The title of this blog post is almost laughable…

I think we can all agree 2020 was not what we had envisioned. I had so many weddings I was looking forward to this year that had to be postponed until next year. So many of my couples had to make the difficult decision to move forward with a smaller celebration or reschedule their wedding day to a later date. Some even had to reschedule more than once after we realized this pandemic wasn’t ending anytime soon.

But despite all of this, 2020 wasn’t a total bust. And actually, I kinda loved it.
Ok, “love” might be a bit strong. But it wasn’t a total bust.

Here are some of my favourite photos from the year, both engagement sessions and weddings. Starting off with this pre-pandemic wedding at Le Belvedere that was all kinds of dreamy, I just can’t.

groom seeing the bride for the first time on the wakefield bridge in wakefield bride holding wedding bouquet with fur shall on wakefield bridge bride and groom smiling walking back down the aisle as husband and wife at le belvedere in wakefield bride's cathedral veil blowing in the wind during sunset at le belvedere in wakefield bride and groom overlooking the gatineau hills at sunset at le belvedere winter wedding bride and groom kissing under floral arch at sweetheart table at le belvedere wedding

And this beautiful Adventure Session at Meech Lake in Gatineau Park.

bride and groom holding hands on a frozen lake at sunset bride twirling her dress around on frozen lake at sunset

Then the pandemic hit, and I didn’t shoot for months and it drove me crazy. I did take a lot of pictures of my kids, though. But I’ll spare you.

My first session back was an engagement session with Emily and Nikk at Petrie Island on a real hot, bug infested day. But these gals made the best of it and it was such a beautiful evening.

same sex couple walking along the beach at sunset holding handssame sex couple at sunset by the watersame sex couple watching the sunset on the beach

Then these beauties at Mer Bleue Bog…just a few months before their wedding was scheduled to go down with no real idea of what it was going to look like.

engaged couple cuddling on a boardwalk at sunset engaged couple on boardwalk at sunset

And Amber and Tom’s engagement photos by the Remic Rapids along the Ottawa River on the most perfect summer evening.

engaged couple cuddling and laughing by the water at sunset engaged couple cuddling by the water at sunset engaged couple smiling at the camera by the water at sunset

And then my first wedding back at it. It was so nice to be back in my element. To see how happy everyone was to be together in one place, even though it may have looked different than anticipated. Kathleen and Dan were supposed to get married at the Museum of Civilization but instead opted for a beautiful backyard wedding.

bride standing at the bottom of staircase looking out the window bride and groom in the willow trees by patterson's creekWedding ceremony at St Basil's Church blessing during wedding ceremony at St Basil's Church bride and groom in a forest of chopped logs groom's hand with wedding band on bride's hip

The very next day was Angus and Laura’s wedding at the Orange Art Gallery. And let me tell you, it RAINED. A lot. This definitely wasn’t the wedding they had planned, what with the rain AND a global pandemic, but it was still beautiful and special and so full of love.

bride and groom underneath a bridge on a rainy wedding day bride and groom walking with wedding party under bridge in black and white wedding stationary with wedding bandsbride's mom putting on the bride's bracelet before the ceremony at Orange Art Gallery wedding Orange Art Gallery wedding ceremony in front of vault metal door bride and groom listening to officiant during ceremony smiling

The rain finally stopped long enough for us to step outside for a few photos!

bride in groom in front of orange art gallery orange door bride standing with groom wearing a kilt in the trees

And here, the most beautiful, intimate backyard elopement you ever did see. Jackie and Steve were supposed to be married in Toronto in November but with the pandemic, they opted to get married in their family’s backyard. And it was perfect.

backyard wedding ceremony in front of pergola bride putting on the groom's wedding band during wedding ceremony bride and groom first kiss in front of pergola during backyard wedding ceremony champagne toast with family in backyard

The classic 2020 family photo.

bride holding ipad with her family live streaming on the other end for family photo covid wedding bride and groom holding hands in backyard harvest table in a backyard with old beer growlers with tall grass

This Watson’s Mill engagement session. The light was perfection.

engaged couple cuddling in front of old red brick building and window panes engaged couple cuddling at sunset by red brick building engaged couple kissing with the water reflected in the background engaged couple holding hands in front of Watson's Mill in Manotick

Cassandra and John had planned on a 200+ guest list but had to pair down and make it a smaller celebration. Following their church ceremony, we celebrated their union at the Andaz Hotel in Ottawa.

bride and groom recessional during church wedding ceremony bride's cathedral veil blowing in the wind in majors hill park bride and bridesmaids in rose gold holding bouquet of roses bride and groom walking with their wedding party through the byward market in black and white bride and groom silhouette at sunset on the rooftop of the andaz hotel

Christina and Michel were married on the most perfect day at Temples Sugar Bush.

bride and groom recessional after wedding ceremony bride holding mini white pumpkin and groom holding bouquet bride and groom standing in front of church looking into the sunset bride and groom standing by the water at sunset

Ross and Erin were blessed with a beautiful October wedding at the Billings Estate Museum. It was my first wedding at the Billings Estate Museum and it was so beautiful.

bride and groom in front of billings estate museum bride and groom kissing in front of stone smoke house at the billings estate museum bride and groom recessional after outdoor wedding ceremony at billings estate bride and groom kissing on steps with byward market in the background bride and groom kissing in front of chateau laurier in black and white bride and groom between stone pillars at sunset

My season ended with a few last fall engagement sessions.

man helping his fiancee through tall grass engaged couple with arms around each other standing on a rock by the quarry engaged couple with arms around each other laughing by the water engaged couple with foreheads touching at sunset by the water

Lastly, this rainy day engagement session at Rideau Hall.

engaged couple holding hands outside rideau hall on a fall day engaged couple running away from rideau hall doors engaged couple standing in front of rideau hall windows

2020, you’ve been a real slice. You’ve been challenging in so many ways but you’ve always taught me just how resilient I am. I’m so excited to see what 2021 has in store. Happy holidays everyone.

 

Wedding

The best of 2020

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