Nicole and Peter were referred to me by a past wedding couple, which is always a huge compliment! They're planning their wedding for September 2025 in Calgary, and we met for their engagement session in Kananaskis Country. It was a gorgeous fall evening at golden hour, and the autumn colours were on full display.

I always want to hear each couple's engagement story — I'm a bit of a hopeless romantic — and Nicole and Peter's story is one of the most unique I've heard so far. Penguins are Nicole's favourite animal, and they happen to mate for life. They also present their potential mate with a specially chosen pebble. Peter, self-described as a "nerdy biology teacher" was well aware of all of this and wanted to incorporate it into his proposal to Nicole. He popped the question while they were on a hike in France, presenting Nicole with a beautiful pebble. She knew immediately why he'd done it and of course she said yes! Nicole brought the pebble to their engagement session, and we made sure to incorporate it into a few of their photos.

Their story goes to show that there really are no rules anymore. It's all about doing things that feel right to you as a couple and are a meaningful part of your story.

Congratulations, Nicole and Peter!