If you ever want to catch a really authentic glimpse into a couple’s life, tag along on a date with them sometime. Three weeks ago, we had just that opportunity and followed Laura + Jan around the beautiful cityscape of Ottawa, camera in tow, casually clicking away as they laughed, smooched, joked, and gazed lovingly at each other. We even returned to the *scene of the crime*…. also known as how it all began. And it goes a little something like this:

Mutual friends had been hounding them to connect on the hunch they would hit it off. Finally surrendering to the pressure, these two now lovebirds agreed and had their first date at a trendy/cozy little restaurant in Ottawa. Friendship and attraction grew into love and before long the conversations turned to marriage. {Naturally we are WAY oversimplifying this!}

Although Laura + Jan are both very private people, what we do know is that they actually travelled great distances to find each other. Jan was born in Prague, but grew up in Kuwait, later Phoenix and then Ottawa, where he currently works in the medical field for the government. Laura has become the missing puzzle piece in his life.  In between training for his various triathlons, Jan takes great delight in helping Laura with her tennis game. Conversely, she coaches him with his running and now together they are even working on some slick dance moves for their upcoming wedding!

Paramount to Laura + Jan’s relationship is a mutual interest in celebrating their respective cultures. With Laura’s Finnish-Canadian background, Jan is learning to withstand the Finnish Sauna {and we’re told his time *in there* is significantly improving!} and also enjoy frequent helpings of Karjalan Pirakkas {naturally, made by Laura}. And with Jan’s Czech-International heritage, Laura has sampled his famous Schnitzel and is learning to bake the most incredible Czech Christmas cookies.

All this aside, these two busy professionals are now planning the wedding of their dreams back here in Thunder Bay this Fall. And this isn’t just any wedding; in fact it’s kind of special for us, too!

You see Laura’s mother is Rev. Deborah Kraft of St. Paul’s Anglican Church; a church that is near and dear to our hearts. But Rev. Deborah herself is also dear to our hearts. She has performed countless wedding ceremonies over the years and we can personally attest to her caring and respectful nature, along with the passion she exudes in talking about love and marriage. And if that’s not enough to get our attention, Jan’s mother — a classically trained opera singer — will be sharing her special gifts at the church that day, as well.

Laura + Jan, we’re honoured that you’ve asked us to document this momentous occasion. We are counting down right alongside you… In the meantime, please enjoy this handful of images from your Ottawa E-session. P.S. in case you are wondering how Laura’s back bends that way {trust us, you’ll wonder!}, she is a classically trained ballerina who, despite pursuing a career in law, never lost her turnout nor her incredible flexibility!

xo — Alvis + Sam

FYI: wearing a stunning dress to your highschool grad just might have the intended effect of knocking his socks off!! And in turn, it just might lead to happily ever after one day. Such was the case for our bride + groom to be, Kristin + Al. A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of shooting their engagement session on  location at their current resident city, Ottawa. In between the goofing off and their obvious affection for each other, the real story of how this union came to be unfolded. It’s got a little something for everyone, so sit back, grab a cup o’ java and enjoy!

Ahhhh highschool crushes. Those were indeed the days. Remember them? You’d tell your kindred BFF about the crush du jour and before long the entire school would know. In Al’s case, word eventually got back to him that this flirty, outgoing beauty wanted to take him to HER grad. The answer was a no-brainer and before long the two were inseparable. Fast forward to the Academia Years while Al studied at Queen’s and our couple managed to hang tough during a solid bout of long distance.

But ultimately, heartbreak would set in as the degree was earned, and Kristin was unsure if moving away from Thunder Bay was something she was ready for or not. Break-up number one ensued.

And even while Kristin found herself in another relationship, Al persistently and consistently did his best to woo her back; but she was admittedly just in a different place. Two years of dissatisfaction later and the two of them miraculously found their way back to each other. And to seal the deal further, Kristin packed up her life in TBay and moved to Ottawa which was a “huge” step for her. There has been no looking back, only looking forward and relishing in the joy of being together at long last.

Other random bits of info we gleaned? Well, they could not possibly be any more in love with their two cats, Farnsworth and Lemmiwinks, lovingly named by Al {who specializes in oddball monikers for both animals and people alike}. Not sure if this is public knowledge, but he’s been known to call his true love Kristin “Bootface”, “Weasel” and most recently “Mia” {well that’s kinda sweet, no?!}. But perhaps what stands out the most is the obvious balance these two exude. Kristin: joyful, exuberant, overreacting, high strung. Al: easy going, calming, soothing, romantic {see next paragraph}. It’s a thing of beauty, really!

