Riverway Clubhouse wedding: Amanda and René
Last September we photographed Amanda and Renés Riverway Clubhouse wedding in Burnaby. I'm still impressed with how much thought Amanda put into the details! It was one of the few weddings I've attended where almost everything was homemade. From the cute mugs in the morning, to all the stationery, guest favours and even the flowers and decor! I'm one of those people for whom a DIY project needs to be "fast and easy". ;) So I'm in awe for all the work and love put into this day.
At the wedding we photographed our first "not looking first look". Amanda and René decided to not see each other before the ceremony, but they liked the idea of having a moment with the two of them beforehand. Jelger and I found the perfect corner just outside the church! They held hands and talked about their morning, but didn't peek at each other. It was very peaceful and I can highly recommend it to couples that don't want a first look!
Another great moment was the photo time with the bridal party! Before the wedding we scouted out a little park located between the church and the Riverway Clubhouse. Everett Crowley Park seemed a bit weird when we googled it, because it used to be a garbage dump. :P But after checking it out, it turned out to be an amazing location that looked a lot like a lush green jungle, so we just had to go there! Vancouver's hidden gems never seize to amaze me!
Amanda and René chose the perfect venue for their reception. Their wedding had a country vibe so Riverway Clubhouse with its wooden beams and rustic look just fit perfectly! More country atmosphere happened with Amanda's twin bridesmaids who are amazing country singers! Goosebumps for the first dance with them singing live. And even more when Amanda grabbed the mic to sing for René!
Thanks so much again for having us!
PS: Check out their recent feature on Vancity Weddings right here.
Riverway Clubhouse wedding vendors
- Day-of coordinator: the amazing Jennifer from Save the date events
- Makeup artist: Agnew Makeup Artist
- Church: Corpus Christi Parish
- Reception Venue: Riverway Club house from Burnaby Golf
- Wedding dress: Alfred Angelo
- Groom tux: Vera Wang
- Live music: Twin Kennedy
- Photo booth: Social Elements
- Getting ready location bride: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
- Transportation: Burnaby Shuttles
Honeymoon photos in Vancouver: Erica and Ivan
Erica and Ivan contacted us to photograph their honeymoon photos in Vancouver. As soon as they mentioned their passion for the outdoors and travel, we knew we were in for a treat! Their wedding took place in Virginia, but they planned their honeymoon in Vancouver. The West Coast has a lot of green forest, which they love. So they brought their wedding attire for outdoor photographs!
Usually when chatting with couples from out of the country, we suggest a couple of locations ourselves. But this duo was so enthusiastic that they did a lot of location scouting themselves and decided to go for Lynn Canyon. We were utterly impressed, because Lynn Canyon isn't a location that often pops up in tourist guides. It truly is a hidden gem. It was the perfect place to find a ton of different shades of green. ;)
We learned that Erica an Ivan are super active people that love to go out and explore! She is a fitness instructor and they love mountain biking together. I'm still Instagram stalking them 6 months after and it's so fun and inspiring to see them do all these amazing outdoor activities together. I love it when we share the same values as our couples! To quote Ivan:
"The Journey itself is the point"
Wise words to live by. It felt as if our photoshoot together was a journey too! While we definitely appreciate all the beautiful nature in Vancouver, since this shoot I have a renewed appreciation for our trees and all the moss. It's easy to take it for granted that we have evergreens here, but Erica and Ivan told us about how different it is where they live. I challenge you to take a good look next time you're in a forest. First you think "it's all green". But when you start looking closer, you see so many different shades of green and pockets of light falling in everywhere. It's amazing.
We saw big ferns, different types of mosses, different greens in the trees... it was gorgeous! And all within a short walking distance from the parking.
Thank you Erica and Ivan for having us! Your newly married smiles warmed our hearts. :)
honeymoon photos in vancouver
Honeymoon photos in Vancouver are always a great plan! Check out another session we did here.
Grouse Mountain wedding inspiration
Grouse Mountain is not only a fun place for skiers, it's also a beautiful wedding venue! Jelger and I will photograph a real Grouse Mountain wedding in April. But for now, here's an inspirational photo shoot! Check out our blog feature in Real Weddings Magazine right here.
