Melissa + Ryan Wedding
Last month, I met yet another amazing couple in Melissa and Ryan. They tasked me with capturing their wedding day, and that’s exactly what I did. I had a great time doing so. My day started with their ceremony which took place at Faith City Church. It was my first time shooting at that location and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was inside. As guests arrived, I worked the candid scene and just looked for moments while everyone waited for the wedding to start.
Last month, I met yet another amazing couple in Melissa and Ryan. They tasked me with capturing their wedding day, and that’s exactly what I did. I had a great time doing so. My day started with their ceremony which took place at Faith City Church. It was my first time shooting at that location and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was inside. As guests arrived, I worked the candid scene and just looked for moments while everyone waited for the wedding to start.
I would estimate the ceremony taking about 1 hour if that. I find most ceremonies nowadays aren’t really too long which is nice for everyone involved. The next stop was for portraits, which took place at Seaman Park, which is essentially the entrance to Centennial Park. It’s always a beautiful location and one I have used a few times for weddings in the past. There is a nice open field surrounded by trees and an easy path down to the water. We took care of all the family portraits by the trees then eventually headed down to the water for some more bridal party portraits and of course just ones of Melissa and Ryan.
The last stop of the day was Current River Recreation Centre, where the reception was to take place. Just like the the previous portion of the day it was very laid back. There were some first dances, some heartfelt speeches, a trivia game and of course the shoe game too, which is always great for the crowd. They even Mackinley The Magician performing card tricks throughout the night. I would have loved to have him do one for me but I of course had to work. Regardless, I made sure to get a lot of photos of him interacting with the guests.
As it usually does, the whole day flew by. Ryan and Melissa were an amazing couple to photograph and the entire wedding party were a blast to hang around with!
Jessica + Liam Wedding
I can’t believe what is over a year ago that I photographed Jessica and Liam’s Engagement Session. After meeting them both that day and spending some time with them, I couldn’t wait until their wedding. Fast forward to last month, and their wedding had finally arrived! Suffice it to say, I was super excited. Plus, it meant I got to also meet a lot of their family and friends.
I can’t believe what is over a year ago that I photographed Jessica and Liam’s Engagement Session. After meeting them both that day and spending some time with them, I couldn’t wait until their wedding. Fast forward to last month, and their wedding had finally arrived! Suffice it to say, I was super excited. Plus, it meant I got to also meet a lot of their family and friends.
My day started at Delta Hotel on the Waterfront. That is where Jessica was getting ready. While I waited for her to come downstairs I hung out with the rest of the girls and captured a few candids here and there. Jessica soon made her grand entrance it was well worth the wait. She looked stunning. No one could hold back the smiles and tears as they first laid eyes on her in her dress.
It was then time to head on over to the church. The ceremony was beautiful as you would expect. There was a bagpiper playing as guests arrived, which was such a nice touch. It really added to the overall mood of the wedding. The ceremony itself was fairly laid back, I just did my thing. Of course it’s always important to get all the main moments, but it’s those in between ones that I really love. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the huge group portrait on the steps outside the church. The season isn’t over yet, but I predict it will be one of my favourite photos of the year.
The marina was the first of two stops for portraits .We focused more on the friends and relatives for at this location. After finding a relatively shady area by the logs, we tried to get all the combinations needed for those portraits. I still made sure to get some candids in between the formal ones.
Before heading to the reception, the immediate family and wedding party wanted to get some more portraits out on Loch Lomond Road. It was such a beautiful property with so many nice backdrops. The highlight of this stop was pulling Jessica and Liam aside for some intimate portraits across a little bridge, using the forest as a backdrop. I also did a tiny bit of video in between photos. You can find the final video below. I love how it turned out.
The last stop of the day was the DaVinci Centre, where the reception was being held. I have shot many a receptions there and it never disappoints. Everything about the reception was perfect. The cupcakes, the first dances, the speeches and of course the chair game. The night flew by for me and by the time I was done, I couldn’t believe my night was over. As soon as I got home I started skimming through the photos to pick out a few initial favourites. Now today, I’m very happy to share some more highlights from Jessica and Liam’s special day!
