Well, this is a first. Writing a blog post for this Chateau Laurier wedding in Ottawa that I wasn’t there to photograph. It still breaks my heart, but real life beat me down so badly that I wasn’t well enough to pull through for this bride and groom.

The day before this wedding, I started to feel feverish and achy. As the day went on, it got worse and worse. I reached out to a few photographers in our community to see who was available on Saturday in the event that I woke up feeling even worse and had a few on standby as I got ready for bed. My husband was working, I was home with Smith, with a fever of 102.5, flip flopping between the bathtub and bed while my perfect child set up shop with Paw Patrol on the bathroom floor while I rested my achy bones in the bath. Nights sweats, chills, aches, a cough, a headache…I was up most of the night trying to find comfort somehow, someway. Come morning, I reached out to Barb Cameron, who saved my butt times a million by filling in for me.

Breaking the news to the bride was tough. In my 8 years of being a wedding photographer, this is the first time I have ever had to miss a wedding. I’ve showed up to weddings with a terrible cold, days after having a miscarriage, sleep deprived from being a mom to a 5 week old baby boy, and with a wrist brace, in pain holding my camera. It’s not easy to admit to yourself that you’re physically incapable of doing your job, but this time, it was unfortunately a no brainer. This bride and groom were better off with someone who would be there for them, 100 percent. I explained to the bride, Christine that Barb would be there to take the photos, but I would still be the one to edit them.

Enter Barb, life saver, photographer extraordinaire. Here are a few of my fave shots she captured of this beautiful wedding at the Chateau Laurier.

You might remember these beauties from their spring engagement session at the Mackenzie King Estate. That dress, though!

Dream team Gloss Events and Decor and Pollen Nation transformed this room into a true beauty! Wowzers!

This kid had the right idea – a popsicle on a 40 degree day!

Congratulations Christine and James on the most perfect day! I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness! xo

Wedding team

Wedding dress: Morilee from Alliance Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: Davids Bridal
Florals: Pollen Nation
Decor: Gloss Events and Decor
Hair: Showpony
Makeup: Erin Heather Bridal