Summer Solstice Polyam Wedding [Michelle, Claire, & Andrey]
Michelle, Claire, and Andrey had a summer solstice polyam wedding at Pavan Park with nearly every rich, colourful detail handcrafted by them. This was the first polyam wedding I’ve had the opportunity to photograph and it means so much for it to be for friends I’ve known for well over a decade! Claire fully became a part of Michelle and Andrey’s lives during the pandemic when their friendship blossomed into love. It’s because of the pandemic that I haven’t had a chance to get to know Claire yet, but I know that if they love her, she is truly amazing – and spending the day with the three of them only served to enforce that.
Another first for me was witnessing a ceremony performed by a drag king! (I can still find new things to photograph after doing this for so long!). Calgary drag king Brad Diesel was both their officiant, MC, and a reception performer.
Their aptly titled “lovebirds handfasting ceremony” took place in a fairy ring they created under their favourite tree on the grounds of the John Martin Recreation Area. Everything took place in Pavan Park on this perfect long summer evening.
Congratulations, Michelle, Claire, and Andrey!
We arrived as Andrey was making last minute additions to his vows.
The DIY elements get pretty incredible when artists get married! I love lots of colour, so this wedding was dreamy to photograph with all of the peacock tones. My favourite touch were the flamingos painted to be peacocks.
How perfect for the bird motif that there was a robin working on her nest in the shelter!
Michelle didn’t want to accidentally catch a glimpse of the others before the ceremony so she came prepared with a mask!
They rolled an oversized DnD die to see who said their vows first.
Michelle and Claire both wore butterfly wings as part of their handmade wedding attire.
We hadn’t planned on taking any portraits with them broken into pairs, but so many sweet interactions happened naturally when any one of them was away for individual photos or wedding-related tasks.
The drag performance turned into a bit of a strip show!
Michelle had a separate reception dress (which also doubled as a disco ball in the sunlight!) and performed a cover of “Your Song” with Claire’s mother accompanying on piano.
Andrey’s parents regularly perform Russian folk music and played a few songs during the reception.
When the people getting married don’t want to smash cake in faces, the wedding party needs to step in!
Are you getting married too? Click here to contact us now and see if your date is available as the first step.
Follow me on Facebook or Instagram for updates and recent work.
I wish I came but this was amazing ??? Beautiful website, beautiful lovebirds ? and such purity and freedom of love ?