Aga Khan Wedding Photos: Samantha & Andrew | Hazelton Manor Wedding

Aga Khan Wedding Photos

What a gorgeous day it was! The sun was out, the leaves were in full fall bloom and the temperatures were pleasant. We started off the day with Andrew getting ready with the boys. Later, we headed over to Samantha’s to photograph her and the girls get ready as well.

By 11 am, we were inside Our Lady of Annunciation Parish Church, where these two tied the knot!

The photos were done at the outdoor grounds of the Aga Khan Museum. I’ve always heard and seen the place online and always wanted to shoot here – it was an awesome experience. The grounds offered minimalistic and modern touches, with nature mixed in. Not only were Sam and Andrew so easy going and great to work with, but so were their entire wedding party.

Cocktail hour, receiving line and reception were at the beautiful Hazelton Manor in Vaughan. A gorgeous space indeed, and big enough to host their wedding guests (all 350-ish!). It was great also running into so many past clients and their parents/siblings/friends at this wedding!

If you’re interested, after the photos – Sam and Andrew shared their story! Make sure you scroll to the bottom as well to have a read!

Congrats once again Samantha and Andrew!

Photography by Raph Nogal and Oliver Salathiel

“How it all happened…”

1) Tell us how you first met. Where, When, How? Give us the juicy details.

Andrew and I first met at our part time job at No frills. I was 16 and he was 20. We were friends for about 3 years until one day we both realized what we really wanted. To talk about hockey together, All. The. Time. So he asked me to go for breakfast one day before work, and ever since we’ve been inseparable.

2) When did you know he/she was the one? Was there something he/she did?

S: We had a lot of common interests, especially hockey. So when Andrew asked me to name the bottom 6 defencemen of the Pittsburgh Penguins, I knew he was my soul mate. We were able to connect on a different level, we just understood each other.

A: There was not one single thing or one single event. Over the course of the seven year leading up to the proposal, we had numerous trips and adventurous and each little events proved more and more just how amazing she is and how perfect for me she was.

3) Tell us about your proposal. (Did you see it coming? How long was it in the planning? How did you feel when it happened? (excited, nervous, etc.).

S: I did not see the proposal coming. We knew it would happen one day, but we had just purchased a home so, this was a big surprise to me! We were in Switzerland and Andrew took me to a castle. He knew how much I loved photography and I was busy taking pictures, and when I turned around to get his attention, he got mine by being down on one knee. Everything about the moment was perfect; we were alone in a giant castle, a place that is a historic landmark so it will be there forever. Each moment of the proposal was so meaningful; he put so much thought into it. I was in shock, and so excited – 7 years being together I was anxiously waiting for that moment.

A: I started the planning and process of getting the ring in March of 2017 and in terms of the location and timing I told Samantha I would plan Switzerland as she planned Italy, being tongue in check with her Italian background which give me some flexibility to find the right location and work it into the trip without her seeing it as being odd.
The majority of my anxiety from the whole proposal was the planning around carrying the engagement ring on the plane and in our room for 4 days before proposing at the Montebello Castle in Bellinzona. My biggest fear was that going there airport security they would open the carryon bag and pull out this ring and Samantha’s surprise ruined. So I took every measure possible; putting the ring box in a pair of socks, having a note attached to the ring box reading “engagement ring inside please be discrete” and a letter on the top of my bag to let security know my girlfriend and I are travelling together and she is unaware of the ring in my bag… all that effort ultimately being unneeded as we breezed through security and they didn’t even open my bag.

Next big step hiding the ring within a small shared European hotel room for 4 days where privacy is something of an afterthought, so when the safe is an area where we both keep other objects I had to get creative again, locking my bags all the time in the room and never giving her the key. As the trip went on Samantha noticed me locking my bag and just thought I was paranoid being in Europe for the first time. Last step of the journey getting the ring to the proposal site without her knowing… I placed it in the last spot she would ever look under the camera lens in her camera bag (she is not a fan of changing the lens on her camera and always got me to do it lol). So as we walked for 20 mins from the train station up the mountain to get to the Castle she was carrying her ring without even knowing it. From there Samantha summarized the event perfectly of me bending the knee lol.

4) What is your favourite memory together aside from the proposal? Why?

S: Every moment together is my favourite, but probably purchasing our first home.

A: There is no single moment that is my favourite, but instead my mind always goes to road trips we had together. Driving to Pittsburgh, Detroit, Ottawa, Montreal and Buffalo and for the future road trips that there will be.

5) Tell us the one thing you most love about each other.

S: We love the same things. Hockey is what really brought us together and we share a love for it. Bucket list: visit every NHL arena, so far so good! 9/31 and adding one more on the honeymoon! And playing hockey together is always a plus

A: Her ability to find the enjoy in the little moments, where its sitting on the couch watching TV shows or the game.

6) What do you think is unique about you as a couple?
We understand each other. We rarely have those moments when we do not connect; I truly feel we have become one. And of course our obsession with sports

7) Besides being married, what’s the one other thing you are looking forward to on your wedding day?
Taking in each moment and recognizing that we are celebrating one of the best days of our lives with our most important people. We are really big on family and friends and keeping bonds close with those around us so we are excited to share this with everyone. And I’m excited to walk down the aisle and look at Andrew and have that feeling of knowing that he’s my person.

8) What is your favourite wedding trend right now?
S: … there are trends?? Joking – I have no idea. Andrew?
A: What she said

9) What inspired your decor theme?

We were told we had to pick a theme. Marble / grey / white / black this all kind of just fell into our laps. We like the clean cut, elegant and classy look and gold was a nice touch.

10) What’s one thing you wish you would have known earlier in regards to planning your wedding?

S: No matter how prepared you are there is still more to do! We started early, I wish we started even earlier than we did. Make sure you do what you want for you, not for anyone else. Do what’s best for you and your partner

A: “Current Andrew” would like to tell “Past Andrew”, “There is no way to be fully prepared, you just have to roll with the punches as they will come and there will be many, also do not trust Church construction timelines!”

Vendor List

Photography | Raph Nogal Photography
Video | Outside In Studio
Ceremony Location | Our Lady of Annunciation – Richmond Hill
Reception Location | Hazelton Manor
Florist | Windflowers
DJ / Band | Dolce DJ
Dress Designer | Maggie Sottero
Dress Salon | Avenue 22
Other Details/Vendors | Décor: Chair Covers Plus/Babylon,

Makeup: Makeup Artist Stefania

Suits: 4MenUnited