Lethbridge Portrait & Wedding Photography & Design by Tanya Plonka

The rain stopped just in time for Nick and Alyson’s beautiful wedding at St. Patrick’s church. Because they live in Vancouver, I didn’t actually meet them until the week of their wedding, but instantly took to them and knew I was going to have a great time (and I was right!). This was another crazy fun wedding, and all we did all day was play with the bridal party. With our first stop being a playground, it definitely set the tone for the rest of the day. I managed to sneak serious photos in throughout the day, but it was tempting not to ;)

Later on they had a big party at the Coast Hotel with DJ Thom, and it was another of those rare receptions where the dance floor was always packed. Wonderful!

Thank you to Sarah Underwood for climbing on things and helping out! (more…)

The rain forced us indoors, but we made the best of it! Last night I met Melanie from Photo Expressions and her fiancée Chad. The two of them are getting married in Vegas next year, and decided to start out the experience with a local engagement session. Melanie felt out of place since she is normally behind the camera, but they were total naturals in front of it. All I had to do was tell him to kiss her, and they easily got carried away with the lovey stuff :) (more…)

Many many years ago I met “Pleasant” Ross through our mutual friends in the university’s music department, and when I met Erin I was thrilled to find out she perfectly matched him in charm (she is officially “Pleasant Erin” now). The two were married at the Galt, which is always one of my favorite places in Lethbridge, and had their wonderful, silly friends standing up along with them. All the tears Erin and Ross fought back during the ceremony had me emotional too, and it’s always much stronger when I know the people!

I had so much fun with them all day, and their bridal party never failed to keep me entertained (I was delighted the week after when, second shooting for Michael, one of the same groomsmen showed up in that bridal party!)

The reception was a fantastic party where everyone was full of energy and had so much fun (the candy bar may be to blame for some of that). Normally I don’t post a ton of reception photos, but in this case I couldn’t resist :)

Thank you to Jan for helping out again! (more…)

Kara and Mitch were married a few weeks ago at a beautiful sunny ceremony in Pavan Park with their closest family and friends in attendance. I had a fantastic time with them because they put the utmost trust in me and did anything I told them to for the sake of photos! (I made them “work for it,” Kara told me with satisifaction in her voice.) They were kind enough to let me drag them out to Monarch for the majority of their formal photos, and I’m so glad we went there because that is one of the most diverse towns I have ever seen for locations!

I was also pleasantly surprised to find someone I’ve known for a few years in their bridal party – Lethbridge is small like that, so I’m actually surprised it doesn’t happen more often!

Kara and Mitch are a sweet couple, and I must say I love Kara’s “kissy face” she often makes.

Thanks to Andrew Suderman for helping out this time around! (more…)

I first met Jen and Brad a few years ago when Brad’s best man Kurt got married, and I photographed his wedding with Cara. It was so great to get to work with them all again and I had just as much fun as the last time! Jen and Brad are sweet and easygoing, and seem so amazingly comfortable together.

They had a beautiful outdoor wedding at the Research Center, though we definitely could have used fewer mosquitoes! The entire bridal party was a blast to work with. Jen and Brad even included their blonde “children” in a few photos, and though the drool getting near her dress was quite terrifying at times, I’m so glad they brought the dogs along. Special thanks to Starsha Battrick for assisting all day! (more…)

Mike and LeeAnna had a beautiful wedding at the beginning of July; we had a gorgeous day to work with and these two were radiating so much love that you couldn’t help but be totally happy around them! When I first met them I loved how cute they were and thought they had two of the most likeable personalities I’ve ever come across.

LeeAnna and Mike chose to see each other before the ceremony, which is always my favorite thing to do to get the most genuine emotions. They were so lost in each other when they first walked up and made contact that I felt bad to interupt them when it was time for posing!

When their bridal party showed up, we took everyone out to play, and Jan Tajcnar helped me out for the day for her usual sneaky paparazzi photos. (more…)