Hotel Place d'Armes, Montreal – Wedding of Y + M

Last August, at the Hotel Place D'Armes in Old Montreal, I had the privilege of being Yukiko and Mark's wedding photographer. The couple lives in British Columbia, and we had met for the first time a year before the big day, via video conference. From our very first meeting, I found them adorable together, as if they were just starting out in their relationship. But no, they've been together since 2016! Mark, originally from England, practiced his French during our meeting—it was charming! While I was a student in Montreal some time ago, that's where the couple fell in love: in a McGill University lab!

During their years in Montreal, the couple always loved the Old Port. In fact, that was the main reason they chose the Hotel Place D'Armes for their ceremony and reception. They were charmed by the building's architecture and the quality of service. The couple also wanted a venue easily accessible by public transportation, as a third of their guests were coming from outside the city. I remember being eager to meet Yukiko and Mark, because we had laughed so much during our two online meetings. I knew the day would go well and that we would have a great time together!

Yuki's magnificent bouquet came from Astilbe floristI would have loved to leave with her bridal bouquet, haha!

Indoor ceremony at the Hotel Place D'Armes

We were hoping until the very last minute that the ceremony would take place on the roof. But the rain kept coming and going. So the couple didn't want to take any risks and decided to get married inside the hotel, in a room reserved for the ceremony. The officiant was one of their friends. The ceremony was beautiful, moving, and joyful. I even held back tears when Mark read his vows!

Yuki's mom told me her daughter was thrilled with my attitude towards the rain. That reassured her somewhat. The rain didn't bother me, and anyway, it doesn't matter when you're in Montreal's Old Port. There are always plenty of ways to take beautiful photos, and the light was magnificent! But you have to be more focused to be efficient. We also had the help of a bridesmaid and a groomsman to carry the umbrellas.

Surprise Surprise in Old Montreal!

The rain stopped for a few minutes, just in time for the family photos. But I also wanted to take pictures with the wedding party in front of the hotel, and then it started pouring again! Really, really pouring! I remember the look of surprise on the faces of the wedding party and the bride and groom when they saw the rain falling while they were safely inside. And my boyfriend and I were out on the street! They must have felt sorry for the photographer (and videographer, who is also my partner). Luckily, we had umbrellas with us!

So we finally decided to go up to the roof... and I still can't believe it, but we were stuck in the elevator for at least twenty minutes! There were twelve of us in a small space (including a pregnant bridesmaid)! And to top it all off, the fire department even came to rescue us! I was so nervous I forgot to take a picture of the fire truck, lol. Because of this, I thought we wouldn't have enough time for couple photos. So I decided it was best to take shelter from the rain under the tall buildings of Old Montreal, just with Yuki and Mark at first. We then called the wedding party to join us while there was still some time left during the cocktail hour.

Wedding reception at the Hotel Place D'Armes

I still can't quite believe it, but after all the unexpected twists and turns, we arrived at the Hôtel Place D'Armes right on time for the bride and groom's arrival. The guests were thrilled to be there. The evening was fantastic, with speeches, laughter, tears of joy, engaging conversations, and plenty of fun, including a photo booth. The dancing started at the end of dinner, and the guests were incredible. They absolutely rocked the dance floor! It was packed the whole time, and I almost wanted to stay until very late. But my workday (sometimes it felt like it wasn't really a workday at all) was over, and what an intense day we had! Intense in the best possible way, of course!

Did you enjoy Yuki and Mark's wedding at the Hotel Place d'Armes? Take a look at my wedding portfolio HERETo see the video of the lovers made by my boyfriend Miguel, click HERE!