Laura and Steve held a beautifully intimate elopement on a private island on the Georgian Bay, as far as wedding experiences go, this was one for the books. Being surrounded by the lake and surrounded by Ontario’s stunning natural landscape are every wedding photographer’s dream situation. Now, when I say private island, I literally mean a private island. We actually had to take chauffeured boat ride to the island, a unique and unforgettable experience in my wedding photography career.
As the stories of 2020 go, Laura and Steve had to reimagine their weddings plans in order to say their vows to each other this year and overcome the turbulent effects of an international pandemic. Their original plans consisted of heading to the west coast in Laura’s home province of BC along with a significantly larger guest count. In order to still get married on original date, they opted to get married in Ontario instead, at Steve’s family’s cottage that situated on a private island on the Georgian Bay. Not a bad “Plan B” if you ask me! Although the majority their guests we no longer able to attend, Laura’s parents still flew in from British Columbia to be there and they set up a live stream of the ceremony to make sure everyone else could tune in and be a part of the day.
With the view of the bay as their backdrop, Laura and Steve (both barefoot) had the emotional ceremony that they had eagerly anticipated. Although their ceremony was restricted to a smaller amount of guests, there was a noticeable increase in the vulnerability of all those present. The intimate feeling that these smaller ceremonies have are a reminder of just how meaningful it is to be a part of these life events (whether you are physically or virtually present). There were a lot of tears, accompanied by a lot of laughs, everyone as equally grateful to witness the union between Laura and Steve as they were.
The afternoon was spent hanging out on the dock, really giving you that cottage long weekend vibe that we all know and love here in Ontario. The atmosphere was laid back, yet celebratory, and it was clear that everyone was having the best time and making the most of the wedding day. After all, weddings are moments and occasions that should be bringing people together, whether there are 100 or 12 people present doesn’t change the core of that intimate experience.
Another highlight of this beautiful day was watching Laura and her parents make the sit down dinner for their guests. Her dad was on BBQ duty and Laura and her mom prepped the accompaniments in the cottage kitchen. They all sat down to enjoy the fruits of their labours and raise a glass to the newlyweds. The 360 degree view of the Georgian Bay made for a very romantic and memorable evening, without a doubt being one of the most stunning wedding venue locations I have ever had the pleasure of photographing.
Laura and Steve had some very specific details that they knew they needed to incorporate into their day to make it unique to them. Their cake topper was a sculpture of their two family dogs (one of them being the incredibly well-behaved ring bearer that day) and they also made time to recreate their Nintendo Switch date nights (a staple activity in their household, especially during the lockdown). I always love capturing these unique and quirky elements that are present at every wedding, it’s amazing to see couple’s incorporate elements of their personalities and every day life into their wedding days, it brings a down to earth element to the day and adds an element of fun to the entire experience.
Although this year has turned everything upside down, love has seemed to remain unfazed. When a couple knows they want to get married - and do it their own way - they will, and damn is it a beautiful experience to be part of. I know things haven’t gone without a few extra hoops to jump over, but seeing the couples of 2020 overcome a pandemic and ever-changing restrictions is a really uplifting experience, and quite frankly, a historic event to be directly documenting, making 2020 literally the one most unforgettable years in my career. It’s been a wild ride so far - I know these documented memories will accompany a lot of future story telling and I couldn’t be more humbled to have my hand in that little moment of history for these two. This probably doesn’t bears repeating but I’ll do it anyway, the Georgian Bay is one of the most exquisite and beautiful views and landscapes that Ontario has to offer and if you have access to a private island with a rustic cottage, you should absolutely host your wedding or elopement there, if not for the intimacy and privacy, then for the views alone!
VENDORS
Venue: Private Island Cottage in Georgian Bay
Wedding Bands: Laurie Fleming
Second Shooter: Brian Bettencourt (3B Photography)
