There’s a real and conspicuous nostalgia associated to homes. We all have one, but somehow, our homes are these ever evolving places, unfamiliar over time until we find comfort in our current circumstance. Home and the various ideas of its definition have always fascinated me and been a driving core concept in my work as an artist beyond weddings. My background in photojournalism and social documentary photography were birthed through that interest of “home”, so to have had numerous opportunities in the past several years to incorporate that into the wedding photography I was asked to document and create, it was something my artistic mind eye gravitated to naturally. Brady & Sarah, Anne & Colin and Katie & Chris and recently Sarah & Chris all had such memorable backyard weddings with special and unique DYI details that made the wedding day exclusively their own.
When I met Sandy & Kevin it was clear to me that having their wedding held in their own backyard, surrounded by nature, friends and family was going to make the wedding day that much more special and memorable to them, and of course, they were absolutely right in thinking so. For me, as the wedding photographer, I was excited to get to experience first hand the minutiae of their every day life, getting a deep and intimate insight into who they really are in order to further elevate their wedding photos from merely beautiful to something with actual meaning ringing with timelessness.
The getting ready included sincere and candid moments that most families of 5 children would experience, including drilling a couple of extra belt holes for the youngest one, but otherwise there were few mishaps and mostly laughs throughout the morning. I knew how important it was for both the bride and groom to have their children be integral for this momentous occasion, making them their bridal party. A modern family bridal party isn’t something I get to experience very often as a wedding photographer, but seeing their kids enjoying the moment and experience as much as their parents really manifested a jovial and memorable atmosphere.
The second I arrived at their beautiful home surrounded by forest and greenery, I instantly knew why Sandy was so excited to have her end of summer wedding at this location. The handcrafted wooden arch they had made was minimal decorated with striking florals that helped bring out this unexplored element of the forest that was in the background and went as far as the eye could see. A four-piece jazz band performed perfect atmospheric tunes for the intimate event. It was a phenomenal scene for their guests to be part of as they witness the bride and groom exchange vows and say their I dos.
As the golden sunset light hit the bride and groom during the first kiss, I took advantage of that energy and cinematic imagery to take them through a walk in the woods to check out their personal pond in hopes of giving them a moment to soak in the moment for themselves. I remember how at ease they both were, despite traversing treacherous terrains and elements to get there, they embraced the moment for all it had to offer. It was as if they were floating on clouds, not water. Another perk of being outside Toronto, is that you get a bit more space to play with, and the bride and groom took advantage of their neighbouring field to watch the sun make its way behind the tree line.
The reception was held in a beautiful tent in their backyard adjacent to their stunning home, and it’s there that the night began with a playful first dance, an emotional father-daughter dance, and an emotional acapella performance by one of their guests. With the wedding being small and intimate, everyone was familiar and acquainted, giving the bride and groom candid moments with everyone in attendance. Usually close-knit groups don’t shy away from the dance floor and this particular group did not disappoint, busting moves under the full moon and star-riddled night’s sky. Standing at a distance looking at the events unfold, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic for all those incredible moments and memories made thanks to the concept of home and its importance to the bride and groom.
Sandy and Kevin are deeply sensitive individuals, and I don’t mean that they cry at the end of My Girl ( I surely do), but they are very in-tune with their own emotions which is likely why they are both so artistically inclined and uninhibited by their love for one another. I always hold dear moments I get in my career to photograph people in their own homes. There’s truly no better way to discover and learn about someone, and for me, its the pinnacle of opportunities because it’s so important to me to understand the people I work with, it’s part of an integral process to create sincere and poignant photographs. If I know them deeply, they no longer become characters in my movie, but they become the writers and directors.
