Graeme And Rachel July 2016- Whimsical Backyard Wedding

Graeme and Rachel offered a wedding to me like no other. They moved into an older house with so much character and beautiful property weeks before the wedding. They set up a huge party tent and beautiful arbour in the yard and this is where they wed. 

I loved this house, the colors, the plaster walls, It screamed character and commanded moody photos. There was no taboo of seeing each other getting ready, although getting Graeme getting ready was a challenge. You see he's a gamer, so when the parents are running around setting up wedding favours and Rachel setting up tables- Graeme was bringing the tv and game consoles outside for the late night video game playing! 

Rachel is such a reserved girl, I suspect until you get to know her, so when we pulled out this big, huge, wedding dress, I was shocked. It was the most romantic feeling dress, and was exactly her. Her dad gave her a set of pearls on her wedding day and mom made the garter, there were so many special touches throughout this whole day, including the fur babies that loved all the attention with so many people around. 

The ceremony was sweet, filled with a few tears and laughter. You can truly feel it when they can't take their eyes off each other, you swore nobody else was there. 

They live beside a sod farm, so it was the perfect spot for photos, and with that big romantic dress the pictures remind me of the movie "Run away Bride" with Julia Roberts.  This wedding also allowed me to pull off some shots that you don't normally get do, with the direction of the sun, the dress and the relaxed feeling of the whole day. 

For dinner they had a BBQ truck come in with ribs, corn bread, corn on the cob, and the best potato salad EVER. They didn't have a first dance. Why? Cause, it didn't matter. They wanted to enjoy the evening, they were exhausted, so they did what they wanted to do, and I love them for that! Weddings are crazy, stressful, tiring, and always aiming for perfection. Sometimes we forget that the reason for the day is to marry your true love, make promises and enjoy life.

They had hanging lanterns all around the property and had a firework, followed by a sparkler send off- which again was a new venture for me. I could't love these photos, this day and these two any more. Congrats Graeme and Rachel, You did it, and you did it your way!

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