“Isn’t love grand?” A lovingly fitting tagline for Michael & Linda, a young Vietnamese couple, whose wedding day we here at SDE Weddings, Toronto’s premier wedding videography, cinematography and photobooth group, helped commemorate just last August 3rd, 2014 at among Toronto’s most beautiful and historic event venue “The Eglinton Grand”, our first time working at this lovely location in fact. The tagline was what featured Michael & Linda at their very own exclusive event provided for them by the once-previous historic Toronto theatre. Such a line would truly exemplify how ‘grand’ an event this was for Michael & Linda, and what a grand opportunity it was for us, our wedding videographers and cinematographers, to truly be a part of and help create. Scroll further to learn more about Michael & Linda, their wonderful wedding and our experience in working to capture their most treasured matrimonial memories.

The picture for the video thumbnail was taken by Derek Hui | derekhui.com

Early morning started off for Michael & Linda with a family meet-&-greet and the early pre-ceremony setup. Linda gave lots of smiling shots for our videographers and cinematographers as she freshened up and fashioned on a fitting red and gold Ao Dai, the traditional Vietnamese dress. For Michael, a sharp jet-black suit with bow-tie and suspenders gave him a gentleman’s quality, and rightfully so for him and his bride-to-be’s big day. Not at all strangers to the traditions of a Vietnamese wedding, or videographers and cinematographers joined the groom, his groomsmen and their group for the bringing of gifts to the bride’s house, all the way to Mississsauga, where Michael & Linda would have their all-too-romantic first look for the first day of their lives. With a warming welcome between the two families, the couple-du-jour gave a solemn and dignified bow to their loved ones, and were met with understandable applause, a lovely scene featured by our videographers and cinematographers in the highlight reel below. A beautiful tea-ceremony between the two families, between parents and children, would be the wedding moment for Michael & Linda, as their proud parents give the pair their warmest blessings and an exchange of the now-newlyweds’ wedding rings, which made for another favourite scene from our videographers and cinematographers.

Soon after came the post-ceremony, which as we will see becomes an extravagant and exclusive gala-affair for Michael & Linda. Our first stop was half the city away, in the lush green grandness of North York’s Edwards Garden for photos and video-taking with our videographers and cinematographers on a beautiful summer day. For the afternoon’s events, Linda had switched into a gorgeous silken sleeveless wedding gown, complementing Michael’s sharp black ensemble, making the newly-wed couple ostensibly stand out amidst the backdrop of Don Valley’s pristinely-kept parklands. Many of our featured highlight reel shots were taken here, and our videographers and cinematographers had plenty of fun during these shoots. In particular, Michael & Linda’s “second” first look, if you may call it that, was another beautiful moment for our lenses to capture.

For the evening’s banquet and wedding reception, Michael & Linda chose an historic and ‘grand’ location, sure enough, at “The Eglinton Grand”, just by Toronto’s trendy midtown district. Set in a real-life historical theatre dating from Toronto’s heyday in the thirties, Michael & Linda were given a stellar star-treatment by The Eglinton Grand’s staff, making for some wonderful shots from our videographers and cinematographers; featuring Michael & Linda’s names writ conspicuously large on the theatre’s billboard signs, and a wonderfully made ‘movie poster’ which you can spot in the highlight reel. The venue itself was a stunning scene to behold; a gold and beige theme all about, with the matrimonial mood set by an illuminated ambiance of candlelight. Of course, our videographers and cinematographers couldn’t help but take plenty of shots of the gorgeous venue, before and during Michael & Linda’s big celebration.

Staying true to the promise in providing a complete package for Michael & Linda, we had our photo booth rental station setup on The Eglinton Grand’s mezzanine level, which was beside the cocktail reception. A perfect combination, it would seem, as Michael & Linda’s guests couldn’t help but come back for more and more pictures commemorating the couples’ big day, and to maybe unwind a bit and have some fun. Below you can preview some of the more outrageous snapshots from the evening’s festivities. As an interlude to bring Michael & Linda’s momentous marriage ceremony and celebration to a close, wedding games, speeches and plenty of fun and dancing were part and parcel of what made such a special night complete. And as the evening ended, we take note of the words of Michael & Linda’s groomsmen, to “slow down to appreciate this moment”, indeed, a moment worth treasuring and one that us here at SDE Weddings, Toronto’s premier wedding videography, cinematography and photobooth group, were proud to be a part of. We wish Michael & Linda the very best in their lives together, and hope that our work with them will forever remind them of their one true special day.

Wedding reception: The Eglinton Grand | 400 Eglinton Ave West, Toronto
Wedding catering: Harvey Tam | Dragon Dynasty Banquet
Wedding décor: L’Amour Bliss Decor Boutique
Cake services: Cakes by Colleen
Park: Edwards Garden | 777 Lawrence Ave East, Toronto
Photography: Derek Hui