I’ll be the guy without shoes, by the river.
We spent the day before on the beach, searching for crabs for our oceanside cookout, and the morning whispering to beads about to be woven into a suncatcher.
Everyone spent the week together, preparing food, building a stage, and exploring the island of Haida Gwaii. It was my first time there. My childhood best friend picked me up from Kun Xidgwangs Daanaay Airport. We had two hours to catch up before we lost each other to the pre-wedding hustle and bustle.
On the wedding day, her partner made a joke that if she couldn’t find him at their ceremony, he would be the one waiting for her by the river, with no shoes on.
I photographed this wedding back in 2022, but if memory serves correctly, I believe we chose the ceremony location the morning of. And after some of the most intentional and precious vows I have witnessed, we retreated back to their cabin for an incredible potlatch and party.
An intimate wedding in Haida Gwaii
My friends and their community in Haida Gwaii put on a great wedding.
To this day, I think about the intimacy of the ceremony, the love cooked into each dish, the words of affirmation spoken between friends and family.
The whole trip and day were an artist’s reminder of what wedding photography ought to be. I’m grateful to have been part of such an intimate wedding experience. Being welcomed into the traditions of families is one of the greatest gifts of my job.
Most importantly, I learned that crab is best served with butter, sitting on a log with an oceanview, while your friend’s dad laughs at your (lack of) shelling technique.
Getting Married in Haida Gwaii?
If you’re looking for a photographer who documents the day naturally and unobtrusively, I would love to hear about what you’re planning.
