last saturday, on july 23rd, not only did the sun arrive in vancouver–so did jessica and scott’s wedding day! jessica & scott are dear people to me. since i met them last november at their ballpark engagement session in langley–they’ve been on my heart in a big way. jessica’s younger brother cameron was tragically taken last summer in a car accident, only a few short months after jessica + scott got engaged. it has been a year full of overwhelming grief and sweet memories of cameron while planning for the “happiest day of their life.” it brings me to tears, thinking about what the past year has held for jessica + scott — and how their love for each other & for their families has grown stronger through it all. saturday was a difficult day for the family as they celebrated with jessica + scott but longed for cameron to be there.

jessica and her six beautiful bridesmaids got ready at the fairmont hotel vancouver — a stunning hotel that i had yet to shoot at! the getting ready room was full of amazing light and the neatest “vintage” looking walls. you’ll have to excuse my photo overload. couldn’t help myself. all the dresses were designed by alfred sung and purchased at frocks. jessica’s dress was designed by paloma blanca and one of my favourite dresses i’ve yet to shoot. jessica was the picture of perfection–and what i love about her is it is such an inside beauty as well: she shone on saturday.

jessica + scott were married at the canadian memorial church in vancouver which was the same church scott’s parents were married at 30+ years ago, as well as his aunt + uncle. after photos at van dusen gardens in the afternoon — it was time for the reception at the scottish cultural centre, chosen in remembrance of cameron: always proud of his scottish heritage. their wedding date of july 23rd was chosen to honour jessica’s grandmother mary–the 23rd was her birthday.  every detail of their day was monogrammed, personalized, thought-out to the nth degree. in their closing thank-you speech, jessica + scott shared their heart with their 200+ guests. “we knew a few things when we were planning our wedding. we wanted you all here. we wanted all the parents of our bridal party here: you raised these beautiful people we call our closest friends & we wanted you to share in that. we wanted all the kids here — kids learn by watching adults and watching traditions. it’s our hope that some little girl here today will someday remember this day and the traditions on her wedding day.” — jessica and scott, you two are very, very special people. i count it joy to have been in your lives this past year. my prayers are with you always.