Nicole & Daniel - Camp Koinonia

The one where the bride and the photographer are childhood friends...

Usually when I meet clients it's over a Zoom meet and greet but Nicole and Daniel were different.

Nicole and I lived few houses down from each other, rode the same school bus from junior kinder-garden until our last day of high school TOGETHer. Spent summer days swimming, and winter days sledding. long story short, Nicole and I grew up together and have been friends for plus 20 years.

In the summer of 2022 I got a Facebook message from Nicole telling me that her and Dan had gotten engaged, and she was wondering if I'd be her wedding photographer. I'm not exaggerating when I say this but tears came to my eyes because not only was I so happy for my friend that she is marrying the love of her life, but I was also so honoured that she trusted me to photograph such a beautiful chapter in her and Dan's lives. She started telling me little details about the day and how they were hoping to have it at Camp koinonia which is a camp that nicole and i grew up by. as kids we would go tobogganing at the camp because it was build on this massive hill. in other words, i loved the idea of dan and nicole tying the knot at Camp koinonia because not only did it hold memories for nicole, but it is such a beautiful spot. right by the water, and surrounded by beautiful greenery.

The one where they had their engagement session...

A few months after we chatted just before summer ended Nicole, Dan, their pooch Onyx, and myself headed out on the Georgian Bay to a beautiful trail by the water and took some engagement photos while the sun went down. We caught up about life and I got to know Dan. They told me how they didn't meet by going to the same high school, or even competing in the same sports in high school, they actually met while they were working as lifeguards; first becoming friends and then the rest was history.

The one where they got married...

Do you remember, the 30th night of September.... I know those aren't the lyrics but I think you got it.

The day had come and we couldn't have asked for a better one. it was sunny and warm like a summers day, but with some beautiful fall colours all around us.

I headed over to the brides parents house for some getting ready and bridal party photos. Walking into the house that I had spent countless days at playing Mario Cart, or swimming for hours on end and now walking into it with the beautiful feeling of the hustle and bustle of a wedding day. After hanging with the ladies for a bit I headed over to the ceremony spot and hung out with the guys and took some grooms party photos as well as a few detail shots of the ceremony.

The day unfolded into a beautiful wedding as they always do. I am truly grateful to have a front row seat through my lens to watch such beautiful love stories, much-like Nicole and Dan's.