Lauren & Evan | A Wascana Country Club Wedding
- Nicole MacNeil
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
When I pulled up to The Hotel Saskatchewan for Lauren and Evan’s wedding day, I already knew I was walking into familiar territory. Lauren found me through a past bride of mine, Amanda, so I had the sweetest connection to the couple before the day even began. And it didn’t stop there. RC, my second shooter, who was along for the day, had played basketball with Evan for several years.
Basically, I wasn’t walking into a room full of strangers. I was arriving amongst friends.
And that feeling carried through the entire day.
The morning began with the girls getting ready in a beautiful suite at The Hotel Sask, while the guys got ready at a nearby home. There was the usual mix of excitement, anticipation, laughter and all the little moments that make wedding mornings feel so special.
Once everyone was dressed and ready, it was time for Lauren and Evan to finally see each other.
We set up a private first look, giving the two of them a quiet moment together before the whirlwind of the day really began. It was intimate, emotional and completely theirs — a chance to take a breath and soak in the fact that they were actually here.
Their wedding day was happening.
After their first look, we took advantage of the incredible architecture and atmosphere inside The Hotel Sask for some more editorial portraits.
We leaned into dramatic lighting and Vogue-inspired posing, creating images that felt a little fashion-forward and a little fancy. The iconic lobby gave us the perfect backdrop, and Lauren and Evan absolutely committed to the look. Not just Lauren and Evan, the whole wedding party absoultey killed it while I had RC light each of them individually so I could stitch the 8 photos together in photoshop later.
There’s something so fun about mixing those timeless wedding portraits with images that feel more like they belong in an editorial spread.
And these two were made for it.
From there, we headed over to The Government House. Another Regina photography staple.
And, of course, no family portrait session would be complete without the most important member of the family.
Nikko — the couple’s baby (doggy edition) arrived to join us for some photos. I dont know who was more excited to see who!
Nikko brought exactly the kind of personality you’d expect from a beloved wedding-day dog and made the portraits that much more personal.
These are the kinds of photographs that will mean even more years from now. Not just because Lauren and Evan looked incredible, but because they capture the people and little pieces of life that made this season theirs.
Once the portraits were finished, it was time to head to Wascana Country & Golf Club for the ceremony.
The vows took place outdoors on the back patio, surrounded by their closest friends and family. There was something especially meaningful about having the ceremony outside, with everyone gathered together and the day unfolding naturally around them.
Lauren and Evan exchanged heartfelt, handwritten vows. They were the kind of vows that make you laugh, tear up, and remember exactly why weddings are about so much more than the pretty details.
I was tearing up too. Im a big sensitive softy and weddings like this just never get old for me!
After the ceremony, everyone settled into cocktail hour, mingling, catching up and celebrating the newlyweds.
Then came dinner, followed by some incredibly sweet speeches.
Because I already knew so many of the guests, the evening felt especially comfortable for me too. I wasn’t just moving from one table to the next documenting a room full of people I had never met — I was catching up with familiar faces, laughing with friends and photographing a beautiful celebration.
At some point during the reception, we snuck Lauren and Evan away for about ten minutes. It was completely worth it.
The sun was setting, the light was doing its thing, and the sky decided to show off. It was chef’s kiss.
These quick sunset portraits ended up being some of my favourite images from the day. There’s something about stepping away from the reception for those few quiet minutes... just the two of you, the sunset and a little breathing room... I'm a big fan!
Lauren and Evan were relaxed, completely in love, and glowing in that gorgeous evening light.
Back at the reception, it was time for the first dance.
Lauren and Evan took the floor together, surrounded by everyone they love, before opening the dance floor to the rest of the crew. Then it was officially party time!
The rest of the night was filled with dancing, laughter, hugs, drinks, catching up and all the wonderfully chaotic energy that makes a wedding reception feel like a celebration rather than just an event.
I stayed for a while longer than I normally might — partly because there were still plenty of moments worth photographing, but mostly because I was having such a genuinely good time with everyone there.
When you already know a lot of the people in the room, it’s hard to leave!
Lauren and Evan, thank you for trusting me to document your day. From the moment I arrived at the hotel, it felt less like I was showing up to photograph a wedding and more like I was showing up to celebrate with friends. And that is such a special feeling to get from a wedding day. Your day was full of all the things I love most about weddings: meaningful people, handwritten vows, big laughs, beautiful light, your sweet Nikko, a little Vogue-inspired drama, an insane sunset and one very fun dance floor.
It was such an honour to be there for it all.
Congratulations, Lauren & Evan. 🤍
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