Beautiful people. Beautiful hearts. Gorgeous children. Happy photographer.
Meet Serena Drew, their wonderful families and beautiful children.
Thank you guys for welcoming me into your homes, your moments and your head table at dinner!!
Much love!
This is such a favorite.
Drews mom welcomes Serena to the family.
I'll leave you with these two images of beautiful Serena. (which I love)
Jennifer and Pedro
I am constantly grateful. I push myself to always keep my attitude in check. To always appreciate what I DO have, instead of constantly lusting over what I don't have. I believe in it. I can't imagine living any other way.
When I'm laying in my bed, I often take a deep breath and truly appreciate my big comfy bed. That I have somewhere to lay my head safely at night. When I'm in the shower. I am thinking about how lucky I am to have hot running water. Lately, when my back hurts and shoots pain down my legs... I feel lucky to have legs. When I'm eating dinner. I am thankful for a fridge full of food. When something strange happens like forgetting something at home, making me turn around to go get it... I choose to believe I am possibly avoiding some unforeseen danger down the road, I always try and choose gratitude. You get the idea.
It has lead people in my life to let me know that at times "You're too intense", "its too much", and that I shouldn't expect others to think like me. And I don't... and I try not to preach... but... my amazing and cherished friend Momma Mady used to always say to me, "Pull your boots up girl. You've got two feet and a heartbeat". It's a beautiful way to live.
So, when I meet someone who lives the same way, and shares the same views. It makes me happy. Really happy.
When I met up with Jennifer on her wedding day, the first words out of her mouth were. "I am just so blessed, so lucky. It's amazing." She couldn't get over having all of the people she loved most in the world, in one place. For such an amazing celebration. She would well up with tears, just thinking about it. She lives in a massive amount of gratitude and it shows and is absolutely beautiful. The autumn season, was a perfect fit for their wonderful wedding.
Look at these images, and know, that these two are wonderful. Jennifer and Pedro, been together twelve years, were married this past Saturday at the amazing Dolphins Resort in Campbell River. Anyone looking for a different, rustic, beautiful destination wedding on Vancouver Island... should take a serious look at Dolphins. What a wonderful crew of people and what a beautiful place to have all of the people you love celebrate your wedding.
One of Jennifer and Pedro's guests at the reception asked me, "so how long have you and Jenn been friends?", I responded, "oh since forever". We've only met one other time, for their engagement photos. I love my clients. (Especially Jennifer and Pedro) I love my chosen profession. I love living in gratitude. As cheesy as it may sound, if you've never tried it, you're missing out.
I think beauty makes you beautiful, but only your attitude can make you radiant.
Some girls get excited about Manolo Blahnik footwear, others are thrilled with the classic elegance, of Hunter Gumboots.
Jennifer's mom lives on a beautiful little farm property that we decided to have a 'first look' at and create some images on the property before the ceremony.
Here is Pedros first look at his beautiful bride.
The handsome ring bearer at the ceremony.
Love this one of Jen and her dad.
I'm in love with this photo of Jen through the crowd.
Down to the beach for some more images, love the colors in the trees here.
The Dolphins Resort with Jennifer's amazing autumn decor, looked perfect.
I told you it was rustic.
The little ones were partying hard, minus their shoes.
You have to be special to have the ever auspicious rainbow make an appearance at your wedding.
No wedding would be complete without small people, passing out all over the place.
Wishing you both nothing but happiness.
Andrea and Dale
Another fabulous couple.
A relaxed, casual backyard wedding, in the Comox Valley was the perfect way to celebrate Andrea and Dale.
Have a peek at a few of my favorites.
Andrea and Dale love to golf. Seriously LOVE golf. So, check out Andrea's stunning footwear for their wedding day.
Creating this image, I had to choke back tears, as the pale blue ring was Andrea's sisters who passed away last year.
Keeping with the love of golf, we naturally ventured to Crown Isle Golf Course in Comox.
