FAMILY, INTIMACY & INTENT
There is no greater compliment than a name spoken fondly between friends. These days, word of mouth seems to be the heart of how my Clients find me -- and I couldn’t be more grateful. Laurie and Jeff came to me through one of my all-time favourite couples, and from the very beginning, I knew this wedding would be something special. From our first conversation, Laurie and Jeff were easygoing and warm -- approaching wedding planning with the kind of trust and lightness that creatives dream of. They laid out the vision for their day clearly, but with a softness that said, “We trust you. We just want to be present.” When they shared that their wedding would be held at The Lake House in Calgary, Alberta, my heart did a little leap. A venue that balances natural beauty with refined elegance, The Lake House is a dream location and for a January wedding, it brings with it a certain quiet magic.
From the start, Laurie and Jeff were intentional in keeping their celebration small and meaningful. Their wedding wasn’t about grand displays or overwhelming traditions. It was about love, legacy, and the quiet strength of a close-knit family. With only their most beloved children, relatives, and lifelong friends gathered around them, the couple began their day surrounded by warmth, familiarity, and laughter. The ceremony itself was deeply moving --filled with smiles, soft tears, and that unmistakable emotional charge that hangs in the air when something truly sacred is happening. Laurie and Jeff recited their vows with a kind of sincerity that quiets the room. Their words were not only promises -- they were echoes of a life already shared, and a future already unfolding.
Laurie chose to forgo the traditional white gown and instead stepped into a stunning burnt orange floor-length dress that hugged her curves with elegance and confidence. The color was warm, rich, and undeniably her. As she made her way down the aisle -- nervous, yes, but carrying herself with the quiet grace of someone fully present -- she moved into Jeff’s waiting hands with a poise that moved everyone watching. Jeff stood at the fireplace, visibly touched and just as overwhelmed by the moment. The way he looked at Laurie -- nervous, proud, deeply in love -- spoke volumes before a single word was said.
Set against the massive and refined concrete fireplace of The Lake House, the ceremony unfolded in a space bathed in natural light, wrapped in modern sophistication, and filled with the hum of heartfelt emotion. The staff, as always, exceeded every expectation. From attentive service to an exquisitely prepared meal, every guest was treated with care and warmth.
After the ceremony, we moved seamlessly into family and friends’ portraits. We kept things relaxed and comfortable, just as Laurie and Jeff had envisioned. No rigid poses -- just moments of connection, laughter, and the soft glow that lingers after vows are exchanged.
For their personal wedding portraits, Laurie and Jeff asked for something candid, organic, and real. And I couldn’t have been more thrilled. There’s something incredibly special about capturing a couple as they are -- not perfectly posed, but perfectly present. We wandered, we laughed, we paused in the golden winter light. Their portraits were filled with tender glances, quiet touches, and a calm joy that said more than any pose ever could. They didn’t need direction, they simply needed each other. Their love is not loud, but it’s unmistakable. It’s in the way Laurie leans into Jeff’s side. It’s in the way Jeff smiles when she speaks. It’s in their laughter, their quiet conversations, and the way their hands always seem to find each other, even in stillness.
Laurie and Jeff’s wedding wasn’t about spectacle. It was about soul. And as I packed up my gear and watched them laugh with their loved ones over dinner, I was reminded once again why I do what I do. It’s an honour to be trusted with moments like these -- to document love as it lives and breathes. And if Laurie and Jeff’s day taught me anything, it’s this: intimacy, intention, and authenticity will always be timeless.
VENUE: The Lake House, Calgary Alberta (@thelakehouse_yyc)
DRESS: The Bridal Centre (@thebridalcentre)
SUIT: Moore's Clothing (@mooresclothing)
RINGS: Alberta Diamond Exchange, Hers (@adx_diamonds) People's Jewellers, His (@peoplesjewellers)
OFFICIANT: Aaron Rossland
