Cassie & Marcus
Ceremony Venue: The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
Reception Venue: Pearl Harbourfront Chinese Cuisine, Toronto
Portrait Location: The Westin Harbour Castle, and 25 The Esplanade
boldly going where no wedding has gone before.
When a comic book artist marries a lover of Lolita fashion and cosplay, you know their wedding isn't going to be ordinary.
Marcus To, an artist whose work includes major Marvel and DC Comics titles, and Cassie brought their personalities together for a celebration that blended Chinese wedding traditions, creative fashion, and their shared love of Star Trek.
And with a last name like To, it only seems fitting that Toronto would play such a big role in their wedding story.
A Morning of Traditions and Transformations
The day began at the Westin Harbour Castle, where Cassie and Marcus got ready surrounded by family.
Their first look featured Cassie in her traditional Asian wedding attire, followed by an intimate Chinese tea ceremony with their immediate families.
I love photographing tea ceremonies because they're full of meaningful interactions—small gestures, laughter, and moments of connection between generations.
But Cassie wasn't finished with her wedding-day looks just yet.
After the tea ceremony, she changed into her Western wedding gown for another first look with Marcus along Toronto's waterfront.
Two first looks, two beautiful outfits, and two completely different chapters of the same love story.
A Waterfront Wedding With a Personal Twist
Their wedding ceremony took place at the Westin Harbour Castle, overlooking Toronto's waterfront.
With live guitar music and their loved ones gathered together, Cassie and Marcus exchanged vows in a non-religious ceremony that reflected their relationship.
Following the ceremony, we captured family portraits while guests enjoyed cocktail hour.
With flower girls, a ring bearer, and plenty of family members to celebrate with, there was no shortage of candid moments throughout the afternoon.
A Feast Worth Celebrating
The evening continued at Pearl Harbourfront Chinese Cuisine, where guests gathered for an impressive 12-course wedding banquet.
And yes, twelve courses!
Between the food, heartfelt speeches, and photographs with guests, the reception was as much about bringing people together as it was about celebrating the newlyweds.
Cassie and Marcus also embraced the opportunity for more wardrobe changes, incorporating their love of fashion and personal expression throughout the evening.
Because when your wedding is a reflection of who you are, why settle for just one look?
Boldly Going Into Their Next Chapter
After dinner, the celebration returned to the Westin Harbour Castle for the evening reception.
With another grand entrance, a first dance, cake cutting, and dancing, the night brought together the traditional and unconventional elements that made their wedding so memorable.
What I loved most about Cassie and Marcus's celebration was how unapologetically personal it was.
From honouring family traditions to celebrating their creative interests and love of science fiction, every chapter of the day reflected a different part of their story.
A little tradition. A little imagination. And a whole lot of personality.
Here's to Cassie and Marcus, boldly going into their next chapter together.