I'll leave you with one of my favorites from the reception, what do girls do best together? Laugh.
Robyn, Lukas and Adelyn
This was one of those wedding, that I knew... without a doubt would be perfect.
Lukas is the most organized self proclaimed groom-zilla I've ever encountered. Definitely not in a negative way, but in a hilarious, obsessive list writing, detail focused sort of way. Note: matching his tie to his baby girls dress. Not only adorable, but rather endearing don't you think? In any case, their wedding was sunny, and bright, and full of love, and smiles, and laughter. The whole experience was exactly as I had suspected, perfect.
Robyn and Lukas chose to have their photos with their wedding party and their 'not so formal' portraits done pre ceremony, which I really love. I think it allows everyone to look fresh and flawless for the photos, and then continue on their wedding day to pay all of their attention to their ceremony, their guests and their reception. I'm pretty sure the guests appreciate it too!
In any case, here are the fabulous Robyn, Lukas and their show stopping-ly (fully aware that is not a word, but it's my blog I'll do as I like) adorable little girl Adelyn. Congratulations you guys!!! The pleasure was truly all mine!!!
Just brace yourself for the cuteness
Yes, that was cute... but feast your eyes on the next few images... HOW CUTE IS SHE?
I really love this photo.
And I'll leave you with one of sleeping beauty back at the reception.
Lauren and Ben
A Vancouver Island wedding photographer, nears the end of a busy wedding season. Armed with her favorite cameras, lenses and a kick a$%$ assistant, she boards a ferry to Quadra Island, then another to Cortes Island.
She tries not to complain, but is somewhat worn down. Pregnant. Emotional. Not feeling entirely herself. (Yes, I said pregnant) Tired. Suffering from a bad tummy and feeling nauseous. Trying desperately to shake it all off, and get down to brewing up magic images that will be different from the last wedding, from any wedding. She couldn't shake it. Until meeting Lauren. Something happens, you can see everything lift off, evaporate into thin air... not thinking, not nauseous not even feeling odd. But better, vibrant and more alive. She is just better as the camera lifts to her face, and moments stand still within each frame. She can't explain it. She doesn't try. Just chooses to believe in the magic.
Lauren and Ben are from San Francisco, Ben spent every summer of his life on Cortes Island. His grand father built the church there. His intense connection to the place, the surroundings and the venue, made it completely meaningful, absolutely wonderful and inspirational. It is not easy co-ordinating a wedding on an island that takes two ferries to get to from Vancouver Island, especially when the majority of your guests are from San Francisco and everywhere but Vancouver Island. But, if you can pull it off... it is worth it.
Lauren oozed sweetness, warmth and has energy about her, that makes you want to be her friend instantly. Ben has a calm, gentle, lightness to him, that you would also equally like to be around. The two of them together, effortless. I believe there is something to be said about weddings with a lot of not only thought, but heart to them.
Lauren and Ben's beautiful wedding, was exactly what I needed to fuel me up, and inspire me to finish off this wedding season with a bang. There are not a lot of weddings left for me this year. In fact, there are only five. But I believe now, after Lauren and Ben... I am ready to conquer the rest of them, with the same gusto, passion and spirit as if I were at the first one.
Here are a few of my favorites.
p.s... British Columbia... You are beautiful.
Ben and Lauren chose to have their portraits together before the ceremony, which I love. Here is Ben's first look at Lauren
Don't you just love them???
We prepare to go to the ceremony.
Waiting in the church that Ben's grandfather built for the ceremony to begin, one of my all time favorite images was created.
The ceremony was so beautiful, intimate and full of emotion. Yes, I was crying... a lot.
Apparently Lauren and I weren't the only ones with tears, love this image of Lauren's wonderful mom caught up in the moment.
How radiant is Lauren?
I'll leave you with a favorite of the newlyweds after the ceremony.
Hope your weekend is full of love.