Lethbridge Weddings & Portrait Photography by Tanya Plonka

We’re so lucky to be able to photograph so many of these dreamy, romantic weddings this year! Willene and Joel wanted the majority of their photos to be Norland summer wedding portraits so we started off with a first look at the Bed and Breakfast. Willene loves the gazebo at The Norland so we hid Joel away in there to greet his soon to be wife. The way they immediately melted into each other’s arms was so beautiful! They could barely look away from each other all day and were so sweet to each other.

Willene and Joel were smart to start photos in the morning. They managed to skip some of the hottest hours of the day in the comfort of the air conditioned church, and returned to portraits a little later in the day once the sun was lower. The heat made getting ice cream at Henderson Lake and dipping their feet in the lake that much better!

Congratulations, Willene and Joel!

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This year I had the pleasure of photographing the Lethbridge Canada 150 Celebration for the City of Lethbridge. Most of the festivities were held at Henderson Lake, with special performances from local acrobats, fire spinners, and other performers. Leading up to the fireworks, Five Alarm Funk and Dan Davidson were headliners on the main stage. Here are some of my favorite images from the day, but I’m sure you’ll see more on the city’s social media accounts!

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I know it’s early in the year, but I think Kim and Nathaniel may be one of my most passionate couples this wedding season. The way they looked at each other and snuck kisses even when the camera was down was so romantic!

We started out the day greeting them as they arrived at the NRC church in Lethbridge and followed Kim as she walked down the aisle to her soon to be husband. For photo locations we focused on Lethbridge Research Centre wedding portraits, which was stunningly green this time of year, followed by a quick visit to Henderson Lake and the old red firehall downtown.

Kim and Nathaniel were surrounded by so much happiness and laughter throughout the day. From Nathaniel’s friends’ dry humor to Kim’s sisters’ theatrics, we rarely stopped laughing!

Congratulations, Kim and Nathaniel!

p.s. Thank you to Melanie from Photo Expressions for being my second shooter for the day!

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It was fantastic to return to volunteering for the 2017 Lethbridge MS Walk in support of funding for multiple sclerosis research, held by the Lethbridge MS Society. This year it was held at Henderson Lake instead of the river bottom, and what a fantastic day to hold it! They are normally worried about snow and instead were greeted with a beautiful, calm sunny day.

This year we were able to split up duties so I could focus on candid photos of the walk itself. One of the kind volunteers carted me around Henderson Lake in a golf cart all morning :)

Thank you to everyone who walked and helped raise money! There was another great turnout this year.

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When Denise and Koos planned their wedding, I think they were expecting a little more spring than the winter wonderland they received! The tiffany blue and gray color theme they chose looked gorgeous for their Lethbridge snowy late winter wedding, offering a great compliment to the cool hues and bit of blue popping out of the sky.

After their ceremony at the Lethbridge Netherlands Reformed Congregation, we met with them and their family and luckily could keep everyone inside and warm for their portraits. Next we were off to the Broxburn Cafe who generously let us take a few photos inside to warm up. Everything about that location looked fantastic with the wedding colors and their rustic touches. The wedding party was so awesome about sticking it out in the cold and smiling despite the temperatures!

Denise and Koos were so lost in each other throughout the day that they hardly noticed the cold. Their embraces kept them warm and showed off how sweet and caring their relationship is.

At the end of the night we returned to their reception at the Lethbridge Lodge where they had both hilarious comedy sketches and moving presentations from the family.

Thanks to Melanie at Photo Expressions for assisting that day.

Congratulations, Koos and Denise!

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Trent and Dominika planned a Heritage Hall autumn wedding ceremony and reception and worked beautiful fall colours into their wardrobe, flowers, and décor. Despite a morning of rain, the day turned beautiful right after they said their vows and we were able to go find all the autumn colours they had hoped for.

As Trent’s father so perfectly put it during speeches: “As long as you two keep giggling together all the time, you can get through anything.” I don’t think that Trent and Dominika will ever tire of each other’s company with how much they joke and make each other laugh. They were hilarious and since their first date involved a visit to a liquor store, we even stopped by that same store for a few silly photos on the way back.

Their daughters were so adorable in their little white dresses and probably had more fun than anyone else with how much they danced at the reception! The cupcakes definitely helped them make it through the long day they had :)

Congratulations, Trent and Dominika!

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