Rita + Rafal Wedding - Corbett Creek Farm
I absolutely love country weddings. There is just a totally different feel to the opposed to ones located in the city. I always look forward to seeing the property for the first time. My wedding with Rita and Rafal too place at Corbett Creek Farm.
It was indeed my first time there and I fell in love instantly. I know why they chose this venue, because it perfectly suited Rita and Rafal’s personality. It was a hot day but I wouldn’t have it any other way. After all l, if you aren’t sweating as a photographer you aren’t working hard enough. Although, I could have used one of those mini fans on a hat.
I absolutely love country weddings. There is just a totally different feel to the opposed to ones located in the city. I always look forward to seeing the property for the first time. My wedding with Rita and Rafal too place at Corbett Creek Farm.
It was indeed my first time there and I fell in love instantly. I know why they chose this venue, because it perfectly suited Rita and Rafal’s personality. It was a hot day but I wouldn’t have it any other way. After all l, if you aren’t sweating as a photographer you aren’t working hard enough. Although, I could have used one of those mini fans on a hat.
Once I got settled I did a quick walk around with my camera in hand. The ceremony would take place it a wide open field beyond the trees. There was a huge barn where the reception was. I realized soon that they also had a pig farm. Oh, and there was a huge pig roast too.
As guests arrived I simply captured people. Aside from ‘formal’ portraits, the entire wedding for me was candid moments. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Soon after I arrived, the ceremony began. One of their friends played the violin in the background which set the tone perfectly.
Just before the happy couple was to walk down the isle another friend began playing his guitar. I loved how they had two different musicians there.
The ceremony itself was so lovely. Being in an open field allowed me to work freely and get pretty much any angle I wanted. It was at least a good hour, so I had plenty of time to just work the scene.
My favourite moment of the day was after the ceremony when Rita and Rafal were walking down the isle. All of their friends surprised her with a brand new bike that they had all chipped in to buy. That right there speaks to just how giving their friends and family are.
After that, I spent the next while just wandering around capturing moments. It was very laid back. Appetizers were served outside, there was a canoe filled with beer and a variety of lawn games happening. People were also free to go visit the pigs.
I was only there for the first part of the reception, but it was enough time to come away with some great photos. The inside of the barn was decorated so beautifully, it was hard not to come away with good looking shots.
I was there long enough to join everyone for dinner. It was by far the largest pot lock I have ever witnessed. Truly amazing. With a full stomach and equally full memory cards from an amazing day, it was time to head home. I couldn’t have asked for a more lovely and sincere couple to photograph.
Jenna + Jeff Wedding - Best Western Plus NorWester Hotel
The thing I like about weddings is that they are all different in some way. This past weekend I had a wedding where we went to 4 different locations. For Jenna and Jeff’s wedding which took place earlier this month, it was all at the Nor Wester. It was a nice change of pace because there was no travelling around, and it all happened at one beautiful location. With that being said, I love the variety of each and every wedding I do.
The thing I like about weddings is that they are all different in some way. This past weekend I had a wedding where we went to 4 different locations. For Jenna and Jeff’s wedding which took place earlier this month, it was all at the Nor Wester. It was a nice change of pace because there was no travelling around, and it all happened at one beautiful location. With that being said, I love the variety of each and every wedding I do.
Just because this one was at one location, doesn’t mean it was boring. Far from it! The Nor Wester is by far one of the nicest spots in Thunder Bay to get married. I arrived, just as Jenna was doing a first look with her dad in the hotel room. It was the perfect start to the day. Once we finished that I was off to the races. It’s summer, so the ceremony took place in the courtyard with the gorgeous backdrop of Mount McKay.
