Calgary Wedding Photographer

Liam & Paula’s Carriage House Winter Wedding

Red Bloom Photography

Oh man I can not even tell you how excited I am to be sharing my very last wedding of 2016.

I just shot this wedding less then two weeks ago but I wanted them to have their photos for

Christmas and also I wanted to have a Christmas break with an empty work box. So a little

early Christmas gift to them and for me ha ha! I met Paula probably about 5 years ago

through some of my former coworkers. When she met Liam we instantly had an even

bigger connection as we both fell in love with Englishmen. From different parts of England, but

we are both suckers for those dreamy accents ha ha. Liam & Paula actually did a couples

photoshoot with me in 2014 before they were engaged and we had so much fun out in

Kananaskis together. Fast forward to their engagement and I was so happy that they

asked me to shoot their wedding….I was even more happy when I found out it would be in

the winter. I LOVE WINTER WEDDINGS. Just two weeks before their wedding it was

brown and not so pretty so I picked out a location that would look good even with no snow….

but we were blessed with a big pile of snow and we were both jumping with joy! What wasn’t

so awesome was the minus 22 degree temperature forecast. But Paula was so organized and

she bought her girls scarfs and mittens and the girls wall wore leggings and boots under their

long dresses. They also all had hand warmers stuffed in their mittens and I gave the boys some

to put in their pockets as well. Lucky for us we had cushioned the timeline to give time

for breaks as standing out in -22c just isn’t bearable for 1.5-2 hours as a time. So we did some

photos and then a break and repeat! This day is full of so much emotion and so much joy! They

are a couple surrounded by so much love and their day was a direct reflection of that.

Alright enough blabbing from me. On to some words from the Bride & Groom

How did you guys meet?

Liam and I met when he was working at the bank because i was a client there and we started

talking more and more. Then one day I told him I was going to ranchmans that night and he was

going to the flames game, when I got to ranchmans he was there, had left the game in the second period

to try and run into me at the bar and we have literally been together ever since.

The proposal:

When liam proposed it was January 3rd 2015, and literally the coldest day of the year. Jam(Maid of honor & Best Friend)

took me out for lunch and we were just having a best friend day for all I knew, and Cam (Maid of honors boyfriend and grooms friend)was

out searching the entire city for roses with Liam. They apparently had to stop at Schanks for a beer to

calm Liam’s nerves haha. He proposed at the city look out off 16th kind of behind where peters is.

When jam and I pulled up we were over half an hour late I found out after, because we had hit traffic. Liam had

been standing outside for the whole time waiting for us and when we finally got there he was a mess, already crying

when he opened the car door for me. He was so handsome and I knew straight away what he was about

to do. Him and Cam had used a car snow brush to clear a bit of a pathway for me and set roses up

on either side. After liam proposed a runner came past and stopped to take some pictures for us:)

then we went to a surprise dinner at the keg with friends and family to celebrate 🙂

Most memorable moment from the wedding :

For both of us it was the first look. I never imagined how special that would be and it made the day so incredible for us both.

Special aspects of the day:

Writing our own vows turned out to be extremely special and we are both so happy that we did it that way:)

The first look and vows made us feel so much more connected through the whole day than I could’ve imagined.

Advice for winter weddings:

Still do pictures outside despite the cold, it’s 100% worth it! Try and make the ceremony and reception at the

same venue if possible, just incase the roads are bad. Save the fancy shoes for later, wear boots and leggings under the dress outside!!

And now here is Liam & Paula’s wedding story….

Paula gave her girls mittens & scarves to wear for the cold winter day! winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

I always love shooting photos of the bride getting her makeup done. There seems to always be a calmness in these moments. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Nervous fingers for the bride before during the final prep details winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

I love this sign that was on the door to the basement for the boys ! Too cute. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Stylish groom details. One of the things I love about shooting weddings alone is that I get to capture the groom and the bride and I can tell the whole story of the day. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

And of course always time for a pre wedding toast. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

The little details of getting her dress on! winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Liam & Paula’s first look was so emotional. I had to share several photos from it. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

This little moment, between the moments. For just a second their hands lined up and they stopped. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

And we did a first look with the bridesmaids and groomsmaids…is that what they are called? The two girls in grey were on Liam’s side as they are his sisters. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

We had the cutest little photobomber ha ha winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Whenever there is a gender reversal in the wedding party I always work them into some photos from each side. So these beautiful girls got some photos with the boys & some with the girls. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Geez…..oh man these boys! They posed themselves a few times and it was too funny. One is not very PG so it did not make it to the blog ha ha. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

I just love these scarves….actually you would never guess but they are blankets from IKEA. They worked perfect for the winter wedding. And Paula is wearing a blanket

that I bought a couple days before the wedding . winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

This warm winter light….I LOVE IT!!!! It is so dreamy. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

These two….just making my job so easy! winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

And in -22c she took her blanket off for a few moments! Cause her dress is WOW! winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Liam & Paula’s wedding was at the beautiful Carriage House Inn. And…I am being honest I have a little secret. I got the the ceremony, and there ceremony was set up to take place in

front of their head table. So it was set for dinner. I had the staff remove a couple of the place settings from behind them and I took two of the trees off the tables and set them up on

the head table so they had some pretty behind them during the ceremony. Just being a rebel moving stuff around ha ha. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Their vows though….all the good feels ! winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

They had the ring bearer bring up a present with the rings. He was such a cutie winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Their ring bearer is one of the kids that Paula nannys so they had an incredible bond. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

And onto the first dance! winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer

Paula’s emotional first dance with her dad. I was crying too….can’t lie about that. winter wedding, carriage house wedding, calgary wedding photographer