Magical Elora Mill Wedding | Caitlin & Karim
How magical was Caitlin and Karim’s Elora Mill Wedding!? We arrived early in Elora and were greeted with one of those perfect blue-sky-snow days. We’ve filmed in the snow many times and love the way it adds movement and atmosphere to the images we capture. Their wedding was in November, which made this a little bit of a surprise, but what really made this day special was the time we got to spend with Caitlin and Karim. They’re the loveliest people you’d meet. Easy going, friendly, warm and game for a little fun in the snow. This was our last wedding of 2022 and this was the perfect way to end an incredible season.
A Stunning Elora Mill Wedding in the Snow
We were fortunate enough to film two Elora Mill Weddings in 2021 so we were super excited to return in 2022 (and we’ll be back in 2023!). If you haven’t been to Elora before, you have to check it out. It’s a beautiful little town that sits alongside the Grand River and Elora Gorge. Elora Mill Hotel and Spa is a stunning wedding venue located in the heart of the town and offers breathtaking views of the Elora Gorge. The venue is known for its luxurious amenities, exceptional service, and unparalleled natural beauty, making it a popular choice for couples looking for a romantic and unforgettable wedding experience.
One of the most striking features of Elora Mill Hotel and Spa is its layout and architecture. When you have an Elora Mill Wedding you’re booking multiple venues that are spread out amongst other buildings in the town (all within a short walking distance). This is what really sets Elora Mill apart from other wedding venues; the experience allows you to choose from multiple locations and gives your guests the opportunity to take in the sights as they move from one event to the next.
The actual hotel is a beautifully restored 19th-century mill, featuring exposed brick walls, towering ceilings, and large windows that provide plenty of natural light. Caitlin and Karim both had their own hotel suits with stunning views over the river. The interiors were elegantly decorated with a mix of modern and vintage furnishings in a large space giving them plenty of room to socialize, get ready and pop some champagne.
Elora Mill wedding ceremonies can take place in two locations. The riverside terrace offers panoramic views of the river and is perfect for outdoor ceremonies. With Caitlin and Karim’s wedding being in November, they opted for The Foundry Chapel, with its high ceilings, large windows and rustic charm. Guests were greeted from the cold with a warm apple cider and the sounds of a crackling open fire. It was the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a romantic and intimate winter wedding ceremony.
Caitlin and Karim’s cocktail hour and reception was held in The Grand located on the top floor of the Granary. The Grand is a great space (for up to 200 guests) with custom harvest tables, antique mirrors, wooden beams and a flash of contemporary design with those beautiful chandeliers. Iris and her team from Blue Lavender events worked tirelessly along with Simply Beautiful decor and Threads and Blooms to bring Caitlin and Karim’s vision to life; effortlessly luxurious, warm and romantic.
One of our favourite parts of the Granary has to be the rooftop terrace. During warmer months, it’s a perfect location for a cocktail hour (see Celia and Evan’s wedding) or even a sparkler send off (see Nathali and Mazen) but we still made sure to make use of this great spot for an extra little photoshoot.
Elora Mill Hotel and Spa is easily one of our favourite wedding venues in Ontario, with its breathtaking natural surroundings to its luxurious amenities and exceptional service. We love being able to explore the town and treat the experience as more of a detention wedding. Locations are characters too and Elora has plenty of it’s own personality and charm. Unique venues help us to make unique films : )
Caitlin & Karim: Friendly, warm and so so brave!
Caitlin and Karim greeted us with big beaming smiles when we first met them on zoom and when we met them in person, it was clear how kind natured and welcoming they were. On the wedding day they both took the opportunity to spend quality time with their friends and family. The preparation before a wedding is one of our favourite parts of the day to film. It’s fun to see the excitement build as gifts are exchanged, letters read and champagne popped.
Caitlin and Karim planned a ceremony that was cozy and embraced the winter vibes of the day. The fire crackled in the background as several friends and family made readings before the couple exchanged their vows. After the ceremony, we took them outside for a fairly speedy portrait session. We’ve always really enjoyed shooting alongside 5ive15ifteen as we both like sessions with energy and momentum. We find this prompts couples into more candid reactions (great for video) and keeps things fun and lighthearted. Despite the cold weather, Caitlin and Karim were great sports, embracing, keeping each other wrapped up and throwing the odd snowball.
As we mentioned above, an Elora Mill Wedding means moving between venues, and we used that to our advantage, criss-crossing the town and making use of multiple locations as we headed over to The Grand. We also made a plan to split the portrait session into 3 – so that we gave Caitlin and Karim enough time to recover from the cold. After they’d enjoyed a few cocktails we headed up to the rooftop for a second session, where they practiced their choreographed first dance and captured a few other romantic moments.
Finally, after the dance floor opened and Caitlin had changed into her second look, we headed back out for a spot-lit night shoot. We’re hoping night shoots become a permanent fixture of our future wedding itineraries. They’re a little more dramatic looking, which gives a wedding film or photo album a bit more dynamism in terms of look. But what we really love about them is that a couple will have finished all formalities, had a few drinks and feel a little more freedom to express, which is what we really want to capture. The night shoot was the perfect way to finish up filming for the wedding season. A beautiful night, in a gorgeous town with the loveliest people. Oh, and with a sprinkle of magic too.
Elora Mill Wedding Vendors: Bringing this Stunning Wedding to Life
First of all, we have to give a big shout to Iris and her team from Blue Lavender events. We have loved working with Iris this year and previously. We also had the very pleasant surprise of running into our previous client Jenn, who is now assisting Iris (after hiring Iris to plan her wedding at The Gatehouse in Niagara, earlier in 2022). Secondly, we’d like to give big props to Eric and Mike from 5ive15ifteen. It’s always a pleasure to shoot with photographers who are on the same wavelength as you. It’s just so easy and feels like a team effort. You can see the full list of vendors below:
Cinematography by Kismet Creative | Planning by Blue Lavender Events | Photography by 5ive15ifteen | Florals by Thread and Blooms | Makeup and hair by Jen Evoy Makeup Studio | Rentals from Simply Beautiful Decor | Cake by Sugar Suite Cakes | DJ’d by QA Entertainment | Hosted by Elora Mill Hotel & Spa .