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”.
Country weddings full of lush sunflowers, hay bales, and childhood polaroids hung from clothes pins at the bar make the best weddings. Stephanie and Kyle are sweethearts, they are full of kindness and love for one another as well as those around them. I couldn’t wait to share their wedding photos, I hope you love their wedding day as much as I enjoyed every minute of documenting it.
Much love to Kyle and Stephanie Evans as they embark on one of the best adventure’s two people can ever make. May your marriage and your family be blessed beyond your wildest dreams.
I always love the father daughter moments at a wedding, and when I have a moment to steal a father and daughter away to really enjoy the day as they celebrate her marrying her best friend and a man he is proud to call his son-in-law.
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!
Being a wedding photographer, sometimes it feels like I have the priviledge of making lifelong friends with just the click of a shutter. From the first moment a bride contacts me with her heart a flutter; ideas pouring from her fingertips onto ourContact Usform, to the interactions back and forth by email which always remind me of giddy schoolgirls passing notes in class about a boy they liked.
I get to go on coffee dates, have a fun filled evening of appetizers and drinks, chat about “the details” and reminise on how our men proposed. It warms my heart every time a bride first contacts me to the moment I deliver her images; we become kindred friends.
Denika contacted me the winter of 2013 after viewing my work with her uncle, a fellow photographer and friend. While I was busily planning my own wedding and knee deep in preparation to move to Yellowknife, Denika knew I was going to be living in her home town and it made her decision a simple “Yes!”
I was truly honoured to be asked to be a part of this magical moment in Denika’s life, and have her as my first Yellowknife bride.
Shawn and Denika have been together for 5 years; what an amazing journey they have made thus far: Denika told me that she had started planning her wedding a year previous to this date when they found out they were expecting their beautiful baby girl. On July the 26th 2013, she went into labour and on the 27th little baby Kaiyer was born into this world.
Denika went on to say “July 26th of this year [2013] I went into labour, so we felt a life event was fitting for next year as well.”
So, on the very day her life changed one year previous, Denika woke again with joy and anticipation. Today, she would marry the man whom her soul loves deeply.
This is their wedding story:
This is Kaiyer, who just a day after their wedding would turn 1. With a wedding and a birthday planned all on the same weekend; Kaiyer, mommy, and daddy had one BIG weekend planned.
Shawn stood tall as he waited for Denika at the site of their “first look” photos. Shawn radiated pure happiness!
Their first look kiss was so sweet. So many moments in their relationship had lead to this kiss.
Shawn and Denika bought one another gifts, and as Denika opened a small box she made a giddy sound. Shawn had bought her a beautiful double strand pearl bracelet. Shawn was equally impressed by his wife’s gift to him, a stunning Bulova watch.
Shawn had a custom ring made with Yellowknife Gold, it was a stunning ring that complimented her diamonds.
Denika wanted her bouquet to hold something old, a memento. The lace wound around her bouqeut was from her mothers original wedding dress. I absolutely adore when brides incorporate their past into their future!
Shawn’s grooms-men were a riot, and the reception definitely confirmed their grade ‘A’ humor.
Denika kept her side of the bridal party tight knit. With her sisters as bridesmaids and her brother as her “man of honour”.
As the bridal party waited for the geusts to arrive, Denika and her bridesmaid (and man of honour) sat in the sheer tent that stood at the top of the aisle. A little mummy and me time with Kaiyer was needed, and snuggles followed.
Their officiant was none other than the Mayor of Yellowknife, Mark Heyck.