Phil + Jen | Chatham-Kent Wedding Photographer

I knew from the moment Jen contacted me that this wedding would be not only an amazing opportunity, but also a very personal, emotional day. The way she talked about their plans, her vision, and her fiancé, I knew it was going to be incredible. Together they cleaned out a barn, reinforced the floors, built and constructed all of their decor, and incorporated personal touches to every aspect of the day. They included their friends and family in every possible way, including the ceremony, the music, the food and the decor, which gives you a good indication of the amount of love that surrounded them on their wedding day. I teared up multiple times throughout the day, but seeing over and over the way Phil was looking at Jen, made me melt.

Before I get to the pictures, I want to make my case for the “first look”. I was so excited when Phil and Jen said they were going to do a first look, and here is why: The moment a bride and groom see each other for the first time, knowing that today is their day, sharing the first moment of their life together, is very a personal one. It is emotional, raw and fun, and it is a moment you want to remember forever. As much as I respect the tradition, spending this moment alone is something that makes it even more special. You are not being watched by 200 of your friends and family (plus one or two people you have probably never met!), and you can react in the most natural way, without the worry of keeping face, or making sure the ceremony progresses. You get to talk, take each other in, and get all of your nerves out together. And I have to shout out to Shani who said it so well: this is your wedding day, don’t you want to spend as much of the day together as possible? Phil and Jen had a beautiful first look together (with their dog, Mose!) under the alter where they would later exchange their vows. The moment was personal, it was fun, and it was absolutely priceless. Ok, rant over, on to the good stuff!

Thank you again and again Jen and Phil for allowing me to capture your perfect day. I haven’t stopped raving about it since, and I know it truly was the beginning of something special.

If you are looking for a Chatham-Kent Wedding Photographer, please contact me below so we can start planning.