Emerald Lake has always been high on my list of ‘must photograph places.’ And so naturally, when Shannon contacted me about her upcoming wedding there, I was delighted! We spoke over the phone and I enjoyed her American accent. We discussed their plans and I loved that it would just be the two of them, and Erik’s parents. I would have three glorious hours with this wonderful couple all to myself in a place that can only be called breathtaking. On the morning of their wedding, I found Erik and Shannon happily moving about their lakefront cottage preparing for the day. They are avid hiking enthusiasts and Shannon had opted to go for a hike that morning instead of getting her hair done professionally- however, she had studied how she wanted it and practiced and I wasn’t aware until she actually told me. Their ceremony took place on a scenic platform with just the four of them and the officiant and the backdrop of some spectacular mountains of course. Shannon and Erik brought Swedish tradition into their ceremony by entering together- I loved that. I also loved the intimacy that the two were able to share, it was truly very very special and the tears on both sides certainly confirmed that. After the ceremony, we all made our way down to the lake and Shannon blew me away with her tenacity and determination. She hiked up her dress, grabbed a paddle and literally hopped into a canoe. It was a typical ‘duck to water’ scenario, they were obviously not strangers to the water. I loved photographing them against the crystal blue-green waters and was again, not very surprised when Shannon jumped at the chance to move to the center of the canoe for a little more closeness. They both had such an ease with each other that it was very much effortless to photograph them. We spent over two hours together and survived a quick wind/rain storm; nothing like being in the mountains though as the weather quickly changed in our favour. It was such a wonderful day and I am SO so thrilled to have been part of it. And also to have finally ticked Emerald Lake off my list; but now therein lies a bigger problem. I just want to shoot there MORE. 🙂 enjoy!! x
