Maggie & Jonny - Modern and romantic wedding at River House Winery
June 7, 2025
Photography: Meg Lilly Photography
Venue: River House Vineyard & Winery
Florals: Silvia’s 4th Line Florals
Dress: White Satin Bridal
Officiant: Suzanne Veh
Suits: Jimmy Suits
DJ: DJ Steve Ott
Maggie and Jonny’s wedding took place on a sunny June day at River House Vineyard & Winery — a newer venue set along the river in Maberly, Ontario. With its mix of modern, elegant design and natural outdoor beauty, it was the perfect setting for their laid-back, meaningful celebration.
I’ve known Maggie since middle school and was close with her family growing up, so being there to document this day felt especially meaningful. It was my first time shooting at River House, and I was immediately excited by how many beautiful photo spots the property offered — from the vineyard rows to the water’s edge.
Maggie and Jonny were completely focused on being present with each other. They didn’t want anything overly posed — just space to enjoy the day and have those real, unscripted moments captured as they happened. It made my job easy: prompt lightly, observe quietly, and document what unfolded naturally between two people who are clearly all in.
Maggie and Jonny both spent the morning on site getting ready with their squads. The venue has a beautiful cottage for one party to get ready in, and a separate, more moody spot within the barn itself for the other. Both venues were equipped with beautiful charcuterie spreads and bottles of prosecco to keep the energy up, and the morning felt peaceful, intentional and full of love.
Maggie’s dress was absolutely stunning, modern and elegant. Her mom helped her get into it while her dedicated bridesmaids stood by to help in any way.
Maggie wanted to surprise her bridesmaids with a first look, and you could really see how much each one of them cared about their bride by their reaction to seeing her for the first time in her dress.
We had enough time in our timeline to really have fun and get creative with Maggie’s individual portraits. The wind was a paid actor and Maggie was giving vogue and channeling her inner model.
M & J decided to do a first look before their ceremony, and to read private vows to one another. My team kept a distance while they read their private vows to make sure they could be fully present and themselves together, without fear of judgement.
The ceremony was held in front of the barn, and was framed by beautiful seasonal floral arrangements.
The dip they had practiced in advance paid off and the crowd went wild!
Maggie’s wonderful dad Richard was remembered throughout the day in various heartfelt ways. A locket was wrapped around M’s bouquet, featuring a picture of her dad that she carried with her throughout the day. His memory was also present in his 1963 Porsche 365 that Maggie’s mom had restored and brought to the venue. One of M’s bridesmaids surprised her by decorating it with a “Just Married” banner and strings of empty beer cans, bringing Maggie to tears as she said “I have the absolute most thoughtful friends in the world.”
The ceremony was followed by a lively cocktail hour on the patio behind the venue, where wine and delicious appetizers were served, and everyone got a chance to congratulate the bride and groom (and test out their corn hole skills). The arancini and Paloma were particular favourites of mine.
My mouth literally dropped when I saw the reception space for the first time, completely lit with candles and the light streaming through the stunning stained glass windows. The exposed brick wall and industrial lighting fixtures added an edginess to the more rustic shiplap walls and timber framing. I tried my best to capture the ambiance as it was, focusing on the magical and serene energy the space created.
The speeches were some of the most emotional I have ever heard, and I struggled (and failed) to hold back tears throughout. If these photos could speak you would hear my sniffling behind the camera.
My coverage of their day finished with the most gentle and sweet first dance.
