We have moved!

*NEW* Blog link: www.elluminphotography.com/blog

Our new blog is now live just in time for Christmas & New Year, please click the link above and update your bookmarks! =)

**CONTEST for FREE Winter Engagement Session**

Ellumin Photography is excited to reveal our New Contest just in time for the Holidays!

By submitting your *Proposal Story*, you will be entered for a chance to Win a 2 Hour Engagement Session, valued at $300!

The requirements are simple, please follow the instructions below:

    [1] Click "Like" on our Facebook Fan Page.

    [2] Tell us about your Proposal =) Submit your story to info@elluminphotography.com.  Be as detailed and creative as you want, you can even include a photo of yourselves for us to post along with your story.  Entries will be uploaded on our Facebook Wall within 24 hrs of submission and will be placed in order received.

    [3] Tell your friends and family to *Vote* for you!  Every "Like" or "Comment" on your Proposal Story post will count as 1 Vote.  The couple with the most votes win!

(Note: A person can cast a maximum of 2 votes per Proposal Story with a "Like" and/or "Comment" and are allowed to vote for multiple couples.  The engagement session must take place before March 1, 2011 and is not transferable. Location must be within the GTA.)

You're Done! The Contest is open as of November 24 and ends midnight of December 24 (Christmas Eve).  The sooner you post, the more exposure and chance of votes you will receive.  We will tally the results and announce 1 Winner on December 26 (Boxing Day), think of it as un-boxing a present from us to you =)


Here is a sample of what your post will look like:

Best of Luck Everyone!

Ellumin Photography Travel Log | Oasis of the Seas - Western Caribbean Cruise

Derrick and I love to travel, which is why I’ve decided to start a “Travel Log” here on our blog to share recent vacation experiences and reviews with you =)

Oasis of the Seas truly lives up to its title as the world’s largest cruise ship!  We had a great time aboard and thought an overview of the trip would be of interest to couples considering the Oasis or Royal Caribbean’s newest addition: Allure of the Seas for their destination wedding or honeymoon.

The ship features numerous bars, cafe’s, outdoor and indoor theatres, two rock climbing walls and simulated surfing rides, a zip line, skating rink, carousel, and outdoor park...you definitely won’t run out of things to do!

Shows and Entertainment:  Fabulous!  Come Fly with Me, Hairspray, Frozen in Time, and Oasis of Dreams are ‘Must Sees”.  Beautifully designed sets and costumes, great cast and they impressed us with the incorporation of diving, skating, and acrobatics into some of their shows.  The cruise director was incredibly funny and did a great job hosting the Halloween Party and Disco Party.  Cruise staff costumed up as Zombies and danced to Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and the DJ was spinning music on top of the ship’s floating bar.  There was also a ‘Best Costumes’ contest, as you can see from the photos below, everyone was definitely in the Halloween spirit!

Food and Dining:  There is a lot to choose from on the Oasis aside from your usual buffet, snack bar, and dining room, although these also had an ample variety of food choices every day.  Our favourite spot for lunch was the Parkside Cafe which features made-to-order salads and a selection of sandwiches, soups, and desserts.  The Opus dining room had a great menu every night; a few personal favourites were the crab cakes, escargots, lamb shank, and rock lobster tails (our waiter even got us an extra one of these!).  For those who wish to have a more exclusive dining experience, there are also several specialty restaurants ($) along the park and boardwalk area.

Stateroom Cleanliness and Comfort:  I swear that our stateroom attendant must have cleaned our room 3 to 5 times a day!  We had an interior room which was a decent size, and as expected the washrooms felt tiny.

Ports of Call and Shore Excursions:  Originally one port on our itinerary was supposed to be Labadee Haiti, but because of the hurricane we re-routed to Bahamas instead.  One benefit of cruises is definitely the fact that you can avoid certain natural disasters like this.   My favourite shore excursion was the “Dolphin Push, Pull and Swim” in Cozumel.  For someone who can’t swim like myself, the lifeguards were super helpful and gave me the confidence to interact with the Dolphins in the water.  Aren't they so cute?

This question is often asked on surveys, “Would you come back” and “Would you recommend this vacation to a friend?” The answer is a definite “Yes!”  Not to mention the boat itself along with the sites visited is like a photographer’s dream.  There are countless photo opportunities and we would love to go back not only for another vacation, but also for a photo shoot.  If any of you are planning a destination wedding, we’d love to sit down and discuss further with you =)

Antara & Rajin's Perfect 10-10-10 Wedding

October 10, 2010 is a very popular date for getting married this year.  For Antara and Rajin, this date wasn't picked because it means an easy to remember anniversary date in the future, 10-10-10 is actually a very auspicious date in  Hindu culture.  Also quoting Rajin, Antara will always be his "Perfect 10".

