There is a difference between planning a wedding and planning a marriage. Sam and Sacha took great care in planning their wedding day, including important people and details that were meaningful to them. But what made their day stand out was that it was clear that it was about more than just a day – they were carefully planning a life together. The sermon and their vows were charged and emotional and full of precious promises that brought me to tears (I know, I know, don’t they all Bee?) The commitment they made was not made lightly, but that does not mean it wasn’t a fun day. There were a lot of laughs and you could plainly see that they genuinely love spending time together joking and goofing around. I had a blast with them and their wedding party who welcomed me with open arms for the day (always the best bonus for wedding photographers when the entire crew is on board to have a great time!).

Sam and Sacha, thank you again and again for having me there for your wedding day. It was truly an honour.

Are you planning a wedding for 2020? Get in touch today to secure your date!

For today’s post I am doing double duty! Not only am I sharing Brooke and Zach’s lovely Elora Wedding, but I also want to use this opportunity to talk a little bit about my approach to shooting weddings. Your wedding day is something to be remembered; it usually takes months of planning and for most people it is one of the only days of their life where they are surrounded by most of their loved ones. I want to start by saying that I do not take this job for granted. The fact that people trust me with documenting their wedding day is something that I will continue to be humbled by. I have and will always do my very best to document weddings as honestly and creatively as I can.

Getting ready with the guys and girls

I generally start my wedding day shooting with the groom and his party and/or family. When I arrived to meet Zach where he was getting ready I was pleasantly surprised. He and his family were getting ready at Brooke’s uncles house which sat on a lovely piece of land. I am not exaggerating when I say I could have photographed this house and the yard for the entire day. The eclectic house was full of books and treasures and made for a very interesting place for everyone to gather. The guys tend to be a little nervous and camera shy, so I generally come in and introduce myself and then move about the location taking shots from the background. I want the groom and his guys to feel comfortable with me and be willing to have some fun, so I set the stage early. We were lucky to be able to get all of the groomsmen’s and family pictures done there before I headed out to meet the girls!

Brooke was getting ready at her grandparents house, full of years worth of family photographs and memories. The family uses the house as a “cottage” now, but the fact that Brooke used this as her spot to get ready really spoke to their regard for family. As always, I came in and took some time to get acquainted with the house and introduced myself to anyone I don’t already know. The bridesmaids are usually my best allies for the remainder of the day, so I want to always make sure that relationship is solid before the day picks up! Just like with Zach, we were lucky to get all of the family pictures done with Brooke’s side before we left for the ceremony. I love when we get to do this because giving everyone something to do helps settle the nervous energy – and nervous giggles photograph adorably.

The ceremony

At this point in the day I usually head over to the ceremony space before the wedding party to get some shots of the décor and some of the guests arriving. These candid shots are always fun, everyone is greeting each other with big smiles and the excitement starts to build!
Brooke and Zach chose to be married in the same church as her parents and grandparents. Another lovely testament to their family and an added layer of sentiment. In fact, her parents were celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary that weekend! When the ceremony gets under way I try to find a seat in the front row on the aisle to get everyone walking down the aisle without having to stand in the way. That front row seat also gives me the best view of the groom watching his bride walk down the aisle to him.
During the ceremony I shoot as minimally as possible, but from as many locations as possible. I try to stay low and to the sides of the room so I am not disrupting anyone. I prefer to watch and wait – anticipating the reactions and moments – rather than shooting constantly to not miss anything. Brooke and Zach’s ceremony was traditional, yet full of many quirks that perfectly reflected their relationship and personalities – giving everyone a little laugh.
Following the ceremony is usually the easiest time to grab group shots. Family members have a tendency to scatter and disappear as the day goes on, so grabbing everyone right after the ceremony is always ideal. I love that Brooke and Zach got to take a traditional wedding portrait at the front doors of the church and hearing her mother behind me saying “We had the very same picture taken on our wedding day!” just about brought me to tears.

