Francesca & John-Steven | Wedding Photography at Havergal College
An elegant Toronto wedding filled with heartfelt vows, meaningful traditions, cinematic romance, and a love story that began long before either of them knew where it would lead.
Francesca and John-Steven’s Love Story
Some love stories begin with an unforgettable first glance. Others begin quietly, with two lives crossing paths before the timing is right.
For Francesca and John-Steven, it all started at Humber Valley Golf Course in August 2019.
John-Steven was teaching Francesca’s two cousins how to golf. Francesca was away studying in Halifax, and although their worlds briefly intersected, their story wasn’t quite ready to begin.
Two years later, in June 2021, a little encouragement from a friend led John-Steven to follow Francesca on Instagram. A few messages became conversations. Conversations became a connection. And somewhere along the way, two people who had once been familiar faces became each other’s favourite person.
It wasn’t love at first sight. It was something perhaps even more beautiful — a love that grew naturally, built on friendship, patience, and the simple decision to keep choosing one another.
And on October 17, 2026, that love brought them to the altar.
A Proposal Overlooking the Pacific
On February 15, 2025, while visiting John-Steven’s sister and her family on Vancouver Island, Francesca thought they were getting ready for an afternoon of high tea.
But John-Steven had something entirely different planned.
His sister suggested taking a few family photographs overlooking the ocean. With the breathtaking Pacific coastline behind them, Francesca and John-Steven stepped together for what she believed would be another family picture.
And then, John-Steven got down on one knee.
Completely unexpected. Beautifully intimate. A moment suspended between the ocean, the sky, and the promise of a lifetime together.
It was the beginning of their next chapter, and a memory they would carry into their wedding day.
An Italian Wedding Rooted in Timeless Elegance
When Francesca and John-Steven began envisioning their wedding, they were drawn to an aesthetic that would never feel tied to a particular year or trend.
Classic. Romantic. Understated.
Their inspiration was an old-money elegance, brought to life through a sophisticated palette of black, ivory, and champagne gold. Soft white and green florals, thoughtful details, and warm metallic accents created an atmosphere that felt refined without being extravagant.
But what made their vision particularly beautiful was that it extended far beyond the decor.
Their Italian roots, their faith, and their families were at the heart of every decision.
They wanted their wedding to feel welcoming. They wanted their guests to experience exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and a celebration filled with life.
Above all, they wanted a wedding that would be just as meaningful to experience as it was beautiful to photograph.
A Celebration Filled With Meaning
And that is exactly what they created.
A Sacred Beginning at St. Charles Borromeo Church
There is something incredibly moving about a wedding ceremony where faith and family are woven so deeply into the couple’s story.
For Francesca and John-Steven, exchanging their vows at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Toronto was one of the most meaningful decisions they made.
Their marriage was beginning exactly where they wanted it to — with faith at its centre.
For John-Steven, the moment that stayed with him most was seeing Francesca walk down the aisle.
After years of building their relationship and anticipating this day, everything suddenly became real.
For Francesca, it was the exchange of vows.
Standing before the person who had become her greatest source of comfort, her best friend, and her future husband, she found herself putting a lifetime of promises into words.
She described John-Steven as her calm in the chaos — the person who makes her feel safe, understood, and loved, even when she struggles to find the words herself.
And when John-Steven speaks about Francesca, it’s her heart that he admires most. The way she loves her family and friends so wholeheartedly. Her patience. Her passion. The way she shows up for the people who matter.
These are the details that make a love story extraordinary.
Not simply the way two people look at one another, but the reasons they have chosen each other.
And then came one of their favourite moments of the entire wedding.
Walking out of the church together, no longer engaged, but husband and wife.
All the anticipation, the planning, the emotions, and the years that had led them there came together in one beautiful realization.
They were married.
And their next chapter had officially begun.
Editorial Romance at Havergal College | Toronto Wedding Photography
Following their ceremony, we had the opportunity to capture Francesca and John-Steven’s wedding portraits at Havergal College in Toronto.
With its historic architecture and timeless character, Havergal provided a beautiful setting for the classic, editorial aesthetic they had envisioned.
There is a particular romance to photographing a wedding against architecture that has already stood the test of time. It allows the photographs to feel connected to something enduring, rather than a passing trend.
Alongside their digital wedding photography, we incorporated traditional 35mm film photography into their portraits.
Film has a character entirely its own.
The softness, the organic grain, the subtle variations in tone — there is an honesty to it that feels especially beautiful when paired with historic surroundings and timeless wedding fashion.
For Francesca and John-Steven, whose entire wedding vision was built around enduring elegance, it felt like a natural extension of their story.
The result was a collection of portraits that felt romantic, cinematic, and beautifully understated.
Images that belong just as much in a wedding album today as they will decades from now.
An Elegant Celebration at Venetian Banquet Hall
As the evening unfolded, the celebration continued at Venetian Banquet Hall, where Francesca and John-Steven welcomed their family and friends for a night dedicated to love, laughter, and togetherness.
Choosing their reception venue had been about more than finding a beautiful ballroom.
They were drawn to Venetian for its food, service, and, perhaps most importantly, the people behind it.
