Wedding Statistics

Looking back on 2011 I've noticed some similarities and differences about the weddings I shot.
Accordingly, I've come up with some scientifically correct,

properly sampled, soon to be peer evaluated statistics

(That I made up)

Analysis of 2011 Wedding Season

Hypothesis: Weddings are beautiful and wonderful and fun.
Timeline: July 2011-October 2011

Materials: Nikon DSLR camera x 2, lenses, tripod, memory cards, batteries, MacBook, IMac, Adobe software...

Locations:

• St. Albert/Edmonton, AB
• Zuckenriet, Switzerland
• Kelowna, BC
• Stony Plain, AB
• Calgary, AB

Results

• Average size of wedding party (including Bride & Groom) 8.6 people.
• 40% of couples took photos together before the ceremony.
•  Transportation included a limo, the Calgary C-Train, vintage cars, and a wagon pulled by an antique tractor.
• 80% of couples already had one or more child(ren) together.
• Two brides were lucky enough to find dresses that fit right off the rack, one wore a used dress (though you'd never know it), and one crafty bride sewed her own wedding dress.
• 60% of bridesmaids' wore black dresses, 20% wore grey, and 20% wore purple.
• Bride's footwear included green, purple, and black & white shoes, white sandals, and white cowboy boots.
• 40% of groomsmen wore mix & match pants/vests/suits, rather than matching rentals.
• Priests officiated 60% of ceremonies.
• A Dutch Wedding Box Ceremony was part of one wedding.
• 100% of brides walked down the isle with their father.
• One couple skipped the first dance for a "first shot" instead.
• Only one wedding took place outside, 60% took place in churches.
• 60% of receptions took place as private functions in restaurants.
• It only rained during one wedding, and luckily after we finished the photos!
• 0% of brides were bridezillas (yay!)
• 100% of couples I worked with were fantastic people who's weddings were beautiful, touching, and a lot of fun!

Conclusion: Hypothesis is supported. According to my research weddings are indeed beautiful and wonderful and fun!

Wedding - Wes & Lisa

This couple has some serious talent and it showed in everything about their wedding:

The bride made her own dress, the groom created each and every menu item,

and even the bouquets were put together by the bridesmaids.

Wes and Lisa did everything their own way;

from the ceremony that was short and sweet

to swapping out a first dance for a "first shot".

They wanted their day to be about family, friends, and fun,

and I think every guest would agree it was a great success.

Congratulations you two and thanks for sharing a fantastic day with me!

There's been a trend in coordinated-not-identical bridesmaids dresses,

but this was the first time I saw the same idea applied to the groomsmen.

And I loved it.

Since we took photos before the ceremony, I had Wes wait outside the venue so we could capture their "first look" at each other on their wedding day.

Yes, this is the dress Lisa made herself. Really.

Taking DIY wedding to a whole new level.

We were right in the heart of downtown Calgary,

so we made use of good old public transportation for our wedding party photos.

Crafty woman that she is,

Lisa also made the bridesmaids' leather sashes.

So cool.

The girls got a LOT of attention from passing motorists!

 GREAT shoes!

 The last few moments to chill before the ceremony.

And I just couldn't help adding one more photo...

The thing about a downtown photoshoot is that there are ALL kinds of characters,

and this one couldn't resist a group of sharp-dressed men.

She really wanted to be in the photos.

Luckily one of the groomsmen wasn't suffering from the

Canadian epidemic of being overly nice,

and he eventually managed to get her on her way.

I know the guys will get a kick out of this, I definitely had a good laugh!