Jeff + Camy *Just Married*

Inlet Theatre
UBC Boathouse
July 13, 2008

I've seen this wedding at least 3 years in the making. I remember sitting across Jeff working on a project together and hearing about his plans to propose to Camy. Here we are and the big day has finally arrived. We are so honoured that Jeff and Camy have trusted us to create images to remember their special day by. It is always hard to work for a friend as you want to ensure that they hire you for your own merit, not because you are friends. At the same time, you would want to ensure that you perform well above their expectations. We hope that we've done our job well to give Jeff and Camy the lasting memory fitting two people who are genuine in love and in friendship.

Some dress details...

And the shoes!

Aaahhhh... what a groom have to go through in the naughty hands of bridesmaids to claim their bride! John is definitely Jeff's bestman. Nothing, not even a piece of ultrathin dried seaweed, could come between their friendship.

On the way to the ceremony...

Jeff prepared a really funny video about him and Camy to the delight of their friends and family who watched the show right before the ceremony at the Inlet Theatre.

Signing on the dotted line...

Presenting the new Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Sawers!!!!

Some portraits at the theatre...

Then it's off to SFU for more photos!

Love the architecture at SFU!

Double vision?

Follow the light!

This could be how Jeff and Camy looked when Jeff first tried his pick-up line on Camy... hahaha!

It's funny how Camy was a little bit conscious about the poses... she'd do a pose after some loose directions and say "is this OK?" Or right after we've taken the shot, she'd sometimes follow-up with "was that OK?" With the images below, I'd say she did more than OK... she did mighty fine!!!!

Not many people know that looking this good takes a LOT out of you. Despite the long day and hours spent out in the summery sun for portraits, Camy always had a ready smile for the camera...

The bride's bouquet with purple accents.

I thought this bouquet toss image was a little funny. Camy's reaction was not exactly typical of a bride throwing her bouquet...

Dusk at the UBC Boathouse - Yummy lights, yummy mood and yummy timing...

And as always, a little something to end the night.

Jeff and Camy, we had good fun at the wedding. Everybody was great and so easy to work with. You have wonderful friends and family who love and support you towards success in life and marriage.

Have fun at the Alaskan cruise! We hope to be on one ourselves soon while there's still glaciers to enjoy. We'll see you guys soon!

Jeff + Camy Celebration Photobooth

Just another way to capture the celebratory spirit of weddings, we put up a photobooth at Jeff and Camy's wedding a week ago. Here are some of our favorites from the day!

If you're interested in a photobooth at your wedding reception, please contact us for details!

Stephen + Pam *Just Married*

Northview Golf and Country Club
July 5, 2008

We just love blending of cultures. Living in Vancouver allows us to be part of a society where your ethnicity fades into a minor statistical detail - SWF (Single, White, Female) or in my case MBF (Married, Brown, Female). At weddings, however, second to celebrating a couple's commitment to a new life in love is the celebration of one's cultural background, and in the case of Vancouver, backgroundS. It doesn't matter how big or small the celebration is going to be, the fact of the matter is that these people are damn proud of their cultural backgrounds. Pam and Stephen are just one of our many couples whose marriage celebration was about the culture as much as the wedding.

Pam checking out her hair and makeup.

Simple gestures speak a thousand words. Pam's dad was always there helping her with her train, her veil, her flowers, etc. We have quite a few images where her dad was performing bridesmaidly duties in a quiet, loving manner.

Pam, waiting in the wings...

We had an awesome day planned for portraits outdoors but the weather did not want to play. We ended up going to SFU, which Pam and Stephen both attended, to do the bridal party portraits.

We found this photobooth in the cafeteria and decided to have fun with it.

Not a studio shot! Just made use of the backgrounds available at SFU...

The members of the bridal party were so much fun! I don't think I've laughed as hard during bridal party portraits... as a side note, I now have a different image of Rihanna's "Umbrella" music video... thanks, Sam...

Some indiscretions going on in this groomsmen portrait... JUST KIDDING! Anyway, I decided not to expose any identities in case.......... :)

I didn't think I could convince Pam to do a Vogue pose for me but she pulled it off beautifully!

This time with Stephen doing his GQ pose...

