An Intimate Wedding at Terra Nova Lake | Mary Beth + Nick | Newfoundland Wedding Photographer | Destination Wedding Photographer

WHEN MARY BETH AND NICK MENTIONED A COWBOY DISCO THEMED WEDDING, YOU COULD SAY THEY HAD ME AT HELLO. TAKING PLACE AT THEIR INTIMATE LAKE SIDE WEDDING DAY NEXT TO HER CHILDHOOD CABIN, I GREW INCREASINGLY EXCITED. THE THOUGHT OF JUST THE TWO OF THEM SURROUNDED BY THE PEOPLE THAT THEY LOVED THE MOST, IN A PLACE WITH MEMORIES THEY HOLD CLOSE TO THEIR HEARTS WAS A MOMENT I KNEW I NEEDED TO SEE FIRST HAND.

DESPITE BEING A 2.5 HOUR DRIVE OUTSIDE OF ST.JOHNS WITH AT LEAST 35KM OF THOSE ON A LONG WINDING DIRT ROAD WITH NO CELL SERVICE, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY. WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED TO THE CABIN WHERE NICK AND HIS GROOMSMEN WERE GETTING READY, MYSELF AND MY PARTNER WERE TOLD TO MAKE OURSELVES AT HOME. WITH LOTS OF LAUGHS, THE BOYS WERE WATCHING VIDEOS ON HOW TO PROPERLY FASTEN NICK’S TIE. AS I TOOK A FEW PHOTOS OF THE DETAILS AND DOCUMENTING THEIR DAY AS IT WAS HAPPENING. LEFTOVERS FROM BREAKFAST INCLUDED.

WE THEN MADE OUR WAY TO THE CABIN WHERE MARY BETH & BRIDESMAIDS WERE GETTING READY, I SAID HELLO, INSTANTLY FELT THE PRESENCE OF THIS CABIN AND GOT TO WORK. STARTED CAPTURING HER JEWELRY, AURA & COWBOY BOOTS. HER BEAUTIFUL DRESS WAS HUNG FROM A BRASS LIGHT FIXTURE, AMBER LIGHT MIXED WITH NATURAL LIGHT WHICH TRICKLED, THROUGH WITH DELICATE, COLOURFUL LAYERS. AFTER CAPTURING HER BRIDESMAIDS HELPING HER WITH THE FINAL DETAILS, I MADE MY WAY INTO THE CEREMONY & RECEPTION AREA.

MARY BETH’S PARENTS SPENT TIRELESS HOURS PREPARING THEIR LITTLE PEICE OF WATERFRONT PARADISE, SOURCING EVERYTHING FROM A TENT, TO OUTDOOR TOILETS; FROM THE COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING TERRA NOVA . THE TENT WAS BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED, WHITE TABLES WITH DISCO BALLS AND LITTLE POPS OF COLOUR ON EACH CENTERPIECE, EVERY DETAIL CAREFULLY PICKED. THE ISLE WAS MARKED WITH A HAND MADE BIRTCH ARCH WITH THE LAKE AS THE BACKDROP WHICH PERFECTLY FRAMED AN EVERLASTING MEMORY.

ONCE I CAPTURED THE DETIALS OF THE TENT I FOUND MARY BETH WITH HER FLORALS FROM NANCY’S FLOWER PATCH IN GLOVERTOWN. SOON AFTER A FAMILY FRIEND ARRIVED WITH THE MOST DELICATE PURPLE HEATHER FROM HER LATE GRANDMOTHERS GARDEN. THIS MOMENT IN PARTICULAR WAS ONE THAT WILL STAY WITH ME. MARY BETH LATER INFORMED ME THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THOSE FLOWERS HAVE EVER BLOOMED, MAKING THEM EVEN MORE SPECIAL. AS THEY WERE PLACED EVER SO CAREFULLY, I WATCHED AND DOCUMENTED.

SOON FOLLOWING , THE CEREMONY STARTED WITH HAND WRITTEN VOWS & NOT A DRY EYE IN THE CROWD. CHEERS AND LAUGHTER ERUPTED AS RICE PAPER HEARTS FLOATED THROUGH THE AIR WITH GOOD WISHES AS THE COUPLE MADE THEIR WAY TO THE BEACH. FAMILY FORMALS AND GROUP SHOTS DIDNT TAKE LONG BEFORE A BEAUTIFUL SPREAD OF DIPS AND MUNCHIES PROVIDED BY ALLIY FROM PUNCH BOWL DURING COCKTAIL HOUR WHILE I FOLLOWED THE BRIDE AND GROOM FOR SOME WHIMSICAL PHOTOS ALONG THE SHORE & IN THE WOODED AREA SURROUNDING THE CABIN.

SUPER WAS PREPARED BY NICK VAN MELE, HEAD CHEF OF THE GROUNDS CAFE IN PORTUGAL COVE. A BEAUTIFUL SPREAD OF BBQ, WITH SOME OF THE BEST BRISKET, MAC & CHEESE & POTATO SALAD I HAVE EVER HAD. THE SPEECHES WERE SHORT , SWEET, AND SINCERE. WITH LAUGHS AND TEARS AS THE NEWLY WEDS WERE SURROUNDED IN SUPPORT FROM THEIR SPECIAL PEOPLE. THE DESSERT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CAKE MADE WITH LOVE BY THE GROOM’S MOTHER, IT WAS DIVINE.

I MANAGED TO SNEAK THE COUPLE AWAY FOR SOME BLUE HOUR PORTRAITS IN THE GARDEN AS THE STRING LIGHTS MADE THEIR APPEARANCE. NOT LONG FOLLOWING THE FORMAL DANCES STARTED WITH MARY BETH & NICK’S FIRST DANCE TO “OUR HOUSE” BY COSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG TO SET THE TONE TO THEIR STORY. SOON THE DANCEFLOOR WOULD BE ALIVE WITH LAUGHTER.

I FELT WELCOMED BY ALL, FAMILY AND FRIENDS ALIKE. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SHARED MOMENT WE ALL HELPED CREATE. I FELT LIKE I HAD KNOWN THEM MY WHOLE LIFE, BUILDING NEW RELATIONSHIPS, FORMING ETERNAL BONDS, RELISHING THE MOMENT; THIS DAY PERFECTLY REPRESENTS WHY I DO WHAT I DO.