Chloe & Colby - Tent Wedding on the Ocean in Little Pond, PEI

Wedding Date - August 30th, 2019

Over the years I have photographed Chloe & Colby many times so being there to capture their wedding day was a must for me! I love working with them and this day was no different. Looking back on their wedding after all this time brings happy memories of the great (pre pandemic!) celebration we had.

Chloe & Colby met in high school, became best friends for a while, and eventually their relationship progressed to the point where they started dating. They’ve stayed strong through a lot of long distance, big career moves, buying a fishing fleet, and raising their pup Sherman! In 2017 after Chloe returned from her second semester away at university in Scotland, Colby met her at the airport baggage claim and surprised her with a ring. After 7 years together he still pulled off a great surprise!

Chloe comes from a farming family and Colby is a lobster fisherman. When planning their wedding they wanted to highlight the Island’s best cuisine and host a memorable meal for their guests, and Gallant’s Seafood & Co definitely pulled that off. The location of the reception was also important to them. The house that Chloe’s Dad grew up in was moved to a waterfront property in Howe Bay a few years ago by his sister and it’s one of their favourite places in the world to be. The perfect spot to set up their Caseley’s Tent overlooking the ocean. Thank you Chloe & Colby for trusting me with these special photos!

From the couple:

What was your favorite part of your wedding day, or a favorite memory that sticks out?

“During the band’s first break, Colby pulled me aside. We stood out by the cliff and watched all of our loved ones in the tent. It was my favourite moment. We stood back for a quiet moment together and just took everything in. And the stars that night were on another level.”

What is one piece of advice you would give to other couples planning their wedding?

“Delegate! So many friends and family are willing to offer any help that they can! So just be clear about what your vision is and delegate any task you can! Also, make sure to set aside time with your wife/husband”

Number of guests - 155

Ceremony - St Mary’s Catholic Church, Souris
Venue - The Olde House in Little Pond (VRBO), Caseley’s tent
Hair - Rae-Anne Kelly- Divine Hair Design
Makeup - Rebecca Powers
Wedding Dress - Perfect pear bridal
Florals - island meadow farms

cupcakes - Bryson Family Bakery
catering - Gallants Seafood & Co.
Videography - Mel Guray Creatives
Band - Muddy Buddy
stationary - Just Handwritten (Kelsie Campbell)

photography - brady mccloskey photography

Nadia & Dave - July Wedding in Tignish, PEI

wedding date - july 6th, 2019

Nadia and Dave knew each other since they were kids through Nadia's brother and Dave's buddy Dexter. It wasn't until adulthood when Nadia pressed Dexter on what Dave's story was and what he was like. After hearing she was interested, Dave sprang into action and contacted Nad. The romance grew quickly as they saw exactly what they both wanted - and needed - in the other person. Sixteen months and six days after their first date, Dave proposed to Nadia along the beautiful cliffs of North Cape!

I met Nadia & Dave a few years ago when they starting playing on our multisport league and we’ve since become great friends. It was so fun to be invited to photograph their wedding and I loved getting to know them even more throughout the whole process. They are kind and welcoming people who alway make sure everyone is having a great time in their company. From their wedding they really wanted to have an epic, all night long party with friends, family & community there to celebrate and support them and I think they achieved just that! With over 250 people in attendance, the atmosphere was fun and lively despite all the unpredictable downpours throughout the day. They were married in Tignish and had their cocktail hour and reception in a huge Caseley’s tent on family property. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do!

Thank you so much Nadia & Dave for having me capture your wedding day, and congrats to the Brothers!

wedding advice from the couple: 

“Make sure you are both bought into it. It is a lot of work so you may as well have fun together planning it.”

