Aliya + Mat’s backyard wedding was a dream. As soon I met Aliya I liked her right away and I knew I wanted to work with her and Mat. Their engagement session was amazing, we took photos up at her family’s cottage in the winter, we went out on the ice and it was just a perfect winter day. Last summer they hosted a fabulous backyard wedding reception on her parent’s property in Courtice Ontario. So much nature and great vibes.
I have been shooting weddings for 9 years, and I have to say it gives me a little pang of jealousy when I shoot weddings in smaller places outside Toronto. Families and communities seem a little tighter, and the weddings have a more communal feel, everyone knows each other and it’s really special to witness. Backyard weddings are also very special when they are done right, always full of personality and making the most of our summers in Ontario.
Also Aliya’s first look with her dad was one of the cutest things.
The star of the show through this whole wedding is clearly their pup Ozzie – he was running around the whole day having the best time. He was just a little mitten biting puppy at their engagement session, so it was cute to see him full size the following summer. One of my favourite photos of him was taken after Mat and Aliya’s first kiss and it looks like he is jumping for joy. People often ask about bringing their pup along to engagement sessions or weddings, and I’m a dog lover, I have a goldendoodle myself (Archie) and I love it when a pup tags along.
