Taylor & Mark - Charlottetown Wedding at The Delta Prince Edward

Wedding date - July 21st, 2018

Taylor & Mark and met through mutual friends and quickly hit things off. In the Spring of 2017 they visited one of their favorite hiking spots where Mark planned to propose at the top. Mark assumed there would be lots of people around to take a photo of him asking the question, but when they reached the top there was not a soul in sight. Eventually, he (uncharacteristically) asked Taylor if they could get a photo together and set up a timer instead! She was shocked, out of words, and of course - said yes.

Mark & Taylor were married on a warm July day in Charlottetown on the back terrace at the Delta Prince Edward. We captured lots of photographs of the two of them together but also with the many people they are close to in their lives. Locations included a friend’s home on the waterfront, Government House, The Delta, and Taylor’s home. My favorite part are all the huge smiles and emotions you can feel in these photos. There was no shortage of family and friends around on their wedding day so you could tell Mark & Taylor were really loved by many. Parents, siblings, and friends all played a large role in the day - including Taylor’s three sisters!

Getting to know this couple and capturing their wedding was a joy and a highlight of the year. I’m excited to now share these photos with you all! Enjoy,

Number of guests - 160

Venue - Delta Prince Edward Hotel

Wedding coordination - Elysian weddings and events

makeup - taylored beauty

hair - Brittany Bruinooge

flowers - island meadow farms

dress - Halo Gown by Hayley Paige

decor - once upon a wedding

Music - Bridgette Blanchard, Gordie Cox

Limo - Prestige Limousine

cake - Christine’s Cake Creations

photography - 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

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

Gloria & Nick - Sparkling NYE Wedding in Charlottetown

Wedding date - December 31st, 2016

Since photographing the wedding of Katie & Greg on NYE 2015, I love the idea of a December 31st wedding. What better way to celebrate and dress up then attending the wedding of two people you love? Or as Gloria put it, what better way to start a new year than to marry your best friend!

Gloria & Nick met in 2008 while both attending UPEI and started dating 3 years later. Shortly after this Nick moved off Island for work as an engineer, but began driving back to PEI every single weekend to visit Gloria. On a cold and rainy day in the Summer of 2015 during their annual hike around Howe Point, Nick used the help of their golden doodle Ollie to propose to Gloria. From there started the wedding planning for NYE!

It is safe to say everyone had such a fun time at this wedding. Gloria & Nick are the type of people you want to be around, and feeding off their energy and enthusiasm was so great. They took every moment as it came, didn't stress about small details, and took the time to enjoy a few limo sociables. It was like hanging out with friends and I love that I was able to capture this day for them. Thank you for the laughs, the hugs, and the espresso shots. 

To Gloria & Nick, here's to many more happy days like this! 

Megan & Mitch - St. Dunstan's Basilica Wedding in Charlottetown

Wedding date - September 2nd, 2016

11 years ago back in 2005, Megan borrowed a friend's spare school ID to sneak into Colonel Gray's high school dance. It was here that she first met Mitch. After sharing a few dances, they kept in touch and have been together ever since! Real life high school sweethearts. Wedding planning began 10 years later in 2015 when they got engaged during a Summer trip to Cape Breton. Mitch later surprised Megan by engraving her wedding ring with "it all started with a dance". 

Megan & Mitch wanted their wedding day to be about how everything felt, not how everything looked. This is certainly evident by their expressions, laughter, and happy tears all throughout the day. The amount of emotion was so special to see, and really brought their wedding photos to life. They have the biggest hearts and are loved by so many. Their advice to other couples getting married is to keep things focused on the marriage and not the wedding, as guests are there to celebrate you and your marriage and the rest of the material things will fall into place after that. Very true words.

Congratulations Megan & Mitch!

Number of guests - 170

Ceremony - St Dunstan's Basilica

Hair - mary coloris

makeup - Larissa Faith

Dress - Allure Romance, The Wedding Place

Groom's suit - Dow's

Florals - Island Meadow Farms

Decor - Jenn Maxwell

DJ - Aaron Doucette

Reception venue - Delta Prince Edward

Ellen & Kevin - Romantic Charlottetown Wedding

wedding date - July.11th, 2015.

