Please for the love of all things good, peep these portraits. I still cannot get over how amazing they are. Epic and gorgeous in each location, and there were THREE of them!

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Chelsea & Dave's Gabriola Island wedding was truly one for the books. I am SO glad to have connected with Sarah of Fragment of Light and be invited all the way over to the gulf islands for this gem. It took a VERY early couple of ferry rides (and very late), but it was 100000% worth it. Working with Sarah was a huge gift- not only incredibly easy to chat with like an old friend, but also very encouraging of me offering ideas, poses, and different angles. I really appreciated the artistic freedom and felt like it really paid off for everyone involved!

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Arriving early on the island, Sarah and I hopped around the planned locations to get some ideas on what we were going to be working with for the portrait sessions for the day, before heading over to the venue-adjacent cabin where Dave and his guys were getting prepped. Dave, an RCMP officer, cut a very sharp figure in his uniform. After getting dressed, a heartfelt letter from his bride-to-be, and breaking into the groom/groomsmen gifts (which contained, among other things, personalised beer glasses and some craft beer) with a cheers, Sarah and I were off to Chelsea's parents' house where she was getting ready, and where the ceremony was to be held.

 

Talk about a beautiful property. The winding driveway through the forest down to the house was sprinkled with signs, photos, and other decoration, before opening up to the front yard with two whole beautiful stations set up for guestbook signing & guest gifts, and another for cocktail-hour libations and snacks post-ceremony. The ceremony site set up in the forested area alongside the house was perfectly sun-dappled and sweet.

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Inside, Chelsea and her girls were a frenzy of activity in a busy house full of preparations. Chelsea took the nerves and general chaos like a champ, though, calmly letting us direct her through the process. She looked truly beautiful in her embroidered gown with its eye-catching dramatic train. After a sweet first-look with her her father, and then a cheers and gifts with her bridesmaids, it was ceremony time, which was short and sweet with very sentimental teary personalised vows. 

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After some mingling, it was onto bridal party photos which Sarah expertly positioned to look like something out of magazine, some individual shots (I totally love the solo portraits I captured of Dave!) and then into the forest for the first part of the couple portraits, where they had hung little frames with selfies all through the trees and strung fairy lights criss cross through the branches- magical!! The sun filtered through the pine trees just perfectly for the ceremony and these portraits before hiding away for the rest of the day.

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We then left for Malaspina Point for some epic west-coast-y shots of the dramatic sky and unique rock formations. Sarah and I already knew we were hitting paydirt with the portraits for this couple, and the best was still yet to come! After a cozy reception at the Surf Lodge got underway and everyone was busy filling their tummies, Sarah and I stole Chelsea and Dave away for one last little portrait session in the amazingly beautiful and moody blue hour light along the rocks and tidal pools right outside the Surf Lodge. The sprinkling rain only added to the mood, and Chelsea and Dave were amazing sports sticking through it without complaint. The pics speak for themselves!!

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2nd shooting for Fragment of Light Photography