Alex & Jennifer Wedding

07.15.2012 - Feature, Wedding

Extremely hot, that’s how I felt like the whole day. It was ironic that Jennifer sent me an email 2 days before the wedding and asked me jokingly, “what if it rains?! Like the day of our engagement?!” I checked the weather report the night before their wedding and realized there is a thunder storm for the 13th and a thunder storm arriving on the 15th, but leaving July 14th (their wedding date) with sun shine. I felt very fortunate as I find my own photography really shine when there is sunshine. Ironically we all found the day way too hot and was unbearable for some people. It was funny as I kept telling all the guys to have their hands in their pocket and having to repeat more than 20 times to remind them. It was later on that I found out their hands were burning and sweating like crazy due to the heat.

July 14th, 2012, was the date that Alex and Jennifer got married. They knew each other for less than a year and got engaged 2 months ago. Yes, that’s right; they planned their wedding in less than 2 months! They spent their life traveling together most of the time and found each other to be the most unbelievably perfect with one another. “Life like watching a movie” is what they describe their relationship. I feel fortunate to watch 3 of their stories in person; 2 engagement sessions as well as their big day. They were all movie like and magical.

Their day started off getting ready at Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel with Elena Tsang doing the make-up and flowers from Lisa; who are both two of my good friends that I always plan my stylized shoots with. I went upstairs to take pictures of Jennifer’s dress then I went to visit her for more getting ready photos where she offered me some food before we left. Actually, I think I offered myself to some of the leftovers casually and asked after I had already reached for the food! Oops!

We then had the ceremony at Our Saviour Lutheran Church where Arnoldalready arrived with groomsman waiting for our arrival. It was my first time shooting at Our Saviour Lutheran Church so it was pretty unique. I was fascinated by the skylight that shined right on Jennifer & Alex (although I think they were all burning like crazy due to heat but I think they were too happy to care about the heat!)

We went to Minoru Park for bridal portrait and Jennifer immediately mentioned to me before the photo session that they WANT to have some pictures done at a Starbucks! It totally reminded me a video that I saw couple months of years ago on a Starbucks wedding. It was pretty awesome to see that the cashier treated both Jennifer and Alex free drinks and I bounced into my friend Cindy and her boyfriend Andrew. That might have been the first time ever that I met a friend when I’m capturing a wedding!

And my favorite part of their wedding was at their reception at Richmond Country Club. Speeches are always great, especially humorous ones. Jennifer’s childhood friend played back A LOT of Jennifer’s childhood memories, thing she said when she was a child, and even several songs that Jennifer sang when little. It was hilarious to see Jennifer got “caught off guard” as the whole crowd laughed. I hope my parents didn’t record anything or any nonsense I said when I was a kid and play back during my wedding! I am sure I made a huge goof of myself when little (actually, I still make a fool of myself all the time even now!)

And another one of my fav session, dances. I LOVE DANCES! I don’t know how to dance but I LOVE capturing dances! I just learned how to capture low light condition two days ago so I was going wild that night flashing my camera everywhere. Oh, I forgot to mention, YES! I BOUGHT A 5D MK III! It costed me a fortune, but it was worth it! Jennifer & Alex was the first wedding that I captured with my new toy! Just thought I would chuck that out there.