A wedding on January 2? Yes, please!
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM · 10 mm · 1/4 s · f/3.5 · ISO 3200
Nitasha + Evan had an international wedding. Guests came from BC, AB, Boston, and as far away as Auckland, New Zealand. With all those friends and family spending Christmas in town, what’s the best way to get married and include them all? Get hitched right after the new year!
But first, LET’S TALK ABOUT THOSE RINGS. Nitasha’s engagement ring? Beautiful. No denying. Her custom-fit band? A perfect compliment, to be sure.
BUT JUST LOOK AT EVAN’S UTILITY KNIFE. Srsly, LOOK AT IT. Naturally, my wifey, equally as gadget-geeky as I, gasped when I showed her and said, “Can I have one?”
Canon EOS 70D · Tamron 60mm f/2.0 macro · 60 mm · 1/90 s · f/4 · ISO 3200
The ceremony and preshow took place at the Parkside Hotel & Spa. Just check out this crummy view from their room. 😉
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/125 s · f/11 · ISO 100
Nitasha and her flowers, in a short moment of peace pre-ceremony.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/250 s · f/4 · ISO 1600
I’m not sure I’ve seen a tighter-knit group of friends than Jade, Alisa, and Tanya. It was nothin’ but love and support the whole day.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 23 mm · 1/250 s · f/4 · ISO 1600
There were hints of Batman through this entire wedding. Nitasha’s garters, Evan’s cufflinks, their wedding cake (you’ll see it soon) . . . so, the groomal party went full-on superhero socks, complete with Flash’s wingy-things.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · L: 18 mm · R: 25 mm · 1/250 s · f/1.8 · ISO 800
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/16 power, ceiling bounced, remote triggered
Evan cleans up nice.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/250 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1600
Nitasha inspects her amazing dress.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/180 s · f/2.8 · ISO 1600
Final foofs of the dress before . . .
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/180 s · f/2.8 · ISO 1600
. . . the ceremony!
Canon EOS 550D (T2i) · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/100 s · f/2.8 · ISO 800
My favourite shot of the ceremony was captured by my trusty second shooter, Meaghan Konopaki. Usually, being a second shooter at a wedding is tough, ’cause you’re walking cold into a room full of strangers, and have to work quickly to get them comfortable with you for the most natural shots.
But, the moment I brought Meaghan into the girls’ room during the preshow, everything stopped as they made their calculations. Yes, Meaghan went to school with both Nitasha and bridesmaid Jade. Hilarious and wonderful.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L · 100 mm · 1/400s · f/2.8 · ISO 400 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki
Iain Hooey, one of my favourite officiants, elicited the following reaction as he walked out of frame with, “You may now kiss your beautiful bride. Make it a good one.”
Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 70 mm · 1/4000 s · f/2.8 · ISO 1600
BIFF! POW! SURPRISE BATMAN WEDDING CAKE!
This was so well done. The dainty white half of the cake was facing the guests throughout the ceremony. Only when they came across the bridge in the atrium of the Parkside was its true form revealed.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L · 35 mm · 1/2000s · f/1.4 · ISO 200 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki
Melissa at the Parkside (who, funnily enough, I also worked with at Church & State for Colette + Alex’s wedding) allowed us access to the Urban Ballroom, the doggone coolest room I’ve been in in a while.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/250 s · f/2.8 · ISO 1000
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/16 power, bare, remote triggered
Then, up eight floors we went to the City Club Lounge for some Victoria views.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 19 mm · 1/250 s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/4 power, softbox diffused, remote triggered
St. Ann’s Academy was right across the street, so it was a no-brainer for some photos.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 20 mm · 1/750 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1600
Here’s another from Meaghan.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III · Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L · 35 mm · 1/2000s · f/1.4 · ISO 100 · Photographer: Meaghan Konopaki
Good thing I brought a stepstool and kept a low centre of gravity. This was a precarious shot to take, hanging over the top of the brick fence, but well worth it.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/750 s · f/2.8 · ISO 1600
Spot the Batman logos.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · Top: 18 mm · Bot: 25 mm · 1/750 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1600
In between the ceremony site and the reception site (Fireside Grill), we stopped at Nitasha + Evan’s house so their lovely pup Luna wouldn’t feel left out of the celebration. Good girl, Luna. Good girl.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 21 mm · 1/90 s · f/2.8 · ISO 3200
I’ve had this location in my head for a shoot for many, many years, and was patiently waiting for a wedding route to work it in to. THIS WAS MY WEDDING, and boy, am I ever glad I brought them here.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM · 10 mm · 1/60 s · f/4 · ISO 3200
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/8 power, softbox diffused, remote triggered
As a Papa, this sequence of photos makes me all heart-bursty and sniffly: Nitasha and her dad during his reception speech. *sniff*
Canon EOS 70D · Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM · 90 mm / 105 mm / 105 mm · 1/125 s · f/4 · ISO 3200
Strobist: two Canon 430EX IIs, 1/8 power, ceiling bounced, remote triggered
Despite the international makeup of the guests, I knew a lot of people at this wedding. I was recommended to Nitasha + Evan by Alyse, who I know through my radioland work at The Zone, Sarah + Matty were there, a few other people I know from Facebook and real life, and it all helped make the day extra-enjoyable and comfortable.
Another facet of familiarity was the music. The groomsmen were playing USS while they got ready, and the first dance song was Empire by Victoria/Vancouver band Rococode, and she sang every word to him as they danced.
It was a wonderfully Zoner wedding.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/250 s · f/1.8 · ISO 3200
Strobist: two Canon 430EX IIs, 1/8 power, ceiling bounced, remote triggered
I felt so at home this entire day. It was so easy to connect with everyone, and it was such a genuinely love-filled day, that it was hard not to have a great time. Thanks, Tasha + Evan.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 23 mm · 1/90 s · f/8 · ISO 1600
Strobist: Canon 430EX II, 1/16 power, dress diffused, remote triggered
Are you planning your own love-filled day? If you or someone you know is in search of a wedding photographer, I’d love to chat!
=)
Ceremony: The Parkside Hotel and Spa
Reception: Fireside Grill
Officiant: Iain Hooey
Hair: Elena Roberts, Conscious Hair
Makeup: Krista Nugent, Therapy Spa and Makeup Studio
Flowers: Brown’s the Florist
Amazing Batman Cake: Jami Wood