Irene + Shaun's wedding at Hazelmere Golf Course
Irene introduced her family, who flew in from Korea, to Shaun over ziplining and wild water rafting. When we heard they all ziplined upside-down, it was clear where she got her adventurous edge.
A punchy formal entry, Irene playing the saxophone with her band and guests that showed off contest-worthy limbo moves.
Irene and Shaun, thanks again for having us. We hope you had a great time on your honeymoon in Europe!
Vendors
- Wedding venue: Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club
- Church: Crossroads United Church in Delta
Megan + Travis's wedding at Vancouver Rowing Club
Weddings can be hectic, as Megan and Travis found out on the morning of their wedding day. Uncooperative traffic, lost earrings for the bride, a left-behind suit jacket for the groom, a parking space that was just impossible to find and to top it off, the weddings bands never made it to the ceremony.
But neither of them let this get to them! To the contrary, Travis solved the missing rings problem brilliantly: his dad loaned him his. Megan's reaction when she found out during the ceremony was priceless (check out the photographs below). ;)
Megan and Travis, we loved being there with you guys. No doubt that you'll have an amazing marriage!
And one more... The notorious borrowed rings. ;)
Vendors
- Bride's dress: Lisa's bridal
- Bride and groom's shoes: Call it Spring
- Florist (bouquets): West Van Florist
- Hair and Make-up bride: Aura at Sets in Metrotown
- Hotel groom getting ready: Holliday Inn North Vancouver
- Venue: Vancouver Rowing Club
- Catering: Emelle's catering
- Wedding cake: Creative Cake-a-tiers
- DJ: BCDJ, Tria Cameron
- Limo: VanLimo Services
Kim + Scott's wedding at Pacific Shores
Kim and Scott were not afraid to climb a big rock on their wedding day, they had a crazy (and totally awesome) wedding party, they made a pitstop to cuddle their doggies in the afternoon and they did a surprise sparkler entrance at their reception.
What more can we say than: it was a great day! Thank you Kim and Scott for letting us be a part of all these moments.
Vendors
- Venue ceremony: Pacific Shores
- Venue reception: Bowen Park
- Florist: Grower Direct
- Cake: A Wee Cupcakery
- Catering: Spice of Life catering
Irene + Shaun's engagement shoot at Lighthouse Park
West Vancouver's Lighthouse Park is without a doubt one of our favorite hangout spots. Especially on a Summer evening, because of the gorgeous sunsets. Of course we were thrilled when Irene and Shaun picked it as the location for their engagement shoot.
During our shoot Tanja and I found out how much we can learn from this active couple. With their wedding just two weeks away, they found the time to plan a short vacation in their cabin, go whitewater rafting, do nature hikes, and spend tourist time with Irene's parents that are flying in from Korea. And all of this before the wedding. For their honeymoon, they'll be exploring Europe for three weeks!
The night ended with a wonderful look at Mount Baker peeking from behind downtown Vancouver. Something we've never spotted before. Vancouver never ceases to amaze us.
Irene and Shaun, thanks again for such a good time. We're very excited about your wedding this Saturday!
Whytecliff park editorial
A while ago we did a photo shoot with Bhana Design in an indoor location. This time we took it a step further and went outdoors in the beautiful Whytecliff park. The environment complemented the clothes just perfectly in a natural and powerful way.
It was also a pleasure to get to know our stunning model Lilly, who's currently traveling through Europe. (Say hi to Belgium for us!) ;)
When we asked her why she liked modeling, this is what she told us! "I want to be the possibility of courage, joy and being unleashed. Becoming a model was my childhood dream, but I never thought it could come true only if I CHOOSE to! Now I’ve got the chance to try it on and enjoy being one because it’s never too late!"
Enjoy some highlights of our shoot!
