Crystal and John ‘s Intimate Beach Wedding- Ottawa Valley Photographers

Crystal and John are such a wonderful couple. Their relationship highlights respect and kindness so well. During their engagement photos we noticed how attentive John was, and how sincere they were to one another. The other thing we loved about this couple is that their union is so family centered.

Crystal and John were wed at The Sands on Golden Lake. The officiant, Julie Keon, was so personal and centered the ceremony around this couple and their families. She included how they met and other different stories unique to the couple. She revealed that these two were a suggested match by a personal friend Andrew and after many texts and phone conversations the couple had their first date. She highlighted the many ways that this couple’s love was simply meant to be! Crystal and John’s marriage brings together two families. The Wedding party consisted of their children and a grandchild. Each person took a turn holding the couple’s rings in their hands before John and Crystal offered them to one another. As a symbol of their union, and the blending of two families, they also included a sand ceremony.  John’s Brother Tommy and his wife Pauline signed the registry.

The formal photo’s were taken both at the beach and across the road in a beautiful field also owned by the Sands. The sun was out and the sky was just gorgeous: Blue sky with the perfect amount of cloud coverage!

To Crystal and John: We were certainly honored to capture this day on camera! WE know your future holds much more LOVE, LIGHT, and JOY! Congrats!

 

As an added touch we are going to include a few excerpts from the couple’s vows to one another. We thank John’s Daughter Ashley for sending them our way.

Crystal: “My John, since the moment we met, I knew you were the one. I fell in love with your heart, your soul and your smile. I adore that you not only have deep love for your family but for mine as well. Not only have we found love but we have found trust, compassion and deep friendship. I love “us” and the way we live our lives with endless laughter…. I will trust you and honour you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully through the best and the worst. I will always be there as I have given you my hand to hold so I give you my life to keep. ”

John:  “Crystal, I want you to know that when you came into my life it felt as if the sun had suddenly appeared from an eclipse. I could see clearer and the love you showered on me made me realize you are the one. You are so compassionate, caring and thoughtful. I feel blessed to have met you and humble to be standing with you here and now…You are all good things to me. I promise you my undying affection, support, respect and admiration. I promise you that I will lift you up, as you have lifted me. I promise that I will do my best and always try. May my heart be your shelter and my arms be your home.”

Vendor Love:

Make up: Just Add Makeup Studio – J.a.m studio

Officiant: Julie Keon

Location: Sands on Golden Lake

An Exchange of Vows at Waterfront… Jen and James’ Stunning Beach Wedding!

Jen and James are two people who we will always remember.  We have been absolutely in LOVE with them since the first day they met with us. Their engagement session was a really good indicator that this couple was full of youth, fun, and passion for one another!  We couldn’t wait to share in their special day and be witness to James’ sense of humour again. It seems like there is such balance in this couple’s relationship. There is so much laughing (I mean gut busting laughter) and joking around. Then in a second the couple is “on their own” in a huge crowd of family and friends in absolute LOVE with each other. The same goes for the entire day from a photographers perspective. We got the best of both funny and romantic with these two!!! The wedding party was amazing to work with as well and just complimented the couple perfectly.

It was easy to see that family was very important to this couple. The day was based around a union of two very impassioned souls and their family and friends. It was so nice to see the importance of  family throughout the day!

The Wedding took place at one of our favorite venues in the valley… The Sands on Golden Lake.  As always the team there did a spectacular job at making sure everything ran smoothly. The ceremony site was set up uniquely for this couple and I have to say it was breathtaking! The couple exchanged vows beachfront on the beautiful lawn. There was a sand ceremony that marked the day.  I saw many tears as I looked around the crowd in between shots. And you could feel everyone’s excitement the entire time.

Formal Pictures were done on the beach and across the road in a field that we have definitely made much use of this wedding season.  During the formal pictures the couple’s puppy posed for some shots with the Bride and Groom and was very happy when he saw the couple after getting out of the car. It is moments like those that make us love what we do even more… the moments that let us appreciate a couple for who they are at heart.  James was so funny as almost every serious pose called for a “blooper” or “goofy” one.  I included a few in the blog but please know that there are many more to be seen!

