Country Summer Wedding at Harlem Stonegate Bed & Breakfast, Elgin, Ontario | Chandra & Jason’s Beautiful Wedding Story

What is your favourite date activity?

Picnic and hammock hangouts by the lake

- Chandra

Chandra’s mother Christine called me one day, inquiring about wedding photography. Right from the beginning, it seemed that her daughter and future son-in-law were very chill, easy going people. Typically when folks’ parents inquire, it means that the couple trusts the parent enough to plan some of the wedding. And I say - kudos! Unloading any extra tasks to willing parental folk is wonderful!

So anyway, Christine and I chatted on the phone a couple of times before I met Chandra on zoom.

And I was pretty hooked onto their vision of their wedding: chill, calm, small, country wedding at a Bed & Breakfast on 50 acres in Elgin, Ontario. Beautiful!

I’ll re-tell you the entire story down here.

And as you’ll notice, even though this was a relatively short day for me (about three hours of photographs), there are many photos in the pages below. That’s because everything worked out so beautifully, I didn’t know how to cut more photos out. Seriously. So I hope you enjoy!

If you do, leave me a comment at the bottom, or share this blog with a friend looking for a nice spot to get married or elope in rural Ontario.

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When I showed up at Harlem Stonegate Bed & Breakfast, Jason, the groom was already ready. Here are a couple of snaps of him and one of his 11-yr old twins. I headed upstairs at the house, to find Chandra and her group, getting ready.

Naturally, I couldn’t resist a couple of mirror shots of Chandra doing her hair and putting on makeup. This can feel strange at first if you’re being photographed like this, but trust me, the results are so much fun!

Of course I didn’t spend the entire time in the bathroom. In the main room, there were a couple of charming details I wanted to capture, including Christine’s purse! I paired this with a few snaps of Chandra’s wedding dress. Sometimes when creating album pages, I get creative and make pairing that might not necessarily be related… but I think it worked out?

Of course, one of the main things I look for during getting ready photographs is the people stuff. The dynamics, laughter, hugs, etc. And this wedding party really delivered.

Chandra had a really great time while her friend Nicole is trying to apply lipstick. But check out the beautiful serious moment in the second photo! ❤️

The light was so lovely in this country house upstairs bedroom, with the big windows on the side which let in so much daylight! So of course I had to take a few black and white shots like this.

Black and white images can work really nicely when there’s gorgeous directional light during the getting ready. It helps to capture an atmosphere…

These photographs are some of the most important in the entire gallery. Chandra loves Jason’s kids. It’s plain as day. There was so much love exchanged by them that it would have actually been impossible not to catch a great photo. Hugs, gentle hand caresses, this blended family is absolutely adorable!

Alright, Chandra is all ready, and before walking downstairs to head to her wedding ceremony, there was time for a quick celebratory shot. Believe it or not, she was actually riddled with nerves. But her smile never faded. She was really cute - nervous and laughing and keeping it all together, but just seriously wanting to marry Jason ASAP!

Here she is, walking down the stairs… you can probably tell she’s excited yeah?

At this point, I ran outside and ahead to grab a couple of quick photos of the ceremony setup in the fields. You can’t tell how wonderfully warm it was! After all, it was the middle of July!

(the only downside to summer weddings in the country is the bugs. Oh, man, the bugs!)

Awww, look at that smile on Jason’s face as he sees first his kids, then his beautiful wife-to-be, walking up the ‘aisle’, which was really a long pathway cleared through the fields. This was a truly stunning country wedding ceremony setup.

They had invited their closest family and friends - a small and intimate group for a charming elopement. It was exactly the people they wanted to have there, no compromises. I love that they had this vision. Sometimes it can be hard for folks to draw a line and not invite a huge number of people. Big weddings are really fun. Small, quaint weddings can be equally fun, if not more so! It really just depend on what’s important to you both! And what makes you feel less anxious, really, at the end of the day.

(That’s what I’m learning as I age. Random aside, but our shower glass door broke yesterday and instead of replacing it, we opted to take out the whole thing and just get a shower curtain… cause yeah… way less hassle and worry. This shower door had been notoriously difficult to clean, with limescale at the bottom that never seemed to shift, not to mention mildew that seemed to always creep in. So we ditched it!.

And that’s my whole new take on life: if it makes you anxious, consider whether you need it in your life.)

These two people love each other very much. It just felt right. All you have to do is look at their faces and you’ll see.

