ryan macdonald PHOTOGRAPHY blog » Wedding

Sandra + Aaron – Hotel Grand Pacific Wedding Victoria BC

Ryan — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:55:40 +0000

Sandra and Aaron are a fun couple to be around…they each have great sarcastic sense of humour. Sandra is from Ontario, and Aaron is from Alberta, and since they both live in Victoria, it seemed the best ‘middle spot’ to have their wedding. Friends and family flew in from all over to enjoy their big day. The weather couldn’t have been more cooperative in showing folks from away that it doesn’t always rain in Victoria. In fact, their wedding was on one of the hottest days of the summer. Their ceremony was at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, and the rest of the festivities took place at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Sandra’s grandmother kept us laughing pretty steadily during the morning, spurred on by an interesting article about sex and aging in the Globe and Mail. Not hard to see that the sense of humour runs in the family. Congratulations Sandra and Aaron!

Kelly + Sandy – Inverary Inn Resort Wedding

Ryan — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:10:13 +0000

What do you get when a dentist marries a fisherman? A big Cape Breton wedding, that’s what! Kelly and Sandy had their wedding in Baddeck at the Inverary Inn Resort, with the ceremony at St. Michael’s Church. We snuck away briefly after the ceremony for some photos along Water Street before heading back to party for the rest of the evening. The guests shut the place down, giving multiple encores to the band, and they definitely weren’t ready to call it a night! Cape Bretoners sure know how to have a good time!

Gillian + Ryan – Westin Bear Mountain Wedding

Ryan — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 17:39:48 +0000

Gillian and Ryan were married at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort in August. They didn’t want to leave their guests for too long for portraits so we were on site for the whole day. I stayed with the girls before the ceremony and photographed them getting ready and Gillian was quite possibly the calmest bride, taking care of everyone else from makeup and hairdos, to making sure every last gal had a drink! After the ceremony, we hopped in a van and were driven through the bumpy back roads to the 19th hole for some bridal party and couple photos. Ryan looked pretty slick and Don Draper-esque in his suit, and Gillian’s backless dress was gorgeous. By the time we returned back to the resort, the wind had picked up and blankets were handed out for the guests dining on the patio…which made for a pretty cozy reception!

Anita + Ken – Abkhazi Garden Wedding Victoria BC

Ryan — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 01:07:42 +0000

Anita and Ken had their vow renewal at the Abkhazi Garden surrounded by family and friends from all parts of the globe. We took some photos prior to the ceremony and when we arrived at the garden, Anita changed into her gorgeous custom gown. I knew once I saw the gown that I had to somehow conjure up some wind, so I suggested we head out for some more photos after the ceremony. We went straight toward the ocean because if I’ve learned anything growing up by the sea, you can always count on a good gust of wind there! As hoped, the wind was blowing…really blowing, and freezing. Anita stood there like a trooper and then took a little break from the wind to warm up with a rest in the long grass. Only one minor mishap during the day with a broken Manolo Blahnik shoe, but the rest of the day went off without a hitch! Jenna Shouldice was with me shooting for Anita and Ken’s big day, and as always it was a treat to have her along! I’m sure she’ll have some of her images posted down the road. Congratulations again Anita and Ken!

Lyndsay + Adam – Anniversary Pie in the Face

Ryan — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 18:30:18 +0000

Since Layton and Candace smashed pumpkins in October, it (sort of) made sense that we smashed pies in the summer. Or at least it made sense when I suggested it in February…as a bit of a joke…but we still did it. Lyndsay and Adam decided on cream pies, for the splatter factor. It was pretty gross, and turned disgusting when they kept discovering coconut up their noses at supper. Whoops. A crowd gathered at the beach when they saw the two pies come out of the bags and they cheered as Lyndsay and Adam smashed pies in each other’s faces. Talk about romantic! We saw every sort of light that day, from golden light overlooking Victoria, to pink and blue light at the beach…it was really a dream. Not to mention I can cross ‘Photographing married couple smash anniversary pies in their faces’ off my bucket list!

Lyndsay + Adam – Laurel Point Inn Anniversary Session

Ryan — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:56:59 +0000

Lyndsay Cotterall is a Vancouver-based photographer. She contacted me at the start of the year wanting to book a portrait session with her husband Adam to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. In her email she wrote that she wanted to top Layton and Candace’s shoot, and I was up for the challenge! Lyndsay and Adam booked a mini-island getaway to Victoria and we met up for their session at the Laurel Point Inn. They were running a bit behind (after driving all over the city looking for a grocery store to buy pies…this will make sense in part 2!), and I was waiting outside the floor elevator at the hotel when I saw a flash of blond run past. The next time the elevator doors opened, there was Adam…arms open for a giant hug. Quite the greeting from a complete stranger! He said he always goes for a hug first! We started shooting in the hotel room, and with the racket we were making jumping on the bed, I’m sure any neighbours who saw me head into the room with a camera must have thought something strange was going on inside! Lyndsay and Adam were up for anything so we took photos until the sun went down, and ended up spending just over 5 hrs together during their session. We met up with Jenna and Tristan for some supper at the end of the night, and talked non-stop like a bunch of photography nerds. It was really great to finally meet Lyndsay and Adam, and I look forward to more shenanigans with them in the future!

Kelly + Sandy – Inverary Inn Wedding Sneak Peek

Ryan — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:52:40 +0000

Juliana + Jerry – Engaged Cape Bretoners in Victoria BC

Ryan — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 04:32:36 +0000

Hailing from New Waterford, Cape Breton Island, Juliana and Jerry are high school sweethearts. Jerry moved straight across the country to be with Juliana while she was attending UVic, and now they’re engaged! They contacted me wanting to have their engagement photos taken before they moved back to Cape Breton, as a way to commemorate their time in Victoria, and thought it would be suiting to have another Cape Bretoner as their photographer! We had a great time during their session laughing at the Vancouver Island ‘winters’ and telling stories about the bizarre locations people misplace our accents (Nevada…really?). I’ll be making my way back to Cape Breton two days before they get to move back home, but I can bet they’re counting the minutes until they see the words ‘Welcome to Cape Breton’ painted on the Canso Causeway! Congratulations on your engagement Juliana and Jerry…enjoy home.

Lyndsay + Adam – Anniversary Session Sneak Peek

Ryan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:02:03 +0000

Lyndsay and Adam were in Victoria this past weekend celebrating their second wedding anniversary. Here’s just a few things we did during their session…as well as this over on the Photographer Network. So much fun!

Jerry Loves Juliana – Engagement Session Sneak Peek

Ryan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:24:24 +0000

This evening I had an engagement session with Jerry and Juliana – two Cape Bretoners from New Waterford. They wanted a fellow Cape Bretoner to take their engagement photos before they returned back to Cape Breton after living here in Victoria. Just a preview…more to come down the road (and this session has me so excited to head home in two weeks!).