And for their engagement, Al meticulously planned it out. The symbolism of his bended-knee proposal at the very spot he had given her her promise ring was not lost on Kristin. Somewhere out on the rocks at Chippewa is a place that has become sacred to them.

So enough of the mushy stuff! We are thrilled to post some highlights from this Ottawa E-session. The chemistry between them seemed to leap right off the screen as we edited… leading me to conclude their August, 2012 wedding will result in equally gorgeous shots. Thanks for a blast the other week, guys. REALLY stoked to be a part of your Big Day and hope you enjoy this wee peak at some of what is coming your way. Cheers! — Alvis, Sam + Melissa

Our poor, neglected, lonesome blog. Fret not, little one. We’ve lifted the 6-week long blogging embargo and are finally back. Our excuses are many, namely life getting {happily} in the way and our focus being on family after an insanely busy 2010. But this post is not about us per se: it’s about you, and the possibilities that lie just ahead of our camera lens.

Speaking of possibilities, when planning your wedding one of the most critical decisions you make will be your photographer. Trust us on this one — it is a decision that will have a lifelong impact on your story for years to come! When we were married nine years ago in Costa Rica, we were naively much more concerned with logistics of the resort, who would preside over the ceremony and of course our guests… all important details. But while we did hire a photographer we clearly did not do our homework and the end result was nary a photo that we liked. To this day there is no album to show our daughters… just a few cute but non-professional images taken by family members. {Note: one of the most influential deciding factors for creating Bliss Pictures and tailoring our photography offerings exclusively to suit the wedding industry was directly related to our own experience or rather lack thereof on our wedding day!}

So consider this blog entry our public service message to all newly engaged’s out there: make an investment in a photographer {and cinematographer} that you believe can best represent the love you share and your values. It may not be us or even the next guy… just do your homework because there’s really no dress rehearsal for your wedding day imagery.

But I digress! Here is a couple that DID do their homework and to our good fortune, booked their October wedding with Bliss Pictures. Autumn + Chris were all about the meaningful personal touches and to this day we are still in awe of this bride’s ethereal beauty. Her dress was handmade jointly by she and her mom. Her bouquet was of stunning antique brooches and had to have weighed easily more than ten pounds! By contrast, Autumn’s wedding party carried bouquets of feathers… another homemade touch.

And so for this couple who fell in love through a fortuitous introduction in Toronto, their wedding day went off without a hitch. There was plenty of guinness flowing at their Valhalla Inn reception {decorated by the talented April of Silk + Cedar} as was illustrated by the spontaneous erruption of Ukrainian Dancing in tribute to their love. Perhaps the one detail that remains most memorable was our couple’s creative strategy for having their guests convince them to kiss. Oh “Mad Lib”, you never fail to leave us in stitches! For those of you considering this game and feeling simultaneously confident that your guests will go easy on you, consider this your fair warning!

Autumn + Chris: congratulations again on your marriage… and thank you for including us in your Big Day. You did your homework and we hope you feel it paid off. xo — Alvis, Sam + Melissa

Yikers, it’s been ages since we posted. What’s new, you ask? Hmmmnnn… basically since January we’ve been knee-deep in editing, meeting with new clients and most recently some sugary white powder sand! Last week we had the privilege of spending 7 days of fun and sun with wedding planner *extraordinaire* Bethanie Foster and film-maker *guru* Martin Kramer as they exchanged vows before 30 of their nearest and dearest in Punta Cana.

February 1st 2011 was all about letting someone else take the reins for our detail-oriented bride. And yet in true Bethanie-style, every single aspect of the week-long celebration was executed with panache and included her warm signature touches, from the lovely custom-created welcome beach bags to the handmade wedding lanterns and table décor. The backdrop for all this splendor was Punta Cana’s stunning Majestic Colonial Resort, and let us be among the first to give it an exuberant two thumbs up! Every corner of greenery was meticulously manicured. The entertainment rocked {as did the *Spice Girls*, during their memorable rendition of “It’s Raining Men” on Karaoke Night!!}. And the rooms were downright dreamy. But best of all, was the beach. And we’ve seen a beach or two in our lifetime, but this one ranks at the top for its overall perfection. For Sam to actually go in the water, you have to realize it’s gotta be something special. Ahhh……can still feel that sand squishing between our toes.

