Cow boy's vibes by the sea, in Vancouver Island!
We can feel the love of that simple wedding at home!
The two last years were very challenging for all vendors living in British Columbia.
The wedding was a deep breath and make us realize we can find a solution (like the backyard wedding) thanks to the love of family and the creativity of local vendors!
The private photoshoot was also special, we run on a few locations after the ceremony. A good time off for the couple to be just together and for the family and vendors to reorganize the backyard before the reception and dinner. Samuel and I loved the look of Renee and Jay with the cowboy hat and boots! We wanted also to make sure to have photos with their pitt and the car Jay loves so badly! :)
Modern cow-boy along the ocean, what a cool idea, don’t you think?
Make sure to go to the end and check the bride’s interview with many valuable tips!
A beautiful family.
We met Renee and Jay before the wedding, in reality, at their parent's place.
We’ve been introduced also to parents and sister and we were feeling as part of the family during the big day.
It was very important for us to create this intimacy as it’s how we can photograph real moments without having people feeling awkward or different.
Where is the horse?
No, you don't have to wear nerve-wracking heels for your wedding ceremony. There are a dozen reasons to love wedding cowboy boots.
The main one being their level of comfort. The boots will wear you all day and keep you dancing all night.
The look meanwhile! Especially for outdoor country weddings. We have to admit, it’s super cool!
The practical side too: here is a 4x4 bride ready to face the artistic whims of her photographers ;) No risk to be stock on the grass.
Take me to the prairie.
The bride loves prairie and finding that in Vancouver island is pretty challenging. But the wedding was on the middle of summer so all the green thick grass we are used to have there transform. We found a perfect hidden location that seems to wait for this memorable first dance!
Refresh by the sea!
We would never have imagined photographing cowboy and cowgirl by the ocean.
And thanks to our newlyweds of the day, it's done!
Lights and candles.
As we work with portative light (we are not natural light Photographers), we know we can deal with dark skies or rooms. Our couple didn't have to get worried about pushing back their ceremony to the night. They were waiting for a lull that never came. So, the boys (kids and kids' boyfriends) pitched in the help move stuff from outside to inside for the ceremony in the pouring rain and it was the most memorable moment! Seeing the motivation and the positive attitude of families and friends was very special!
Back to the family,
Families and friends were already have a lot of fun on the backyard. The speeches were very emotional and we saw some tears here and there.
Kids were so high in energy! We discover that Canadian kids plays with ice cubes! And eat it :) Haha, definitly still have a lot to learn a lot about our new country.
The bride’s interview!
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We met through work at the time. Jay works in the automotive industry doing cosmetic repairs on vehicles. I was helping manage a used car lot and had to call Jay in weekly to repair used cars for us so we could prepare them to sell. We had a connection right away.
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Jay took me out to Point-No-Point in Sooke, BC. A wonderful, romantic oceanfront resort for a November weekend getaway. He proposed on our 7-year anniversary.
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As many brides these days, Pinterest was a huge help in creating my/our vision. I’ve always wanted a summer/outdoor wedding. I pictured fields or orchards. My parent’s property was the perfect setting for our outdoor wedding with hints of country style/living.
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Our family and friends for sure. Everyone had such a part in helping or organizing and preparing and setting up. It truly was a family affair. We didn’t have organizers or planners everyone stepped up to help us make our wedding day dreams come true.
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Probably the fact we held it all at my parents’ property which was my childhood home. My parents have lived there since the late 80s. That home has come a long way and grown up with all of us.
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The photographers! For sure was our largest expense. It was a backyard wedding at my parent's home. We don’t have any regrets there. Photos are very important. Possibly my dress a little also. However, I was able to find my dream gown at a beautiful consignment shop and managed to get a great deal on it!
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The venue.
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Luckily our wedding did fall after the pandemic. The planning stages were still during the pandemic times but we got onto booking a few things right away (The photographers being the first wedding planning/thing we booked and secured) Things were still during zoom which was different. We also waited to get married after being engaged. We enjoyed being engaged for a while and our wedding was held over a year and a half after our engagement.
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Our wedding day was picture-perfect. It really was the most magical, perfect day. It was a great day. More than I could have imagined. I am a simple person, so for it to be at my parent's property and childhood home was a dream on its own. I was born in that home and to be wed there is like completing a life circle. It meant so much to me, and my parents as well. (My sister also wed there a few years earlier, pre-pandemic) So it was true, so meaningful for my family. From our simple, country-style décor to the sundresses and cowboy boots to pair with our theme, it was beautiful.
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Stick with what you and your partner want/need. So many people around you will have endless! Opinions that you often don’t ask for. It’s your wedding, your day. Celebrating your day. Do what you want and what makes you and your partner happy.
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Yes. Absolutely meet with your vendors, and ask your questions even the little ‘stupid’ questions. You want to be sure you can jive and work with your vendors.
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There were a few, key moments of the day! One of which was a dress malfunction moments before walking down the aisle. I had two of my bridesmaids with their hands all over and up my dress and my Mama there with her sewing needle to save the day!
When we saw our photos, we were taken right back to those moments, that day. We felt all the emotions while looking through them. The photos truly captured the magic of the day and made me feel like a princess!
Our family/friends loved our photos. They all want copies and photos for keepsakes. You can see them getting just as emotional as we did when we first looked also!
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I would say yes. We are no models! So it was a very, different experience for us during our private photo shoot. But Samuel and Virginie, SV Photograph, made it feel so magical and fun and it was a very special experience for us.
Contact us and tell us about your story!
Vendors list :
Dress : Serendipity Boutique.
Make up : Melanie, Baird Makeup
Hairstyle: Marlee, Willow Hair Salon.
Catering : Jones Bar-B-Que
Grooms Attire : Moores.
Flowers : The family arranged flowers from local vendors from Metchosin.
Cake : the bride and only, amazing Mama made the cake. A family friend made cupcakes.
