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Lenora and Wilhelm at Paulik Park and UBC Boathouse

Couple standing close on the dock, seen across the water.

Lenora and Wilhelm’s Richmond wedding, from the trees at Paulik Neighbourhood Park to the river at UBC Boathouse.

Under the trees at Paulik Neighbourhood Park

Bride and groom standing close beside a tree at Paulik Park.

Wilhelm straightens his jacket beneath the trees at Paulik Neighbourhood Park. Lenora leans close beside him, with patches of sunlight on her dress and deep green all around. For me, the small space between their faces is the centre of these photographs.

Close portrait of the bride lifting a hand to her hair.
Groom standing beside a broad tree trunk in the shade at Paulik Park.
Full-length portrait of the couple beside the tree, with the wedding dress spread below.
Bride smiling as she leans towards the groom in the shade.
Wide portrait of the couple beneath the tall green canopy.

Their people, among the trees

Sunlight falling through the trees above the assembled wedding party.
Detail of bouquets and hands against the bridal and bridesmaids' dresses.
Bride and bridesmaids framed low beneath the spreading branches.

Their friends join them in the shade. There is time for a straight group portrait, then shoulders draw together and the laughter starts. I keep those frames beside each other: the photograph everyone gathered for, and what happened a moment later.

Groom and groomsmen lined up among tall trees at Paulik Park.
Groom looking upwards as sunlight filters through the branches.
Groom and groomsmen standing shoulder to shoulder beneath the trees.
Groomsmen laughing together in a patch of woodland shade.
Tall trees rising above the groom and groomsmen.
Groomsmen walking together between the tree trunks.
Bride standing with bridesmaids in pale blue dresses beneath the trees.
Bridesmaids leaning together around the bride in the park.
Bride and groom standing at the centre of the wedding party in the shade.
Wedding party raising their arms beneath the green canopy.
Wedding party walking together under the trees at Paulik Park.
Wedding party gathered closely for a smiling group portrait.

A quieter moment in the shade

Couple standing in a dark patch of shade beneath the branches.

A hand against a cheek. Fingers held loosely between them. In the wide photograph, the branches almost close around Lenora and Wilhelm; closer in, the leaves become a soft blur. The little gestures are enough.

Bride and groom leaning together beneath a tall woodland trunk.
The bride's hand against the groom's face in a softly shaded close-up.
Bride seated in her white wedding dress between sunlit tree trunks.
Wide bridal portrait with the dress spread at the base of the trees.
Bride looking down towards her white bouquet in the woodland shade.
Bride standing against a tree with soft green leaves in the foreground.
Bride holding her bouquet beside a textured tree trunk.
Bride smiling towards the groom as they lean close.
Bride placing her hands against the groom's cheeks.
Groom kissing the bride's temple as she holds him close.
Couple embracing beneath the trees, with the bride looking towards the camera.
Couple kissing beneath a shaft of sunlight through the canopy.
Bride and groom looking back from a sunlit patch of woodland.
Couple beside a broad tree, seen through soft leaves in the foreground.
Couple leaning together against a broad tree trunk.
Detail of the couple's joined hands beside the wedding dress.
Couple resting together beside a tree, with the wedding dress spread below.
Wide woodland view with the couple small beneath the green canopy.
Wide portrait of the couple between tree trunks, with soft leaves across the foreground.
Bride smiling as the groom leans towards her in the sunlight.
Close detail of the groom's hand at the bride's waist.
Couple laughing together beneath a bright woodland canopy.

The river opens up at UBC Boathouse

White ceremony chairs and a flower arch facing the Fraser River.

The shade gives way to open sky at the John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse. White chairs face the Fraser River, with the flower arch at the end of the aisle. Before the guests fill this view, there is just the water, the light and a place waiting for two people.