As with all ceremonies, theirs was very sweet and you could really feel the emotion. After a short break once the ceremony was done I gathered everyone in what little shade there was and we did all the family and wedding party portraits. During the portraits, I still made sure to keep on snapping in between as there are always opportunities for candid photos. It helped that the entire wedding party was a blast. They were always laughing and having a good time. It made my job 10x easier. I just sat back at times and assessed the situation.
Once we were done the portraits, there as about an hour break before the reception started. It was great because I just wandered around the grounds and photographed people hanging out. Down by the pond, most of the people were gathered, and some of the guys were also fishing. Surprisingly, this was the first time anyone in the wedding party decided to fish and it was a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately the biggest catch of the day was waterlogged grass. Ah well. There was also some goose chasing which also provided some unique photos.
I then headed to the reception about 15 minutes before everyone was scheduled to arrive and photographed the details. It’s one of my favourite parts of the wedding day because it’s just me, walking around, taking my time seeing what I can create. Everyone entered shortly after and the rest of the night flew by for me. There were speeches, great food, a shoe game, a bouquet toss, a garter toss, lots of dancing and of course, some portraits with the happy couple just before sunset.
Almost every wedding I do at the Nor Wester, I suggest to the couple to step out before sunset to do some portraits of just the two of them. The lighting and the way it plays off the scenery at that time of day is to die for. Shortly after that my day was over. It went by very fast, and looking back on all the photos, brings me back to just how much fun I had with everyone during the wedding.
Jamilee + Michael Wedding
It was a busy July for me with weddings and this was the second one I photographed. Jamilee and MIchael were kind enough to entrust me to capture their special day and I couldn’t have been more happy. My day started with with Jamilee and her bridesmaids at the Marriott Hotel in Thunder Bay and it didn’t go quite as planned. Luckily, I always try to show up earlier than my scheduled arrival just in case something happens. Well, I completely forgot that there is more than one Marriott Hotel in Thunder Bay, and I went to the right one I don’t usually assume with wedding details but I made a rookie mistake this time around. Long story short, I realized quickly I was at the wrong hotel and quickly went to the right one. Luckily, Thunder Bay is a small town, so I still arrived on time, with no speeding tickets.
It was a busy July for me with weddings and this was the second one I photographed. Jamilee and MIchael were kind enough to entrust me to capture their special day and I couldn’t have been more happy. My day started with with Jamilee and her bridesmaids at the Marriott Hotel in Thunder Bay and it didn’t go quite as planned. Luckily, I always try to show up earlier than my scheduled arrival just in case something happens. Well, I completely forgot that there is more than one Marriott Hotel in Thunder Bay, and I went to the right one I don’t usually assume with wedding details but I made a rookie mistake this time around. Long story short, I realized quickly I was at the wrong hotel and quickly went to the right one. Luckily, Thunder Bay is a small town, so I still arrived on time, with no speeding tickets.
After photographing the girls, I met everyone else up at Mount McKay where the ceremony took place. It is by far one of the nicest spots in Thunder Bay to get married. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day for it too. Even though it was pretty hot and humid, I told myself I would never complain about the summer here seeing as how long and cold our winters are. We also did the portraits up on the mountain too, seeing as how it was the perfect backdrop. Although, once we were done the family portaits, I did get everyone to gather under the shaded structure to finish off the rest of the formal portraits.
It was then time to finish the night at the Slovak Legion. Not only is it a nice venue, they always have an amazing buffet. This wedding was no exception. As you would expect, the reception included some first dances, cake cutting, speeches and a host of other memorable moments that I made sure to document.
Jamilee and Michael were such an easy going couple which made for a very relaxed and fun day. I love how the photos from the day turned out and I truly hope they do too!
Paige + Nishant Wedding - Mariner's Hall - Thunder Bay
This past Wednesday I spent just 1.5 hours with Paige and Nishant at Mariners Hall which is located beside Bight Restaurant. It was a small wedding and I photographed the ceremony, portraits and a bit of the reception. On the one hand it was a short day but on the other I really wanted to make my time count seeing as how I had so little of it. For anyone that follows my posts, especially weddings, knows that I specialize in candid photography. Aside from the formal portraits, that’s exactly what I did for my time there. I really do enjoy searching out those fleeting moments throughout the wedding day. I think I accomplished that for this short and sweet day.
