Rachel Boekel Photography Blog » weddings

D & T tie the knot! :: Rolling Hills, Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:07:52 +0000

Remember awhile ago when I wrote how nice it was to start connecting dots between families and friends here in the Brooks, AB area?
Well…. D&T are kind of a pivitoal part of that web. D’s brother is G who was on my blog awhile go for his engagement session to A.
A is also the aunt to little baby K who was also on the blog not that long ago.
Follow?

When I showed up for D & T’s wedding I really truly felt like I was walking into an old group of friends.
D’s parents were so helpful and loving and giving.
When you’re a 8 month pregnant girl on a 26C day and you’re trying to stay ‘cool’, in every sense of the word, it’s nice to have people
bring you water & pack you muffins. Yes, they actually did this
They would have had so much going on that day but they made sure I was hydrated and fed. I’m a lucky girl.
I also had Lauren Neilsen with me again as an assistant which was such a treat!

It was dreamy not only because of being watered and fed…. I am not a one track mind here
It was dreamy because there was a strong sense of family and community at this wedding. The wedding took place in D’s backyard and the sun shone brightly
and there was so much laughter between friends and family.

D & T are a perfect match and I was so honored to be a part of their perfect day!
The barn was painted like this – how ridiculously cute!

D got ready at the Ramada and the girls from Adora Day Spa were there doing makeup.
I love running into them at weddings, they do the best job!

The boys got ready at T’s place.

D got into her dress at home, before walking down the aisle in the backyard.
Can I just say that I have never ever seen someone look so proud/excited/happy… as D’s Dad when he saw her in her dress.

D & T wanted to do some photos down at Hay’s Bridge and I am so glad we did!

D had a second pair of shoes for her day – they were awesome!

D’s sister gave what was probably the best toast to the bride I had ever heard.

Congratulations D & T!

B & S married :: Calgary Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:36:10 +0000

Good Morning Tuesday!

We woke up to darker skies this morning thanks to the fog, not unlike B & S’s wedding day.
The day started out rainy and I stopped and picked up 4 giant unbrella’s on my way into Calgary that morning. You know, to be safe.
When I showed up to see B at the Fairmont Palliser the rain had already slowed and B wasn’t worried, just excited to get her wedding day on.

I talked about Dana Pugh yesterday (she did my maternity photos) and she was my assistant for B and S’s wedding.
As a 7 month pregnant photographer I was over the moon thankful to have someone who could effectively take care of all the detail and groomsman images.
Dana did a fantastic job.

B & S were married at the Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary and we cruised through some great downtown locations for portraits
and then partied it up at The Ranche in Fish Creek Park for the reception. The day turned out beautifully and all the details came together marvelously.
B had done an amazing job of putting together her wedding day vision!

Meanwhile… Dana captured the boys.

Dana’s shot:

Dana’s:

These two details are Dana’s images:

We were lucky with a bit of light that squeaked through for some last minute sunset images.

H & J on a August day :: Hanna, Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:58:56 +0000

I sneaked a few picture of these two a couple weeks ago.
Sometimes when I am photographing people I say ‘common, show me the love’ and I get some love and they show some love.
THIS LOVE though – let me tell you…. I didn’t even get a chance to ask for the love, the love was all there.
(That was 6 ‘loves’ in one sentence.)
I am so happy for H & J and their families and I felt so welcomed by everyone as I puttered around them all day.

H & J are both teachers and I am jealous of the parents who get to have their children taught by them.
They are compassionate, patient, and caring, and while I only witnessed one day of their ‘love’-ness, I know they have a gazillion more in store.
Thank you both for letting me be a part of your day and for being so overly wonderful!

This is one of my favorite shoe shots of all time. I love the brightness of the bridesmaids shoes!

H wore the necklace that her grandmother wore on her wedding day and that her sister also wore for her wedding.

My assistant for the day, Lauren Nielsen capture the boys getting their groove on.

I could photograph in Hanna, AB any old day!

A parting shot by Lauren.

T & L married in style :: Canmore Alberta Photographer ::

rachel — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:02:02 +0000

As previously mentioned these two had some serious style and originality.
Buttons everywhere! The bridesmaid dresses and T’s Moms dress were all made by a friend in Quebec.
The bouquet was custom made and I was crazy about the boutonnieres. It’s refreshing to see something so different.
Oh! And T’s hair, how totally cool is her hair!

