I was really excited Rob & I would be Camila & Dan’s wedding photographers at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on the breathtaking Sunshine Coast of British Columbia also for a tiny selfish reason… My birthday would fall on the day after their wedding, August 1st. I knew it would be the bestest excuse to spend the day only with my best friend, partner, lover, and handsomest second shooter, in the serene surroundings of the resort grounds. Having that to look forward to made the weekend that much sweeter.

But Camila and Dan might have been looking forward to this Big Day even more… and it was finally here. I could sense their shallow breaths as the isle shortened between them. Greeted by the awesome marriage commissioner’s Greg Soohen’s encompassing smile, they trembled to exchange vows. At least I think they trembled. I have to confess, I get so wrapped up and emotional sometimes, that I hold my breath at least until they kiss. And then I just want to make them kiss over and over again… So I might be a bit off on the ‘trembling’ part

I’ll let the images below tell the story, but I do want to draw your attention to the tenthouse suites you’ll see towards the end - if there was a picture beside the word ‘romantic’ in the dictionary, it would have to be of these mind-blowing accommodations and ocean view. The only thing to annoy you during this paradise retreat would be the adorable racoons!!

Gorgeous views of Rockwater Secret Cove, Sunshine Coast, BCAscending to their oceanfront tenthouse… paradise.
I love this image… Shot through the glass pane of the front door to their honeymoon tenthouse suite.view portfolio |   let’s connect on facebook & twitter |   email katya

Although they grew up in the same town, they didn’t meet each other until university… and didn’t flirt till Andrew finally walked Meghan home one ‘fateful night.’ Their friends played a joke on them at the time, leaving them behind to making them walk … ahem, hike home from a party. Somehow they ended up in a muddy pumpkin patch on the side of the road, where they shared their first last kiss, covered in mud from head to toe (my imagination is running wild on this one, what a great idea for a photoshoot, hehe).

Their Vancouver Island Pacific Shores wedding left Rob & I breathless, we truly felt like family having spent the weekend with them. We were so glad to have arrived on Friday, the day before the wedding… It gave us a chance to drool over the gorgeous views of Craig Bay and Parksville, BC and even steal Meghan & Andrew away for a quick sunset photoshoot before their wedding.

It was perfect. Meghan must have spent hours lovingly creating the center pieces for reception tables, crafting boutonnieres and making sure the details were flawless - everything glowed with love.

Butterflies in my stomach and boombox on Rob’s shoulder, we prepared for Meghan & Andrew’s ‘first look’ at Schooner Cove Marina in Nanoose Bay … it was magical! (Although I was the only sentimental goon with tears in my eyes again) Time flew as we celebrated their love, roaming around the Yacht Club - there’s really not much to add - I can’t wait for you to scroll down so you can witness it yourself. I got a bunch of wood splinters in my hands and knees from shooting there, but it was all so worth it!!

I couldn’t resist sharing this adorable note from Meghan to the boys
View of Craig Bay Parksville BC from the bridal suite at Pacific Shores Resort & Spa (1-600 Stroulger Road, Nanoose Bay, BC - (250) 468-7121)I love this shot Rob took. I seriously need to give and get a hundred hugs a day…  so brides beware
The first look at Schooner Cove Yacht Club in Nanoose Bay… I get goosebumps just sitting here and blogging these special moments! I just love this. If I remember correctly, the tune at the moment is ‘What is love, baby don’t hurt me‘ and Rob is rolling his eyes at me I was debating whether I should post this since I kinda look like a beached whale here… But totally - don’t you want to know how I got those splinters? :) A quick nap before the ceremony never hurt anyone… That’s how hard I worked the groom!More beautiful reception details…view portfolio |   let’s connect on facebook &  twitter |   email katya

Mandy & Tom, I adore you guys. To pieces. I pray that the love in the images I’ve created does your LOVE justice.This gorgeous bouquet was an inspiration from my couture bridal shoot last year…
I love this one… It felt like the walls were about to cave in!
Rob found a little girlfriend on the dancefloor… She must have been 4 going on 19. Here’s his ‘flirty’ face…view portfolio |   connect with katya on facebook & twitter |   email katya

Samir is so effortlessly romantic, Natasha - so adorable and quirky. It’s amazing to be around them. There’s such a quiet tenderness between these two souls, I want to call their love … classic.

My favourites from our Stanley Park session are definitely from the Brockton Point Lighthouse - I felt transformed to some place Mediterranean, this is what I imagine some island Greece would feel like… The light was so soft and delicious, the air - still and filled with love.