Rowing boats resting beside the sunlit water at UBC Boathouse.
Steel roof beams at UBC Boathouse framing the blue sky.
Birds resting on the edge of a dock above the river.
Wide view of the UBC Boathouse ceremony deck beneath a blue sky.
UBC Boathouse exterior, with the river and ceremony chairs below.
People preparing the waterfront ceremony seating beneath the flower arch.
Close detail of white flowers arranged along the ceremony arch.
Overhead view of white ceremony chairs curving beside the river.

Beneath the staircase

Bride beneath the diagonal metal staircase at UBC Boathouse.

The metal staircase cuts a strong diagonal above Lenora. Below it, the light picks out her face and the folds of her dress. I love the space this gives her on her own, before Wilhelm joins her. The building stays in the picture, but the eye comes back to the two of them.

Couple standing beneath the metal stairs against the blue wall.
Bride smiling against the pale blue translucent wall.
Bride standing against the translucent wall at UBC Boathouse.
Full-length bridal portrait beside the softly lit boathouse wall.
Bridal portrait framed by the staircase and dark glass wall.
Bride holding her bouquet beneath the steel stairs.
Groom helping the bride with her dress beneath the boathouse staircase.
Bride and groom standing apart beneath the diagonal steel stairs.
Wide portrait of the couple beneath the boathouse staircase.

A few minutes beside the water

Couple moving together on the sunlit waterfront deck, with the wedding dress lifting.

The river is bright behind them. Lenora turns, the dress lifts, and a hand reaches back towards Wilhelm. The space is open, but the photographs stay close to those small exchanges. A portrait can hold a little movement without losing the person inside it.

Bride and groom holding hands and looking towards each other by the river.
Couple standing together in bright light beside the water.
Couple holding hands beside the bright Fraser River.
Bride turning towards the groom with her veil falling behind her.
Close view of the couple's joined hands beside a white jacket.
Bride leaning towards the groom beside the river.

Together in the afternoon sun

Bride and bridesmaids standing together against the bright river.

Pale blue dresses line up beside the water. Then an arm goes around a shoulder and a laugh changes the whole picture. These are the same friends, in the same afternoon light, with a little less attention on the camera.

Groom and groomsmen beneath the diagonal metal staircase.
Friends gathering beside the waterfront ceremony chairs.
Bridesmaids in pale blue dresses leaning together for a waterfront portrait.
Bride and groom laughing beside the river, with the dress gathered in motion.
Bride and bridesmaids sharing a laugh beside the ceremony chairs.

The walk towards each other

Groom waiting beside the flower arch in a white jacket.

Wilhelm waits beneath the white flowers, smiling towards the aisle. I like to keep this part of a wedding in the story: the person who is already there, looking out for the one who is about to arrive. Then there is a hug, the walk along the deck, and the faces turning towards Lenora.

Bride walking along the raised boathouse walkway with a companion.
Bride hugging a guest before the waterfront ceremony.
Guests beginning to take their seats on the waterfront ceremony deck.
Elevated view of guests gathering beneath the ceremony arch.
Wide view down the aisle towards the flower arch and Fraser River.
Two guests smiling from the front row of the ceremony seating.
Bridal party gathered beside the boathouse staircase before the ceremony.
Officiant speaking beneath the white flower arch.
Seated guests watching the waterfront ceremony.
Front-row guests smiling towards the aisle.
Wide view of the ceremony gathering beneath long clouds.
Bride and bridal party beside the boathouse wall before entering the ceremony.
View towards the flower arch from behind standing guests.
Two attendants walking together down the waterfront aisle.
Groom embracing friends beside the flower arch.
Guests smiling and raising phones from the ceremony chairs.
Guests standing on either side of the waterfront aisle.
Lenora walking down the waterfront aisle with her father at UBC Boathouse in Richmond.
Detail of bridesmaids' hands and white wrist flowers against pale blue dresses.
Couple greeting people beside the ceremony arch.
Bride and groom smiling as they embrace in front of the guests.
Wide view of the bride arriving at the ceremony, with river and sky beyond.

