A little back story – I met Seneka back in late February at our mutual friend Nicole’s going away party. Her and her fiancé Enrico’s destination wedding was quickly approaching in a few weeks in Mexico, and she was hopeful that her wedding day would still happen.
A few weeks later, when the impact of the pandemic began to really take effect, they were forced to cancel their dream destination wedding. Heartbroken that they wouldn’t be able to get married in front of their family and friends, they canceled flights, hotels and vendors.
It was still important to both of them to commemorate the day and become legally married on April 19th, even if the day they had envisioned would no longer be happening. Seneka reached out to me and asked if I would be willing to come and take some photos to celebrate them getting married, keeping with the social distancing guidelines and abiding by government regulations. She then reached out to Kristen from Sanctuary Gardens, a beautiful, quaint venue in West Kelowna, and arranged for the ceremony to take place in the outdoor chapel overlooking Lake Okanagan. She also hired Dianna from Uncorked Films to film the celebration, and what started out as a simple ceremony wearing a dress and tux soon evolved into a beautiful, intimate elopement. They included their adorable pups, had a stunning cake made by Cakes By Laur, and popped champagne that was gifted to them by their parents once they said ‘I Do’.
Their nuptials reminded me of what weddings are all about, and of what truly matters in being together for a lifetime. There was something so romantic and special about seeing two people getting married during this crazy time. Their outlook on the situation was so beautiful to witness – they just wanted to be married and commit their lives to one another, regardless of the circumstances. It demonstrated to me that the only thing that matters is the love they share, and their promise to spend their lives together. While I know they were devastated by the cancellation of their celebration with family and friends, their optimism was truly something to admire. Their love for each other on that day was something to behold, and I feel so fortunate to have been a part of their special day.
From Seneka:
“I am beyond blown away by the photos that Mackenzie took on our wedding day. My now husband and I are not the type that are particularly comfortable in front of a camera, and to be honest we were both nervous that the photography portion of the day would be stressful! I have learned that this is where having a knowledgeable, professional, and experienced photographer like Mackenzie is critical!
Mackenzie continuously encouraged us to enjoy each moment together as a newly married couple and was able to still capture both posed and candid photos that I personally think are simply incredible.
The editing that went into our album was above and beyond anything that I expected and resulted in a timeless album that will outlive any trends!”
From Seneka’s mother:
“ Due to the Coronavirus pandemic my daughter and her fiancé’s destination wedding plans were replaced by an outdoor nuptial without family or guests. I was heartbroken not witnessing my daughter be wed, yet that is exactly what occurred given four thousand kilometers of separation. Mackenzie’s photographs are integral in remedying the pain of missing the event. She captured the stunning special moments. The posed and candid shots both show her immense talent and I will forever appreciate her for making an unacceptable situation tolerable. The pictures allow me to feel as if I were there. Every single one of her photos truly brings a smile to my heart. She successfully captured the love that exists and provides a precious memoire.”
Xx
