Toronto engagement photos Archives

Riverdale Park Engagement Photos | Frances & JP

July 28, 2018

Riverdale Park Engagement Photos

They waited until the month before their wedding to do their engagement session for a special reason – their braces were coming off! Both of them had braces and they wanted to show off their newly straight (and we joked, slippery-feeling) pearly whites. Gotta hand it to their orthodontist, their smiles were ACE!

There are some areas of the city where the sunset glows extra bright, and Riverdale Park is one of those places. There’s also a skyling view of the city above the park, and a trail tucked away off the vast green grassy field. It’s a rad place in the almost heart of the city to take some nature-y engagement photos.

We explored, goofed around (including throwback to their youth, striking a Power Rangers pose!), and they introduced me to a game I might have to share with other couples!
The game: Stand with feet planted – they can’t move. Hands out, pressed against each other’s. Goal of the game, throw the other person off balance. The results were super fun & adorable.

I had a tonne of fun with you two – can’t wait for your wedding in less than a month!!

And from the couple themselves!

Love Story:

We met almost 7 years ago at a weekend retreat! 7 years seems like a long time when we put it in writing, but it certainly doesn’t feel that way. Early in our relationship, we actually found out that we “met” each other years ago in 2003 at a summer camping trip because that was the year of the massive Toronto blackout. We’ve experienced most of our twenties together, so it’s been a wild ride navigating through everything as a couple from travelling, to first jobs, to making new friends and losing loved ones, to moving out and also moving in together, to even getting braces at the same time. (Thankfully, we were able to take off in time for the wedding – thank you, Dr. Cho!).

Engagement Story:

In lieu of a proposal, we threw a surprise party for our immediate family and close friends to announce our engagement. (A big shout out to our siblings and parents for helping us plan and document the majority of it!) To be honest, we don’t know that it was much of a surprise. We both live downtown but made everyone drive out to Richmond Hill (where Frances‘ parents’ home is located) and we also asked everyone to dress in “garden attire” (because, pictures). Suffice it to say that “garden attire” is not a real dress code. We did, however, manage to record some great reactions (with a secret GoPro) of a few unsuspecting friends when they showed up and realized it wasn’t just a regular BBQ!

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Kew Beach Engagement Photos | Melanie & Andrew

February 25, 2017

Kew Beach Engagement Photos: Melanie & Andrew

Aaah, such love.

Melanie and Andrew wanted to do their engagement photos at a place that meant something to them: Kew Beach.
Andrew grew up in the Toronto Beach area, and also taught Summer camp there.
Now, these two are revisiting this location since it is where they hope to one day create their life together.
The sunset on this Summer evening was absolutely gorgeous. What a romantic setting – I can see why they love it so much!

Here’s their love story, from Melanie & Andrew themselves!

—
Melanie‘s favourite holiday is Christmas. From the food and decorations to the cheer and holiday spirit – she loves it all. Last year, Melanie and Andrew decided to make advent calendars for each other to celebrate the holidays. What Melanie didn’t know was from that moment Andrew had devised a plan to surprise her. Each day in December, Andrew opened a new craft beer and Melanie would find Christmas goodies. This continued until December 23. Andrew opened another craft beer but after Melanie opened her chocolates, Andrew told her there was one more thing that didn’t quite fit.

Andrew runs off, and tells Melanie to keep her eyes closed. He quickly returns with a book. He tells her to open it and read it aloud. Andrew had written and illustrated a book called “The Story of Us”. It started with little bits of childhood, the day Melanie and Andrew met at University, the beginning of their relationship and their first apartment together. Each page had a drawing Andrew had done and a verse he had written. When she got to the last page it read:

“Its been over six years now and everyone’s waiting.

Their friends are so tired of this anticipating.

So let’s pick out a venue and get you a dress;

Assuming of course that your answer is …”

When Melanie looked up Andrew was down on one knee with the ring hoping that she could finish the rhyme. She of course said yes and the rest is history!

—

Get in touch if you’d like to get photos taken of you and your loved one!

