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Vista + Brenden: Engagement Photos and Persian Engagement Party, West Vancouver

At an outdoor wedding reception last summer, I met Vista and Brenden under rather usual circumstances. During the speeches the rain came pouring down and we still had to keep photographing, so I casually popped under their umbrella with them in an attempt to help keep my camera and flash somewhat dry from the colossal raindrops. I continued to bounce from umbrella to umbrella as I photographed in the rain, always coming back to their umbrella.  Later last year, when Vista and Brenden were engaged, she said she just had to have Justin and I as her photographers. She had enjoyed meeting us and had seen firsthand how dedicated we were at her friends wedding, plus she loved the photographs we had created and hoped we could do the same for her.

Luckily we had their date available and the rest is history. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to be able to photograph her and Brenden for their engagement and their wedding later this Autumn. For now, here is a selection of photographs from their engagement session, along with photographs of their engagement party. We had such a nice afternoon with both Vista and Brenden, and really enjoyed meeting their immediate family at their Persian engagement party.

west_vancouver_engagement_photographyVista and Brenden both went to West Vancouver Secondary School, so what a perfect location to have their engagement session.

west_vancouver_engagement_photographyWe just love this moment – you can just feel the comfort, joy and love they share together.

west_vancouver_engagement_photographyOf course we had to go and hang out on the school steps! Didn’t we all do that at some point in high school?

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west_vancouver_secondary_school_engagement_photographyI just love the way she looks at him.

persian engagment partyAfter their engagement session, we headed back to Vista’s parents home to capture their Persian engagement party.  One of the wonderful and truly enjoyable parts of our work is being so welcomed into our clients homes, their lives, their culture and at such beautiful and exciting points in their lives. It makes us feel so lucky to do what we do. In Iranian culture, it is customary to set up a spread of meaningful items to represent life, love, religious significances and marriage advice. The sweet treats signify the happiness and joy which will be brought into the couple’s life. The glass ‘Golab posh’ pitcher is used to serve rose water which is offered to guests to celebrate a new beginning. The Shahnameh is the ancient Persian storybook by the poet Ferdowsi. And the sewing scissors are representative to cut away the negative moments that the couple may encounter, while the needle and thread are to sew a patch for a new and stronger beginning.

iranian persian engagement partyVista’s sister is presenting her with a mirror so she can see herself, because she is the greatest gift to herself and to the world. Isn’t that lovely!? Brenden was also presented to view himself in the mirror and the same words were spoken. It was a thoughtful and moving moment for us to be a part of.

iranian persian engagement party jewleryWedding rings and Zoroastrian gold pendants.

  • Awesome! I loooooove the couple shots, and the symbolic items and rites are wonderful.ReplyCancel

  • Vista

    Thank you Steff and Justin for taking such beautiful shots of our engagement ceremony. It is priceless to have our families together celebrating this moment with us and it is wonderful to have such beautiful photos from the day.

    It was also such a treat to get that time with the two of you at WVSS right before the engagement ceremony because it gave us an opportunity to have a few peaceful private loving moments before the party began!

    Thank you for making us laugh, keeping us calm and for capturing such precious moments.ReplyCancel

  • Allison

    *sniff sniff* The school setting gave me a glimpse of what you were like as kids. How charming! Best to you both and to your families as well, Vista and Brenden.ReplyCancel

  • Brenden

    The last picture is my favourite. Great job Justin and Steff. You guys made the experience very comfortable.ReplyCancel

  • Brenden

    The track field picture is my favourite. Great job Justin and Steff. You guys made the experience very comfortable.ReplyCancel

  • Densie

    Steff and Justin were great at getting the “best” of our photos (think Dora the Explorer, Steff)
    I love the photos at WVSS.
    I work there and can imagine the lunches and recess breaks with the bunch of you and friends hanging out (10 years ago)?ReplyCancel

  • Kathy

    The pictures are so beautiful…… the pictures taken at WVSS really do bring back memories of when we were all there!! I love all the pictures!
    You guys are such a good looking couple….ReplyCancel

  • Dan

    Awesome pics. Congrats Vista+Brenden.ReplyCancel

  • Mehrnaz

    The pictures are GORGEOUS!!! I love the 2nd one. Congratulations!ReplyCancel

  • Sean

    Wow!! Stunning pictures!!ReplyCancel

  • Brent

    Congrats you two, they are Beautiful picturesReplyCancel

  • Fenella Jacquet

    Great pics you guys! You’re so photogenic (as usual)! And I guess it helped having great  photographers – can I take credit for that?  ;-)”ReplyCancel

  • Fenella Jacquet

    Great pics you guys! You’re so photogenic (as usual)! And I guess it helped having great  photographers – can I take credit for that?  ;-)”ReplyCancel

  • Erin

    Such pretty photos… I think the second one is my favorite (with the pink flower background)ReplyCancel

  • Mahvash

    You did a great job by capturing the especial moments of the ceremony .
    Vista & Brenden’s ceremony was a double joy,because it was the same time as the Persian New year ( Nowruz ) .
    The set up table with the different things was a especial Nowruz table .
    Thank you very much .ReplyCancel

  • Karin

    I love how much you adore each other – its really caputured in these photos!ReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth

    Congrats again! You look lovely and I know exactly how it feels to meet the love of your life at school! Ours was at Cap College. Very cute photos!ReplyCancel

  • Densie

    These photos are fabulous….what a great job the
    photographers did! I especially love the ones of
    them giving each other the engagement rings!

    Pictures to treasure…Best of Luck to All

    BonnaReplyCancel

  • nice detail photos – makes me want to travel to the far east again soon.ReplyCancel

  • […] Vista and Brenden’s Zarathustrian engagement party back in March? Well, they were married this September on Bowen Island at Brenden’s family […]ReplyCancel