Nikki & Daxton - August 2, 2009

This year I spent part of my August long weekend with Nikki and Daxton. Based in Ottawa, Nikki wanted to give guests who had travelled here venues in locations with views so she chose the First United Church, just a stone's throw from White Rock Beach, and Horizons Restaurant up on Burnaby Mountain.

I started with Nikki and the girls at her Mom's house in Surrey just in time to take shots of her dress and shoes.  Nikki was quite stoked with her cool shoes which she had picked up in Montreal before she'd even found her dress!

Nikki went for a classic look which totally suited her.  LOVE the veil!

Susannah met up with the guys at White Rock Beach.....

Here's Nikki, ready to rock!

This is one of my favourite shots - Nikki looking out the limo window just before we arrived at the church.  

Here's Daxton as he sees Nikki enter the church....

Nikki and Pete....

This is the moment just after the kiss when our happy couple have just been declared married.  It's so intimate.....

After the ceremony we went to Crescent Beach for photos.  It was so hot and so packed it was unbelievable.  There were like 100,000 people wandering behind the group during the shoot and the beach behind them was also packed.  These guys were great though - so patient.  

We managed to get some shots on the pier....I love shooting into the sun!

Great couple....

Yes, of course I found a rock or two....

And some dried grass - my great summer love.

After the beach we drove up to Horizons on Burnaby Mountain.  The totem poles up there are very cool...

After the group had gone we did a few more shots of Nikki and Daxton on their own. This is one of my favs....

We stayed for just the beginning of the reception and then left the group to party the night away.

All the best - it was great to meet you both!

Leanne & Mark - June 21, 2009

Leanne and Mark were married at the Vancouver Golf Club.  10-15mm of rain had been forecast but we were all pretty happy to wake up to clear skies that morning.  I started the day with Leanne at her MOHs house at the final stages of hair and make up (by Pamper Me Pretty).  

Leanne's details were cool and there are many to choose from so I've picked just a few to blog.

Here are her fabulous shoes....

Look even closer and you will find her "something old, something new".....a penny from this year attached to one heel, and a penny from her birth year attached to the other heel......

Dress detail and handbag....

And here's the lovely Leanne.....

Meanwhile, Susannah was with the guys.  Mark and his men were just chillin'....

How laid back were they?

On to the ceremony and here's Mark's first look at his beautiful bride....

Just married....

We had planned for rain and had chosen the  SFU campus as our place to shoot.  The lines up there are just amazing....

There are also some great colourful spots.  This mural worked well with Leanne's wedding colours....

Love this one....

Too soon (I really could shoot up there all day) it was time to head back to the reception which among many other things involved some really great speeches, laughter, tears and schnapps. Those moments you'll have to wait to see, but for now here is the first dance and our last shot of the evening....

All the best Leanne and Mark - you two are great together and we wish you a long and happy future together.

Susan & Wayne - July 26, 08

The games all started at Susan's parents' house, and I mean that literally. Wayne arrived with the guys and had his entrance blocked by the women inside.  The guys had to perform tasks to prove their dedication and also offer money to the girls to gain entrance to the house.

One game was to find letters encased in ice-cubes, melt the ice and arrange the letters to spell out "I love Susan".

Here's the result.....

Worse was to come - best man Steve had to step up and take one for the team by having an "S" for Susan waxed on his leg.  

OUCH!

Finally Wayne was allowed in to see gorgeous Susan....

Tea ceremonies were held with relatives at both Susan's family house and Wayne's family house, and the happy couple were led under a red umbrella door to door....

Too many tea ceremony shots to choose from so I'll focus on the beautiful details......

Envelopes and jewellery were given by relatives wishing Susan and Wayne well.....

Here's a great candid Susannah shot of Susan......

Now that's a lot of gold!

Here's Susan's wedding dress.....

A shot of Susan getting ready.....

Next stop, the Rose Garden at SFU.  It rained briefly when we arrived, but soon cleared up.....

Showing off their rings during the ceremony.....

After about a thousand family photos we headed off down the mountain to take some Susan, Wayne and bridal party shots.....Susan was so awesome - she climbed over the fence.....

To get this shot.....

Next we went to Barnet Marine Park where there is an old stone structure I like.  I don't know what it once was, but I really like shooting there....

Next location was the Port Moody Station Museum......

And lastly a walk through the trees.....

We left Susan and Wayne at this point to take a short break before they headed off to their Chinese banquet reception which sounded like it was going to be as action packed and busy as our part of the day had been.

Thanks Susan and Wayne for being so fun and easy going on such a hectic day. All the best!