Number of guests - 260

Ceremony - St. Simon & St. Jude, Tignish

Reception - tent provided by Caseley’s, private property

Hair - Phyllis Bernard
Makeup - Rebecca Powers
Wedding Dress - Maggie Sottero, With Love Bridal Boutique, Ottawa
Florals - Alberton Florists

Decor - Miss K's Kreations
Cake - Butter
Catering - MJ's Bakery - Tignish
Transportation - Eclipse Entertainment Company
DJ - DJ Dekz
Late Night Food - Up West Fire Fries

Kelsey & Allison - Mountain Estate Wedding in Kimberley, BC

wedding date - June 1st, 2019

Kelsey & Allison are friends of mine who met and live in Calgary, and I was lucky enough to travel to photograph and attend their destination wedding this past June in British Columbia! I was actually there to capture their fun surprise proposal during a family photo session in PEI in 2017 too. I also photographed Kelsey’s brother’s wedding (Rory & Hannah) in 2016 so it was great to work with everyone again!

Kelsey & Allison wanted a fun destination in the mountains where everyone could come together so they chose the small town of Kimberley, BC - about a 4 hour road trip from Calgary. A big group of friends and family travelled from PEI and all across Canada for their wedding and we made a full week of activities around it. They wanted all of their guests to stay close and get to know each other, so they organized events and hangouts before the wedding day too. Our group rented a big house and spent a lot of time with everyone beforehand.

The wedding was held at Cherry Creek Estate, a huge property outside town with a view overlooking the ranch and mountains. The staff were wonderful (shout out to Dave), the photo locations were so good, and it was a really unique spot that we had all to ourselves. They had a quick outdoor ceremony, a long relaxing cocktail hour, a reception with incredible food, and an even better DJ.

I’ll always remember this wedding and was so lucky to have been a part of it. A great destination wedding can really bring people together and make it a whole experience, and theirs definitely did just that. Congratulations Kelsey & Allison!

One piece of wedding advice from the couple:

“We wrote and read our vows to each other the night before so we could half keep it together during our ceremony. It made us feel really connected going into the next day.”

Planning a destination wedding yourself? I’d love to hear more - it can cost a lot less than you think!

number of guests - 85

Hair - Nicole Wilhelm (@nicoledidit)

Makeup - Candace Janisch (@ladylipstickslinger)

Wedding Dress - Designer - Nicole Rita Tomney (@nrtfashions)

Wedding Suit - Stylist Lauren Larsen (@atelierbyensemble)

Florals - MJ's Floral Boutique (@mjsfloralboutique)

Transportation - Free Spirit Travel Bus

DJ - DJ Ray

2019 Favorites

This end of year post is so rewarding to create each time as I get to look back on every photo taken during the year. Photography takes me to so many new places to meet people and I get to capture some really big moments in their lives. My clients welcome me with open arms and that’s the reason we are able to capture these personal moments. Thank you to every person who was behind the camera this year, it’s been a true pleasure sharing these days with you. Happiness and love really radiate from these photos and that is so great to see.

Please enjoy this collection of some of my personal favorite photos from my wedding and portrait work in 2019.

Prince Edward Island Mini Weddings

wedding dates - July 21st, & September 15th, 2019

I’ve been asked about our mini wedding days so many times over the last few months so I’m pleased to share some photos and a bit of the back story! Hey, even CBC was talking about them.

Last winter Kristina from Elysian Weddings & Events and I met for coffee about an idea she had for a full day of small weddings back to back where couples would essentially share a full day booking from some of our Island’s top vendors. Although admittedly we weren’t sure if it would be a hit or not, I was on board right away. We discussed a lot of the details and what was important, but above all we wanted couples to feel like they were treated special and had a quality, fun, and positive experience that wasn’t rushed. Couples each would receive a two hour time slot which included their wedding ceremony with photography, videography, ceremony space, officiant, coordination, florals, champagne, and cake - all for $2,500! You just needed to show up with a marriage license. We assembled a top notch team of vendors and the host was one of the Island’s most loved venues, Clinton Hills. Once the July 21st minis were announced, they filled up right away and there was enough demand for a second day to be added in September! In July we celebrated 4 weddings, and 3 in September.