But I digress. Back to our happy couple! Performing their 3:00 p.m. ceremony was none other than Jeremy Landon, another brilliant film dude {we know from experience!} who layered in just enough of his clever personality amidst the moving vows. All in all, the entire thing went off without a hitch; not even overshadowed by the two-hour late missing bridal attire. Other highlights we won’t soon forget include the incredible ring box handmade by Chris {Bethanie’s Dad who was also celebrating his official retirement from the police force}, and the look of pride on nephew Collin’s face as he walked down the aisle with it grasped firmly in his tiny hands.

And so without further ado, we are excited to post this blockbuster sneak peek of imagery from your Big Day, Bethanie + Marty. We were honoured to have been asked to represent you… both as clients and as friends. There is only one more thing to say, rustle yourselves up a Mamajuana and drink up! Here’s to married life… may it be as sparkling as that ocean we already miss. Ok, that was a little hokie, but it comes from the hearts. With much love and affection, xox — Alvi + Sam

p.s. I lied // There’s always one more thing left to say, or as Sam says, that infamous *last word*. Bethanie: you are a BEAUTIFUL bride. But what’s coolest is you have no idea that you are.

Sheri + Andrew have big hearts and big brains. Let’s just say that if the category of *Biology* ever came up in a round of Jeopardy, we’re pretty sure they won’t gaffe the Daily Double!

These two Arizona State, Biotechnology PhD students are madly in love and will cement their relationship in stone this August. Their story begins nine years ago, essentially during highschool, when Sheri asked Andrew to attend her semi-formal. We could easily say the rest is *history*, but that would be glossing over some pretty informative years of studying, moving, researching, etc. After completing their undergrads {both in Biology} at Lakehead U, they found themselves pursuing additional higher learning at the University of Toronto where they each completed their Masters. And if that weren’t enough punishment {for those of you itching to get out of school}, their path led them to Scottsdale, Arizona where they are completing their own independent research to culminate in their respective dissertations. Phew. Big brains. Big hearts!

In their downtime, you might find them at Home Depot snatching up materials for rennos on their recently purchased home… Self-described as *low-key*, Sheri + Andrew are connected in life through their own pursuit of higher learning and through the deep love and mutual respect they have for each other. For their engagement session, we opted for a place with meaning and headed out to L.U. It proved to be the perfect place for some winter frolicking and photo snapping.

Sheri + Andrew: we’re stoked to work with you this summer. Thank you for being such good sports on our snowy e-session day. Hope you enjoy this sneak peek of imagery… and Happy New Year!

We’re not going to bog this blog down with our usual ooey-gooey, lovey-dovey superlatives… But do not mistake our *less is more approach* as disinterest. Au contraire. We are incredibly excited about working with Lucie + Kevin next October, 2011. We’ll be bringing the Bliss *entourage* down to Sault Ste. Marie for the entire weekend!

About six weeks ago amidst a chaotic week of moving from Sioux Lookout to Blind River, Lucie + Kevin came up to TBay to take advantage of some lucious fall colours and the opportunity for a second Bliss photo shoot {we count this one as their actual engagement session, though you may remember their winter *warm-up* session done last year}. They were hoping for some perfect shots for their Save the Dave cards… and something tells me they’ll have a tough time whittling it down to just one! Enjoy your sneak peek, guys. We wish you all the best of this holiday season and thank you for your patience. p.s. give our best to Mika!

xo — Alvis, Sam, + Melissa

Butterflies. Yeah, you know what I’m talking about! The kind you get deep in the core of your stomach when anticipation is nearly killing you. The kind that cannot be suppressed when walking down the aisle, arm in arm with your father… eagerly awaiting the reaction on your groom’s face. Chantell cannot wait for these particular butterflies! And earlier this Fall she had a chance to practice during her engagement session with hubby-to-be Jeremey {affectionately known to Chantell as *Jerry Berry*}.

Chantell + Jeremy will be married October 15th, 2011 in Jeremy’s grandmother’s church, St. Michael’s and All Angels {a special tribute to her}. To say they are excited would be the understatement of the year! Our radiant couple first met at the most unlikely of places: Fabutan and Future Shop. According to Chantell, she thought there was no way she’d ever go out with the likes of him! But Cupid got the better of her and also managed to ratchet up the chemistry on that very first date: she was toast. The crazy chemistry they shared, the bond they developed right away could mean only one thing: they were stuck together forever! And so for Jeremy, a man who could not live without fishing and his Boston Bruins, he now had one other obsession to add to the list… one he wasn’t ever letting get away.

Enjoy your sneak peek, guys. We are as stoked as you are for the Big Day to arrive. Well past the one year mark, now!!! All the best and Merry Christmas! –xo Alvi, Sam, Melissa

We know you’re possibly growing weary of our chronic {and oh-so-effusive!} giddiness over posting each of our wedding couples, but really, we just can’t help it. We surrender already! Case in point: Kaisa + Kevin. Two of the kindest, most sincere individuals to grace our camera lenses this year. You know that kind of inner beauty that radiates? Yup. They’ve got that in spades. Here’s their story.

