Matthew and Kate met while going to school at Western University and as Matt puts it, their meeting touches on a theme threaded through his entire life – he considered himself the luckiest person on earth. Both Kate and Matt are generous, loving people with a lot of beautiful family support. Their wedding took place on gorgeous property out in Whistler, British Columbia with many friends and family members. In meeting Kate, Matt could not pass on the opportunity of getting to know her better and introduced himself by first starting with the line “I think I know you from somewhere.” Matt continued pursuing Kate and they found out they had a lot in common; living in the same building, going to the same school, and even knew some of the same people. One night, Matt made the best bet of his life – betting on The Seahawks vs The Steelers when The Steelers won (something they were both hoping for). The best part was Matt would later have to meet up with Kate to settle the bet and the rest was history.
Category: Highlight
A collection of Highlights by Paperback Films
We were thrilled to have the honour of telling Katherine & Anthony’s story, from the moment we first met them both over Google Hangouts. They had such an interesting story, and seemed to have incredibly complimentary personalities. The wedding was set to take place on a Private Estate in Niagara on the Lake, where Anthony worked long hours to be able to arrange as a gift to Katherine. The scenery was unbelievable. This Canadian town, located in Southern Ontario where the Nigara River meets Lake Ontario, played a beautiful and symbolic backdrop to their wedding. Family and friends traveled from various places to meet in this 1781 Colonial quaint town. Family is very important, as Katherine and Anthony are both very close to their parents, siblings, and extended family. They were said to have been the people who held them together in all aspects of their lives and they were woven into various parts of their wedding day. Once we met their families, it was easy to see why they were so important. They even made us feel like family; warmly welcoming us in, trying to make us feel comfortable.
Their biggest wish was that their family and friends would enjoy themselves. While they found the meaning of the wedding itself important, they planned all aspects of their day with their guests in mind. Everything from accommodations to comfortable seating, great live music, and delicious spreads.
Alexandra Highet of Forever Wildfield did an absolutely outstanding job in decorating, and helping coordinate the wedding. Her taste is undeniably elegant, but most importantly – on an outdoor planned wedding met with some rain, she kept everyone’s spirits up as she proactively made a few last minute changes – making the day as beautiful as anyone could imagine. It was such a pleasure working with both her and Reid Lambshead from When He Found Her. Reid’s creativity & vision is unbelievable and he also happens to be a really great person to work with.
When we met Shana & Adrian about a year before their wedding, we were excited to have the honour of telling their story. It became clear that family played an important role in both of their lives, individually, and together as a couple. Important people in their lives each had an opportunity to be apart of their wedding. While the clouds seemed to be rolling in during the morning, the rain held off and we were met with lush greens at Bridges Golf Course.
The wedding ceremony was powerful. Pastor (Dr.) Mike Efezino (Adrian’s dad) lead the ceremony passionately. He beautifully shared the story of how Adrian had a dream of who his wife would be, and that as he eventually met Shana later on in life, he knew right away that she was the same person he had seen in his dream. While keeping the ceremony personal, Pastor Mike also shared a powerful message of faith.
As always, we had an excellent time working with Rachael from Lucky Girl Photography. She is unbelievably talented and can make anyone feel perfectly at ease in front of the camera.
Motown Wedding
We found it really inspiring that Samantha and Adam decided that they wanted to have a unique and personal wedding for themselves and for their guests. Sometimes its hard to incorporate this during a hectic day like a wedding, but this was exactly what they did. It was calling for rain that day, but for some reason the clouds cleared up and they were able to have a beautiful outdoor wedding. Perhaps someone was looking over them that day :). The band that played during their reception (Ronn Easton’s All Star Soul Review) had been seen by them in Minneapolis 5 years prior. When they heard them they had just started dating and said to themselves “one day we wanted them to play at our wedding”. Some how, it worked out perfectly.
We should also mention it was also a pleasure working with Izabela Rachwal for the day! Good times…
Please enjoy the absolutely amazing couple, Adam & Samantha. Their wedding was spectacular, genuine and personal.
Tale of two cities
Lainey and Paul grew up down the street from each other in the city of Winnipeg, went to the same elementary school and attended the same summer camp only to meet and fall in love in the city of Toronto. Let’s add one more point, the connection took place on Facebook with the help of some friends and family hoping that this match was meant to be. With the past bringing them so close together you would think they would have many things in common, yet their differences make them the wonderful and engaging couple they are. We wish them the most joyous and adventurous marriage possible!
