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September 22, 2010

MONACA & DENNIS’ WEDDING IN NIAGARA FALLS

Posted in WEDDINGS

It’s all in the way he looks at her. Dave told me about something that happened while he was photographing the guys before the ceremony. He was taking a few family photos, and afterwards he leaned over to Dennis and jokingly said to him something to the effect of “you know, I don’t remember it being this difficult to coax a smile out of you at your engagement shoot!” Dennis laughed, maybe he said he’d try harder, the moment passed, I’m sure the two of them completely forgot about it, and they moved on with the day. Later, as Dave’s telling me about this random passing moment, he tells me that he didn’t forget about the comment and that only later did he realized what the difference was. He realized it the moment Monaca stepped out into the aisle for the first time and walked up to Dennis waiting for her. Continued to realize it as we took photos of the newlyweds after the ceremony. It was that before, at the house before the ceremony, Monaca wasn’t there. It’s all in the way he looks at her – his absolute love for her is just written all over his face. As soon as she walks into the room, he just lights up. And it’s hard to get the smile to leave his face.

We had the pleasure of photographing Monaca and Dennis’ wedding over in Niagara Falls on a gorgeous sunny Friday a few weeks back. It was quite a warm day, but we were able to find some relief after the ceremony shooting in the shade of a gorgeous old estate where the couple had originally dreamed of being married. I’m so glad we were still able to incorporate it into their day! Monaca is a girl after my own heart and wore adorable and comfy white flats and we were surrounded by gorgeousness all day with the help of Melissa from Bella’s Floral Boutique whom I’ve worked with before and who provided the stunning bouquets and floral arrangements. She always does such amazing work. Monaca and Dennis had themselves and their fun wedding party driven around in style in a huge limo bus and enjoyed catching up with family and friends well into the night at their reception.

Monaca and Dennis, we have just loved getting to know you both. Your love for each other is so sincere; and what can I say, I love that. Thank you so much for having us there at your wedding – you both looked gorgeous and we hope you absolutely loved the day. Something about the way Dennis looks at you gives me the feeling that you guys are completely made for each other and that even when you’re old and grey, his face will still light up every time you walk into the room.

Hope you enjoy these few frames of Monaca and Dennis on their wedding day…

- Jenn xx

Ceremony Venue: THUNDERING WATERS GOLF COURSE Niagara Falls | Reception Venue: CLUB CAPRI Thorold Ontario | Photographers: Jenn & Dave Stark of JENN STARK PHOTOGRAPHERS | Florals by: BELLA’S FLORAL BOUTIQUE

by JENN

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September 9, 2010

RENEE & EVERETT’S WEDDING

Posted in WEDDINGS

You might remember Renée and Everett from the foggy and gorgeous sunrise (yes, that does read sunRISE!) engagement shoot we did with them a few months ago (sneak a peek of their engagement images here). We loved these two from the moment we met them, and when you meet someone for the first time before the sun has even risen and have a good impression of them, think of what it’s like spending the most exciting day of their lives, their wedding day, with them. They were so excited to be married that they actually ran down the aisle after the ceremony was over and they were announced as Mr and Mrs, huge smiles lighting up their faces. I was taking photos and I seriously thought they might run me over they were going that fast!

It was during the reception when the newlyweds took the podium to give their speech, that Renée said that she was going to share a story. She then paused for a moment, debating for a minute about whether she should actually share this story that she had in mind, and then said that yes, yes she was going to share it, even though she was sure that Everett wouldn’t like it. He glanced towards her and there was a moment of tense silence in the room. She looked right back at him and said that she was going to share the story of the first time they met. Everett’s head dropped, he shook it a few times while chuckling a bit to himself. He then looked out at the room full of their family and friends and said “Why do you always have to tell this story?!” Renée then proceeded to tell the story of how Everett’s first comments to her were about a self portrait she’d drawn. In an attempt to sound really complimentary and flattering about her work, he (accidentally) said “Wow! That’s amazing! It’s even better than the real thing!” Whoops. I liked Everett even more than I already did after that. And Renée, for then falling in love with him.

They were married at the church where they went during high school, officiated by their high school youth pastor, and after greeting their family and friends we headed off to the reception, stopping along the way for some photos. I love how excited they were to have their photos taken, and seriously I think they look gorgeous and seem to attract the most beautiful light to them whenever we point our cameras in their direction! I must also mention how the whole wedding party just rocked it into the reception to a dance version of the song “Heaven” by Bryan Adams (go find that tune and turn it on while you’re going through those photos if you want the full experience) and we then tucked into gorgeous food and played little games of pictionary (Renée is an art student), watched fun slideshows, danced, ate cupcakes (served by the bride and groom) and all in all had a great evening. I love it when couples incorporate a bit of themselves into their wedding day details, and Renée and Everett’s day so perfectly reflected them.

Renée & Everett, thank you so so much. We had so much fun capturing your day and we have loved our entire experience with you both – times infinity. You guys are such sweet, creative, and kind people, and I hope that you never lose that wonderful spirit that you both have about you. We wish you nothing but the best in your marriage and lives together!

And now, enjoy a little bit of Renée and Everett and their wedding day…

- Jenn xx

Ceremony Venue: Wainsfleet Brethren in Christ Church Wainsfleet Ontario | Reception Venue: Lookout Point Country Club Font Hill, Ontario Photographers: Jenn & Dave Stark of JENN STARK PHOTOGRAPHERS

by JENN

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September 9, 2010

LOVE FROM GREY LIKES WEDDINGS

Posted in PUBLISHED!

