Beautiful Christmas Wedding, St. John’s, Newfoundland & Labrador 

On Old Christmas Day, in a house built into the side of Signal Hill, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, preparations for a Christmas wedding were underway!

Inside that home, Ern was busy getting ready for the best day ever. Incredibly detail oriented, he made sure every every cuff and collar and bow tie was at it was supposed to be. Every detail was sorted, right down to the poppy he planned to wear. The poppy that was in his jacket the day his Grandfather was buried. Why then are there two poppies? Well, the story goes like this.

The morning of the wedding, I walked into the house where the guys were getting ready. And on the table, there were two poppies. Assuming they had something to do with the day, I snapped a photo of them together. When Ern came out of the back bedroom, he told me how the poppy had been in his jacket at his Grandfather’s funeral and when he got home, he took it out of his coat and placed it, with a couple of other sentimental items in a small wooden box, on the shelf, by the front door, so if there is ever a fire, he know exactly where it was on his way out the door.

The morning of the wedding, as they were getting ready, James, Ern’s son said that he wanted to wear a poppy too.

Knowing that there was only poppy one in the keepsake box, he told him that there was only one inside the box was very special, but he would try to find him one. In January, finding one seemed doubtful- but when he opened the well loved box, he found not one, but two poppies inside.

 Even before I met Darlene, as we were still in the email stage of planning a family portrait session, I knew we were going to be fast friends! The morning of their first photo session we laughed and chatted as we sported around town in her car while the boys road in Ern’s car. It felt more like I was catching up with an old friend that it did meeting a client for the first time. I was so excited when she got engaged last Christmas, and then because she loves the season, she told me we were going to celebrate at a Christmas Wedding!

 I also really liked Darlene’s parents as soon as I met them! I especially love her mother, Charlotte and her Aunt Linda. Through engagement sessions and dress shopping expeditions, I got to meet all of the wonderful ladies that love Darlene.  When we arrived at Charlotte and Bud’s Portugal Cove home, it was as warm and welcoming as I  had expected and it was filled with beautiful supportive and loving friends.

These rings belonged to Dar’s Grandmother and spent her wedding day attached to her bouquet! 

The best part about Christmas weddings is all of the sparkle, bling and pretty that is already everywhere! It’s like the whole world is so excited about your wedding that they decorated too! I love that the painting on the wall over Bud and Charlotte’s kitchen table is of the Battery – the area of St. John’s were Ern grew up, where he was getting ready  and where we would visit later in the day! I also love Dar’s fur coat. Originally this fur belonged to her Grandmother, but Always in Vogue in St. John’s took her long fur and remodeled it into a much more modern design that Dar got to wear as her ‘Something Old’ on her wedding day.

Tradition will have you hanging Rosary Beads the night before the wedding to ensure you get good weather! ⠀
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Planning any Newfoundland wedding is a gamble when it comes to the weather. Winter weddings are especially tricky! Darlene really wanted snow for her Christmas wedding day, and even if that’s not what the rest of the world wanted for weather that day, she got exactly what she wished for! We had a gorgeous dusting of snow and intermittent flurries all day long! It was well worth the frozen fingers to get these fun Christmas wedding dress images! 
I LOVE this photo of Darlene You can see the nervous excitement in her face as she finishes putting on all of her jewelry. I always find that as soon as the dress is on and the earrings are going it, things feel really real!  Bud hadn’t seen Dar’s dress, so it was a total suprise when he came in to see his one and only little girl, all ready for her walk down the aisle! Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Portugal Cove is the church that Dar grew up attending. It is absolutely beautiful with all of the old word work and stained glass.

 

 

 

 

Below is one of my favourite wedding ceremony shots ever!

Being a Flower Girl is HARD work. You need to get all done up, put on a sparkly gown, and then keep the Ring Bearer in line! 

Darlene found herself in a difficult position as time drew nearer for the wedding. Her life long best friend who she refers to as a Sister was set to be her Maid of Honor (obviously!) but in the days leading up to the wedding, it became clear that Jenelle would be having her baby very close to the wedding day.

Graciously, her cousin Melanie stepped into the Maid of Honour role! Then happily, baby came just in time for Jenelle to find another beautiful dress and to still make it to the wedding! See, everything always works out!

Holy Rosary Catholic Church has some really interesting lighting features which made it both challenging and exciting to photograph! The way that the lights and candles played off the Christmas floral and decor, gave it beautiful warmth for this gorgeous Christmas wedding!

Now that they were were married, it was time to celebrate!

We headed down over the hill to Aunt Linda and Uncle Bill’s gorgeous home where they have an unobstructed view of  Portugal Cove. They also have the most beautiful home – it is absolutely home decor magazine worthy!

And out of the blue, this happened…
Remember that home decor magazine worthy house? Well, it has a wine cellar. And not just any wine cellar, but a wine cellar with a huge rock inside the walls. For the second time that day I was in a house that had been built around a rock!  When we had coffee at Aunt Linda’s house to plan the wedding photos, I noticed a greenhouse out back. And even though it was still grassy and warm out, I could picture it, surrounded by freshly fallen snow, filled with lots and lots of twinkly lights. The chandelier and champagne I take no credit for, but I am ever grateful to Uncle Bill for understanding my vision and making it it happen!  

By the time we were ready to head back down to The Battery for the last photos of the day, the snow had picked up considerably. Thankfully, Bud is amazing and instead of having us all head down there in separate vehicles, he drove a giant SUV with himself, Charlotte, Darlene, Ern,  my assistant Richelle, Jonathan the videographer and me!

It was terrific because we all hopped out, made beautiful images and then got back into a warm vehicle and were whisked away to the reception. One of my favourite memories of the day was when Darlene held my hands in the backseat because I couldn’t do what I needed to with gloves on and my camera was freezing so my fingers were absolutely aching when we were done! Normally hand holding is reserved for the grooms, but I was so cold, I grateful accepted the warm up as we rode along in the snow!

The reason we headed back to The Battery for photos was because, as I mentioned earlier, Ern’s Grandfather was extremely important to him. And, he had the unique opportunity to still have him in his photos. You see the mural behind them? Directly to Dar’s right is Ern’s Grandfather. It is easily the coolest way I have ever been able to pay tribute to a family member in a photo.

Back at The Bella Vista the room was decorated the nicest I have ever seen it and our meal was spectacular!Christmas weddings always have the brightest, shiniest and most lavish decor and this one was no exception! Fairytales did an amazing job with the decorating. 

Darlene and Ern, thank-you so much for choosing me to be your wedding photographer. I always love what I do, but it is even better when I can do it with people I love!  Darlene, I am so happy that a Google search brought us together a couple of years ago and I have gotten to know your family too. I hope, you, Ern and James have a long and amazing life together and I look forward to seeing what life has in store for you!

So Much Love,
Amy

 

Wondering who Darlene’s amazing vendors were?

Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal from Kathy Evans Design
Grooms Tuxedo: Model Shop
Bridesmaids Dresses: Model Shop
Alterations: Rodney Philpott
Decor: Fairytales
Venue: Bella Vista
Catering: Taste of Class
Cake: I Makes Cakes
Ice Sculpture: Steve Watson

Thinking of having your own Christmas wedding or want to chat weddings in general? I would have love to discuss whatever your plans are and how my wedding photography can be a part of that! To see other weddings, check out www.amydonovanphoto.com/weddings or email me at amy@amydonovanphoto.com