Keeley + Michael by Photography by Taiya - Together Journal

We wanted our wedding to reflect a coastal, romantic, intimate, and colourful style, with a few modern elements in our decor.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

Michael and I call Calgary, Alberta home and it will always hold a special place in our hearts, because it is the city where we first met. Both Michael and I are in the wedding industry together, with Michael pursuing wedding videography and myself as a wedding photographer. We feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work together and capture weddings side by side. A few of our favourite things in life include intentional conversations over coffee (matcha for Keeley!), road trips with our favourite songs on repeat, quality time with the people we love, a GOOD dance party, our faith and the love we have for Jesus, trying new local restaurants, booking a beach vacay, and Sunday afternoon drives. These are all just a small part of who we are and what we love.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

Michael and I first met in December of 2020. We had realized we shared mutual friends through our church, and shortly after that, I received a message from Michael on Instagram. After talking for a few months, we learned that we had so much in common and also shared a big love for creativity and the wedding industry. Since starting my photography business, I had always dreamed of marrying a man who shared the same passions and who would love to work together as a photo & video team. To say I was blessed with everything I dreamed of and more is an understatement. After talking on Instagram for a couple of months, Michael planned a date at a local park in Calgary and he brought warm drinks for the walk. This park is one of our favourites to this day.

MICHAEL: The first thing that caught my eye when I stepped out of the car to meet Kee for the first time, is how she had the most perfect, beautiful, and contagious smile. Ever since we met her smile has been my favourite feature! Another favourite of hers can be summed up with her middle name joy. Wherever she goes she just spreads joy, and is a beacon of happiness for everyone around her.

KEELEY: Funny enough my answer is also the same as Michael’s. The first thing I noticed about him was his smile, and how he never ceases to make me smile. I also quickly noticed how kind-hearted and caring he is. He truly pours his heart into our relationship and every person around him, and it is something that I admire so much. Another favourite of mine, is that he never ceases to make me laugh. No matter how I am feeling, or if I am having a discouraged day, he will always put in effort to make my day just a little bit better by making me laugh.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

While planning our wedding, two things that meant the most to us were having our closest family and friends there to celebrate and being near the ocean on our special day. We knew we wanted to have an intimate destination wedding, and the spot we chose was beautiful San Diego, California. Both Michael and I love the ocean, so we wanted our wedding to reflect a coastal, romantic, intimate, and colourful style, with a few modern elements in our decor. With our wedding being in San Diego, we envisioned colourful & bright florals to compliment our modern ceremony and reception decor.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

Florals were always a meaningful part of our wedding vision, and getting to work with Brittany from Pine for Cedar—someone we’ve collaborated with before—made the experience even more special. She truly brought our ideas to life, and the florals became one of the most memorable and unique details of the day. Our ceremony venue, The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, was the primary inspiration for our color palette and overall design. Its timeless elegance, romantic architecture, and lush gardens guided the floral direction and overall design. The way the florals complemented the venue’s surroundings made everything feel cohesive and intentional, elevating the day.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

Michael and I loved focusing on the little details throughout our wedding planning journey. From the color palette and signage to the florals and thoughtful touches for our guests, we found so much joy in the little things that made our day special. One of our favorite parts was the floral experience—we had the chance to visit the flower market in Los Angeles with our florist and handpick every bloom that would be part of our day. It felt like a dream, and seeing it all come to life was incredibly special. For couples just starting out with wedding planning, we have two pieces of advice. First, take time to figure out what matters most to you for your wedding. Whether that’s the details, meaningful time with loved ones, or carving out quiet moments with each other, let your values guide your decisions and shape your day. Second, embrace the planning process and make space for intentional date nights along the way. It can get overwhelming at times, but remember—you’re planning this day with your favorite person.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We feel incredibly grateful for the amazing team of vendors who helped bring our special day to life. In truth, they felt more like friends than vendors, which made the entire experience even more meaningful. We chose to bring our photographer, videographer, day-of coordinator, and florist with us to San Diego—each of them incredibly talented women we’ve had the joy of working with before in the wedding industry. Having such a trusted and familiar team by our side made the day feel all the more personal.

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

I (Keeley) found my wedding gown at Blush & Raven, a beautiful local boutique in Calgary, Alberta. I brought my mom and two of my sisters along for the appointment, which made the experience all the more special. From the beginning, I had a vision for a gown that felt modern, simple, and timeless—something that would complement our modern décor and vibrant florals. Blush & Raven exceeded every expectation. Their thoughtful process and genuine care in listening to my vision made the experience unforgettable. The gown I ultimately chose was actually one of the very first I tried on. Even after trying several others, I couldn’t stop thinking about that one. I said yes to it that same day, and it ended up pairing perfectly with our venue and overall design—I couldn’t have been happier. Michael had a custom tuxedo made through Indochino, and the experience was just as personal. He visited in person and chose every detail himself—from the fabric and pattern to the fit and style. He went with a classic black tuxedo that echoed the modern aesthetic of our day. As a meaningful touch, he had our names and wedding date engraved inside the jacket.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

I (Michael) had the opportunity to work with Eleven Fine Jewelry Co to design Keeley’s engagement ring. Collaborating with Taylor was such a meaningful experience—not only is she incredibly talented, but we also had the privilege of capturing her wedding, which made the process even more personal. Taylor brought Keeley’s vision to life beautifully, creating a ring that reflected everything she had ever dreamed of. For our wedding bands, we chose pieces from Mejuri. Keeley envisioned a bold cigar band to compliment her emerald-cut engagement ring. I selected a thicker white gold band that felt both classic and striking, a perfect match for the overall aesthetic of our day.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

Having worked in the wedding industry, we’ve learned that the venue sets the tone for the entire day—it becomes the foundation for your design, décor, and overall inspiration. With that in mind, we felt confident in allocating more of our budget toward a venue that truly reflected the vision we had for our day. We knew that the right space would not only enhance the aesthetic but also elevate the final look of our photos and videos, which was incredibly important to us. We also deeply value photography and videography, knowing these are the keepsakes that allow us to relive the day for years to come. We were more than happy to invest more into those elements as well, knowing that we will have forever memories to look back on.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

This is such a tough question, because there are so many moments that stand out to us. But if we had to choose our top three, they would be: the worship during our ceremony, our first look, and joining our guests at cocktail hour. Our love for God is at the foundation of our relationship, and we knew we wanted to reflect that in a meaningful way during our ceremony. Taking time for worship with our loved ones was such a powerful and intimate moment—one we’ll never forget. Our first look was equally special. It gave us a quiet, uninterrupted moment to be fully present with one another before the busyness of the day began. And finally, joining our cocktail hour early is something we’ll always be glad we did. Spending that intentional time connecting with our guests added even more joy to an already dream day.