There is always magic in the snow covered ski village up at SilverStar Mountain Resort. The bright colored buildings, the smell of a wood burning firepit in the center square for skiers to warm up. But today, today the marriage of Derek and Monica brought with it the warmth of family gathering to celebrate the union of best friends, parents, and wholly individual personalities complimenting each other as one couple.
On the day of the wedding I drove up the hill from our Vernon Apartment and found myself on mental autopilot up the hill while day dreaming about the photos I was going to take. As you climb the hill the snow covered trees and small peeks down into the valley make you think about fairy tale winter wonderlands. I knew we had to use this insanely breathtaking backdrop for their photos. I had my fingers crossed they would be just as game as I was braving the cold air!
As the day started I met Monica in her hotel room, it was abuzz with laughter and inside jokes shared between the dearest of friends. Her grown children dressed dapperly in suits, they looked at their mom with the admiration of her inner and outer beauty. Their family dogs scurrying around everyone’s feet as they got ready.
As family gathered in the ballroom faces were a glow with happiness to be included in such a important day. Derek beamed from ear to ear as he watched each bridesmaid make their way to the alter, then with baited breath and the pull back of the sheer drapped fabric Monica gracefully moved toward him with all the anticipation and excitement a smile can hold.
Between meaningful words shared and spoken over their marriage, Derek and Monica married their best friend.
After the ceremony the family spilled out into the foyer of the ballroom. I love this part of a wedding because there is so much love poured out onto the couple. Embraces mingling with congratulations.
There is one image that brings me back everytime I think about it, and for Monica she see’s at as more than a photo but a memory frozen in time. The hug shared between her and her mother. In 2019 her mother would pass away and she remembered her through this candid moment.
After the family photos were finished we ventured out into the village to take some of my favourite bridal party portraiture. There is nothing better than the dreamy winterscape as your backdrop.
I laugh when I look back at this picture. When you look at them you don’t see the 100’s of skiiers moving in and out behind them. I spent time strategically positioning them in the moment, but still edited out a lot of the bustling ski hill behind them. Another reason it pays to have a photographer well versed in photo editing, you will never regret it, and if they’re really good you wont even notice in the finished images that they ever did a thing.
I instantly fell in love with the photos of just Derek and Monica, the bright cool light that illuminated the snow and their faces, the way they looked at each other, sharing sweet and silly moments with one another.
I also adore when my clients incorporate their fur babies in their photos. The hilarity of this wedding was that their fur babies were shivering Weiner dogs ready to be done with it all, eagerly pulling their leashes to be picked up and snuggled by family standing behind me.
As the sun went down and the village became a deep blue hue I imagined backlit photos would create cinematic portraits for this couple, and I was not wrong. Between a champ of a groomsmen being our “voice operated” lightstand we were able to capture some truly stunning images.
Snowflakes and side profile silhouettes took my breath away on the back of the camera, when I took to editing them they excited me like nothing else. I was sharing them with my bride and groom with so much joy I couldn’t contain it. When a creative heart gets to exercise their vision and see it unfold beautifully their heart soars!
The reception was just as fun as the beginning of the day, drinks and laughter shared with family and friends.
Speeches spoke about how loved and adored this couple was by their friends.
As the night went on the dance floor opened and Derek took Monica’s hand, they waltzed around the floor. Monica looked like a queen framed in her man’s arms.
As family and friends took to the floor the fun really unfolded and I captured some really fun personalities in full swing.
Derek and Monica’s wedding is one for the books, the type of memories that have that nostaglic glow.
When I asked Monica what she felt about her experience having her wedding photographed by someone who looks for the candid and real moments she said this:
“Working with Stephanie to plan and execute a wedding session was the easiest part of my planning. Meeting her and instantly connecting with her i knew her vision would make our day. She is completely professional and at the same time will put you at ease with her knowledge and amazing talent. She braved the snow and cold to bring our winter wedding photos to life. She understood how important having not only our extended family but our four legged family included. These are not just pictures but memories for a life time. Stephanie captured them all and more. Capturing candid moments of laughter and joy that being you back to that exact moment when you look at them. Her talent definitely made the whole day the best memories for us.”