Vows on the waterfront

Wide view of the wedding ceremony beneath sweeping clouds.

The wide view holds the whole ceremony together: the river, the open sky, the white arch and the people seated on either side. Closer in, Lenora looks straight at Wilhelm as she speaks. I keep both distances in this part of the story. One shows where they are; the other brings us back to their faces.

Couple holding hands beneath the white flower arch beside the Fraser River.
Bride and groom kissing beneath the white flower arch.
Bridal party beside the couple at the flower arch.
Bride looking towards the groom against the bright water.
Family and friends listening from the waterfront ceremony chairs.
Guests looking towards the couple as the officiant speaks.
Bride smiling towards the groom during the ceremony.
Close detail of the couple's hands and the bride's bouquet.
Wide view of the ceremony beside the river under a blue sky.
Groom speaking into a microphone during the waterfront ceremony.
Groomsmen listening behind the groom as he speaks.
Groomsmen standing in a line beside the ceremony.
Two guests listening quietly from the front row.
Bride speaking into a microphone while looking towards the groom.
Seated guests watching the ceremony beside the water.
Detail of bridesmaids' hands resting against their pale blue dresses.
Bride smiling as she holds a microphone during her vows.
Close portrait of the bride speaking towards the groom.
Wide waterfront view of the couple beneath the flower arch.
Groom holding the microphone as the bride faces him beneath the arch.
Bride looking towards the groom during the ceremony.
Guests seated in rows beside the boathouse.
Groom smiling towards the bride during their vows.
Bride looking up at the groom as they stand together.
Groom speaking during the ceremony with his wedding party behind him.
Close detail of a gold vow booklet and the couple's hands.
Bridesmaids smiling as they watch the couple at the arch.
Elevated view of the ceremony on the waterfront deck.
Bride and groom embracing beneath the flower arch.
Overhead view of the couple and guests on the ceremony deck.
Bridesmaids watching the couple from beside the flower arch.
Close view of the groom placing a ring on the bride's hand.
Close detail of hands during the ring exchange.
Wide view of the ceremony as the guests watch the couple.

Married, and surrounded

Newlyweds smiling as they walk between rows of applauding guests.

After the signing come raised hands and the walk back through the chairs. Lenora and Wilhelm are still holding on to each other, with their friends and family all around them. There is so much to look at in these first steps back together.

Elevated view of the newlyweds and assembled guests beside the river.
Bridal party smiling beside the couple after their vows.
Couple standing together with guests around the ceremony deck.
Wedding paperwork being signed as the couple and attendants stand beside the table.
Couple and wedding party standing together beneath the ceremony arch.
Couple turning towards their guests after the signing.
Couple beginning to walk back down the waterfront aisle.
Bride and groom walking down the aisle with their guests behind them.
Couple returning along the ceremony aisle, with the wedding dress in motion.
Couple walking together with the flower arch behind them.
Guests joining the couple for group photographs after the ceremony.
Couple smiling among a group of friends on the waterfront deck.
Couple walking together away from the ceremony chairs.

Among the small boats at the dock

Wide dockside portrait of the couple, with small boats and bright water behind them.

Small boats are moored beside the dock, with sunlight scattered across the river. Lenora turns towards the camera with her bouquet, and Wilhelm helps with the edge of her dress. I like these two photographs together: her smile in one, the small gesture beside her in the next. The wider frames keep the water and the boats around them.

Bride looking back towards the groom beside the bright waterfront.
Couple walking together, with the bride lifting her wedding dress.
Overhead view of the couple casting long shadows across the waterfront deck.
Sunlight sparkling across the water beside small boats moored at the dock.
UBC Boathouse exterior beneath the blue afternoon sky.
Detail of the bride's white dress and bouquet beside the water.
Bride smiling in a softly lit waterfront portrait.
Couple standing apart on a narrow dock beside moored boats.
Wide view of the couple on the dock with sunlight reflected across the water.
Bride and groom reaching towards each other on the mooring dock.
Couple kissing on the dock beside the bright river.
Couple standing on the dock with the bride's long train laid beside the water.
Close detail of the couple's feet and wedding dress on the dock.
Bride turning to smile beside the river.
Groom facing the bride as she looks down towards her bouquet.
Bride and groom kissing beside the river in strong afternoon sunlight.
Couple lifting their joined hands, photographed from above beside the water.
Elevated portrait of the couple standing close on the sunlit deck.
Couple kissing beside the sparkling river, seen from above.