Stylized photo shoots allow all the vendors involved to think outside the box. Because there are no rules, we can all just do whatever we want. ;) In this case, it started with me and Cristie from Umbrella Events brainstorming about having fun in the snow! I had wanted to try and dip dye a wedding dress, which turned out the be an interesting project. Don't trust the colour of the dye until you tried it on a little piece of white fabric... the dress was supposed to be green!! ;) But we love how it turned out.
I also remembered Cloe, the Grouse Mountain barn owl. You can have Cloe at your event, so why not have her at our styled wedding shoot!! During the shoot Cloe was absolutely adorable. She apparently loves the wind and faces it straight on! She and her owner have a very special bond. Owl cuddles are a thing. ;)
One of the coolest things for me about styled shoots is to see everyone's ideas come together. Together with Cristie I picked the colours: forest green, silver and marble. Yes, I think marble is a colour. :P But after that everyone got creative and made their own interpretation.
I hope you enjoy this shoot and maybe get inspired!
PS: I added a behind the scenes photos, haha. Sometimes we have to get down and dirty to get the shot. ;)
Behind the scenes
Grouse Mountain Wedding vendors
- Wedding planner: Umbrella Events
- Decor and styling: Past Pieces
- Florist: Kaye Fleur
- Trellis: custom piece by Jason Keegstra for Kaye Fleur
- Venue: Grouse Mountain
- Makeup and hair: Andrea Alcala from the Tianna Tran beauty team
- Cake artist: Letterpress bakery
- Stationary: Cornwall stationary
- Jewellery: The Borrowed Collection
- Calligraphy: Alexandria Script
- Dress: purchased second hand and altered/dyed
- Fur jacket: family heirloom
Our trip to Harrison Hot Springs
Last Summer we decided to take a mini break (2 days, really) in Harrison Hot Springs. We stayed the night at Rowena's Inn. Usually when you see a blog post about Rowena's from a wedding photographer, it's all about weddings. But I'm not entirely sure they'd allow us to shoot a wedding there after this post... ;)
It was in the middle of the wedding season and we decided to recharge our batteries. I thought "ooh, hot springs", envisioning myself in a spa like environment soaking my tired muscles for hours. Looking back, I wish I had done a bit more research. It turns out that most of the hot springs are only for people staying in the Harrison resort.
Disappointed we decided to get away from the tourists and take a short hike. The fall-like weather (I had no idea where that came from) and the clouds that predicted rain, made sure we had the trail all to ourselves. It was beautiful.
After a meal in a German restaurant (which totally tasted like the real deal!), we drove back to Rowena's Inn. It is a bit of a drive from Harrison Hot Springs. Once we arrived there, it felt as if we had gone back in time. All the guests were elderly and the room had not been updated for ages. As a bonus, Jelger had to catch some spiders in the room and the big gap under our door, let us hear any sound coming from the adjacent rooms.
It felt too early to call it a night, but there was no entertainment close by and everything was so quiet! We decided to sneak out to the boat dock to crack the bottle of rum we bought at the liquor store earlier that night. :P We felt like two naughty teenagers. Despite the dark night we found the dock and after sitting down for a while, everything came alive. We saw several bats chasing bugs. Than a big beaver swam right up to us. We could even hear him gnawing for half an hour. It was the highlight of our trip. ;)
The next day, we scouted the area and found a dirt road with some amazing views, including a massive rock formation. We definitely have to go back to Harrison Hot Springs and check out more of the environment!
PS: The last two photos are not in Harrison Hot Springs, but at the Bridal Veil Falls on our way back in Chilliwack.
Harrison Hot Springs
If you're considering Harrison Hot Springs for an engagements session or any of the fun locations in this post, send us a message! We're always up for a little trip! :) And check out the beautiful wedding we photographed at Harrison here!
BC Wedding award: Best portrait bride and groom
We won this year's Professional BC Wedding award for best portrait bride and groom. It was the best way to end 2016 and even though I was dreaming of it, it seemed impossible!
Jelger and I started our wedding photography business right after we moved across the globe, to a city without any friends and family. English is not our native language and the Canadian way of doing things is definitely different than the European way. Let's just say the entire process was kind of crazy. Saying it all happened easily for us would be a big fat lie. Quite frankly we had no clue what we were doing in that first year juggling day jobs and a budding business. I can't begin to tell you how many tears we cried because we felt powerless. We spent countless hours (and our last penny of savings) to make it work.