I’m giving you a triptych because even though the middle photo is the ‘first kiss’, I love the other two moments to either side. One was just leaning in for the first kiss, and the other was the hard-to-contain joy at realizing they’re now married! 😍

Chandra and Jason included a unity sand ceremony in their wedding.

For the uninitiated, you can read more about a sand ceremony here.

From the link above, “[a sand ceremony'] is a tradition full of symbolism. Two people take sand from their individual vessels and combine the grains into one. The act represents the joining of two individuals and the creation of a new union and family. The joined vessel symbolizes the marriage of both partners’ hopes, dreams, and values.”

In this case, Chandra and Jason included the kids as well, so that in total, four colours of sand were poured into the jar, to represent the union of this new family. It’s such a beautiful gesture to help the kids feel like they’re part of this union. I loved it. 🥰

The official signatures are laid down on the marriage paperwork, and it’s a done deal! They’re officially married. Let’s see what happens next!

As you can see, spirits were high! Lots of laughs and of course the boom box - everyone’s excited to get some tunes going!

The place between the barns was perfect for a small reception and cocktail hour. Flowers from the garden of Harlem Stonegate completed the simple but beautiful setup. You don’t have to be fussy to get beautiful results.

While the guests were celebrating with a drink, we snuck away to do some cute portraits.

Keep in mind that Jason had told me that being photographed “sucks his soul”, ie. he doesn’t feel comfortable in front of the camera… I feel I have to tell you this not because you can see it in the photos, but exactly because of the opposite. All I saw was love, joy, laughter, and comfort. But I guess that’s what happiness will do to you - it will make you forget you hate being photographed! Haha.

Here are some more adorable photos of the two of them.

I was fairly impressed by the dip Jason did with Chandra in that middle photo above. Swoon.

What did I tell you? Cute!

This series of photos is one of my favourites - Chandra is playing with Jason’s hair, and they’re just having a great time. The entire set of photos took less than a minute, but we got so many incredible and candid expressions!

And then we have the ‘Hollywood set’, or at least that’s what I call it. These two photos are glamorous and effortless all at once. They look like cast members in a rom-com. Anywho…. I’m definitely swooning haha.

We end the couples portraits with a little series against this beautiful tree. It seemed like the right thing to do. Tree bark is cool, and as I’ve mentioned before, to me it represents the beauty and complexity of love.

Why not do a couple more ‘quirky’ shots? hehe. Hair details and hand details!

Oh, there was another important piece to this elopement. It was when Chandra and Jason took a few minutes to read letters to each other. Those are some of the best moments in your wedding day, because you’re in a private place (except ahem… the photographer, but honestly, you’ve totally learned to ignore me/forget i’m there by this point!)

Many of these shots are accomplished with my long lens, which means that you can actually have space to be together and me not to be in your face. In fact, I’m likely hiding behind a bush some way away. Haha.

The ceremony is done, private vows are done, and couples photos are done!

Now what?

It’s time for a toast!

They tried to do the crossed hands thing. They actually made it look easy, even though it’s not!

It’s definitely time to sneak in more hugs and tenderness with the twins! 😍 These children are truly loved.

Whenever there are guests, there are usually moments like this. People love to celebrate you at your wedding, and I love to walk around capturing all that candid joy.

Of course, at some point before dinner, it’s important to snap a few photographs of the family.

These types of photographs shouldn’t take long. They should be fun!

Christine posed for a quick photo with her daughter and new son-in-law. She was positively beaming, as you can tell.

Oh yeah! I completely forgot we even did these. So cute.

It’s a drink-out-of-the-bottle kinda night. I think it’s hilarious that it looks like Jason’s helping Chandra drink in the second photo haha.

While the festivities are going on, I always try to capture a couple of more interesting portraits of the main folks. Like this bubble photo above. Or the chair photo below.

Kids at weddings are easy to photograph. They’re usually having a ton of fun, or just doing their own thing. It’s fun to try and catch them doing something cool. In this set, I paired this with a shot of the wild raspberries growing on the barn behind the red chairs. I just felt like the colours and vibes tied in well together. You be the judge.

Can you tell we’re shifting gears again?

I think by the looks of it, we’re getting ready to dance?

Aww, what a romantic spot. Chandra and Jason had told me their vision was to do the first dance in the gazebo in the front yard of the house at Harlem Stonegate. It was a little bit away from the reception area (which was also outdoors, in between the two barns), but only a thirty second walk, and so very worth it.

