Vancouver Wedding Photography Articles

A Gay Wedding in Penticton...

January 23, 2009

One of the many Okanagan weddings I have shot is one I will never forget, this one is especially memorable. Brenda and Robyn got married recently at the Penticton yacht club. This wedding was not only memorable for me but also to the Penticton yacht club because this was the first gay wedding to take place there. A sign that even in a small community like Penticton, progress is being made, acceptance of difference is happening.

Brenda and Robyn are great people. We met before the wedding to do some engagement photos in a beautiful vineyard setting to take some time to get to know each other. It’s really important to me that I meet with wedding clients just before the wedding, a mini-engagement shoot where we go to a location that the couple chooses and spend about an hour hanging out together, talking about the wedding and what is most important as far as the wedding photography goes, and of course we take some pictures. Anyway, back to the vineyard….I had a great time sipping wine with Brenda and Robyn while I quietly, unobtrusively took shots of them here and there, catching moments unseen by most. They were really pleased with the images. I was able to capture the love between them which is what it is all about for me. We talked about their wedding day, and they were so at ease about it all, it was refreshing.

On the wedding day we started with shots of Robyn getting ready. She carried a bouquet with bird of paradise in it to symbolize her brother’s presence/spirit. Her brother died shortly before her wedding and she was very close to him. She carried this bouquet in honor of him.

The ceremony was stunning, set on the edge of the lake in the late afternoon, warm air, blue skies… there were white chairs and pretty flowers, simple yet elegant. the two brides looked amazing, each wearing a gown and each walked down the aisle by their parents. The feeling of the ceremony was that of unconditional love that was so present from the family and friends who attended, and of course between Brenda and Robyn. I was able to get lovely pictures of the the rings exchange, the kiss, candids of the guests, tears flowing, mixed in with laughter and quiet moments. At one point following the ceremony I borrowed their rings which Robyn had designed, and took some beautiful images of them set in Robyn’s bouquet with the bird of paradise flower. I’m glad I took this moment, as they are some of their favorite images.

Once the ceremony was finished and Brenda and Robyn had been pronounced “wife and wife” I took them and the wedding party up to Munson Mountain where there is a spectacular view of the Okanagan Valley and we did the wedding portraits. We had a lot of laughs and for a moment before going back to the wedding guests, they had a chance to take each other in….breathing in the love they had for each other, celebrating gay marriage. Once we were finished with the portrait session we headed back to the yacht club for the reception. When Brenda and Robyn walked into the reception, you could feel the happiness flowing all around.

I have to say that I definitely love my job and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I consider it a privilege to be able to spend these intimate moments with people. This wedding will always remain with me. For one reason, they took a stand for what they believed in, above all else. Their love prevailed.

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