Nina & Lucas' wedding kicked off my 2025 wedding photography season with a bang—and I couldn't have asked for a more magical start.


With sword fights, bonfires, and a walk down the aisle to the How to Train Your Dragon theme song, their celebration was truly one-of-a-kind. If you're dreaming of a fairytale wedding with fantasy vibes, you’re going to love this one.


A Two-Day Wedding with Bonfire, Sword Fighting & Sparklers

The celebration began on Friday evening with a cozy, intentional pre-wedding BBQ and bonfire at a private property near Cambridge, Ontario. Instead of a large reception, Nina and Lucas opted for a relaxed night with their closest friends and family. It was laid-back and full of personality—complete with sword fighting in tunics, a sweet first dance under the stars, snacks, and sparklers. The weather showed up for us too, blessing us with golden light and good vibes.


Continue reading below!



Friday night bonfire and BBQ wedding reception
First dance at sunset relaxed bonfire wedding reception
Man cooking on BBQ at sunset
Play sword fighting in tunics around a bonfire at sunset
Campfire at sunset
Community campfire wedding reception at sunset
Couple runs through sparklers at relaxed bonfire wedding reception
Couple draw a heart around themselves with long exposure sparker photo
Person making a smore around a campfire
Bride and her mother standing in front of beautiful large cottage style house

GETTING READY AT A STORYBOOK FAMILY HOME

Saturday morning brought soft, dreamy clouds—the kind of overcast light wedding photographers dream of. I met Nina at her parents’ home, which looked like something out of a fairytale: a cottage-style home with a grand staircase and cozy charm. It was the perfect setting for getting ready photos.

She shared a sweet first look with her dad, then we captured family portraits by the fireplace before heading to the church.

Flatlay shot of the bride's shoes, handkerchief, good rings, necklace, earrings on a blue backdrop
Sentimental message from bride to groom on wedding day wedding gift on a compass sitting on a blue backdrop
Friends overlook from balcony as a bride gets ready
Mother of bride helps zip up bride's wedding dress in front of fireplace
Mother of bride helps bride tie up shoe for wedding day
Bride getting ready and looking out window with soft natural light
Emotional first look of father of bride seeing her in wedding dress for the first time
Bride hugging dad when he first sees her in her wedding dress
Bride's family smiling in front of living room fireplace in wedding day attire
Bride walking up grand staircase showing off fairytale inspired wedding dress
Bride walking down grand staircase showing off fairytale inspired wedding dress
Dad in living room watching bride on stairs
Bride and groom tying the three-stranded cord during ceremony

A CHURCH CEREMONY WITH A TOUCH OF FANTASY

Nina walked down the aisle to the sweeping orchestral beauty of the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack—cue the goosebumps. Lucas’s face said it all as he waited for her. The ceremony was filled with joy, worship music, and heartfelt moments. They exchanged vows, rings, and tied a three-stranded cord—a symbolic act drawn from Ecclesiastes 4:12: "A cord of three strands is not easily broken."

This tradition, rooted in Scottish weddings, symbolized their unity with each other and with God.

Detail shot of ceremony decoration lampost and flowers
Sisters of groom walk down aisle
Maid of honour walks down aisle
Groom awaits bride at the end of the aisle
Happy mother of bride and cute flower girl walk down the aisle
Bride and father of bride walk down the aisle happily as she looks at her new husband
Groom looks at bride overjoyed as she walks down the aisle towards him
Bride and groom at ceremony overlooking the crowd of family and friends
Bride and groom holding hands at ceremony
Sister of bride reading a Bible passage at church wedding reception
Family of groom as the mother of groom cries during groom's personal vows to bride
Bride and groom kissing at wedding ceremony in front of cross
Bride and groom walking down aisle together happily holding hands, now married
Bride and groom walking down aisle together happily holding hands, now married

There was then a shorter lunch + coffee reception for all of the ceremony guests!

Family and friends pose at lunch time wedding reception
Bride and groom enter lunch time wedding reception
Family and friends watch as bride and groom enter lunch time wedding reception
Family and friends hug bride and groom at receiving line
Family and friends hug bride and groom at receiving line
Grandma hug bride and groom at receiving line
Punch container decor at lunchtime wedding reception
Family and friends laugh and talk together at lunchtime wedding reception
Wedding guest book
Chocolate wedding guest thank you gifts
Family and friends laugh and talk together at lunchtime wedding reception
Family and friends play card games together at lunchtime wedding reception
Family and friends laugh and talk and play games together at lunchtime wedding reception
Family and friends laugh and talk and play games together at lunchtime wedding reception

We then did some family photos!

PORTRAITS IN THE FOREST: DRYDEN TRACT WEDDING PHOTOS

After a relaxed post-ceremony coffee and lunch social, we snuck away to the Dryden Tract in Cambridge for their couple portraits. If you’ve ever dreamed of forest elopement photos or fantasy-inspired bridal portraits, this is where the magic happened.

They wore whimsical, storybook-inspired outfits as we hiked to a lookout spot, playing their favorite song and dancing among the trees. I was obsessed. Before they left for their intimate family dinner, I spotted a stunning pine-lined path near the parking lot and we grabbed just a few more photos—those last-minute inspired shots often turn out to be some of the best!

Bride and groom admiring eachother in a cloudy forest clearing.
Bride and groom running through the fields in a cloudy forest clearing.
Bride and groom running through the fields together in a cloudy forest clearing.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple embracing each other at a forest lookout point with scenic views.
Couple walking into spring forest together.
Couple walking into spring forest together, sniffing blossoms
Couple walking into spring forest together.
Couple walking into spring forest together.
Couple walking into spring forest together.
Couple walking into spring forest together.
White trilliums
Groom putting flowers in bride's hair
Bride and groom walking through fairytale forest together
Bride and groom walking through fairytale forest together
Bride and groom walking hand-in-hand through a pine tree-lined path in the forest.
Bride and groom walking hand-in-hand through a pine tree-lined path in the forest.
Bride and groom enjoying an intimate moment in a pine tree-lined path in the forest.

A Fairytale Wedding to Remember

I delivered their gallery within the week—yes, I was that excited to edit these! Nina & Lucas’ wedding was the perfect reminder that a wedding doesn’t have to follow any rules to be unforgettable. Whether you're planning a two-day celebration, a cozy forest wedding, or a unique ceremony with personal traditions, this Cambridge wedding proves that storybook weddings aren’t just for fiction.

Wedding Photography in Cambridge & Southern Ontario


If you're planning a wedding in Cambridge, Guelph, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, or anywhere in Southern Ontario, and want photos that tell your story with authenticity and artistry, I’d love to capture it. I specialize in documentary-style wedding photography that feels alive, emotional, and a little bit magical.