Sydney & Colin - Editorial and moody wedding at the Grand Hotel

April 26, 2025

Photography: Meg Lilly Photography
Venue: The Grand Hotel
Florals: The Floral Boutique
Dress: All That Glitters Bridal Boutique
Makeup: Makeup by Stephanie Connolly (makeup_by_stephc)

I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Sydney and Colin’s wedding on April 26, 2025, at The Grand Hotel in Carleton Place — one of my favourite spots in the Ottawa area for a chic indoor wedding. Bonus: it rained all day, so I was extra thankful The Grand’s moody, vintage-inspired vibes and spacious rooms had us covered.

For those not into barn-style venues, The Grand is a great option. Think vintage chandeliers, elegant editorial decor, and beautiful windows that let in just the right amount of light. The hotel even offers spacious suites for getting ready and an overnight stay — perfect for the bride and groom to soak it all in.

We shot this entire day on a mix of film and digital, which perfectly captured both the timeless mood of The Grand and the candid energy of Sydney and Colin.

Sydney and Colin had been friends for a long time before they started dating, and you could really see their connection in every moment. Sydney is this bubbly, outgoing ball of energy, and Colin balances her out perfectly with his calm, grounded, and welcoming vibe. From our engagement session, it was clear Colin was totally smitten — the way he looked at Sydney, laughed at everything she said, and was game for whatever she wanted to do said it all.

Sydney rocked an absolutely stunning and untraditional black-and-white dress that looked incredible against her complexion and tattoos, while Colin’s green suit was perfectly flattering on him. I was also obsessed with the florals Sydney chose: a combination of black roses and white lilies. Together, S & C made a killer pair.

Sydney got ready in the hotel’s largest suite with her bridesmaids and her mom, who was so sweet and excited for the day. Her mom, originally from Portugal, had a special reason to celebrate — the wedding brought family together from Europe, including her mom who made the journey despite declining health.

There was a bit of a moment when the clasp on Sydney’s dress broke just as she was getting into it. While I tried my hand at some quick sewing, her mom showed off her expert seamstress skills and saved the day. Plus, the mother-daughter duo were proud to show off their matching tattoos, which added a personal touch to the day. They had such a beautiful relationship and it was a pleasure to document it on Sydney’s wedding day.

We made sure that we integrated enough time into their wedding timeline to capture beautiful, editorial photos of Sydney at the start of the day. It was important to her to capture every detail she had thoughtfully chosen to express herself on her wedding day. I loved how much her look was emblematic of her personal style, while still being very bridal. It was so wonderful to see how confident and beautiful she felt, and I had so much fun hyping her up while she modelled for me. This was definitely one of my favourite parts of the day as she encouraged me to be creative and direct her in any way I felt would emphasize her natural beauty. I particularly loved the photos I shot on 35mm film.

Sydney and Colin chose to do a private first look before the ceremony, and it was one of those quiet, beautiful moments that really sticks with me. Sydney looked radiant, and Colin’s eyes welled up with tears as he saw her. They held each other and just sat in that moment — pure, genuine connection.

Shot on 35mm film

I actually couldn’t handle the look on both of their faces as Colin brought Sydney in front of the mirror to look at every detail of her outfit, hair and makeup. He was so attentive to every detail, and she glowed as he recognized how much thought and work she had put into her look for the day. It is such an honour to have someone know you that well, and value everything about you. He even pulled up her hand to check out and compliment her on her custom, creative manicure.

We were hoping that the rain would hold off long enough to allow us to get outside to a park or the courtyard to do some portraits, but we were not in luck. The rain continued to fall outside while we rearranged the furniture in the suite to give us enough open space to do indoor portraits. Doing them alone in the suite made it feel more intimate, cozy and private, and I’m obsessed with how they turned out in the end. I think S & C were just thrilled to have some quiet time to relax and focus on each other before the ceremony started.

The ceremony space at the Grand is vintage, moody and intimate. There isn’t a lot of natural light, but I loved how the direct flash gave the photos an edgy and editorial vibe. S & C held hands at the altar, and Colin looked into Sydney’s eyes and as always, grounded her in the moment and allowed her to be present. The families looked on adoringly and I know Sydney’s mom must have felt so proud knowing that Sydney had found a wonderful, reliable and supportive partner.

The rest of the night was just one big party featuring passed apps, cocktails galore, and a super yummy pasta bar. There was no sit down dinner, so the vibes continued throughout the night. S & C started the evening with their first dance, and then went into speeches. Sydney got a chance to spend some time with her avó who travelled from Portugal to celebrate her.

After their first dance we snuck off into a private bar area for a quick romantic photoshoot featuring a dirty martini.

We finished off the night in the bathtub, because why not?