This farm wedding in Alexandria, Ontario included wheat fields, cowbells, and yodelling. What more could you want? Lea and Marcus both come from Swiss families, so there were a lot of cultural touches during their big day. Since church and farm are central to their lives and their love story to date, so it made sense that both featured prominently!

I met them in person for the first time earlier this summer for their engagement portraits at the Ottawa Arboretum. Lea had been working on a farm hours away and just moved back to Alexandria to start her life together with Marcus. He does mechanical repairs and also puts in long days on the family farm.

It was a very hot day in Glengarry County, but the sky was clear and the sun was out. Marcus got ready at his family’s farm in Alexandria along with his siblings, parents, and best friend. While there, I was introduced to a Swiss tradition of paper cutting art. Marcus’s mom created a pastoral scene with details of the new couple. We took advantage of the relatively cooler temperatures to take as many portraits before the ceremony as we could. Then I headed down the road to see Lea, where she was getting ready at the farmhouse she and Marcus will start their married lives in. She was getting ready with her sisters, mom, and best friend. She even had a new family member along — a new puppy! Because in Lea’s words “the wedding weekend wasn’t crazy enough so they brought home a puppy.” Their home had the best front porch sheltered from the sun by grape vines where her mom helped her get into her dress.

From there we all raced off to St. Finnan’s Cathedral in Alexandria. Marcus waited patiently at the end of the aisle for Lea, whose flower girls and ring bearer did a great job! After a heartfelt ceremony and exchanging of vows, the two left the church in a tractor decked out with a “just married” sign!

We took portraits at the farm, using the dairy barn, corn fields, and wheat fields, as well as the old barn exterior at Lea and Marcus’s place.

The had their reception at the Lochiel Centre, which is an old church converted to a community centre. They decorated it with hundreds of twinkle lights and sunflowers. Behind the head table they put up a backdrop of barnboard and a custom sign. Rather than clink glasses, guests were asked to come up and ring an heirloom Swiss cowbell. If they really wanted a show, they had to give their best yodel!

Lea and Marcus, thank you so much for trusting me to document such a special day in your lives. It was an honour to be there and celebrate with you. I hope you like your images and cherish the memories for years to come.