Katie & John

First off, this sweet Maple Ridge backyard wedding and gallery really speaks for itself. Not only did it take place on a perfect summer day, it was also full of love. And that’s not even saying how picturesque the scenery was at Whonnock Lake!

Maple Ridge backyard wedding backstory!

But before we get started, I want to give you some history, about how I met Katie. You see, my journey with Katie & John started 2 years ago at the stunning Manning Park Resort. I was there to photograph Maria & Brad’s wedding day, and Katie was a bridesmaid who immediately caught my eye. Throughout the day, from getting ready to the ceremony and beyond, I could see how loyal, caring & dedicated of a friend Katie was. Her genuine smile & joy for her friend was evident in every single moment of the day.

Alright, now that you know the past, let’s fast forward a year.

The engagement

Katie reached out to me with the exciting news that she was engaged. Let me tell you, I was absolutely thrilled! I have to say, I had an amazing time with Katie. I mean, it truly was a special meeting her that day in Manning Park. That said, when it came to meeting John, I just knew that he had to be just as incredible, right?

And certainly, we met for coffee after Katie’s message, I knew I was right!

Instantly, I could see the strong connection between her and John. Namely, I loved watching their interactions, from the little glances that said everything without a single word, to hearing their heartwarming story & engagement. It all had me completely over the moon.

Their Love Story

But let’s backtrack again, to the start of their love story. Three years ago, after being introduced by a mutual friend (one of the groomsmen, naturally!) these two hit it off right away. Katie went home after their first meeting swooning over John.

Now, fast forward to a year ago, and we get to the good parts. You see, it all started on one of the final long weekends of the summer. John had orchestrated a delightful getaway for Katie, whisking her away on an adventure up the picturesque Sunshine Coast. Meanwhile, as their enchanting weekend drew to a close, the couple found themselves perched on a bench, taking in the breathtaking view of the ocean.

Now, out of nowhere, John suggested a nostalgic game from their childhood. I’m sure you know the game, the one where you and a partner each take turns writing with your fingers on each other’s backs and guessing what was written. Of course, because he’s a romantic, John traced the words “I love you” onto Katie’s back, followed by the phrase “you’re pretty.” Unsurprisingly, Katie guessed both. And you guessed it, she was melting in joy!

But it doesn’t end there! In the same way, on his final turn, John’s movements became more deliberate and purposeful. With each careful stroke, he meticulously spelled out the words “Will you marry me?” on Katie’s back. From that point forward, their story unfolded into a beautiful new chapter, marking the beginning of their forever together.

Storytime for the Maple Ridge Backyard Wedding

Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? For starters, Katie grew up on her family’s stunning property near Whonnock Lake. Undoubtedly, you guessed it, makes a Maple Ridge backyard wedding almost inevitable. As it turned out, it was the perfect choice. You wouldn’t believe the mood, from the moment I entered the getting-ready room, Katie was positively glowing with joy. Most notably, her elation and radiance were unmatched as she prepared to marry her soulmate. Seriously, Katie’s joy was so contagious that it elevated the entire celebration, making it an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.

In the same way that Katie was excited, the happiness extended far beyond the bride herself. Every guest could feel the warmth and love permeating the atmosphere. It was evident that the couple had cultivated strong relationships with their loved ones, creating a tight-knit community of support.

To illustrate this point, let me share one of the most heartwarming aspects of the day: Katie and her mother! Hands down, there is a special bond between Katie and her mother, who served as the maid of honor. Specifically, their close relationship was apparent throughout the wedding, adding an extra layer of emotional depth to the celebration. As someone who shares a similar connection with their own mother, I found their interaction particularly moving.

Family is everything

All this to say, family played a central role in every aspect of the celebration. Moreover, Katie arrived at the ceremony in a classic car that had been in her family for years. Indeed, there were so many heartfelt moments. Consequently, it was hard not to feel the love in the air. I mean, love and the importance of family were woven seamlessly into the fabric of this unforgettable wedding.

