Destination Wedding in Canada | Julie + Dan | Chicago Wedding Photographer

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Part of the reason why I love my job so much is that it brings me amazing and unique opportunities when I least expect it. This destination wedding in Canada was fairly impromptu. I had visited my friend in Calgary a month prior to this wedding. While I was there, my friend started talking to me about how she wanted to gather money from the wedding party to fly me back up in a month to photograph their friend’s wedding on a Vegan farm. I would be their gift to their friend. Shortly later, I got a call that they were able to gather enough money to fund their gift idea.

I flew into Calgary and stayed with my friend for a night, from there we ventured off on an eight hour drive towards Vancuver. On the way we stopped at a modern hostel. I felt like I was staying in a dorm room again. None the less, it was fun and a new experience for me. I also started noticing how much nicer people are there compared to some in Chicago.

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We arrived to Little Creek Farm the next day where the couple was hosting all the festivities. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, the farm overlooked the mountains and was located right next to a giant lake.  I spent three great days with this couple and their loving family and friends, while capturing every bit of it.

 

I camped next to the lake while I stayed at the farm, it was quite the experience. It isn’t too often that I get to look at mountains.

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Below you will see photos that I took at Julie and Dan’s rehearsal as well as their wedding. Julie and Dan were such an amazing couple. I met them the day of the rehearsal and cried the following day during their ceremony because I was so touched by them. Their wedding also inspired me on how I would want my wedding to be in the future. Everything was laid back, creative and focused on the interactions of people not materialistic things. You can see that everyone just enjoyed themselves so much that weekend. I am so thankful I was able to have the opportunity to experience all of this!

 

Venue: Little Creek Farm
Dress designer: Leanne Marshall
Beaded shawl: BHLDN
Groomsmen ties/bowties: Pomp & Ceremony
Metal Arts: Amber Denison

 

 

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The above photo was Dan’s first keg stand. Let’s just say he wasn’t very successful at doing it.

 

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The last full day we were at the farm, we were able to enjoy a speedy boat ride along the lake. It also gave me an opportunity to get to know the these gals a bit better. And I must say that this saying is very true,  “You never work a day in your life if you love what you do.”

Wedding in Dominican Republic | Heather + Garret | Destination Wedding Photographer

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I absolutely love photographing weddings in foreign places, it’s definitely a perk of being a destination wedding photographer. This time around I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Last year, I photographed Heather and Garret’s wedding.  It happened in two amazing phases; the ceremony and 1st reception took place in beautiful Punta Cana. The second reception took place in Chicago, that way family and friends who didn’t have the chance to travel could still celebrate with them. It was a great idea, and they are such a fun couple! Naturally, it all turned out perfectly.
Down in the DR, my assistant and I got to know the couple pretty well. Early into the trip we learned some latin dancing (salsa, the merengue, and the cha cha too!) and went out dancing with them later that night. Garret and I even ended up bonding over how much we liked metal. They truly wanted Vanessa, my assistant and I to have a good time and made us feel comfortable with being there.
The wedding took place on the beachfront, I had never actually shot a wedding in the sand before. Both the bridal party and us photographers were barefoot, and I have to say, barefoot weddings are a lot of fun. The whole time we were engaging with our environment. The hotel itself was something out of a fairy tale. There was amazing scenery, the gorgeous ocean, vibrant plant life, and seafood to die for. During the reception there was even a fire dancing show.
The second phase of the reception was held in a lovely loft space in the South Loop of Chicago at Room 1520. We went around the city beforehand taking photos in locations that had sentimental value for Heather and Garret before heading back to the party. We spent a good amount of time during those wedding portraits visiting the Kinzie bridge, and the riverfront. The fact that the actual wedding had already happened seem to take a lot of stress out of the event (for the couple and attendees alike). A surprise addition to that night came in the form of hockey. All of this was happening the night the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2013. Heather and Garret are pretty big hawks fans, they had a whole cake dedicated to them with their logo on it. It was cut just after the announcement of their win.
I had a great time at both weddings, and I can’t say enough about how great this couple was to work with. Heather and Garret, I wish you the happiest future! Scroll down for some of the photos from both events.

 

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