Jehovah’s Witness Wedding
I’m still relatively new to learning the customs of a Jehovah’s Witness wedding. It still amazes me how tight these communities are. In fact, I’m photographing one of the groomsmen’s weddings in two years. So keep an eye out for more with this group of friends.
Jehovah’s Witness Wedding ceremonies are often very traditional at a local Kingdom Hall. However, the holy scripture readings are custom selected for each couple. There are some differences from other religion-based weddings, but nothing major. There are no crosses or elaborate alters. However the couple does exchange vows and rings.
The most unique element I noticed from my first time photographing a Jehovah’s Witness wedding, are the prayers. Obviously with most cultural weddings, the prayers are pretty significant. And as such, most couples want it documented. This is not the case of Jehovah’s Witness weddings. The prayers are private and intimate. During this time, everyone participates. Including the photographer. It’s the one time I let go of my camera and simply watch what’s happening. The same goes for grace before dinner. It’s a small thing to be considerate of but it shows a great deal of respect towards this faith.
Portrait Session
The portrait formal session of this winter wedding was at the glorious Mill Race Park in Cambridge, Ontario. It’s a waterfront park just across the street from their venue, Cambridge Mill. The park’s stone wall architecture making it look almost like a ruin. I could imagine this park would function beautifully as a mini amphitheatre. We used it in a similar manner. It was the backdrop of this couple’s love story with their bridal party as the audience.
Katherine and Josh had a very clear vision of what kind of photos they wanted. Over the last few months, they sent me images from previous weddings at Cambridge Mills. It was super helpful considering this was my first time photographing at this venue. Those images gave me an idea of where the scenic spots were and ideas on how to utilize them. I wasn’t able to replicate them perfectly since this was a winter wedding, but it gave me some great insight into the coupe’s personality and what they were looking for.
Reception
The formal festivities of the evening were all held at the Cambridge Mill. I absolutely love this venue. The reception had an ancient rustic feel like an old stone castle. This couple also utilized light pink accents really give the room an elegant feel. Not gonna lie but I am becoming a fan of photographing Jehovah’s Witness Weddings. Their eye for simplicity and detail is amazing. There is definitely a fine elegance to the finished day they plan, and their timing for the day is like clockwork. The couple had a few speeches. And once the dance floor opened, everyone was out enjoying themselves. All in all, it was a very enjoyable wedding experience. I can’t wait to work with this group of friends again.
The second shooter for this wedding was Carla Evans.
