Cabaret Lion d'Or in Montreal – R + T LGBT Wedding
Tami and Rachel chose the Cabaret Lion d'Or in Montreal for their wedding last October. A couple since 2021, the two complement each other so well; it was a real joy for me to photograph their wedding. I'm still pinching myself at how much fun I had with them and their loved ones!
The bridesmaids weren't keen on having photos taken during their preparations. But when I learned they had rented an Airbnb in Old Montreal, I offered to meet them there when they were ready. The couple absolutely wanted photos in nature and hadn't considered, when renting the apartment, that some of their couple's photos would be taken there. So Tami went downstairs first to take some portraits and photos with her wedding party before having a first look with her sweetheart. The couple hadn't yet envisioned themselves as brides! Dressed by SuitableIn a custom-made outfit, she looked incredibly chic!
And what a first look it was! Tami's jaw dropped when she saw her sweetheart arrive behind her! The first look is such an emotional and exciting moment! They didn't regret doing it at all!
Tami's boutonniere, Rachel's wedding bouquet, and the floral arrangements at the reception were created by The Floret Flowers located in Verdun. I think the colors of the girls' dresses, outfits, and flowers make for a very beautiful color scheme. It really represents fall weddings, in my opinion! After the first look, we continued with photos of the bridal party and some photos with the brides in Old Montreal. Very close to the apartment rented for the occasion is the magnificent building of St. James TheatreFortunately, it was unoccupied at that time and we were able to take many photos in a short amount of time.
A quick stop before the Cabaret Lion d'Or!
The initial plan was to go to Lafontaine Park for the couple's photos, so we had a schedule to keep, haha! We then loaded the brides into our car to act as Ubers, haha! It was while we were on our way there that I saw the magnificent trees behind Montreal City Hall in Champ-de-Mars Park. I quickly suggested to the girls that we go there since it was already October 18th and the fall colours were still to come in at Lafontaine Park. I had checked the day before by going there myself. On the day of the wedding, I found the trees in Champ-de-Mars to be much more beautiful than those in the Plateau. It must depend on the species of tree; some take a little longer than others to turn colour. But I really appreciated the couple's flexibility because there are often unexpected things that happen on a wedding day, and you have to be able to adapt. What we hadn't anticipated, however, was the biting cold/wind that we weren't used to yet, so it was a good excuse for them to snuggle up!
Wedding ceremony at the Cabaret Lion d'Or
When the bride and groom saw the Cabaret Lion d'Or, they knew immediately that it was the perfect venue to celebrate their ceremony and, consequently, hold their reception there in the evening. Since they are of different faiths (Catholic and Jewish), the bright and airy stage was ideal for their ceremony.
It was right after the couple's photos, upon arriving at the Cabaret, that I saw the magnificent room, decorated and all ready. We arrived five minutes before the chairs were moved for the ceremony. I was lucky, I have to admit! Fifteen minutes later, everything was set up for the ceremony. Then, at the cocktail hour, there would have been guests everywhere, and that would have made things a bit difficult for me, haha! Taking photos of the room's decorations is something that I think is very important. So I always make sure I can photograph the rooms before the guests arrive!
The Art Deco-inspired decor and lighting made the ceremony truly theatrical and magnificent! You should have seen Tamy's face when Rachel arrived! It was as if they hadn't seen each other just moments before, when they were together in the dressing room in the basement! They were beautiful, and their eyes truly shone with happiness!
A fantastic wedding reception!
The cocktail hour having been short, the atmosphere quickly became festive when the brides made their official "entrance" to the music of DJ Or from ANDR MusicWith lots of dancing at the beginning of the reception, it set the tone for the evening ahead. And we weren't bored for a second! With moving speeches that deeply touched me—I even shed a tear, something that never happens to me—the events flowed seamlessly. It was festive, heartfelt, beautiful, and everyone was happy and delighted to be there on this wonderful day! I adored the brides: their big hearts, kindness, thoughtful touches, and good humor made it all go by far too quickly!
Did you enjoy Rachel and Tami's wedding? Go check out my wedding portfolio!