Colleen & Jason’s Wedding – a mastery of Mother Nature
I met Colleen & James last summer. They’d stumbled across my website (so much for SEO lol), but loved my style. We hit it off right away – a relaxed, outdoorsy couple who met online. Fun and laughter dotted our initial meeting, and carried on for their fall engagement shoot at The Calgary Zoo.
The June wedding day brought a mixed forecast. Colleen had abandoned thoughts of walking across the field to the Church – only a couple of minutes from home – for practicality, in her stunning gown. The pastor at St. Gerard’s had a sense of humour as he delivered photographer’s rules, ending with, ‘and if you cross this line, your camera will be returned to you in pieces. A last minute change to the Lake Chaparral area for the bridal party and family photos had me ‘going in blind’ as I hadn’t been able to scope it out in advance. They did well though – stunningly picturesque with a lake, waterfalls, and gorgeous views.
Mother Nature was our only challenge. As we exited the Church, the skies to the north were intense blue black. I was grateful for the change in shooting destination as we’d have been right in the heart of that particular storm. But, as we headed south, another storm was brewing. Fortunately this one was short and sweet, and we managed to wait it out in the parking lot. Dramatic skies provided a stunning backdrop. We wrapped up the family and bridal party photos, headed to the pub for quick break between shoot and reception. It bucketed with rain once more, but we were indoors for the rest of the night. Thank you Mother Nature.
Fresh greens brightened up the community hall, and kept the atmosphere festive. A great time was had by all. To me, a wedding day should be full of laughter – and this one certainly was!
Church: St. Gerard’s Parish
Flowers: First Class Flowers
Food: Catering by Design
Cake: Cakes N More
Outdoor Venue: Chaparral Community Association (membership required)
Reception Venue: Strathcona, Christie, Aspen Community Association
