Stephen & Larissa Kelowna Wedding 2020

I first met Stephen & Larissa at their engagement session out in Richmond at Garry Point Park. On the drive there I thought my car might actually blow off the road, it was SO windy. As in the biggest wind storm of the year. But in true Stephen & Larissa fashion they were still up for the shoot and wanted to go ahead regardless of the crazy weather. As we’re all very aware wedding planning in 2020 has been a challenge and not anything anyone anticipated would happen. However the pandemic was not going to stop them from getting married. They changed up their plans and went with a plan B which ended up being so beautiful. Originally they had planned to get married on Granville Island in Vancouver with a fairly large guest count. Instead they switched it up and had their intimate wedding at Stephens families gorgeous like side property in Kelowna. My assistant and I drove up for the weekend to capture their special day. I was so impressed with how much thought and effort Stephen & Larrissa put into their wedding to ensure that all their guests and vendors were safe but also could have an enjoyable time during the pandemic. I say this about a lot of my clients but Stephen & Larissa are truly the kind of people you meet once and are instantly your friends. Check out some photos from their special day….

Vendors:
Primary Photographer: Hannah Cummins Photography
Second Photographer: Kim Driscoll Photography
Wedding Coordinator: Amanda Marie Events
Cake/Desserts: Cupcasions
Caterers: Bohemian Cafe
Dress: Davids Bridal
Make Up & Hair: Rose Quartz Beauty
Videographer: Lime Light Studios
Limo: White Star Limos Kelowna
Hotels: Royal Resort & Barona Resort

Dane & Becca - Destination Wedding

Crazy enough - I hadn't met Dane OR Becca OR any of their family and friends prior to meeting them at the airport for their destination wedding. Becca had found me online and booked me as her destination wedding photographer right then and there, my kind of gal! Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7am from YVR - I won't go into many details because that’s not the point of this blog, BUT lets just say we didn't actually leave YVR until 9:30 pm that night (due to a mechanical issue with our plane, yes we did go up in the air and re-route back to YVR…..)

Throughout the super frustrating delays, lack of information, multiple planes and ultimately missed time for Dane & Becca's beach wedding vacation they stayed positive, energetic and enthusiastic, a true testament to who they are as individuals, a couple and parents.

Now to the fun stuff! I got to spend a week vacation (along with my boyfriend) at Sandos Playacar in Playa Del Carmen. The resort is gorgeous - with several incredible restaurants, stunning beach front, endless pools and friendly staff! Over the week we got to know Dane & Becca as well as their friends and family - and they're ALL my kind of people. They were always including us in their activities and welcoming us as if we had known them all for years.

The morning of the wedding there was a torrential downpour ( like rain you'd never see back home - even in BC). The wedding planner wanted to change the ceremony (and likely reception) to under the covered terrace instead of the beach. However we all decided it was best to wait until the very last minute to make the call, as Mexico weather changes very quickly. Alas, the sun came out and the ceremony was back on the beach.

Becca let me take reigns and be in charge of the timeline for the wedding day (as in her words 'She wasn't too worried about it') and I happily obliged, my type A personality was more than willing to organize it. We started the morning with getting ready photos of the girls getting their hair and make-up done at the resort spa. Followed by the guys completing their final touches on their wedding attire. Then we all headed down to the beach for a SUNNY and intimate beach wedding ceremony. The temperature was perfect, slight cloud coverage with the sun peaking through.

The evening followed with speeches, food, dancing and maybe a few tequila shots! And their son Jaxon was the star of the dance floor, busting moves.

Thank you Dane & Becca for having us and letting us join the family for a week!

Kevin & Melyssa

I photographed Kevin & Melyssa's engagement session LAST fall (with their adorable dog!) and it felt like foreeeever waiting for their wedding, but then the much anticipated day came! It called for rain all week (what's new BC…) BUT it didn't rain ONE drop, it was actually very warm and sunny out.

We started out with a first look and bridal portraits at Fish Trap Creek Park in Abbotsford. Then off to the ceremony and reception location: Quality Inn, Abbotsford. The natural light beamed in as the ceremony began. Dinner was provided by the hotel and was seriously top notch!

Several speeches and toasts were made and it was quite evident that Kevin & Melyssa are very loved. Each speech noted how incredibly happy they are that their best friends found each other. Both Kevin & Melyssa have very relaxed and easy going demeanours but they love their friends and family (and each other) deeply. Two of the most caring & kind hearted individuals I've ever met! Now onto come photos to see a glimpse of their wedding day…

Vendors:

Venue-Planning-Catering: Quality Inn Abbotsford
Hair: Beauty N the Braid
Primary Photographer: Hannah Cummins Photography
Second Photographer: Meg Kristina Photography
DJ: Rob Steel Productions

Albert & Tina

Tina contacted me back in the spring of 2019 looking for a wedding photographer. We chatted on the phone and were instant friends. We captured a summertime engagement session and then their fall wedding. Albert & Tina techniiiiically were already married as they eloped the Christmas prior. However they wanted to celebrate with their closest friends and family (all 140 of them!!)

Albert & Tina are such a good fit for each other (I mean obviously!): incredibly kind, easy going and oh so quirky! Their wedding started with a tea ceremony (but wine instead of tea, nice!!) at the Stanley Park Pavillion and ended with a late night snack of poutine. In between heartfelt speeches, an INCREDIBLE 3 course meal provided by the Stanley Park Pavillion AND some serious dance moves on the dance floor (evidence below). Thanks to DJ Dalen of Wailen Dalen Entertainment for keeping the dance floor bumping!

Vendors:

Primary Photographer: Hannah Cummins Photography
Second Photographer: Meg Kristina Photography
Venue & Catering: Stanley Park Pavillion, Vancouver, BC
DJ & Photobooth: Wailen Dalen Entertainment
Make Up & Hair: White Marble Artistry

“12/10 - Hannah is always professional and communicates very well with her clients. It always felt as though we were put as first priority (even though she has many clients). My husband and I are not picture people but she helped guide us at every step which made it easy. Our engagement and wedding pictures came out amazing and I can’t wait to share them. She captured so many sweet moments of our family and friends. Hannah and her assistant even noticed small things to make the pictures perfect (like holding guests’ coats and purses for pictures). We had a pre-determined photo list which went out the window in the first 3 minutes (due to my guests) - but they handle it like pros, went along with it and didn’t show any signs of frustration. She was also very sweet and helped adjust my dress a million times - even when I didn’t realize it had slipped, and it wasn’t even just for pictures - she’s just that sweet! ‘ ”

— Tina Ma