Today marked Carrie and Jeremy’s wedding.  Haley and I had been waiting a long time for this.  Carrie is a long-time family friend and we were just so excited that she was getting married.  She and Jeremy are perfect for one another.  They spend a lot of time laughing and joking together, their personalities just shone all day.

See?  Here’s some of that joking.  Whenever Jeremy got his hands on the flowers he refused to let them go.  Carrie and Jeremy, may your house be filled with flowers for many years.

Carrie and Jeremy looked like the two most relaxed people before their ceremony.

Jeremy’s brother Kevin called out, “hey, look over here”, and he was juggling these water bottles.  I got a quick shot.  Awesome Kev!

Carrie’s brothers Scott and Eric really got into this shot.

Haley captured this stunning image of Carrie and Jeremy just before the ceremony

And we were off to the Francis Winspear Centre for Music for the ceremony!

A huge street hockey tournament was going on just outside the ceremony.  No, Carrie and Jeremy weren’t defying traffic; the road was blocked off.

Carrie gave Jeremy a kiss on the cheek after the ceremony.  Here’s an interesting fact, my mother made the veil that Carrie is wearing.  She also made Haley’s veil and all of my sisters’ veils for their weddings.

The four-piece orchestra was very appropriate, considering it was in the Winspear Centre, and they played beautifully.

We returned to the Hotel MacDonald for the reception.  The cake was simple and gorgeous.

Carrie’s Father, Frans Slatter, presided over Haley’s and my wedding.

Here is one of the tightest groups of friends that I have ever known.  This is ’The Bridge Group’.  Most of these long-time friends have known each-other ever since high-school and University.  We love all of you!

Congratulations Carrie and Jeremy!  You’ve known and loved each-other for so long and we are incredibly happy that you are married.  You both have exciting careers ahead of you and a promising future together.

This week I was able to experience a little bit of Jesh de Rox.  It is difficult for me to express in words what I learned at his workshop.  I went in with few expectations.  I came out with a new perspective about what photography is.

Jesh does not simply capture memories or set up scenes to take pictures of.  He opens up himself to the people who he works with and allows them to open up with him.  His photo shoots are, “a celebration of the love” between the people present.  The word love came up a lot a the workshop and love is something that I truly felt in his presence.

I refer to his workshop as more of a lifeshop than a workshop.  We explored our personal boundaries.  We were shown how to look into ourselves.  To peel away the barriers that we have to true interpersonal communication.  Like I say, it is hard to describe here in words, but it was truly wonderful.

I did take pictures at the workshop but I think that I can express the boost to my imagery that I received through my future works and with my dealings with the couples with whom we work.  I have my own take on what I experienced in the days with Jesh and the other workshop participants.  You will experience it at your engagement sessions, weddings, and portrait sessions.

Thank you Jesh, I truly felt the love.

Michael

While Haley was busy with wedding photography for Jenn and Gerard in Edmonton, I was out in Wetaskiwin for the wedding of Kristi and Tyler.  We have been looking forward to Kristi & Tyler’s wedding for some time now, they are one of the most enthusiastic couples we have worked with so far this year - they’re up for anything!

The wedding was held in the beautiful Sacred Heart Church in Wetaskiwin, with pictures at the Wetaskiwin City Hall, and the reception at the Best Western Wayside Inn.

Kristi was all about glam on her wedding day.

This little guy was happy to get ready with everyone else.

Tyler gave his groomsmen these beautiful engraved flasks as a thank you for standing up for him….

…and helping him get dressed.

This church has some of the most beautiful architecture we have seen in a modern church.  A wonderful setting for a romantic ceremony.

We took advantage of the gorgeous hot weather at the Wetaskiwin City Hall.  The bridal party was a lot of fun.

Kristi is a real cutie and loves posing for the camera.

The reception was all about fun and happiness, with mini cupcakes, and a bubble shower/first dance!

You were so much fun to work with, we wish you many happy years together.

I had the pleasure of watching a good friend of mine get married this past weekend.    Jenn and I have been through high school, university, and graduate school together, and I am thrilled for her to have found her match in Gerard.  They make a wonderful couple.  The wedding was held at the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Ukrainian Catholic Parish on Edmonton’s north side.

