Saraya Joy Photography

Why reach out to your vendors NOW if you’re planning on postponing your wedding As the 2021 wedding season creeps closer I wanted to touch upon couples who are postponing their weddings and WHY you should reach out to your vendors ASAP if postponing is even a possible thought. I also want to talk about why you should tell your vendors BEFORE you officially decide to postpone and you solidify a new date. Here are the reasons why... 1. Firstly, us small business vendors in th...e wedding world REALLY appreciate the heads up when you reschedule we love communication! 2. It helps YOU keep US as your vendor for your future day. When you choose a new day without talking to us first, you risk LOOSING US as your vendor if we’re already booked! We know you spent lots of time and money solidifying the vendors you love and want for your day, so we don’t want to see you loose us! 3. In regards to the above, if you loose us because we’re not free your new date, you’ll also loose your $ deposit with us. Which we REALLY don’t want to have happen because we want to be there for you on your big day! 4. Giving us a heads up also gives us the opportunity to try and book something else for that day in advance to keep income flowing in (weddings is how we pay our bills and feed ourselves!) Us wedding vendors want to help our couples as much as possible we want what’s best for you and we are willing to go above and beyond to help! So if postponing even crosses your mind, reach out to your vendors to learn all the options and come up with a plan. We REALLY want to make your day unbelievably special, and we don’t want you to miss out on the keeping the vendors you booked for a reason because you LOVE them!

Welcome to my Ted Talk I’ve said it once and I’ll say it over and over until the day I die DO WHATEVER THE HECK YOU WANNA DO FOR YOUR WEDDING! Full disclaimer the following might sound harsh or be an unpopular opinion, but guyssssss it needs to be said First off, it’s YOUR DAY. Not anyone else’s. So many couples I talk to feel pressured into doing what will make their family and friends happy. And hey, I totally understand that lots of couples want the input of their l...oved ones, but at the end of the day, this is YOUR day, it only happens ONCE and you have to make sure the day is planned how YOU wanna remember it. You have to live the rest of your life knowing that was your wedding day unfolded, you don’t wanna look back and think man I should have done what I wanted deep down. Second, if you are a family member or friend of someone who is getting married, please don’t force your opinion or give someone an ultimatum based on how they want to plan your day. I’m sure they would love to hear ideas or suggestions, but don’t be forceful or make it stressful or for them, it’s their wedding day to plan ether you can plan your wedding the way you want to when your big day comes, or you are already are married and you’ve had opportunity to have your day the way you wanted so let the couple do what they want to do without feeling pressured to do things the way you think they should be. Please don’t be that person. Lastly, there is no wrong way to plan your wedding. You wanna elope just you two? Do it. You wanna have a huge wedding? Do it. Just make sure you’re planning it the way YOU want. If there is one regret you don’t wanna have in this life it’s having your wedding day not be how you wanted it to be. My Mum always tells me, I don’t care what you decide to do for your wedding one day, as long as it makes YOU happy. And that’s how it should be. WHO THE HECK CARES what anyone else thinks, they’ll get over it, because at the end of it all it’s YOUR day and if they truly love and support you try will want what makes YOU happy.

I read something the other day and wanted to share. First I was dying to finish high school and start college. And then I was dying to finish college and start working. And then I was dying to marry and have children.... And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough for school so I could return to work. And then I was dying to retire. And now, I am dyingand suddenly I realize I forgot to live. I think a lot of the time we’re always in such a rush to get to the other side of wherever we are in life, and in the midst of it all we forget that the real joy of life is the everyday stuff. Just being here. Living. Being lucky enough to be living in the same era as the people we love the most. So take advantage of everyday. Don’t forget to be here. Be present. Experience the everyday joy of just existing. And if that’s not wonderful, I don’t know what is.

WHY EVERY COUPLE SHOULD DO SUNSET PORTRAITS -Firstly, golden sunset light is just the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen -It gives you a few moments away from your guests just to spend time with your other half and soak in the day -More photos of just you two, bonus!... -If it’s super bright mid-day on your wedding day, it’s best to save your couple portraits for the soft lightif you hate harsh shadows and light, golden hour is your bff! -You’ll be more relaxed in the evening after the big moments of the day, so your photos will look super genuine from getting used to the camera all day Lastly, just do it, you’ll love these photos the most, trust me

Today is my 25th birthday. I am happy to say I’ve made it a quarter way of my goal of living a century! But to be honest I don’t have a lot to say about 24 it wasn’t so fun being 24 with so many goals and ambitions I wanted to achieve this year, places I wanted to go...and then a worldwide pandemic hit that well, didn’t let me conquer those dreams.... BUT, I really do have a lot of very high hopes for 25 personally, emotionally, mentally, for my business. To sum up it up for this next year after this super crappy one, I’m quoting the one and only Pam Beasley from the last episode of The Office, I spent so many years being less happy than I could have been. Not that I'm a tragic person. I'm really happy now. But it would just make my heart soar if someone out there saw this and she said to herself, "Be strong, trust yourself, love yourself. Conquer your fears. Just go after what you want and act fast, because life just isn't that long." Hey 25, let’s do this thing. Don’t let me down

HOW TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF TO PLAN YOUR POSTPONED WEDDING - do another engagement session to start fresh - start writing your vows to remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place - do some DIY wedding crafts at home to keep yourself busy... - wedding tiktok!!!!!!!! - pin more ideas on your Pinterest board so your feed is full of inspiration - jokingly re-propose to your significant other at the most random times just to keep the laughter alive - keep in touch with your wedding vendors, even the smallest of planning is still steps moving forward! - and last but not least, worst case if you are super over it, then elope and bring me with you LOL! But overall, don’t panic! Let’s not sweat the small stuff and what’s out of our control and just enjoy the whole reason why you’re getting married becuase you’ve found your best friend.

