Why the best wedding days are the ones where absolutely nothing goes according to the script - EDmonton wedding Story

If you want to know what the most relaxed groom in Canada looks like, picture this: We navigate a dark, moody hallway in Edmonton, step into the kitchen, and find Joseph and his groomsmen casually lounging on the couch. No wedding day panic, no rushed energy just pure chill.

The only minor detail? Joseph’s shirt was completely unironed. Cue a hilarious, last-minute rescue mission as his family rallied with the steamer while Joseph ran around helping us prep for detail shots. A few minutes later, the shirt was crisp, the legendary Edmonton mosquitoes outside were momentarily defeated, and Joseph looked effortlessly editorial in a sharp white tuxedo jacket with classic white lapels and a black bow tie.

Across town, the vibe was entirely different but equally spectacular. Alyssa got ready at her friend's parents' home, which happened to be a massive, jaw-dropping property. To make things even more perfect, her friend was also her wedding coordinator. Alyssa and her bridesmaids, the absolute warmest, most welcoming group of girls, had the ultimate luxury prep space. After a beautiful, tear-filled first look with her dad on the gorgeous estate grounds and an emotional moment with her mom, Alyssa stepped into a romantic off-the-shoulder ballgown. With her dramatic, sweeping veil pinned, she looked ready for a magazine cover.

We moved to the grand St. Joseph’s Basilica, a cathedral so massive and structurally breathtaking that it instantly transported us back to the cathedrals we’ve documented in Auckland, New Zealand.

The priest was brilliantly witty, keeping the atmosphere warm, light, and joyful beneath the towering Gothic arches. While we focused on the grand architectural lines, we kept our eyes on the raw, split-second moments like the quiet tears of Alyssa's mom in the front pews. The moment the ceremony ended, we gathered everyone on the historic front steps for one massive, epic group photo with all their guests. But the clock was ticking; we had to empty out the space quickly as another wedding party was already pulling up behind us.

The transition from sacred cathedral to the portrait session was anything but typical. Needing to grab a few celebratory drinks, the bridal party made a quick stop at a local Circle K. Spotting a couple of Edmonton police officers outside, one of our team members playfully asked if they’d be down to act as high-fashion props for a quick photo-op. They agreed, resulting in a hilarious, unscripted moment with the cop car that completely broke up the traditional formality of the day.

To add to the day's unpredictability, an active political protest on-site restricted us to only one side of the neoclassical Alberta Legislature building. But we didn't let a protest or the downpour stop us. We let movement take over, capturing dramatic, wind-swept, and cinematic frames of Alyssa and Joseph running hand-in-hand through the rain.

To kick off the reception, we headed downtown to the Sandman Hotel. A spectacular Chinese Lion Dance exploded onto the dance floor, bringing massive energy and vibrant rhythm to the room. But the true emotional heart of the night was the mother-daughter dance. It was incredibly emotional, and in a beautiful twist, Alyssa and Joseph invited every other parent-child duo in the room to join them. The floor filled up instantly with a warmth you could physically feel.

Once the formal dances wrapped, the floor absolutely erupted. With several Canadian national athletes on the guest list, the dance moves were on an entirely different level. We documented the chaotic, high-energy celebration until the very last second before racing to the airport to catch our late-night flight back home to Toronto.

More from the journal