Honestly, I could write endlessly about their day. First and foremost, their vows were beyond touching. Quite honestly, I’ve never seen so many people tear up during a ceremony. Myself included! And I should know, because I am NOT typically a crier. Nevertheless, hearing Katie admit that John is so much more than she could have dreamed had everyone reaching for tissues. Consequently, throughout the day, their celebration was filled with contagious giggles and unending smiles.

What a fun reception!

Undoubtedly, the wedding ceremony was beautiful, and subsequently, the reception that followed was equally sweet and picturesque. However, there’s one aspect I simply must highlight: specifically, the food! To illustrate, they had a breakfast-themed buffet and an almost too-good-to-be-true cookie table. Furthermore, if I may digress for a moment, I can’t help but wish all my couples would consider breakfast for dinner! Undeniably, food is the way to my heart. In addition to the culinary delights, the evening featured some of the best yard games around, a killer dance party, and an epic Jenga battle. As a result, it was a night filled with non-stop fun and excitement.

Gallery

Now, you know me and how much my clients mean to me. Well, Katie and John are no different. Honestly, I am so lucky to have met Katie at Brad & Maria’s mountain-top wedding a couple of summers ago. Truly, it has been an absolute pleasure getting to know her & John. Of course, being part of their big day was amazing too! (Also, because I mentioned it, I do have a link to the engagement session. If you want to see that magic, engagement session by clicking here.)

Without further ado, here’s a curated selection of some of my favourites from their Maple Ridge backyard wedding…

Getting Ready

Ceremony

Bridal Party Portraits

Bride & Groom Portraits

Reception

Sunset Portraits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the joyful, authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Loved this sweet Maple Ridge Backyard Wedding Story & Gallery? Click here to discover more Love on The Blog!

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Vendor Love:

Photography: Meg Kristina Photography

Second Shooter: Marvin Herrera 

Florist: Westgate Florist

Bride’s Dress: Champagne & Lace

Officiant: Christina Stanley

Caterer: Design by Desire Catering

DJ/MC: Deejay Absolute

Bakery: TracyCakes

Wedding Planner: Tiffany Carrie/La Vista Events

Washroom Rentals: Full Moon Rentals

Bartender: Shelley’s Bartending

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Grouse Mountain Wedding Celebration

Dezirae & Julian

Their Story

Dezirae & Julian’s Grouse Mountain wedding celebration didn’t start close to home. Unlike many of my beloved couples who met at school or, let’s be honest, a local bar haha (SO many of you have met at Gabby’s or Rooster’s – I’m starting to think there’s some sort of match-making genie masquerading as a bartender there) – these two met abroad traveling on separate bus tours by the same company.. Their tours joined one evening, resulting in the best international meet-cute. Julian found her the next day and from that moment on they were crazy about each other. If doesn’t sound like a perfect love story to you, I don’t know what is.

Long story short, a year later, Dezirae packed her bags and moved to Switzerland to be with Julian. They’ve been together ever since.

The Day

I know how much Dezirae & Julian had been looking forward to celebrating this Canadian reception. It was great to see not only how happy Dezirae’s loved ones were to see her and welcome her home, but also to watch them welcome with warm arms Julian as her husband. Through our Skype talks & emails, I also know just how important not only family but also photography is to these two and I am SO grateful. I love that my clients love photography as much as I do! We planned in lots of portrait time for these two to take full advantage of their AMAZING Grouse Mountain Wedding location!! We even snuck out at the end of the reception coverage time for sunset portraits which you can see below. I ALWAYS recommend my couples take advantage of this gorgeous golden hour time! That aside, their day was beautiful. It was slightly overcast which gave us some relief from the warm summer sun that peaked out just in time for sunset – it was GORGEOUS.

I love shooting up at Grouse Mountain!!! The portrait time was to-die-for, these two (having already had an initial ceremony & wedding in Switzerland) are seasoned pros in front of the camera and were so at-ease with each other. We had a great time exploring for their mountain wedding. Their reception decor was elegant, classy, & beautiful. What really made the reception was the killer dance party (& the sunset portraits of course because COME ON! 😉 ). These two have a fantastic group surrounding them in life & love and I loved watching them all let loose! I wanted to stay all night to capture the fun for them. 

