Exploring the Best of Toronto, Southern Ontario & Beyond

Hi all… long time, no post!!!

The last time I blogged, it was May and I was writing about my wedding dress shopping journey and promising that I’d try to post more often, even amid the wedding planning chaos. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans…

In the seven weeks (!) since I last posted, so much has happened. I was maid of honour at my best friend’s wedding, celebrated my bachelorette weekend, and on June 28, Tania and I finally tied the knot! It was a gorgeous day – we were blessed with perfect weather – and it was filled with so much love, emotion and happy tears. It was such a whirlwind and to be honest, I’m still processing it all! The fact that we’re actually officially married, the fact that our big day finally came to fruition after a year and a half of planning… the day feels like one big fever dream!

We already received a few “sneak peek” shots from our photographer, and I can hardly wait until we get the full album in a couple of months. You know I’ll be sharing all those photos on here in due time… but in the meantime, I thought now would be the perfect time to finally share the photos from our engagement shoot. We took these photos last summer and I just realized I never posted them on the blog! I’ll also share my favourite photo shoot locations in Niagara, and my best tips for a picture-perfect engagement session.

Our wedding photographer is the fabulous Jenna Spence of Niagara Wedding Co. Back in the spring of 2024 when we were interviewing wedding photographers, we instantly clicked with Jenna and her warm, easygoing personality. She is a super talented photographer and really knows her stuff – as soon as we met her, we knew she was the perfect choice to capture our special day!

As is common these days, our wedding photography package included an engagement shoot, which we did last August. It was a scorching hot day and we were so worried about the weather, but luckily, it ended up being absolutely beautiful – sticky, yes, but filled with abundant sunshine. Perfect for capturing those golden hour shots! (Funnily enough, the same thing happened with our wedding day… it was very hot and the forecast was calling for thunderstorms, but luckily, everything turned around at the last minute, and we were blessed with a gorgeous sunny day. Guess we’ve got someone up there looking out for us!)

Of course, whether it’s a wedding or an engagement shoot, nothing ever goes perfectly in life. The day before our shoot, Tania attended an outdoor event and ended up with heat stroke, food poisoning, or some combination of both. As a result, we probably got two hours of sleep between the two of us that night! But despite worrying our shoot would be a total disaster, we mustered up some energy, slapped on our game faces, and relied on the adrenaline to get us through. Honestly, looking back at the photos almost a year later, I totally forgot how exhausted we were!

We got to choose two different locations – and two different outfits! – for our shoot. Our first location was Rosewood Estates Winery in Lincoln. I may be a little partial, but I think Rosewood is one of the prettiest wineries in the entire Niagara region: from its lush vineyards to its quaint pond and gazebo, it’s practically the definition of “picture perfect.”

Before taking any photos, we sat down with Jenna on Rosewood’s gorgeous patio and had a glass of rosé. Fun fact: Rosewood is also a meadery, so you can enjoy a glass of mead alongside your wine… or if you’re feeling adventurous, book their bee experience! We weren’t about to don beekeeping suits for our photo shoot, although it definitely would have made for some unique shots…

We started with photos in the vineyard. Perhaps I’m partial because I just love wineries, but I don’t think you can ever go wrong with a vineyard photo shoot! It’s such a beautiful background.

Then we took some photos by the pond, which is truly something out of a fairy tale. I mean… that bridge! (By the way: dancing on a bridge is harder than it looks…)

The gazebo shots are some of my favourites.

We finished up with some shots on Rosewood’s long gravel driveway, with their grand estate in the background. I love how many unique photo spots there are on this property!

Then it was time to change and head to our second location: a beautiful beach in Vineland.

With the dreamy setting and that gorgeous golden hour light, these were definitely our favourite photos of the entire shoot!

Our friends had gifted us a fancy bottle of champagne for our engagement, so we broke it out for the occasion!

Engagement photos can be nerve-wracking for anyone… but don’t be afraid to be silly and just have fun with it! The dancing shots felt goofy in the moment, but looking back, they made some of our favourite photos.

If you’re engaged and are also thinking of taking your engagement photos in Niagara, there are tons of beautiful locations to choose from! Here are some of the alternate locations we considered:

• Niagara Botanical Gardens (gorgeous flowers; no permit required!)
• Centennial Lilac Garden (go in May-June during the lilac bloom; no permit required)
• Queen’s Royal Park (an antique white gazebo and stunning lake views – but keep in mind it’s a busy tourist spot)
• Charles Daley Park (another pretty waterfront park with a gazebo that’s more under the radar!)
• Port Dalhousie (the vintage carousel, pier and beach all make great photo backdrops)
• The Commons / Butler’s Barracks (think of the gorgeous shots you’d get in that tree-lined tunnel!)
• The Good Earth (vineyards and orchards; the blossoming fruit trees would be perfect for a spring shoot – note a photography fee is required)
• Konzelmann Estate Winery (a stunning castle-like building; also Niagara’s only lakefront winery – note a photography fee is required)
• Ball’s Falls (trails, waterfalls and antique heritage buildings, including a beautiful white chapel – note a photography fee/permit is required)
• McFarland House (historic home with a picturesque garden; no permit required)

And whether you’re taking engagement photos in Niagara or anywhere else, here are my best tips for a successful shoot:

• Choose a location that suits your personalities/interests as a couple. Tania and I love wineries (we even got married at one!) so a vineyard was an obvious choice. We also love the beach (it’s where Tania proposed to me) so that was another no-brainer. I’ve seen so many fun and creative engagement shoot locations, from drive-in movie theatres to bowling alleys to goat farms, and everything in between. If the location has a special meaning or significance behind it, it’ll make the photos that much better.
• Choose two locations if you can – but if you can’t, make your one location count! Tania and I were fortunate to work with a photographer who not only permitted, but encouraged us to select a couple of different shooting locations. But if your photographer wants to stick to one place, I recommend choosing a place with lots of different photo backdrops. A beach is beautiful, but there’s not a huge variety of shots you can get. But Rosewood is a great example of a place with lots of different photo settings: the vineyards, the estate, the pond, the gazebo… Our wedding venue, Honsberger Estate, is another one: there are vineyards, fruit orchards, a pond, an old Victorian house, an antique swing, a barrel cellar, even an alpaca enclosure… the possibilities are endless!
• Double-check permit requirements. Some public parks and gardens require you to purchase a permit for professional photography. Of course, any privately owned business will have their own requirements and will likely charge a fee as well. This is where it’s worth having well-connected vendors: we were lucky that our photographer had an “in” with the folks at Rosewood, and they kindly allowed us to take photos for an hour after they closed at no charge. Wherever you go, be sure to double-check the requirements ahead of time to avoid any surprises.
• Consider the crowd factor. There were some locations we would have absolutely loved to shoot at (the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, for instance) but we knew they’d be super crowded… and do you really want tons of people in the background of your engagement photos? Not to mention, doing a professional photo shoot can be stressful enough if you’re camera-shy… so why add the pressure of a crowd of strangers watching you!? If you’re truly in love with a location but you know it’ll be busy, try going very early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid peak crowds.
• Don’t do your hair and makeup trial the same day as your engagement shoot. This may be an unpopular opinion, as I know a lot of brides choose to trial their wedding hair and makeup the day of their engagement session… after all, you’ll be gorgeous and glam for the photos, right? Here’s the thing: the whole point of a trial is to test out your hair and makeup ahead of the big day, so you can see what you like and don’t like, make changes, etc. It likely won’t be perfect the first time! Our hair and makeup artists were very talented, but I had lots of notes afterwards for things I wanted to change, which just comes down to the fact that everyone likes a different look on themselves – how would the makeup artist have known that I hate blush on the apples of my cheeks!? My advice: schedule your trial for another day, and do your own makeup that you know and love for your engagement photos.
• Don’t buy a brand new outfit. This also seems counterintuitive… wouldn’t you want a gorgeous new dress for your engagement photos? Well, yes… but take it for a trial run first! Have you ever tried on an outfit in a dressing room and fallen in love with it, but the first time you wear it out for the day, you realize the fabric is actually super itchy, or the straps aren’t comfortable, or worse – you see it in photos and realize it looks nothing like you thought? I’ve had this experience many times, but the one that instantly comes to mind is a green floral-print maxi I bought when I was trying out the “prairie dress” trend. In my own mirror at home, it looked classic and timeless. Then I wore it to a flower farm and saw the photos afterwards… and it looked like I was wearing a hospital gown from the 1800s. It didn’t help that I was standing alone in a lavender field, staring blankly into the ether… to this day, Tania and I refer to them as the “escaped patient” photos. All that to say: buy a fancy new outfit, by all means! But do a “trial run” to make sure it’s comfortable, and be sure to snap a few pics so you can see how it photographs.
• Book a photographer you “click” and feel comfortable with. It’s not only normal to be nervous for your engagement shoot; it’s more common than you’d think. (I take a ridiculous amount of photos, and even I had the jitters!) So choose your photographer carefully. They’re arguably the most important wedding vendor you’ll book, because they’re the most personal. They’re not just printing your invitations or dropping off your bouquets: they’ll be with you through the entire day and will be capturing your most intimate moments. So make sure your personalities really click, and that you and your partner both feel comfortable with them! We were very lucky to find Jenna: her warmth, humour and easygoing personality made Tania and I feel instantly relaxed and at ease.
• Bring props. We ordered a custom wood sign with our names and wedding date to use as a prop. Don’t think of it as a waste of money to order something you’ll only use once, because chances are you can repurpose it for wedding decor – we did, and now we’re going to hang it in our kitchen! We also brought that bottle of champagne, toasting flutes and a picnic blanket for our beach photos (we didn’t end up using the blanket, but always better to be prepared just in case.) Other fun prop ideas: balloons, confetti, a pretty ring box, a bouquet of flowers, Scrabble tiles, a picnic basket, anything unique to you (e.g. an instrument, a family heirloom, your dog!) or even seasonal props for a themed shoot (a beach ball, pumpkins, mistletoe…)
• Be honest with your photographer! Your photographer has seen it all, and they want you to be happy with your photos – so if you’re nervous or have a specific concern, be honest with them and ask for their advice. If you’re not comfortable with particular shots or poses, are self-conscious about a feature, or prefer a certain side or angle, just tell them! They’re there to make you look good, and they’ll be glad you asked.

I hope the above tips are helpful to any brides (and grooms) getting ready for their own engagement shoot. Above all, remember to have fun with it, let your personalities shine, and if you’re feeling nervous: a bottle of champagne will help with that… and serve double-duty as a fun photo prop!

Looking forward to getting back into regular posting as we come down from the wedding chaos… I’ll see you all soon (and I really mean it this time!)

Photo credit to all the above photos of myself and Tania goes to Jenna Spence of Niagara Wedding Co. All other photos (e.g. of Rosewood Winery and the beach) were taken by me.