Nikolina + Juraj's wedding at University Golf Club
We looked forward to Nikolina and Juraj's wedding, because after their engagement shoot, we knew it was going to be not only a beautiful ceremony, but also a great party. ;)
In the morning, the boys were enjoying some excellent Scotch, while Nikolina and the girls had fun doing their hair and makeup. In case you're wondering: Nikolina did her own makeup! She used to be a MUA, can you tell? The ceremony was in Croatian, so we didn't understand a word, but Nikolina and Juraj's faces didn't need any translation.
The reception and evening party at University Golf Club, were filled with beautiful details, such as an ice sculpture to symbolize the union between Nikolina's Croatian and Juraj's Czech background. And the party was definitely one to remember! We had to restrain ourselves from posting more party pictures, heehee.
Congratulations guys!
Vendors
- Hair: Pizzaz Lougheed
- Ceremony: Immaculate Heart of Mary Croatian Roman Catholic Parish
- Harpist: Mehlinda Heartt
- Venue: University Golf Club
- Ice sculpture: Ice Decor Inc
Nikolina + Juraj's engagement shoot in Olympic Village
During the legendary 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics Nikolina met Juraj. Now 4 years later they are tying the knot.
Of course Olympic village was a great choice to have their engagement shoot. Just as great was that we met up at Craft for beers before the shoot. Walking along the shoreline of False Creek, this candid couple kept surprising us, only to end the day at sunset at English Bay's Inukshuk.
Megan + Travis' engagement session in Gastown
As the sun was setting, Megan and Travis took their final jump for the night to honor a family tradition. Literally that was.
We met Megan and Travis at Coffeebar for their Gastown engagement shoot. As soon as the conversation hit our mutual love for barbecue we were sold. Enjoying the first signs of Summer, we wandered through the gritty back alleys, chased away kindly requested some tourists to step aside at the Steam Clock and finished the night on a secret roof top.
Megan and Travis, thanks again for the wonderful night (and the delicious cookies). Can't wait to see the chainsaw-requiring center pieces at your wedding!
Family tradition, right here! (Yes, Megan is wearing heels!)
A day in Vancouver with Joy and Alex
From a cherry blossom canopy in Vancouver's Stanley Park to the windy Prospect Point, followed by a sunny Third Beach, ending the day in a gritty back alley of Gastown. What a day!
A few weeks ago, we had the pleasure to photograph our first pre-wedding shoot with the fabulous Joy and Alex. Together with Formosa Bridal's Chunyen we're starting pre-wedding shoots in Vancouver.
If you're new to concept, so were we until recently. In the Asian culture, couples frequently opt for a full day experience instead of an engagement shoot. The bride gets to wear different dresses (usually rented) and has a variety of hair and make-up styles applied throughout the day. Chunyen has extensive experience providing hair- and makeup services as well as dress rentals in Taiwan! She created the gorgeous looks of Joy during our shoot.
Enjoy the highlights of this day! And just for you, there's a look behind the scenes video at the end of the post.
Hair & Make-up: Formosa Bridal
Dress rental: Formosa Bridal
Bouquets: LeeJames Vintage Petals
What happened in Vegas...
We had no idea what to expect from our trip to Vegas. The different stories about WPPI (a huge photography convention for wedding and portrait photographers) had one thing in common: you have to go!
I could start talking about the famous photographers we listened to, the newest gear we purchased, the latest trends in photography land and the fun parties we went to (Jelger lifted karaoke to a whole new level), but let's be honest: who cares!
*The photographs in this post are from a previous roadtrip. Can you believe we didn't have time for photographs?!A trip is never "just a trip" for us, even when we try! We had our usual deep conversations and tear shedding which led us to new perspectives and those I'd like to share with you.Despite trying to live open-minded we sometimes fall into thought patterns that distract us from expanding our horizon. Too easily we hunker down in our work cave (home office) and forget about the outside world. And there is but one remedy.
Take time to consciously explore your environment and look at things from a different perspective.
Something else we noticed is how easy it is to hang around with the same crowd (which I love! don't get me wrong!). But every new person you meet is a chance to learn new insights and think differently. It is scary to get out of your comfort zone and talk to a stranger, but hey, what's the worst that can happen! So go ahead:
Challenge your status quo and talk to that stranger!
