{Gabriel} Bar Mitzvah at Cartier Place & HMCS Bytown

We had our first opportunity to photograph a Bar Mitzvah here in Ottawa last week, and it was a heartfelt and inspirational celebration in honour of a young guy named Gabe. Ivanette and I found it really interesting to watch and learn about the tradition and ceremony. Gabe’s parents, Lynne Dee and Henry, are wonderfully kind and generous in their willingness to share their blended customs with family, friends, and photographers alike! In order to become a Bar Mitzvah (a responsible adult), Gabe had a lot of preparation to do; he did an in depth research project on kosher foods and his presentation was very well delivered–along with the background of what denotes kosher, we learned from Gabe that not everyone follows kosher at all times, and that “it’s really freakin’ expensive!”. Gabe is very insightful for 14 years old, and it was a pleasure to hear him speak about what he learned about people, traditions, cultures, and misconceptions during his preparations.

Here’s a little sneak preview of what we captured:

After the Ceremony at the Cartier Place Suites, we took the short walk around the corner to the HMCS Bytown Wardroom.  The Wardroom is a private Naval Officers’ Mess which began 250 years ago, in 1896.  It’s an absolutely gorgeous location, and the elaborate Queen Anne architecture made for a wonderful backdrop for the photos.  The Wardroom staff were fabulous, and the meal was exceptional!  After our amazing dinner, Gabe’s friends had the chance to roast him.  He’s got some hilarious friends, and I personally think he got off pretty easy!

And finally, what’s a party without Rock Band???