A bright sunny day in the country, a lovely flower garden, an awesome old-school cabin, a wedding party full of personality, and a beautiful wedding surrounded by many of our own good friends… it was simply a joy shooting Ali & Steve’s wedding. Congratulations you two!  Wishing you all the best in your new life together. Here’s just a small sample of the many great moments and expressions at your wedding.

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It’s all the little things that make each wedding unique, and boy, did Sandra and Steve ever go all out and put a personal stamp on their wedding day.  This wedding was just FULL of meaningful details and moments.  From the invitations that Sandra designed herself, to all the centrepieces and decorations at the reception that they custom made to fit their theme, to the wonderfully personalized gifts they gave to their wedding party, you could tell every detail had been thoughtfully looked after.  Every part of the day was also packed with special events, like the bagpiper leading into their ceremony, the bluegrass and blues bands that played during their reception, the fireworks display at the Great Woods campground, and the campfire/weiner-roast to cap off the night with their friends. It’s a wonder that everything took place in a single day.

You’d think just all that would have made for fabulous photo opportunities, but there was even more: Sandra’s parents’ home in Lockport was an absolute goldmine for shooting.  From the room full of antiques, to her mother’s mini hairstyling salon, to the sheds full of heavy equipment, to the vast flower gardens in full bloom… I was like a kid in a candy store!  On the way to the reception in the wedding party RV, we even stopped along the way to do some big prairie sky shots in a field with this fabulous old farmstead.  Such a rich wedding and so many great photos.  Congrats again to Sandra & Steve!  Here is just a tiny sample of some of the many, many great images from the day:

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Weddings out in the country are great – big prairie skies, new places to shoot, and usually a nice drive out beforehand.  As opposed to the mad dash through traffic for city weddings, I enjoy a mellow highway cruise (especially when the weather’s nice) where I can let my mind ease itself into its creative space.  The trip out to Camp Morton for Kendra and Dave’s wedding certainly fit the bill – a sunny and pleasant drive through the sleepy prairie morning.

While it may have been a sleepy and quiet morning outside, it was anything but when I arrived at Misty Lake Lodge where the couple was getting ready.  I was thoroughly impressed at the number of wedding attendants that were buzzing about in each condo!  It was a hub-bub of activity as they were getting themselves ready amidst a flurry of food, hairstylists, and little ones running around – not to mention Kendra and Dave’s two little boys at the centre of all the action.  Then it was a quick jaunt over to Camp Morton, where a really nice and heartfelt ceremony took place under a picture-perfect backdrop overlooking Lake Winnipeg. Despite all this, Kendra and Dave’s little boys again threatened to steal the show with some very cute and amusing little antics during the service.

The portrait session was a treat – between the fields, beaches, and flower gardens, there was no shortage of great picture opportunities.  We even capped off the day with a quick stop at this great little heritage village in Arborg.  So many great places to shoot!  Congrats Kendra & Dave!  Here’s a sneak peek into the day:

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Della and Phil have a definite love for the country, and even though they were married in the city, they definitely made the effort to incorporate as much of a country feel into their wedding as possible. For someone who is usually quite happy to have one nice location at which to shoot, imagine my surprise and delight when I found out we were starting with the retro-cool of the Millennium Centre… then moving next door to the classical architecture of the Hamilton Building… before driving out to the big fields and prairie sky of an old farmstead in Stonewall… and ending in the old western feel of the Hitchin’ Post… all in one morning/afternoon!  I was almost in a state of mild creative shock, having to switch between these amazing but wildly different backdrops.  But in the end it was a really fun and easy day to shoot.  From the guys in their western outfits, to the vintage orange pickup truck, to the bride in her cowboy boots, Della and Phil and their wedding party were right in to the day from the get go.  Great couple, great wedding party, and so many fun and cool pictures.  Congrats you guys!  A sneak peek into the day:

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It’s always a treat to shoot in new places, especially when it involves a road trip.  Last weekend I had the privilege to head out to Foam Lake, Saskatchewan and shoot Sarah and Kevin’s wedding.  Though it was my first time meeting them face to face, they were great to work with and didn’t flinch in the face of taking pictures on a chilly and breezy June Saturday.  A beautiful yard, a wonderfully derelict car, a chance to shoot from a forklift, long country roads…  I hope you had as much fun as I did!  Congratulations Sarah & Kevin!