Olivia & Raymond | Focus Photography at Angus Glen Golf Course

Prior to their wedding ceremony and reception party, Olivia and Raymond asked me to document two of their Chinese wedding traditions. Of course, I said yes! I was quite excited because I didn’t know what to expect at first, especially for the door games.

Door games, or chuangmen, are a set of challenges arranged by the bridesmaid for the groom and the groomsmen to accomplish. This is supposed to test the love, determination, and sincerity of the groom. In order to see his bride, he must complete all of the challenges first.

For their first challenge, they started simple. Pass the fruits around without using your hands. With the apple, they had to use their necks. From there, they were still smiling and laughing. But when it came to the strawberry and banana, it was all game faces from there. I didn’t think I would feel as tense as if I was actually a part of the tradition, but I was definitely rooting for Raymond and his groomsmen every time they cleared a challenge.

Slowly, the difficulty was amping up, then it kind of resembled a military training regimen, and I thought that I was glad to only be a wedding photographer because I don’t think I could ever keep up. But Raymond never backed down. He took it like a champ and exceeded expectations just to prove how strong his love for Olivia was.

After the chuangmen was completed, Olivia and Raymond had to proceed to the tea ceremony with their family elders. For this tradition, it is supposed to symbolize respect and gratitude for your elders, especially with regards to their upbringing and many blessings in life. While they were walking to where the tea ceremony was held, I had them do a few poses. Their red and gold traditional wear really paired well with the colors of the fall season.

Olivia and Raymond looked even more ethereal and wonderful.

Then, once all the traditions were done, Olivia and Raymond proceeded with the wedding ceremony they planned out together. This time, Raymond looked dashing in a grey suit and Olivia looked so elegant in her off-shoulder wedding gown with a sweetheart neckline. When Olivia’s parents were about to give her away, Raymond stepped forward and warmly greeted both of her parents. I thought it was such a sweet gesture, I couldn’t help but snap a few pictures of their family interactions.

They all seemed so close, and that they viewed each other as more than in-laws.

During the ceremony, a few tears among the couple were shed, but overall, they were extremely happy. But the guests were even happier. Every time I documented their reactions, they always had a smile on their faces. And whenever I switched over to the parents of the bride and groom, I got so shocked because the resemblances were so uncanny.

Once the wedding was over, all of their guests proceeded to the Angus Glen Golf Course for the reception. And while the guests were waiting, I did a quick photoshoot of the newlyweds with their families. But I thought their reception venue was really extravagant. It was mostly elevated because of the natural blooms that surrounded the area. It added character and personality to the photos.

Then, when it was time for Olivia and Raymond to have their first dance, the entire venue lit up like we were in a concert! All of the guests pulled out their cellphones and turned on their flashlights. They waved it slowly from side to side. I made sure to switch between the audience and the dance routine Olivia and Raymond prepared.

Overall, it was such a splendid experience to photograph Olivia and Raymond’s wedding day! I really loved their traditions, and hoped that while their love may be tested throughout their marriage, they will always push through and come out stronger than ever.