I felt very priviledged to be a part of T & L’s day.
There was a ‘joie de vivre’ going on that was vibrating and contagious the whole day.
As I edited these images I was smiling and laughing the whole time, I felt like T’s happiness was coming out toward me.
They flew out from Quebec to have their wedding at Silvertip Resort in Canmore, sight unseen.
I don’t think they could have had a better day!

I didn’t even have a chance to meet them until the morning of the wedding! They were delicious to work with.
*Can I say ‘delicious’? Seriously though, they were so….them,
which is a delicious feature to have from a photographers point of view!*

I hope you too can feel the joy of their day through the images. T didn’t stop laughing and smiling ALL DAY, it was awesome!

They practiced their strut down the aisle and they nailed it too!

How cool are these dresses?!

H & J Sneak Peek :: Hanna, AB Wedding Photography ::

rachel — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:13:52 +0000

Oh… hello! Long time no see.
It’s wedding ‘season’ what can I say. Kinda nuts around here these days with travel and work and well… life.
I’m back and ready to roar. I have so much to share. Lots of photos and some upcoming news.
BUT – for now…. a sneak peek.

When you meet a couple this in love, and they are surrounded by family & friends that are also so full of love….
it’s kind of a massive treat. This is a different kind of love. They just looked at each other with love, threw love with their eyes and bodies.
I did nothing but react to them being in love. No real posing, not real tips or hints. They just did. They just are.

I just watched and snapped some pictures.

This one… H took my breath away. She is such a stunning bride.

Hoodoo’s, Button’s & Bliss :: Canmore Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:02:49 +0000

These two get 100% for originality.
They also get full marks for energy (they hiked to the hoodoo’s in Canmore) and happiness (I’ve never seen a bride smile so much in my life.)
T&L put so much detail and attention into their wedding day and I was clicking my heels to be a part of it.
Here’s a sneak of another glorious Saturday in The Rocky Mountains.

H & B Married :: Canmore Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:46:22 +0000

I sneaked two pictures at the beginning of the week.
They were two of my favorite but then I started editing and realizing that I had more and more favorites.
I think enjoying the day and the bride and groom have a lot to do with it. I smiled my way through these pictures remembering the day.
H & B you have something special together and I was very honored to be a part of your day. It went by way too fast!

I always love photographing in my hometown of Canmore and I was so excited to photograph somewhere new this time.
The Cross Zee ranch is on the North side of the valley. It was a spectacular spot for a wedding and reception and the late evening light was something else.

Enjoy!

Later in the evening the girls re-enacted their junior high talent show dance. Priceless!

H&B Wedding Sneak Peek :: Canmore Alberta Wedding Photography ::

rachel — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:45:11 +0000

The day was magnificent and so were the bride and groom.
I felt very honored to be able to photograph H & B’s wedding.
Humor, Love and Respect; they have the right keys to a brilliant marriage.

Happy Honeymooning!

L & M are Married! :: Dinosaur Provincial Park Wedding Photography ::

rachel — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:36:25 +0000

I first met L&M when L was a bridesmaid at K’s wedding.
I love when I get to do a wedding of a bridesmaid from the past, it’s like getting to meet up with old friends again.

L & M had a low key ceremony at Dinosaur Provincial Park with a small group of their closest friends and family.
Later they had a reception in Patrica, AB and it was rocking.
If you are from Alberta you’d know (that’s right) that it has rained and rained and rained and that this past weekend was an incredible gift.
It was so stinking hot! I felt pretty bad because the brides got pretty roasted in the heat, we all had some colour by the end of the day.

These two have so much adoration between them and I felt lucky to be a part of their big day.

Ummm…. Could you possibly have a more amazing spot to get married?

This is the most unique wedding favor I’ve seen. L & M are big into fishing, it was kinda perfect.

And, the best cake cutting/eating I’ve witnessed.

S & C’s Rafter Six Wedding :: Canmore, Alberta Wedding Photographer ::

rachel — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:24:49 +0000

When S & C said they were planning a winter wedding in the mountains I was giddy.
I love a chance to photograph near ‘home’ again. That and the added perk of naturally beautiful mountainous surroundings.

S & C also talked about wanting to head into town for some pictures of the entire bridal party skating on the pond.
Oh to be so lucky with an adventurous bride and groom.
We were lucky – February could have brought any kind of weather but we had a beautiful sunny day.

This is my second wedding hanging out with a lot of this bridal party crowd. I first met S through her bridesmaids wedding
last May. Getting to see familiar faces and being in a familiar group was like hanging out with my own friends.
This group is tight and they care about each other and they look out for each other and I love watching these friendships
in such an intimate setting. Thank you all for being so rad, and funny and easy going!