I vividly remember our first wedding networking event in Vancouver. Jelger and I hovered around at the buffet shyly. We only met a handful of people, most of whom we found very intimidating. In a room filled with well established professionals, we felt as if we had nothing to contribute at all. Some even mentioned "it'll be interesting to see where you'll be at in x years".
I also remember our first time at the BC wedding award ceremony, where we told ourselves it was ok to not make it up there. Ever... It seemed too much to ask to be part of the best wedding photographers in Vancouver. To receive this award in a room full of people we look up to and to get this recognition for all the hard work was just priceless. Jelger was speechless (that has never happened before ;) ), so I did all the talking.
Of course we couldn't create the award winning photo without our bride and groom Andrea and Eoin, who allowed us to be part of their amazing vision!
Big shoutout for Memento Films, because they shared their video with us! I am beyond impressed with how quick and kind they were! :) Also thank you to Kuna from Kuna Photography to let us share your beautiful photos of the event!
BC wedding award:
VanDusen wedding Vancouver: Sam and Kyle
It took me a lot of restraint not to blog the VanDusen Botanical Garden wedding of Sam and Kyle sooner! For months I waited for the feature on Real Weddings Magazine before I could share and now the time is finally here!
When Sam and Kyle told us about creating a garden themed wedding with penguins, I was sold! And even though I had no clue how they'd pull it off, I was confident it'd be a fantastic event! Their story is the best inspiration for couples wanting a quirky yet unique and meaningful kind of wedding. Penguins at your wedding may sound like an unconventional idea, but why not?! Sam and Kyle did things exactly their way and it was an unforgettable experience. :)
I encountered the first penguin in the beautiful Airbnb where Sam and the girls were getting ready in the morning. The penguin in question was Steve, who usually lives in Sam's car, but was a guest of honor for the event. The room was filled with an air of excitement. Even more so when Sam spontaneously flipped up her veil. She had so much fun doing it, it made me want to get a veil to try it too. ;)
No penguins during the first look, but a couple of crows that flew over as if on cue while Sam graciously stepped across the big rocks leading to Habitat Island. The tiny island in the heart of the False Creek holds a special meaning to them, which is why we also took their engagement photos there a couple of months earlier. It was a stunning and emotional first look, but not the only one! What Kyle didn't know yet, was that Sam had picked out 2 wedding dresses! So when she walked down the isle at VanDusen Botanical Garden, she surprised him again.
After a fun walk through the gorgeous gardens of VanDusen with the bridal couple and their bridal party, we entered the reception venue, welcomed by an abundance of penguins. Sam's mom, who is an artist, painted amazing penguin-themed stationery: a penguin seating chart, penguin cards to identify the tables, individualized penguin place cards and a cute logo that was printed on the drink tickets. It was amazing to see everything come together.
Thank you Sam and Kyle for having us being part of your amazing party! We loved every moment of it!
PS: Check out the amazing vendor list below the photos! We loved working with so many of our favourite local companies!
VanDusen wedding photos
Vandusen wedding vendors
- Planner: Cristie from Umbrella Events - Absolutely loved her!
- Venue:VanDusen Botanical Garden
- Linen Sashes + bow ties: Custom-made by Jesse at Beaux Ties
- Hair & Makeup:Mink Makeup & Hair
- Florals: Katherine, at The Flower Factory
- Catering:Truffles Fine Foods
- Cake:The Cake and the Giraffe
- DJ:First Class DJ
- Rentals:A&B Partytime Rentals
- Live Painting: Louise Nicholson Fine Art
- Popsicles: Johnny Pops
- Choreographed First Dance: Delphine Leroux, from First Dance Vancouver
- Penguin Cake Toppers: RedLightStudio
- Photo booth: Swanybooth
Our vacation to Grand Palladium Vallarta and Sayulita
The photos from our last wedding of the year were delivered, our inbox was empty and we were dead tired. The weather in Vancouver was depressing, with no promises of improvement. So I made the decision to book us a last minute trip! I did something I thought I'd never do. I booked a ten-day vacation at an all-inclusive resort: Grand Palladium Vallarta in Mexico.
If you've followed us for a while, you know we love adventures and when we travel, we usually drive around a lot (yay road trips!). The thought of staying in an all-inclusive resort made me a little itchy. What if I got bored after two days? And what about visiting all the little towns and places away from the resort? On top of that we added the challenge of not working at all and staying off social media and the internet as much as possible.
