There are some wedding days that feel like they fly by in a blur of happy tears, big laughs, beautiful details, and moments you wish you could bottle up forever. Jessica and Ben’s wedding day at Mountain Sky Estate in Mission, BC was exactly that kind of day.
From the moment I arrived at their large Airbnb in Silverdale, Mission, it was clear this was going to be a day filled with personality, fun, and so much love. Jessica and Ben were surrounded by their 14 incredible wedding party members, all getting ready together and soaking in those last few hours before becoming husband and wife.
And then there was the dress.
The Dress, The Details & Everything Coming Together
One of my favourite parts of a wedding day is seeing all the little pieces come together, and Jessica absolutely nailed it.
Her dress from Everything But The Groom was stunning. From the dress itself to all the carefully chosen details, everything felt so incredibly Jessica. It was elegant, beautiful, and completely her.
And after watching all of those little details come together, it was time for the first looks.
Except… this wedding day had three first looks.
Yes, three.
First Look #1: Dad
We started with Jessica's dad.
There is just something about a dad seeing his daughter in her wedding dress for the first time that gets me every single time. The emotions, the pride, the realization that this day has finally arrived — it was such a beautiful moment to document.
Then came first look number two.
First Look #2: Ben
Jessica and Ben chose to have a first look before their ceremony, giving them a little time together before the craziness of the day began.
Watching Ben see Jessica for the first time was one of emotional moments that makes wedding photography so special. For just a little while, it was only the two of them.
And then came first look number three.
First Look #3: The Groomsmen… With a Surprise
Jessica's groomsmen were waiting to see her, and they were absolutely loving the moment.
Until Jessica decided to take things up a notch.
Right in the middle of them admiring her, Jessica lifted up her dress and "iced" them all.
They were NOT expecting that.
Let's just say the surprise was a success, and it was one of those completely unscripted moments that perfectly captured the energy of this wedding day.
Because while there were plenty of beautiful and emotional moments, Jessica and Ben's wedding was also about having FUN.
Mountain Sky Estate Wedding in Mission
From Silverdale, we made our way to Mountain Sky Estate in Mission, BC for the ceremony and reception.
And what a venue.
Mountain Sky Estate is absolutely breathtaking, with everything you could want for a Fraser Valley wedding. From the gorgeous ceremony space to the covered reception areas and the incredible photo opportunities throughout the property, it gave us so many beautiful places to photograph Jessica and Ben's day.
And we needed every minute we could get.
With temperatures reaching 32°C, we knew we needed to make the most of the cooler moments of the day. So as soon as we arrived, we jumped straight into Jessica and Ben's wedding portraits.
There is something pretty special about photographing a couple when the ceremony hasn't happened yet — the excitement is still building, they're still holding onto that anticipation, and they have the entire wedding day ahead of them.
Jessica and Ben absolutely rocked their portraits, even in that heat.
Then it was time for the wedding party.
Somehow, They Still Looked Amazing in 32°C
I have to give a huge shoutout to Jessica and her bridal team because despite the 32-degree Mission heat, Jessica and her girls looked incredible all day long.
Her bridal hair and makeup team from HKF Studio — Harp Farwaha, based in Abbotsford, along with Shades and Shadow — Jaspreet Mann, deserve some serious kudos.
They created a look that held up beautifully through a very warm Fraser Valley summer wedding day, and Jessica looked absolutely incredible.
A Beautiful Mountain Sky Estate Ceremony
As the ceremony began, the energy shifted.
The laughter and excitement gave way to those quiet moments of anticipation as Jessica and Ben stood in front of their family and friends.
And, of course, there were tears.
Beautiful, happy tears.
Surrounded by the people who mean the most to them, Jessica and Ben officially began this next chapter together as husband and wife.
And then it was time to celebrate.
A Reception Full of Love, Laughter & Dancing
Jessica and Ben's reception was everything you want a wedding reception to be — incredible food, amazing music, beautiful décor, plenty of laughter, and a couple who knew how to put on a show.
The two of them surprised their guests with a choreographed first dance, and it was such a fun reflection of their personalities.
Guests enjoyed an incredible meal from Cookies Grill, danced the night away to music from Rob Steele, and celebrated surrounded by gorgeous décor and florals from Floral Support.
Every detail came together beautifully.
But as gorgeous as the venue, flowers, décor, dress, and all of the little details were, the thing that stood out most was the people.
The love surrounding these two was undeniable.
From a Corporate Shoot to Husband & Wife
One of my favourite things about being a photographer is getting to watch people's stories unfold.
If you've read my previous blog about Jessica and Ben, you'll know that these two have actually been in front of my camera before.
Years ago, I photographed Jessica and Ben during a corporate shoot at Anytime Fitness.
And now, years later, I got to photograph them stepping into an entirely new chapter of their lives together — as husband and wife.
There is something incredibly special about being trusted to photograph someone's life more than once. To see where people started, where life has taken them, and then to be invited back to document such an important milestone is something I never take for granted.
Jessica and Ben, your wedding day was an absolute blast.
From the three first looks, to the surprise icing of the groomsmen, to the emotional ceremony, the 32-degree portraits, the choreographed dance, the incredible food, and all of the laughter in between — your day was completely and unapologetically you.
It was warm in every possible way.
And I couldn't have loved being there more.
Congratulations, Jessica and Ben. Here's to this next wild and wonderful chapter together. 🤍
Athena
🍃Wild Sage Photography
