When one of your best friends asks you to capture their special day, it feels like an honour beyond words. Joanna and I go way back. We met while working in Toronto, and even though we don’t live in the same city or work for the same company anymore, our friendship has only grown stronger over the years. So, when Joanna invited me to her intimate civil ceremony at the Toronto Court House in August, I was beyond excited. Not only did I get to witness my bestie marry the love of her life, but I also got to capture this moments.
Joanna and Murat have some big plans for 2025—a full-blown wedding in Turkey, followed by a party in Mauritius. With Murat from Turkey and Joanna from Mauritius, this wedding is going to be a beautiful blend of their cultures and traditions. And trust me, I’m already counting down the days until I get to witness that wedding. But for now, let’s dive into their sweet civil ceremony from this past August!
Joanna and Murat opted for a super small and intimate ceremony at Toronto City Hall on August 8th, getting their legal ceremony out of the way before the big celebrations next year. The entire ceremony was one of the quickest I’ve ever witnessed! These two decided to break tradition by walking down the aisle together, hand-in-hand, with huge smiles on their faces. It was honestly so perfect, just like them. Also, fun fact: Joanna forgot to change her shoes for the ceremony and ended up getting married in her sneakers! Classic Joanna! If you know her, you know she’s a sneaker queen through and through, so it was honestly fitting.
Once the ceremony wrapped up, we stepped outside to snap some quick photos with their guests in front of City Hall. Then we headed over to UofT (University of Toronto) for more couple shots. One of the coolest moments was when we took photos in front of the patio stone on the grounds with Murat’s name on it! It’s always a blast capturing your bestie with her new husband, especially when they’re as laid back and fun as Joanna and Murat.
Joanna switched into her heels for a few photos but quickly swapped back into her beloved sneakers (because, of course!). We grabbed all the shots we needed as we walked toward the restaurant for dinner. Because let’s be honest, the best part of any wedding day is celebrating with good food, family, and friends!
Being a part of Joanna and Murat’s day, from witnessing their vows to capturing their love through my lens, was incredibly special. It wasn’t a big, extravagant event, but that’s what made it so perfectly them. I know next year’s wedding in Turkey will be an absolute dream, and yes, I’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes for sure.
To Joanna and Murat—thank you for letting me not only be a part of your small group of witnesses but for trusting me to freeze these moments in time with my camera. I cannot WAIT for the big wedding next year. Until then, enjoy every moment of married life.