Thank you Derek and Monica for trusting me with your most important memories. I will always think about you with inviting smiles and authentic laughter. May the many years that come fill you with as much joy and love as it did the day you said “I DO”.
Brittany and Dustin met when they were in high school, grade 8 and 9 to be exact. Their love story is an intricately woven tale of young love that had to wait; Now more than a decade later they fell head over heels once again.
It was my pure joy to be asked by Brittany to photograph her wedding day, after all, we had giggled about boys back in high school together. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better man for her, and a sweeter father to her daughter. Dustin is her prince, her knight in shining armour, her soulmate, and her best friend; he is a man of unadulterated love for her and her daughter.
From the moment he gave Brooke a necklace with an eternity pendant my heart melted, every moment after from the first look to the final dance was enveloped in joy. You couldn’t wipe any of their smiles of their faces, Dustin beamed when he gazed at Brittany, Brittany blushed in her wide grins, and Brooke looked like she won the parent lottery which I completely agree!
If you could ever fall in love with someone else’s love story, Dustin and Brittany’s would be a tale as old as time and as sweet as any Disney story ever told.
Henry and Joka’s wedding from start to finish was beautiful, it was a sunny day that gave that heavenly glow wherever we went. I cant begin to describe how meaningful their nuptials were, both families gathered to celebrate their marriage, some even came from across the globe. As Henry and Joka embark on their life as husband and wife I want to wish them the very best, full of blessings and joy!
Kyle and Christina’s Pitt Meadows Wedding was absolutely stunning. I had already loved our time doing their engagement session, and just like their first session with me, they could barely contain their smiles all day, when you love someone so deeply you just cant help but smile at all the days to come, shared in their arms.
Enjoy their wedding blog, I know I enjoyed every moment; from capturing the day, to editing them after, and the smile on their faces when I delivered their images in a package wrapped in a hand made bow.
Christina is a professional cake designer/baker, so when she asked me to be her photographer my first question was “are you making your own cake?!” she responded “I’m making two, and cake pops!”. As you can see she is a very talented artist and each bite was just as delicious as the last!
The flight to Chilliwack felt different this time for me; for the first time since moving to Yellowknife in January of this year, I had a sense of misplacement. I had three previous wedding photography engagements in BC that needed to be fulfilled between January and August, and each time I travelled back I’d say: “I’m coming home”.
This time however, something had shifted. As I sat in the terminal waiting for my flight out of the smoke-filled city of Yellowknife, I felt I was leaving home. I had finally settled into my new life in the North and was excited about the new season that is about to start for Stephanie Lauren Photography. Change of home aside, I was as excited as ever to make the trip to my true original home town to spend time with family and photograph my last summer wedding.
Cody and Paige’s wedding was a very special day for me. Seven months earlier Cody’s mother Sheila of Sheila Armstrong Photography and sister Stephanie of Lemon & Lavender Photography had photographed our wedding, and the results were amazing.
Back in January when Sheila and I spoke before my wedding we talked about her son’s upcoming marriage to his high school sweetheart, and in the end we were honoured to photograph unforgettable moments in each other’s lives.
Now, a little about the Bride and Groom:
Cody and Paige met in the seventh grade. Cody was smitten immediately, and eventually their friendship would blossom into a great love story that would produce the greatest addition to their life, baby Hunter.
Not even three months prior to the wedding Cody and Paige welcomed their beautiful baby boy into the world. Paige said to Cody during her vows, “you have already gave me the greatest gift of my life”. The sincerity of their love is humbling and the immense joy they share is infectious to those that surround them.
Thank you for sharing your story with me Cody and Paige!
The girls all gathered at Paige’s grandparents home, a beautiful and rustic loft-style home. I couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop to photograph the bridal preparations.
