Hannah & Leith were married in early January on a remarkably (and miraculously) beautiful day in Powell River, BC. Despite warnings of constant rain and coastal flooding, the rain halted right before their wedding Mass began and the sun even came out, and our plan for bridal portraits at the beach was not thwarted by mother nature.

A documentary-style engagement session is a wonderful way to capture this singular moment in your relationship before marriage. Documenting the two of you on an actual date helps you remember what this time in your love story was like — filled with adventure, romance, coffees, and exploring new places, with the palpable anticipation of the upcoming moment when you definitively join your lives together.

Weddings, of course, are intimidating and a creative challenge as far as photography is concerned. Tasked with capturing the heart of someone’s wedding day, telling the couple’s story through images they’ll later share with their grandchildren, is an amazing privilege and challenge. Catholic weddings in particular brings its own specific challenges to the mix — as a photographer, one needs to be aware of the ins and outs of how the liturgy unfolds and adept enough to work within the lighting and structure of the church itself. And an understanding of and appreciation for the sacramental nature of the wedding taking place can be a true gift for the couple and in how one tells their story through images. I love being able to share this perspective of the wedding day with my Catholic couples.

Oscar and Carmel celebrated their wedding day with thoughtfulness, joy, and full presence in each moment of the day. Having been to countless weddings, it was remarkable to see their day lived this way. It was made even more beautiful being celebrated on the Feast of Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, the first canonized married couple in the Catholic Church. The intention was clear: to accept the love they have been given and entrust it back to the One who has given it to them.