I feel like a broken record every time I say this, but being able to photograph weddings for people who I genuinely love is truly one of the most unexpected gifts I’ve been given from my career. Today’s Whistle Bear wedding is an extra special one for me because it is the wedding of two of the warmest people I’ve ever known.

Ashley and Connor’s story reaches back all the way to middle school, and although they didn’t start dating until many years later, being able to watch them grow from afar into the people they are today has been something so beautiful to witness! They have without a doubt become each other’s “person,” and continuously find ways to bring light to each other’s lives every single day.

It’s always so hard for me to capture what the planning and wedding day process was like for my couples, but thankfully, Ashley and Connor were sweet enough to give me some perspective in their own words.

From the bride, Ashley… Looking back, it is hard to narrow down a favourite part of our day, as our whole day was an overwhelming feeling of happiness, excitement, and love.

The morning was calm and relaxing, for the most part, which was surprising for me. I was able to really take in getting ready and enjoy laughing, dancing and spending time with my favourite ladies. I remember as time was getting closer to getting into my dress the feeling of butterflies and the anticipation of nervous excitement to see Connor and marry him. After all the planning and organizing the day was finally here and I just couldn’t wait to become his wife.

A lot of couples go back and forth between wanting to do a reveal before the ceremony or not, but this is something we knew we wanted right away. The day is a complete whirlwind and it allowed us to have a private moment and take in each other and talk to one another before everyone else does. Seeing Connor and his reaction will always be a personal memory I will cherish. I’ll never forget his smile, I’ve never seen him smile so big and it made me feel like the prettiest girl in the world.

From the groom, Connor… Seeing Ashley was one of the best parts of my day. To see the woman that I would be marrying put my mind at ease and melted all of my nerves away.

At the beginning of planning, every time someone asked us what our style was, we would just say “clean,” which was hilarious because nobody seemed to understand what we meant. It wasn’t until I found my dress that I knew what style I wanted. My dress had a traditional vibe with soft lace, chiffon, and a long, flowing cathedral train, but with modern touches like a sweetheart neckline, open back and shimmer throughout.

I decided that I wanted to keep our wedding neutral, elegant, and timeless, which carried throughout every aspect of our day. Soft greys, ivories, and blushes with pops of green, stone and glass elements brought the whole vision together. We had a dream team of vendors that were able to make my vision a reality and it turned out better than I ever imagined it. Everything was so beautiful, “clean” and timeless.

Taking in little moments during our reception like sitting at the head table and looking out at all of our friends, family, and loved ones that came to celebrate us that day was something we’ll never forget.

Now that the day is over, we are asked for advice about weddings pretty frequently, and that is by far the biggest piece of advice we can give. Take little moments throughout your day to soak it all in. It’s an indescribable feeling to have everyone you love in one room for you. Hire wedding vendors that you trust wholeheartedly so that you can be present and don’t have to sweat the little things. During your wedding, take lots of mental snapshots. Most importantly, remember to take the time to enjoy your wedding, take in the happiness and all the love, as you start a new chapter with your partner and soulmate!