Pacific Northwest Lifestyle Photographer

Silas

August 25, 2016

“You shape our world
With every step.
Oh, the will to fly
Is in your eyes.
Our strength and love
All in your blood.
Our hope and pride
All in your eyes.”

“But I loved her first and I held her first
And a place in my heart will always be hers
From the first breath she breathed
When she first smiled at me
I knew the love of a father runs deep
And I prayed that she’d find you someday
But it’s still hard to give her away
I loved her first.” – Heartland

Dave + Michelle

August 13, 2016

Michelle and Dave met two years ago at Dave’s brother’s wedding. He was the best man and Michelle was a bridesmaid.

I absolutely love Michelle and Dave’s proposal story, so I have to share it.

The evening they got engaged, Dave cooked Michelle a lovely meal after a long work week. For dessert, a Kinder Surprise!

Yes, you called it, Dave actually opened the Kinder Surprise ahead of time, placed the ring inside it and tactfully resealed the packaging. He said it took him more than 3 times to get it looking really good. Sure enough, after dinner, they sat down on the couch to watch a movie. Dave asked her what she would like to watch: Mortal Kombat it was (they actually entered their reception to this song). During the movie, Dave gave her the Kinder Surprise.

Now if you know Michelle at all, you would know she is an elementary school teacher and it her job is incredibly fitting to her personality, as is a Kinder Surprise. She is just a sweet girl and a kid at heart (you can see it in her smile that lights up so many of these photos). So to me, it wasn’t surprising what happened next.

Dave gave her the Kinder Surprise and Michelle quickly opened it dropping the ring into her lap and not noticing the diamond that was attached to it. She looked down and chose “toy” instead!

As she was trying to figure out how the toy went together, Dave stared at her waiting for her to take a second look at the diamond ring on her very lap. Nothing.

After a few minutes, he finally just asked the big question and at that moment she picked up the ring off her lap and of course said yes.

It was such a sweet story and to me, it was so fitting to each of their personalities.

This wedding day was so much fun. I am so excited for these two and all the things the future holds for them. And do I dare say this couple knows how to tear up a dance floor, they’ve got moves!

Thank you, Michelle and Dave, for having me be part of your special day!

I would also like to do a huge shout out to her caterers and her wedding planners. Both were exceptional and I would highly recommend them to all my future brides!

Vendors:

Photography: Julie Christine Photography

Ceremony Venue: Meadow Gardens Golf Course

Reception Venue: Port Coquitlam Fishing and Hunting Club

Dress: Champagne and Lace

Hair Salon: Alisha Delver

Makeup Salon: Lenka

Flowers: Vivio Flowers

Caterer: Catering Visions

Wedding Planner: Memory Laine

Shoes: Champagne and Lace

Bridesmaids Dresses: Champagne and Lace

Tuxes/Suites: Black and Lee and Indochino

Cake: Lindsy

Dallin

August 8, 2016

“So let them be little ’cause they’re only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little” – Lonestar

Daniel + Mady

August 6, 2016

I have so much to write about these two. I always devote a section in my wedding questionnaire where I ask my client’s a bit about their dating time, engagement and wedding planning process. With Daniel and Mady, I may take a few lines from what they shared with me, but this is a wedding I would love to write about from my own experience.

Mady and I go way back. I think she was 14 when I first met her. It was a good 6 years ago.

All those years back I attended her family’s church here in Abbotsford. Her family welcomed me in with open arms as they would anyone and to this day are two of the sweetest people I know. Mady is the oldest of their three kids, all of which were incredible vocalists. I remember Mady just stepping into the world of worship leading and a light everywhere she went.

Fast forward to last year when I got an email from Mady asking me if I was interested in shooting her January wedding. I wanted to photograph it so badly, but at the time I was pregnant with our littlest (I had just found out) and the chances of me possibly being in labour on her wedding day were… well a little high. If not in labour, an 8 hour wedding day may have put me into labour. So I sadly had to turn it down. I did though offer to shoot an engagement session for them, and lucky for me they agreed! We went out to Whonnock Lake one evening and took some gorgeous beach photos, we even convinced the guy at the boat rentals to let us take a boat out for a circle around the shore line. It was pretty amazing.

I remember thinking (and maybe even asking), if anything changes with their wedding date, to send me an email (but let’s be honest, how often does it actually work out that way?).

With my surprise a few months later, I got another email from Mady. All she asked was, “Hey Julie, do you think you will be working in July or August again?” Heck ya, I would be. Mady had gone through a few medical issues and the two of them had decided to push their wedding back to July, and sure enough she asked me if I could shoot it.

I was so excited! The wedding day was stunning. It was such a joy to spend the day with her family and friends and so nice to get to know Daniel and Mady even more. Three of my favorite parts of the were watching Mady’s father officiating their marriage, all of the speeches and their first dance… mmm and the emcee wasn’t bad:p

Mady’s Father who is a pastor here in Abbotsford, had the pleasure to marry his very own daughter. It was incredible and I couldn’t imagine anything so special.

As for the speeches, I think almost at the end of every wedding I photograph speeches end up being one of favorite parts. Hearing everyone support and lift up these two was pretty spectacular. I have yet to photograph a wedding where I haven’t either shed a tear or laughed my face off.

Their dance was one I will probably forever talk about. Mady and Daniel are both incredible singers, and for their first dance they recorded the song “We Dance” by Steffanie Gretzinger. The song is great, but the two of them singing it as a duet was exceptional. To watch the two of them dance their first dance as married couple to this song was something else. It was an amazing day of love, joy, and laughter and I am so blessed to have been part of their day in such a big way. Thank you, Daniel and Mady!