Overall the day was overcast with peeks of sun every now and again. It was very dark in the morning and it did look like rain was coming.  It was the first time this season that I was a bit panicked upon leaving the house and getting in Lisa’s car. The day before had delivered much rain but not this special day!!! The couple got to celebrate their outdoor union of marriage and pose for some wonderful photos with us! THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE!

To Jen and James: We are so glad that you choose us as your photographers! I think we really had a great working relationship and we got to see and appreciate your Love story so deeply.  I think my cheeks were sore all the way home from laughing so hard!  Your day was a little peek at your real life relationship and we definitely are excited for you to have a wonderful future together. Congrats!!!

Life’s a beach… Julie and Jody’s Wedding

This Wedding was a very memorable one…. right from the night of the rehearsal I could see an absolute excitement about the Groom.  Even though the Wedding day was very HOT, and Jody (like most men) , would rather have been not taking a zillion pictures… His love for his Bride was shining through. He was an absolute gentleman and I loved watching him pick up her dress, shoes, or flowers, without even asking. His concern was her comfort and happiness and it melted our hearts.  He got very emotional during the ceremony and it was honestly the highlight to my day… We just knew this couple’s journey was so dear and close to his heart.

When we met this couple their Daughter was just a baby…. and on the big day… we realized how much she had grown. It was so great to see how their love was also expressed through her. What a wonderful unity to capture!

The day itself, was HOT HOT HOT, and sunny. But it was a perfect day for a beach Wedding! The couple was married at The Sands on Golden Lake, one of our personal favorite venues in this area, and their formal pictures were done along the shoreline and across the road in a field that belongs to The Sands as well.  Before we started shooting the wedding we took some beautiful pictures of the Spa ( which we will include in a blog at a later time), and after we were done it really struck me that this location was so perfect for this couple. It is so intimate and serene…. peaceful and fulfilling. It feels like a perfect place to start the rest of your life together.

Before the Ceremony began, we captured a few images of the bride and her ladies getting ready.  Lisa and I fell in love with the Bride’s shoes and the Dress immediately….  Then the Bride and Groom’s little 2-year-old princess showed up and the excitement in Julie’s face when she saw her daughter made me want to cry. It was beautiful.  We realized shortly after that the flower girls would be 3 little 2-year-old princess’ and fishy crackers were being passed around frequently as they awaited the Ceremony to start.

The ceremony was very personal and intimate. It highlighted all that we love about our couple. It was an emotional ceremony and it was great to be a part of. I love watching and capturing the couple’s daughter walk up to her mommy and daddy several times throughout the ceremony. I loved that she was just left to be a part of the union! Beautiful!

The formal pictures were  very easy to accomplish because of so much love, friendship, and cooperation from the entire Wedding party. Such a great group to work with! During the private couple photos, again in the heat of the day, you could almost feel this couple’s energy. It was truly like time stopped in those moments and they just felt the Love they needed to feel for these photos to be real.

Julie and Jody we were honored to be there capturing your moments and we wish you a lifetime full of many great memories and much love!

Elizabeth & Kevin Say I Do in beautiful Algonquin Park ~ Ottawa Valley Wedding Photographer

I honestly believe that Algonquin park is a little piece of heaven on earth.  So what better place to tie the knot?

Elizabeth and Kevin have been a couple for a long time and have a beautiful teenage daughter, they decided to tie the knot after many years together and choose a spot that was special to their family.  Spruce Bog Boardwalk in Algonquin Park.  The family visits this spot often and thought it was a perfect place to share their love with family and friends looking on.

We walked about half way through the trail and came to a large rock just off the path.  Elizabeth and Kevin stood atop the rock while the sun shone through the trees in a magical way while they exchanged vows, and rings.  Their family and friends looked on and it really was a very special day.  While it was a small group you could feel the bonds of love and friendship shared by everyone in attendance.  We truly appreciate being part of this wonderful day!