Since we got back from Vegas we're actively persuing these goals. Is it hard? Yes. Is it worth it? Hell yeah! ;)
How about you? Do you leave your house and talk to strangers?
Ps: we did have time for one photo on our trip :)
Why you want a first look on your wedding day
We first found out about "the first look", after our own wedding photographer suggested it to us! We're so glad she did, because we cherish very fond memories about that moment. The look on Jelger's face when he first saw me, is something I'll never forget. All the stress and the months of preparation were forgotten in that instant where everything came together perfectly.
Why we loved the first look on our wedding day
This being said, of course there are numerous reasons why a first look is possible or why a couple doesn't choose to do it. And for us that is perfect too. We just want to make sure everyone knows that the option exists!
*All photo credit goes to Lesley & Adam Stefanski
18 must-have items for your wedding day emergency kit
A wedding day is guaranteed to be full of surprises. Mostly fun ones, but sometimes not so fun ones too: a sudden gust of wind that pulls loose a strand of the bride's perfect hairdo, a groom that spills a drop of wine on his crisp white shirt because he was enthusiastically demonstrating how to swirl it, or the train of the bride's dress that seems impractically long for the first dance.
The good news is that you can prepare yourself for these tricky situations. As a matter of fact, it's exactly what we do! Whenever we're photographing a wedding we bring our infamous "wedding day emergency kit".
Our kit consists of a first aid kit and a bunch of must-have items that we've gathered based on experience and tips from others. Because not every wedding photographer brings these items, we recommend you have a look at our list, and ask your bridesmaids or groomsmen to keep them at hand. You never know what could happen on your wedding day, but as my dad would say: "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Our wedding day emergency kit
You'll find most of these must-haves in a dollar store!
- bottles of water
- energy bars
- deodorant (one for her and one for him)
- mints
- hand towelettes
- tissues
- bobby pins
- safety pins
- a sewing kit (travel size)
- spot remover pen
- hemming tape
- blister pads
- pain killers (e.g. ibuprofen or tylenol)
- eye drops
- band-aids
- matches
- plastic rain ponchos (also handy to sit on)
- tooth picks/dental floss
- a sewing kit (travel size)
Edit: more items added
Based on some great tips, we added a couple of items to our kit. Thanks for that! And here are the items:
- lint roller
- qtips
- hair spray (travel size)
- lotion
- sanitary towels/tampons
- contact lens fluid
Do you know any items we should add? Let us know in a comment below!
3 reasons to volunteer (and one of them is cute kittens)
Before we moved to Vancouver and became wedding photographers, volunteering never occured to us. Jelger and I worked more than 45 hours per week and hardly got to spend time together. When we did have some time to spare we just relaxed, which usually consisted of hanging in the sofa watching television.
Once in Vancouver we changed our ideas and now we're both board members of an association of Belgians (the BCABC) and I love taking photographs for the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Organization. (VOKRA). We're even working on launching a huge volunteering project ourselves (more about that in the near future).
So, why would you volunteer?
1. It gets you out of your house.
I believe it's very important to spend free time outside, meeting new and interesting people, which might even benefit your professional life. Through VOKRA I have met lovely ladies who helped our wedding photography business move forward, not to mention lots of cute kitties. ;)
2. It broadens your horizon.
I believe it's important to explore new perspectives in life and volunteering has brought me to parts of society and the city I didn't even know existed. Getting out of your comfort zone broadens your horizon.
3. It makes you feel good.
Helping makes you feel good. Through volunteering you contribute directly to your community and the feeling of accomplishment it brings is unique.
Onto the cute kitties!
Get a taste of Railtown Catering
Warning: you will be hungry after reading this blog post. Drooling might occur. ;)
A while ago we enjoyed working with Railtown Catering at an event. By now you probably know that we are crazy about food, so imagine how happy we were to find such an amazing caterer in Vancouver! Not only did we get to taste most of the food you can see in this blog post, they were also gracious enough to grant us an interview.