Kaisa + Kevin, both originally from Thunder Bay now living in Edmonton, approached us about 18 months ago. When we first spoke I was secretly crossing fingers and toes that all would go well because they just sounded like the nicest people on the planet. And by nice, I also mean non-stressed and excited. Needless to say when it was all systems a-go we were pretty stoked!

Kaisa is the youngest of four sisters and had the great fortune of being introduced to Kevin in their adolescent years while he worked at the Gap. Her sister Leena set out on a mission to play match-maker when Kaisa was clearly smitten upon first sight. Time passed, lunch dates with mutual pals at Mcdonald’s ensued and {finally} Kevin mustered up the nerve to officially make Kaisa his girlfriend. It was October 29th, 2000. Since that time he has had to work very hard to prove himself to Kaisa’s protective father {especially with her being the baby of the family!}; it took many a fishing trip and lots of work around the house to demonstrate his worthiness!

Over the past ten years K + K have been through all the challenges young couples face. Break-ups, getting-back-together, more break-ups. Yet they always seemed to find their way back to each other. Fast forward to 2007 while Kevin was in Calgary for school, he came home to TBay for a visit and the two of them made what has been their most strategic {and possibly gutsy!} decision to date: to drive across the country and move to Edmonton together. No money, no job, no place to live…. nothing but a whole lotta love!

But back to their Big Day. And what an incredible day it was… complete with the coolest prop we’ve had to date: Kevin’s parent’s 1965 classic Mustang, fully restored and buffed! This was the same car his mom and dad were married in… if that’s not a fitting and honourable symbol I don’t know what is! In preparation for their actual wedding shoot I did quite a bit of scouting {which loosely translates to: getting lost//more driving//knocking on doors//and asking very kind farmers if we could kindly make use of their stunning property}. I stumbled upon this incredible, idyllic setting that was rich with texture and rotting woods and thought to myself that it would be the most killer backdrop for their vintage-feeling photo session. I think you will see what I mean when you view their images.

But that’s probably enough text for one night…. please enjoy this sneak peek and our heartfelt congratulations go out to you, Kaisa + Kevin. One final note: it meant the world to me when my phone rang at 1:00 am as I was walking up the stairs in my house to call it a day. It was our happy couple… calling to express their gratitude. This little gesture has stuck with me and meant so much! –xo Alvis, Sam, Melissa, Jeremy

Most of us fear the dreaded Monday. The word *manic* seems to come to mind (at least in our world!). But for Kathleen + Cody there was nothing but blissful anticipation happening on Monday, September 20th. You see, in their world a marriage was taking place.

If you don’t have the pleasure of knowing Kathleen personally, we can attest that this is one amazing woman. In addition to being supermom to Mariah (aged 4) and Colton (age 1), Kat works full-time as a nurse and also managed to plan an incredibly beautiful, intimate wedding at the White Fox Inn… all while juggling the everyday curveballs life throws at us. September 20th was also remarkable as in true multi-tasking fashion, it happened to be her 24th birthday {which, if you ask us, is a great strategy for ensuring those important dates are less at risk for being forgotten!}.

Kat + Cody’s wedding had all the right ingredients to make for perfect picture taking: a beautiful bride, mischievious and adorable scene-stealing flower girls, a groom who is clearly ga-ga {and whose mother melted us with her wistful expressions}, nervous jitters, and lest we forget, killer shoes! So, without any further ado, we’ll let the images tell the story themselves. To the happy couple: we wish you a lifetime of continued happiness and we will eagerly await the arrival of your new little girl this Spring. God bless! –xo, Alvis, Sam + Melissa

Your wedding day is on the horizon. And it’s not just about that “to-have-and-to-hold” moment. On this Big Day, you will be your most beautiful: an exquisite reflection of inner joy, excitement, love. We wanted to post a sneak-peek of the SNEAK PEEK from this wedding we shot last weekend {thank you, Autumn + Chris…your real turn will be coming up in a few weeks}. Autumn’s dress, lovingly hand-made by her mother, inspired the look, tone and feel of these images. And we are posting them to inspire you.

Your day is coming… Please visit us at this year’s Wedding Wishes Show; next Sunday, November 7th from 11:30 am until 4:30 pm. We’re excited to hear your plans! Look for us at booth #40. –The Bliss Team {Alvis, Sam, Melissa}