Earlier this month, Park Hill Education welcomed 20 talented attendees from across Ontario for our annual Floral & Photography Workshop Retreat, held on June 3–4 at Park Hill Studios in Cambridge. Over two days, our community came together to learn, create, and connect through three editorially styled scenes that captured the essence of a modern wedding — from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception.

This year’s theme focused on the art of bridal editorials, with the goal of helping each attendee walk away with a beautifully diverse portfolio that would elevate their brand and inspire their next chapter. With hands-on instruction from our lead photography and floral educators, attendees explored each scene with creative freedom — designing and capturing not for clients, but for themselves.

The 2025 retreat brought a noticeable shift: more elevated sets, seamless pacing, and a thoughtfully curated aesthetic that pushed creative boundaries. Each moment was designed to blend education with experience — and what unfolded was nothing short of inspiring.

The Setting: A Dream Venue in the Heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake

This year’s retreat took place at the breathtaking Kurtz Orchards, a private estate tucked away in the countryside of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Surrounded by vineyards and cherry trees, the venue offered a truly elevated backdrop that felt like stepping into a European-inspired editorial — the kind of setting photographers dream of but rarely have access to unless their couples choose it for their wedding day.

Every scene across the two-day retreat was set outdoors, allowing us to take full advantage of the estate’s natural beauty. The front of the house, with its long courtyard and timeless architecture, served as the perfect space for our Lake Como–inspired cocktail hour. A tunnel of trees beside the vineyard created an intimate, modern-chic atmosphere for our ceremony setup, while the cherry orchard became home to our reception dinner, with overflowing branches above, chandeliers hanging between the trees, and deep red florals echoing the richness of early summer.

The setting truly transformed the experience. For the first time, warm weather lingered well into the evening, giving attendees the chance to sit down for a 3-course outdoor dinner, fully immersed in the reception scene they had just styled and photographed. The night ended with a final shoot: a golden-lit cake-cutting moment under the stars, captured with flash and full of editorial energy.

Meet the Instructors

At the heart of the Park Hill Education retreat is a group of creative leaders who generously share their expertise, passion, and mentorship with every attendee. This year’s retreat brought together a lineup of seasoned florists and photographers — each offering a distinct perspective and hands-on approach that elevated the experience beyond a traditional workshop.

Floral Instructors

**Hilary Sisolak** – *Founder,* *Wildwood Floral & Event Design*

Hilary is the visionary behind Wildwood Floral & Event Design, known for her immersive, story-driven floral installations both locally and abroad. This year, she played a central role in shaping the creative direction of the entire retreat. Alongside her team, Hilary brought the initial inspiration for each scene to life — selecting the colour palettes, curating the florals, and designing each concept with intention. Her ability to marry natural elements with elevated artistry created environments that felt both aspirational and deeply rooted in place.

**Ashlee Hardy** – *Design & Operations Manager,* *Wildwood Floral & Event Design*

As the operations and design lead at Wildwood, Ashlee was instrumental in translating the creative vision into a seamless on-site experience. With over a decade of industry experience, she co-led the design of Crimson Dusk and Golden Hour in Como, ensuring every detail — from florals to flow — was thoughtfully executed. Beyond her technical expertise, Ashlee brought an unmatched calm and clarity to the process, helping attendees understand the behind-the-scenes strategy of large-scale floral design while also mentoring them through practical, real-world insights into growing a business.

**Deanna Balmer** – *Creative Director,* *The Wild Pansy*

Deanna led our opening ceremony scene, Eternal Grove, focusing on eco-friendly, foam-free floral design. With seven years of experience and roots at the beloved Coriander Girl studio in Toronto, she now owns and leads The Wild Pansy. Her romantic, garden-inspired style and thoughtful approach to teaching helped attendees reimagine how florals can shape a scene — both artistically and sustainably.

Photography Instructors

**Scarlet O’Neill** – *Founder,* *Scarlet O’Neill Photography*

Scarlet opened the retreat with a powerful session on photographing couples with intention and emotional depth. Known for her artful, connection-led style, Scarlet helped attendees look beyond poses to truly *see* their subjects — understanding how a couple moves, interacts, and expresses love to capture imagery that feels timeless and deeply personal.

