Every wedding I photograph is special in its own way, but this one was extra-special for me — the groom just happened to be my younger brother. David and Stephanie hosted a fun-filled weekend for family and friends in Winnipeg before tying the knot at the gorgeous Winnipeg Art Gallery. These two began dating about seven years ago, and I always not-so-secretly hoped they would get married one day. They're an incredible team, and their wedding day was filled with lots of laughs and a fantastic party. They're both journalists in Ottawa and have gathered quite the friend group as they've lived in different places across Canada, so their wedding was a little journalist reunion too.

 

We started off with getting-ready photos for both Steph and David, before they did their first look. I wasn't sure how David would react, but it was perfect — I may have cried a little bit too. I get invested in each couple, whether I'm close to them or not, and it's impossible not to feel the feels on a wedding day. David and Steph were very intentional about leaving time in their day to slow down and have fun with their wedding party, so we spent some time enjoying cocktails before heading off to do pre-wedding portraits. It's always nice when portraits can be completed ahead of the ceremony, because the day can be a whirlwind afterwards. I find it also prevents portrait time from being cut short if things happen to run behind.

 

For portraits, David and Steph decided they wanted a city feel. Steph grew up in Winnipeg, so it felt meaningful to capture these milestone photos in her hometown. It was fun shooing somewhere new to me too! With it being a holiday weekend, downtown was very quiet. This meant we could do photos in spots that may normally be too busy with traffic, and we didn't have to dodge crowds on sidewalks.

 

The ceremony and reception were both held at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. It's a beautiful setting for a wedding. The contemporary building and artwork creates a fun backdrop and minimizes the need for a ton of decor. The ceremony was held upstairs so the team could set up the reception on the main level.

 

There were plenty of laughs during the speeches. David and Steph's crew all work in journalism or other careers that require being comfortable with public speaking, so the speeches were very well done. It was such a special day, and it was even more special getting to capture it all for these two. My daughter. Isla, was also a flower girl for the first time, which was absolutely adorable.

 

All the best to David and Steph!

 

Vendors:

Venue: Winnipeg Art Gallery
Caterer: Wow Catering

Ceremon Florals: The Floral Fixx

Bud Vases: Callia Flowers

Wedding Party Bouquets & Boutonnieres: IslandFlowerGirlPEI

Signage: Loft and Fig
Table Nameplates: Wanderlust Creatures

Makeup: Madeleine Doe

Hair: Ashley Guenther

Gown: Pearl & Birch

Veil: Belle Botanical Creations

Jewelry: Luna and Stone

Suit: Vernini Classico