I always tell my clients that as long as they relax and allow themselves to enjoy the ride, they will have beautiful photos no matter what the weather gives us…and Jeanette & Paul’s Wedding is such a fabulous example! The weather certainly kept my Assistant Mark & I on our toes, but it helped hone our problem solving skills and allowed us stay on the top of our game: from photographing a rainbow while driving behind the limo, to braving the downpour with beer, yummy treats, and big umbrellas…we had the time of our lives! Jeanette and Paul personified love & happiness and were an absolute joy to photograph throughout their big day!

Since Paul’s Family had come all the way from Australia, we really wanted to show off the Vancouver Landscape in their photos…and I am so proud that we were able to make that happen despite the wet weather! We opened up some double doors at the reception, and had everyone standing under cover in the doorway while we lit them with studio umbrellas.  This way, Jeanette & Paul’s families could stay warm with easy access to champagne & hot chocolate, but still enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. It was the best of both worlds! Yay!

Nicole & Travis asked me to document their first pregnancy back when the temperatures were a little warmer. In fact, we had to postpone the initial shoot because it was too hot! I swear, that has never happened before in Vancouver! When we finally we able to get together, we were happy we had waited… because we were able to enjoy a perfect, calm, late summer’s evening to celebrate the coming of their first baby. Here are a few of my favorites…

I always love true Black & White photographs….but these warm fall colours are too beautiful not to share with you…

This is my favourite one…

Kendra and Andreas definitely like to do things their own way…and it’s fantastic! They celebrated their marriage (round 2) with all their friends & family at this fantastic hidden gem of a restaurant in North Vancouver called Chez Michael.  A warm atmosphere, good food, great friends, and the most unusual “first dance” I have ever seen, helped make this a night I will never forget.  Kendra & Andreas, once again, kept their guests on their toes by interrupting their formal first dance by busting out in a heartfelt rendition (wigs and all) of “Guilty” by Barbara Streisand.

Kendra & Andreas had a gorgeous little ceremony at a family cottage near Tofino with just a handful of family & friends. It was such an honor to be a part of their day, and quite the adventure to get there! Our destination was forty minutes down a rough gravel road…and it worth every effort to arrive at the little oasis at the end. The moss covered trees and a lakeside view just took my breath away.

In the middle of their ceremony (conducted by local legend Hitchhike Mike) Kendra & Andreas decided to flip a coin to see who’s last name they would take! As soon as the ceremony was finished and everyone had recovered from the excitement, we all had to dash to the house to escape an incredible down pour. It was actually really fun all huddling together and listening to the rain. It eased up enough for me to take Kendra & Andreas into the woods for a handful of portraits before returning to the house for a cozy, candle-lit dinner. What a day!

Say tuned for Part 2…

Catherine & Kevin were married on a gorgeous summer day that began in Port Moody, worked its way to North Van, and finished with the spectacular beaches at the Furry Creek Golf Course. Their wedding day was such an exciting tour of the North Shore, I was beside myself with beautiful things to photograph!  The sunshine was uplifting for all of us, but the poor groomsmen were far too hot, so on the way to their reception, we wound up taking refuge in the most unlikely of places; the BC Mining Museum. It was actually a fabulous place to shoot in…even better than we imagined because it kept us all cool and comfortable in the summer heat. Kevin is a heavy machinery mechanic, so it was perfect to photograph him in front of those huge tires…and all the run down wood and raw beams made a fantastic contrast to Catherine’s beauty.

Liz & Brad are both fabulous people, fabulous teachers, and know how to throw a fabulous party! I have had the pleasure of knowing Liz for almost 15 years now, and after photographing the marriages of her sister and several of her friends it was a true honor to be asked to capture her marriage to Brad Thornhill. These two lovebirds are dedicated professionals and after spending so much time in school, it is no wonder that their romance blossomed in the workplace. As a result, their sunny backyard wedding was full of co-workers and students ready to embrace them with love and big hugs.

Well, after a long hiatus from blogging…..I am finally back in full force! My assistant Mark and I had the fantastic opportunity of shooting a winter wedding in Lake Louise. The scenery was spectacular and the weather was brilliantly sunny but incredibly cold! I am so grateful that almost everyone at the wedding had flown out from the Maritimes and were used to below freezing temperatures, because even though my cameras were seizing, everyone else seemed to be perfectly happy. Louise and Tyler celebrated their wedding with a great group of family and friends! Mark and I were so glad to be a part of it all.

Louise & Tyler are amazing individuals and to see what they have created as a couple was simply magic. Tyler distributes lobster around the world, and is so good and committed to what he does, that he had a lobster embroidered into his suit sleeve, has a tattoo on his arm, and had his wife-to-be design a lobster on his tie!  Louise is not only a wonderful mother, but also the owner of a design company “For Art Productions Inc,” and was able to turn her wedding day into an opportunity to create as many art pieces as possible. She designed her own family logo  and collaborated with the fabulous Kathryn Bass from “Pure Something” Dress co.  to create her one of a kind wedding dress covered in poetry and artwork.  Please feel free to check out these two women’s work:  www.puresomething.com and www.ForArtProductions.com.  All this love & attention to detail made their wedding and incredible experience for everyone involved.

Alexa & Lance had an incredible Fall Wedding, held almost entirely at the Sutton Place hotel and orchestrated by the fabulous Tanya Peters at Milestone Weddings, so I knew it was going to be an amazing day. I wasn’t however; prepared for how good of a party it was going to be! We escaped to Stanley Park for a few intimate portraits, but Alexa & Lance couldn’t wait to get back to their reception to celebrate with their guests. It soon became apparent why; everyone single person there, no matter the age or the background were all dancing, laughing, and having a big-ol’ time. They wanted to be a part of every moment…and my assistant Mark and I were right there with them!