Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Stef & Brett's Wedding

Getting Ready at the Fort Garry Hotel

The Fort Garry Hotel has a way of making everything feel cinematic. Dark wood panelling, velvet curtains, four-poster beds — it is a stage built for mornings like this one. When I arrived, the room was already alive with the kind of noise that only happens on a wedding day: music, laughter, the occasional tear. Stef's dress was hanging in the window, the January light catching every bead on the lace. The newspaper save-the-dates were spread beside her jewellery. I didn't have to say a word — I just started shooting.

The bridesmaids were in matching black pyjamas, mimosas in hand, and the energy in that room was electric. When Stef's mom came in for the first look, it happened quietly — a hug that said everything without saying anything at all. Those are the moments I live for.

The Ceremony at Holy Rosary Church

Holy Rosary Church is one of Winnipeg's most beautiful ceremony venues — soaring ceilings, stained glass, and that cathedral light that falls exactly right on a winter afternoon. Stef walked down the aisle with her parents on either side, and I could see Brett's face the moment she came into view. That look never gets old.

The string quartet filled the church with warmth against the cold outside. Father Sam kept the ceremony intimate and sincere. When Brett slid the ring onto Stef's finger against the backdrop of the stained glass, I knew I had one of my favourite frames of the year.

Portraits at the CMHR

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is in a category of its own. The alabaster walls, the sweeping ramps, the Tower of Hope rising above it all — there is nowhere else like it in Canada for wedding portraits. We had the golden-hour light streaming through the glass just right, and Stef and Brett were completely in it together.

One of my favourite sequences happened on the alabaster ramp with the bridesmaids and their parasols. Then we moved to the grand stairwell for the full wedding party — perfectly orchestrated. The light held until the very last frame.

The Reception at The Fort Garry Hotel

The Provencher Ballroom at the Fort Garry Hotel is exactly what you picture when you imagine a grand Winnipeg wedding reception. Chandeliers, deep crimson walls, long banquet tables draped with candles and Meraki Fiori's florals. When Stef and Brett walked in wearing matching sunglasses to "Jump Around," the whole room erupted.

The speeches were heartfelt and funny in equal measure — the lifejacket bit during the best man speech had everyone in tears of laughter. The first dance was slow and close. The father-daughter dance was the moment that made me hold my breath. By the time the cake was cut with a sword, the party was fully underway and it never let up.

The Midnight Countdown

There is something completely unhinged about celebrating a wedding and a new year simultaneously — in the best possible way. As midnight approached, the energy in the Provencher Ballroom shifted. The heart-shaped glasses came out. The champagne was poured. DJ A-Luck took the room to another level.

When the clock struck midnight and 2026 began, Brett hoisted Stef up on his shoulders and the room went absolutely wild. The first kiss of the new year, the confetti, the dancing that didn't stop until well past 1 a.m. — this is exactly why New Year's Eve weddings are something special. It's two celebrations in one, and Stef and Brett did it perfectly.

Tips for CMHR Portraits

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a dream for portraits, but it rewards planning. Here's what I've learned from shooting there:

Time your visit around golden hour. The glass architecture means the light inside changes dramatically throughout the day. The alabaster walls glow warmest in the hour before sunset — that's the window you want.

Work with the architecture, not against it. The ramps, the Tower of Hope, the alabaster walls — these are your backdrops. Bring your wedding party in smaller groups so each sub-shoot gets its own space and energy.

Plan for 90 minutes minimum. The CMHR is large and beautiful in every direction. Rushing it means missing the spots that make the images iconic. Build the time in and trust the process.

Coordinate your colour palette. The warm whites and pale stone of the interior look extraordinary against jewel tones and deep neutrals. Avoid colours that will fight the walls — let the architecture be the star.

Book ahead. The CMHR requires coordination with their events team for wedding portraits. Your photographer should liaise with them directly to confirm access and any lighting considerations on your date.