Roma’s Hospitality
Roma’s Hospitality is one of Mississauga’s most luxurious yet affordable banquet halls and reception venues. It provides a perfect setting to host weddings. The breathtaking wedding and party hall decorations are their trademarks. Whenever I photograph a wedding there, it looks completely different. In this case, it was completely decked out for a pretty-in-pink wedding.
I fell in love with this couple during their engagement shoot earlier this year. They had a fun energy about them. And that same energy was amplified with their family and bridal party involved. So there was no chance that a rainy wedding day was going to ruin their experience.
Filipino Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony at St Francis Xavier Church was my favorite part of the entire day. It included some elements that showcased the bride’s Filipino heritage. They brought the Candle, Cord, and Veil to pay respect to her culture. I love this tradition because each element has a strong meaning behind it. It’s also a nice way to involve important loved ones into your ceremony. Traditionally the ceremony is very religious. So the Candle, Cord, and Veil are no different. For this wedding, they had a Catholic ceremony and asked their officiant to customize it to the occasion. Obviously he was happy to oblige. And as a result, the guests loved it. The Arras ceremonial coins were a unique touch. The groom gave these to the bride to symbolize his commitment to the family.
The veiling ceremony bonds the bride and groom together so they are recognized as one. The veil lays over the bride’s head and the other side over the groom’s shoulder as a symbol of unity. This also represents a wish for good health and protection during their life as husband and wife. Similar to The Veil Ceremony, the Yugal or infinity shaped cord represents the couple’s bond and union. Finally, their sponsors will place the Yugal on top of the veil as the couple receives their blessing.
Reception
After the bridals party’s portrait session at Riverwood Conservancy, everyone headed to Roma’s Hospitality for the reception. The hall’s decor included a floral sweetheart table, pink centerpieces, and a beautiful naked wedding cake to match. They had a large LOVE sign from their DJ, and dry ice for their first dance. While most couples would enjoy a simple sway for their first dance, these two had a complete dance routine. And the Money Dance was a fun way to add the bride’s Filipino culture into their wedding day. It kicked off the open dance floor. The guests all take turns dancing with the bride and groom. As the guests dance, they pin money onto the couple’s outfits. It was a great way to get their guests dancing. And the money they received is a symbol of good fortune and a contribution towards their financial future.
The second shooter for this wedding was Marie Uy.
Theron Henry of Powerpack Imaged captured the video for this wedding.
Aside from their engagement shoot, I will also be photographing Melizza’s Maternity Session in two years.