This past Wednesday I spent just 1.5 hours with Paige and Nishant at Mariners Hall which is located beside Bight Restaurant. It was a small wedding and I photographed the ceremony, portraits and a bit of the reception. On the one hand it was a short day but on the other I really wanted to make my time count seeing as how I had so little of it. For anyone that follows my posts, especially weddings, knows that I specialize in candid photography. Aside from the formal portraits, that’s exactly what I did for my time there. I really do enjoy searching out those fleeting moments throughout the wedding day. I think I accomplished that for this short and sweet day.
Paige and Nishant couldn’t have been a nicer couple to photography. I could really sense the love between them and also their family, it really came through in all the photos, of everyone involved.
Arthur + Katherine Wedding - Wawa, Ontario
One of the reasons I love photographing weddings is that often times it takes me to a different city. In the case of Arthur and Katherine, their wedding took place in Wawa, Ontario. Now, anyone who has driven from Thunder Bay to Toronto has stopped in at Wawa which I definitely have done in the past. Surprisingly, I never really explored Wawa or gone any further then the standard gift shop. So when my wife and Anne arrived in Wawa for the wedding, I was super excited to actually see a lot more of Wawa.
One of the reasons I love photographing weddings is that often times it takes me to a different city. In the case of Arthur and Katherine, their wedding took place in Wawa, Ontario. Now, anyone who has driven from Thunder Bay to Toronto has stopped in at Wawa which I definitely have done in the past. Surprisingly, I never really explored Wawa or gone any further then the standard gift shop. So when my wife and Anne arrived in Wawa for the wedding, I was super excited to actually see a lot more of Wawa.
Once we got settled into our hotel, Nichola, who was the maid of honour and also very good friends with my wife and I, showed us where all the venues of the wedding were and also a little tour of Wawa. I didn’t realize who beautiful of a city it actually was. Being a small city did mean that almost all of the wedding took place on the main strip, which did make my life very easy. I only had to travel a few minutes here and there for the different spots during the day.
The wedding day started at the salon with the girls. I spent almost 2 hours there just hanging out with them and documenting them relaxing and getting their hair done. I then met the boys down the road where they were washing some of the vehicles and also decorating them. Aside from being quite hot out, I had a fun time snapping candid photos of everyone doing their thing. It was a very relaxed atmosphere.
Once I was done there, I went back to the girls who where now at the house getting dressed. Again, it was super chill and, as I always do, I looked for moments to photograph. Before I left, we stepped outside for a few minutes and did some portraits of all the ladies. The last stop before the ceremony was again with the boys getting ready at the cabin. I only had about 20 minutes with them but it was enough time to get some keepers. Although, the firecracker they set off right by Arthur before I left scared the living crap out of me. I was not expecting it.
The ceremony took place at the church and it was amazing to see how many people showed up. It was your standard ceremony but quite beautiful. I did my best to stay in the background and do my thing. The one thing I like about ceremonies is that I can kind of look around and pick out subjects while they aren’t really paying attention to me.
After the ceremony, we did the wedding party and family portraits at a friends house on the Lake. It was quite sunny out so we found some shade and knocked off al the portraits. It went by fairly quick, but looking back, I was amazed at how many different combinations we actually did.
The last stop of the day was the reception which I believe took place at the recreation centre. Whatever it was, it was really big and decorated exquisitely. There were drapes hanging everywhere from the walls and the roof and the decorations were perfectly done. It was nice to have my wife there with me. I still worked most of the time but to be able to take breaks once in a while and talk with her was a nice change from the usual wedding where I’m all alone. All the various components of the reception were a joy to photograph, the first dances, speeches, cake cutting and of course bouquet toss.
