Marc + Carly || Engagement at The Montreal Botanical Gardens
A first for everything…
If there was ever a couple I would want to get locked inside a botanical garden with, it would be these two. Say hello to Marc + Carly. It was quite the adventure doing engagements with this couple, between hiding in boxers behind bushes and getting trapped after hours at our location, and I loved every second of it! Honestly, the perfect way to spend an evening in August for me <3
Marc + Carly met completely by chance in Ottawa, ON in 2015. They were both on Christmas vacation and Marc was visiting from Montreal, QC! They both happened to go out with friends to do some bar hopping and they crossed paths downtown at Maclarens. They happened to be sitting at tables right next to one another and were both being ignored by their friends who had found other people to occupy them. Marc walked up to Carly and asked her to be his partner ‘unless she sucked’ and gave her a gorgeous grin. That’s what did it for Carly. She was all in! Marc started visiting Ottawa every weekend after that and soon Carly joined him in Montreal. They moved in together a year later and bought a business together the year after that! They are best friends, business partners, lovers, newlyweds and soon to be - mom and dad!
As an Ottawa Wedding Photographer, I can say I’ve visited most scenic parks in the area. But, Carly + Marc wanted the location of their engagements to have meaning to them. They live just down the street from the Montreal Botanical Gardens in Quebec so this seemed like the perfect location! I cannot believe this was my first time shooting here! These gardens are HUGE! We literally shot until we ran out of daylight because there were so many beautiful locations. From the rose gardens, Chinese gardens, waterfalls, bridges, and acres of the arboretum, every inch of this place is a photo-op. Now, when I say we shot until we ran out of daylight, I mean it! It was dark when we finished and we actually got locked inside the gardens. We had to wave down security to let us out.
My favorite part about this shoot is that you can almost hear Carly’s contagious laugh through the photos. Can’t you just see how easily these two fit together? My second favorite part (okay, probably my first actually) was when they were trying to do outfit changes. There wasn’t anywhere proper to change, so they were sneaking behind bushes, hiding undressed between bystanders walking by. I promise this happens more often than not at sessions!
Marc + Carly were set to get married at Le Belvedere in Wakefield this past October but had to make the tough decision to postpone to 2022. But…when one door closes, another opens because Carly is pregnant! I am so beyond excited for this couple and know they are going to be the most amazing parents!
Chels x
