A Micro Wedding at St. Basil’s Between Two Toronto Front Line Workers

These Toronto Frontline workers celebrated their picturesque micro wedding at St. Basil’s after planning five different wedding days. To their credit (of which they deserve plenty), Aisling and Peter are excellent planners. While their first meeting occurred by happenstance at the kitchen sink of a house party, their engagement story is one of careful planning and many red herrings. A swoon-worthy plot that involved an unfinished rooftop terrace and a sister’s manicure date, that finished with champagne, pizza, and a resounding, “Yes!” 

Aisling and Peter had originally planned to marry at Graydon Hall Manor in June 2020. Being frontline workers, the couple sensed early in the pandemic that they would have to move their date. With a large circle of friends and family, from all around the globe, the couple were hopeful that they’d be able to celebrate with everybody if they just waited. With unexpected restrictions put in place the week before their wedding date, the two decided that the day they had been so eagerly anticipating could wait no longer -- planning a micro wedding a St. Basil’s, followed by an intimate celebration at home in their Toronto apartment in only a week’s time.

Their intimate micro wedding took place at Toronto’s St. Basil’s at the University of St. Michael’s College, with only their immediate family in the pews. Outside, the couple’s siblings and very best friends awaited the “Just Married!” pair. Aisling was a vision in her Pnina Tornai gown - a stylish cloud of tulle and lace, floating in editorial contrast against the architectural backdrop, allowing our team of Toronto wedding photographers to capture fashion-forward photos, driven by design. Despite the winter weather, Aisling and Peter exuded only joy and warmth -- sharing bright smiles and exchanging tender moments as they enjoyed those first moments of wedded bliss. 

Originally, the couple had planned a summer wedding, but thankfully their vision and colour-story lent itself perfectly to their winter micro wedding. The warm and inviting tones of deep reds, burgundy, and gold allowed Aisling and Peter to lean into the Christmassy look their palette had created, while adding a touch of timeless elegance to their cozy celebration. 

A close family affair, with the bride and her sister decorating, a dinner cooked by the mother-of-the-bride, and her sister-in-law baking the desserts, the day provided the intimacy only a micro wedding could. “When we started planning our wedding, we always heard from friends and family that the wedding day passes by in a blur,” Aisling shared, “But the most amazing part of a tiny wedding is that there was the same overwhelming feeling of love and support, but with fewer guests. We were able to be very present in each moment as the day unfolded.” 

Choosing just one special moment is a fool’s errand when the entire day is made up of one special moment after the other. Close moments with family certainly paint a picture of the fun had at Aisling and Peter’s micro wedding, from a morning of primping and preparation with Aisling’s mother and sister, to a 5:30am “Tour of Scotland” whisky tasting led by the father-of-the-bride. Both recall the moment they saw one another as Aisling first emerged on the aisle at St. Basil’s, “The feeling of love around us as we moved forward into married life together was so incredible.” 

A day that was sprinkled with close moments and special touches made for a beautiful collection of heartfelt memories. As Aisling got ready in the morning, our team of Toronto photographers captured every special detail - from the blue heart made from Aisling’s late grandmother’s blouse sewn into her dress to the moment her father first saw her - candid smiles and subtle beauty that could not be missed. We knew of the journey that brought Aisling and Peter to the special day that was their micro wedding, the significance of their roles as frontline workers, and did all that we could to bring kindness, ease, and fun to the day - working our magic, often out of sight - to capture timeless photographs that will forever tell the story of that joyful day.

Dress:  Love by Pnina Tornai, purchased at Kleinfeld Canada, Video: Kismet Creative, Floral: Weddings by Ardenian, Hair Makeup: Jen Evoy Makeup Studio, Bridal shoes: Christian Louboutin, Groom suit: Garrison Bespoke, Cake: Dolce Vita Cakes