Joe stands in an opening in the woods, resplendent fall colours filling the forest behind him, the occasional white birch standing out against the tapestry of red, orange, and yellow foliage. As Georgette slowly makes her way down the hill towards him, I see his energy shift from calm to expectant to relaxed excitement. Georgette comes up behind Joe, wrapping him in a warm hug. Her dress is, of course, magnificent; a simple yet elegant fabric with beautiful poofy lace sleeves, and a scandalous slip up the left leg. The anticipation of the first look is well worth the wait. As Georgette and Joe come together, I see the bond that forms the foundation of their relationship.
We use this opening in the woods as the space for their wedding ceremony. Protected under the yellow leaves of a maple tree, this is where Georgette and Joe celebrate their wedding vows. It's when we step out onto the rocky shore, the ferocious power of the crashing waves against the lichen covered rocks, that I viscerally feel the pull of this landscape. Although this part of the Lake Superior shore is not a top travel destination for an international audience, the rugged beauty of the landscape grounds Georgette and Joe to this place. Together with their immediate family and closest friends, Joe and Georgette celebrate their love. Georgette says "I wake up every morning and I choose you. More importantly than a soul mate, you are my companion and partner in life. Rather than needing each other, we have formed a symbiosis of sorts.
The first time I meet Joe and Georgette, they share that they're not religious, but they love rituals. Their wedding is a beautiful coming together of Cuban, German, and Russian traditions. During their wedding ceremony, the mothers of the couple drape a large elaborate veil across Georgette and Joe's shoulders in a mantilla ceremony. The mantilla is the shelter that the bride offers her husband from the sun and the biting wind, from all that is harsh in the world. The incorporation of the mantilla ceremony in their wedding reflects Georgette's Cuban roots, uniting Georgette and Joe in love.
During their dinner celebration, Georgette's brother brings in their Russian heritage with a speech that culminates in a shared toast with vodka. Afterwards, the beautiful crystal glasses are smashed, each shard of broken glass representing the number of years their marriage will last. Finally, as the guests dance the night away under a beautiful white tent, Joe's mom leads a toast with a German stein of beer, and Joe and Georgette intertwine their arms and drink, a tradition representing the coming together of their relationship.
Vendor List
Wedding Dress : Piondress
Suit : Spier and Mackay
Rings : Georgette's Felice Felice Gals, Joe's Jewelry by Johan
Flowers : Buckets of seasonal flowers from Owl Forest Farm and Cut Face Cuttings, arrangements done by family and friends
Wedding Officiant : Friend James Samimi-Farr
Cake : How Sweet It Is Cakes
Location : Three Points Lodge
Catering : North Shore Private Dining with Chef Kyle Taylor
Wine : North Shore Winery
This Life by Selena Photography blog post was written by Montreal wedding photographer Selena Phillips-Boyle. Georgette and Joe booked Selena's Owl Wedding Package, with a wedding ceremony video and film photography add-ons. Selena specializes in wedding photography, and loves travelling to remote locations for the right project. Here's a link to Annisa and Shay's Toronto wedding at Hart House. Here you can see Isabelle and Kenny's wedding in rural Quebec. Here's a link to Cece and Florence's same sex wedding in the Laurentians.
If you're looking for a wedding photographer, please contact Selena for more details.