Bridal party portraits

Once the family pictures are done we generally get to have a little bit of fun with the wedding party. Sometimes that means boarding a bus and having a drink, and sometimes it means just going for a quick walk. Brooke and Zach wanted to head down the gorge for their wedding party shots so that is where we went! Brooke switched out her heels for Birks (my kind of girl!) and we made the decent! It was so fun to get everyone down there and take the iconic Elora Gorge shots. I really try to give my couples a good variety of shots of their wedding party. They are obviously very important parts of their lives so documenting them is important too.
I often will try to get some alone time with the couple and let the wedding party take off. This point in the day is usually the first moment the couple is getting alone together, so I do my best to take the shots I need, but also give them a few moments here and there to have a conversation and just breathe together. As a bonus, me standing back and allowing them those moments usually makes for some lovely, natural images of them.

My favourite part: the reception

I try to get to the reception space before the wedding party and newlyweds in order to get some shots of the details. It might not seem as important, but often times things like décor, table settings and layout are the things that take up the most time during the planning process, so having images of them is important. Plus, they often tell a good story of the couple and their history together.
Brooke and Zach’s speeches has me crying with laughter. Speeches are always my favourite part of weddings, and on this day they did not disappoint. Did I mention that I lived with Zach briefly when we were in university? Let’s just say, none of the stories surprised me in the slightest. As hilarious as they were, they were also very touching and heartfelt. Their families were already so close and seeing them all interacting together was really entertaining to watch.

As a general rule, I love to stand back at weddings and watch the day unfold, capturing the moments that are happening around me to tell your story. I am however, not afraid to take control when/if needed to get the shots you want. Weddings are busy and can often go in a blur, so I try my best to keep everyone on task to make sure vision is met. Every wedding is different, and the wishes of each couple are different, so by getting to know each other before the day we can work together to make sure I am able to deliver what you want. Shooting weddings is so fun and stimulating, and I am not trying to be overly cheesy when I say that they are full of emotion. I love the honest happiness that everyone feels, and I love that many people, like Brooke and Zach, use the day to honour their loved ones who have brought them together. The cheese literally gives me that warm and fuzzy feeling, and I leave every wedding feeling energized and grateful. (Now if you made it through that entire post and to the end you deserve an award. That got a little out of hand!)

*****

Brooke’s Dress: Sixpence | Zach’s Suit: Moores | Flowers: Cecelia White | Venue: Hanlon Guelph | Decorations: Universal Wedding Decor

If you are planning a wedding in SW Ontario, I would love to chat with you about your day and how I can best document it for you! You can contact me here today to get started! To see more of my wedding work, click here.

*****

Brittany VanRuymbeke is an Elora Wedding Photographer specializing in fun, laid-back weddings throughout Southwestern Ontario.

Brittany VanRuymbeke is a Chatham-Kent ON Wedding Photographer offering a laid back and relaxing wedding experience. For more information, contact me today!

*****

BJ and Leanne’s wedding day was a blast. The weather was gorgeous and the rain narrowly missed us. BJ & Leanne included a lot of personal touches to their wedding day. Leanne’s daughters took part not only in the ceremony, but also spent the entire day together with them – a beautiful testament to how much they are a part of their relationship. They were married at BJ’s grandmothers farm, had a custom cake made donning his favourite hockey team (maybe a dig at Leanne’s die-hard Leaf fan family? Ha!), and Leanne, a music teacher, sat and performed two songs for their guests at the reception. They also included many of their nieces & nephews in the wedding, and those kids rocked the dance floor once the sun went down.

Thank you BJ & Leanne for inviting me to document your wedding day. It was a pleasure to see your families come together and support you both, and I am honoured to tell a little part of your story.

Leanne’s Dress: One Upon A Time Weddings | BJ’s & Groomsmen’s Suits: Collins | Bridesmaids Dresses: Le Chateau | Flowers: Stratford Blooms | Dinner: Burns Restaurant | Decor: Partee Rentals | Cake: Cakes by Jayne

*****

Brittany VanRuymbeke is a Chatham-Kent ON Wedding Photographer specializing in laid-back and fun wedding days, available for weddings across Ontario and abroad. To see more of her weddings, click here. To get in touch and book your wedding day, contact her here.