**Torry Briere** – *Co-Founder,* *Lovely Sparrow Photography*

Torry led Crimson Dusk, a romantic reception dinner set in the middle of a cherry orchard, where she focused on helping attendees refine their storytelling through light, emotion, and detail. With over 300 weddings captured in destinations like Mexico, Ireland, and Iceland, she guided attendees through techniques for posing couples naturally, using flash effectively, and capturing intricate tablescapes in challenging lighting. Her calm, intuitive approach gave attendees the confidence to shoot editorial moments with clarity and intention.

**Tiffany Saxton** – *Founder,* *Tiffany Lynn Photography*

Tiffany led Golden Hour in Como, a playful bridal party–focused cocktail hour scene inspired by Italian summer elegance. This shoot offered a shift in energy — from posed romance to candid connection — where Tiffany shared techniques for directing groups, creating movement, and encouraging genuine interactions. Her hands-on mentorship helped attendees bring fun and creativity into their work, while also offering them ways to capture editorial moments that still feel authentic.

Hands-On Learning + Mentorship

In addition to leading styled shoots, our instructors also held intimate group sessions on day two where attendees sat down with Tiffany, Torry, Hilary, and Ashlee for personalized mentorship. From reviewing portfolios to discussing lead generation and client experience, these sessions created space for honest conversations and actionable advice — giving each attendee the clarity and confidence to grow their business in an intentional way.

The Styled Scenes

This year’s retreat featured three distinct editorial scenes — each one intentionally designed to immerse attendees in a different aspect of a wedding day. From romantic ceremony moments to playful group portraits, each setup offered an opportunity to explore fresh perspectives, refine creative skills, and add impactful work to portfolios.

Scene One: Eternal Grove

A garden-inspired ceremony designed with modern elegance in mind, Eternal Grove took place in a tunnel of pear trees rarely used for weddings — making it an exclusive setting even within this sought-after venue. Soft pinks and greens met structural floral design in a delicate balance of nature and sophistication.

Led by floral educator Deanna Balmer, designers learned eco-friendly, foam-free floral techniques using hydrangeas, calla lilies, and roses. The scene featured intimate seating with soft ottomans and a real-life couple — Mack Gubbels and Benjamin Sparling — as models, offering photographers the chance to capture emotional, candid moments with guidance from Scarlet O’Neill, who focused on storytelling through connection and authenticity.

Stationery for this scene was provided by Paper Palette, and rentals were supplied by Glamourous Affairs Weddings and Events.

Scene Two: Crimson Dusk

Set in the cherry orchard between two groves, Crimson Dusk was a rich, Tuscany-inspired outdoor reception that brought together dramatic florals, fruit-accented tablescapes, and a high-impact design that was nothing short of cinematic. Deep reds, earthy textures, and layered details turned the scene into an intimate countryside celebration.

Florists, under the leadership of Hilary Sisolak and Ashlee Hardy, explored non-traditional palettes and experimented with varied heights — from towering arrangements to florals overflowing from tables, complemented by chandeliers strung from tree branches.

On the photography side, Torry Briere guided attendees through reception-style storytelling: how to capture editorial couple portraits, intricate details like menus and glassware, and how to use flash at night to retain the ambiance of an outdoor dinner. This scene featured a real couple Brianne Tudisco and Ethan Mercier, whose natural chemistry added to the authenticity of the shots.

The evening was capped off with a 3-course dinner catered by Kurtz Orchards, giving attendees the rare opportunity to experience their own work as guests. Stationery by Paper Palette, a stunning cake by Wild and Whelm Cakes and rentals from Special Event Rentals completed the setting.

Scene Three: Golden Hour in Como

Bathed in buttery soft light and pastel hues, Golden Hour in Como recreated the elegance of an Italian courtyard cocktail hour — complete with playful bridal party vibes and charming lakeside-inspired details.

Hosted in front of the estate home, the scene featured limoncello towers, vintage umbrellas, sunhats, and a full bridal party styled to perfection. Models Ella Cai, Marlana Saxton, Sierra Highfield, Cassidy Driscoll, and Cassi Pedro brought energy and fun to the shoot, helping photographers practice movement-based posing and natural group dynamics under the guidance of Tiffany Saxton.