We loved how every wedding did things differently and felt unique. Each couple decided how they wanted to spend their time so some opted for a first look while others arrived together. Their families would then head up to the wooded ceremony space at Clinton Hills (or inside if raining). After their own personalized ceremony by Elysian Weddings, we walked to the outdoor courtyard at Clinton Hills for cake & champagne. We took a group photo and let our couples relax and mingle with their friends and families before we captured some family photos. Once guests departed Simon and I took each couple around the property for their own fun portraits and video.

After they left us, every couple had their own plans for the rest of the day and night. Some rented restaurants for private dinners with guests, one had a stay at Dalvay, some threw a big party, one stayed at home and enjoyed a kid free evening, and one even had a full tent wedding reception afterwards! It was so nice to see how everyone made the day unique to them.

It was the biggest compliment to hear from every couple how much fun they had, what an easy experience it was, and how they would recommend it to others. We’ve also had so many people say they wish they had done it too!

We would love to host these again so stay tuned for the details on this Summer’s upcoming mini wedding day! Thank you to all the vendors who made these days so great:

ceremony & coordination - elysian weddings & events

venue - clinton hills weddings & events

photography - brady mccloskey

videography - simon reid studios

florals - sakurah’s flower studio

cakes - butter (july), KGJ Bake Shop (september)

Chelsey & Tyler - Elopement at Dalvay by the sea

wedding date - august 29th, 2017

Chelsey & Tyler contacted me with the simple idea of eloping on Prince Edward Island on a Tuesday evening in August of 2017. As Calgary residents they had no real connection to PEI, didn’t have any guests, and wanted a stress free and casual wedding on the beach. They thought of the options for where they could get married, and kept coming back to the beaches of PEI. I love elopements and although they are not for everyone, they can be such a genuine and meaningful experience which was exactly what Chelsey & Tyler had.

I met them in their room at the beautiful Dalvay by the Sea on Prince Edward Island’s North Shore and we walked across to the beach to meet their marriage commissioner. Down by the water on beautiful and warm August evening they said their vows during a peaceful and intimate ceremony. After the quick official words, we parted ways with their commissioner and photographed on the beach and around the Dalvay property. Any time I am photographing a couple I love to talk with them and hear their stories about how they met, where they came from, and get to know them a little more.

Chelsey & Tyler wanted a typical, larger wedding but the more they began to plan it and think about it they realized they would enjoy a small ceremony to themselves much more. There were no expectations and they could really enjoy each other’s company. Their evening on the beach in Dalvay was exactly what they pictured, and we had so much fun capturing these photos. I think they are a perfect representation of their bond, and the experience they had that evening.

To Chelsey & Tyler - all the best for your many years together! <3

2018 Favorites

2018 brought another year of adventure. New people, new places, and so many new experiences. I’ve been welcomed into the lives of strangers and friends during nearly 200 photo shoots this past year. It is always a time consuming and difficult task of narrowing down my personal favorite photos from my wedding and portrait work, only some of which can fit in this post. For many different reasons, these are the photos that stand out to me personally.

Working with people every day is the best part of this job, and being invited to be a part of all your moments is so appreciated. To every single person who was behind the camera this year, I thank you for allowing me to tell a little part of your story. I’ve had a blast. 2019 is sure to be another big year, and I hope to see you along the way.

Many thanks, and enjoy.

Naomi & Nathan - October wedding in Alberton, PEI

wedding date - october 7th, 2017

A few years ago Nathan moved temporarily from Ontario to small town Alberton, Prince Edward Island to help his Mother set up her new restaurant in town - The Sidewalk Grill. Around the same time, Naomi also moved to Alberton when she got a pharmacist job after graduation. Neither intended to stay in the small town long term, but everything changed when they crossed paths and met each other. With their workplaces being close by, Naomi would often head to the restaurant for lunch and strike up conversations with Nate. Their lunch time interactions soon changed to dates, and the two quickly fell in love. Fittingly, Nate proposed to Naomi over breakfast one morning! Fast forward to now, Naomi & Nate have bought a beautiful home together and have settled in the small town where they met! 