We had an incredible time filming their wedding which took place at the Fort Garry Hotel and worked along side Curtis Moore Photography, which is always a highlight for us.
Honour guard solute
Kevin and Brittany express the gentle side of life as they both have big hearts and deeply touch those around them. Like their character, their wedding day was crafted with many meaningful connections with their family and friends, and it represented who they are as individuals and who they strive to be as a married couple. This carries through their wedding film with a powerful resonance of love and respect. While Kevin’s career path led him to the community he would meet his future wife, their relationship milestones have spanned the Manitoba landscape from end to end and we are so thankful they had their wedding in Winnipeg.
The Caboto Centre decor was spectacular and we had an incredible day filming their wedding along side photographer, Trish Palud.
A Gift from Heaven
Like the title says, it was the way these two came together. It was really interesting to listen to the pastor go through the history of how Ashely and Ryan’s parents met as couples which lead to the story of how Ashley & Ryan finally met. Its not every day you hear the path that people take to eventually find each other. Ashley & Ryan are a very special couple who were destined to meet. It was a pleasure to spend the day with Ryan, the enthusiastic happy guy. Ashley was just the same, her sweet smile and positive demeanour created a perfect recipe for everyone around them. You could feel the connection they had with each other and their family and friends. It created an atmosphere of celebration and appreciation.
We were blessed to have been a part of this day. We don’t take it for granted one bit. Couple trust us to create a memory of the day that will live with them for a very long time. We wish them all the best in their lives together. They are truly each others soul mates. Thanks to Lucky Girl Photography, we love working with you, what else can we say :). Enjoy the film!
It’s Anna, Right?
Anna was described by her sister as being brilliant, kind hearted, athletic, driven, determined, well travelled and at times extremely excitable. A fitting description, we can assure you. Meeting Anna the first time over coffee and again the morning of her wedding, she was so excited about her wedding. And so were we. Her parents were so happy to see Anna and Barak come together as a couple; they both have a great appreciation for family which meant so much.
Barak is a practical & friendly person and it was said that he has a gift for friendship. He’s the one who would get things organized when they all went on camping trips. Barak has Hebrew significance meaning “lightning”, “to give light” and “to be visible”. At the reception, his father had established that the heroic side of that name’s meaning relates to his position as a teacher. He’d coached the students at his school into having a championship volleyball team.
Anna & Barak are both a joy to be around; they’re extremely fun. It was also great working with Moore Photography, Aspire Studios, & Soiree Event Planning.
Strength and Convictions
A former CFL Quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers meeting the woman of his dreams in The Winnipeg International Airport. What a great story to tell. Buck & Lori both value and place an importance on their family and friends. Buck’s wedding party was comprised of a former coach, friends from high school and his two brothers. All of which shared that genuine close bond. Just the same with Lori along with the stories her brothers shared of her revealing that closeness of their family. To all be in the same room celebrating with Buck & Lori, was all they ever wanted.
I’ve (Chris) personally been a lifelong Canadian Football Fan (CFL) with a special place for my home team, The Winnipeg Blue Bombers. So, to have the privilege of being able to tell the story of Buck and Lori was indeed a highlight. They’re both genuine, down to earth good people. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of this celebration. Music by our friend, Tony Anderson.
Cultures and Canadian Adventures
Mike’s the kind of guy that you could easily and quickly become friends with. He’s a hard worker, accommodating and considerate of everyone around him; even on his wedding day. As one of Anna’s bridesmaids put it, her smile is so full of joy. For Anna, being Polish, her family’s language, culture and tradition all play a huge roll in her life. As for her family; they each hold big personalities as well as big hearts. Chris, Mark and I were right at home with Anna’s friends as family as much as we were with Mike’s.
For a couple that likes hiking, traveling and photography, with this big celebration, what better place to bring everyone together in Canada than one of our most scenic places? This beautiful Banff adventure was the formal, second ceremony Mike & Anna shared with their close family and friends; the first taking place at a warm get-away. Even in colder temperatures, it’s a Canadian paradise.
