What’s more Canadian than a summertime, lakeside cottage wedding? Just the phrase conjures up images of a cool breeze rolling in from the lake, sitting by a firepit with friends and roasting marshmallows, of beers, canoes and dancing outdoors. That’s exactly the kind of beautiful wedding day that Lauren & Jesse had.

Those of you who’ve been following our work know how much we love getting ready photos. It’s the quiet time at the beginning of a wedding day when the woman getting married slowly transforms into a bride. Lauren, of course, made this whole thing look so easy, as she’s just naturally stunning (those eyes!), and exudes effortless elegance. Having her Mom and her bridesmaids by her side really let the emotions and laughter flow. And how awesome does she look in her bridal robe by the lake? A magical wedding morning.

Here awaits Jesse, for Lauren to make her way down to the deck for their first look. We absolutely love these first look photos!

We always work with our couples before the wedding day to figure out the best time for photos, so that things aren’t rushed, there’s a scheduled time for photos, and for this kind of magic to happen. As the ceremony was starting later in the day, we did their photos before the ceremony, allowing us to capture beautiful portraits.

Sneaking them away for a quick photo session right after their ceremony turned out to be a fantastic idea, as every photographer will tell you that dusk light is absolutely fabulous for photos. As the sun set over the lake and the forest, we spent some time with the newly-weds as they took a moment to enjoy their new relationship status.

Their reception took place in a tent decorated with an outdoor theme that matched the cottage vibe of the wedding. And just look at those desserts!

The band really brought the house down at the reception, as you can see from these shots. Live music in an outdoor tent was the perfect way to end this memorable cottage wedding day.