Light around the boathouse

Bride framed by the curved upper balcony and steel roof beams.

Sunlight catches the curve of the balcony and washes across the boathouse windows. Down by the river, guests gather around the tables; up against the glass, Lenora and Wilhelm lean close. I keep these photographs together for the light, but also for the space around them. The building, the water and the people outside all belong in the story of this place.

Guests talking and sharing drinks beside the boathouse.
Guests leaning together on the upper boathouse balcony.

The room comes alive

Bride and groom entering the reception with their arms extended in a playful dance.

Upstairs, the light comes through the glass and across the timber ceiling. The room is ready, and then it fills: cheering guests, an entrance with a little dancing, friends leaning towards the tables. The photographs begin to gather a different kind of energy.

Reception guests applauding from tables inside the boathouse.
Guests gathering below the boathouse staircase after the ceremony.
Bride on the upper boathouse balcony beneath a wide blue sky.
Bride and groom descending the sunlit exterior staircase.
Couple together on the boathouse staircase, with the bride's dress gathered at the steps.
Reception tables and white chairs beneath the timber ceiling at UBC Boathouse.
Close detail of green and white reception flowers and a place setting.
Drinks displayed on a table beside the boathouse windows.
DJ standing behind the reception sound equipment.
Couple on the upper balcony with the sun shining behind the building.
Bride and guests smiling beside the upper balcony railings.
Guest making a dramatic entrance between the reception tables.
Guest dancing into the reception with his arms extended.
Reception guests smiling together beside the tables.
Wedding party members making a lively entrance beneath the timber ceiling.
Two guests in sunglasses entering the reception together.
Guests dancing between the reception tables.
Two attendants in sunglasses enjoying their reception entrance.
Guests raising their arms during the reception entrance.
Guests sharing drinks on the covered boathouse terrace.

The people listening

Bride covering her mouth as the groom laughs beside her during the speeches.

I often watch the people listening during a speech. Lenora brings a hand to her mouth while Wilhelm laughs beside her. A friend turns towards someone at the next table. Those reactions are part of what the words leave behind, and they deserve a place in the story too.

Close view of the bride smiling with a hand near her mouth.
Bride and groom seated together at the reception table.
Two guests laughing together during the reception.
Guests smiling across a table inside the boathouse.
Wide view of the reception hall, tables and river-facing windows.
Guest speaking to the couple beside the reception flower arch.
Personal keepsakes and small signs displayed beside the reception window.
Guest giving a speech with a microphone beside the windows.
Two guests sharing a microphone during a reception speech.
Bride raising a microphone beside the groom and their reception guests.
Two guests posing together against a plain reception wall.
Friends crowding together around the bride for a cheerful group photograph.

Magic hour on the Fraser River

Bride and groom walking hand in hand towards the river at dusk.

By magic hour, pink and violet stretch above the far bank. Lenora and Wilhelm walk hand in hand along the dock, then turn towards one another beneath the changing sky. In the closer frame, their faces fall softly out of focus and the last orange light stays clear across the river.

