makeup, Toronto ON
Lotus Hair Studio, Toronto ON

Stationery:
Papillon Press (view portfolio), Subdury ON
Flakes Paperie, Cambridge ON
Paper & Poste, Toronto ON
Paper Damsels, Mississauga ON
Carte Blanche Design, Toronto ON
Mr. Boddington’s Studio, Toronto ON

Entertainment:
Indie Wedding DJ (view portfolio), Toronto ON
Maximum Music, Toronto ON
Enjoi DJ, Toronto ON

Tell us a little bit about you and what you do.
Justin of Indie Wedding DJ: Indie Wedding DJ is a boutique wedding DJ service. We specialize in DJing weddings for couples who love indie music. We love to get the dance floor moving with a variety of genres, however, we stay away from the cheesy wedding standards you always hear.

If you are a vendor and would like to be considered in our vendor guide, please click HERE to apply. If you would like to recommend additional local resources to this list, please email us. We’d love to hear from you!