Naomi grew up as a fisherman's daughter in Souris, PEI so their wedding reception took place on the pier at Northport Harbour. Their decor tied in nautical with the Fall colors, blue and white being highlights. Their favorite moment of the day was seeing each other as Naomi walked down the isle, all their nerves changing to joy and excitement. 

Naomi & Nathan are two of the kindest people you can ever meet, and they are a pleasure to be around. All day you could feel how special it was for both of them to have everyone together, and see the love from around the room. We photographed on the cliffs in Western PEI, in their backyard, and at Northport pier. I'm so happy I was able to capture their wedding, and just spend a day with them too! Congratulations Naomi & Nate!  

number of guests - 140

ceremony - st anthony's church

reception - northport pier

officiant - father andrew macdonald

hair - cheryl weeks

makeup - jacki peters

wedding dress - allure at perfect pair bridal

grooms suit - moores

flowers - alberton florists

decorator - rave event decor (velma robichaud)

planner - caie-lea carpenter

dj - tyler's dj services

cake - karen's kupcakes

caterer - northport pier restaurant

stationary - vistaprint

transportation - gordon's tours & eclipse entertainment

videographer - mel guary 

photographer - brady mccloskey photography 

Jill & Gordie - Vintage Wedding in Downtown Charlottetown

Wedding date - november 24th, 2017

Jill & Gordie met through mutual friends at a music festival - Stan Fest in Canso, Nova Sctoia in 2009. The weather was awful that day, very rainy and muddy. A friend of Jill's went down to check on Jill and her friends in their tent and Gordie tagged along. When Gordie saw Jill for the first time he said she looked so sad he wanted to do anything to cheer her up. He brought her warm coffee and cold beers and gave her access to a real washroom, thus impressing her and beginning their adventurous relationship! 

Gordie travels the world as a musician (Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys) and Jill joins when she can. Music has brought them across North America, Europe, India, and beyond. In 2016 they welcomed their sweet daughter Annie to the world and in 2017 they got engaged on the beach at her parent's home. 8 years and a child later, they set November 24th, 2017 as they evening they would get married!

Their vintage wedding inspiration came from Jill's 1920 antique ring. With their homemade suit and dress, the Haviland Club setting, and the amazing hairstyles to match, this wedding looks like it could have been photographed many years ago. I love when a couple breaks from the norm and does their own thing, so this was a real treat to capture! Jill & Gordie's attitude was laid back and focused on spending time with their friends and family. We captured all of their photos in the evening, and then they danced the night away! 

wedding advice from the couple

"Don't sweat the small stuff. Try and let things slide as much as possible and pick your battles. In the long run a lot of things don't matter and there is no need to start a fight over something that really won't matter in a day, a week, or a year. 

number of guests - 100

officiant - martin carter

hair - corey doucette - aveda grand senses

wedding dress - handmade

groom's suit - handmade 

flowers - mother of the bride

decorator - pineapple eventworks

music - mike bravener and the rockin billies

cake - pat arsenault

photography - brady mccloskey photography

Hilary & Mike - Married in Bedeque, PEI

wedding date - july 14th, 2017

On her first day of university at UPEI, Hilary arrived late to discover class was full and there was only one seat left in the room. She hurried in and sat down right beside Mike, not knowing that one day this stranger would become her husband! The weeks and months went by and Hilary & Mike became good friends through class, but later parted ways when they both switched schools. Almost two years later they ran into each other in Halifax and spent the rest of the night chatting and catching up. Little did they know, their conversation that evening would never end! 

Years later Hilary & Mike had travelled to see their favorite hockey teams play in Montreal. A few hours after arriving they hiked up to enjoy the views of the city from Mount Royal. Mike handed his phone to a stranger to take a photo of them and surprised Hilary by bringing out an engagement ring! 

Having photographed the wedding of Hilary's sister Bethany and Brother in law Brad, it was special to be invited back into their family again and see it combined with Mike's side as well. Mike & Hilary's wedding day was a hot blue sky day in mid July. They were married close to Hilary's home in Bedeque and celebrated at The Shipyard later that evening. They wanted their wedding day to feel romantic, dreamy, & modern and it did just that. We photographed the majority of formals at McCallum's Point, a special place to the Waugh family where Hilary spent a lot of time swimming and playing as a kid. Standing on the cliffs laughing and enjoying ourselves with the ocean all around us was the best kind of PEI Summer day! To everyone involved in this wedding day, thank you so much for keeping the good vibes going all day long! 