Another portrait of our lovely bride.

The yummy lemon cake!!!! Mmmmmm.....

I love this Korean dress.

It was not the traditional Korean wedding dress but I still love the color and the details.

Stephen's dad listening to Stephen's older brother's funny, yet poignant speech.

Stephen was a little reserved during our engagement session but on the wedding day, we saw his true colors shine through! Stephen having a blast during the couple's first dance... and we have a different flare going on in this image!

The guests having fun on the dancefloor.

Something nice to end the night.

Stephen and Pam, you are both lovely and genuine. We feel lucky to have witnessed your union in love, in family and in life. Hope Maui was fun and we'll see you soon!

Ryan + Vanessa *Just Married*

Centennial Beach
Cammidge House
June 28th, 2008

After a marathon of engagement and portrait sessions in the last month, we're back in the swing of wedding chaos. First up is our cool couple, Ryan and Vanessa who ushers in the heat of Vancouver summer (fi-na-lly!) with a beach wedding at Centennial Beach and a glorious afternoon reception under a see-through tent setup beside the Cammidge House. Brace yourselves as this is going to be an unusually long post from us... meaning lots of pictures!

The day began with a flurry of "hair-raising" (literally) activities at Cabello Salon and Spa at Kerrisdale.

Bride and mom getting the royal hair treatment...

Great side-swept updo on our bride. Beautiful hairpiece by myrakim on Etsy.

The lovely silk dress.

Patiently waiting while getting her make-up done by Grace Sham.

This shot just tells you the gorgeous day that was in store for us... funny story -- I dropped one of the shoe over Vanessa's neighbor's front yard while setting up for this shot. Good thing their neighbor was home, otherwise we might have to add "trespassers" onto our list of skills...

There was a croquet set to keep the kids entertained.

Detail shot of the dress...

Portraits of the bride.

Ryan and Vanessa had a steel drum band keeping the guests entertained while waiting for the ceremony to start.

Vanessa and dad on their way to see Ryan!

And a tender moment between dad and daughter.

I was honestly holding back tears when Ryan and Vanessa exchanged vows. They are truly in love with each other...

And they are married!

Mr. and Mrs. Cleven

Us and our quirky bridal portraits...

The guys...

The girls...

It had been another hot day for us...

The bridesmaids doing their bridesmaid-ly duties!

There were also kites for the kids to play with throughout the reception.

Flare-o-rama!

The speeches were full of emotions.... one minute everybody was laughing at the ways of Tanya and Vanessa as little girls...

... and the next minute, it was all about how well these two have supported and loved each other growing up and with Tanya being genuinely happy for Vanessa...

The couple's first dance.

and getting big hugs from Tanya!

During Ryan and Vanessa's speech, they quoted Dr. Seuss:
You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

Ryan and Vanessa, may reality continue to bring you happiness and love as you continue in your journey in life together.

Bridal Sneak Peek

We did a bridal shoot with an upcoming bride and groom. Here's a sneak peek.

Expect feathers, bird cage veil and red shoes! Can't wait...

We can't show any more until after the wedding so stay tuned for that!

Wedding Cinematography, Anyone?

A year ago, we blogged about one of the Top 25 Most Influential Videographers in the World in 2007, Jason Magbanua, who did our wedding video when we got married in 2004. Well, he just made the Top 25 list again for 2008. While he's based in the Philippines, don't fret since we have 2 on the same list based in Canada - Patrick Moreau from Still-Motion in Toronto and Bruce Patterson from Cloud Nine Creative in Vancouver. I'll let their work speak for themselves so don't forget to check out their blogs!

Here's a preview of Patrick's work:

Aaron + Cristina *Just Married*

The heat is finally upon us! Aaron and Cristina's big day brought in the hot summer days we've been clamoring for, and how! By the time the ceremony was over at 5pm, we were already wilting from the heat. Everybody was such a trooper for doing the photos in under the blazing hot, hot, HOT sun! Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the celebration and were truly happy for them.

Cristina checking out her make-up by the wonderful Charrisse Mae and was very happy about it!

Jenny getting emotional after seeing how beautiful Cristina looks in her dress.

The cutesy pot roast getting a kiss from the bride.

