emery and matt's victoria, b.c. wedding

Emery and Matt approached their wedding day like they do everything else; with a contagious, relaxed, fun-loving energy. Our goal? To be a seamless part of capturing the day so they could be fully present in it. They wanted their wedding to be a celebration focused on all the love between them, their friends and their family –– rather than a photoshoot with the bride and groom as the stars. We loved that they knew what they wanted and set out to capture it all; the waves of emotion, the many characters, the tenderness, the laughter, and the outlandish dance moves after dark.

the morning of the wedding

We started by capturing the joy of getting ready –– the details of the gown, candid moments of connection and joking, and a no-stress prep for a very special day. We already knew Emery and Matt from photographing their engagement photos, so there was a trust in having us there to witness these personal moments. We love making our couples feel comfortable so they can be fully themselves in the photos. The atmosphere in the barn loft was super casual - all the joy and style without any pretense or stress.

the wedding ceremony

While Em and Matt live in Vancouver, they celebrated at Emery’s parent's house in her hometown on the Saanich Peninsula 20 minutes north of Victoria, British Columbia. The ceremony and reception took place in the heat of summer on their private property. Sheep wandered the fields, birds chirped among the trees, raspberries grew along the fenceline, flowers were in bloom, and the day was HOT, well over 30 degrees on a day without a whiff of breeze or a cloud to be seen. 

Bouquets of wildflowers, provided by Emery’s mother’s garden and Busy Bee Farm & Florals, added pops of colour, and the wardrobe and decor nodded to classic, fresh, vintage-inspired aesthetics. Ornate rugs and classic couches on the lawn, rustic signage, and dappled light set a natural, friendly tone. Optional parasols offered wedding guests protection from the (relentless) sun.

The wedding ceremony, which was officiated by Uncle James and blessed by Emery’s grandmother (in her 90’s and still spry), was joy-filled and meaningful with plenty of laughter and tears in equal supply. After a moving ceremony, the guests wandered over to a big white tent where tapered candles, an early evening feast, cocktails and champagne flutes set the tone for an elegant, easygoing celebration. Some of the kids (including some over 50) ran through the garden sprinkler to cool off on their way to the tents. We learned at their engagement shoot that these two love their burgers, so that theme was continued and we all enjoyed build-your-own gourmet burgers along with fresh salads as the evening cooled.

an evening walk: some candid wedding moments away from the crowd

We snuck away with Emery and Matt for a quick photoshoot after the ceremony. The couple were clear about wanting these photos to be natural, non-posey, and quick ––  so they could head back into the party to be with their loved ones. We’re pretty good at disarming even the most photo-averse people, but Matt & Emery were pretty comfortable and relaxed already.

joy, dancing, and festive debauchery

The true beauty of a wedding always lies in the bonds we witness between family and friends. Of course sometimes you have to be there, but trust us, Matt’s brother’s speech was one of the best we’ve ever heard –– a brilliant roast that had everyone laughing until their stomachs hurt. After the sunset, a moving first dance and father-daughter dance were followed by a full on dance party. Some groomsmen lost their shirts in joyful abandon and the revelry went into the early morning. As Matt would say: Shit got wild.”

The photos we’re most proud of capturing are often unexpected. The fleeting, magical moments that evoke strong feelings for decades after the photos are taken. These are often unplanned or unpredictable, and sometimes go unnoticed in the moment; the pride in Matt’s mom’s eyes as she looks at him in a photo, lipstick on the groom after the first kiss, the pure love during a father-daughter dance (sometimes we love people so much it hurts), Matt showing gratitude to his uncle, and the absolute chaos and unfiltered glee of a dance party at the end of the night. We know you want to see and feel everything on your wedding day, and we love being an extra set of eyes for anything you might have missed or want to remember forever.

"Hey guys,

Wow. Just wow. We couldn’t be happier with these. You captured some truly golden moments — everything from uproarious late night debauchery to the subtle, quiet corners. You captured the time and space of that glorious day perfectly. Your timing, your composition, your pleasant and professional demeanour… We’re lost for words.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!"

-Matt & Emery

Wedding credits

Thanks Emery and Matt for letting us capture this very special day.

Here’s who made all the magic happen:

Coordination: @heydeyevents

Wedding Venue: Private Property

Catering: @houseofboateng

DJ: Mike Braithwaite @mikeybraith

Decor: @pedersenseventrentals, @shadyspaces

Bride: @emeryprette

Groom: @fitzriggin

Flowers: @busybeefarmandflorals