If you’d like to explore more Toronto beach engagement sessions, here’s one, here’s another, and this is another 🙂

Relaxed Toronto Engagement Photos – Carolyn & Nick

August 3, 2016

My evening with Carolyn & Nick left me feeling so zen and heart-full.
This session was so relaxed, free-flowing and easy-going.
We explored their neighbourhood (King West) and snapped some shots when the light and locations felt right.
I had such a great time hanging out with these two and documenting this time in their lives.
Can’t wait for their George restaurant wedding next May <3

— & Here’s their fantastic engagement story!
“The Proposal

I surprised Nick with a trip to Cape Breton for his 30th birthday. We had planned to drive the Cabot Trail and hike around the provincial park. I had read online how beautiful the Skyline Trail Hike was, but we were both a little nervous because a hiker had been killed there by a coyote a few years back.

As we walked the trail, every crunch in the bush made us turn in fear. Also, the temporary sign that read ‘Coyote in the Area’ didn’t help to calm our nerves. I kept asking Nick if we should turn back and forget about the rest of the trail, but he seemed keen to push on.

After about an hour of walking with anxiety, we finally reached the beautiful lookout that made it all worth it. We cracked a beer and started taking pictures. Because it was the low season in Cape Breton, we ended up at the lookout by ourselves. I turned around to see Nick down on one knee. In shear disbelief, I ran around in a circle and didn’t let him talk – but I did say yes! It was the perfect moment.

Hiking from the lookout point back to the car I was no longer afraid. I remember telling Nick that I had enough excited energy to fight any coyote that crossed our path!”

Scarborough Bluffs Engagement – Caitlin & Jesse

June 9, 2016

Caitlin Jesse Engagement LR sneak peek-11

Scarborough Bluffs Engagement Photos | Olive Photography

For Caitlin & Jesse’s engagement session we totally incorporated so many things that were very ‘them’, which is always super nice! When we started out, Jesse said he’d like to take some shots of them playing road hockey together since he’s SUCH a hockey buff (more about this in their love story below). So we had some fun getting *slightly* competitive on the street. We then strolled through some of Caitlin’s childhood neighbourhood – her parents live legitimately right around the corner from that incredible lookout point. Can you believe that is in Toronto? (Safety Note: Anyone who visits here, *please* be careful as the bluffs are known to spontaneously shed. Stay back several feet!)

On our way back from the Bluffs we got to talking a bit more about the two of them & their interests, and I learned that Jesse also loves his pickup truck. The idea struck me to pop some popcorn and hang out in the back of the truck for some shots – and that spontaneous idea led to some of my absolute faves from their shoot! Caitlin’s parents’ cat Diva even joined us for some of the fun!
Here are some of my faves from their engagement session – Can’t wait for their big day at Cambium Farms next month!

Hockey Engagement Photos | Olive Photography

Toronto Engagement Session | Olive Photography

Cat Engagement Photos | Olive Photography

Popcorn Engagement Photos | Olive Photography

And here’s their love story, from the couple themselves!

Jesse’s first love is hockey, so it only made sense that he would propose on skates. He planned a surprise weekend getaway in Ottawa including a morning at the spa for me and an evening together skating on the Rideau Canal.

We braved the -20 degree weather and headed out. Not having been on skates for years I was totally out of my comfort zone. Jesse, on the other hand, was in his element and literally skated circles around me. You would think that after 10 years together I would have had some suspicions of what was about to happen, but I didn’t. So when Jesse bent down on one knee to adjust his skate I was simply proud of myself for not falling on my face without the support of his steady hand. As I slowly and shakily turned around to see what was taking him so long he began to ask the question. Everything from that point on is a blur. I don’t remember what either of us said or did but I do remember the excitement, surprise and overwhelming joy (and the pain of the small tears freezing to my face).

