Montreal Wedding Planning: An Unconventional Glossary for Memorable Celebrations. Letter E: Engagements with Elegance
This couple had their first date in Montreal’s Old Port Clock Tower. It was fitting to have the engagement session there as well. Having an award-winning photo of your engagement is a bonus!
Engaged Couples who are Planning their Montreal Wedding
…are couples with an exciting journey ahead, now that the proposal was accepted! An engagement is a public and visual promise with a ring. The extension of that visual promise is a set of photographs to commemorate the occasion.
Many photographers view an engagement photo session as merely a practice run for the wedding, but I believe that perspective is too narrow and fails to capture the true essence of engagement. This stage is a significant milestone, representing a mutual desire to commit to one another. While a wedding celebrates that commitment and formalizes it, the engagement itself is the foundation upon which everything else is built. Without that initial promise, there would be no wedding to plan! Therefore, the engagement deserves to be cherished and valued on its own, rather than seen as just a prelude to the next event. Committing to each other is not a rehearsal; it’s a genuine expression of your everyday love. Is it helpful practice for the wedding? Absolutely, but that’s a secondary benefit. Honouring the engagement and capturing its energy should always come first in my view.
Why elegance to describe engagements? Besides trying to create alliteration in my title 😆, the term elegance comes from Latin origins that translate to “to select.” When you get engaged, you are selecting your lifelong partner. Elegance also embodies style and grace, perfectly capturing the essence of a beautiful new love and connection. It makes perfect sense to combine these two concepts! Here are three ways to enhance elegance:
Place
The opening photograph of this blog post was taken inside the Clock Tower in the Old Port of Montreal. The couple had their first date there, and shared their very first kiss at the top of the Tower. This place held meaning for them, and it was a natural choice for their engagement photos.
I’ve photographed couples at home, where some already started a life together. Or at a spot where they first met or had their first date, as above. I’ve even photographed couples at their favourite hangout spots, like a neighbourhood pub. The couple arranged permission, and we were off!
If you don’t have a significant place for any reason, you can choose a place and then it will be significant from that point on! Many opt for the Old Port of Montreal for its romance, ambiance and European feel but sky is the limit. Local parks to include nature, urban for architecture, forest, water, it’s up to you. There is much more flexibility because it’s just the 2 of you without a few dozen or hundred guests to accommodate!
The architecture at the Montreal World Trade Centre is incredible and the eternity pool a super-cool feature that makes for creative reflective photo opportunities: to reflect your love even more deeply!!! This couple wanted some photos here because they appreciated the urban feel and the intricate architecture.
This couple had just bought a home and wanted to celebrate a that milestone together with their engagement. They also just adopted a new kitten and she made an appearance after hiding for some time!
This couple lived close to, and often hiked in Parc National du Mont-Saint-Bruno and it was a place both beautiful and meaningful to them.
2. Emotion
The engagement marks a significant deepening of your commitment, filled with a whirlwind of emotions for an unforgettable journey ahead! Our goal is to unpack that emotional suitcase during your engagement session and let everything flow freely! This experience is not just a trial run so that you know how you might pose or smile on your wedding day; it’s so much more! While I will certainly look for beautiful lighting and stunning compositions to highlight the essence of your relationship and the charm of your chosen setting, my primary aim is to capture the connection that sparked it all—the love that led to that ring on your finger.
This moody moment on a cloudy day just as blue hour started, was guided in the sense that I chose a spot to stop at, after we left the Clock Tower. I wanted to show the couple with the tower in the background - the place where the first date happened. I told them to take a moment while I added a creative element of twinkle lights, and this was ALL THEM. The tenderness is apparent, and it was like they were alone in the whole wide world. This frame has the power to awaken those same feeling within them on a 30th, 40th, or even 50th anniversary and they will remember their sweet, budding love.
To ease any discomfort of being in front of a camera, the key is to shift attention to your partner. In that moment, everything else fades away. I refer to this as everyday love, which doesn’t need to be filled with grand romantic gestures or be reminiscent of sappy rom-coms (that is, unless you want it to be!!). It can be about joy, laughter, playfulness, sincerity, secret glances, comfort, competitive spirit, and all nuances in between.
Above and directly below: He bought her this adorable bright red bike and we photographed at and outside of their new home on a bright summer’s day - which incidentally totally matched their sunny and bright personalities. Below right: Their new kitchen was bright and cheery but the other rooms still empty as they just moved. We found a cute corner for a moment to reflect on a new phase of life begun.
Article continues after the cut…
Lucy is a
Montreal WEdding Photographer
Here to photograph your joy, and [hopefully] make you ugly-cry (even if in private or just on the inside!)
My mission is your dream wedding.
Photo Credit: Talia Dezso Photography
3. Preparation
We all desire to present our best selves, both for our own sake and for our partner, as it reflects our care and commitment. Taking the time to consider our appearance is a meaningful expression of respect and love. Our vows encompass all aspects of life, in sickness and in health and through good times and bad, which means we embrace every form of presentation—whether it’s dressing up for a New Year’s Eve celebration or lounging in comfy sweats at home, even those cozy jammies when we’re under the weather. However, during our major milestones of engagement and marriage, putting effort into our appearance is a vital part of the ritual and experience.
Your wardrobe and style should showcase the essence of your everyday love. It's important to stay true to your identity, as losing that connection defeats the purpose. If sneakers are your go-to, there's no need to switch to heels just to appear more polished. Conversely, if you love wearing heels, don’t hesitate to wear them, even for a casual walk in the park—just think of the stunning photos you can capture before you kick them off to enjoy the grass!
Hair down and an ankle-length sundress for her, and jeans and a polo shirt for him were the perfect and perfectly comfortable outfits for these two, enjoying the sunset on a warm summer afternoon by the water at Jack Layton Park in Hudson.
A satin green dress and a textured navy blazer over a simple white shirt exuded elegance for these urban dwellers, at the Montreal World Trade Centre. Their refined outfits perfectly fit the equally refined space. Later, the couple changed into more casual outfits and we headed to their favourite Old Port pub!