Cody and his groomsmen got ready at his parents’ new farm property, where the ceremony was to take place in the open field out back. Their shared moments of laughter and morning golf had them mischievous and playful for pictures.
You know these men are a group of confident athletes by their request to have a GQ shirtless group shot.
Cody’s mom Sheila was busy finishing all the last details of the decorations and food, but took some quality time to help her son get ready. If ever you could see the overwhelming love of a mother, it is surely in the embrace of her son on his wedding day.
Paige stood gazing at her dress, the moment was finally here, her forever was about to start.
Once they saw each other for the first time…
After their first look, Cody surprised Paige with a beautiful eternity bracelet; she held back happy tears and was beyond elated with his gift.
After Cody and Paige’s first look and bridal portraits, we headed back inside to cool down. Hunter was happily cradled in his grandma’s arms and everyone was excited for the group pictures.
The Ceremony and Reception were held at Cody’s parents’ farm, a beautiful property looking out on Mt. Cheam. Rustic hay bale seating made for a true country wedding in the warm community of Rosedale.
She was the joyful doe eyed cousin I grew up with on the farm at Nana’s, I was her older cousin but we played together just the same. Her family eventually moved away to Grand Prairie but we always stayed in touch when family came to visit.
Jon and Chelsea first met when she was just 16, as the years flew by she fell madly in love with him. True Alberta blood runs through both their veins and their destination wedding in BC was full of sentimental moments, including her Nana’s home where she got ready for the day.
I am so blessed to have been asked to photograph her wedding and I wish them a lifetime full of love and laughter together. Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Millwater.
I’m pretty sure my cousin Luke looks just like TinTin. ↓
The morning began with laughter… Carolynn and her bridesmaids took their time to enjoy the morning and the pampering that only comes with hair and make-up. Today was the day she had been waiting for since the moment she fell in love with Braden, today she would become Mrs. Adams. I was completely honoured being apart of her day and telling her wedding story through photographs, it meant the world to me.
Carolynn is a talented artist and she hand painted each bridesmaid a lovely word art piece.
Carolynn’s father is a jeweller and hand-crafts unique pieces, it only seemed right to showcase her wedding jewellery on the tools that make such beautiful thins.
Braden grew up with a strong love for baseball so we incorporated it into the big day.
The orchard has got to be the most romantic idea to me…. leading lines and deep earth tones.
Dori and Justin met many years ago, as their families attended the same church growing up. The age difference meant nothing in comparison to the friendship and blossoming love that they had for each other.
I met Dori in high school, she was a few grades younger than I but we shared a certain kinship in our love of theatre. When I bumped into her at a graduation banquet a year ago I finally met her fiancé, Justin. Justin has such a soft heart , all around a great man that was enamoured by our “little” Dori. Soon wedding plans were in full swing and she contacted me about photography, and the rest as they say is history.
Dori was a stunning bride, glowing inside/out. Her sweet smile and joyful heart blessed me as I photographed their wedding day. Congratulations again Mr. & Mrs. Grimard!
After much anticipation I am elated to share my recent Vancouver Bride and Groom, Mike and Andrea.
I drove into Vancouver on the day we had a record breaking rainfall. I had planned many covered locations but I was (and I’m sure Andrea as well) delighted when the rain stopped and the sun graced our bridal portraits!
From the hallowed architecture of the church of St. Francis of Assisi, to the breathtaking views of Queen Elizabeth Park. Every detail mirrored all the love that they have for each other.
Mike and Andrea, may you always feel the same overwhelming love as you did on your wedding day.
It was a beautiful September weekend. We prepared for rain but Nathan and Shar had an entire family and a plethora of friends praying that we would have sun (or my favorite – overcast), needless to say we got our ideal day.
From the moment I arrived at Sharnele’s family home it was rich with emotion and excitement. As the day progressed the sheer depth of their love was evident to everyone who came to stand behind them on this, their wedding day.
I couldn’t wait to share this wedding, and I am so blessed to be able to now! Congratulations again Mr. and Mrs. Harrison