Juile and Michael’s Muskoka wedding at Delta Rocky Crest on Lake Joseph was a fantastic event.  I first met this high energy, high achieving couple over a year before when they booked me to shoot their wedding and engagement session.  Following the engagement session last fall, we used some of their favouite images to create a custom designed sign in book which proved to be a big hit with the guests.

Julie and Michael had their heart set on a Muskoka wedding and the surroundings and facilities at Delta Rocky Crest proved to be a great fit for them and their guests.  Julie and her gals got ready in one of the resort’s suites while Mike and the guys got ready in one of the house sized condo units.  The ceremony, like most I have shot at Rocky Crest, took place on the dock, which provides a long sweeping view of the upper end of Lake Joseph. Michael and the guys arrived at the dock via speed boat. 

Following the ceremony, we did most of the family images on the dock, and then headed over to the golf course for the wedding party shots and finished off at the far end of the small lake at the back of the resort.  This spot is a favouite spot of mine for the couple alone shots, as it provides a private setting with a very northern feel to it.  Afterwards, we headed over to the reception where everyone was dazzled by one of the most elaborate and energetic Grand Entrance intro/dances I have ever seen.  

When I left well, into the evening. the energy level was still very strong and I had no doubt things were going to continue very late into the night.  The next afternoon Julie and Michael headed off to a two week honey moon in Spain and Italy.

The couples who book us to photograph their wedding tend to have several things in common… they love photographs, and they want wonderful images that will stand out from others.  Jenn and Alex were very much like that. From the first time we met it quickly became clear that their wedding photographs were extremely important to them.  I also sensed that they would be willing allot time and energy to allow me to work with them to create some great images.  This proved to be true.  The wedding was in September, at Delta Rocky Crest on Lake Josesph, in the heart of Muskoka.  I have photographed numerous weddings at Rocky Crest and love the wide range of backdrops available on the property.  Instead of the usual ceremony on the dock Jenn and Alex chose to have their service beside the small lake at the back of the resort underneath several tall pine trees. This was a perfect setting for the small, intimate wedding they had planned.  

Jenn got ready in one of the resort’s well appointed suites and we got some great pre-ceremony shots of her and the rings.  

The Canadian Military plays a big role in Alex’s life so he chose to wear his armed forces uniform for the ceremony and for some of the post ceremony images, then he changed into a suit for the later part of the married couple alone for the first time, shots and reception.  During some lulls in the action during the reception we made a couple of excursions out into the dark and used some great, lowly lit parts of the resort property for some dramatic low light images.

One of the weddings I shot in August was Ashley and Anthony’s amazing wedding on beautiful Lake Joseph, in the heart of Muskoka.  The ceremony took place on the waterfront of Ashley’s grandmothers cottage property at near the top end of Lake Joseph.  The setting was awesome, with lots of rocks, water and pines. To top it off Blueberry Island sat just off shore in front of  the cottage, providing a great addition to the setting.  At the end of the ceremony the wedding party released monarch butterflies.  One took a fancy to Ashely and decided to stay around. It spent a good half hour with Ashley and even took the boat ride with us out to Blueberry Island where we did the wedding party and couple alone shots. 

When I had done the walk about with Ashley and Anthony about 2 months earlier we had selected a number of spots on Blueberry Island that would have some meaning for the couple and would also provide an great backdrop.  I knew the site would be great, but also challenging so I made arrangements with Kate Flesman to give me an assist for the day.  Kate, was great, as usual.

We were lucky with the weather.  Although it had rained in the morning and while Kate and I were driving out to the site, the rain held off throughout the ceremony and shoot on the island and started again just as we were pulling into the boat house. 

During the tail end of the dinner, and just before the speaches got rolling I snuck Ashley and Anthony out to the water front and we got some great shots in the late evening light.  After the dinner and speaches, Kate and I shot the first part of the dance, which took place in the room on top of the traditional muskoka boat house.