What services does Railtown Catering provide for weddings?
Our product extends beyond our delicate and delicious menu to offer our clients full event services, ranging from natural and trendy décor concepts and exceptional service team standards to arranging a live jazz ensemble or interactive oyster shucking station – any vision can become reality. Throughout our planning process your wedding theme is always in consideration, your colors and concepts will have a constant presence in every decision we make from designing your menu to putting your logo on cocktail napkins or a towering branded back-lit ice sculpture.
What is Railtown Catering’s specialty?
Our chefs hold a high esteem of using quality, locally sourced products designed with a trendy take and based on classic french cuisine, our 72 hr braised beef shortrib on fresh made polenta with braised pearl onions served out of our gorgeous Le Creusets is definitely a winner for family style wedding dinners!
Although personally I take pride in designing the specialty cocktails and welcome beverages for our clients special events, my favorite recent cocktails included edible flowers frozen into the ice cubes and housemade caramelized pineapple juice with rosemary syrup.
What makes Railtown catering unique in Vancouver?
Railtown Catering brings the food culture of LA to Vancouver. Our Owning Chef Dan Olson was the Beverly Hills Hotel Executive Chef and Railtown Catering is his brain-child, being originally from Vancouver but working in the most luxurious kitchens around the world he's proud to bring concepts to this city that no one else has even considered yet.
We are unique, we've left the old stuffy service standards behind and we hire and train real people to give genuinely friendly and charismatic service, out with pinky's and noses in the air and in with servers who care, who smile, and who are allowed to work with their tasteful tattoos showing and to let their personalities shine.
Do you work with special requests?
Every canape and cocktail menu I create for a client is specialized to them and their needs, this is the beauty of being a growing company, we are forging the way and along our path we can be creative and have fun with any request coming in.
Tell us about a wedding you’ll never forget.
Panic Wedding!! We were actually featured on Global News last summer for making a wedding happen with literally 2 days notice - the Bride and Groom originally had a venue booked on Galliano Island, the venue included all catering and rentals. The venue burned to the ground 2 days before their wedding. Their wedding planner called us, we helped them find a new venue, we emergency called all of our staff and amazingly pulled everything together and served a gorgeous dinner that all of the guests loved. The Bride called us after receiving her invoice crying and thanking us! It was truly amazing!
What would be your best advice for brides who are looking for a caterer?
To find a good fit! It's your wedding and you need every aspect to be a positive interaction! To find a company that shares your values - and above all find a caterer whose food you love. Finding a great wedding planner will lead you to the right caterer, all good people have good connections and can help you source the right connections to perfectly fit your big day.
Special thanks to Marli for answering our questions, Laura for the great cooperation and the Railtown team for the amazing food.
Find out more about Railtown Catering on their website, facebook page, twitter feed or Instagram feed. Or even better: go taste their food at the Railtown Cafe!
Live wholeheartedly: favorite wedding destinations
A couple of days ago we were brainstorming about the trails to blaze in the coming years when suddenly fear struck. "Did we dream too big? Were our hopes unrealistic?"
One moment we were enthusiastically yapping about photographing international weddings and establishing charities, the next it seemed overconfident and undeserved. It felt as if our old selves had caught up with us and tried to discourage us.
Who were we to aspire such bold visions? Sounds familiar? When your mind tends to be poisoned by discouraging thoughts, there's only one antidote: go all in! Live wholeheartedly! Cherish those dreams and use them as your mental compass. Let nothing or no-one change your mind. And that includes yourself! So that's exactly what we did.
We took a scrap of paper, wrote down every single dream that popped into our minds and have made it our mission to accomplish them all. Here they are, the countries where we want to photograph weddings (for now).
How about you? What are your dreams? Do you allow yourself to write them down? Or do you have a hard time allowing yourself to have them? We'd love to hear!