Stanley Park Engagement Session // Jane & Joseph

Jane and Joseph stroll the Seawall and explore the Stanley Park Gardens in Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Wowee! Spring was fabulous, but summer has made a booming arrival!  What gorgeous weather we've been having. On days like these, we love to stroll somewhat aimlessly, check out the sights, play tourist, and take in the long days. That's just what we did with Jane and Joseph during their Stanley Park engagement photos! he park was abuzz with tourists and locals like, as we wandered from the Aquarium, to the gardens, and then the Seawall. It was a perfect day for people watching and flower gazing as we stopped to admire the rhododendrons, azaleas, roses, and alliums all around the park. All the while we chatted, giggled (and twirled!!) with Jane and Joseph, and took the opportunity to chat about them, their upcoming wedding and their excitement for their big day! 

Thank you Jane and Joseph for taking a easy breezy Saturday stroll with us during your engagement photos, we had a blast!

Shawnigan Lake Engagement Photos // Jacqui and Sean

Packers fans unite as Jacqui and Sean romp and dance around Shawinigan Lake during their sunset engagement photos // Victoria Wedding Photographers

It's been almost two years since we moved to Vancouver Island, and we've felt at home since we got here!  We've met so many great people, and experienced so many new and wonderful places. One of our favourite things to do is to find out about and explore a new-to-us place that is a long time love of our couples. We've heard so many great things about Shawnigan Lake and it's always been on our radar to visit, but it was even better to head there to do engagement photos for Jacqui and Sean, who have Shawnigan Lake summers near and dear to their hearts.

They brought us to Shawnigan Wharf Park near their parents' house to walk the decommissioned train track trail, and watch sunset over the lake. We had a great time photographing as these two romped around the park, danced on the dock and then donned their Packers jerseys and cheese-heads for some laughs. We really caught a glimpse of Jacqui and Sean's dynamic, what makes them such a great couple, and so fun to be around.

We can't wait for their Bear Mountain wedding!

Golden Eagle Golf Club Wedding - Ashley and Mike

Ashley and Mike host their wedding at Golden Eagle Golf Club in Pitt Meadows and enjoy a helicopter ride with Sky Helicopters // BC Wedding Photographers

When we first met with Ashley and Mike to talk about their wedding, we learned a lot about them and how they met, their love for basketball and sports, and how they bond over light hearted competition.  At their wedding, it was fun to meet a lot of their friends and family who were all like a big team.  We had SO many laughs during bridal prep with Ashley, her gals, and brother that we immediately felt welcomed!

Their outdoor wedding was held at Golden Eagle Golf Club, the only place in the lower mainland that it didn't seem to be raining that day!  Guests watched on with big laughs, and happy tears in a fun, but sentimental ceremony officiated by Shawn from Young Hip and Married.  After their ceremony it was time for Ashley and Mike to enjoy their helicopter ride, and some private time by a mountain river bed. 

With their feet back on the ground, Ashley and Mike joined their guests for some speeches, drinks, dancing, and of course, basketball!

Thanks so much for having us their to meet your crew, and celebrate you day with you, Ashley and Mike. Hope you love the photos!

Tips for Looking and Feeling Awesome in Your Engagement Photos

Some great suggestions on how to look and feel amazing during your engagement photos, from Victoria Wedding Photography team, Pebble and Pine Photography.

Let's start with why we love engagement sessions so much!  We get asked a lot by couples if engagement sessions are a totally necessary part of getting married.  The truth is, they aren't.  You can get married without having engagement sessions and your marriage is still just as legal, haha.  However,  we've found that engagement sessions are so valuable because they are a great way for us to get to know our couples a bit more before the wedding.  It helps us to see how you interact with each other, get to know your dynamic as a couple, and how we can best make you feeling comfortable and confident in front of the lens so the wedding day is effortless and has a smooth natural flow to it.  It's also incredibly helpful and fun for our couples who are preparing for the big day.  It shows you how we work as a photography duo, how you feel being photographed, and help you to get more comfortable in front of our lenses, so that you have less to feel nervous about when your wedding day comes. 