Steph & Ian’s wedding was sort of a turning point for me. It was one of those days that make you really reflect on your life and whether you are living in a way that is going to leave a positive mark. Their wedding day was full of typical wedding moments: hilarious stories about how they met, a fun and energetic crowd, and a dance floor that just wouldn’t quit. But what I found truly remarkable was that Steph & Ian have already overcome so much together, and everyone in the room that night was radiating respect. Every wedding is full of love and happiness, but the joy was palpable. Hearing their story and seeing the people surrounding them in awe of their relationship and strength was a blessing. I will never approach a wedding the same again.

Now, their story is not mine to tell. My point in saying this is that I left feeling so lucky to have been a part of such a remarkable day. Being a photographer is the career I have chosen because I get to see, and document, love in so many forms, and it is a constant reminder to look for the good while embracing the real. After hearing their story my feelings were nothing of pity, but of awe and inspiration. Being able to capture the life and joy between Steph & Ian, and their friends and family on such a monumental day was humbling: a true reminder of pure love and the lengths we will go to for our loved ones.

And as a bonus, they put an offer in on a house the night before their wedding. Their realtor was a guest and as part of the “kissing game” announced that their offer had been accepted and they had bought a house! How cool is that?!?

Steph and Ian, thank you. I know I say it after every wedding and every session, but I am so truly thankful. Your story was inspiring, and may you always find strength together in the best and hardest of times.

Ceremony, Reception & Decorations: Club Lentina’s | Flowers: Westbrooks | Bride & Groom’s Suite: Retro Suites Hotel | Steph’s Dress: Once Upon A Time Weddings | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu | Suits: Freeds |

To make a contribution to The Lighthouse Foundation for Cystic Fibrosis and Multiple Sclerosis research, click here. 

*****

Brittany VanRuymbeke is a Chatham Ontario Wedding Photographer specializing in fun and laid-back wedding days. If you are here looking for a Chatham Ontario Wedding Photographer, please see my portfolio here and contact me here today to start planning your wedding day!

SaveSave

When Jessalyn and Paul completed my pre-wedding questionnaire I asked them to describe themselves, each other, and their wedding day. The words that came up multiple times were fun and laughter. As a guest who was able to observe their wedding day first hand, I can tell you that these elements were infused in every aspect of their day. As Jess got ready, here friends and family surrounded her with funny memories, dance music and lots of laughs. The groomsmen were teasing each other constantly (as groomsmen do), and Paul’s parents house was full of the echoing sounds of their deep laughs.

Jess told me her number one goal for their wedding day was to be together and have fun. As you watch the story of Jess and Paul’s wedding day, you can see how much pure excitement, joy and love there is, and how it all manifested into a day bubbling with laughter.

Thank you Jessalyn & Paul for allowing me to tell a small portion of your story. The day was fun, relaxed and full of so much laughter – I hope it was everything you dreamed of.

*****

Brittany VanRuymbeke is a photographer and film maker who creates Ontario Wedding Films. If you are engaged and looking for wedding photography or videography, please contact me today.

Zach and Marcia’s wedding day had a few hiccups. Most weddings have a few minor issues, but what I find most interesting is how people handle these situations on a day that can be stressful. Zach woke up in the morning at the hotel and while finishing up the decor he found that all of the floral arrangements had frozen in the fridge over night. Thankfully, with the help of some amazing family and friends who were willing to drive through Sarnia, Lambton and Chatham-Kent, enough arrangements were put together for the day to proceed without anyone being the wiser.