Aaron... calm, cool and collected!

Walking down the aisle with dad.

Aaron and Cristina's closest friends witnessing a very special moment.

I do!

The bride's bouquet.

The glowing bride!

The bridesmaids and the brides...man?

Some quick portraits...

Our couple with the UBC Boathouse in the background.

During the toast.

The first dance...

Aaron and Cristina, it was indeed a wonderful and happy day. Hope you're having fun in Jamaica, mon!

Alex + Maria *Just Married*

It is so great to witness two wonderful people, Alex and Maria, celebrate their love and commitment. They got married at Minoru Chapel in the presence of friends and family. It was obvious how much everyone are happy for them. The day, though dull and gray, was definitely joyous and full of laughter. By the end of the night, everyone was having the time of their lives. Now on to the photos. Let's start from the beginning...

Chocolates and strawberries... yum!

Check out the flowers...

Alex, getting ready...

Maria, lookin' fine...

and ready to go...

This ringbearer is sure to become a heartbreaker...

The emotions were evident throughout the day.

The look of love...

Married!

The groom's portrait

The portraits

Then it was on to the reception. A toast to the bride and groom!

The guests were also treated with a mini-cultural show. Here's the Maria Clara dance.

Fandango with Light...

The tinikling.

The awesome party showed that everybody can dance the tinikling. The bride and groom can do it.

You can even do it in 4-inch heels.

And certainly everyone from any cultural background can do it.

Maria, offering a song of love to Alex.

A Filipino wedding is not complete without the money dance. This young gentleman wanted to dance with the bride. Mum is watching in the background.

Maria having fun on the dancefloor with friends.

We all know that Maria is as cute as a button.

The perfect portrait to end a perfect night.

Alex and Maria, thank you so much for letting us share in your celebration. We are truly blessed to have known you and gained your friendship. Hope you had great fun in Cuba!

Duncan + Alicia *Just Married*

First wedding of the season and we were excited. It's going to be an amazing year and we're just raring to go.

We arrived at Alicia's place earlier than scheduled and she was just starting to get her make-up done. We immediately worked on the details...

The gown...

The shoes... Alicia is a no nonsense girl. It's all about the comfort. When I asked her about the shoes during the engagement session, she exclaimed "I love my ballet flats!!!!"

The rings

The bouquet

At the ceremony, Alicia's mom could not hold back the tears...

The kiss!!!

A little bit of posing atop the grand piano

Then it was off to our portrait session. I love the mood our models are projecting in this image...

We seem to have a knack for getting into trouble lately. Here are some images we were able to snap inside the Library before we were shooed away like flies...

We didn't know that Sam and Brendan could be so modest...

Ok, ok, they didn't exactly kick us out to the curb. The security was actually really nice... apologetic almost that he had to ask us to go. It was just too bad since we had a bit more planned.

Anyway, we just continued with our shots outside...

And before long, we had to leave for the tea ceremony at Shiang Gardens.

Alicia's grandmother at the tea ceremony...

Working hard on the cake, covering it with cherry blossoms... ah, spring!

A shot to close the day...

Duncan and Alicia, thank you for letting us share in your celebration of love.

Let's Get Bebbicized!

On my way to work this Thursday morning, I wish I was stepping into the Bebb Studios in North Vancouver again. I can't believe that our most anticipated workshop have already come and gone. Earlier this week, we have been very fortunate to spend three wonderful days with extraordinary photographers, Stephen and Jennifer Bebb, at the Bebbinar v2.0. It was such an a-ma-zing experience. We are reborn as photographers and we hope to give our clients a wonderful time with us!

As with any workshop, we had a little shooting exercise with a hot Vancouver make-up artist, Nadia. She's not a model but a real bride who just got married last year. Here are our favorite shots from the exercise:










A candid moment with our gorgeous model and hot, hot, hot Jen Bebb!


In spite of their prestige and success, Jen and Steve are very down-to-earth and very genuine. We couldn't have been more blessed to know them and to learn from them.

