Fall wedding at Saint Patrick Basilica in Ottawa: Jen and Ben |

My last wedding of 2018. My last wedding before maternity leave. My last wedding before my life is turned upside down with the arrival of baby #2. This fall wedding at Saint Patrick Basilica was the perfect way to end an incredible season. Seriously – this was one of my favourite wedding seasons ever. I was so lucky to have such amazing clients this year. I photographed my first Stonefields wedding, my first Saunders Farm wedding, my first Orange Art Gallery wedding, two amazing Le Belvedere weddings which never hurts…I could go on and on and on. Throughout all of these weddings, I left feeling exhausted but so full. Full of a zest for love and life, so grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a big moment in a couple’s life.

My blog posts always seem to include something about the weather. But it so greatly impacts the wedding day from start to finish. This fall wedding at Saint Patrick Basilica was a cold and windy one, with rain on and off all day. It was that damp, chilled to your bones, kinda cold where you just want to cuddle up with a hot cup of tea by the fire. But that did not stop Jen and Ben from smiling ear to ear all day.

Exhibit A:

Groom adjusting his bowtie laughing groom shoes, bowtie and socks flat lay groom's mother putting on the groom's boutonniere groom sitting in a chair by the window smiling bride having her makeup touched up my teri-leigh armstrong invitation suite and rings flat lay engagement ring with pearl bracelet

The sweetest gift for the father of the bride! I love a good tie clip.

tie clip gift from bride to her father bride opening a bottle of champagne bridesmaid opening a bottle of champagne bridesmaids cheers with champagne bride and bridesmaids with champagne laughing in lace robes bride pouring champagne into champagne flute mother of the bride laughing helping the bride into her wedding dress bridesmaid tying up the bride's wedding dress maid of honour hugging the bride bridesmaid helping the bride with her jewellery bride seeing herself in the mirror for the first time

It’s not the most amazingly composed image but I love how you can almost feel the laughter in this photo.

bridesmaids and mother of the bride laughing Saint Patrick Basilica church in Ottawa on a gloomy fall day interior of St Patrick Basilica on a gloomy fall day

If you’ve never been to a wedding at Saint Patrick Basilica, it is magical. Both the inside and outside of this church is amazing. So much character, so many beautiful details.

groomsmen looking at church records bride and her father walking down the aisle as her groom waits for her groom trying not to cry as his bride walks down the aisle father of the bride lifting the bride's veil before giving her away father of the bride kissing the bride's cheek before giving her away groom taking the bride's hand as they walk to the altar bride and groom laughing with priest ceremony at Saint Patrick Basilica bride and groom listening to priest during ceremony speaker during ceremony at Saint Patrick Basilica bride and groom exchanging rings during church ceremony bride and groom first kiss in church groom smiling at bride after first kiss bride smiling during wedding ceremony groom drinking the blood of christ during ceremony bride and groom walking down the aisle as husband and wife bride and groom smiling walking back down the aisle

Upon leaving Saint Patrick Basilica, we made our way to Andrew Haydon Park for photos. I had such a blast with Jen and Ben at their engagement session this past spring. I knew their wedding was going to be a dream! Ben is such a gentleman and also has the greatest sense of humour. It was crazy windy and cold throughout all of their wedding photos but Ben kept it light and fun and made sure everyone was as warm as could be. Also, this photo of him adjusting his bowtie in the window of my new minivan kills me. This should be a Kia ad.

groom adjusting his bowtie in the reflection of a car window groom adjusting his wedding ring bride and bridesmaids on a wooden bridge surrounded by fall leaves bride and bridesmaids smiling holding bouquets bride and bridesmaids laughing groom and groomsmen on a wooden bridge maid of honour hugging the bride to keep her warm bride and groom on wooden bridge surrounded by fall leaves bride and groom kissing wedding party laughing together wedding party standing among the trees on a windy day bride and groom walking up a hill together bride and groom cuddling together

You would never know these two were freezing cold. The wind and the dampness of this day was made even worse by the water! We had ample time for photos but ended up calling it quits pretty early because of the wind. The time we did spend

groom kissing bride on the cheek bride and groom cuddling as the wind blows

We wrapped up our photos pretty quickly at Andrew Haydon Park after it had started to rain and the wind was becoming unbearable. We made our way over to the Marshes Golf Club before the wedding reception began for a few more photos of the bride and groom before this couple spent the evening with their friends and family.

bride and groom walking through the grass together with bride's train dragging behind her bride and groom standing in front of metal tunnel laughing bride holding bouquet in front of large rock wall bride holding white and red rose bouquet bride and groom cuddling and laughing in front of large rock wall groom in a tux smiling in front of a large rock wall

Ben – you’re smile is infectious!

groom laughing in front of large rock wall bride and groom laughing outside the Marshes bride and groom in front of the Marshes golf club bride and groom laughing in front of the Marshes golf club bride and groom in metal tunnel with light overhead