And the beloved Black Forest cake! They are lucky to have forgotten napkins - I would’ve been encouraging them to get much messier view portfolio |   connect with katya on facebook & twitter |   email katya

We drank copious amounts of red wine and discussed Leah & Andrew’s engagement… needless to say, passing my business cards around was the last thing on my mind! Thankfully, my ugly sweater and loud laughs didn’t stop these two from choosing me to be the one to document their wedding!!

For our engagement session, we decided to pay tribute to their love of our beautiful city of Vancouver in morning light… Catching the crisp drowsy 6 am light seemed like a great idea - that would be a first for me, the night owl. Two alarm clocks chirped simultaneously in my apartment and minutes later I was in my Starbucks for a grande soy latte. Leah & Andrew looked amazing! We started our shoot at the English Bay Laughing Statues - don’t you think we did them justice?!

I’m so grateful that they gave me a reason to wake up and experience ‘my hood’ this early - Stanley Park is nothing short of magical this time of day… The serenity and silence, fresh forest scents, birds singing - it was perfect. I’m also incredibly grateful they are giving me a reason to come back to Vancouver at the end of August after my move back to Edmonton… I can’t wait to document their wedding! view portfolio |   connect with katya on facebook & twitter |   email katya

Rob & I met these two at Cafe Select, Edmonton’s possibly most romantic restaurant. This is where Peter got down on one knee to ask his beloved woman to be his wife!

Yuliya nervously sipped a martini in the soft candle light. I knew we would have a blast! And so we did, strolling through the empty downtown streets… Here’s my beautiful man in action view portfolio |   connect with katya on facebook & twitter |   email katya

I’ll have to admit at this point, Rob & I had way too much fun driving the golf cart around while getting some fun shots of the boys playing golf!! I’ve never really had an interest in learning to play (I would most probably hurt myself, innocent bystanders, damage property, and burst my tiny patience bubble within minutes), but I think I might give it a try after this experience afterall … sometime. It was so much fun, in fact, that Rob came up with a plan of blindfolding Wes for the ‘first look’ and driving them to a stunning lake-side location somewhere … a golf cart ride away. It was brilliant!

I’ve shared how special Kim & Wes are to me in their engagement session post, but I really don’t think words could do justice to how grateful I am for having shared their wedding day so intimately. Thank you for filling my heart with so much joy, guys. And for treating us like family.

How cool is this? Not sure if both of them find it amusing though!
More golf cart fun - Rob hanging off the side on the way to our ‘first look’ spot. Yep, he lives on the wild side like that!
The ceremony on the Jasper Golf Course was so touching … but this moment really pushed me over the edge.These ladies were too much fun. Legendary fun!
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Vancouver’s Gastown ‘Blood Alley’ was our first chosen spot for engagement photos… Prepared to expect the unexpected, we danced and bathed in the warm evening light, until a melancholic junkie with a heavy French accent shooed us out. Ah, Vancouver, we love thee Having gotten over this little adrenalin rush, we took a stroll on the seawall for some more shots… It was so romantic and effortless!

I can’t wait to document their Sunshine Coast wedding in just 10 days!!

dview portfolio |   connect with katya on facebook & twitter |   email katya

view portfolio |   connect with katya on facebook & twitter | email katya

Jamie & Jon’s creative bridal portraits are very special to me, as we spent most of the time shooting in and around my building and my English Bay neighborhood. After stopping for bubble tea, we made ourselves comfortable in the small cozy park beside my building and rocked out to the boombox beats. We then went on to the seawall, to entertain rollerblading/biking/jogging traffic! I’m so grateful for Jamie & Jon’s trust. They really pushed their boundaries for me… and for kissed lots in public!!!

Their beautiful reception at the Mariott Renaissance Harbourside Hotel came alive with the live performance by Checo Tohomaso, an incredible wedding singer who poured his soul out with a bit of soul and jazz. He once sang with the Commodores and Lionel Ritchie, and now was gracing us with his passion and funk!

It was also so much fun to work with the awesome videographer, Dennis Bauyon… We didn’t bump into each other even once

Jamie & Jon, you rock. Thank you for making it so effortless to capture your love. Rob & I look forward to laughing with you over wine soon!

Here’s Rob breathing down my neck for this shot… Love love love. Here’s my favourite sushi comfort food place, with an alluring name ‘Yummy to Go,’ just across the street from my sweet English Bay apartment. Jamie & Jon waiting for their bubble teas…Who could say ‘no’ to a gorgeous bride on her wedding day?! Certainly not this bus driver!1133 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3T3
(604) 689-9211

Here’s the wedding singer Checo Tohomaso, shaking up the guests… He sang a few Lionel Ritchie songs that my dad used to play when I was a little girl and didn’t understand a word of English. Oh, so good I was melting!

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