Sturgeon County Wedding Photographer

Getting Ready

I arrived at Shelby’s parents’ house just as the flowers were also arriving. Perfect timing I think as everyone is gushing over how beautiful the flowers are and I was in time to catch all of it. The getting ready part wasn’t long as Shelby and Neil wanted more of the reception photographed than the getting ready. Which I always tell my couples they can start their coverage anytime that’s right for them. Some couples don’t care for any reception photos and others don’t want any getting ready photos I have found. It’s really up to them. I was at Shelby’s mom’s house for the perfect amount of time to capture all the smiles, details and of course when Shelby’s mom was doing up her dress for her.

Ceremony

The Ceremony was held at St.Charles Parish in Mearns. Shelby and Neil did a special lighting of the camera in honor of Shelby’s brother and Neil’s dad. They had their 20 nieces and nephews walk down the aisle with flowers and put them into a vase beside pictures at the alter. It was a very nice touch to their ceremony to include the two of them into it. As Shelby and Neil said I do, the rain started. It was pretty light rain but it ended up raining the entire day and didn’t stop. Which it has always stopped for even a brief moment usually but not this day.

After the ceremony, Shelby and Neil went to Mearns graveyard to visit Neil’s dad on their special day. They wanted to include their loved ones as much as they could and I loved that they did that.

We took some photos out at a family friend’s and when it started to downpour we headed back inside to escape it. Which also gave the bridal party a little break too. I ended up offering at the end of the day to do some photos on another day and they ended up taking me up on it. This isn’t something I would normally offer this but since it rained so much, we didn’t get a lot on their wedding day. I am so glad we did because we got some amazing photos with the sunset that day!

Reception

I absolutely adored the rustic decor at the reception. Shelby and Neil had a boat (An actual boat) at the front of the reception with beer and ice in it for when guests first enter. Which was such a great idea for when the guests first came inside. For their entrance, they did the “Old Town Road” dance and nailed it! Then the bridal party snuck off halfway through and let Shelby and Neil finish the dance. The best entrance for sure! Their speeches were full of laughter and gifts that night, Neil’s mom showing off some childhood things and Shelby’s sisters presenting her with a gift too. The dance floor was packed when I left for the evening….which is always a great sign for a great end of the evening. Congrats again to Shelby and Neil and I wish you both all the happiness in the future!

 

Leave these two some love below and if they get 20 comments on this blog post, they will receive a complimentary 8×10″ print of their favorite wedding day image!

Ceremony: St Charles Parish, Mearns, AB

Reception: Westlock District Community Hall

Wedding Dress: Urban Bride Delivered

Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus

Groom and Groomsmen Tux’s: Moore’s Clothing For Men

Hair: Kyla Alderman

Make-up: Amy Robertson

Florist: Perry Kieftenbeld & Daughters Kiaya Trainor, Riehen Frase

Cake: Erin Sheehan

DJ: DJ – Mike Palma

Photography: Erin Sweet Photography 

Videographer: Triple Focus Video

 

As I mentioned, it had basically poured buckets of rain on Shelby and Neil’s wedding day. In my experience fo being a wedding photographer for 7 years now, the rain has always stopped at some point or even just slowed down but not today. At the reception, I offerered to do a sunset session with them to get some more portraits of them. I wasn’t sure if they would take me up on it but it was about a week or so after their wedding that they emailed me and we set something up. Oh My Gosh, I am soooo happy we did it. we got the best sunset photos! I thought about putting these after the reception but instead, i’m going to put them below!

For their entrance, they did the “Old Town Road” dance and nailed it! Then the bridal party snuck off halfway through and let Shelby and Neil finish the dance. The best entrance for sure!