To all the other Bebbinar attendees, you are a wonderfully talented bunch and we can't wait to hear about your success. Good luck to all of us! We owe it to the Bebbs! :)

Dave + Laura *Just Married*

The Galbraith
December 16, 2007

I'm so behind with posting this blog entry that I've got some 'splaining to do... I'm afraid all my late nights (or early morning bedtime?) has caught up with me and I couldn't have caught the bug at a worst time. Anyway, I managed to celebrate Christmas with my family and friends, albeit with a sniffle and a cough in between. Now, I have to post this blog for dear Dave and Laura who have been very patient and understanding.

The Clarke-Thornhill wedding was one emotional rollercoaster ride. Laura was giddy with excitement while donning her bold apparel. Dave was exchanging nervous banter with his groomsmen while putting on their boutonnieres. And when they saw each other for the first time, tears would well up on Laura and family members while Dave was all smiles upon seeing his radiant bride. When the ceremony started, it was Dave who couldn't hold back his tears any longer while Laura playfully wiped them away from her husband-to-be's gentle face. When all tears were shed and done, what was evident was the happiness and the love between the two families.

Now, on with the pictures. Let's start with the details...
The shoes...
The rings on an antique cheque writer. We had to set it up to write a cheque for $121,620.07.
The flowers with their studded initials hanging from Laura's bouquet.
Look at how happy Dave was upon seeing Laura for the first time that day...
Laura was truly radiant. Here's a couple of our favorites that we took of her.
The tradition of the bride wearing white did not become popular until mid-20th century. And Laura boldly went for the rich hue more apt for the winter season - burgundy.
At the ceremony, Dave was trying his best to keep the tears from rolling.
He wasn't the only one. The guests, including me, had to keep their eyes from welling up especially when Laura had the poem "Why Marriage?" read during the ceremony. Here's an excerpt from the poem where it really got me...

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole...

Good thing I had the camera to hide behind from... hehe! But it's not all tears, there were plenty of laughs as well...

Some of the more heartwarming moments were those with Dave's step daughter, Katie-Ann, and Laura's sons, Wade and Regg.
I love this series of photos. Just shows you how much fun these people are. This was during the formal family portrait where Wade and Regg wouldn't quit with their antics.
A close family friend, Dale, who recently moved here from Cardiff, Wales, performed a Celtic handfasting ceremony with the Clarke Tartan.
Here's the wording used for the Gaelic blessing:
Mìle fàilte dhuit le d'bhréid,
Fad do ré gun robh thu slàn.
Móran làithean dhuit is sìth,
Le d'mhaitheas is le d'nì bhi fàs.

Translated as:
"A thousand welcomes to you with your marriage kerchief,
may you be healthy all your days.
May you be blessed with long life and peace,
may you grow old with goodness and with riches."

And here's the happy couple once again, looking very happy and very content.
Dave and Laura, thank you for allowing us to share in your happy day. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and here's to a great new year!

luv, luv, luv,
gracci

Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo

Your Prince Charming has slipped the glass onto your perfectly manicured finger. Now all you need is a ball to dance the night away even after the clock strikes twelve. Enter Kerry Reid, the fairy godmother of savvy brides! This wedding coach has something for everyone - whether all you need is a little nudge towards the right direction of wedding planning or you need someone to take over the reins on the big day to execute your well laid plans or you need a new best friend who will work with you to make that dream wedding come true.


Check out her website at http://www.fairygodmotherweddings.ca for more information on her company's services and the different packages they offer.

Dwight + Louisa *Just Married*

It has been awhile since our last wedding and we were excited to get back on the horse again to shoot Dwight and Louisa's November 17 wedding. Weather wasn't so great with 90% chance of rain and true enough, by the time we got to the church, it was coming down hard.

The day started out dry when we headed out to Louisa's parent's house to get shots of her dress and shoes. Check out the beading on the dress.

Then it was off to their apartment to get some prep shots of the girls. The room smelled of hairspray and make-up powder floated in the air as the hair and make-up artists wielded their brushes at 11:30am.

The groom

The cute flower girls looking down the aisle

And Dwight and Louisa walking down the aisle as husband and wife

Bride and dad sharing a tender moment...

We had walked through great shots we planned at Queen's Park during a gorgeous Saturday the week before which all went out the window, onto the wet and muddy pavement. Nevertheless, we still managed to grab yummy shots without leaving the church.

