Where to even begin? This was such a special wedding to photograph!!! Robin’s sister Cheryl and I used to work together at Black’s Photography, and 15 years ago Cheryl & Wayne’s wedding was the FIRST wedding I ever photographed!!! Fast forward 15 years, Robin reached out to me to see if I’d be available to photograph her and Julie’s wedding in the mountains of Gatineau Quebec!! Two super in love brides on a mountain top – I knew I had to make this work!!! We planned a family road trip around their big day, and as luck would have it Lindsay was able to meet up with me in Gatineau to be my second shooter for the day! We loved every second of this amazing celebration – from the anticipation of the two brides getting ready around the corner from each other and a quick hand squeeze before the official “first look”. Julie’s mom giving her an emotional blessing before the ceremony. The tearful vows, Robin an anglophone, recited hers in french to her francophone wife. The joyful cheers from the supportive audience as they were pronounced a married couple and the palpatable feeling of love and inclusiveness as everyone danced together during the first dances! It was a perfect day from start to finish and we are so honoured that we got to be a part of it!!!
– Heather
{Ontario Wedding Photographer}
Describe the vision/theme you had for your wedding in 5 words or less: An elegant day in nature
What are you favorite memories of your wedding day?
Bride Robin: meeting Julie at the top of the aisle and walking together. That moment when we first held hands.
Bride Julie: When Robin said a portion of her vows in French. It was a special surprise, and it was beautiful.
Best wedding related decision: Le Belvedere for venue……100%.
Favourite detail: There are so many, but the reveal of the weddings dresses was special. The whole process of dressing without seeing and then the actual moment of turning around to see each other was so memorable, and well orchestrated by our team of photographers!
Advice for future brides & grooms: Keep some things secret, just between the two of you. Some of our close family knew a few details, but nobody except us knew everything. It made it special for us and for our guests,
Would you change anything if you could do it all over again? No changes – it really was perfect. Only wish it didn’t go by so quickly.
Best surprise of the day: Our marriage officiant asking our guests to bless our rings in whatever religion or spiritual belief was their own.
Anything else you’d like to add: We loved the process of planning our first dance and taking lessons. It was choreographed by our ball room instructor so it was spectacular. We had so much fun practicing together in the months ahead of our wedding. This too, was a surprise to our guests. Only 2 people knew that we had taken lessons.
VENDORS:
Ceremony Location – Le Belvedere | Reception Location – Le Belvedere | Officiant – Jean Claude Roy | Wedding Planner – Jessica at Le Belvedere and Amanda Stewart, I Do Weddings (advice in early stages of planning) (Keswick Ontario) | Flowers/Decorator – Bloomfields Glebe | Hair/Makeup- Makiage et Koiffure | Caterer – Le Belvedere | DJ – Richard Paquin – djPaquin.com | Rings/Jewelery – Peoples Jewellers
WEDDING SONGS:
Processional – From This Moment – Shania Twain
Recessional – Happy – Pharell
First Dance – A Thousand Years