 In our experience of photographing weddings, we've found that many of the couples we work with have not had professional photos done together before working with us.  They often have questions about how they can best prepare for the engagement session, so we've put together a handy little tips list.  That way, you can put your nerves at ease, and feel excited!

First and most importantly to remember; this is not a do-or-die list.  As with all advice, follow it to the degree that you're comfortable with, and that feels right for you!

Ability to move freely. 
Because we’ll be walking around, and getting the two of you interacting with each other, the ability to move around with ease is the best way to feel natural in front of the camera.  You want to make sure that you can wrap your arms around each other comfortably, and also be able to walk and sit down without worrying what your clothes are doing, or feeling restricted by them. We also love taking candid photos of you guys just spending time together, so the less you carry with you (purses, backpacks, etc), the more spontaneous the photos can be.  Some couples like to make sure they can keep their phones close by, or like to bring a small makeup/lip touch-up kit along which is totally fine. In those instances, we will usually just carry those things for you in our camera bags until you need them, so they don’t show through your pockets and clothes.

Wear the clothes, and do the hair and makeup style that make you feel like the most confident, comfortable, and vibrant version of yourself.
Keep in mind that when you look at your photos later, we want you to feel like your photos are a reflection of your true self, not a costumey version of yourself.
Our best advice is to not wear clothes, or get hair and makeup done to an extreme or style that feels unnatural or uncharacteristic of you. The best way to look good on camera is to feel like yourself! 
Brides who are planning to have hair and makeup done at the wedding often opt to have some hair and makeup for the engagement session, to see how it feels to be photographed with it done.  Typically it’s slightly more toned-down, and less formal than it would be on the wedding day.  The best way to look good on camera is to feel like yourself! 

Decide on a location you love and feel comfortable in.
We encourage couples to choose a place of significance to them, and a place they feel comfortable in.  We love engagement sessions to tell some kind of story and have a flow to them, so that you don’t feel like you're just standing in front of the camera posing the whole time. If you're in a place you love and are excited about, you'll feel more at ease in front of the camera.  This way we can get you interacting with each other to really capture your personalities, and your dynamic together.  A lot of couples choose walks on the beach or the woods in areas they like, or decide they want to have a date night, like a wine-and-sunset picnic somewhere.  Other couples choose to have their photos taken doing a hobby they enjoy doing.  We like to chat with our couples about ideas that work best to reflect their life together.

Match your engagement style vibe to the atmosphere and style you’ve planned your wedding. 
Weddings nowadays have become less of a traditional mould, and more of an expression of your relationship.  Chances are, you’ve planned your wedding to reflect your personalities, your style and taste, and of course your eccentricities.  We recommend matching your engagement style to fit amongst the same general style of your wedding, and your own personal style.  Some couples consider themselves more outdoorsy and adventurous. Some couples vibe with boho, whereas others are more modern and edgy, etc.  So to avoid feeling uncomfortable or inauthentic to yourself, we usually recommend couples dress in what Matt refers to as, “casual plus, or better".  It's a spruced up version of your own real, personal style.  For example, a couple we shot last year, during a beach sunset, described their outfit choice this way, “we chose outfits to that we would wear to a beachfront patio, on a night out for dinner and drinks with good friends we hadn’t seen for a long time.”   

Complement each other’s style. 
This is not a suggestion to wear a matchy-matchy couples onesie outfit, though that would be hilarious. We do, however, recommend your clothes complement each other’s style and scale of formality. We’ve found most couples have a similar style anyways, but we just throw this in as a tip.  For example, if one of you is in a suit jacket, the other might not want to wear those oh-so-cozy LuLus and gym top.  Or, if one is in a brightly coloured, patterned summer dress, the other probably wouldn’t be rocking the Johnny Cash all-black-from-head-to-toe look.  You're both individuals, but these photos show how you complement each other as two equal parts of a whole.