Originally we were worried about the unpredictable October weather, especially since Rajin would be making his grand entrance outside the temple on a decorated horse accompanied by drummers, family, and friends.  But it was a beautiful day and luck was definitely on their side!

I love how the ceremony was filled symbolic elements, such as tying a piece of their clothing together to signify "tying the knot" and Antara switching her position to sit on the right side of Rajin to be "closer to his heart" after exchanging vows.

The reception at Swagat Banquet Hall was filled with vibrant purple, turquoise, and orange elements.  The uplighting created  an ambient atmosphere and the guests' beautiful saris added even more colour and sparkle.    

We had a great time photographing this wedding, the amount of detail and difference in customs was an eye opener.  Congratulations Antara & Rajin, I am glad we will be seeing you again at Anitha & Joe's Wedding =)

Details:

Ceremony: Devi Mandir

Decorated Horse: Dream Catcher Stables
Hair & Makeup by LeSonne Bridals

Venue & Catering: J & J Swagat Banquet Halls

Hannah & Albert's Beginning to a Life full of Smiles | Wedding

Hannah and Albert are high school sweethearts who have been dating for almost a decade, 9.5 years to be exact.  They met through mutual friends and on their first outing together you can say he really fell 'head over heels' for her, actually he fell off his chair but close enough =) Maybe it was that cute little embarrassing moment that drew her to him, or perhaps it's his humour, family values, and patience...it could also be her contagious smile that he loves so much, or her kind personality and ability to play beautiful piano music, but something about these two just show they were meant to be.

Their day was filled with emotional moments, including self-written vows to each other and touching speeches from their parents and siblings.  Albert, who is usually quiet by nature, really surprised everyone with his Andy Lau inspired speech to Hannah.  For those who may not know, Andy Lau is a famous Chinese pop star who Hannah was (and I believe still is) obsessed with.  He prepared a slideshow incorporating audio and video footage of Andy Lau, which made it appear like he was asking Andy for approval to marry Hannah.  This got everyone in the room laughing and I've personally never seen a more creative speech!

The bridal party entrance was very unique too, the bridesmaids were cued in as beauty pageant members and the groomsmen introductions resembled the starting lineup of an NBA game, which ended in a huddle with the bride and groom.

Hannah and I have known each other well before their engagement session in May (photos can be found here), and it was fun capturing your wedding as a guest.  Wishing you two a lifetime full of smiles =) We'll be in touch once you're back from the Caribbean!

Details:

Ceremony: Toronto Chinese Methodist Church

Hair & Makeup (Bride) by Satine Studios

Venue: Riviera Parque

Catering: Grand Catering by Jacky Young

Barbara & Joe's Love Sets Sail | Wedding

Joe and Barbara both love sailing and they wanted a nautical themed wedding to showcase this mutual interest.  The Royal Canadian Yacht Club was perfect for the intimate setting they dreamed of, the bridal party dressed in blue and cute wooden sailboats served as their centerpieces.

After a beautiful ceremony at St. Pius X Parish, we took a private boat to the Toronto islands with the bridal party.  The unobstructed view of the Toronto skyline was amazing, and the dock and grounds of RCYC was gorgeous as well.

It was an extremely windy day with a hint of rain but thank goodness for that because my favorite photos from the day are of Barbara's veil blowing with the sea breeze.

Congratulations Joe & Barbara, I know you're setting off on your honeymoon today so have a great time!

Details:

Ceremony: St Pius X Parish

DJ: Maximum DJ

Bridal Hairstyling by Vidal Sassoon

Venue & Catering by Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC)

Esther & Kenny's Sweet Beginning | Wedding

Esther and Kenny's first date was at 'Just Desserts', a sweet beginning to their 5 year relationship.  Earlier on this year, we photographed their engagement session at Mainstreet Unionville (photos can be found here) where Kenny proposed.

The first key event of the day was when Kenny and his 6 groomsmen arrived at Esther's house for 'doorgames', a Chinese tradition that requires the groom to prove his love for the bride by surviving challenges prepared by her bridesmaids and professing his love.  One of the cutest and funniest moments was when Kenny yelled from the staircase below, "I will always love you...ALWAYS" followed by his next phrase in cantonese "My heart is yours...ALWAYS".

After he successfully picked up his bride-to-be, we headed over to Richmond Greens for park photos before the ceremony.  Both ceremony and reception was hosted at Shangri-La Banquet Hall, a venue known for its elaborant decor.  Live band by All Day Breakfast and MC by Carol kept the crowd well entertained all night long.

Cheers to a great couple, amazing friends, and a fun-filled night!

Details:

Live Band by All Day Breakfast
Master of Ceremonies by Carol Chan

Flowers by Flowers with Love

Venue & Catering by Shangri-La Banquet Hall