Ellen & Kevin have been together since meeting at UPEI almost 9 years ago and they tied the knot this past July on a sunny, warm day in Charlottetown. Beforehand, Kevin proposed using a photo book he created and on each page was a different part in their lives together - trips, building a home, getting a dog, and so on. On the last page though was a photo of their dog Kobi with a sign that read "Ellen, will you marry me?" AH!!

On their wedding day they chose to do a first look, followed by all their photos, ceremony, and then ending with their reception at the PEI Brewing Company. They are so sweet, kind, and friendly, I was so happy to be involved in their day and get to meet so many of their close family and friends. I hope you all love the photos as much as I do! 

hair - bounce hair studio

makeup - Makeup by Aimee Barker

Wedding dress - Caseley's Bridal

Bridesmaids dresses - David's Bridal - Halifax

Suits - Moore's

Flowers - Flower Buds

ceremony - park royal church

reception/catering - PEI Brewing Company

Cupcakes - Lovely Day desserts

DJ - Dave Mane

photographer - brady mcCloskey PHotography

tips for a Rainy wedding day

If you're like some couples, you've been checking and refreshing the long range weather forecast ever since your date popped up. You may be disappointed to see rain on the horizon, but with a little pre planning and a good attitude, the rain certainly won't spoil the fun. 

As a Prince Edward Island wedding photographer it is inevitable that I will experience a rainy wedding day at some point. I've photographed many before, and will likely photograph many in the future. However, there's a few things to think about that will make your day go much smoother if rain is on the way.

Of course, umbrellas! Umbrellas are an absolute must if the weather is looking wet. I've photographed many couples under the shelter of umbrellas and they help to keep hair and makeup in tact, and outfits clean and dry. You may want to consider purchasing enough for you and your wedding party so that in the event of light rain, everyone is still able to venture outside for photos. Make sure to keep your receipt so that you return them if you didn't end up using them. 

In many instances I'll photograph the bride and groom under the cover of their umbrella, and then have them drop it quickly for a few photos. This gives a mix of both views, and is quick enough to make sure no one gets too wet. Besides the wet ground, you may never know it was raining. 

Have a back up plan in place for your photos and an alternate location if your ceremony is outdoors. Being prepared for weather can help ease a lot of stress on your wedding day. By having a back up plan in case of rain, you don't have to scramble on the day of and take up time. I've photographed under the cover of verandas, in public buildings, and under heavy foliage. I've even rode along for a long, limo dance party. A professional photographer is trained to handle unexpected circumstances and work in difficult situations, so hiring one will be a big help when it comes to a rainy wedding day. 

Beforehand, consult with your hairstylist and makeup artist for tips on keeping yourself looking picture perfect despite rain and humidity. A professional will know different techniques to make sure your hair & makeup don't change throughout the day. I asked the talented Holly Ryder from Priti Makeup Artistry to give some tips for keeping your makeup in line on a rainy day. Holly says:

• Primer! It will help everything stay in place

• Waterproof eyeliner and mascara

• Choosing creamy products vs powders, ex. a cream blush & liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer instead of powder alternatives

• Good quality lipstick, it has better staying power than a gloss!

Thanks, Holly! 

Be flexible with your timing. If it is raining, chances are there will be a window of time at some point in the day where it stops completely, or it is only spitting/misting. Being able to do some photos before or after you originally planned can be a way to avoid the rainy parts of your day. If the weather is looking sour, consider options like a first look before your ceremony, or some photos after dinner. This gives you more than one opportunity for photos, and makes sure you don't just rely on one specific time. 

However, even on the worst of days you never know when the clouds may break and the sun starts to peak through! 

The most important thing - keep up a positive attitude. Your wedding day is what you make it. You can't control the weather, but you can control how you handle it. Above all, it's important to not let the rain spoil your day. Your shoes may get a little wet, you may not be able to get to locations you planned for, and you may need to adjust your timeline, but after all it's important to remember to have fun. So, take a breather and keep on smiling!

And if all else fails.....have a drink. 

Been caught on a rainy wedding day? What did you do to keep dry and have fun? Leave me a comment!