A Minimalist Bride's DREAM Venue - Monte Creek Winery, Kamloops BC

Updated: Sep 17

We were so honoured that R + N brought us along to capture their destination wedding in Kamloops. Their vision was minimal, neutral, and elegant and they chose the perfect venue for it: Monte Creek Winery.

They exchanged tearful private vows at sunset, and they cuddled with their 6-week old baby girl during their first dance. It was rainy and stormy right before their ceremony, but we had sun and blue skies for the ceremony onwards. The day was simply perfect.

More Monte Creek weddings pleasee. 🫶

Bride & groom's first kiss on their wedding day.

Getting Ready

We started the morning at the groom’s hotel in downtown Kamloops. We captured the groom and the people most important to him hanging out in his room, helping each other put on their bowties, and having a few drinks.

A groom fixing his black bowtie and looking out a window.

Then we headed over to where the bride was getting ready to capture her wedding morning as well. She was still in her “bridal pjs” when we arrived, so we captured her details, candid shots of the bridesmaids, and her wedding dress hanging up in her parent’s closet before she got into it. Her details were so simple but ended up being some of my favourites yet; we used a textured white dining table as a background and the vase of flowers that was on the table already for a little bit of colour. After details, we captured her mom helping her into her dress, her dad’s reaction to seeing her in it, and a first look with her bridesmaids as well.

A detail flay lay with a wedding invitation, a black ribbon, a pair of white heels, a champagne glass, a perfume, and an engagement ring.

A wedding dress hanging on a door with white heeled shoes on the ground below.

Before leaving for the venue, the bride put her newborn baby girl into a small dress that was made out material from her mother’s wedding dress. She kept the dress a secret and showed her mom the tiny dress on the wedding day. The moment between them had us all teary-eyed behind our lenses.

Photo Time

We did some bridal party and family photos before the ceremony, but the bride & groom wanted to save their first look until the traditional moment when the bride walks down the aisle, which we LOVE. That’s what we did for our wedding because, as much as private first looks are adorable and special, I had always dreamed of that “first look moment”, seeing my almost-husband at the other end of the aisle when I walked in.

A groom and seven groomsmen all standing in formation, wearing sunglasses, and all looking away from the camera.

Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony site at Monte Creek Winery is so stunning and overlooks the South Thompson River. As we were heading to the venue from the bride’s location, a crazy summer storm rolled in; it started POURING and there was thunder and lighting. The storm blew over completely within about an hour, and the weather was absolutely perfect for the ceremony. Blue skies started to break out right as the ceremony began, and the rest of the day was sunny and clear.

Immediately following the ceremony, we did family photos. While the bride and groom had a really strong vision for their wedding day aesthetic, they were so grounded in family and what matters most. Things didn’t go exactly as planned, and some of the timeline had to get shifted around a little bit, but they were such champs about it and it was beautiful to see their priorities.

Then we did couple photos around the winery with just the two of them. The bride’s favourite feature about the winery is this big, grey wall. The vibe of the day was modern, industrial, minimal, and chic, so we used this wall as a backdrop for lots of the photos because it suited the vibe perfectly.

A groom kissing his bride on the forehead in front of a big, grey, cerement wall.

A bride and groom smiling at each other in front of a luscious, green vineyard.

Wedding Reception

R + N enjoyed cocktail hour with their guests before everyone was welcomed into the reception space. The reception was in a big greenhouse on the winery property. The whole place is mostly glass, and we were obsessed with the minimal, classic, black & white tablescapes and décor. The reception was so much fun; there were beautiful speeches, amazing food, and a wicked dance floor. R + N also snuck out at sunset to exchange private vows and take a few more portraits.

An elegant wedding reception, with white tables, black chairs, white flowers, and black & white table decor.

A bridal party dancing and cheering as they enter a packed wedding reception.

A bride and groom kissing, with a beautiful golden sunset in the background.

Our highlight of the reception was the bride & groom’s first dance because they danced together while holding their 6-week old baby girl between them. Every once in a while, I get emotional witnessing and capturing certain moments like this, because I recognize how precious and fleeting it all is. It’s such an honour to get to document and freeze these moments in time for our couples, so that they can remember and relive the feelings forever.

A bride and groom slow dancing while holding their young baby.

In summary: You should have your wedding at Monte Creek Winery…

It is such a stunning venue, with lots of variety for photo backgrounds without having to leave the venue! The sunset view is spectacular in the summer, and the ceremony and reception spaces are amazing. R + N had the perfect wedding day and it was an honour to document it for them.