"Bright Pinks are a perfect colour pallet for a summer wedding! They add such a pop of excitement and elegance."..

Christina and Justin's outdoor wedding ceremony perfectly complemented the pink floral arrangements. Extra touches of pink were included with satin bows and the couple's monogram in their isle runner. Creative elements added extra personalization, with pink and purple tissue paper embellished initials of the Bride and Groom.

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• Who: Deanna & Bryant
• Where: Kitsilano Beach + Brock House Resaurant
• Wedding by: Corinne Colledge, Associate Planner, DreamGroup Productions, Vancouver
• Photography: Chris+Lynn Photographers

Flowers by Bouquets Special Event Floral in Vancouver

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© Shae J Photography, Calgary

Light, Wind & Water...

Erin Wallis Photography, Campbell River, BC

J + C Photography, Burnaby, BC

Shandro Photo, Edmonton, AB

Remember those stiff, "formal" wedding photos from the 80's? Families, posing lined up in the park?
Then, the 90's marked the first great evolution: candids and black & whites, brought emotion into your wedding memories, laughs and tears and movement - experiencing the moments through the eyes of your guests.
Now, another small revolution is taking place in wedding photography: depth! (if that is the right word for it) More and more, the environement is becoming part of the photo, the wind, the waves, the clouds.. more than ever, you look at these pictures and you feel like "you were there"..

Selected among almost a thousand submissions, these finalists best illustrate the best in wedding photography for 2010. Click each photo, for a larger image - the full experience!

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Jasleen & Vinay

photo: JAG Photography, Edmonton

I shot Jasleen & Vinay's engagement session on July 1st and we chose to incorporate as many of the Canada Day Festivities as possible. There was a small carnival nearby. The rides were an obvious opportunity for a dynamic shot. Luckily the attendant didn't see me bring my camera aboard!

Candace and Layton

photo: ryan macdonald | PHOTOGRAPHY, Victoria

Layton Reid is himself a fabulous documentary/wedding photographer, now based out of Halifax, NS. After 10 years together with Candace, they were getting married in September and, since I was home on the East Coast for my annual autumn trip, we got together to take some photos of them. We got halfway to our location and it started to pour, but when we arrived we lucked into the most beautiful light...as though the sun set three separate times just for us. I noticed a patch of weeds with dried seed pods, and thought they looked a bit like hearts floating in the distance, so I asked them to sit directly on the weeds. The were freezing and naturally started to snuggle, and that's when I took the photo. Layton and Candace are the real deal. It was our first time meeting, but they made me feel as though we were old friends. Together they're so full of life, fun, and are some of the warmest and most genuine folks I've met.

Anna & Stephen

photo: ShutterBrugs Photography, Niagara

Beautiful High Park in Toronto, Ontario was the back drop for this photo of Anna and Stephen (they were married on 10/10/10!). The beauty of the "almost kiss" and the delicate light from a late June sun creates a certain magic for me.

The Envelope Please..

So much talent, such little space.. We went through thousands of images, hundreds of shooters, hundreds of great couples; our editors short-listed and argued; our readers voted and "liked" on Facebook..
In the end, surprisingly (or perhaps not?) the top-3 (above) were unanimous: our staff, our panel and the popular vote, they all agreed (there is a first time for everything!).
Ranking the next seven was impossible though (sooo... close!); they are simply "top photos", all of them, each expressing the particular couple's personality and photographer's style & technique.

Our criteria were simple

• Love! You must feel it through the page.. (or computer screen - whatever)
• Memorable, stunning photography (obviously!)
• A sense of portrait. A photo in which you would expect your friends to recognize you. Something you would display at your wedding and in your home, forever..

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photography: Chelsea Gray & Roberto Ugarte
Blushing Bride Studio, Montréal

"Amazing Engagements" month continues on bride.ca (- if you haven't voted on the best engagement photographs of 2010 yet, you still can!)
Today, we have something truly special though.. if these photos do not inspire you, nothing ever will! Two brilliant shooters from Blushing Bride Studio and an incredible, daring and creative couple, giving new meanings to the expression "when life imitates art"..