A big lovely thank you to the fabulous Summer for the feature of Kendel & Ben’s wedding on her wedding inspiration blog Grey Likes Weddings today…

Grey Likes Weddings is a blog out of California and always features the most lovely photography and loads of do-it-yourself ideas for your wedding and it’s very very nice to be counted among the loveliness there today. Please head on over there for a few extra images from Kendel & Ben’s wedding and leave some love for them in the comment section at the end of the post! And no, no I don’t think I will EVER remember how to do the “print screen” function on my computer and will most likely have to google it every single time…ah well : )

- Jenn xx

by JENN

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September 1, 2010

KENDEL & BEN’S WEDDING

Posted in WEDDINGS

I couldn’t be more excited to share this gorgeous gorgeous wedding with you today!! Partly because Kendel is such an awesome girl that I’ve been lucky enough to get to know over the past little while (Ben is a pretty terrific guy too)…and partly because…well, their wedding was a little bit amazing. Like stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous. All the decor; the little details; all their wonderful family and friends; but most of all, gorgeous because of the love.

I can remember the day they got engaged. Kendel came back from a day out with Ben with an album on facebook with photos of a plane ride over Niagara Falls, Ben playing her a song on his guitar, and a lovely ring on her finger… And it was an honour (truly it was) to be asked to be the photographer at their wedding. See, Kendel is my photography buddy – we first met working at a summer camp where she was in fact, hired as the photographer. I can remember I was just starting to get into photography back then, and whenever we’d run into each other we’d chat about that and of course, LOST (of course.). Then Dave and I moved away…we lost touch for a bit…until a little while later when we both found ourselves starting up our own wedding photography businesses right around the same time. We speak regularly offering support and advice as we navigate our way through this crazy journey and we try to get together whenever we can to shoot together and learn. Kendel is so full of lovely, creative, and inspiring ideas. I followed her wedding planning journey on her personal wedding blog and just kept getting more and more excited for their wedding day with each new post. Mason jars? Wildflowers? Strings of lights across the ceiling? Oh I knew it was going to be beautiful right from the start.

After the ceremony and being seriously pelted with birdseed by their “well-wishing” (…not so well-wishing?!) guests as they exited the church, Ben and Kendel jumped into the back of a vintage red Ford truck and it was like a scene from a movie. When we arrived at Balls Falls Conservation Area, I snuck a peek inside the barn as it was being set up and my jaw almost hit the floor. I could have photographed in there for several hours, quite happily. All of it was Kendel’s vision, and with the help of Ben, and loads of family and friends, it came together so so beautifully, from the homemade wedding cake topped with little Ben & Kendel figurines, to the jars of honey and Mad-Lib games on every table; their wedding was just so so them.

Towards the end of the night, Ben got out his guitar, sat down in his chair at the head table, and played for Kendel the song he had written for her while they were dating. Ben is so the sweetest guy…a few verses into the song, he stopped suddenly, closed his eyes, smiled, and said a quiet “shoot…” as he tried to remember the next chord. Kendel then laughs and turns to the rest of us, saying “this so happened when he playing it the first time too!” and Ben shakes his head. He continues to sing: the other day I dreamed of a girl with hair that flowed and a face that glowed. The other day I dreamed of a girl, just like you…you’re my dream coming true.

BRK; Thank you, thank you, thank you. If I were to do it all over again, this is what how I would want it to go, and I would fail miserably at seeing my vision into reality and would come nowhere near as close to pulling off a wedding day with such absolute perfection as you did. And so you gave me the next best thing: the privilege of photographing it. And for that I am so grateful. Thank you for entrusting us with such a meaningful part of your day. May these photographs join the hundreds already in your collection, and the hundreds more that are still waiting to be taken.

And now the photos – Enjoy Ben & Kendel’s so-perfectly-them wedding, filled with lots and lots of love…

- Jenn xx

Ceremony Venue: CALVARY PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, Cayuga, Ontario | Reception Venue: The Big Barn at BALL’S FALLS CONSERVATION AREA, Vineland, Ontario | Photographers: Jenn & Dave Stark of JENN STARK PHOTOGRAPHERS | Kendel’s Dress: MAGGIE SOTTERO (Camden style) | Kendel’s Shoes: PAYLESS | Flowers: Melissa of BELLA’S FLORAL BOUTIQUE | Catering: Dave & Diane of Creative Cuisine Creations | Kendel’s Hair & Cake provided by friends: Karen Elgersma & Wilma Minor | All decor was either thought up/created/collected by the bride & groom, with help of countless amazing friends.

by JENN

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August 23, 2010

MONACA & DENNIS’ SNEAK PEEK

Posted in WEDDINGS

Ok, we had another two-wedding weekend this past weekend and so you know what that means riiiight?…….I’ve got to get two lovely sneak peeks up here today for you to enjoy! First up is Monaca & Dennis, who’s Niagara wedding we shot this past Friday. It was a gorgeously sunny day, and as you can see from the image, they found a pretty gorgeous spot for us to do their photos. Yeah, I think we can work with that.

More to come from their whole wedding day very very soon. I feel like all I’ve been doing lately is sneak peeks. But trust me, entire weddings are soon to come. I won’t just tease you with single images forever. Promise.

- Jenn xx