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.
Tag: stephen gray
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.
When You Smile, I Smile
From humble beginnings and a chance meeting, Brittany and Kyle have a passion filled story to share. Looking back at how they were instantly lost in each others present’s while meeting up at Earls with a group of friends, it is easy to see how their relationship was kickstarted into high gear. Kyle is a passionate individual. Brittany is an equally passionate individual. When these two are together their connection is palpable and it is clear from their Feature Film.
From a morning game of football to a hot delicious breakfast, the men made the most of their opportunity to have some fun together. The ladies had their morning PJ’s on and took advantage of the time to soak in all the excitement. The day was absolutely perfect for a roof top ceremony at the WAG and we had an incredibly fun day with the whole wedding party.
The day was also made extra special by all the vendors and we do want to point out the wonderful experience we had with DJ Brenton from Summer Bounce and Izabela Rachwal from Rachwal Photography.
And They Will Fly
Next to falling in love, one of the biggest supports any couple can hope to have is their friends and family beside them in their journey together as a couple. Felicia & Jeff are both blessed to have that support and they relish in that. The morning of their wedding, we felt that warmth and invitation to be a part of their day along with everyone there that day.
Both of their personalities and temperaments compliment each other so much, that Felicia’s father commented on the fact that he can’t recall ever seem them in an argument. He also mentioned that they seem to put so much into their relationship and compromise at the right times which this makes it much easier as a father to let her go. Knowing that she’s picked the right guy. The same could be said for Jeff. Sharing their dreams together. We had a great time working with our friend, Curtis Moore again. It’s always a rush to piece together a couple’s story in the form of a Same Day Edit :)
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.
The Döner
The first time we met with Nada & John they were set on hosting their wedding day in the Rocky Mountains. Their idea of a perfect wedding was being surrounded by the beauty and majestic landscape along with their closest family and friends. The Paintbox Lodge is a cozy boutique hotel in the heart of Canmore, Alberta which the entire family could enjoy together. Having the newly joined families relaxing and dinning together at the lodge was the perfect way to seal this bond.
Nada & John’s story is filled with adventure and includes a group of hilarious friends that set up their first meeting. Jessie & Henry saw the potential the two had together and didn’t stop laying down hints that the two of them should meet. With the Calgary Stampede coming up it was a perfect time to arrange a meet up. And, as they say, the rest is history. With their mutual love of the mountains and outdoor lifestyle they quickly became a couple that sent a lot of time in Canmore. The ceremony was held at the Alpine Club of Canada over looking the treed valley and mountain tops. The Tavern 1883‘s log cabin style restaurant was a great way to incorporate the love of the outdoors for the reception.
We had an incredible time working with Jenn from Open Images and her images of the wedding are gorgeous!
Mementos and Sombreros
Nigel’s career brings him all over the world and so, naturally, Cassandra & Nigel’s lives go hand in hand with traveling, trying new restaurants, wine tastings and socializing. One of Nigel’s groomsmen’s favourite moments was when Nigel lead Team Canada and the tournament and scoring in Helsinki with a big 6 goals and 11 points in Hockey.
Over the years, they had collected small mementos to one day look back upon. As their wedding day approached – a day planned with a lot of care and thought, they both decided to look through their memory box. They also decided to each carefully choose one item to share with each other the morning of their wedding. Nigel thoughtfully picked out what he said was an easy choice. Because it was what he considered their start; a U2 ticket. It was a happy moment together, after first dating in Chicago they were finally able to go out as a couple in Winnipeg. Cassandra was hoping to find that ticket Nigel bought for Cassandra in 2010 to come visit him in Atlanta. It was what she considered the beginning of their relationship. While looking for it, she found an item he had left for her that same fall when he had come to visit her. This made her realize just how long ago she had fallen in love and so, here they are three and a half years later.
We had the incredible privilege of weaving together their story into this Sam Day Edit to share with all their friends and family gathered that evening at The Gates on Roblin along with the very talented Simply Rosie Photography.
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.
I’m So Lucky
It’s easy, “All You Need Is Love”! This line from the famous Beatle’s song sets the tone for Melanie + Dean’s Feature. They ultimately met online as so many of our couples do, and they have built an inspiring relationship on trust and commitment. That being said, these two have so much fun together! They make each other laugh constantly and you will see from their film that joy and laughter is a significant part of their lives. Melanie + Dean consider themselves “lucky”, that they get to be together and experience the rich blessings of companionship and love. Hearing from their friends and family it is clear they have been shown what it means to love unconditionally, and triumph over adversity, so their “luck” will serve them well into the future.
It was a pleasure working with this all-star line up: BLF photography, Soiree Event Planning, Hotel Fort Garry, Planned Perfectly, and the Danny Kramer Band.
With All My Heart
Emma + Colin both light up when they are together. They’re a quiet, romantic couple that really take in and appreciate all the little moments that happen throughout a day and the day of their wedding was no different. Both enjoying a range of activities including travel, sports, watching movies, telling jokes and laughing. The ceremony was especially significant with Emma’s father leading the ceremony, bringing everyone together through well chosen, heartfelt words. It’s always a pleasure working with Joel Ross & Jennifer Webber.
