This last trip back to Ontario, I was able to squeeze in an engagement session for Todd & Toni and a long overdue dinner.   I was introduced to Todd almost 14 years ago when I started dating my husband.  Over the years we have developed a very close friendship … I don’t just consider him one of my best friends …he’s more like a brother to me.  It warms my heart to see him so happy and in love!!

I am over the moon happy that he will be marrying Toni this May … she is an absolute sweetheart and is going to make a beautiful bride.  I am extremely honored that I will be photographing their wedding.

I woke up 11 years ago today with butterflies in my stomach like I have never felt before … it was a beautiful day with blue skies … all my friends and family were with me … and I was going to get married!  You couldn’t wipe the grin off my face all day!!  When my parents walked me down the aisle … I remember starting to cry … everyone was staring at me and it was starting to register … “oh my goodness!!  I’m getting married!!” … When we got to the end of the aisle and Michael held my hand … I felt like I had come home … a feeling of complete and utter calm came over me … I couldn’t wait to begin our life … he still has this affect over me whenever I start going a little crazy … he just needs to hold my hand and talk to me and I know it is going to be ok … he makes me laugh like no other … he is my biggest cheerleader … the best father to our son … and the person I always want to have around me … he is my rock … and the love of my life!

We have had such an amazing adventure the last 11 years … from selling our home in St. Catharines, Ontario and moving to Ithaca, NY … to New York City … and now to Vancouver.   We have had some ups and downs but it has only made us stronger as a team … We have traveled all over and have some great memories … I cannot wait to have more adventures with you by my side …

Happy Anniversary Michael … I love you!

for my girlfriends and sister … really … I had short hair and tried to have an updo

See what I mean??  Big grins all day long

LOL!!  How about these photos … all of this done without Photoshop!!

ok … wait for it … wait for it …

It’s been a crazy busy few weeks! I have been travelling all over Ontario & NewYork City for weddings … during one stop in Hamilton Tamara & Chad asked if I would do a “Day After” session with them (yeah yeah I know they got married in July, but I am not in Ontario very often)… Poor Chad was sooooo sick the day of the wedding we weren’t able to capture as many photos as we would have liked … so the 3 of us all headed out to Fifty Point Conservation again to snap off some shots

The sky was amazing that night!! 

I love love love Tamara’s laugh here!! 

This couple can add another chapter to their incredible love story… Getting Married!   Anybody who saw Tamara preparing for her big day could feel the joy and excitement overflowing from this young woman.  This is the day she has been waiting for since she was 5 years old!  She was going to marry Chad.  Everyone was all smiles and giggles until she put her wedding dress on … then it became real, in a few moments she was going to be getting married.  It didn’t take long for that smile to once again light up the room…she couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Jelly.

Even though the ceremony was only 15 minutes … it was one of the most emotional ceremonies I have ever witnessed.  There was not a dry eye in the Grand Olympia hall, even all the groomsmen were affected by their words.  I have known Tamara since she was born and was so honored to be there to capture her and Chad’s memories … but it was incredibly difficult with tears spilling out of my eyes…

I wish you many years of love and laughter … may you never forget how special your love is for each other.

Her amazing hot pink BCBG shoes!

One last check before putting on her dress … 

Coming up to show her parents what a gorgeous bride she is…

I love how her parents got so emotional seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time …

Watching Chad’s parents walk him down the aisle was unbelievably touching!!  This is when the water works started for me and I think everyone else.  This is a very close knit family and was really beautiful to watch their love for each other. 

After the ceremony we went to Fifty Point Conservation area for some portraits.

Tamara’s grandfather passed away almost 2 years ago and she had a photo of him pinned to her bouquet.

My little neice Angela … she just loves being a flower girl.

I don’t normally post dancing shots … but I couldn’t resist with all of these … they just tell the story so perfectly.

