Nicole and Nick’s intimate wedding at Lady Smith Manor in Dorchester, New Brunswick, didn’t go quite as originally planned—but the rain ended up becoming part of what made their day so memorable. Heavy rain throughout the day meant their outdoor wedding had to be moved entirely inside the manor, but being limited to the indoors only sparked a little extra creativity. As soon as I arrived, I showed Nicole an idea I had for nighttime portraits in the rain, and she was immediately excited to give it a try later that evening.
The day began in Lady Smith Manor’s beautiful Parisian-inspired bridal suite, where Nicole was having the finishing touches put on her makeup. She celebrated with a champagne pop alongside her closest friends and family before we captured her bridal portraits throughout the manor. Meanwhile, Nick finished getting ready with his best man, looking incredibly sharp in a black velvet suit.
Once they were both ready, I brought Nick downstairs to wait for their first look. Nicole slowly made her way down the staircase before he turned around, and the two shared a sweet moment taking each other in and admiring all the details they had been waiting to see. With the rain keeping us indoors, we explored the manor for their portraits, including the Thirsty Whippet Pub, where the dark walls, antique details and moody atmosphere contrasted beautifully with Nicole’s dress and Nick’s velvet suit.
Guests arrived by shuttle and were greeted with Lemon Drops before making their way through the manor to mingle. The weather managed to cause one more unexpected adventure when the shuttle became stuck on the lawn and couldn’t return for the remaining guests. A second shuttle was sent and even had to help pull the first one out! Despite the delay, a well-planned timeline meant we were able to keep the day almost completely on schedule, with the ceremony beginning only about 15 minutes late.
Once everyone had arrived and enjoyed some appetizers and welcome drinks, guests gathered in the main salon for an intimate ceremony in front of the fireplace, surrounded by lush florals and candlelight. It was cozy, emotional and perfectly suited to the historic manor. After family portraits, everyone moved into the lounge for dinner and speeches, where one theme came up again and again: just how disciplined both Nicole and Nick are. With Nicole being a dancer and Nick serving in the military, it was easy to see how much drive and dedication are a part of who they both are.
After dinner, the lounge was transformed for the dances. Nicole’s mom shared a dance with Nick, followed by Nicole and her dad, before an emotional video about Nicole and Nick’s love story played for their guests. Then it was finally time for their first dance as husband and wife.
Before the night ended, we slipped outside with a clear umbrella to create the rainy portrait we had talked about earlier. Under the string lights, with the rain pouring around them, Nick lifted Nicole into his arms for a kiss—and the weather that had changed nearly every part of their original plan gave us one of my favourite photographs of the day.
Nicole and Nick’s wedding was the perfect example of why rain doesn’t have to take anything away from a wedding day. Sometimes changing the plan gives us the opportunity to create something we never would have imagined otherwise.
