Ikonica | weddings. » weddings. images.

Lena and Brian were married at the vibrantly ornate St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral. Through these photographs by Lisa McPeek, we get a glimpse of a traditional Macedonian Orthodox wedding ceremony, one which emphasizes the strength and unity a couple can achieve through the act of ritual. The exchanging of rings and joining of right hands, ensures a perfect completeness as bride and groom become one—each compensating for the other’s weakness.  An exchange of crowns proclaims the bride and groom now reign over their domestic affairs as king and queen.  Next, a drink from a common cup is a promise to share all of life’s joys and sorrows. Finally, a walk around the altar signifies that marriage is eternal.

Mary, a dynamic and beautiful Toronto actress, has found her leading man in the handsomely debonair, David. Mary and David were married at the picturesque Eagles Nest Golf Club, the perfect backdrop for the couple remarkably reminiscent of silver screen superstars, Grace Kelly and Humphrey Bogart. Ikonica photographer, Gillian Williamson couldn’t help but feel like she was making a very important directorial debut.

For their wedding photographs with Gillian Williamson, Toni and Wallace decided to break all the rules and follow the call of cool—Converse, to be concise. No more stiff and dowdy dress shoes for these groomsmen. After all, to be cool is to be comfortable! Then it was off to the tony Granite Club where planner, Whitney Pizale of Bliss, had set the stage for the couple’s classically refined reception.

Straight from the scenes of La Dolce Vita, channeling a little Fellini and a lot of favoloso, Gillian Williamson photographed Melanie & Gerry in the ancient streets of Positano, a picturesque, cliff-side town on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.  This trendy Aussie couple are currently living in the UK but decided that, if everyone was flying in for their wedding, they might as well fly somewhere hot and beautiful.  The words ‘hot and beautiful’ could just as easily be used to describe their wedding photos – ciao bella!

The towering skyscrapers & austere urban sprawl of Canary Wharf in London must have seemed like a distant memory, when UK-based couple, Sandra & John, jetted to Toronto for their wedding in the lush gardens of McLean House at the Estates of Sunnybrook.   Deftly captured by Lisa McPeek, intimate ‘I dos’ were said amidst a splash of spring colour, followed by a traditional English “wedding breakfast” reception…in the afternoon. The evening festivities kicked off with a fiery dragon dance, to ensure the newlyweds a lifetime of joy, happiness & good luck.

Melanie, originally from Toronto, and Dale, an architectural photographer, chose Jackson Huang to shoot their LA wedding. Jackson was pleased to take the trip to California and brought Ikonica associate photographer, Michael Grills, to accompany him on this assignment. Melanie and Dale showcased the best of the city in their wedding. Melanie readied at the sleek SLS at Beverly Hills Hotel, and Dale at the “country-kitsch” Farmer’s Daughter Boutique Hotel. The reception was held at LA’s eco-friendly, 100% sustainable, vintage-furnished special events venue wryly dubbed, the Smog Shoppe. Gilly Flowers and Events provided imaginatively original, lush, seasonal arrangements of orchids, fiddleheads, hydrangeas and poppy seed pods. Debra Parr and Claudia Romani of Amazing Grace Event Planning brought all the elements together and executed Melanie and Dale’s fete with poise. What a day! It was playfully innovative in an unexpected way. Jackson is looking forward to shooting Melanie and Dale’s second wedding which will be held here in Toronto.

Avi and Adam were married at Toronto’s lavish Liberty Grand. Planner Karen Jacobs of Up and Coming Events and Designing Trendz’s Craig Gruzd were responsible for translating the couple’s vision into a fantastic fuchsia-chic event. The ceremony took place beneath a draping, white and fuchsia rose-adorned chuppa that emulated the venue’s towering pillars. For the reception, the Artifacts Room was lined with floor to ceiling curtains and glowed with vivid cerise-colored light. This same light reflected from the transparent backs of the ghost chairs, and glimmered along the tall clear centerpieces. Like the chuppa, the linearly arranged tables were embellished with fragrant fuchsia and white roses. Shimmering gold place settings added a richness that spoke of sheer luxury.

As if straight from the pages of Vanity Fair, Erin and Fraser arrived at the Four Seasons for their wedding ceremony and reception in a vintage Rolls Royce. She, resplendent in her jeweled gown, and he, debonair and gallant, had just finished their photo shoot with Jackson Huang at the newly completed Royal Conservatory of Music. Lianne Adelson, the Event Boutique, was the planner for this extraordinary occasion and the Regency Ballroom was transformed by Lidia Tacconelli of Fiori with luxuriously hued purples, oranges and golds.

For Jackson, this event was not only memorable for its splendor, it was also a chance to see again members of the wedding party whose wedding he had also photographed—Sarah, Fraser’s sister, and her husband, Stefan. Also in attendance were Lauren and Julian; their wedding was published recently in Elegant Wedding magazine.

Strolling hand in hand among everyday pedestrians, Karen & Mayu embarked on their journey of marriage by walking to their wedding at the Gardiner Museum with photographer, Jackson Huang. The route wound its way through Yorkville, across Bloor Street and behind the Museum, giving the couple shared personal moments both open and private in some of the city’s best public and hidden spaces.

T.H. Jackson Huang photographed Wendy and Paul’s Halloween wedding at Canoe Restaurant. The diaphanous bride and dashing groom exchanged vows amidst a constellation of red roses and the dazzling lights of the Toronto skyline. To mark the occasion, each guest was given a personal, intricately hand-crafted mask flown in especially from Italy. For their cake, the mask motif was used again to stunning effect only this time by Toronto artists—Alexandria Pellegrino and Jessica Smith of Cake Opera Co.