Now, my point here is that your wedding day can be overwhelming, but how you perceive it can really set the tone for your marriage. I mean, your life together is not going to always be easy. Things are going to go wrong, and you will need to work together to sort it out. Sure there might be some curse words uttered, and some negative emotions that can creep in, but when you have a partnership that is supported by friends and family who want the best for you, any situation can be an opportunity for growth. You have likely put a lot of time and effort into planning your big day, and of course it is upsetting when things get a little off track, but some of the bests moments in life happen after the unexpected.

By the time I had reached the groomsmen that day, the entire situation had been rectified. And by the time I reached the bridesmaids, if Zach hadn’t told me the story I wouldn’t have known any difference: Marcia was calm, having fun with her friends and maybe a little nervous, just as most brides are. That morning they came up with a plan together and reassured each other that everything would be great, and it was! Because, yes, the flowers were a very important part of the day, but what was most important was the marriage. I tell all of my brides and grooms: If at the end of today you are married and smiling, that is all that matters.

Please help me to congratulate Zach & Marcia on their beautiful wedding that was an amazing start to their marriage.

Venue: Bogey’s Inn | Marcia’s Dress: Enchantment Bridal | Catering: Burns Bakery | Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal London | Suits: Moores

*****

Brittany VanRuymbeke is an Ontario Wedding Photographer specializing in laid-back and fun weddings that set the tone for a great marriage. To find out more and book your 2019 wedding, get in touch here.

The “first look” option is gaining popularity in the wedding world, and I often get asked by couples whether they should consider doing one. If you are unsure, a first look is when the bride and groom meet for a private moment before the ceremony to see each other for the first time on their wedding day. Instead of meeting at the altar, they meet alone somewhere else. I have to say, I am definitely in support of doing a first look, and below I am sharing a few reasons why.

A first look is a great way to slow down.

Wedding days are often busy and exciting, and most couples I work with say that it flies by in a blur. I know this is true for my own wedding as well, there are only a few moments that I remember really clearly; the rest is a blur of nerves and excitement. A first look is a perfect opportunity to have a private moment just the two of you and to slow down and take in the excitement together. You can take as little or as much time as you want to embrace the moment and talk about your day – and your life ahead – together.

You get to spend more time together.

Wedding days are a strange thing sometimes, where they are the most important day of your live together thus far, and yet you spend the majority of it apart. By doing a first look you can be together a few hours before the ceremony and have that extra time to create more memories together on your wedding day. I can guarantee those extra hours together will be well worth it.

The stress of the ceremony will be decreased.

A huge part of the stress of the ceremony is that you haven’t seen each other yet and you are so excited to finally be together. By doing a first look you can walk into your ceremony feeling refreshed and relaxed, and able to embrace every moment of it. And believe me when I say that the walk down the aisle doesn’t get any less magical when you have already seen each other.

You can spend more time with your guests.

Usually when you plan for a first look before the ceremony, we can arrange to get all of your bridal party and family portraits done before the ceremony as well. This timeline allows you to enjoy time with your guests after the ceremony instead of being whisked away for all of the group shots. More time to mingle and create memories with your guests is a win-win (and as a bonus it also makes for great photo opportunities!).

You can save your best emotions for each other.

This one is by far my favourite reason to do a first look. A lot of grooms are unsure of how they will react when they finally see their bride, and a lot of brides are worried about crying their way through the ceremony. Now don’t get me wrong, I love a good emotional couple, but by having a first look you can have that private moment together and let out any emotion you are truly feeling without worrying about the crowd. There is no need to hold back or worry about your make up, because it is just the two of you. It is also a great opportunity to speak freely and candidly to each other about the moment and your excitement, because there is no ceremony going on around you.

If you are planning your wedding and considering a first look option, I highly recommend it. You can decrease your stress level, gain more private time together and slow down to make the most of your exciting day. But no matter what you decide, make sure it is the best option for you and what you want to get out of your wedding day. After all, it is your day!

For more information on Wedding packages, click here. To see my wedding portfolio, click here.

***

Brittany VanRuymbeke is a Chatham Wedding Photographer servicing Chatham-Kent, Ontario and worldwide.