Colleen and Kyle: Backyard Wedding

I’m sure if you follow along instagram then you’ve read about Colleen and Kyle Backyard Wedding but now it’s time to write it out fully and I am so excited!

First off, I’VE MISSED YOU ALL (yes you who is reading this). As we all know, the world went through and is still going through a Pandemic over the last three months which meant a lot of change in all of our lives. For me the hardest hit was that almost all of my weddings from 2020 postponed to 2021 (Ottawa Wedding season is looking quite different right about now) but Colleen and Kyle were determined to stick it out. And omg am I ever glad they did. Leading up to the day was so nerve wracking because we had no idea what the day would end up looking like. Not only was I not allowed to work (non-essential worker) but Ontario’s rules states no more than 5 people were allowed together.

Luckily for us though, the week of the wedding it was announced that not only would I be able to work again but the rules were now 50 people allowed for a ceremony!!! It was like the heavens opened up and gave me the go ahead and boy were we ever excited.

The day of the wedding was a chilly one and overcast but I knew the sun would make it’s way through eventually and I was right! Driving up to Kemptville had a few drops of rain but then everything cleared up and we got a beautiful sunny day! I headed over to the Kemptville Suites where Colleen and Kyle would be getting ready. I met up with Bryan, the Videographer and we made our way up to Kyle. He was hanging out in his room with his parents and brother, just lounging about. I got to work right away on getting a couple details while I waited for Colleen to arrive and Bryan set up to interview Kyle. Sadly I wasn’t there for very long as Bryan needed quiet for the interview so I left to wait for the ladies. Luckily for me, they arrived within minutes and off we went to get all the final touches.

We entered the room and Colleen’s friend got straight to work to doing her makeup and thankfully so as makeup artists are still as of right now, not allowed to work. I grabbed her beautiful gown, Tiffany & Co. rings and super awesome Gucci Disney shoes and got to work doing some details. Colleen and I discussed the plan for the day, talked about nerves, happiness, cats and of course their adorable new puppy Bella. Honestly it seemed like time stood still for a minute. Here we were, in Kemptville in a historic beautiful building and I was shooting a wedding. Life was grand for all of us in that moment.

We were running a little behind at this point but really, who cared? This wedding was happening and that’s all we cared about! Colleen’s mum, Judy, arrived right on time to get Colleen in her beautiful gown. It was in this moment that Judy realized how difficult bridal dress buttons truly were! We had a laugh and we ultimately decided that Colleen’s made of Honour (and one of my past brides) Amy, would do the honours of finishing up the buttons. But not before doing a first look with the girls of course!

The ladies were hiding in the bathroom at this point so I got them to close their eyes, hold hands, and guided them into the room for the big reveal. 1,2,3, they opened their eyes and although they were quiet, their faces said it all. Happiness, lots of smiles and lots of tears, they just couldn’t get over how beautiful their friend was. And she was absolutely stunning.

Sadly one of Kyle’s siblings couldn’t make it to the wedding with her son so Colleen opted to do a virtual facetime with her and it too was honestly adorable. She couldn’t hold it back and the tears started pouring as Colleen smiled, basking in it all. She was about to get married and although not everyone could be there, she still had her moments with those that matter most.

I’d realized there was a plastic bag on the bed and it looked to be a veil, turns out it was! I took it out and it needed a good steaming so Emilia took it out and got right to it. We quickly hopped in the cars and drove down the road to the grocery store Colleen’s father owns to surprise him with a first look.

He was already in his suit and working in the office when we got there so Colleen placed herself between the fresh produce and her mum went and guided her dad out to see his little girl. He was so happy, his smile never left his face, his eyes were bright and he went in for a hug with his little girl. And just like that, the morning was over and it was time to head over to Colleen’s parents home to finally marry these two love birds.

Judy and Jim had spent the weeks leading up to the wedding fixing up their gardens and deck and making sure everything was perfect, and it truly was. Their devotion to making their daughters day as perfect as possible was the sweetest thing and I know Colleen and Kyle are grateful. They even created a mulched pathway from the front of the house to the ceremony space on the deck. It created the perfect aisle for their daughter to walk down on.

Jim was beaming as he held colleen in his arm and Judy wasn’t far behind helping with her train. Kyle held it together as I expected him too but I saw him mouth ”you look beautiful” as she walked up to him. They were up with their officiant, made of honour and best man as their close family and friends were spread about the property watching from a respectable distance.

