Wedding at the William Gray Hotel – Belle + Simon
Belle and Simon chose the Hotel William Gray in Old Montreal for their wedding reception. Their wedding took place last fall, at the end of October, and it was my last wedding of the year. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end a 2025 filled with so many beautiful weddings! The couple wasn't particularly keen on having photos taken during their preparations, so I joined them at the hotel around lunchtime. They opted for a first look before taking photos with their families and then their couple's portraits in Old Montreal. The first look took place on the magnificent staircase of the William Gray. I think I managed to capture the perfect expression on Simon's face when he saw his bride for the first time. She surprised him with a non-traditional, colorful, and sparkling dress!
Belle's makeup was done by Véronique de Makeup area.
I thought Belle's parents were brave to have arrived from Taiwan just a few days before the wedding. It wasn't warm that day, and there was quite a temperature difference between Taiwan and Montreal! They were able to take photos without coats even though they were a bit cold. My assistant was holding everyone's coats at one point; his arms were full of them, haha!
Once the family photos were taken, we went for a walk not far from the William Gray to take the couple's photos. I thought the couple was so incredibly cute, interacting with each other. Funny, generous, open, and expressive!
The ceremony at St. Patrick's Basilica
Located in downtown Montreal, the Basilica was built in 1847. And it's MAGNIFICENT! Surprisingly, it was my first time there! The couple, very religious, often went on Sundays to celebrate Mass. And they always envisioned having their wedding ceremony there. I completely understand them; St. Patrick's Basilica is grand and overflowing with countless details!
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Since we were essentially Ubers for the bride and groom, hahaha, we made a quick detour behind Montreal City Hall to snap a few quick photos of the newlyweds. We were a little short on time before the ceremony, so we made up for it with the beautiful fall colors in the trees!
Cocktail at the Hotel William Gray and the advantages of a first look
The advantage of having a first look is that the bride and groom can be present at the cocktail hour. I completely understand their desire to be there. If I were getting married, I would want to do the same. The cocktail hour was held outside the Edward Room, the reception hall for the bride and groom. Another advantage of taking photos before the ceremony is that you can take advantage of the beautiful afternoon light in autumn. Whereas on this last weekend of October, the light was fading quickly. The third advantage is that if there are any delays during the preparations, you can always catch up by taking a second set of couple photos. I also often feel that there is less stress for the bride and groom when they see each other before the ceremony and have their photos taken. They also get to spend more time together on this incredibly important day in their lives!
The wedding reception at the William Gray Hotel
It is DJ DK The bride's sister, who was in charge of the music, provided the entertainment for the lovely evening at the William Gray Hotel. The guests were all delighted to be there to celebrate with the newlyweds. There were several touching speeches, which brought tears to a few eyes in the reception hall. The bride and groom had also set up several stations to keep the guests entertained, just in case there were any lulls—but there weren't any, haha! There was a table for doing a puzzle and another for making little bracelets. I thought it was such a thoughtful touch from the bride and groom!
The newlyweds went from table to table to say "cheers" to their guests. We took the opportunity to take photos with each table. One normal photo, all smiles, and then another, a bit funnier. I always enjoy taking these kinds of photos with guests. You see another side of them, and I find it amusing.
Since the stairs at the Basilica weren't very large for the group photo, we took advantage of the grand staircase at the William Gray Hotel to take it in the evening. At one point, my assistant and I wondered if the staircase would hold up, haha! Luckily, it did! And then, once the meal and games were over, the dancing began. The bride and groom didn't really want to have a first dance, but they managed to get everyone onto the dance floor and let loose.
Did you like Belle and Simon's wedding photos at the William Gray Hotel? Go check out my Wedding portfolio right HERE!