Shirley + Brandon – Lakeside wedding at Northridge Inn
Shirley + Brandon’s Northridge Inn Wedding
Shirley + Brandon’s Northridge Inn wedding
These lovebirds hosted a picture-perfect, laidback affair at the Northridge Inn in Muskoka. You may recognize this couple from last year, I photographed their early morning engagement session last October and was so excited when they told me they were tying the knot at one of my favourite venues to escape the city.The weather was perfect for a lake-side wedding and you could tell by the look on their faces, they were so happy and relaxed that their day was finally here!Shirley and Brandon didn’t have a wedding party, but they did have their beloved dog Olive walk down the aisle before they did, hand in hand.In addition to the relaxed vibe, Shirley and Brandon had previously signed all their documents before they walked down the aisle so they could share that moment privately. Because of this, they were able to get their celebrations started as soon as the ceremony ended.If you’re not familiar with Northridge Inn, I’d highly recommend checking them out. The venue provides a cozy, summercamp-like vibe for adults. The cabins are beautifully curated and beloved by guests of weddings I’ve shot in the past. *think Dirty Dancing and Baby at the summer resort vibes!*Shirley’s outfit and accessories were incredible. Her cape sleeves were so unique and flowy, adding a fairy feeling to the light and bright vibe of being in the forest.Throughout the day, Olive roamed free and accepted many pats and snuggles from friends and family. Since the three of them go camping so often, it just made sense for Olive to live her best life, just like them.The couple incorporated both their heritages into the day and chose to include a tea ceremony before the wedding ceremony began, making it the epitome of a relaxed wedding day.The night concluded with a delicious meal with family and friends on the deck under a canoe with terrific, heartfelt speeches. These two clearly have a great community of people with all the speeches and tears that were shed during their day!
What made you choose Northridge Inn?
Shirley – I found your photos of a past wedding at the NRI and was sold. Our search criteria only included a cottage/venue on the water and the first thing we noticed was the NRI decor – it matched one of our favourite hobbies: antique hunting. It felt like the perfect fit for us. Everyone at the NRI was so pleasant and warm and we look forward to going back!
What was your favourite moment of the day?
Shirley- grabbing a drink at the bar with my ~husband~ after the ceremony before dinner. It felt so nice to enjoy the party we planned!Brandon- our marriage signing was an intimate and very emotional experience. Sharing heartfelt words with our closest friends around us was a highlight.
What were some of the most important things/factors you wanted to include ?
We were thoughtful in planning a short curated trip (aka fancy adult sleepover) in hopes that everyone (including us!) would find enjoyment in the many aspects of the celebration! Thankfully, the NRI covered most of that without too much planning required!
We loved having Bs dad (and B) play live music the night before – he’s such a great entertainer and eased us into celebrations! We loved being able to sneak in some fun in the morning – I went for a run, we had delicious food, and got to hangout on the beach to swim, paddle, canoe with our friends, family and dog in a fun and laid back setting before the formalities started.
We loved having pockets of intimate moments and time to connect with everyone. We got ready separately with friends, we had a tea ceremony with family, and we signed our marriage documents with our closest friends. We had an impromptu hug line post ceremony from our guests – such a nice way to be greeted after our ceremony. We had such a fun time with everyone during dinner and dancing!
Any advice to other couples about the whole wedding planning process?
I’m all about a timeline but fully embraced and expected bumps along the way – it’s all part of the process for a memorable day.
I had a clear vision and so thankful I found the right people to make it happen. It was important for me to feel connected and able to communicate and work well with preferred local vendors and sellers – so many emails, but so necessary (would highly recommend an email folder or designated email for your wedding communications). I loved being able to purposefully incorporate small meaningful details in our wedding – everything was planned for a reason!
Dress: Preloved via A la Robe
Veil/Cape: A. B. Ellie
Groom: Suit Supply
Décor: Combo of Personal Details but mostly NRI Decor
Dried Florals: Vallari Decor
Fresh Florals: Rural Roots Nursery
Shirley – “I would highly recommend Jennifer for photography of your important events. My spouse and I utilized Jenn as our engagement and wedding photographer and could not have had a more positive experience.
Jenn is an organized, thoughtful, and well seasoned wedding photographer, who seamlessly helped us from consultation and shoot planning to determine what we needed in order to fit our budget. She always followed up and provided communication in a timely manner. Jenn produced sneak peeks and full galleries in exceptional timing. Her photos clearly demonstrate her style, creativity, and attention to detail.
During our shoots, Jenn made us feel comfortable and relaxed with her charming personality. At our wedding, Jenn helped manage the flow by taking command when needed (ie. wrangling family) and had great time management. We had absolute trust in Jenn’s intuition in getting great shots. On our wedding day we received many compliments regarding Jenn’s fun and professional personality and have since gotten countless remarks on our beautiful photos.
I would count on Jenn for any photography related needs and am grateful for having had such a wonderful experience!”
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