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‘Llamas are the trending thing in the wedding industry’ says Victoria photographer

Llama, alpaca overtake the trusty steed or mare in nuptials
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The Windsor Greys involved with Meghan and Harry’s carriage ride. The steed Julia Roberts’ Runaway Bride character flees on after another failed attempt at tying the knot. For better or for worse, horses have long been the animal most commonly associated with wedding imagery.

However, a Victoria-based wedding photographer has noticed a new trend. According to Ang McCabe of Myrtle and Moss Photography, #llamarama has hit the wedding industry.

“Llamas are the trending thing in the wedding industry,” McCabe told Black Press Media. “When you are always submersed in the wedding industry, I see it a lot.”

READ MORE: Signs of doomed marriages according to wedding photographers

A self-described animal lover, McCabe said she has done many wedding photoshoots that involved animals, such as horses, dogs, chickens and Highland cattle. But for the first time this summer, she has done two shoots involving an alpaca and a llama.

Just last weekend, McCabe shot the wedding of a couple from Indiana near East Sooke Regional Park. The bride, also an animal lover, had looked for an Airbnb with alpacas for the occasion.

“His name is Eleven (and yes, he was born prior to Stranger Things),” McCabe posted on Instagram, in reference to the alpaca. “When he was born, they said he was a eleven on the cuteness scale. He definitely has my heart as do these beautiful newlyweds.”

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His name is Eleven (and yes, he was born prior to Stranger Things). When he was born, they said he was a eleven on the cuteness scale 😍💕 He definitely has my heart as do these beautiful newlyweds ✨ . . Dress @reclamationdesigncompany Hat @lackofcoloraus . . . #victoriabc #belovedstories #instagood #alpaca #brideinspo #couplesgoals #photobugcommunity #alpacawedding #belovedstoriesdate #junebugweddings #llamarama #wanderingphotographers #elopementlove #dirtybootsandmessyhair #Bohobride #indiebride #weddingphotoinspiration #rockymountainbride #weddinglegends #muchlove_ig #radstorytellers #bohemian #lblcollective #lookslikefilm #dayaftersession #beyondthewanderlust #radlovestories #loveandwildhearts #authenticlovemag

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Prior to the alpaca wedding, McCabe said she also shot a real couple from Vancouver Island as part of a styled wedding in May that involved the closely-related llama.

A styled wedding, she explained, functions similar to how a runway show functions for the fashion industry. Typically, several vendors get together to channel their inspiration into a staged shoot.

“Sometimes as wedding vendors you have all this inspiration, but you don’t really have an outlet,” she said. “That’s actually how a lot of wedding trends start.”

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I don't know about you babe, but I feel like there's something coming in between us lately... ONLY THE CUTEST DAMN LLAMA EVER! ✨ . . . . Vendor Lovin’ Workshop | @Myrtleandmossphotography #inspiredretreat Presets | @myrtleandmossshop Planning | @borrowedandblueevents Florals | @bespokeblossoms Makeup | @chloelorraine.mua Dessert | @cake_bytaryn Hair | @salonmusebykels Stationary | @favenlettering Bridal Jewelry | @barclaysjewellers Earrings | @parvanahcollective Wedding Dress | @lily_kennedy_custom Men’s attire | @outlooksformen Decor & Styling | @trenddecor Real Life Lovebirds| @geo.photo & @thehipsterbartender . . . #victoriabc #belovedstories #instagood #llama #bridetobe #couplesgoals #photobugcommunity #togetherweroam #belovedstoriesdate #junebugweddings #llamarama #wanderingphotographers #dirtybootsandmessyhair #Bohobride #indiebride #weddingphotoinspiration #lovers #weddinglegends #muchlove_ig #radstorytellers #bohemian #lblcollective #lookslikefilm #engagementsession #beyondthewanderlust #radlovestories #loveandwildhearts #authenticlovemag

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The styled wedding in May was fiesta-themed and used a miniature llama named Poco from Millstream Miniature Llamas.

“They do llama tours, but that was their first llama wedding,” she said of the Victoria llama farm.

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I’ve literally been DYING to share since my workshop last week! Meet Poco, who made all of my llama dreams a reality ✨ thank you to the amazing team to bring this fiesta themed session to life for my retreat ✨ . . . Workshop | @Myrtleandmossphotography #inspiredretreat Planning | @borrowedandblueevents Florals | @bespokeblossoms Makeup | @chloelorraine.mua Dessert | @cake_bytaryn Hair | @salonmusebykels Stationary | @favenlettering Bridal Jewelry | @barclaysjewellers Earrings | @parvanahcollective Wedding Dress | @lily_kennedy_custom Men’s attire | @outlooksformen Decor & Styling | @trenddecoreventdesign Models | @geo.photo & @thehipsterbartender . . . . #victoriabc #belovedstories #instagood #llama #bridetobe #couplesgoals #photobugcommunity #togetherweroam #belovedstoriesdate #junebugweddings #llamarama #wanderingphotographers #dirtybootsandmessyhair #Bohobride #indiebride #weddingphotoinspiration #lovers #weddinglegends #muchlove_ig #radstorytellers #bohemian #lblcollective #lookslikefilm #engagementsession #beyondthewanderlust #radlovestories #loveandwildhearts #authenticlovemag

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As with any other animal, McCabe said she prioritized the safety and comfort of the alpaca and llama over the shoots. She said she scheduled the shoots at the homes of the animals, made sure she had a handler on site and “played by the animal’s rules.” She will also cut a shoot short if the animal starts to get stressed, she added.

READ MORE: Missing llama from Highlands found

As far as what’s next in wedding trends, the animal lover said she wasn’t sure.

“I don’t know what’s next, what the next animal is going to be, but I’ll take it,” she said.

READ MORE: Vancouver Island newlyweds have all their wedding photos stolen



karissa.gall@blackpress.ca

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