Gallery

I feel so fortunate to have captured this Grouse Mountain Wedding celebration for Dezirae & Julian so don’t worry – I’ll be spamming even more intimate moments from their portrait time along with MORE crazy dance/reception photos over on my social media pages – Follow Me on Instagram & Facebook for ALL the fun!

Here’s a curated selection of some of my favourites from their Grouse Mountain Wedding.

Grouse Mountain Wedding & Gondola Ride

Bridal Party

Bride & Groom Portraits

Reception

Sunset Portraits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Loved this Grouse Mountain Wedding Celebration Story & Gallery? Click here to discover more Love on The Blog!

Click here to Learn More about Wedding & Engagement Pricing.

Check out our Instagram Page here.

 

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Tynehead Park Engagement

Ashley & Jason

The Couple

What can I say about these two? I have so many good things to say about them, but I have to save some of it for their wedding post. 😉 I just LOVED their Tynehead Park Engagement. I’ve known Ashley & Jason and their family for years now. In fact, Ashley was one of my very first photography clients when I lived in Chilliwack! I’ve loved watching them grow together – you can check out their most recent family session by clicking here. They met on the backfield over 7 years ago now.

The Engagement

After falling in love playing ball together, it was only appropriate that Jason proposed to Ashley there too after a Father’s Day game. I HAD to attach the picture here because it is way too cute not to share – all the picture credit goes to Ashley’s Facebook page haha. After 6 years together and a beautiful family later, here we now are approaching their upcoming summer wedding.

The Session

I met these two when I was living in Chilliwack and even though I’m in Langley now, they are still located there! Ashley’s daughter Keira ended up having a ball game of her own in Surrey so we decided on a Tynehead Park engagement session location for them. And how perfect it was, oh my! These two are a dream in front of the camera. I could photograph them for days and can’t wait for their wedding. I loved all the vibrant greens in their session along with the warmth the overcast clouds cast on us!

Gallery

I can’t wait for their wedding in a few short weeks so be sure to Follow Meg on Instagram & Facebook for ALL the Sneak Peeks.

Here’s a curated look at some of my favourites from their Tynehead Park engagement.

Engagement

 

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Loved this Summer-Time Tynehead Park Engagement Story & Gallery? Click here to discover more Love on The Blog!

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Rustic Country Backyard Wedding

I love backyard weddings. This rustic country backyard wedding in Chilliwack from last summer has everything a cowgirl-at-heart could ever dream of for their wedding day. As if that wasn’t enough, the couple getting married had to be one of the sweetest young couples I’ve photographed. You can feel their youthful excitement as they enter this next stage and step forward together into adulthood. Their relationship is so much more than that though and any outsider taking a little peek in can see that. The love & devotion these two have for one another is evident for all to see.

Jocelyn & Jonathan were married on a late summer’s day last year. It was destined to be a country wedding from the start, both Jocelyn & Jonathan are from Chilliwack and fully embrace the country lifestyle. The morning of the wedding Jocelyn was out at 5am working the farm milking the cows before she had to run off to get ready. I think that right there tells you what you need to know about how hard-working, devoted and passionate Jocelyn is. Her tenderness comes out to those around her – her friends & family that she holds dear. These two have journeyed together through life’s ups and downs. During their wedding thank-you speech, Jocelyn touched just a little of the battles they have held each other’s hand through and you can feel the bond these two have from leaning on each other.

Their rustic country backyard wedding took place in none other than Jocelyn’s grandparent’s backyard. In another testament to her values, she demonstrated how much she values family and the role that plays in life. The personal touches throughout this country wedding didn’t stop there though – little details were present all day long. From the amazing arrival car that Jocelyn drove up in, to her’s & Jonathan’s killer ceremony exit true to their country nature, it was a great day to be a part of. I am so thankful to Stacie Lynn Photography for having me a long to second shoot for her and assist in capturing the day.

Here’s a look at some of my favourites that I captured from Jocelyn & Jonathan’s Rustic Country Backyard Wedding.

Gallery

Ceremony

Portraits Reception

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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photographer for the authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

booking now for 2019 & beyond