Couple raising their joined hands beneath the evening sky.
Soft silhouette of the couple leaning close beneath the evening sky.
Sunset colour outside the UBC Boathouse windows.
Tall dusk portrait of the couple by the Fraser River.
Couple holding hands with their backs to the camera beneath a pink evening sky.
Couple standing beside the river under layered pink and blue clouds.
Elevated view of the couple near the end of the waterfront deck at dusk.
Couple turning together beneath the pink magic-hour sky.
Couple embracing by the river as the evening light fades.
Bride and groom holding each other beneath a band of pink cloud.
Softly focused silhouette of the couple facing the river at dusk.
Tall portrait of the couple beneath the last pink light over the river.
Couple facing the camera on the waterfront deck in the fading light.
Joined hands in the foreground framing the couple's dusk portrait.
Wide view of the couple holding hands, with the pink horizon behind them.
Couple standing small beside the river beneath the last light of sunset.
Couple walking beside the lit boathouse as evening falls.
Groom looking back from the exterior staircase at dusk.

One more toast

Couple raising glasses with guests beside the reception tables.

Inside again, a glass goes up and friends lean together across the tables. Some look straight at the camera; others are still laughing with the person next to them. The room feels close in these photographs, even in the wider views.

Bride and groom smiling as they lift their glasses.
Guest speaking at the reception with the couple seated beside him.
Guests gesturing and smiling across the reception tables.
Guest raising his arms above his head during the reception.
Guests laughing together at a reception table.
Two guests smiling towards each other across the table.
Guests watching the reception speeches with a smile.
Bride speaking into a microphone at the reception.
Couple seated by the flower arch as guests listen to a speech.
Guests joining a table toast with the couple.
Groom laughing with guests during a reception toast.
Guests holding up glasses beside the groom.
Friends smiling together during a table toast.
Bride and groom raising glasses while guests lean into the photograph.
Guest lifting a drink towards the camera beneath the reception lights.
Groom laughing among friends during the evening toasts.
Group of guests raising glasses towards the camera.

A dance, and a good squeeze

Bride and groom dancing together beneath the reception flower arch.

A dance opens into a hug. Someone laughs so hard that the formal photograph can wait. I keep the arms reaching into the frame and the faces pressed close. Those details carry the warmth of the room.

Bride sharing a close hug with a guest beside the dance floor.
Bride dancing with a guest in the reception hall.
Wide view of guests and the couple gathering for the dances.
Couple opening their arms during a dance in the reception hall.
Bride embracing a guest on the dance floor.
Couple smiling as they dance together in front of their guests.
Bride and groom sharing a laughing embrace with a guest.
Guests leaning into a close, smiling group hug with the couple.
Couple raising their arms in front of the reception tables.
Guests gathering on the dance floor beneath the timber ceiling.
Bride laughing as the groom stands close behind her on the dance floor.
Guests embracing and dancing together in the reception hall.

The last photographs of the night

Couple dancing among raised hands and trails of warm light.

Hands in the air, faces close, ceiling lights drawn into loops. The last photographs are loose and full of movement. From the shade at Paulik Park to this crowded dance floor, Lenora and Wilhelm’s day has made room for all of it.

Guests dancing together beneath the bright reception lights.
Close view of the DJ's hands on the mixing controls.
DJ working behind the reception decks with one hand near his headphones.
Close detail of a hand at the DJ controls.
Guests celebrating beneath long trails of warm ceiling light.
Guest tilting his head back during a playful reception celebration.
Groom dancing among friends beneath streaks of warm light.
Guests moving together beneath loops of light on the dance floor.
Wide view of the busy dance floor beneath the timber ceiling.
Bride and groom dancing with their guests beneath the reception lights.
Groom raising his arms on the dance floor.
Groom celebrating among friends with the reception lights behind him.
Bride and groom smiling towards each other on the crowded dance floor.
Bride and guests raising their arms as they dance together.
Wide view of the final dance-floor celebrations beneath the boathouse ceiling.

Locations: Paulik Neighbourhood Park, 7620 Heather Street, Richmond; John M.S. Lecky UBC Boathouse, 7277 River Road, Richmond, BC.

Photographs by Grass Tso and the 123CHEESE team. More Vancouver and Richmond wedding stories, or get in touch about your own day.

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