Extraordinary & Unique Wedding Misfits…this shoot took place along the always stunning Harrison Lake in B.C. Generally chosen for its lush green arbor, this winter shoot at the Lodge on Harrison Lake shows off stark beauty while in hibernation. The frozen waterfall and an unexpected rainbow are the icing on the cake for the portraits. We were fascinated by the imagination and creativity of this palette, so much so that we featured it in the 2021 print issue of the West Coast Vancouver Weddings Magazine.
The designers of this shoot had some lofty ideals in mind. Photographer Leanne Sims describes them. “The goal of this shoot was to highlight and lift underrepresented couples who don’t identify with the traditional concept or vision of weddings. Couples who love each other want to celebrate that love in a way they don’t see plastered all over social media. It’s also largely about playing with gender norms and how men are often seen as the ‘prop’ on wedding days. Featured here, you will see Paul, our male model, sporting what my team calls a ‘gentleman’s boutonniere,’ scaled up from a traditional boutonniere to highlight his significance.”
Leanne continues, “We selected a color palette and several wardrobe pieces that are the polar opposite of the bright, airy, blush tones that have flooded the market over the years. We wanted to stand out from the rest, break the industry mold, and show how alternative, unconventional weddings can be beautiful and romantic. To show couples they don’t have to compromise who they are to get married and that weddings don’t have to feel old-fashioned. Hence the shoot inspiration…Misfit. A shoot for the oddball couples, so to speak.”
“Paul & Rowynn (the gorgeous models) have known each other for nearly eight years and have been in a committed relationship for nearly six years. They describe themselves as weirdos and spend most of their time making stupid faces and weird noises at each other and laughing way too hard about it; “We get to be silly with each other in an unabashed way.” Rowynn was an absolute asset as she dances professionally with Omnika in Motion, a collaborative dance collective that performs conceptual pieces at electronic music festivals throughout North America. Experienced with aerial work, her love of motion really contributed to the photos.
The reception supper is especially moody and beautiful. Leanne explains, “We also wanted to incorporate guests for dinner as elopement shoots rarely do so, and weddings SHOULD be about the people. Our guest list was exclusive only in the sense that all guests boasted beautiful tattoos. We needed to include different body types and sexual orientations (though this intentionally wasn’t made particularly obvious). Dinner was a spectacular spread, and our Chef was given complete creative freedom. The highlight by far was whiskey bone marrow shots; not a vegan dish by any means, but a crowd favorite nonetheless!”
It’s easy to see why we featured this extraordinary and unique British Columbia wedding design palette in the latest issue of West Coast Weddings magazine. Every once in a while, great talents come together to create something truly spectacular, and we are honored to feature it!
