An Editorial Winter Elopement at Toronto City Hall
If you think winter weddings automatically mean discomfort, stiff smiles, and bulky coats in every photo this day proves otherwise
Winter weather is one of the few things you truly can’t plan around on your wedding day. Worries about rain gets most of the attention otherwise, but extreme cold is the real wildcard for winter events. Short windows outdoors, frozen fingers, and the need to work quickly all come with the territory. That said, when you lean into the conditions instead of fighting them, winter weddings can feel incredibly intentional and so so beautiful.
This Toronto City Hall elopement took place on one of those rare, crisp winter days where the light does exactly what you hope it will. City Hall ceremonies are known for being efficient and meaningful, though not always the most visually forgiving. The chambers can be dark, flash is often restricted, and the architecture isn’t exactly subtle. Because of this, we typically treat City Hall as the ceremony anchor and prioritize portraits at a secondary location where we can really create images that feel elevated and timeless.
On this day, the light surprised us— soft winter sun filled the space, allowing for a mix of rich colourful images alongside dramatic black and white ones that leaned into the emotion of the moment. The result felt honest, modern, and far more editorial than expected for a City Hall ceremony.
Following this, we moved downtown to the St. Regis Hotel. While family warmed up with drinks downstairs, we used the hotel room and hallways as a backdrop for portraits that felt bold and fashion forward, and what a joy it was!. With darker interiors and winter light fading fast, flash photography became a creative tool rather than a limitation by adding contrast, texture, and a slightly cinematic edge that tied the entire day together.
This elopement is a reminder that small weddings don’t have to feel minimal, and winter doesn’t have to mean compromising your vision! With the right pacing and a willingness to embrace the atmosphere of the day, even the coldest Toronto wedding can feel stylish, relaxed, and full of personality.
