After years of being “pen pals” with Katherine and David, we finally got the chance to shoot their wedding up in Canada! There is quite a bit of backstory here, and it all starts with a round of cocktails in Vegas. Allow me to elaborate:
Back in March of 2008, Betsy and I were hanging out in Napoleon’s Piano Bar at the Paris hotel in Las Vegas after a long few days at the WPPI conference (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) with about 14,000 other photographers from around the world. It was a dueling Piano bar, which means people can send up requests all night. We noticed another couple across the room who were totally rockin’ out to the exact same songs that we were rockin’ out to, so we decided to send over a round of drinks to their table. They sent us a round as well after a few more songs, so of COURSE we had to go over to say “Hi!”. It turns out that David and Katherine were there for a quickie vacation from their hometown in Toronto with her parents (who are from Calgary).
They hit the dance floor at one point, and Betsy took a quick shot of them (because they are freaking adorable together), and emailed it to them the next day:
As it turns out, they LOVED this picture, and it has been their fave image for quite awhile. We kept in contact over the years, and in 2010 David popped the question! Katherine knew that she had to have us photograph their nuptials up in Calgary (where she grew up). We were all set to go up to the land of “eh?” until a few last-minute issues came up, and they needed to postpone their big day. Finally, a new date was set for their wedding, but this time it was to be held in the GORGEOUS Hockley Valley Resort in Ontario, near Toronto (where they currently live). They picked us up from the airport, and we all embraced as if we had known each other for 30 years!
It was so great to see their smiling faces again!
A toast! David’s guys pored out a few glasses of a delicious port for the family to enjoy before the ceremony.
That sound you hear is the sorrowful cries from thousands of bachelor Canadian sports fans who regularly tune in to TSN, their version of our ESPN. Katherine is a very eloquent speaker, and it comes as no surprise that she has covered many Ontario Hockey League games as well as Freestyle skiing for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games!
Even seasoned sports reporters know how to let loose! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
As Katherine turned the corner with her dad down the aisle, David neeeearly lost it.The love these two share is absolutely heartwarming.
We love David because he is silly, funny and super-caring. If Katherine and David lived down here in San Diego, we’d be hanging out… a LOT.
We love ceremonies that are filled with love AND laughter!
So sweet that Katherine kissed David’s ring after she placed it on his finger!
Immediately following the ceremony, the four of us cruised up the hill overlooking the resort for some fun in the sun!
Ready… Set….
…. GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
We stayed in Toronto during our stay, and Hockley Valley was about an hour drive from the city. The greenbelt of Ontario is simply stunning. And oh so peaceful! What a perfect spot to get married!
As an homage to her hometown in Calgary, Katherine and her family gave David a cowboy hat. He completely rocked it, too!
The dance floor was super-lively, especially during the “Ring Dance”… which nearly knocked us over with our cameras! We both had to step lively during this fast-moving traditional folk dance. So cool!
Katherine and David,
We have cherished our friendship over the years, and we are so grateful that you chose us to fly up to Canada for your wedding! We truly enjoyed our stay, and we are so honored that you love our imagery. We can’t wait to share the rest with you guys!
Katherine and David’s fantastic vendors:
Photographers: La Vida Creations Photography
Ceremony Venue: Hockley Valley Resort – Ontario, Canada
Reception Venue: Hockley Valley Resort – Ontario, Canada
by Jeff
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