A Day of Meaning & Joy: The Erich & Mary Wedding

There's something special about being a second photographer at a wedding. You get to work alongside another artist, capturing the quiet moments that sometimes tell the biggest stories. At Erich and Mary's wedding at The Museum of Nature, we discovered that the most powerful images often come from the in-between moments—before the cameras are rolling, before the ceremony begins.

Getting Ready: Building Anticipation

My morning started with Erich and his groomsmen in their getting-ready suite. From the very first shots, I could feel the group's personality. There was an easy camaraderie among the guys—the kind that comes from genuine friendship and shared history. The day unfolded through intimate details: a whisky toast that set the tone of celebration, unexpected Pokémon card gifts (apparently a nod to a long-running inside joke), and a moment of pure joy when they grabbed a soccer ball and headed across the street to the field for some impromptu kicks. Erich is clearly a soccer fan. Even in these candid moments, you could see the love and support surrounding him.

The Ceremony: A Moment of Reverence

When I arrived at the Queen's Lantern, the primary photographer, Sean, was already positioned and ready. But before the ceremony could begin, there was a moment that stopped everyone—including us with our cameras. Erich pulled out small pins and brooches, each adorned with a photograph of a young man, and gave them to his sisters. The emotion in that moment was palpable. As one sister received her pin, tears streamed down her face—this was clearly someone deeply loved, someone being honoured on this joyful day. In our work as photographers, we rarely speak about these moments, but they're often why we do what we do. We get to witness and preserve the most tender, most human moments of celebration and remembrance.

The ceremony itself was brief but beautiful. There's a detail that still makes us smile: as Mary approached with her vows, she took a moment to blow dust off her vow book—a small gesture that somehow conveyed just how long she'd been waiting for this moment, how real and anticipated this day had been. And Erich? He unrolled his vows in such an exaggerated way that it looked like the Dead Sea Scrolls. The message was clear and hilarious: "I've got a lot of promises to make."

Why I Love What We Do

Days like Erich and Mary's remind me why I became a wedding photographer. It's not just about capturing beautiful images (though I do love that). It's about being present for the laughter, the quiet tears, the inside jokes, and the moments when two families come together to celebrate love. It's about honouring the people and the memories that matter most.

If you're looking for a photographer who knows how to capture not just what a day looks like, but what it feels like, I'd love to talk with you about your celebration.