I’m so glad I finally had the opportunity to photograph a wedding in Wawa. I couldn’t have asked for a better couple to do with in Arthur and Katherine.
My Favourite 100 Wedding Photos of 2018
Once each wedding season is over I always look back and go through each and every one, and pick out my personal favourites. Not only is it great to see all the great moments I captured over the year, it also shows me where I succeeded and where I can also improve. If anything, it gets my mind thinking about the upcoming season and things I would love to accomplish. For now, these are but a few of my favourite highlights from the year. I feel truly blessed for all the amazing couples I was lucky enough to spend a day with. I’m very much looking forward to all the couples (and families) I get to meet this year too.
Once each wedding season is over I always look back and go through each and every one, and pick out my personal favourites. Not only is it great to see all the great moments I captured over the year, it also shows me where I succeeded and where I can also improve. If anything, it gets my mind thinking about the upcoming season and things I would love to accomplish. For now, these are but a few of my favourite highlights from the year. I feel truly blessed for all the amazing couples I was lucky enough to spend a day with. I’m very much looking forward to all the couples (and families) I get to meet this year too.
Rheana + Chris New Years Eve Wedding
What can I say about my last wedding of the year. It was epic. I started at 11:00am and didn’t end until after 12:00am. It was actually my very first New Years wedding and it will always be one I remember. Many of you might think that is a long day but it went by so fast because it was just so much fun. I’m so happy Rheana and Chris invited me into their lives one day and allowed me to capture one of the most important day of their lives.
What can I say about my last wedding of the year. It was epic. I started at 11:00am and didn’t end until after 12:00am. It was actually my very first New Years wedding and it will always be one I remember. Many of you might think that is a long day but it went by so fast because it was just so much fun. I’m so happy Rheana and Chris invited me into their lives one day and allowed me to capture one of the most important day of their lives.
The day started with Chris and the groomsmen. It was my first time meeting him and I immediately felt comfortable. It was very laid back which made for extremely natural photos. I’m all about the candids and photojournalistic type style of wedding photography, and this was no exception. I was only here for about 40 minutes but I came away with a ton of great photos. The next stop after that was with Rheana and the girls. Just like Chris, this was my first time meeting Rheana too. She was immediately very inviting once I arrived. All the bridesmaids were also so nice and easy going. I spent a bit more time with them and it was equally as fun as the guys.
It was then off to the church for the ceremony. As you would expect it was quite beautiful. Even though it was a big church, it was an intimate gathering of family and friends which was really nice. As I always do I simply walked around and captured moments and people. Especially when in it’s in a church, the ceremony is one of my favourite parts of the wedding day, mainly because it really allows me to focus on the people of the wedding, not just the bride and groom.
Once the ceremony was done the wedding party left pretty quickly and made their way to Vickers Park for some outdoor portraits. Now remember, this is the dead of winter and it was very cold out. They were troopers though and we made it happen. I knew I had to work fast so people didn’t freeze to death so we found a nice backdrop in the park and set up shop there. Even though it was cold out, there was a lot of fresh snow on the ground and the trees so it was absolutely perfect. I think we managed to all the portraits in under 30 minutes, which was quite impressive.
The last stop on the day was the reception which took place at the DaVinci Center. I have shot quite a few weddings here so I was excited that Rheana and Chris chose it for their reception location. That is where I spent the rest of my night up until the New Year began.
As soon as I arrived I made sure to get photos of all the table settings and some of the decorations. Rheana wanted to do all the family portraits downstairs before the guests arrived and that is what we did. It was definitely a lot warmer then having all of the family go out to Vickers Park. I still had some time after that to go to the main ballroom and photograph more of the decor.
