Sunnyside Pavilion Surprise Proposal
When Arees emailed me about his Sunnyside Pavilion surprise proposal plans I wasn’t familiar with the spot. I assumed if he chose that location it must be nice but I was pleasantly surprised. I previously photographed proposal photos at Sunnyside Beach and casually walked by the pavilion many times. It wasn’t until I looked at the photos of the location that I realized how great it is for photos. The secluded courtyard features a fountain, Roman-style pillars, minimalistic white walls, and visually interesting archways. It feels like you have been transported to a completely different place. The building was built in 1922 as change rooms for Lake Ontario swimmers. After realizing it was too cold to swim in the lake they built adjoining swimming pools. The details of this structure are gorgeous and is a place worth checking out. I love that he decided to keep his proposal simple and decoration-free. An elaborate set-up would have taken away from the awesome space and the couple’s precious moment. Arees wanted to propose at noon so they could meet up with family to celebrate afterwards. As a Toronto proposal photographer, it made me a little nervous. Noon is the harshest time of day in terms of lighting. Thankfully, the space was surrounded by lush trees which provided all the soft shade we needed. If you’re planning an afternoon proposal keep this in mind! It was the tail end of summer with a warm temperature and the gardens were still in bloom. I arrived early like always to check out the area and think of ideas. Thankfully, no one was wandering in and out of the courtyard so his proposal would be private.
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When he texted me to say they were only a few minutes away I sat on a bench by the entrance. I hid my camera and pretended I was hanging around so I didn’t set off alarm bells for Amanda. As they walked through the gate I got up and slowly followed them. Amanda’s reaction to his proposal is one of the best I have ever seen. Her huge smile was undeniably filled with joy and love. As soon as I saw it I knew photographing them would be amazing. Arees said he was looking for happy, playful and relaxed-looking photos. I believe these words also describe the couple prefectly. After taking a few moments to embrace the moment privately Arees introduced me to his now fiancee. I gave them a quick run-through on how the photo shoot would proceed, tips on how to keep their photos more candid and turned on the music. The tips weren’t needed as they were so unbelievably happy they couldn’t contain it. They radiated with love for each other and all I had to do was keep them moving. A ladybug landed on Arees’ shoulder which was special for his soon-to-be wife. Amanda sees them as good omens and they frequently turn up during her milestone moments. How magical! I left this photoshoot feeling so much second-hand joy and gratitude to be a part of many people’s special moments. The Sunnyside Pavilion is one of those quiet pockets that are rare in the city. It didn’t even feel like we were in Toronto anymore I will be recommending a Sunnyside Pavilion surprise proposal to clients in the future. Additionally, it’s located on the edge of Lake Ontario so there’s a variety of unique backdrops to use.
Sunnyside Pavilion Surprise Proposal by Toronto proposal photographer, Chelsey Cunningham Photography.