I've never done a styled shoot before, but this vision just kept popping in my head.


I started piecing things together and finally reached out to Fiona Lau Events. We floated around the idea of certain venues, but my head kept going back to a winter elopement on the Ottawa River.


To me the choice of location was obvious: at the cottage. My family and I are so fortunate to have this slice of heaven. Our cottage is located in the foothills of the Gatineaus on a private beach along the Ottawa River. It's the type of place that makes you feel happy the moment you step foot in the door. I'm not sure if it's the river views or the cozy cabin itself, but there's a little bit of magic about this place that you don't fully understand until you're there. It was the perfect venue.


I've seen a shift towards elopements and micro-weddings this past year, specifically Airbnb elopements. Why didn't I think of this for my own wedding?! I knew I wanted to take that and run with it.... just in my own way. I'm a big fan of simplicity, and when nature is your backdrop simplicity is easy to achieve. The idea of keeping the palette neutral, earthy, and minimal just seemed to make sense.


The only specific floral piece I requested was the ruscus hanging arch. I left that up to Beaudry Flowers for interpretation and they nailed it.


Pärla Hair and Erin Heather Bridal came through for this soft and effortless bridal look, with Sinders Bridal House and Heist Jewellery bringing everything full circle.


The day finished with our models (Tara-Lyn & Kevin) exchanging vows on the deck while watching the sun go down. There's no better way to end the day than wrapped up in a blanket with the one you love, soaking up views like this, I'm telling you.


Talk about a fun day collaborating with some of the best in the business. The wind was howling, but so were we.

Another cherry on top was the fact that Ryan Tu Creatives was there to document the whole thing in video. Check out the highlights below!

If you need help planning and designing your cottage elopement or wedding, feel free to reach my way to set up a complimentary consultation. I'm a veteran cottager myself and would love nothing more than to bring your cottage wedding dream to life!


Cheers & happy planning!


Chels

xx