The parish had an amazing chandelier.

This has to be one of the most beautiful first kiss pictures that we have captured.

Each couple of the attendants came up with their own creative pose. Guess which ones are the Ukrainian dancers?

I hope you have a wonderful time on your honeymoon.  We’ll see you soon!

 - Haley

I am pleased to announce that Haley’s image ‘Swept Away’ placed at the 2008 PPOC (Professional Photographers of Canada) National Competition.  Is was scored as an accepted image.  This stunning picture of Vanesa and Wayne shows off Haley’s unique perspective and her creative talent.

Congratulations Haley!

Heather and Chad are married!  We attended their lovely wedding ceremony at the River West Christian church on Saturday.  They are an adventurous couple with fun friends and family.

Heather and the girls got her all dressed up at the church.  Her hair looked gorgeous and the pearls were an elegant touch.

While Heather was getting ready Chad and the guys relieved a bit of tension by playing foosball in the church’s recreation room.

Heather and her father shared a glance seconds before she walked up the aisle.

I love this picture of Heather and Chad celebrating after the ceremony.

The reception was at the Edmonton Police Service’s Blue Meadows facility in the West End.  It is an beautiful wooden hall in gorgeous surroundings.  All of the formal pictures were taken there.

Chad had specifically requested that we take some pictures with our fisheye lens.  We created this dramatic portrait of the wedding party.

Heather & Chad are a fun-loving couple, and decided to play in the park together before the reception.

The cake looked fantastic.

Heather’s sister and her man snuck this kiss at the reception.

It looks like someone else had a different idea of what happens during the first dance.

Heather and Chad, we feel so lucky to have worked with you.  You are such a relaxed couple and you truly made everyone feel comfortable at your wedding.  Everyone had a great time.  We are really looking forward to showing you your wedding album.  You two rock!

Angele and Declan are soon going to be married.  I went for a walk with them around the area where Declan proposed to Angele at the Le Marchand Mansion.

This weekend I was lucky enough to shoot the wedding of long-time family friend Elaine to her new husband Bernie.  It was a beautiful wedding with close family and friends in attendance at the Hotel MacDonald.

Here is Elaine just before the ceremony started.

Sheena was with her father across the mezzanine.

Elaine and Bernie’s wedding was presided over by our past neighbour Barbara Day of Imaginations & Concepts.  She also does wedding planning and coordinated the wonderful decorations at the reception.

A wonderful three-piece orchestra played music during the ceremony and the reception.

Here are Elaine and Bernie with all of their children and Elaine’s Son-in-Law Daniel.

Elaine and Bernie made a grand entrance into the reception.

I don’t know what Bernie said to Barb here but it looks as if she just won the lottery!

It was great to attend a wedding at the same table as my parents.  Don’t they look great?

The kids gave a great speech interspersed with heartfelt moments and humour.

I got down and twisted with my Mom.

Elaine and Bernie, your families are beautiful and you are a wonderful match.  We wish you all of the best in your marriage.

We were in Ottawa this week and met up with Rorik and Julia for their engagement pictures.  After shooting them we are really looking forward to their wedding next summer in Sherwood Park.

How lucky we were to meet with the two of you in Ottawa.  It was so exciting taking pictures of you there.  We enjoyed chatting while walking up Sussex.  See you next summer!

Sarah and Eli were married in a beautiful and intimate candle-lit ceremony at the Spruce Grove Community Church.  They are such a happy couple and you can really see how comfortable they are with one-another in their wedding pictures.

While waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin Sarah played the piano for herself.

Here is Eli waiting excitedly for Sarah to come up the aisle.

Afterwards we went to Rutherford House at the University of Alberta for the formal and family pictures.

We absolutely loved Sarah’s gold wedding dress.  We have never seen anything quite like it.  Her Indian bangles completed her uniquely elegant outfit.

Edmonton was hit with a huge snowstorm just before the wedding.  Sarah and Eli took advantage of it by playing in the snow!

Then, they went inside to heat things up a bit…

Sarah and Eli, you have a great energy between you.  The kind that will last a lifetime.  Congratulations and have fun on your trip and at your second reception in May.