One King West Hotel

A Photographer’s Timeline for One King West

Your wedding at One King West Hotel is a cinematic journey through the 1914 Dominion Bank Building.

12:00 PM – Getting Ready (Fifteen Hundred)

Rather than a standard hotel room, I highly recommend using Fifteen Hundred for your preparations. Located on the 15th floor, this space was originally an executive penthouse and features a private outdoor terrace. The interior is wrapped in massive windows, providing a clean, bright canvas for hair, makeup, and editorial detail shots. Having access to the terrace right away allows us to grab those first "city-view" portraits in natural light while you’re still in your robes, with the skyscrapers of the Financial District acting as your backdrop.

2:00 PM – The First Look (Fifteen Hundred Terrace)

For the First Look, we head down to the Mezzanine overlooking the Grand Banking Hall. The scale of the Corinthian columns and the ornate gold-leaf ceilings provide a regal, monumental setting. Standing on the balcony gives us a bird’s-eye view of the history beneath you, making for a dramatic and deeply private moment before we head outside to the street level.

3:00 PM – Couples Session (Commerce Court/Financial District)

One of the challenges of downtown weddings is finding a spot large enough for a big wedding party—Commerce Court (just across the street) is the perfect solution. The North African limestone courtyard is vast, symmetrical, and grand enough to fit even the largest groups comfortably. The gold-toned stone acts as a giant natural reflector, bouncing soft, flattering light onto everyone’s faces. It provides a polished, "Vogue-esque" urban backdrop that perfectly complements the formal aesthetic of a One King West wedding.

4:30 PM – The Ceremony (The Austin Gallery)

While the Banking Hall is grand, many couples choose The Austin Gallery for their ceremony. Located on the 12th floor, this was the original board room of the bank, and it feels like a private, wood-paneled sanctuary. It offers a more intimate, sophisticated "Old World" feel with its dark oak walls and historic atmosphere. The lighting here is moodier and more focused, creating a high-contrast, cinematic environment as you exchange vows in front of the ornate fireplace.

5:30 PM – The Vault Session

While your guests head to the cocktail hour, we head to the basement. You cannot get married at One King West without spending time in the original 1914 Vault. The massive, 40-ton steel door is one of the most iconic photo spots in Canada. It’s dark, it’s heavy, and it’s incredibly cool. I use specialized lighting here to make the brass and steel pop, creating those high-fashion, cinematic couple's portraits that this venue is famous for.

7:00 PM – The Reception (The Grand Banking Hall)

As dinner begins, the Banking Hall transitions into a warm, amber-lit sanctuary. The chandeliers and candlelight reflect off the polished marble floors, creating a glow that is incredibly romantic. Because of the room’s height and length, I can use long lenses to capture candid, intimate moments during speeches without being intrusive, ensuring the focus remains on the emotion of the evening.