After the guests arrived and got comfortable there were some initial speeches, the an awesome 5 course meal which I made sure to eat. Chris checked on me to, to make sure I was doing so. You would be amazed how many wedding couple check up on me to make sure I eat. Chris and Rheana had their first dance after they officially entered the hall and Chris also had a dance with his mom. There was a bouquet toss which resulted in probably one of my favourite photos below which you can see below. Rheana’s daughters’ expression in the line up was just priceless. Of course, she caught the bouquet too.
After that there was just a lot of dancing and celebration up until the clock struck 12:00. As I mentioned above, this wedding will always go down as one of my favourites. Not only because it was my first New Years wedding but also because Chris and Rheana were such an awesome couple to photograph. Oh, and their family and friends were also very fun and friendly. I got approached a few times throughout the day saying I was doing a great job. That’s always nice to hear and reminds me why I do this thing called wedding photography.
Desi + Jinelle Wedding - Tony + Adams
It’s not often you get to photograph your best friends wedding, especially one which you’ve known for over 30 years. That’s exactly what happened earlier this month when I had the pleasure of capturing Desi and Jinelle’s wedding at Tony and Adams. I have known Desi since elementary school and we have stayed close since then. So when he asked me to photograph his marriage to Jinelle, it was a no brainer and I felt honoured to do so.
It’s not often you get to photograph your best friends wedding, especially one which you’ve known for over 30 years. That’s exactly what happened earlier this month when I had the pleasure of capturing Desi and Jinelle’s wedding at Tony and Adams. I have known Desi since elementary school and we have stayed close since then. So when he asked me to photograph his marriage to Jinelle, it was a no brainer and I felt honoured to do so.
It was a small and intimate wedding with a gathering of their closest friends and family. That’s just the way I like it too, as it allows me to move around easily and get in close when needed. The venue was Tony and Adams which was the perfect venue, not only because it’s a beautiful and intimate location, but also because Desi has known the own Adam almost as long as he’s known me.
I only covered a few hours of the wedding but I think I came away with some great photos of the happy couple as well the their family and friends. We got some portraits done before everyone arrived and then shortly after they did a receiving line where they greeted everyone. Shortly after it was time for dinner and then eventually the ceremony itself. The first dance was beautiful and of course the speeches provided a ton of laughs, especially when they were about Desi, which I can totally relate to, having known him for long.
Before I left, I made sure to get Desi and Jinelle and cutting the cake and then I was done. I’m so happy to see Desi and Jinelle happy and I think they are absolutely perfect for one another. I was so nice being able to capture their evening.
Josie + Dan Wedding
Josie and Dan celebrated their wedding this past August and I was lucky enough to be the photographer to capture it. It was a full day too, which meant I got to experience and document pretty much every part of it. I started it the guys getting ready at the house which was laid back as always. I was only with them for about 30 minutes before I had to go meet up with Josie and the girls at her parents house. I spent quite a bit more time with her which was fitting, because there was definitely a lot more going on there. Plus, that is where all the family was too.
Josie and Dan celebrated their wedding this past August and I was lucky enough to be the photographer to capture it. It was a full day too, which meant I got to experience and document pretty much every part of it. I started it the guys getting ready at the house which was laid back as always. I was only with them for about 30 minutes before I had to go meet up with Josie and the girls at her parents house. I spent quite a bit more time with her which was fitting, because there was definitely a lot more going on there. Plus, that is where all the family was too.
After getting some detail photos of the dress and bouquet I focused my attention on Josie getting ready and her bridesmaids helping her. Once she finished up, we headed outside and spent some time getting family portraits done. I of course managed to get a ton of candid photos too. The weather was absolutely perfect so there was no concern on that end. A short while later the limousine showed up and we were off.
Upon arriving at the church, I continued to get some candids of everyone arriving and meeting and greeting. The actual ceremony was very beautiful. I would estimate it took about an hour which allowed me to take my time and look for unique angles and photos, while capturing all the important moments. After the ceremony, everyone gathered again outside, said their temporary goodbyes until late that evening. The first stop for Josie, Dan and the rest of the wedding party was Friendship Gardens.
