Stormy Backyard Wedding │ Tyler & Amanda

This was one of my favorite weddings to date. One of the most difficult to photograph, for reasons I’ll explain in a bit, but one of the most fulfilling. Tyler & Amanda had been planning their backyard wedding for what seems like forever. It was all Amanda had ever wanted, and they have a gorgeous view from their backyard on the top of Sumas Mountain. The wedding was set for August, which generally comes with nice weather here in the PNW. Little did they know, that they would wake up to the worst storm the Lower Mainland had seen in a very long time. And the repercussions of that weather affected every. little. detail. they had painstakingly crafted for their big day.
I showed up before the weather really got going. We hung out upstairs for hair and makeup, and despite the weather predictions, Amanda was in great spirits. I love this photo!! You can just feel the emotion <3

The drama started with the giant tents they had rented to cover the ceremony. They had been watching the weather, and knew they weren’t going to get the sunny ceremony they had originally envisioned, so they hired a company to come and set them up. Once the wind picked up, the tents literally lifted off the ground, and would have blown into the neighbor’s home it it hadn’t been for the line of trees bordering the two properties. We heard someone scream from the backyard, so we quickly went over to the window to see what was going on.

Amanda doing some documenting of her own.

A bunch of the cute mason jars that were prepared to go as table centerpieces once the reception was to be set up were blown off the tables and smashed to smithereens.

But this girl kept calm through all of it. I can’t get over how composed she stayed all day!!! Girl after my own heart <3
Tyler and the guys were getting ready at a separate location in Abbotsford, and because of all the trees across the road, could hardly make it back to the house!!Flawless makeup by Elizabeth Ann Makeup!
After the tents were taken down, guests began to arrive and get seated on the yard. The sky was super dark and ominous, and I would’ve bet a pretty penny that we were going to get soaked. BUT?? No rain at all. During the entire ceremony. Well, actually that’s a lie. I think it drizzled for a couple of minutes. But we don’t even need to count that – it wasn’t even enough to ruin hairstyles.
Possibly one of my fave photos of the whole day!!  haha!!Tyler trying to hold it together, but that one solitary tear got away <3Shot from an upstairs window in the house – I love how this shows more of the view!  What a gorgeous place!Personal and heartfelt vows.And when your index cards get mixed up, you refer back to your phone where you typed it out in the first place!!Swooooon.
After the ceremony, we did some family photos in the backyard, and then strolled down to the neighbour’s house, who have a gorgeous pond in their backyard. We had about 20 minutes before it started to rain. And rain. And rain.

We ran back to the house where we had some appies (They managed to get the food warmed up before the power went out!!) and cut the cake. They were prepared with generators, so we did have lights and music all night. Once the rain let up again, we headed back outside for the first dance! Oh the tears, you guys.

Then the shenanigans began!! Lots of dancing, some emotional speeches, but all in all, an amazingly fun night. The difficulty was in going from inside to outside depending on the weather! I’d set up my lights inside, we’d spend some time dancing, and then we’d head out because the rain stopped. I’d haul my lights back outside, set them back up, keep shooting, and then the rain would start again! haha, it kept me hopping, and i was exhausted by the end of it. But I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Thank you guys so much for the privilege of being your photographer!!
And yes, my friends, that is a grown man doing the splits!! FAVOURITE PHOTO AWARD!!