I used a little bit of pop of light on their with my flash, so that we could see their expressions as well as the gorgeous greenery behind them. Because underneath the gazebo is very dark, if I hadn’t used flash for this, either their faces would have been way too dark, or the background would have been way too bright.

While the parents danced, the kids goofed off nearby. I am happy I got some photos of this, even though my main brain was focused on making sure the dance photos and light settings were all turning out okay. Haha.

Sometimes as a photographer you have to be able to think fast, and divide your attention constantly. Good thing I’ve been practicing for this my whole life. I think some people call it being ‘scatter-brained’. But I swear, it’s one of the most useful skills as a wedding photographer.

Chandra and Christine shared a dance also. They had lots of fun, and made it look easy.

And of course the kids got in on the dancing, too. I snapped action shots as they came. I take a lot of photographs because when people are dancing, emotions and expressions are constantly shifting, and you want to find the best moments later!

This black and white series is another favourite of mine in this wedding gallery. The boy’s got moves!

After the dances, it’s time to get back to celebrating! By now, it’s dusk, and the fairy lights are lending a nice vibe to the festivities.

Oh, but before it gets too dark, we need a few shots of Chandra and her friends! This is a MUST, especially with such an intimate group of guests.

These are the VIPs in Chandra’s life, and the support and love they brought on her wedding day really comes across well in each and every portrait above. Because the light was fading, we had to get these done FAST, and they all nailed it.

Oo, look at the attitude in the first one!

Harlem Stonegate has tons of rustic backdrops like this old wooden barn door. I think this was the perfect spot for these bridal portraits with her girls.

Oh, go on then 🤩 Let’s squeeze in another couple of photos with mom. It’s important ❤️

Plus, these photos are so genuine. Not formal and stuffy. They’re FUN to be in and fun to make.

And by now, light has faded completely. Time to shift gears again!

It’s time for everyone to sit down to dinner.

Dinner was a fancy high-tea kind of deal, with sandwiches and desserts on multi-tiered trays. I grabbed some cute and funny candid photos of this, but didn’t want to bother folks too much while they were eating.

I’m almost ready to head home, but there’s one part of the wedding that we haven’t captured yet.

Chandra and Jason wanted to do a sparkler ‘sendoff’. Not a real sendoff, but just a cute little photo-op.

So mid-dinner, everyone went to grab some sparklers over by the gazebo. They made two lines, held their sparklers overhead, and Chandra and Jason walked through the middle.

I’m thrilled with these images. Again, a little flash was necessary here, to light their faces.

And the final set of images of just Chandra and Jason with the sparklers, making hearts and goofing around.

They did a good job! It’s heard to make a heart of light using sparklers. Often it takes a few tries.

And that was a wrap! 🎬

Wow. Looking back on this day, after six months (and falling snow outside), it’s lovely to remember just how incredible this wedding celebration in the country was. A small guest list, a beautiful Bed and Breakfast with stunning views, barns, fields, and paths…

And most important of all: people who truly love each other, and folks who truly love them.

Those are the ingredients to a perfect wedding day.

No perfect wedding day is the same. There are lots of magical ways to make it happen. And Chandra and Jason nailed this magical recipe. ❤️

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Vendor Thank Yous

It’s never a one-man show. I’m the lucky photographer, but most weddings take a team to pull off, and this one was no exception. Here are the folks I’d like to thank:

🏰 Harlem Stonegate Bed & Breakfast, for providing the venue, dinner, cake & desserts, plus flowers! @harlemstonegate.bnb

The owners of Harlem Stonegate were kind, accommodating, and incredible hosts. They had thought of everything and made our stay there very enjoyable. Definitely consider them if you’re looking for a charming country elopement in Ontario.

💍 Limestone and Lace for that stunning dress: @limestoneandlace

💇‍♀️hair: @tg.cohair @jaimiekeyes_

I also want to thank Chandra and Jason and the kids for being so themselves, and living their wedding day just as if no one was watching. The most incredible photographs happen when you can relax, and sometimes that can be hard, especially if you’re not a huge fan of being photographed, as in Jason’s case. However, he really did so amazing. 🤩

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If you’re planning your own country wedding or elopement, and you feel like you jive with the vibes you’ve seen here, book in a zoom consultation by clickign the button below! We’ll have a quick chat, price something out for ya, and see if we’re a match 😍

Book a no-obligation consultation here:

Or send me an email: hi@quirkylovephotography.com 😍