Friendship Gardens is the perfect venue for wedding party portraits because there are so many great spots to stop and take photos. Every you look, there is a beautiful backdrop. We spend about an hour there just walking around, setting up in different spots, taking portraits. During our time there, everyone was trying to come with an idea for place to go next for portrait and we finally decided on Sleeping Giant Brewery. We called to make sure it was ok to go there and they gave us the ok.
It was such a great idea to go there. They had a live band playing music, a ping table, a wide variety of beers on tap and of course a beautiful venue to take photos in. Admittedly, I was very much looking forward to a cold beer after a pretty busy morning and early afternoon. I would say some of my favourite photos came from that part of the day.
The last stop of the evening was the ceremony which took place at the DaVinci Centre. The ceremony itself had some pretty good moments. My favourite was when they pulled out a wash basin and made Dan wash dishes for Josie, apron and all. He was then forced to do the hoola hoop by himself in the middle of the dance floor. Not doing to well at that, he went on to do some break dancing and as far as I could tell, the worm. Suffice it to say, he was a great sport. Then the first dance took place followed by Josie and her father dancing. My night was done after that I couldn’t have asked for a more fun and eventful wedding day. Josie and Dan were an amazing couple to follow around for the day along with all of their family and friends.
Emily + Jared Wedding
Emily and Jared got married this past August and once again I was so thankful to be a part of it. For any wedding I do, I always feel honoured to have been chosen and entrusted with such an important day. I was also very excited to finally photograph a wedding at The Chanterelle. I had done a couple events there but not a wedding so it was pretty stoked about that. That is actually where I first started my day with the boys.
Emily and Jared got married this past August and once again I was so thankful to be a part of it. For any wedding I do, I always feel honoured to have been chosen and entrusted with such an important day. I was also very excited to finally photograph a wedding at The Chanterelle. I had done a couple events there but not a wedding so it was pretty stoked about that. That is actually where I first started my day with the boys.
Upon arriving at The Chanterelle, as usual, the boys were just taking it easy and very relaxed. I was only with them for a little over 30 minutes but I managed to capture some really good candids. We were in the lounge room of The Chanterelle which is really a great space. I made sure to get a nice group shot a well against the beautiful bar.
It was then off to Emily and Jared’s house where the girls were getting ready. I was them a bit longer then I was with the boys and again it was very low key and relaxed. I had time to get some good detail photos and of course the girls in different parts of the house. Before I knew it, the bus arrived to pick them up which meant it was time to head to the church. Photographing at the Bethlehem Christian Reformed Church was another first for me so I was excited to that as well.
The ceremony actually went by very quick, at least for me. Every single seat was full, even the balcony so it was great to see so many close family and friends there to support Emily and Jared. Once it was over everyone gathered outside and mingled and congratulated the happy couple. I tend to get some of my favourite photos of the day during these portions of the day. There are lots of opportunities for candids and genuine moments.
The next stop was Waverely Park. Emily had the fantastic idea of doing all the family portraits up on top of the hill where the old bunker is. Surprisingly, I had never done wedding photos up there. It turned out to be the best location ever. There was just enough shade to make sure the lighting was perfect too. Before it was time to go the reception, we made one more stop at the Cascades trail where Emily and Jared had one of their first dates. So it had a lot of meaning to them. The portrait I got of Emily and Jared there were definitely my favourite photos of the day.
The last part of the day was of course the reception at The Chanterelle. It’s hard not to come away with beautiful photos at such a great location. As with most receptions I simply captured the moments I saw. It was a lively crowd so it made my job easy. After the speeches and the first dance I was almost done. Not before Jared pulled out his absolutely amazing rendition of Billy Idol on the dance floor. He’s in his own band so put on quite the performance and I got so many sweet photos. The crowd loved it of course. It was a fitting end to the day for me. I know the party just go going after I left but that was definitely more then enough excitement for me. It was long day but I still can’t believe how fast it went by and how much fun I had capturing Emily and Jared’s special day. :)