Floral designers embraced softness in both palette and design, layering romantic textures and delicate arrangements that echoed the ease and charm of a summer gathering in Lake Como.

Stationery was again created by Paper Palette, and rentals were generously provided by Simply Beautiful Events Decor.

Attendee Gallery

One of the most rewarding parts of the Park Hill Education retreat is witnessing the creativity and growth that comes to life through our attendees’ lenses. From editorial film captures to candid in-between moments, this year’s work was nothing short of inspiring. We’re so proud to showcase just a glimpse of what was created over the two-day retreat — and the magic that happens when artists are given space to explore freely, with intention.

Spotlighted Work

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We were honoured to be tagged in dozens of incredible galleries following the retreat, but a few standout names include:

Light Meter Studio – whose soft, timeless film captured the emotion behind every scene.
Kirsten Fenn – who brought a refined eye to the smallest floral and styling details.
Courtney Townsend – whose imagery embodied storytelling with warmth and elegance.
Isabel, Blue Dream Weddings – whose take on the retreat scenes felt nostalgic and full of life.

From editorial wide shots to intimate close-ups, these artists captured the vision behind each setup while injecting their own unique voice — exactly what this retreat is all about.

Looking Ahead

Our waitlist for the 2026 retreat is now officially live.

By joining, you'll receive:

Exclusive access to the best pricing (only available to this list)
First insights on next year’s retreat theme, location, and creative direction
Extended payment plan options with more flexibility and time to plan
Early access to tickets before public launch in late fall

We’ll be announcing our 2026 retreat location at the end of this summer — and trust us, you’re not going to want to miss what’s next.

Join Here

Creative Partners Who Brought It All Together

**Planning & Coordination**

**Jennifer Kennedy-Maksymiw**, founder of *Tufts and Toile*, was the driving force behind the scenes — handling day-of logistics and helping us bring the retreat to life. She not only executed with ease and professionalism but also played a key role in securing the vendors and partners who made each scene possible. Her calm presence and organizational magic allowed our team (and attendees) to stay present, focused, and inspired.

Hair & Makeup

Led by an incredibly talented glam team, each look was carefully crafted to reflect the unique feel of every scene.

Stella Ng (Makeup, Day 1 & 2)
Kelsey Gamble (Hair, Day 1 & 2)
Together, they created polished, natural looks that aligned perfectly with the editorial vision — from modern chic to soft romance.

On Day 2, we were also joined by Wranus and Sara from Parwana Beauty Studio, who stepped in to support additional styling needs and brought incredible artistry to the team.

Wardrobe Styling

A heartfelt thank you to our fashion partners who provided all wardrobe and accessories seen throughout the retreat:

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The Modern Bride – Curated each gown worn by our models across all three scenes, creating an elevated yet editorial wardrobe.
Gadsby’s Clothing – Provided custom-tailored suits that photographed beautifully and fit each couple’s aesthetic perfectly.
The Loved One – Supplied elegant accessories that added the final, thoughtful touches to each bridal look.

Content Team

This year’s behind-the-scenes coverage and social storytelling were led by The Branders Brand, who captured content throughout the retreat and helped us translate the experience into real-time visuals for our community to follow along with.

We were also thrilled to be supported by Oh Happy Day Socials, who assisted with on-site reels, live posting, and candid highlights.

Final Thoughts + Thank You

As we look back on this year’s retreat, one word rises above all: collaboration.

Every detail — from the floral installations to the wardrobe, the lighting to the stationery — came to life through the passion, trust, and shared vision of our incredible community. It’s a rare gift to be able to design editorial scenes like these, and we’re endlessly grateful to every attendee, educator, and partner who helped make it possible.

More than anything, we’ve loved watching our attendees take what was created here and turn it into something meaningful for their own brands. Seeing their portfolios evolve, their confidence grow, and their creativity flourish is exactly why Park Hill Education exists — to provide not just inspiration, but momentum.

This year also reminded us of the importance of clear communication and care. As we grow, our commitment remains rooted in creating an experience that feels both elevated and thoughtful — and next year, we’re aiming even higher.

We’ve already heard your requests: waterfront views, European-style scenes, and more opportunities to stretch your creativity in new ways. All we can say for now is… you’re going to want to be on the waitlist.

With full hearts,
The Park Hill Studios Team