Congratulations Hilary & Mike!

advice from the couple

"Stay organized throughout the planning process. Understand that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel and you will eventually miss planning for your "best day ever". So enjoy it and don't stress!"

Number of guests - 125

Venue - Bedeque United Church, The shipyard

Officiant - Rev. Catherine Stuart

Hair - AMP Hair & Makeup Artistry

makeup - makeup by sabrina sierra

Wedding dress - Maggie Sottero from Kleinfeld 

Groom's suit - Moore's

Florals - Prestige Floral Studio

Decor - Once Upon a Wedding

DJ - Tyler's DJ Services

Cake - Family friend

Stationary - LaBohemmePaperCo - Etsy

Transportation - Eclipse Entertainment

Videography - Fresh Films

Photography - Brady mccloskey photography

Kate & Tyler - PEI wedding at Dalvay Beach

wedding date - July 29th, 2017

A mutual friend of Kate & Tyler's insisted for years that Kate just HAD to meet this Tyler guy, but Kate kept brushing it off. Eventually during an evening with friends at Marc's Studio they connected and Kate later realized the guy she was chatting with was Tyler, the one she had been hearing of all along. After a Facebook add and a some messages, they went on a date and the rest was history!

Three years later with their dog Finny in one arm, Tyler proposed in front of the lighthouse at Covehead Beach in June, 2016. Afterwards they went back to Kate's parent's house and celebrated with all her immediate family! 

Excitement was in the air during Kate & Tyler's wedding day. The mood was fun, light hearted, and definitely energetic! My favorite thing about Kate & Tyler is Kate's ever present excitement and enthusiasm mixed with Tyler's calm and cool demeanor. They make such a great pair that are so fun to be around and you always feel at ease. Capturing their personalities, relationship and dynamic was a blast and as Kate put it, "the best day ever!!" Thank you so much to everyone who pulled this day together, and Kate & Tyler for choosing me to capture it! 

Congratulations to The Moirs! 

advice from the couple

"There are so many options out there and it is easy to get swayed into "what is popular" but I think what we loved most about our wedding is that we truly did what made us happy and we both tried to put the focus on each other, and not the small details. Also, try to remember every moment! It goes by in a flash!"  

Number of guests - 150
venue - dalvay beach and confederation centre of the arts

officiant - jeff macdonald (brother of the bride)

hair - lydia ferguson

makeup - rebecca powers

wedding dress - hayley paige "sunny gown"

Groom's suit - Moore's

FLorals - Island Meadow Farms

Decorator - Jessica Foster

DJ - Music Express
Cake - Buns n Things

Transportation - Coach Atlantic

Videography - Ashland Weddings

Photography - Brady McCloskey Photography

Travel - Portland, Oregon

Years ago I read an article in The Globe & Mail about Portland's interesting vibe and culture and that made me so curious to check it out one day. Since I was heading to Vancouver/Whistler this January, I booked a multi city flight to Portland for 3 nights on the way! I had been excited to see the city and the forests and they did not disappoint. I even managed to dodge most of the rainy weather that Portland is known for. 

The food and drink options in Portland were everywhere, and overwhelming at times. Everyone had a suggestion on where I could find the best of this and that, but it was so fun to eat my way through every day. The donuts, the beer & cider, the ice cream, the breakfasts.....everything was delicious. 

A few things I loved about Portland:

• Every area of the city had something interesting, or somewhere amazing to eat

• Transit was so great and easy and day passes were only $5!

• Food trucks (or carts) were embraced and were all over the city, including circling an entire block downtown

• Forest Park (where all these forest photos were taken) was just a short ride away on transit and held a gigantic network of trails of all skill levels.

