Welcome to 2011, everybody! On Saturday, January 15, I had the pleasure of meeting Ken, Brenda, and their families. Ken and Brenda actually got married earlier in the week in an intimate ceremony at home, but they had the reception Saturday night at the Ottawa Police Association (Ken is a retired police officer, and Brenda is Labour Relations Officer for the Ottawa Police Association). They just wanted a few candid photos of their celebration, and I was more than happy to oblige. Congratulations Ken and Brenda! Here are a few of my favorite photos from your beautiful wedding reception.

For a change of pace, how about a few photos from a wedding where I wasn't the official photographer, but was actually a guest? :) Justin is my wife's cousin, so when we were invited to their wedding, I jumped at the chance to attend a wedding where I could actually relax a little bit and just enjoy the celebration without the usual pressure. We had a great time, but of course, I couldn't resist taking at least a few photos. Here are a half-dozen or so of my favorites from Justin and Asuka's wedding day.

Paul and Caitlin's was my last scheduled wedding of the season, and what a way to end things! I'd been anxiously awaiting Paul and Caitlin's wedding since I shot their engagement photos last month, and they didn't disappoint. They were married in the stunning Notre Dame Cathedral, and had their reception at the opulent and historic Chateau Laurier hotel. The weather was perfect, everyone looked beautiful, and Paul and Caitlin are just a joy to work with. The day flew by, and before I knew it, my time with them was over. I had a fantastic time, and I know Paul and Caitlin will have many wonderful adventures in their new lives together. Thanks for inviting me to be a part of your wedding, guys! Here are a few of my favorite photos from their day.

I can't wait to shoot Paul and Caitlin's wedding in October. They're so much fun, and they love the outdoors. They spend a lot of time doing all sorts of outdoor activities, and their engagement shoot was no exception! We met up at Pink Lake in Gatineau Park, and they took me on a tour along the walking trail around the lake. It was a gorgeous day, and I really enjoyed getting to know even more about this wonderful couple. Here's a sample of a few of my favorite photos from our session today.

You might recognize this gorgeous couple - I shot their engagement photos back in July. Well, last weekend was finally the big day, and Heba and Nabil didn't disappoint! They were actually already married, so this day was more of a celebration than anything. We spent the afternoon with their family and friends at the Museum of Civilization taking some formal photos, then we moved to the Museum of Nature for the real party! The music, the costumes, the Lebanese food, it was all so overwhelming! This couple really knows how to throw a party! Heba and Nabil, thanks so much for inviting me to share your day with you, here's a small sample of some of my favorite photos of the festivities.

Golf is a big part of Aaron & Mary's lives, so it was only appropriate that they had their wedding reception at the Metcalfe Golf and Country Club. Aaron actually works at the club, so he was able to ensure the VIP treatment for his reception. Mary and Aaron got married just up the road, in the St. Catherine of Sienna church, in Metcalfe, Ontario. Aaron and his groomsmen are clearly very close, and their comraderie came shining through in their photos. The weather threatened to put a damper on the celebrations, but in the end, it turned out to be a great day for a wedding! I only spent a few hours with Mary and Aaron, but here are a few of the highlights of their celebration.

I just met Kathy and Don a few short months ago, but I could immediately tell that they were perfect for each other. Kathy and Don are both quite shy, but obviously deeply in love. I was privileged to be a part of their wedding, and I'm grateful for having met both of them. Kathy and Don married in a beautiful, simple ceremony in Rideau Park United Church, followed by a lavish reception at the picturesque Chateau Laurier. I had an amazing time sharing Kathy and Don's day with them - they both have fantastically supportive families, and I wish them all the best in their future. Thank you for inviting me to share your celebration, Kathy and Don! Here's a sample of the photos I captured during your amazing day.

Heba, Nabil and I took a chance and headed downtown the day after Canada Day for some engagement photos. I'm happy to report that Ottawa survived another Canada Day relatively unscathed! :) There were still lots of tents, people, and concert equipment everywhere (especially with Jazzfest in full swing), but we were able to get some great shots commemorating Heba and Nabil's engagement. I can't wait to shoot their wedding this September! Here are some highlights from our Friday evening.

Anna and Tom's wedding had a lot of little personal touches in it. From their adorable 11-month old son, London, to the custom-made ties, made from the same tartan as Tom's kilt, their wedding really expressed their own style. Anna and Tom married in their church in Kanata, and followed it with an awesome reception at the Loch March golf club. Congratulations, guys!

