Unique Images Photography | Weddings | Portraits | Fashion » Wedding, Portrait, and Fashion Photography Blog

Even though I don’t have photos of when Kevin proposed to Carmen, I want to start by telling you how they got engaged. It was really unique and very creative. While they were out doing some very non-engagement-y things, with no one around, a friend of Kevin’s flew a helicopter in, low over the trees. As Kevin asked Carmen to marry him, he reached up and untied her engagement ring from a line that dangled from the hovering chopper. It was a complete surprise for Carmen and also makes for a really cool story.

The good thing about photographing weddings at Rocky Mountain House, apart from the fact that it’s a beautiful location, is that you can easy get from one place to the other without a lot of time (compared to, say, Calgary). No traffic! So, although we started at the hair salon in the morning with the girls, we also had time to get some portraits of the guys and then some quick photos as they started their pre-wedding-ceremony round of golf, and then we returned to catch Carmen as she was laced into her dress.

Their ceremony was right on the Pine Hills golf course, which is a lovely area and a place where we have photographed before, too. When you scroll down through the photos you’ll see a photo of the girls all hiding behind a big, blank sign before the ceremony, with just their legs showing as they waited there. I thought it made for a fun image. Just after I took that photo the officiant asked me if I was ready for the ceremony. I said, “Yeah, I am; I was just taking a photo of the bridesmaids legs”. She gave me an odd look as she walked away and then I realised how creepy that probably sounded! Lol!

Right after the ceremony a big storm rolled in, with dark, menacing clouds. Kevin wanted to get some photos with his car. The car was very cool-looking and I embarrassed myself trying to open it—there were no door handles! I looked confused for a moment until Kevin pulled out his remote entry device and clicked it open by pushing a button. Meanwhile, the storm grew in intensity and it was pretty freaky with my metal light-stands swaying in the wind and lightning flashing across the sky around us. Let’s just say that we did those photos without wasting any time.

Their reception was at the Rocky Mountain House Community Centre and was full of fun and touching moments. I loved what someone said during one of the speeches: “You’ve been together for thirteen years and had three children. Today, you’re getting married—don’t you think you’re rushing into things?” Their oldest daughter sang at both the ceremony and at the reception and she had such a great voice! I’ve been involved in the fringes of the music industry at different times and have a good idea of musical ability and she could do very well if she keeps at it.

Allan and Wendi, the Global TV Wedding Wish winning couple, were a very cool couple to work with.  Of course, I would expect nothing less from them after knowing their antics in trying to win the Wedding Wish contest. You can read more about them and their masked adventures on their Facebook page.

Allan and Wendi saw one another before their ceremony and I set up a romantic meeting for them.  Then we did most of the rest of their portrait images before the ceremony around town, including inside Henotic restaurant, which has become my favourite place for indoor photography in Lethbridge. The decor and ambiance is probably the best in Lethbridge. The owners are friendly and accommodating, too.  I was first there for photos during Heidi and Clark’s wedding last January and I’ve been back a few times since then.

Allan and Wendi’s wedding was on the grass at the top of the coulees just behind the Galt Museum here in Lethbridge on a nice sunny day without too much wind—for Lethbridge, anyway.  Allan and Wendi both wrote their own vows and you could tell immediately how much love they had for one another. Their words were so touching and meaningful. I have a photo of Wendi wiping away tears during Allan’s vows. This was the most well-videoed wedding we’ve been to, with a big news camera from Global TV as well as two, only slightly smaller, cameras wielded by George Gallant, a instructor who teaches video production at Lethbridge College, and his son. These guys all knew what they were doing and we had no problem with them getting in our way or anything like that. I’m hoping to get some footage from George to put up later as well to show you how I shoot at weddings. Stay tuned for that, too.

The reception entertainment for the evening was provided by J.R. Matthew, Entertainer Extraordinaire. His show was fantastic! If you’re ever looking for someone who can keep things alive at your reception, he would be on the top of my list. With his wife Lyn working the sound for the evening they did a very fun game show that had everyone madly competing in crazy events to win points. I will be posting some of those images in the slide show, so make sure you check back at the end of the week to see some hilarious photos of the wedding party guys in drag, and more.

The first dance started out normally and then there was a brief moment where it looked as though Lyn and JR had messed up the music, but it was all a prearranged stunt and Allan, Wendi, and Allan’s brother and his wife all launched into the Evolution of Dance routine. This was something that was going around YouTube a little while back, but it’s the first wedding we’ve been to where anyone has done it. They did it really well!

Here is a slideshow of some of their images. 

We first met Corey and Chelsea last winter when we did their engagement session and I’m going to post one photo from that session below, followed by one from their wedding day. I think the contrast in the seasons between their engagement and their wedding is cool.  :) There is also a short slideshow below the two images, so make sure you take a look at that as well.

Corey and Chelsea were married at the beautiful Norland bed and breakfast here in Lethbridge. It was cloudy before the ceremony and there were a few spots of rain just before Chelsea walked down the aisle, but thankfully the weather cleared up. Corey and Chelsea and their wedding party were a really easy-going and up-for-anything group and we did a lot of random fun stuff for the photos.  Actually, from the stories at the reception, these guys really have some wild moments.  We didn’t do anything crazy for the photos, though you should see the jumping-in-the-air shot in the slideshow.  I haven’t done this shot very often, because I like to try new things as much as possible, but Chelsea requested it.  And, man, they really got into it!  This is what a jump shot should look like.  :)

The reception was over at the Italian-Canadian club and their speeches were funny and touching, with a lot of past stories revealed.  Sometimes I laughed so much I had to make sure my shutter speed was fast enough to stop the camera shaking.  All the best to Corey and Chelsea!  Enjoy the photos.  :)