May 11, 2020

Becky + Scott’s Muskoka Island Wedding

I’ve shared how much I love a cottage wedding. You can only imagine how happy I was when Becky & Scott asked me to document their intimate ceremony at Scott’s family cottage on a private island in the Muskoka’s.

The ceremony took place on the sandy beaches of St. Leonard’s Island on Lake Rosseau – a location that is only accessible by boat. The boat ride added a magical element to the ceremony. There was something secretive and intimate about arriving across the water to a secluded oasis and the destination was nothing short of stunning.

Anyone who has planned a beach wedding before knows how close you become with your weather app in the days leading up to the event. Becky & Scott could not have asked for a more perfect day. The blue of the sky reflected in the water and the sand was warm to the touch. It was exactly the kind of afternoon you wanted to spend on the lake, celebrating two people in love.

We snuck away to get some photos of the couple on the island’s wooded trails while some of the younger guests shimmied out of their formal wear and into the water. (I tell you, seeing kids swimming on a beautiful summer wedding day does the heart good.) Becky & Scott opted to steal moments with me throughout the day to get their photographs together which allowed them to be more present with their guests for each part of their wedding.

After their intimate beach ceremony, Becky & Scott took a steamship to meet guests for their reception at the Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club. The reception opened with a father-daughter dance – Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, played by Becky’s uncle on guitar. Looking back on her wedding day, this dance was one of Becky’s favourite moments and I couldn’t agree more! I am an advocate for planning your day in a way that is meaningful for you. By opening their wedding reception with this dance, guests got to be part of it and there were few dry eyes in the room.