I don’t post enough of the small details and the funny thing is that they are probably some of my favourite images. The details. The little things. I think it’s because those little things. Those little moments. They aren’t really that little. @ Toronto, Ontario

December 1-26th : Festive December 27-31st : Confused, full of cheese, unsure of the day of the week

The boat was actually Plan C, the church was Plan B, and Plan A was marrying her a long, long time ago. Pretty much the day I met her. Well, my Jim + Pam Niagara Falls Office wedding dreams came to life this year.

May your coming year be filled with magic, dreams and good madness. Merry Christmas

Jacqui has one of the most contagious beautiful smiles I’ve ever seen in my life and that’s all I have to say today

Today was the most magical day for the soul Olivia + Ron have the most amazing vintage vibe that makes every single one of my photographer dreams come true I felt like I was part of a spooky Taylor Swift folklore music video that just made my soul leave my body Happy Halloween everyone!

Fall is slowly coming to an end I’m reposting one of my FAVOURITE weddings of 2019 just so we can reminisce on how beautiful this short season is...and how beautiful Lindsay + Jeff are, like common, just look at em’

2020’s just been all a bunch of hocus pokus

To the couples who email me and say we love your work, and we will take any date you have available. This ones for you You guys will NEVER understand how much this means to me. I don’t think there is any greater compliment than this. I never thought when I was younger I would get to the point where people would inquire with me and genuinely want to work their wedding date around my availability solely because you guys wanted to create art with me on the most special da...y of your lives. I just wanted to say how thankful I am for you. Especially during this weird year, it has caused my 2020/2021 available dates to be extremely limited - and the numerous couples who say they are flexible just so we can work together will forever fill my heart in ways I can’t describe. Hannah + Kaleb, you guys were one of these amazing couples. I knew from your first email we would be creating magic. I’m so thankful.

October is small business month. And in support of all us small, local, self employed businesses, I wanted to share something I read a few days ago that hits home.... Okay, entrepreneurs know this. They say do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life. Wait, let me rephrase that for you, let’s do a little edit here.... Do what you love and you’ll work harder than ever before. This entrepreneur life is no walk in the park. Do what you love and you’ll work more than full time hours. Owning your own business is a constant grind. Do what you love and you’ll have moments of self doubt. Wondering if anyone is going to buy your product or service. Do what you love and you’ll have tons of sleepless nights. Making sure that every detail is taken care of, and every little thing is accounted for. Do what you love and you’ll have millions of lessons to learn. And it’s all worth it because at the end of the day, we do this for us, and we do this for you who support, buy and hire us. We work so hard and no one can take that away from us. Us entrepreneurs, we know, we love what we do, and we work really fucking hard. See more

I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who loves their other half as much as Austin loves Julia These two are the DEFINITION of the most wholesome kinda love

On October 3rd he asked me what day it was. It’s October 3rd.

HALLOWEEN IS HERE! We are weens!

It’s October, witches.

I’ve been trying to mix up my playlist while I edit - somehow I’ve made it to a 2011 top hits playlist and can we talk about how EVERY SINGLE SONG is an absolute HIT LOL Like where have those times gone My ears are reliving some major high school/college VIBES hahahahaha What era/year should I listen to next?!

I love questions that make you think, make you ponder and reflect. Questions that uncover your deepest thoughts, emotions, feelings, desires. Here are some questions I stumbled upon somewhere this week, good food for thought. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?... How are you, really? How would you behave if you were the best in the world at what you do? Are you finding your dream job or are you creating it? If there was a solution to your anxiety, what would it look like? When was the last time you did something for the first time? How do you treat people who can do nothing for you? What or who lights you up? Self reflection is good for the mind and good for the heart

Honestly the best thing about this wedding was that PUMBAH THE PUG in all his chunky glory literally got carried down the aisle BEST DAY EVER

Because real love and I mean the deep, slow-burning, mad yet magic kind you see romanticized in the movies it exists, and it is everything it’s cracked up to be. The love you seek and are deserving of is out there, waiting for you. @ Cranberry Creek Gardens

I really needed last night. Running through fields. Naked outfit changes in the middle of the road. And a whole lotta good conversation and drinks. Thank god for rad down for anything humans to give a fresh reset to my creative mind

A lot of 2020 wasn’t part of my plan. I don’t really think it was really part of anyone’s honestly. In a world full of schedules and plans, 2020 has caused us to stop abruptly on this mapped out timeline of our lives and to start just going with it - because none of us really know what the heck is going on, or really in all honesty what to do, or what we even should be doing. I don’t think world pandemic was in the life instruction manual at birth lol. And to be honest I’...m not against just going with it. Taking each day as it is, for what it is. For what it wants to be. I think that’s why I’ve loved shooting more than ever right now - because nothing is planned. There is no schedule. We’re showing up to random locations and just going with it. Running around barefoot on sandy beaches with whatever weather the world wanted to give us that day and drinking straight out of champagne bottles. And that’s all we really need. Is to just go with it. Enjoying it, the day, the time, and life, for what it is. Who said there had to ever be a plan anyway? @ Lake Erie

SWIPE TO SEE THE HOTTEST PHOTOS I’VE EVER TAKEN IN MY LIFE > ASDFGHJKL I just still can’t get over last night, I’m absolutely OBSESSED with Alle + Trav’s photos oh my gaaawwwd It seriously amazes me everyday how lucky I am to have this job, and to have couples who are SO willing to do whatever it takes to get the best photos and who trust my vision when I say let’s do something crazy LOL you guys are seriously the ones who make it all possible and my heart could explode... with happiness when we create magic like this Probably going to be posting these on my feed forever and ever cause Alle + Trav literally killed these, and like for real tho, they HAWWWT AF