Believe it or not, Anne and David actually met through eHarmony - living proof that Internet dating can have a fairy tale ending! I had so much fun working with Anne and David. Anne is a stunning psychiatry student, and David is a handsome business owner - I couldn't ask for better clients. David seemed quiet at first, but as I got to know him, I realized he has a fantastic sense of humour. He gave one of the most original and hilarious reception speeches I've ever heard! Anne really "gets" David, and she clearly loves her family and friends dearly. Anne and David married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Strathmere, and had an intimate reception in the historic Inn. I had a great time working with Anne and David, and I just know they'll love their photos. Thanks for inviting me to share your special day with you, guys!

This wedding was a first for me - I didn't meet John until the day of the wedding! Sheryl's mother, Rojina, is a super-organized dynamo who coordinated a beautiful and unique wedding for her daughter. Sheryl's family is Lebanese, so the party atmosphere was in full gear, all day! There was good music, good food, and good times from the moment I arrived until the night finally wound down. Congratulations, Sheryl and John, I wish you all the best! Here is a small sampling of photos from your incredible day.

I had a lot of fun working with Pam and Bryan. They're both a little shy, but very organized! Pam and Bryan married in the beautiful and historic Peace Tower church, on Bronson street, then celebrated with a reception in picturesque Montebello, across the river in Quebec. The weather was a mixed bag, greeting them at the reception with a torrential downpour, but most of the day was as bright and sunny as Pam's smile. Here's a small sampling of Pam and Bryan's amazing wedding day.

Alex and Summer are a gorgeous young couple who really know how to get married in style! Their wedding was one of the classiest events I've ever been to, and they're a fantastic couple. Everything about their wedding expressed their own personality and style, from the stretch SUV-limo to the traditional vodka shots at dinner. I had a great time sharing Alex and Summer's wedding day with them, and I know they'll have a long, happy life together!

Shannon is a former co-worker of mine, so I was elated when his fiancée Aleisha asked me to take their engagement photos for them. Shannon and Aleisha are a lot of fun, and Aleisha's outgoing personality made this shoot seem more like fun than work! My wife Darah even came along to help out with some lighting techniques. Shannon and Aleisha are getting married later this summer in southern Ontario, so they wanted their engagement photos to reflect their life here in Ottawa. We roamed around Parliament, the Chateau Laurier, and the Rideau Canal - I think that's about as "Ottawa" as you can get! Here's a sample of some of the photos the 4 of us created yesterday.

On Saturday, I visited Sarah and Carl, and met their new daughter, Lauren. Lauren is less than 4 weeks old, and she's adorable! She's still tiny, and we were able to get some great photos of their growing family. You may recognize Sarah and Carl - I shot their wedding last year. They're a lot of fun, and I know they'll make great parents. Congratulations, you guys! Here's a sample of some of the photos I took for them.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of shooting my first winter wedding. Shaun is another local wedding photographer, and trusted me with the task of shooting his wedding to Anik. Shaun and Anik are a wonderful couple who complement each other perfectly. Their wedding represented the merging of two very culturally diverse families - French Canadian meets Trinidadian. The result was an amazingly unique celebration, even if it was a little too chilly to get many outdoor portraits (-14 degrees Celcius!) I had a blast shooting Shaun and Anik's wedding, and I know they'll continue to make each other happy for the rest of their lives. Congratulations, Shaun and Anik!

I've got to hand it to Leann's family - they're made from tough stuff! On Saturday, I met up with Leann's family (visiting from Toronto) at the Château Laurier to take a few fun family photos around the downtown Ottawa area. With a high of -14º Celcius, it promised to be a chilly day! But the wind stayed low and the sun provided a beautiful, warm light, and we were able to get some great shots at the Eternal Flame on Parliament Hill. We weren't outside for too long, but here are some of the highlights:

Brendan and Merrigan's was my final wedding of the 2009 season, and Merrigan earned the distinction of having the earliest start of any Bride I've shot. Merrigan's hair appointment was at 6:00 AM! It was a long day, but it was a ton of fun. Brendan and Merrigan complement each other perfectly, and I could tell right away that they're deeply in love. The weather was rainy, but they say that's good luck! Congratulations, Brendan and Merrigan, I hope you had as much fun as I did!

This was a very special wedding. Robert is my brother-in-law, and I’ve been looking forward to shooting Robert and Susan’s wedding for over a year now. What made their wedding so special (besides the family connection) was that they had it in Newfoundland, the one province I hadn’t yet visited. My wife and I flew in and spent a week on “The Rock” touring around and getting to know some of the friendliest Canadians I’ve ever met. Congratulations, Robert and Susan – I hope you love your photos as much as I enjoyed getting to celebrate with you!