The ceremony was beautiful with traditional vows looped in with some modifications and a lovely speech from Kyle’s father. Right before Kyle’s father came up however, Rose, Colleen’s cat, made her way over to the patio door and she watched a bit of the ceremony, it was honestly the cutest thing. I pointed her out to Colleen and she leaned over to have a peak, she was very happy Rose was able to join in ont he fun. They exchanged their beautiful rings and kissed to seal the deal. After 6years, they were finally husband and wife.

As Colleen and Kyle greeted their guests, I took some time to get photos of the hard work that had been put into making this beautiful and magical day happen. A small tent was put up to accommodate the guests who wanted to have some shade while eating and was decorated simply with Edison bulb string lights, beautiful blue vases filled with white flowers, homemade party favours (Was it Jam or Maple syrup, either way it looked delicious), and finally the plates were topped off with beautiful white and blue patterned napkins. There was even beautiful gold and silver balloons congratulating the happy couple. They were also able to get custom cookies made and a beautiful cake and cupcakes by Batter Up Baker. They ended up getting catering from Lone Star and it was absolutely delicious, like honestly more couples should get fajitas for catering. I’ll crash all of the wedding, guaranteed. Guests grabbed some food and sprawled around the property eating and enjoying the beautiful summer day. It was simple, but beautiful and perfect♥

After doing family photos, I stole Colleen and Kyle away with the videographers and off we went to get bridal portraits done. I wasn’t worried at all about how these would turn out because these two are pros. Colleen has the most beautiful smile and Kyle has that smirk that just radiates coolness. Top his smirk off with a damn nice suit and that Tom Ford tie and it was a winning combo. It was getting really hot at this point so I didn’t want to have to make them do too much and especially not out in the sun. But they were more than willing so we ended up making them do a few sprints up and down the street. Got the blood flowing that’s for sure!

After portraits it was time to get the first dance going. Colleen and Kyle stepped onto the deck as the guests watched from below just admiring the beautiful couple.

Side story and a funny one, their puppy Bella (8weeks old) had been sleeping for most of the day outdoors but of course right as the first dance is about to start, she gets up and starts wandering around only to stop and do her business… right beside the deck… right as the music was about to start. We all laughed and applauded the little puppy, cleaned things up and went right back to it!

Colleen and Kyle swayed to the music, talking and laughing and then they kind of slowed down even more, almost stopping and they turn to look at us and say; ”We don’t know what we’re doing, is this right?” I couldn’t help but laugh! I forget how it’s not common for people to really know how to slow dance anymore so I yelled out that they were doing great and to just keep at it. So they did. They looked so happy and like they were taking in this moment as it was in all of it’s glory.

After their dance Kyle did a quick Mother son dance with his beautiful momma and then Colleen did her father daughter dance. But Colleen chose American Pie by Don McLean which was a long song so after a minute or two of dancing she invited all of her guests up to social distance dance in pairs as she boogied her way down to her grandparents.

They held hands, laughed and danced together just enjoying the time for what it was, beautiful. Colleen and Kyle then quickly cut their beautiful cake before jumping right into the bouquet toss (probably one of my favourite parts to this wedding honestly). So obviously there was not a lot of guests and only two of the ladies were not married and therefore eligible to participate in the toss itself but was it ever a good one.

The two ladies lined up as Colleen danced around and laughed at the whole thing. She tossed it and omg, Emilia just BOOKED IT! She leapt into the air, got mad height (look at the photo, seriously), arms extended like she was about to catch a rugby ball and she caught it (obviously). And that is how I ended my day, with an epic bouquet catch.

Colleen and Kyle, thank you a million times for holding out hope and going ahead with this perfect wedding. I hope you had an amazing day and although it may not have been exactly what you had envisioned, know that to all of us able to attend it was perfect and beautiful and we love you.

♥ Vendor Love ♥
Wedding Dress: With Love Bridal Boutique by Martina Liana
Suit: Harry Rosen
Florals: Passiflora
Cookies: Ginger Vizzari
Catering: Lone Star Ranch Catering
Cake: Batter Up Bakery
Videographer: Bryan Jones Photo ⁄ Video
Getting Ready Location: Kemptville Suites
Photography: Samantha Danis Photo