Due to a combination of factors in recent years (having babies/little kids, pandemic, etc etc) it has been a long while since I photographed a wedding. I'm hoping to start doing more elopements/small ceremonies, because I absolutely love them (we've established that I'm a romantic through and through)... so when V & D reached out to me about shooting this very special 'micro wedding' on a beautiful rooftop in North Vancouver, I immediately said yes. Thankfully my youngest is now old enough that I can leave her in her dad's capable hands for a while so that I can branch out a bit! I was initially a bit nervous, mostly because the magnitude of a wedding day is not lost on me. It's one of the most significant days in most people's lives, and there is no re-do. If something crazy happened on the date of one of my family shoots, most of the time it wouldn't be a big deal to reschedule and re-shoot... but a wedding is once in a lifetime and that's a lot of pressure! Upon arrival, though, I instantly felt at ease. V & D are so, so incredibly lovely, as are their family and friends. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and helpful, and the atmosphere was super relaxed, which allowed me to get into 'the zone' pretty easily.
I absolutely loved all of the colour and personal touches that they incorporated into their attire and the ceremony space. V's dress was actually hand made by her friend, and she DIY-ed her gorgeous flower crown as a nod to her Polish roots. I joked in an Instagram post that I knew they were kindred spirits as soon as I heard their wedding playlist... I'd literally been listening to several of the songs on my drive over from Abbotsford to North Van. Their vows were heartfelt and touching, and you could feel the love from all directions the whole afternoon.
After the ceremony they had a heartfelt champagne toast, and V's mom even led everyone through a traditional Polish song that's sung at celebrations. So many family members and friends from around the world were also able to join in via a livestream, which was super special. Once the cake was cut and served, we gathered immediate family members and headed across the street to a lovely little park for family photos and bridal portraits.
After we snagged some fun portraits they headed off to their restaurant reception. The whole vibe of their day felt like something out of an indie movie (the highest compliment I can bestow, honestly) and they are both equal parts effortlessly cool and genuinely lovely human beings. I'm so honoured to have been a part of their day, and I wish them so much happiness in their married life together.