As a couple, they both push each-other to pursue their dreams individually and they certainly recognize the gifts and talent they’ve been given. For an example: Mike is an accomplished, extremely talented photographer. After spending some time with them (even over a cup of coffee upon arriving at the hotel), it’s hard to imagine what they were like before they met. Their friends were better able to paint that picture, reminiscing on childhood moments and work stories. But everyone agreed; they’re better together. It was an absolute pleasure meeting and getting to work with Eternal Reflections Photography and Mona Abo Said.
Big Bear Little Bear
We couldn’t have asked for a better day; lush summer greenery, blue sky, and the warm sun with a slight breeze in the air. Near perfect for Kayla and Devon’s wedding.
These two have such a great story. Surrounded by family and friends, the day was full of excitement and emotion. The nervous tension Devon was experiencing while getting ready was only settled once he saw Kayla in her stunning white dress, just moments before the Ceremony started. That first look almost didn’t happen, but at the last minute they decided to go for it and we’re so happy they had. This moment ended up being the major story thread of their entire film, and crystallized the importance of the day for them. The emotion and joy of the day built up as they opened each others gifts and letters in the morning. Later in the day you could see the happiness cover over them as they said their vows, and said their speech, only to dance the night away as a newly wed couple.
It was a pleasure working with Brittany Mahood and Melissa Morrow.
Mia Principessa
In this quaint town of Lorette, located just outside of Winnipeg is the Parish of Notre Dame where Christa and Jeffrey were married. The bell tower stands tall above the fabric of the land and the architectural painting on the ceiling speaks of it’s grandness. At the end of the ceremony they walked out to the sound of bagpipes bellowing out from the upper balcony; the church rumbled under it’s resounding power and the truth is it made us jump as we were not expecting it. It was a nice surprise.
Christa and Jeffrey’s highlight film is a vibrant reflection of their relationship. Together they experienced a long distant relationship while Jeffrey was studying in Boston and they also had their engagement in Italy. With adventures and travels like these it was also fitting that their priest, Alan Forgarty, their long time friend resides in Rome. Christa and Jeffrey expressed powerful tokens of affection through their letters, gifts, and their vows, all of which we could use to carry their film along. We encourage our couples to include the people that mean so much to them. Christa and Jeffrey chose their Grandmother to perform a special reading in the ceremony, adding a very personal touch to the film.
We hope you enjoy their film as much as we had crafting it together!
Thanks again to Joel Ross of Joel Ross Photography for making the day so enjoyable and to Emma Singn of Events by Emma for the incredible design and event planning. We also love working with Dale and Melissa from The Gates because of their premium food and service.
A Field of Dreams
We kept hearing story after story about how these two knew they were meant for each other. It became the basis for our film; a true account of soul mates. It’s a story of struggle, redemption, perseverance, and family. Faith is ultimately what guided them together. A true calling; a true love story with a happy beginning.
For me, the day was deeply impactful. We were quickly caught up in the day’s events. Jessica and her family had put a lot of planning and labour into this wedding and it showed. With the help of Soiree Event Planning, it looked even more spectacular. Every detail was so delicately thought out and put together. One of our favourite areas on the farm was the ceremony location in a beautiful Manitoba prairie field. A well developed crop with a section flattened in the distance. Bails of hay for seating and a fence made out of crops. It was a field of dreams.
Thanks again to Curtis Moore of Moore Photography for his stunning work and truly amazing fun times to film with.
Like It Was Yesterday
Gifts from the heart mean so much when there is thought and anticipation built up all around them. Jordan and Jeff put a great deal of thought into the gifts they presented to each other on the morning of their wedding day and both of them were truly swept away by the letters they wrote to one another. We love how they focused on why they love each-other and expressed that love through words. Being together for many years, they had been through some ups and downs in life and this day was meant to help celebrate the good memories and cherishing the memory of loved ones who were not present.
The day could be best described as a non-stop romantic and sentimental expression of love for friends, family, and each other. One of my favourite moments is when Jordan’s father see’s her in the dress for the first time; what a precious moment that Jordan will no doubt carry with her for life. Their story weaves together the most meaningful and heart-felt moments and we are so thankful to have been apart of their day.
We had the pleasure of getting to work along side an old friend, Coralee from Red Photo Co; a long time professional in the industry.