Play off the season and location.  
This all goes with the goal of feeling comfortable and natural in your surroundings. We want you to dress and feel awesome for the weather, and location you're in.  Heels aren't always the best shoe choice for snowy mountains or sandy beaches. If you're planning to rock a strapless dress at the top of Cypress in the winter, bring along a cute jacket to wear.  If you're planning a romantic summer sunset on a hot beach, leave that parka at home and wear layers instead. 

I know, I know! This isn't one of Andrea and Eddie's engagement photos. But we love their use of vibrant colour and eccentric prints to show their personal style. Don't be afraid to be bold, friends!

Don't shy away from bright colours or prints, but avoid fluorescent neon materials. 
Bold prints and vibrant colours can be a great way to show your personal style, but be weary of fluorescent and neon.  Think Olivia Newton John in her 80’s aerobic leotards.  While these types of colours are mostly seen in workout and road-worker attire to promote visibility and road safety, they have started to pop up in regular style as well for a visual punch.  Great in real life, but these fluorescent and neon colours are so reflective that they’ll reflect their own colour onto your skin in photographs.  If these colours are on the front of your shirt, they will often cast their colour up onto your face and your partner’s, even on a cloudy day. (We’ll have a photo in the blog to show an example of this effect.)

A good night sleep, proper meals, and lots of water! 
This is just a general rule for day to day life, but it applies to the day of your photoshoot as well.  If you’re nervous the night before, try to hit the hay early to make sure you’re not tired the evening of your session. If you’re busy with hair and makeup on the day of, make sure to allot time for food and water through the day of your the photo session.  It’s the best way to look vibrant, feel refreshed, and stay excited through your photos together. Plus, as we all know, it’s hard to smile and feel lovey when we’re hangry. 

These are some of our prep / attire tips. But again, only follow these to the degree that you’re comfortable with, and don’t feel restricted by.  We usually spend a few minutes at the start of each photo shoot to let you guys know what expect so that you know how to interact with each other and the camera during the photoshoot. We’ll shake out all those nervous, awkward feelings at the start so you guys can feel awesome in the photos! 

Feel free to check out some other blogs here:

Gambier Island Wedding at Camp Fircom - Katrina and Brian

Katrina and Brian Get Married at Camp Fircom on Gambier Island during a weekend away with family and friends // BC Wedding Photographers

Summer is camping and hiking, and swimming and canoeing and paddleboarding season. Summer is also our busy season, so needless to say, we've started to embrace many more winter activities since we miss out on camping during camping's peak season. SO when Katrina and Brian told us that they were going to be having their wedding at Camp Fircom, and that all their guests would be spending the weekend there, we lost our crackers.  How fun is that?! 

When we first met with Katrina and Brian it was quickly determined they were outdoorsy and adventurous.  They also have these infectious smiles, and warm inviting personalities.  A camp wedding surrounded by close friends and family was such a perfect way for this couple to say their "I Do's", and we were really excited to be there for it.  Not only did Katrina and Brian make their wedding personal by hosting their guests at this remote location, but they also made their own rings!  The two of them travelled to Washington to craft their wedding bands with the help of the gang at With These Rings. 

With a weekend of events, activities and dinners with their guests, Katrina and Brian hosted a heck of a wedding.  All of their guests travelled from the east, the south, and overseas to be their with them, which made it even more special to be part of.

Congratulations you two!

Thanks Katrina and Brian for having us there, we hope you love the photos!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Backyard Wedding in Maple Ridge - Kara Lynn and Kirby

Kara-Lynn and Kirby Get Married on Family Property in Maple Ridge // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

We met Kara-Lynn and Kirby over a year ago, and we had a blast with them during their engagement shoot. We could not wait until this year to come from Victoria to photograph their outdoor wedding in Maple Ridge.

We think it's really special when a couple can get married in a place that is personal to them, so a family member's gorgeous country property was such a great place for these two to exchange their vows.  