For the first time since we started our business, we had an auto-reply for our incoming emails. And we had a rule about not talking about work and only checking email every 2 days.
I'm not going to lie, the first days I felt like an addict with withdrawal symptoms. Not being on my phone all the time and doing nothing, except for reading and playing in the water felt like a challenge! But after settling down, it was just an amazing experience! The entire vacation felt like a mindfulness exercise: just be in the moment and nothing else matters. We went kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding and body boarding. We walked at the beach, watched little hermit lobsters move around in puddles and collected little shelves. The little birds at breakfast, trying to steal pieces of food of unsuspecting people's plates became a great source of entertainment.
My favourite moment of our trip was me and Jelger having our own private party at the beach. There was a wedding at the resort, Mexican mariachi music and all. (Grand Palladium Vallarta is amazing for weddings!) For some reason nobody walked on the beach after dark, but the party lights illuminated the shoreline and the music was loud and fun. So we jumped up and down like two crazy monkeys, dancing in the ocean under the stars. It felt like our second honeymoon. ;)
We're back in Vancouver for almost two weeks now, but my heart carries that careless feeling with me. I will need a lot of reminders to stay this mindful, but I know it's my key to happiness. We're both wishing you a mindful 2017 and can't wait to start the new year and share a lot more shoots with you.
PS: We did leave Grand Palladium Vallarta for one day! We took a taxi to colourful Sayulita, which has the best taco's I've ever had. And amazing art, fresh coconuts, a gorgeous beach. Well, all the things... ;) I highly recommend it!
Grand Palladium Vallarta video
West Coast Wilderness Lodge wedding: Shawndra and Len
When Shawndra contacted us to photograph her wedding at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge, I got excited right away. I had been stalking the lodge's social media for a long time and the environment always looks so wild and authentically "West Coast". It was on my bucket list for a vacation, so photographing a wedding there exceeded all expectations!
Shawndra and Len chose to create a weekend getaway experience for their wedding, instead of a single day event. Together with family and friends, they started the three-day experience roasting marshmallows over a bonfire (beat that, rain) and celebrated the second night away on the Lodge's deck. Finally, to finish the festivities some guests went for a hike in the surrounding Pacific Rainforest (as did we).
One thing to keep in mind about the lodge, as well as the village of Egmont, is that there's no cellphone reception or fast internet. It may seem inconvenient (I went through social media withdrawal), but I think it actually made the guests more present in the moment.
My favourite moment was the cutest little fist pump during the ceremony. You'll see!
Thanks so much Shawndra and Len for having us travel along with you. You guys know how to have fun and enjoy the little things in life. <3
PS: Stay tuned for our blog post with photos of our hike at the Sunshine Coast! We absolutely loved the wild forest and beach areas. Best of all: there were hardly any tourists, thanks to the rainy weather. What?! Rain at the Sunshine Coast?! ;)
West Coast Wilderness Lodge Wedding vendors:
- Venue: West Coast Wilderness Lodge
- Catering: West Coast Wilderness Lodge
- DJ: Andy from Dancetrax Entertainment
- Rentals: West Coast Wilderness Lodge (am I repeating myself here? haha, they just do EVERYTHING in this place :)
Thinking of having your wedding at the Sunshine Coast? Don't hesitate to get in touch! We love the untamed nature and are always up for new adventures!
Whytecliff Park elopement inspiration
Have you ever been at Whytecliff Park? If not, you're missing out! It's one of Jelger and my favourite spots to watch the sunset and the ocean. That and the tourists getting stuck on the big rock because they didn't keep an eye on the tide. Someone grab the popcorn. :P Mean? Nah, they just get a little wet.
Whytecliff Park speaks to the imagination, with it's mini island, majestic mountains in the backdrop and gorgeous pebble beach. It could be part of a movie. At this particular shoot, it actually was part of a movie. :P Despite us checking in with the crew the day before, we couldn't start setting up our items until 30 min before sunset... Oops! Thanks to Jennifer and Rachael, that went quickly!
With the sun going down quickly, the shoot turned unexpectedly moody. Luckily we came prepared with a cake that lit up in the dark and lanterns. ;)
As we like to do, we photographed a real couple for this styled shoot. These two were absolutely amazing together. I hope to get to see their wedding photos some day! They braved the mosquito's and the evening breeze and made everything around them look peaceful and beautiful.
Without further ado, enjoy the photographs and don't forget to check out the vendors and the amazing video from Capture Productions at the end of this post!