They wanted to trust that their guests would be cared for and that the evening would unfold seamlessly, allowing them to simply enjoy being newlyweds.
Their black, ivory, and champagne-gold palette carried beautifully into the reception, complemented by romantic florals and carefully considered details.
It was a celebration that embraced sophistication without sacrificing warmth.
And as the evening continued, it became clear that the most beautiful part of the room wasn’t the decor.
It was the people filling it.
A Mother’s Voice, a Room Full of Love
Every wedding has moments that stay with us long after the music ends.
For Francesca and John-Steven, one of those moments came from someone especially close to their hearts.
Francesca’s mother surprised them with a heartfelt singing performance.
It was personal, emotional, and absolutely unforgettable.
As wedding photographers and filmmakers, we have the privilege of witnessing extraordinary moments between families. But there is something especially powerful about a parent expressing their love through music.
A familiar voice. A room full of loved ones. A memory that could never be recreated in quite the same way.
It was one of those moments that reminded everyone that a wedding is so much more than a beautifully planned event.
It is a gathering of the people who helped shape two lives, coming together to celebrate the life those two people are now building.
The speeches throughout the evening carried that same emotion.
Hearing their relationship described through the eyes of family and friends gave Francesca and John-Steven another perspective on their own story — one filled with love, gratitude, and the memories they had created along the way.
These are the moments we love preserving.
The ones no timeline can perfectly predict.
The Beauty of Remembering | Wedding Photography & Cinematic Film
When we asked Francesca and John-Steven which photograph or moment from their wedding film brought them back to the day, their answer was simple.
All of them.
And we understood exactly what they meant.
A wedding day passes in what feels like an instant. There are moments the couple experiences together, moments happening around them, and countless little interactions they may not even realize are taking place.
A glance across the room. A parent’s expression. The laughter between friends. The emotion of a promise being made.
Wedding photography preserves those moments in stillness.
Wedding cinematography brings back the movement, the voices, the music, and the feeling of being there.
Together, they allow a couple to experience their celebration in ways that memory alone cannot.
At Butterfly Kisses Photography and Coppola Films, that is what has always mattered to us.
Not simply creating beautiful images, but preserving the atmosphere, the emotion, and the people who make each wedding completely its own.
Francesca and John-Steven’s celebration was a beautiful reminder of why we love what we do.
A Little Wedding Wisdom from Francesca & John-Steven
When asked what advice they would give couples planning their own weddings, Francesca and John-Steven shared something worth remembering.
Don’t lose sight of the marriage while planning the wedding.
Enjoy the process. Trust the people you’ve chosen to bring your vision to life. And don’t let the pressure of perfection take away from the excitement of what you’re celebrating.
Most importantly, be present.
Take a moment to look around the room. Notice the people who came to celebrate you. Hold onto the feeling of finally living a day you’ve spent so long imagining.
As they so beautifully put it:
“The details make the day beautiful, but the people and the love are what make it unforgettable.”
We couldn’t agree more.
If We Could Do It All Over Again…
When Francesca and John-Steven were asked which moment they would relive, they chose the moment they walked out of the church together as husband and wife.
The excitement. The happiness. Their families celebrating around them.
The feeling of having just married their best friend.
And when we asked whether there was anything else they wanted to share about their wedding day, their answer made us smile.
“Let’s do it all over again!!!”
Francesca and John-Steven, thank you for allowing us to be part of such a meaningful chapter in your lives.
From your emotional ceremony to the beautiful moments shared with your families, it was a privilege to capture a love story built on friendship, faith, and a deep appreciation for one another.
Here’s to a lifetime of choosing each other.
And to a love story that, in so many ways, was worth waiting for.
With love,
Butterfly Kisses Photography & Coppola Films
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The Wedding Creative Team
A beautiful celebration brought to life by a wonderful collection of wedding professionals.
Wedding Planning & Coordination: @lindaandcoevents
Ceremony: St. Charles Borromeo Church, Toronto
Reception: @venetianbanquethall
Florals, Decor & Rentals: @rightchoicelinen
Wedding Gown: @steven_khalil | @superiorbridal
Hair: @blowdrylounge
Makeup: @victoriapalermobeauty
Entertainment: @spindjent | @partywithpepandcheech
Violinist: @grenvillepinto
Transportation: @allurelimo
Stage Wrap: @elitefloorwraps.ca
Photobooth: @a1photobooth.ca
Seating Chart, Table Numbers & Bar Signage: @preteprints
Menu Cards: @justprintcanada
Wedding Invitations: @kindly.reply
Wedding Photography & 35mm Film: Butterfly Kisses Photography @bkissesandcoppolafilms
Wedding Cinematography: Coppola Films @coppolafilmsandbkisses
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Planning A Toronto Wedding?
Your wedding deserves to be remembered for more than how beautiful it looked. It deserves to be remembered for how it felt.
Based in Woodbridge, Ontario, Butterfly Kisses Photography & Coppola Films offers wedding photography, cinematic wedding films, and 35mm film photography for couples celebrating in Toronto, Vaughan, and throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Whether you’re planning a classic Italian wedding, an intimate celebration, or an elegant ballroom reception, we would love to hear your story.
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