Merging Two Cultures in a Wedding Full of Colour | Pearle Hotel & Spa Wedding, Burlington
Love Story
They say when you meet the one for you that you just know: there’s just something about this person that you connect with and you fit together like you’re the same person. For Jessica and Derick, this is exactly what happened.
Jess and Derick met at work and they felt this instant connection with each other. For those first few months, while keeping their relationship a little bit of a secret from their colleagues, they enjoyed getting to know each other and spending time together – including a few stolen kisses in the elevator!
It didn’t take Derick very long to realize that Jessica is the person he wants to spend his life with. He knew when he thought about proposing, that he wanted to do it in a traditional way with the respect of her family.
On a night Jessica and Derrick were going to have dinner with her family, Derick arrived early and had a private discussion with Jessica’s family. He asked her parents for their blessing in asking Jessica to marry him. Her parents happily welcomed Derrick into their family, and soon after he proposed Derrick and Jessica started to plan their wedding.
I first got to meet Jessica and Derick during their engagement photo shoot. For their engagement pictures, they had incorporated two outfits and even hats that complimented their outfits. I knew that if they put this much detail in the outfits they are wearing for their engagement pictures their wedding was going to be unique!
Getting ready on the Wedding Day | Pearle Hotel & Spa, Burlington
I was excited when I found out this couple was going to get married at Pearl Hotel & Spa. It’s a gorgeous location in Burlington with spectacular waterfront views, breathtaking interiors and it offers stunning backdrops to capture those perfect moments on their big day.
As the couple was getting ready in their separate rooms, I was able to get some fantastic shots of them getting ready with their close family and friends.
Derick has the biggest passion for fashion and shoes, which is so clear from the colours, watches, shoes, stationery and outfits they chose for their big day. The most amazing detail is the unique hunter-green suit Derick wore for the day.
Jessica chose a simple, elegant white gown with a long flowing veil. To make her outfit unique, and to include part of Derick’s tradition and background, she added a colour contrast to her dress with a traditional horn. This pattern was also chosen for their masks.
First look & Wedding Photoshoot | Burlington Waterfront
Some couples decide to get married first and then have their photoshoot. Jessica and Derick chose to have their pictures taken before they married because they did the first look.
The location they chose for their wedding pictures was the Burlington Waterfront, with a view on the Brant Street Pier. Their wedding day could not have been more perfect for their pictures. After the first look, their family and friends joined them for photos. The water provided the perfect backdrop for their wedding pictures, and the colourful dresses some of their guests wore, honouring Derick’s culture and tradition, really popped against the blue of the water.
After the pictures of their friends and family with the happy couple were taken, I had the privilege of taking pictures of just Jessica and Derick. There is no way to hide how much this couple loves each other. Their connection and love are so evident in all of their pictures, and I had a great time capturing their love on their special day.
Wedding Ceremony at Northshore Room at the Pearle Hotel & Spa in Burlington
The décor of their ceremony space was simple and very elegant. They got married in front of a large flower installation with various shades of pink roses and greenery on it. The ceremony space was intimate for their guests, and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light to brighten up the space.
Wedding Reception | Northshore Room at the Pearl Hotel and Spa in Burlington
Derick and Jessica held their reception in the Northshore Room at the Peral Hotel and Spa in Burlington, which is a very neutral room so there were almost endless options for what they could do with the décor and any couple can add their personal touches to the room so their reception truly reflects who they are as a couple.
The Northshore Room can accommodate up to 170 guests, with views overlooking the city and a bit of the waterfront. Once it got dark, the city lights made the views stunning and it was a perfect backdrop for the couple and their guests to truly celebrate this amazing day.
What was great about this couple is that they were able to use the same space for their reception as they did for their wedding ceremony. They kept the décor simple and opted for long, rectangular tables with gold chairs. The centrepieces were made of roses of varying shades: from a very light, flush pink to the deepest red. The floor-to-ceiling light let in a lot of natural light for the guests to enjoy cocktail hour and their meal.
The best part of this reception is that the dancing just did not stop. Even before it officially started, the guests were dancing and having a great time. This couple, and their friends and family, know exactly how to have fun and celebrate.
One of the very first things Jessica and Derick said to me while looking for a Burlington wedding photographer, was they wanted a laid-back and fun photographer to capture their love on this special day – and it’s not hard to see why. Their guests had such a good time, and the party just did not stop.
I had a great time photographing their engagement pictures and their wedding day. I wish so much love and happiness for this wonderful couple!
Visit this link to see the 15-minute Wedding Film of Jess and Derick’s wedding day.