PS: Check out our feature on Rocky Mountain Bride magazine, right here!
I thought you might enjoy this behind the scenes shot of Jelger, the video team and enthusiastic hikers... ;)
Vendors Whytecliff Park Elopement inspiration
- Event Planner: Jennifer from Save The Date - We have nothing but love for Jennifer, who is a fellow board member at A Wish to Wed. She's also a personal friend. We'll be photographing her wedding next year. <3
- Videography: Capture Productions - I'm happy we worked with Jacob and Simon. I'm sure we'll do it again in the future. :) They love hiking as much as we do!
- Florals: Quince Fine Florals - Without any instructions and just some vague ideas, she created absolutely stunning florals! I wish this blog post had smell!
- Dress: Truvelle - What else can I say about them than I love the dresses.
- Location: Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver
- Make-up + hair: Tianna Tran: makeup by Tianna and hair by her team member Clara - Tianna is an other board member from A Wish to Wed! She made our already beautiful bride look flawless!
- Jewelry: Laughing Sparrow - Rachael did so much more than lend us our jewelry! She helped out with the setup and carried down many items up and down the beach. Thanks so much for that Rachael! I know where to find you when I want a new wedding band!
- Cake: The Cake & The Giraffe - We adore Dalana's cakes. Check out this bison cake she made for an other shoot!
- Stationary: Making Memories With Scrapbooking - Loved the playful touch with different blues and silver and gold.
- Decor rentals: Lonsdale Event Rentals - Thank you for providing tables, chairs, cutlery, glassware, table cloth and plates!
- Candles/Lights: Bridal Beginnings - Despite my last minute lantern search, she had everything I wanted and more! Thank you!
The video
Sea to Sky Gondola hike
It's been a while since I photographed a Sea To Sky Gondola wedding. But I did have the pleasure to go there for a gorgeous hike this summer: the Sea to Sky Pilot valley trail. :)
Before the hike I only went there for weddings. That's why I never got to see more of the location than the suspension bridge and anything within a 500m walking distance of the gondola.
Little did I know there was a maze of hikes and they all looked appealing! It's now on my bucket list to go back and try them all. Some of the trails are more adventurous than others with some serious back country hikes.
When wedding season hits me full force, it get's hard to leave the house and choose not to work. It's easy to get tangled up in endless tasks and forget about "having a life" altogether. The wedding itself is my favourite part of our job. But all the computer work and emails... not so much, haha.
Nature always recharges my batteries. The more green the environment, the better. This particular trail did not disappoint! Despite our hike being in July, it was a foggy and gloomy day. But nothing the great coffee at the Summit Lodge couldn't make me forget. And of course I had great company: Jeanine (check out her blog here!) and her boyfriend Carmen invited me. Poor Jelger was working, so we went without him. ;)
When the fog cleared, the forest treated us with jungle-worthy lush greens! The end of the trail (and beginning of the crazy backcountry trail) made me want more. Big boulders and a glacier. Next time I will arrive better equipped. ;)
Looking forward to go back to the Sea To Sky Gondola soon!
PS: Check out the weddings we photographed at the Sea To Sky Gondola right here!
Stanley park elopement, Ashleigh and Andrew
When I got contacted to photograph the Stanley Park elopement of Ashleigh and Andrew, I didn't have to think twice!
Ashleigh and Andrew came all the way from Australia to get married in Vancouver! Going somewhere new and deciding to elope is quite the adventure! A small group of friends and family travelled all over the world to celebrate with them.
Prior to the wedding Ashleigh went on a quest to find the perfect tree. She scouted all over the park and I think she did a wonderful job!
After a heartfelt ceremony, they shared a glass of bubbles with their guests. Next they took a stroll through the forest. Despite her delicate lace dress, Ashleigh walked happily through the fallen leaves and forest soil. I loved it!
On to Second Beach. Wild and windy, but absolutely gorgeous. Rays of sunshine pierced dramatically through the clouds. Luckily the looming rain held off until they hopped in the limo.
Thanks a lot for having me guys! I rarely photograph without Jelger, who was shooting in Edmonton at the time. You gave me a great time! ;)
Your Stanley Park Elopement?
Stanley Park is a versatile place! Even after photographing several engagements and weddings there, it never ceases to amaze us. Time and time again it offers different views with a variety of trees, ocean fronts, beaches and rocks. Whether you're from an other country or a Vancouverite, you're guaranteed to find a location of your liking. Of course you can always ask us for recommendations.