After the rings were put on and the papers were signed, we hopped in the limo bus with their bridal party and took off to a farm a few roads over.  Kara had driven past this gorgeous red barn every day, and just knew in her heart she wanted her wedding photos done there.  We think we'll have to hire her as a part time location scout, because that farm was fab! 

When we returned to the reception in time for dinner we sat in on speeches, toasts and a wonderfully heartfelt video crafted by a dear friend.  We loved how sentimental, open, honest and welcoming they and their friends and family were the whole day.  It was a very touching wedding... one that had us clutching for our heartstrings. 

Thank you kara-Lynn and Kirby for letting us be flies on the wall at your beautiful wedding! 

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Craidelonna OceanEdge Wedding in Sooke - Genny and Dave

Genny and Dave Get Married at Craidelonna Lodge in Sooke // Vancouver Island Wedding Photographers

When we met Genny and Dave last year, we were excited at the idea of potentially shooting their wedding.  They were sweet, genuine, outdoor-loving, and lived in one of our favourite places to visit in BC, Sooke.  We also learned quickly that Genny and Dave loved fishing, and spending time out on the boat with their daughter, Hannah.  What a better place for a couple of ocean folk to get married than at Craidelonna OceanEdge Lodge, perched right on the edge of a hillside, with panoramic views of the sea, and access to a beautiful ocean beach.  We have always loved weddings at Craidelonna, and feel it's one of the very best wedding venues around Victoria, even on all of Vancouver Island.

When we arrived that day, many people were enjoying the views.  All the men hung around in the crow's nest, overlooking the ocean, chatting, toasting the occasion with tequila, and of course, chiding Dave about how he had to spend a saturday on land.  All the ladies spent time on the lower patio, catching up, drinking wine and admiring Genny's bridal dressing process.  What a beautiful and radiant bride and mom, Genny is.  With her beachy curls and sparkling gown, she could have been a mermaid. 

From the intimate and seemingly isolated location, custom decor, speeches and toasts from friends and family, and service from the warm Craidelonna staff (family, really), Genny and Dave's wedding felt incredibly personal.  Even their caterer, Toque Catering, incorporated Genny and Dave's own fresh caught crab and halibut into their delightful and creative dinner dishes.

Thank you so much, Genny and Dave for inviting us to meet your friends and family, and capture this special day!  We hope you love the photos.

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Sea to Sky Gondola Sunset Engagement in Squamish - Paula and Cameron

Paula and Cameron Adventure Around and Enjoy a Private Sunset During Their Engagement Photos at the Sea to Sky Gondola // BC Wedding Photographers

We've been really excited about Paula and Cameron's engagement session for some time now. When we first started planning for it, we talked about locations in Pemberton, then Vancouver, then finally decided on the glorious Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish.  We've been dying photograph an engagement or wedding at Sea to Sky Gondola since it opened: and who could be a more perfect fit for this location than well-travelled, outdoorsy, and adventurous Paula and Cameron!

It was so fun to experience the top of the summit with Paula and Cameron who had never been up there before, and gave us a lot of opportunities to capture how much they enjoyed the experience, and the amazing views!

By sunset, most other visitors had departed for the gondola, and we had the whole place to ourselves. As the sun set, fog started to crawl into Howe Sound, and up from the trees below. This all made for a really intimate finale to the fun evening.

Thanks Paula and Cameron for the awesome outing! We hope you love your engagement photos. We can not wait for your wedding! 

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Outdoor Kitimat Wedding at the Rod and Gun Club - Darlene and Rob

Rob and Darlene's Kitimat Wedding and Second Day Photo Shoot // BC Wedding Photographers

If you saw our last blog post, you know we went up to Kitimat for a couple weddings, and to visit Matt’s hometown.  Darlene and Rob were first on our list.  We love shooting weddings where we get to run into familiar faces, and catch up with the couples of weddings we’ve photographed in the past.  Rob is the brother of Mike, of Mike and Lindsey, who got married in Sooke 3 years ago.  He’s also the cousin of Philip, of Philip and Crystal, who had their wedding in Whistler last year.  I guess you can say that we love ‘Keeping Up with the Campbells!’  If Darlene and Rob’s wedding was going to be anything like their kins’, we were in for a treat.  They did not disappoint!

