Forget the Trends—Here’s How to Have a Wedding That Actually Feels Like You
One of my favourite things about photographing “older” people’s weddings (and by older, I mean anyone who has had enough birthdays to stop caring about wedding trends) is that they have exactly zero interest in what’s “in” this season. They’re not here for trendy flower walls, choreographed first dances, or whatever the heck a "champagne tower" is. Nope. They just want to throw a damn good party with their favourite people—and honestly, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Take Pascale and Félix, for example. Every year, Pascale throws a legendary corn roast at the homestead. We’re talking a full-on, people-pitching-tents, eat-until-you-can’t-move, dance-like-no-one’s-watching kind of event. So when it came time to plan their wedding, they basically said, “Why fix what ain’t broke?” And just like that, their annual corn roast became their wedding day.
The format? Exactly the same as always. Guests showed up, set up camp, brought their finest potluck dishes, and got ready to party. The only difference? This time, before the beer started flowing and the corn cobs started roasting, Pascale and Félix got hitched under a tent. Simple. Easy. Zero stress. And then—because they clearly understand how to live life the right way—they went straight from the ceremony to cake. No waiting until after dinner. No awkward “when do we cut it?” moments. They said, “I do,” took a group photo, did a quick toast, and bam—cake time. It was brilliant. I LOVED this formula. 10/10 would recommend.
Speaking of cake… Pascale’s mom is a baking wizard and made over 40 cakes for the occasion. FORTY. Each one a different flavour, decorated by friends and family. It was like walking into a homemade bakery, but instead of a menu, you just grabbed whatever looked the best (which, spoiler alert, was all of them). The main cake even had tiny icing versions of Pascale and Félix on top. The whole thing was an absolute masterpiece of sugar and love.
Now, I get it. Social media makes weddings look so perfect. Pinterest boards are full of curated, colour-coordinated, stress-inducing inspiration. But let’s be real: weddings rarely go 100% according to plan. And honestly? That’s part of the magic. There was something so refreshing, so wholesome, about Pascale and Félix’s wedding. No jam-packed timeline, no pressure, just an incredible day filled with love and laughter. It made me wish more couples would take notes and embrace the beauty of a laid-back wedding.
So if you’re planning your wedding and starting to feel overwhelmed by all the "must-haves," here’s my professional opinion: ignore them. Reel in the Pinterest fever dream, and focus on what actually makes you happy. If that means a big, structured wedding with a planner and a timeline, go for it! Those work for a reason. But if that sounds exhausting? Scrap it. Do what feels right for you.
And if that means getting married in the middle of your annual corn roast, cutting the cake before dinner, and partying under the stars with your favourite people? Well, you just might have the best wedding ever. And I will happily be there to photograph every second of it.
