Ten couples, ten stories: portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
Ten couples, ten stories: portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
To celebrate WorldPride, over one hundred LGBTQ couples gathered at the fairytale-like Casa Loma on Thursday to tie the knot in a mass wedding. Before the ceremony, everyone filtered into the garden, decked out in everything from colourful sundresses to full wedding gowns and top hats. Each couple had a different reason for participating, but most were clear on one thing: the significance of an event like this, and—especially for those who had travelled from less-progressive countries—their good fortune to be in a city that celebrates gay marriage.
Click through the image gallery to meet some of Thursday’s newlyweds.
See all 10 couples »
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- <strong>Wade Murphy</strong> and <strong>Jason Patterson</strong><br /><br /> <br /> “We've been together for over 12 years and just never felt the pressure to get married. But then we thought, why not do it at such a monumental event where everyone is here supporting you.”<br />
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- “It's funny, because the reason we didn't want to get married was because we didn't want any fuss, but here we are having our reporters take our photograph at this massive wedding event.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Jen Chang Ho</strong> and <strong>Inae Lee </strong><br /><br /> “I chased after her for years, and we were planning on eloping. But then this opportunity came up, and I think it's definitely better than not having a wedding at all! It's really great to be able to have community support—when I moved to Canada at nine years old I never thought this day would come.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Ashley Brumley</strong> and<strong> Thais Amaral</strong><br /><br /> “I'm from Texas and she's from Brazil. We met on a foreign exchange and then kept our relationship going long distance for three years until I eventually moved here for her. Neither of our countries fully recognize gay marriage, which is why this is important for us. There's such a strong energy in celebrating your union in front of so many people who support you.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Susan Justin</strong> and <strong>Jennifer Atkins</strong><br /><br /> “We have been together for seven and half years and were content never getting married. But I'm really proud to be part of something so meaningful and historical.”<br /><br /><br /> “We didn't want to have a traditional wedding, because we didn't want to get the politics of all the families involved. When that happens it becomes about something other than your relationship. But this is different—it's collective and intimate at the same time.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Colin Gunther</strong> and <strong>Richard Laslett</strong><br /><br /> “We're from Australia, and after 37 years, we figured it's time! We're wrapping up a four-month-long trip around Europe and North America. Being away the from day-to-day routine has allowed us to reconnect in a new way that makes marriage that much more special.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Lynda Clarke</strong> and <strong>Karen Joyce </strong><br /><br /> “It's our 20th year together so we wanted to celebrate by doing something special. This is quite a significant event in our city to be a part of.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Greg Garbacki, Dale Spence,</strong> and <strong>Peyton</strong><br /><br /> “We've been together 15 years. WorldPride is special and we're so excited to be part of it.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Lorna Storey</strong> and<strong> Danette Steele</strong><br /><br /> “This year is our 25th anniversary. There have been generations of proposals along the way, but we had finally decided to get married this summer when this amazing event came up.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Michelle</strong> and <strong>May Brand</strong><br /><br /> “We're actually here to renew our vows. We had planned to get married in 2010, but the day before our wedding a good friend died. We were so upset that the following year we did a quick city hall wedding with just one witness. But now, this is an opportunity for us to do it right and celebrate with our families.”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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- <strong>Ken Grundy</strong> and <strong>Aaron Bergeron</strong><br /><br /> “We met online four years ago and had never been to a big Pride event. We were already planning our wedding in October, but the funny thing is, is that it was starting to become a headache and stressful. This is much easier!”
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
- Portraits from a WorldPride mass wedding
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i love all these stories! great little piece.