Darlene and Rob hosted their intimate, outdoor ceremony along the Kitimat River, at the Kitimat Rod and Gun Club.  The early-evening light, and the views of the mountains and riverbed really set the mood.  We love when couples involve their children in their ceremonies, and we have to say they their son Riley was an incredibly dapper, dinosaur-clad ring bearer, and little brother Casey made a wonderful supervisor-of-the-ceremony-events.

After the ceremony, it was straight into dinner and dancing with their guests – partying late into the night and creating some pretty raucous memories in our PebbleBooth.

We got to do a fun and intimate second-day shoot with Darlene and Rob.  We still can not get over how gorgeous the two of them looked that day – two lovers, on a mountain, amongst the trees, overlooking the ocean at sunset.

Thank you for checking out our wedding photography.  If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us.

Merridale Ciderworks Wedding - Tarilyn and Joel

Joel and Tarilyn's Summer Orchard Wedding at Merridale Ciderworks on Vancouver Island // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Man, we sure love a wedding on Vancouver Island.  Merridale Ciderworks is one of Vancouver Island's best outdoor wedding venues.  It's private, it's remote feeling, it's beautiful, it's intimate. It has delightful food, and guests, and couples rave about the times they have there.

The day of their wedding took place on Tarilyn’s grandma’s 67nd wedding anniversary, and was very sentimental. It was easy to see how celebrated Joel and Tarilyn’s relationship is, and how happy their wedding guests were.  Family and friends were all participants during the ceremony events, and were a constant mob of hugs, smiles, and tearfully joyous congratulations throughout the afternoon and evening.  Their glasses were raised high following all of the heartfelt speeches, and clinked often for eventful newlywed kissing – which, of course was followed by a chorus of Ooh’ing and Ahh’ing!   Bride and Groom, in similar fashion to their engagement photo session, could not keep their eyes off each other.  Whether they were dancing, jumping in the photobooth, talking to guests, or across the room from each other, Tarilyn and Joel’s eyes were glued to one another the whole day.  After sneaking them away from friends and family to do a few more portraits among the twinkle lights, we left the couple to dance all through the night together.

Thanks so much Tarilyn and Joel, for inviting us to be part of this very very special day.

Joel and Tarilyn had a lot of amazing, local vendors!  If you’re planning a wedding on Vancouver Island, be sure to check out their work:

Venue: Merridale Estate Cidery / Merridale Ciderworks  //  Florist: Daisy Chain Florists //  Hair: Rosa Harris  //  Wedding Gown/Shoes: Lisa’s Bridal  //  Bridesmaids: Everything But The Groom  //  Wedding Favours: Sweet Little Things Bakery  //  DJ: HiWay Productions – Ron Larson //  Officiant: Barbara Densmore

Thank you for reading! For more of our work, please visit our facebook page!

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us

Beach House Restaurant Wedding - Matthew and Bryant

Matthew and Bryant's Summer Wedding at Beach House Restaurant in West Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Matthew and Bryant’s wedding took place on the sunniest, brightest day of the year!  It was so beautiful, not a cloud to be seen anywhere in the sky.  With the Beach House Restaurant in West Van providing the beautiful backdrop, the day went smoothly.  It was one of the most heartfelt weddings I’ve ever attended, with countless tears, smiles, and laughter during the ceremony and speeches.  The love felt during this one was very apparent!  Scroll on down to enjoy their wedding as captured through our lenses.

Thank you for stopping by to check out our wedding photography. If you'd like to know more about our lives in BC, or as Pebble and Pine Photography, Creative and Modern Victoria and Vancouver Island wedding photographers, you can read About Us