Toronto Ice Cream Engagement – Bridget & Nick

May 25, 2016

Bridget and I first connected after she tagged Nick on one of my Instagram posts that said I was almost completely booked up for 2016. She wrote to him: “ALERT, ALERT… another potential 2016 wedding issue. We NEED @OlivePhotoTO”
I loved her sense of humour! I was honoured, and couldn’t wait to meet these two!
This was before her and Nick were engaged, mind you.

A while back, I had photographed her friend’s wedding, and the next year I shot another friend’s wedding — when she learned it was me who shot them both it had sealed the deal in her mind and we got to talking about photographing their (soon-to-be officially upcoming) big day.

I am SO glad I met them.
Bridget and Nick are two of the sweetest, kindest, most fun folks you’ll come across. (You have to read their love story below the photos!!)

For their engagement session we went out for some Dutch Dreams Ice Cream with #allthesprinkles – AND cotton candy… WHAT!
Nick commented, “I think Bridget loves ice cream as much as she loves me”
One of their photos was even quickly picked up by Narcity, featuring some of Toronto’s Bucket List desserts to try. Way cool.

We then went to a park for a stroll & a picnic, enjoying the finally awesome Toronto weather.

Here are some snaps from their fun kind of quintessentially Toronto engagement session. I had a blast with you two!

And here are some words from the lovebirds themselves!

Our Love Story:

Nicholas and I met on a blind date in our last year of university. Sci Formal is a very exclusive, exciting event at Queen’s University. It is the kind of event that people don’t want to miss and anyone who knew me had listen to me talk about it since my first year of university.

In order to attend, each graduating engineer is required to complete forty hours of volunteer service toward the design and creative work of transforming the space. All other attendees are by invite only.

Luckily for me, Nicholas had an extra ticket and I had been vocally expressing my “I don’t care who takes me attitude,” to anyone who would listen and a mutual friend connected us on the day of the event. Between my six roommates and I, we managed to pull me together in record time. And my dashing date? He showed up in a kilt and offered me his sgian-dubh (aka. sock knife) to help me at our pre-event dinner and insisted that I didn’t need to carry a purse around all night because he had a sporran (aka. kilt purse). To be honest, it all started off a little weird.

We had a great time at the event together: we danced; we drank; we kissed. When it came time to head home, Nicholas insisted that since he was wearing a skirt, that is was only appropriate that I walk him home. He said he was feeling sick and didn’t invite me in (I took the hint, insisted that he take the money for the ticket and wished him well for the future). We both woke up with strep throat (yay!) and a hangover. I immediately felt bad for how our night ended and texted Nicholas.

Texts turned into run-ins, run-ins turned into planned dates, and planned dates brought us through two years of long-distance and eventually we moved in together and are where we are today. It wasn’t love at first sight, but we grow more in love each day.

Our Proposal:

In February of this year, after traveling up in a crazy snowstorm (cue a pit stop at Sawdust City Brewing Co.) we romantically skated around the skate trail at Arrowhead Provincial Park surrounded by freshly fallen snow. Nicholas pulled a ring out of his pocket and in his usual “stick it to tradition” way, he asked me if I would be his best friend forever. We’re pretty cute like that. So it’s been a pretty exciting year for us!

Harry Potter Engagement Session – Diana & Pat

October 31, 2015

I had to post these Harry Potter engagement photos today for Halloween!

She loves Harry Potter so much that they brought wands to their engagement session. And the Fall season was perfect for it!

“Wingardium Leviosa!!”

He knew how much she digs the series and he even staged a Harry Potter-themed proposal — So thoughtful:

Diana and Pat had been dating for 8 years until last year when he finally decided to propose-in the most magical way possible. Knowing Diana’s love of all things Harry Potter, he decorated the house and set up a scavenger hunt with clues referencing each of the 7 books – this involved hiding the golden snitch, getting her to drink a potion and finding Moaning Murtle in their washroom. Diana was expecting a big birthday present, but was surprised when she found a ring inside one of the books instead! She said yes. All was well.

With only a few days until Halloween, this engagement session was just so much fun!
Thanks for the giggles and great time, you two! I cannot wait for your big day – with even more HP references!