This Stanley Park elopement was organized by the fabulous ladies from Elope Vancouver. Shoutout to them for doing a great job. Check out their website right here. I think it's a great idea to take on a local trusted company who can arrange al the little details for you.
Annabel and Steve's Vancouver Regiment wedding
We met Annabel and Steve thanks to Lynn and James, who also got married at the Vancouver Regiment. Last year we learned they have some wicked dance moves. ;) It was fantastic to get to know them better over the past year.
Annabel has become the person with my favourite Facebook feed. :P I have no idea how she does it, but the amount of amazing cat (and other animal) posts and random fun stuff makes my day.
Steve is an active member of the BC Regiment and spends a lot of time at the Beatty Street Drill Hall, so of course Annabel knows the place inside out. It was the perfect spot for their wedding. :)
I absolutely loved that Annabel had a bridesmaid man. :D Why stick to the conventional girls vs guys if you have a great guy friend that you want next to you during the ceremony! I loved it even more that he was included in the getting ready part in the morning too!
Annabel put a lot of thought in all the little details, which made everything fall into place. Despite the hall being a really cool location it's not evident to make this big space feel cozy and intimate! But she managed to do just that. :)
As sometimes happens in Vancouver, it started to pour rain on the morning of the wedding and it never stopped. Because of the downpour we decided to stay at the hall for the photographs, with the exception of a quick escape onto the roof. Yay for umbrellas! These two didn't let anything spoil the fun!
On an other note, luckily we did not spot the alleged "second floor ghost" in any of our photographs. ;)
Annabel and Steve, thanks for having us on your wedding day! We wish you an amazing year as newlyweds with tons of Exploding Kittens and new adventures!
PS: I noticed someone with a phone during the ceremony, despite the couple asking for an unplugged ceremony. I'm fairly sure nobody will blame her though. ;) You'll see what I mean.
Vancouver regiment wedding photos
Vancouver regiment wedding vendors:
- Wedding dress: Alfred Angelo, through Everything But The Groom
- Bride shoes: Pikolinos
- Vancouver Kilt rentals: House of McLaren
- Makeup and hair: Cinthia Torres
- Florist: She’s My Florist
- Decor tables and chairs: Lonsdale Event Rentals
- Other decor (some decor was purchased): Valley Weddings Decor
- Catering: Catering Visions
- Cake: Hab Stacks Cakes
- Venue: Beatty Street Drill Hall
- Day off coordinator: Chantelle Gill
- DJ: Kevin Antrobus (brother-in-law)
Breanne and Jim at Burns Bog
I love it when our clients surprise us and decide to take us to a location we have never been before. So I was excited when Breanne told me they planned their engagement shoot at Burns Bog in Delta. Jelger and I never heard of it before and it turned out to be an amazing hidden gem of a location!
A couple of weeks after the engagement shoot a big wildfire broke out in Burns Bog. Which unfortunately left over 70 hectares destroyed. Even though nature always finds a way to recover, it could take years. It makes all the more grateful to have had the chance to be there before it happened!
Google told me that a bog is "a wet muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body". Luckily we didn't get in trouble (although I could have used wellies at the end, heehee). Breanne came prepared with a fun picnic blanket to cover the slightly wet ground. :)
Breanne and Jim are two people that clearly have their own way of doing things. I adore how candid they are with each other and I can relate to having a relationship like that. Jelger and I live in our special bubble and love the way we do things, which is often not the way other people do things. ;) Meeting couples that celebrate their quirks: yes please!
Cheers to drinking milk in wine glasses, celebrating your lego love, incorporating a hint of zombie and dinosaur in your engagement shoot AND letting each other pick your favourite colour of candy. :)
Thanks guys for introducing us to Burns Bog and for the good times! We can't wait to photograph your wedding next year!!
Get in touch with us for your engagement or couple photo shoot! We're available for travel and love exploring new places. :) Have any other questions? Get in touch with us here!
Fraser River Lodge wedding shoot
Are you surprised to see this styled Fraser River Lodge wedding shoot on our blog? ;)
Jelger and I haven't done a lot of editorials. Quite frankly for the longest time we strongly disliked them. In case you don't know what a styled shoots is: wedding vendors come together to create an editorial photo shoot. Unfortunately the wedding industry can make couples feel as if they have to reach unattainable standards of " decor awesomeness" in order to have a "successful" wedding. Whatever that may be. ;) Nobody should ever feel like their wedding wasn't "good enough" because it didn't get into a magazine or blog or ....
