Hold on tight, this is a big one…
Lindsay & Hong just got married a week and a bit ago at Le Belvedere in Wakefield. Let me just start by saying that this was a day that none of us will soon forget. This crazy day started off with muggy sweaty weather, showed some threatening skies, let loose the heaviest downpour I have ever seen DURING the couple shoot, presented the brightest, complete rainbow that I have witnessed, and finally just turned into a beautiful evening. It was a roller coaster that only ever seemed to get higher and better. Maybe it was more like an up escalator but that sounds ridiculous.
I was excited to shoot Lindsay and Hong’s wedding about 10 seconds after they walked into the studio last year. Lindsay is artistic and funky and Hong is high energy and nothing but positive. After seven months of bad weather and scheduling conflicts, we had their engagement shoot in the Gatineau Park and that was where I first got to see them as a couple. That shoot was great so the stage was set for another very exciting day…
Hong and the boys started out on the basketball court for some fate tempting but nothing was twisted, bruised or broken. There was an endless stream of sweat for the rest of my stay mind you. The girls arrived at the cottage at Le Belvedere around the same time that I did. It was a treat to have plenty of time to shoot until the ceremony started. The ceremony was unsurprisingly gorgeous thanks to that awesome Belvedere view and we also had a pretty great preview of the weather that was headed our way. We somehow managed to get in all the family photos, a bunch of wedding party photos and made it to the Wakefield Bridge just as the skies opened up. Despite having to share the bridge with what looked like a little piece of a Grateful Dead concert, we managed to get everything we could there before driving into the biggest, brightest and strangely well situated rainbow possible. More photos at Le Belvedere followed by a super fun reception and all ended just right with gelato and poutine.
Along with so much good fortune, a truly great couple, and their equally great families and friends, the working experience at this wedding was one of the best I have had. I was with the Cloud in the Sky guys (Julien and Joseph) from start to finish and they proved to be as helpful and professional as can be. Everyone in the wedding industry knows how awesome Jessica is at Le Belvedere and she did a great job of 1. Making the venue amazing and 2. Running the ship tirelessly. Finally, Shannon Kennedy and Sonya from Kennedy Event Planning turned what was already great into the most crazy gorgeous and perfect wedding possible. My personal thanks to Jessica, Shannon and Sonya for making our jobs as photographers much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Finally thanks to Lindsay and Hong for being the focal point for all this fun. You guys are awesome! Now for a few photos…
Venue: Le Belvedere, Jessica Davey
Planner: Kennedy Event Planning, Shannon Kennedy
Videographer: Cloud in the Sky Studio
Florist: Full Bloom Floral Design, Erin Carmichael
Cake: Thimble Cakes, Wendy van Velthoven
Officiant: All Seasons Officiants, Christine Villeneuve
Ceremony Musicians: Kim Savage and Philippe Brent, Kim Savage
Pipa Player: Monica Wang
DJ: Rhythm Force DJs, Rahul Mitera
Linen: Mastermind Events Rentals, Jennifer McAndrews
Decor Rentals: Amy + Jen Vintage Decor, Amy & Jen
Gelato: Stella Luna Gelato Cafe, Tammy Giuliani
Flair Bartender: Ottawa Cocktails, Steve Benson
Hair: Studio Leslie Anne, Leslie Anne
We quickly realized that after basketball, Hong takes a very long time to stop sweating…
First attempt at getting ribbon around the beam. This was after my 4 attempts…
Few people appreciate how difficult a wedding is for parents even if it is a happy day
Dad is about to get revealed!
I was surprised to hear my first ever “Let’s do this!” chant at a wedding
I didn’t plan for this but I realized after that Hong’s hand is less than 1cm away from their first touch of the day
Sometimes Hong just levitates. He gets invited to a lot of parties.
Yes they’re real and they’re spectacular!
Always have a cigar with your father-in-law at your wedding