The gorgeous bride...
Louisa's look was of old Hollywood glamour... love those red, red, red lips!!!

We'll reserve some more of the yummy photos for the couple to enjoy...

Then it was off to some partying at Roma Hall. The next shot was during a game where the question was "who wears the pants in the house?" Methinks the answer was pretty obvious. :)

This is a shot of Louisa and Dwight's dad who just got out of the hospital. Everybody was grateful that he was able to witness and join in on the celebration.

Gotta get that garter!

Guess who got the bouquet and the garter?

Dwight and Louisa, you guys are some of the sweetest people we know. Thanks for trusting us with your event. We hope Dwight didn't burn holes in his shoes dancing the night away!!

August 2008 Bookings

We have truly been blessed on our first year in this business. We never thought we'd book as many weddings as we did this year and 2008 is pretty much beating our expectations! Thank you to everyone who's expressed their interest in our style of photography. You are proving to us that we made the right decision to pursue this art form and we only aim to improve our craft to the satisfaction of our clients.

To ensure that we don't find ourselves in a predicament of too much too soon, we are only booking a limited number of commissions for 2008. So far, we already reached our quota for August 2008 bookings and only a couple more spots available for May, June & July. Contact us to check our availability and we can setup an initial consultation to confirm whether we're a good fit to cover your wedding.

We're looking forward to meeting you!

Something Old...

We recently shot some portraits for a client for their 10-year anniversary. We would have loved to blog about this shoot, however, our clients have requested not to be blogged about and we respect their wishes. So, we have decided to post about the charming location where the shoot was held - a grand Victorian mansion on the corner of Queen's Avenue and 8th Street in New Westminster called The Galbraith Manor.

We first learned of the Galbraith through our clients, Dave and Laura (you'll see their e-shoot on this blog in a couple of weeks), who will hold their wedding at the mansion in December. We've only seen the place through the Galbraith's website, but still, we instantly fell in love with its old world charm and elegance. When our anniversary portrait client told us that they wanted to do their portraits at a private setting, we immediately thought of the Galbraith.

We were welcomed by the Galbraith's current owner, the lovely Angela Kerslake, who gave us a quick tour of the charming house. Built in 1892 for Hugh Galbraith, the Galbraith Manor has been lovingly restored to its historical authenticity. There was real careful attention to detail in its restoration to retain its exquisite look and feel typical of the Stick Style in the High Victorian Era. Here are some sneak peaks of the house's interior (images posted with our clients permission).

If you're still looking for that perfect venue for intimate weddings and special occasions, check out their website at www.thegalbraith.com and give Angela a shout. We can't wait to shoot Dave and Laura's winter wedding with the mansion all decked out in Christmas decor! You'll definitely see more of this great house then!

Honestly...

It's not everyday that brides and grooms-to-be shop for a photographer to cover their wedding. While they can turn to family, friends, wedding planners, bridal mags and online wedding resource websites for advice, here's a site that aims to discuss your questions about wedding photography with answers from real wedding photographers - http://www.wedfog.com. We hope this will help anybody planning a wedding out there to make an informed decision when hiring their photographers.

Ernesto + Rosalie Wedding

August 24, 2007
Good Shepherd Church
Riverside Palace

When we did Ernesto and Rosalie's e-shoot a couple of months ago, Rosalie warned us about being shy and not knowing how to project in front of the camera. While she warmed up to us as we progressed during that afternoon, the Rosalie we saw on August 24 was a totally different person. I guess a little make-up and a white dress make the difference - all we had to do was point and shoot! Ernesto, or EJ to his family and friends, was the same guy - always ready to have some fun. Here are our favorite images from the day.