Colin really gets Emma and is able to recognize, help and encourage her to follow those dreams as he manages to follow his own. Later at the reception, Colin had shared a quote from his mother about the important things on relationships which they both value and hold dear. “It isn’t so much how often you gaze into each-other’s eyes as long as you put in the effort to gaze in the same direction.” How true and what a beautiful quote to draw on together.
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.
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.
“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.
Text Messages and a Wedding
This day was very much anticipated by Isanne and Jordan (us too!). One thing we quickly understood about Jordan is that he loves both Isanne and his phone. During his introduction in the film, the footage has a bit more movement than usual; it was impossible not to laugh with them ;). We were so impressed with how Isanne showed her love for Jordan. From giving each other cards, gifts, little winks and smiles throughout the day, they showed the imense love and emotional connection they both had which helps us recreate the feeling in their story. They both looked like a match made in Heaven.
When putting together their Feature, we took a lot of care in evaluating what kind of couple we are filming; Jordan and Isanne made the job fairly easy. When we sat down and discusses what the story was going to be and how it should feel, we soon decided on building the film to a cinematic soundtrack. Listening to what the Rabbi had to say, it was a very meaningful, well thought out message which acted as a cornerstone narration to their film. His message was powerful and it was able to sustain. It set the expectation perfectly, which we were able to build off of. To compliment how the film would look and feel, we decided when lighting our speeches we wanted to capture the dramatic mood at the reception. The room was huge; filled with friends and family. But it wasn’t just any room – it was the hotel his mother worked at for years and we wanted to highlight how fantastic and unique layout in the room was.
As always, we are very happy to have worked with Andrea Mancini from Soiree Event Planning. She is such a help during the day not only to the Jordan and Isanne but also to us. No detail goes unoticed and we are always lucky to work with her. Rachel and Brian of Lucky Girl Photography are a blast as always. We always appreciate the warm workflow and comrodery we have. Over the years, we have been able to work with them and we are lucky to be able to call them our friends!
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!
Zombies and Sharks
This Same Day Edit is very unique and special for us. To help give some perspective as to why, we need to explain a bit about our initial meeting with Kate. She was well in-tune with what we were creating for people and what it meant. It was just as exciting for us to hear how Kate recollected a lot of our work – she knew so much about every film we’ve created and understood exactly what we do and how we would fit perfectly into her wedding day. They both planned on sharing their film with family and friends back home after the wedding, so the SDE ended up being a special moment shared over both sides of the country. The unique challenge was length. After talking to Kate and Jeff, their story was more suited for a Feature, but we wanted to share that vision with the guests on their wedding day. The result was this; a film uniquely shaped to combine the longer format story into a same day edit timeline.
Jeff and Kate both live out in Vancouver. The story of how they got there is fascinating. When we see these two holding hands, crossing over a divide in the garden and walking in parallel to meet again at the end – it is really a strong metaphor to how they ended up together. After a few disappointing years, Kate gave up on relationships. She decided to move out west to begin a new life, where she found herself working at a bank. There, she interacted with customers as the came and went until Jeff came through those doors. Jeff made an effort to keep coming back to her and before they knew it, they were together at last.
If you’ve ever met a guy who is passionate about life, Jeff is that person. The morning of his wedding, though he was a bit shy at first, he quickly forgot about cameras following him around. He’s the type of person who isn’t often caught off guard. His passion lies in fitness and training which goes so well with his character – strong, witty and sharp. When he turned around and gazed into Kate’s eyes for the first time, his heart started pounding and for the first time that day he was at a loss for words. From there on, he forgot everything else in the world and focused on her. They shared this important day with friends and family gathered for a rooftop ceremony, followed by a wonderfully warm reception downstairs at the WAG. It’s always fun working with friends and we had the pleasure of working with Luckygirl Photography that day as well. We hope you enjoy.
Icelandic Scenics
Driving out to Gimli (Manitoba’s Icelandic community) early in morning had us excited for a water front cottage feel to Heather and Timothy’s same day edit. There was one thing that we were nervous about and that was the dark clouds that threatened the outdoor picturesque filming we would be able to do. And we are so thankful to say it couldn’t have turned out much better than it did for the entire day’s schedule. The ceremony and reception took place at the Waterfront Center which had fabulous lighting and the atmosphere fit so well for their celebration. We were so thankful that their first look on the pier turned out beautifully with the sun shining down. They were both so ecstatic to see each other that Timothy bolted as soon as he could hear that Heather was close behind and they were so ready to get married. This location is particularly meaningful for the family with its history of spending time together at the lake. And now having been married here it will forever hold deep meaning with them.
Thanks to Photographer Rebecca Croft for a day of fun. Always good to work with you!
Music licensed through themusicbed
Acts of love
Everything about Jennifer and Stephane’s wedding felt like a fairytale. The weather, location, the atmosphere and the obvious match that they are for each other all had a part to play in their story. They’re both young, passionate individuals who both devote a lot of their time lifting each other up. If the stories we heard at the reception were any indication of their character, they’re both incredible people.
One moment that particularly stood to us was the first time they saw each other. Earlier in the morning, Jennifer formulated how she felt about Steph in a note. The excitement they equally shared in seeing one another was complimented with this intimate moment, reading through the letter. We saw how grounded and led by faith they are. All of this had played a major part in their same-day-edit and we’re happy we can share their story with everyone.
Music licensed through themusicbed