• Portland has the world's largest independent bookstore. Powell's City of Books is so fun to walk around and get lost in.

• Bike lanes were everywhere, Portland is referred to as "Bike City USA"

• Everyone drives a Subaru!

• There are around 70 microbreweries in Portland

If you find yourself in the Pacific Northwest, consider stopping into Portland. I plan to be back one day to check out more of the surrounding forests and mountains, and to drive out to the coast. Until next time! 

2017 Favorites

Sitting down and compiling this collection is always something I look forward to every year. It allows me to look back on everything I've captured that year and choose my personal favorite photos. For many different reasons, these are some of the shots that stand out.

In 2017 we delivered a total of nearly 29,000 photos to wedding, portrait, and commercial clients. Thinking about that number is overwhelming, and thinking of all of that work is too. But year after year I continue to love this creative field that introduces me to so many people, making real connections along the way. To absolutely everyone who trusted and hired me this past year, I appreciate you so much. A huge thank you as well to everyone who followed along or gave support in any way!

2017 seemed to be a year of surprises for my business and I'm so fortunate for all of these opportunities. My favorite photography podcast recorded an episode about me, I hired my first part time employee, was contracted by the New York Times, and was named one of the top 25 most inspiring photographers in Canada. What a ride! 

Without the fun and interesting interactions, dynamics, and relationships of clients, there would be nothing. A photograph aims to tell the story of what happened, so thank you all for providing these amazing stories. 

Enjoy ~

Hannah & Michael - Rocky Mountain Wedding in Jasper, Alberta

Wedding date - April 14th, 2107

Hannah is a Jasper girl & Michael is a PEI boy who met while Hannah attended UPEI. After dating for years he proposed on the Island in front of 20 family members, followed by a surprise party with all of their closest friends, with lobster, fireworks, and cake to boot!

When I received the initial email from Hannah & Michael asking if I would consider traveling all the way to Jasper to capture their Spring wedding day, I was completely on board right away! It had been 12 years since I'd seen Jasper and the thought of photographing a wedding there was a dream. I knew Hannah and I had mutual friends and although we had never officially met, I knew she was just as great as everyone always said. Once we met we clicked right away and it was like we had always known each other. 

From the moment I arrived in Jasper, Michael, Hannah, and their families made me feel apart of their group, inviting me to a family BBQ, rehearsal party, and other activities. Everyone was so incredibly friendly, welcoming, and fun! I took some time to hang out, ski, and hike before the wedding as well. If you're also thinking of a destination wedding, let me know! 

Hannah's Dad Warren said that "every good day starts with exercise", so on the morning of the wedding a group of us set off for a 6am hike to Old Fort Point, overlooking Jasper. It was a beautiful morning with a dusting of fresh snow that would later melt that afternoon. We all enjoyed the peace and quiet at the top of the mountain and appreciated being together. After an outdoor ceremony by the river that afternoon (complete with a hail filled canoe arrival!), everyone enjoyed a casual 'outdoor picnic' with a bonfire, marshmallows, homemade beer, snacks, and a rule of only comfy clothes allowed. We travelled around town photographing and followed it up with a party that lasted late into the night. The next morning we had brunch and sadly parted ways, reflecting on an amazing and dreamy experience.

I loved their advice to other couples - do not be afraid to be different because they were so happy with all of their choices! They centered their wedding around everyone having fun, and didn't worry about the tiny details. Thank you Hannah & Michael for being incredible hosts, clients, and now, friends. Cheers to the #Wamsays! 

<3

Photography - Brady McCloskey Photography
Ceremony venue - Jasper airfield
Officiant - Gloria Kongsrud
Hair - Tirza Olsen & Natasha McColl
Makeup - Olivia Tassone & Lyndsey Perharm
Wedding dress - Perfect Pear Bridal
Groom's Suit - Dow's Menswear
Flowers - Weddings by Whitney
Coordinator - Jasper Event Management
DJ - DJ Tommy K
Cake - Cocos Cafe

Reception Venue - Best Western Jasper Inn & Suites
Transportation - Sundog Tours