Monica and Jacob’s Islington Golf Club wedding took place on one of the hottest Toronto days of the summer. The temperature climbed close to 40°C, but these two handled the heat with such a calm and easygoing attitude.

Thankfully, Islington Golf Club has beautiful indoor rooms filled with natural light, as well as a covered entrance and porch area. We adjusted our original photography plan, kept everyone comfortable and still created a gallery with plenty of variety.

Before getting into the wedding itself, I need to share a little about Monica and Jacob because these two are very much my kind of people.

A Couple Who Loves Books, Cats and Each Other

Monica and Jacob met on Hinge more than five years ago. At the time, Monica was pursuing her PhD in English, while Jacob was working as a lawyer. They are both thoughtful, intelligent and wonderfully down to earth, and it is easy to see how well they fit together.

They also share a love of books and cats, which is right up my alley. Any couple who enjoys reading and has a soft spot for cats is going to make me feel immediately at home.

I had another fun connection to Monica before their wedding day. In the year leading up to the wedding, I had been following her jewellery line, Cured by Monica, on Instagram. I loved seeing her creative designs and even bought a pair of her earrings, which I still wear and love.

It was especially nice to photograph Monica after already having that little connection to her work. She is creative, warm and so easy to spend time with, while Jacob has a calm sense of humour that complements her perfectly.

Getting Ready at Islington Golf Club

Monica and Jacob both got ready at the club, which made the beginning of the day feel calm and well organized.

Jacob spent the afternoon with his groomsmen, helping one another with ties and final details before the ceremony. There was a relaxed atmosphere in the room, with plenty of conversation and a few quieter moments as the ceremony drew closer.

Monica got ready in the bridal suite with her bridesmaids. She wore a beautiful gown, purchased at Jealous Bridesmaids. The full, softly layered skirt looked especially beautiful beside the windows and in the naturally lit areas of the club.

Her bouquet included soft pink, peach and ivory tones, which worked beautifully with the bridesmaids’ dresses. Before leaving for the ceremony, we used the window light for a few bridal portraits and photographs with the people closest to her.

Monica and Jacob chose not to have a first look, so they spent the first part of the afternoon separately. That left a lovely sense of anticipation leading into the ceremony.

An Indoor Ceremony at Islington Golf Club

The ceremony took place indoors, surrounded by approximately 70 of Monica and Jacob’s family members and friends.

Their friend Adam led the ceremony with support from Enduring Promises’ Officiant of the Day service. Having someone they knew personally at the front of the room helped the ceremony feel warm and connected to them.

Rachel Easson provided live harp music during the ceremony and cocktail hour. The harp added such a gentle atmosphere as guests arrived and settled into their seats.

The ceremony room was filled with soft natural light, and the floral arrangements brought in the same pale pink, ivory and greenery seen throughout the rest of the wedding. From Monica’s entrance to the reactions during the ceremony, there were so many meaningful moments to photograph.

Islington Golf Club Wedding Portraits on a Hot Summer Day

Once the ceremony was complete, we adjusted the portrait plan to avoid keeping anyone outside for long periods.

We photographed the wedding party near the covered entrance, where we had shade, attractive architecture and soft light. The area worked especially well for the full wedding party and smaller groupings.

For Monica and Jacob’s portraits, we moved between the bright indoor spaces, the covered porch and a few shaded outdoor locations. We kept the outdoor portions short and took advantage of the golf cart so they did not need to walk long distances in the heat.

This gave their portrait gallery a surprising amount of variety. They have soft indoor photographs, covered porch portraits, greenery, golf course views and a few photographs together near the bridge.

It also allowed Monica and Jacob to enjoy their portraits rather than feeling uncomfortable or rushed. Their experience mattered more than following a plan that no longer suited the conditions.

A Bright and Personal Wedding Reception

The reception room was filled with natural light, pale florals and softly coloured table details.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, Monica and Jacob chose a colourful macaron tower from Macarons & Mint. It made a beautiful reception detail and brought another touch of personality to the room.

The reception included introductions, dinner, speeches and plenty of candid reactions from their guests. Dancing was especially important to Monica and Jacob, so I made sure to photograph the energy of the dance floor as the evening continued.

Those photographs provide a wonderful ending to the story. They show the formal parts of the day giving way to a relaxed celebration with the people who came to support them.

Despite the exceptional heat, Monica and Jacob’s wedding remained calm, personal and full of connection. Islington Golf Club gave us the flexibility to adapt while still creating a bright and varied gallery that feels completely true to their day.

Wedding Vendor Credits

Venue, catering and coordination: Islington Golf Club
Venue coordinator: Julie Stull, Catering Manager
Photography: Nicole Kirk Photography
DJ and entertainment: Scottify Productions
Wedding gown: Rosa by L’Amour by Calla Blanche
Bridal boutique: Jealous Bridesmaids
Wedding rings: Jacob Mercari
Groom and groomsmen’s attire: Moores Clothing
Bridesmaid dresses: Azazie
Macaron tower: Macarons & Mint
Ceremony officiant: Their friend Adam, with support from Enduring Promises’ Officiant of the Day service
Ceremony and cocktail-hour music: Rachel Easson of Rachel the Harpist and Easson’s Harp Services
Florals: Jamilah Florals
Hair and makeup: DORO Bridal Beauty Experts