Evening Delight
Jess and Jake are two people deeply in love. So much so that Jake surprised Jess with a five year wedding anniversary vow renewal on their patio with 35 guests. Being there to witness their exchange and account of what they mean to each other was emotional and inspiring and hearing how much they cherish each other is a true testament of what a thriving marriage can look like. Jake did a heck of a job planning everything for the surprise and pulled off an amazing celebration. The weather was gorgeous and evening light was magical. The dancing continued as the sun went down and it was a close and intimate time, just beautiful. Being the amazing photographers they are (Kamp Photography) it was a privilege to capture this time in their lives that will be so meaningful to them in the years ahead. Hearing Jakes account of his planning and surprising is a must read as well.
“Do you love me?”… “Why?… “Because I do”…
When we heard Ben’s speech to Tran we couldn’t help but get excited because, little did he know, he had just given us a core narrative piece for this film. We sat back after the wedding and started storyboarding their adventure. No one forced these two together… it just worked out. There was something special about Ben and Tran’s first dance. Something seemed familiar. To their guests, it was something new. To us, Ben and Tran carried out every turn throughout their day as they kept celebrating. Rehearsing their carefully thought-out steps and twirls. That dance became a major thread in their story; it was exhilarating to see how they all just fit together – almost flawlessly.
As always, the day flew by so fast and there was truly special moments for us. After dinner, we accompanied Curtis Moore to the river bank at the Gates on Roblyn during sunset. These two lost themselves in the moment. It could not have been a more perfect cap to the day (it did get better). The water was still and the air was filled with tiny dandelion seeds dancing around, giving us a a beautiful canvas as they continued dancing. We feel so fortunate to have been part of their special day. They truly made us feel apart of their family. Thank to Curtis Moore of Moore Photography and Melissa from the Gates on Roblyn. It’s always a pleasure working with a great team.
Destined to Meet
Krista and Chris both met later in their lives, but they both agreed, they found each-other to be well worth the wait.
Chris might very well be the nicest guy we’ve ever worked with. Not only could he beat us in any arm wrestling match, but his amazing journey into the body building world is a story anyone would enjoy. His dedication to diet, exercise and good living is something the Paperback boys could learn from :) Krista and Chris’s gifts for each-other were both so genuine, creative and thoughtful. Between an inside joke from Chris to Krista and a handcrafted book of their journey together through photographs, these were special moments we were so happy to capture and share.
Krista got to the point where she didn’t know if she could trust her own judgement anymore. It was then, in 2009, where she gave it to God. It’s funny how life works when you give up a little control. They both gave an online system a chance, just to try it out. A little magic, and typically on points of personality people are matched with 100, 200. Krista got 7. It only took one and coincidentally, we found out at their reception that they would have met through a friend if that hadn’t worked out. Small world. But when you’re destined to meet, it just works out. Life is like a puzzle and each piece serves a purpose and fits into life’s picture, as Krista put it. We hope you enjoy the way we configured their day’s pieces in their film!
Let’s travel the world
Paul and Signy are both adventurers – whether it be a social get together in the heart of downtown Winnipeg (meeting all sorts) or flying to and exploring a new country. It’s encouraging to see just how fate brought them together; already carrying the relationship through a long distance beginning. Together they are a perfect combination, where each of their strengths helps build the other and we rarely witnessed a moment where they weren’t complementing each other. Later in the evening, we all experienced Paul’s knack for coming up with an amazing speech on the spot and then we have Signy, a talented writer. How perfect is that? We’re happy to share their story with all of you. It was so much fun getting to work with Coralee of Red Photo Co (check out her photos of the day here) again.
Human Geography
Starting with a crush at kids camp and meeting up again in human geography class just goes to show how you can meet the love of your life in the most unexpected places. Michelle & Adam have a wonderful story shared a gentle character. The whole wedding day was perfect. We started the day at the Fort Garry Hotel and they had their first look in the raised walkway that joins the two buildings. Adam’s reaction to seeing Michelle was priceless, “wow, I am a lucky man”. We’re happy to share their story. It was great working with Ramona and Tracy of Ramona Garbald Photography; we had a fabulous time together.
Turn and Watch
Anna and Mike are both as sweet as can be. Even with so many of their family and friends celebrating all day long, the day remained so peaceful and calm. We love to see, experience and be a part of traditions and cultural elements that make a wedding day so special; like when Mike had to ‘pay’ his way to see his bride, and Anna’s parental blessing on the new married couple. It’s easy to see just how sweet and loving these two are, in this film. It was great getting to working with Julie Fulsher of Sterling Images.