Cindy & Jean-Nicola, Chertsey, QC

We chose the movie The Notebook as inspiration for our engagement photo shoot for a few reasons. For one, Jean-Nicola's late grandparents had Alzheimer's disease and this movie touched close to home. Also, the chemistry of the young lovers in the movie was intense! And the era is very alluring to us - the fashion and way of life. We hope that our love endures all that life will throw at us, much like Noah and Allie. Oh, and we always fall asleep hand in hand (reference to the end of the movie)..

photography: Chelsea Gray & Roberto Ugarte
Blushing Bride Studio, Montréal

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Which Wedding Would You Be?

Jordie & Kelsey in Vernon
photography: Abby Photography, Kelowna BC

Tara & Bill in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
photography: Cameron's Creative Moments, Ottawa

Gearing up for our annual best wedding photographs contest, we have been busy going through thousands & thousands of images. Canadian couples really are a creative bunch (check out top-40 engagements photos of 2010 for proof) and there definitely is a style for everyone.

Different Strokes for Different Folks!

• Tara and Bill Woods escaped to the sun and surf of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic to find their perfect wedding backdrop. A sun drenched beach, palm trees and crystal blue waters make this destination wedding super hot!
  
  
  

  photography: Cameron's Creative Moments, Ottawa

• Jordie and Kelsey opted for a Canadian winter wonderland wedding with Vernon BC's annual winter carnival as their backdrop. Including the hot air balloon race where balloonists from all over the world flew across Swan Lake, creating a truly breathtaking site for these spectacular wedding pics!
  
  

  photography: Abby Photography, Kelowna BC

What is Your Style??

"What do you get when you pair an Alberta bride with a B.C. wedding location? Lots of long distance coordinating!"..

Martine & Brett share a private moment on the main dock at Harrison Hot Springs, B.C.

• Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., June 19, 2010
• Planner: Happily Wedded After, Abbottsford, BC
• Photography: Amber Hughes, Vancouver

Martine planned her wedding, which was to be held in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, while living in Grande Prairie Alberta. With lots of imagination, personal work and much assistance from her coordinator, Kyla Charney, of Happily Wedded After, Martine was able to achieve the wedding of her dreams..
Here is how she did it:

The Look

"I actually bought my dress on kijiji from a girl who was selling it for her friend who 'didn't end up getting married' . So never been worn it only cost me $100." ~Martine

After some alterations and some extras, like a petticoat purchased on ebay, Martine ended up spending a cool $400 on her beautiful gown. Chic and savvy!

Martine's flowers were made by Flowers by Gloria in Aldegrove, BC. Not knowing very much about flowers, Martine showed the florist a picture of what she wanted and let het take care of the rest. The result, simple and classic, just like the bride ordered!

• Bridesmaid dresses from Le Chateau
• Hair and Make up by Scarlette Ballantyne

Not all the bridesmaids were present for dress fittings, so Martine found dresses that had some stretch to them to accommodate for any sizing issues.

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photography: Kyle Perison, Okanagan, BC

Hands-down, the Best Trash-the-Dress of 2010

What do you get when you combine two daring, creative & fun-loving newlyweds with the (already established!) "lunatic genious" of Kyle Perison? In this case, you get one of the most incredible trash-the-dress photo shoots we have come across is a very very long time (probably, ever). The image above is only a teaser. The real fun begines in the gallery, below (personal favourite: photo #3 - AMAZING). Easily, an early photography award winner. We 're now thinking of creating a "coolest couple of 2010" award, just to credit Matt & Sara. Wow!..

Kyle desribes the shoot, on his blog:

There are no words to describe how amazing this session was. Matt and Sara were complete troopers with everything-even the ice cold water from the car wash. The initial plan was to do this shoot with a pure white background but they day turned out to be absolutely gorgeous so we decided to rock out at Kalamalka Park.
During the paint throwing, we laid out a large amount of plastic sheeting on the ground to insure we did not destroy the Provincial Park. With a few hours of photoshop - I merged a few images together to remove the white, plastic sheeting. Turned out pretty well!

THANK YOU Matt & Sara!

Visible Echo Photography, Edmonton