Steve & Victoria | Willistead Manor | Low-Martin Mansion | St. Clair College Centre for the Arts | Windsor, Ontario Wedding Photographers

Boy meets girl, girl dates boy’s friend, a love triangle ensues until an elaborate gesture wins her over. Steve & Victoria’s story has all the makings of a classic love story, which only makes sense given their love for novels themselves. They often spend their evenings reading together or browsing through book stores, and chose to include their favourite pastime in their engagement session as well. Two book lovers, Victoria & Steve got their fairytale ending on their wedding day as they married their best friend of 10 years. Photographing them was a joy and a reminder of what real love is – care for one another, patience, knowledge of each other’s quirks and best qualities, inside jokes, happiness and ease.

They spent their morning apart, each getting ready for their big day with their wedding parties at their side. Once suits and dresses were on, earrings in place, ties tied and hair fixed, they headed to their ceremony at Willistead Manor. Steve waited for Victoria at the front of the room, guests were seated as a harp played and their wedding party walked down the aisle, while Victoria waited with her dad just outside. They entered the room and everyone rose as Victoria made her way towards Steve, their eyes locked on each other. I’d attempt to tell you about their vows, but since I’d never be able to do them justice, you can ready them below. Let’s just say they were the best vows ever! ;)

Once the vows were said, a few tears were shed, and the papers were signed, the new Mr. & Mrs. made their way to the Willistead Manor & Low-Martin Mansion for their wedding party photos. In keeping with the theme of the day, the classic architecture, warm tones and dramatic lighting of the mansion made a beautiful backdrop for their first portraits as husband and wife.

For as many perfectly worded vows and tender moments that the day included, Victoria and Steve knew how to have let loose and enjoy the evening with their guests. They entered their reception at the St. Clair centre rocking air guitars, laughed their ways through heartfelt speeches, and ended the night with the most bad-ass cigar shots we’ve taken to date. Seriously, Victoria is a queen *bows*.

Victoria & Steve, your love is genuine and inspiring. It has been such a pleasure to get to know you and your story. Documenting your wedding was the icing on the cake. We absolutely adore you and your families. Please don’t be strangers! We look forward to seeing your beautiful frames and album printed real soon.

“I love you, because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it without a touch, without a word, without a sign. You have done it by being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means, after all.”  – Roy Croft

“Steve, When I first met you, I loved how boisterous you were- how shamelessly confident- and how you were unapologetically smart and determined. I loved how you always kept your word, no matter what. These qualities that once pulled me so strongly to you are the same ones that keep me coming back for more. I’ve always longed for a day that started and ended with you and after hundreds of miles and 11 years between us, now we can finally have that. This life we get to live is pure gold to me. You always have my best interest, and you give me confidence to know that everything I need, I already have. You’ve shown me that even in crazy, stressful times, our ‘two’ is always better than one. I’m drawn to you, from across rooms and highways, and every piece of me is lifted higher by my proximity to you. You make me laugh, every single day, either at your expense or otherwise. And everything that makes me happy is a tiny gift from your heart to mine. I will continue to love and nurture every special piece of you for the rest of my life. You’re unassuming with your generosity. and You protect me like I’m something special. You expect nothing of me, and that is why I want to give you the world. I’ve had years to study you and to learn from you, but I realize that your lessons are endless. Never will I ever stop reading the wonderful book of you. I love you, Steven, and I am proud to be your wife.”

“Victoria, over the years I’ve told you countless times, in countless ways that I love you. Let me now briefly tell you what I tell others of you — I tell people that I owe as much of who I am to you, as I do to anyone. I tell them you round off my sharp edges and highlight my best qualities. I tell them I’ve lucked out, and though I know one day you’ll realize I’ve tricked you, it makes me strive to be someone who deserves you. I tell people that loving you is easy, that loving you is like breathing. Like breathing in that it is natural to me, in that it is the most fundamental way I subsist. Not like breathing in that it is thoughtless or automatic — more like breathing after you’ve held your breath, when your body is telling you everything depends on this next gasp, and when you do finally breath your focus is intent on the way that one breath fills you with life. Today I no longer must hold my breath. Victoria, I look forward to doing new and exciting things with you, I look forward to challenging you as you challenge me, I look forward to laughing away the rest of our days, I look forward to accumulating a vast library with you, I look forward to loving you every day for the rest of my life.”