Some getting ready actions... Loved the halter top dress! Rosalie had too much fun in the summer sun, they were trying to cover the mild sunburn on her shoulders.
On to some portraits with our beautiful bride.
Meanwhile, the groom and his men were busy playing poker... he was even willing to bet the wedding rings. That must've been a pretty good hand!
On to some group shots with the bridal party
And of our couple...
At the church, Rosalie disappeared to freshen up... when I found her, the lack of light gave me this beautiful image bespeaking of calm and bliss...
Father Galvon on what the wedding rings stand for.
Ladies in teal
During the Filipino ceremony of the cord and veil
Ernesto and Rosalie, quietly admiring their new bling...
Playing with Shadows
The groom, EJ
The lovely Mrs. Jose...
Our lovely girls hanging out before dinner...
The reception had a kissing game where selected guest couples were to show Ernesto and Rosalie how great kisses make successful marriages. Here's Ernesto and Rosalie trying out one couple's trademark kiss!
The couple's first dance...
Ernesto and Rosalie, we had great fun shooting you, your family and friends (imagine finding some girls from my old all-girl Catholic school alma mater - truth in love, girls! Haha!). Enjoy your time off and enjoy your time with your family!

- gracci

Gene + Tina Wedding

Garden City Park
July 28, 2007

Tina was one bride who had no problem with time prior to the ceremony. She was so relaxed that morning and in fact, she had to find ways to stall to arrive a little late to the ceremony as it's said to be bad luck to be early or on time. Well, she got to the park in time and by the time Etta James finally cooperated and started belting out the first few words of At Last, Tina started walking towards the funky apple tree with an eagerly waiting Gene, a few minutes after 1pm... as planned.

As usual, we started at the bride's place for her preps and some detail shots...

Tina's dress with a pop of navy blue color.
The rings
Big boys need to pretty it up, too.
No pain, no beauty...
Ashley, Tina's daughter as a junior bridesmaid.
Our lovely bride...
During the ceremony, a special guest made a surprise appearance... a spider!!! We can't say Tina was too thrilled. This was Tina after shaking off the spider from her dress...
Gene could not hold back his tears.
The exchange of ringsWhile this was the hottest day we've gone out to shoot so far this year, Gene and Tina were a couple of troopers to pose under the high noon sun at Minoru Park
The couple's first dance

Gene and Tina, thank you for allowing us to capture the love evident throughout the day. We hope you had fun in the sun in Mexico.

Rick + Sarah Wedding by Ritrato

We really had a blast shooting Rick and Sarah's wedding with our good friend, Ritchie. It was not just business as usual, rather, it was a learning experience for both Pelaez Photography and Ritrato Photography. Ritrato Photography is Ritchie Jo Espenilla and another very good friend, Pam Belangdal, who have just taken the plunge into the wedding photography business. They're based in Salt Lake City, Utah and are both very talented in their own right. Anyone out there looking for a photographer in Utah, please check these guys out!

Thanks for these, Ritchie! We're sure Rick and Sarah will be delighted with the photos you took! Please come back anytime and we hope to shoot with you in Utah sometime soon!

As promised, here's a peek at his blog entry on Ritrato's blog with photos he took at Rick and Sarah's wedding. You can read the rest of his blog entry HERE.

Rick + Sarah Wedding

Aboard the MV Magic Charm
Cruise up Indian Arm
July 21, 2007

When Sarah phoned us on the eve of her wedding, all she could say was "everything's set except for the weather". The forecast for the following day was 90% rain. On the morning of the 21st, Room 2402 at the Century Plaza Hotel and Spa was buzzing with activity as the bride, with the help of her party prepared for the long anticipated event. At noon, the groom and his men involved in excited chatter and playful banter while the rest of the guests came on board the MV Magic Charm. By 12:45pm, Sarah traced steps toward a beaming and tearful Rick while dark clouds hung low in the background. At half past 1pm, everyone was raising their glass to the new Mr. and Mrs. Kertcher. And thus started the 4-hour cruise from Coal Harbour up to Indian Arm which included little treats like a stop at Silver Falls and a view of the Whaley's house where Sarah grew up. Oh, and yes, it did rain. In fact, there were times when it poured but nothing could dampen the spirits of our wonderful couple and everybody who witnessed and celebrated their love.

We loved the artistic detailing that was consistent from Rick and Sarah's invitation to their guestbook, thanks to graphic designer-cum-bridesmaid Leah Vanderhorst.
Sarah couldn't wait to open Rick's gift.
Is it really raining?
Three generations of beautiful women
Keeping a picture of grandfather close to her heart
Don't peek! Keeping raindrops and curious stares from the bride...