We re-evaluated the idea and thought: why not create a shoot where we photograph a real couple (instead of models that don't even know each other), work with vendors we love and just have fun creating something unique and yet attainable.
In order to get Jelger excited, I came up with the idea to incorporate something I knew he'd love: bison. :P Ever since our first road trip together to the States I know he loves them and took a lot of photos of them. I gave Jelger bison socks for Christmas, just saying. ;)
I knew of this place in Agassiz: the Fraser River Lodge, where they have a stunning mountain backdrop for weddings AND a small herd of bisons. It was perfect! After chatting with Taryn, from The Stand Weddings and Events, we knew she'd be the perfect planner to make this shoot come alive!
We both talked with our industry friends and a great team of people came together! Our models, Ariel and Nathan actually got married about 5 weeks after the shoot! (so lots of real love there, heehee)
Enjoy the photographs and don't forget to check the list of fabulous vendors at the bottom! I added a little something about each of them! :)
The Fraser River Lodge wedding shoot
Fraser River Lodge wedding vendors
- Planning and florals: The Stand Weddings & Events - loved to work with Taryn! She's super relaxed and fun to work with, but for sure gets things done. :)
- Cake: The Cake and the Giraffe - We've worked with Dalana before, we interviewed her years ago, but man she becomes more amazing every time I see her work! She hand-painted this cake, how incredible is this!!
- Coffee: Jack Coffee - Courtney and Lucas went above and beyond to help us out! Not only do they make amazing coffee (Jelger loves it and he's a coffee snob!), they drove an extra hour to help us out with a shirt wardrobe malfunction of our groom. <3 Oh, and we borrowed their carpet. ;)
- Hair & Makeup: Miss Silvia - We had the pleasure to photograph a wedding before (Anca & Elis) where Silvia did the make-up: soooo pretty! She came up with this unique colour palette for make-up and a pretty loose up-do.
- Decor: Heirloom Vintage Rentals - Taryn took care of finding unique pieces with the help of Heirloom Vintage Rentals. We especially love the plates and coffee cups!
- Dress: Truvelle - What's not to love about their flowy dresses. I love how simple and elegant all of their designs are!
- Jewelry: Sarah Mulder Jewelry - I have to confess: I bought the earrings that we used after the shoot. Soooo pretty!!!
- Stationery: Victoria Senges
- Venue: Fraser River Lodge wedding - All the staff was super friendly and accommodating. The venue and the environment are just stunning. And I can only imagine what a great experience a wedding must be!
Thinking of hiring a photographer for your Fraser River Lodge wedding? Don't hesitate to get in touch with us!
Mission wedding photographs
When Jelger and I aren't photographing a wedding together, we often work for other wedding photographers. Last Summer in August I had the pleasure of second shooting this Mission wedding at the Mission Sikh Temple for Roxana from Roxana Albusel Photography.
Most of my second shooting photographs I either never get to see (because I shoot on the photographer's cards) or end up buried on a hard drive, because the style of the shoot is too different from what Jelger and I do. Last year I second shot around 30 weddings and this one is the only one that made the blog, heehee.
It was one of those days where I just knew everything was going to be great! I hadn't explored Mission as much as I'd loved to, so having the chance to drive around there and doing so while photographing two incredibly sweet people: yes please.
Mission does have it all: impressive mountains, wild rivers, orchards, fields, ... It was breath taking. I wish I had more wide shots to share with you, but I can't because we were shooting with 4 people at the same time. ;) Next time!
A couple of other places in Mission that I'd LOVE to explore with a couple are: Cascade Falls (a suspension bridge, gorgeous waterfalls and some lush Westcoast forest), Hayward Lake and Rolley Lake. You know where to find us if you'd love to join us on an adventure! :D
PS: If I missed some good places on my wish list, feel free to message me! Mondays are our day off and we love to visit new places and explore all our beautiful province has to offer!
Mission wedding photographers
Jelger and Tanja Photographers is available for weddings in Mission, Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley, well, anywhere really. ;) We have packages for Sikh weddings and other weddings that require multiple day coverage. Don't hesitate to get in touch!