A Sunny Next Day Wedding Portrait Session at Pitt Lake // Mel and Matt

Melanie and Matt explore Pitt Lake during their wedding portrait session in Pitt Meadows // Victoria Wedding Photographers

If you saw our blogs of Melanie and Matt's engagement session and wedding, you know how both featured Mel and Matt smiling and celebrating through some very heavy rain. West coast, wet coast!  Sure, it's fun to dance in the rain, but it's also nice to celebrate love in the sun and warmth.  When the opportunity came to do a portrait session with Mel and Matt again at Pitt lake in the summer, we jumped on it!  We loooove "next day shoots" (well, for Mel and Matt it was more of a "next season" shoot"), when the couple dresses up in their wedding attire and heads out for another portrait season.  It means we can spend time with them without the constraints of timeline, pressure to return to guests, and more freedom to pick days and times where the weather might be more favourable and the light is just right.  What a day we picked for Mel and Matt, the weather was the complete opposite, the location was just as gorgeous as their wedding location, and Mel and Matt were looking as stunning as ever!

Here are some of our favourites:

Intimate Outdoor Wedding at Abkhazi Gardens and Fortune Gallery // Katrina and Chris

Katrina and Chris host their nearest and dearest for an intimate wedding ceremony at The Abkhazi Garden Tea House and modern reception at Fortune Gallery in Victoria // Victoria Wedding Photographers

When we arrived at Abkhazi Gardensin Victoria to photograph Katrina and Chris's wedding ceremony, it was the most beautiful Saturday morning. Dew still clung to flower petals in the shade, turtles lounged on the edge of the pond, birds whistled from the Garry Oaks and quiet chatter filled the small clearing where guests waited for Chris and Katrina.  They arrived to the ceremony site together, hand in hand, and smiles across their faces, and we could immediately tell that today was going to be a special one!

And special it truly was! Kat and Chris, and their guests, were so inviting and joyous, that it was immpossible not to feed off their happy energy. The day itself offered up a little taste of what makes Victoria such a great place to get married and to live.  From the immaculately groomed gardens at Abkhazi, to the rugged shorescape at Cattle Point, and the modern artistic vibe at Fortune Gallery, we were treated to a smorgusboard of iconic Victoria.

Thanks Katrina and Chris for having us there as part of your day!

Intimate Spring Wedding at Stanley Park Pavilion // Hilary & Chris

Hilary and Chris host their intimate spring wedding at one of Vancouver's most iconic wedding venues, Stanley Park Pavilion // Victoria Wedding Photographers

It's iconic, it's romantic, it's timeless, it's subtly grand. Stanley Park Pavilion is one of Vancouver's most recognizable and desirable wedding venues. Plunked in the middle of Stanley Park in downtown, it feels like a remote destination. It's no wonder that Hilary and Chris wanted this gorgeous property to host their classic wedding. 

Hilary and Chris started for their day at Westin Bayshore, with views of downtown, Burrard Inlet, the North Shore mountains and Stanley Park.  After a sweet first look, we ventured over to Stanley Park, where Chris proposed, for photos before their intimate, indoor, standing ceremony by the pavilion's beautiful fireplace.  After the vows were exchanged, and the champagne popped, it was time to party!  A very special musical performance kicked off the celebration, followed by dinner and speeches and a whole lot of dancing!

Thank you Hilary and Chris for having us there to celebrate with you! We hope you love the photos! 

Thank you to our second shooter, Laura Scotten for your help that evening!

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!

Sunset at Sandcut Beach Engagement Photos // Lynne and Brendan

Lynne and Brendan explore the pebble beach and waterfalls at Sandcut Beach near Sooke // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Spring is in the air, and summer is right around the corner here on Vancouver Island.  We've been daydreaming about camping, building forts on the beach, waterfall hunting, and watching the sun set over the ocean.  When Lynne and Brendan told us they were coming to Victoria to visit family, we decided it would be the perfect opportunity to do some fun engagement photos - and get a taste of summer in the process! Sandcut is a hidden gem of a beach with an easy trail to the beach, a waterfall that you can walk behind. Fun fact: the wall of the waterfall is riddled with shell fossils, slowly being revealed as the water carves its way though the sandstone.

The wind off the ocean was chilly, but the sun was warm and dramatic over the water as we explored Sandcut.  Lynne and Brendan really showed us how playful of relationship they have as they laughed, chased each other with chilly hands, outran waves, and swung from Sandcut's rope swing. All the fun and sunshine had us feeling summer lovin' for days after!

Thanks Lynne and Brendan,we had a blast and we're so excited for your Yukon wedding! 

New Westminster Engagement Photos // Cathryn and Robert

We explore New Westminster's board walk and back alleys during Cathryn and Robert's engagement photo session // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Winter and spring are often chalk full of engagement sessions for us, and we've been riding the dizzying high we've gotten as we jump from one to the next!  It's an exciting whirlwind for us, and a huge moment for our couples as they plan their weddings whether their wedding is quickly approaching, or over a year away!  New Years Eve may seem like a long way off to some, but for Cathryn and Robert, who are hosting their Brix and Mortar wedding that day, we're sure it feels like it can't come fast enough!  Hosting an urban wedding at one of the most unique and romantic wedding venues in downtown Vancouver, an urban engagement session seemed very fitting for the theme! What a better place to do it than right in Cathryn and Robert's hood in New Westminster!

We met up with C + R on a sunny saturday evening, with clear blue skies and golden sunlight and they took us on a tour as we snapped pictures! We strolled through the brick alleyways, counted all the new and trendy cafes, and explored the boardwalk near the River Market for sunset. 

Thanks so much Cathryn and Robert for showing us a great time and so many of New West's new gems! We can't wait for your wedding

Glamorous and Adventurous Whytecliff Park Engagement Photos // Shirley and Darwin

Shirley and Darwin get glammed up to explore Whytecliff Park in their engagement photos in Horseshoe Bay near Vancouver // Victoria Wedding Photographers

Whytecliff Park is one of Vancouver areas most popular spot for engagement photos, wedding photos, and sunset viewing, for very obvious reasons.  With views of the ocean and the island, it feels like a remote escape, without having to leave the city.  This time of year it seemed that we had the whole place to ourselves.  This all made for a dramatic setting for Shirley and Darwin's engagement session as they explored the cliffs before enjoying a beach sunset in their formal gown and tie.  When we met Shirley and Darwin, we immediately infatuated with how sweet they were and how natural they are together as a couple, but we were blown away by how adventurous they were climbing around Whytecliff Park... in their dressed clothes! We were shaking in our own boots as we watched them navigate around the cliffs and trails looking as brave as they were stylish!