This glamorous New Year’s Eve wedding is every photographer’s dream! It’s bright, cheerful and tons of fun. I especially love the idea of a New Year’s Eve wedding. Every year we always scramble to make plans. Why not throw a big party for all of your family and friends AND get married at the same time? I think it’s a perfect scenario.
Natasha and Matthew are genuinely the nicest and warmest people I know. They place a major importance on their family and that’s why they threw a huge New Year’s Eve wedding, not only to celebrate their love but to say “Thank You” to the most important people (and dogs!) in their life. From the early morning till the very last song on the dance floor, the wedding day was filled with warm hugs, happy chatter and loud bursts of laughter. Natasha and Matthew are the biggest dog lovers and they couldn’t imagine their best day without having their furry friends by their side. They even chose to celebrate their wedding at The Ritz Carlton Toronto because they allowed dogs!
We started their morning with a short, yet fun creative shoot in downtown Toronto. I wanted their wedding photo location to match their super hip, stylish personality and I thought that King St. West would be the perfect spot. I loved the idea of juxtaposing the red brick walls, modern architecture and sleek lines against Natasha and Matthew glamorous attire. There’s something utterly elegant and cool about these types of downtown wedding photos!
After snapping pictures in the downtown core, we headed to their majestic ceremony space. To say that I was just blown away is to say nothing at all! Tall golden trees blooming with white winter flowers looked magical against the white and gold interior of The Ritz Carlton Hotel Toronto. Everything from tall slim candles, to golden pine nuts in the floral arrangements, spoke to the couple’s impeccable style. Natasha and Matthew said their “I Do’s” in front of their extended family and friends and walked down the aisle together with their furry groomsmen. It was a perfect beginning to a fabulous night!
There were many speeches, heartwarming stories told and many laughs shared. Even though it was a black tie event the entire night felt relaxed and fun. As we counted down at midnight, I felt I was spending the night with my family, that’s how inclusive and warm the whole day felt.
Of course, throwing a New Year’s Eve wedding is an ambitious plan. I think that Natasha and Matthew nailed this task and there are a few things I learned from their cheerful wedding day.
In the spirit of the countdown to midnight, these are my 3 tips on throwing a successful New Year’s Eve wedding that I learned from Natasha and Matthew:
- New Year’s Eve is a popular date not only for weddings but for other events as well. With the entire city celebrating the end of the year, there are numerous celebrations being hosted throughout the night. Corporate, family and general New Year’s Eve parties might make it difficult to book your dream venue. That is why it’s very important to plan ahead, you need to set your wedding date at least one year in advance to be able to book the right venue for you.
- Bring the holiday cheer into your celebration. Even though it’s your wedding day, it is important to share the holiday cheer with your guests who gave up their holiday plans in order to be with you. Try to add as many Holiday themed decor items and party details to make the night about your loved ones. Turn your wedding reception into a big party by handing out party attributes, such as funny hats, glitter, and sparklers.
- Make it memorable! After all, it’s New Year’s Eve and your guests are eager to hit the dance floor. Natasha and Matthew worked their bandleader to ensure the countdown was a high point of the night. The dance floor was raging, a champagne toast was given out, confetti fell down from the ceiling and everyone kissed at midnight! What could be more romantic than that!
Natasha and Matthew, thank you so much for making me feel like part of your family. I had such a great time and I couldn’t wish for a better beginning of 2017! Cheers, from the Mango Family.