I hope you guys had a great honeymoon in Mexico!  Lots of love to you both – xox -

NOW … I wan’t going to post these … but couldn’t resist!  My son was the ring bearer and is a very shy kid!  You would never have guessed the way he tore up the dance floor to all his favorite songs!  LOL … yup … my son is “that” guy who puts the tie around his head and un-buttons his shirt!

My cousin and his wife had their baby while I was in Ontario visiting.  So I had the pleasure of photographing my first newborn!!  Woot Woot…thanks for being 2 weeks early 

Baby Joey was only 5 days old when I took these photos.  Aren’t newborns supposed to sleep all the time?!  Not this little guy…he totally wanted to work the camera instead of napping.  Welcome to the family little one.

Joe & Tracey…welcome to the wonderful world of Parenthood!

This is a bit of a long story about perserverance and never giving up on your dream…pull up a seat…get cozy…this is a good one!

A three year old little girl is starting dance class and couldn’t be more excited!   Until she is introduced to a little boy and becomes totally enamored.  She looks up at her mother and says…”I’m going to marry him one day”. 

Years had passed and their paths didn’t really cross until grade 8.  This is when the real fixation began for her.  I have had the pleasure of knowing this lovely girl/woman her whole life and have been eye witness to some pretty funny obsessions.   They were both at the same dance studio and Tamara pretty much worshipped Chad…from a distance.  For some reason, she feared that she wouldn’t remember him, if for some strange reason, she couldn’t see him anymore…so she started a scrapbook ‘Everything Chad’…she started collecting all kinds of crazy things and everything he touched went into this book…gum wrappers, chip bags, a letter he once wrote her, a hair net, the cap from his ice tea, etc.  She never stopped dreaming she was going to be his wife!

Finally near the end of high school she found the courage to ask him to her prom…and wouldn’t you know it…he said “yes”!  They have been dating ever since and that was six and a half years ago. 

Two weeks before Tamara moved away for Teacher’s college, her dream came true!  All of the families were sitting around after a golf tournament when Chad presented her with one of those Build a Bear’s wearing a Toronto Maples Leaf’s jersey.  Since Chad has always known about Tamara’s collection/stalking/fear … he said he wanted her to remember him while she was away at school and that the bear had a message for her…

“Hi Gorgeous…you mean the world to me…I love you…will you marry me?”

LOL!  you couldn’t get her to stop screaming or crying!  Talk about perserverance…It was amazing to be there with them and I couldn’t be happier for the both of them.  They are the sweetest couple.  Although they have a long history together…the love that exudes from this couple is unbelievable and doesn’t come around very often.  It was the easiest photoshoot I have ever done because they are always so tender with one another.  

I can’t wait to photograph your wedding this July, it’s going to be a blast!  Lots of love to you both!! xo

couch … $10

gas … $15

carwash … $8

towtruck … $262.50

photos … PRICELESS

Polkaroo … that is how Melanie (a registered veterinary technician) thought of Chris.  At the time he was the mysterious ‘cute paramedic guy’ that worked at the same Fort Erie Race Track.  Every time a mutual friend tried to introduce them, Chris had either just left or wasn’t working that shift, etc. etc.  there was always something that prevented them from meeting…Polkaroo…

Until one day…months later…Melanie went to a local pizza place for a birthday party and Chris happened to be there watching the World Juniors Hockey game.  They were a match!  I couldn’t be  happier for them!   Chris is now a firefighter for the Niagara Falls Fire Deptartment and Melanie is currently a stay-at-home mom with their beautiful boy Edan!

I was able to photograph their engagement session in Ancaster and spend some quality time with both of them before I flew back to Vancouver.  We went to the Hermitage Ruins  which some believe to be a ’haunted house’.  There are only a few walls left standing that were once part of a mansion from the 1830′s… they have guided ghost walks where you can explore the dark alley’s and remaining buildings where they believe ghosts still visit.  If that is too freaky then the hiking and trails on this property are pretty amazing as well.  I had a hard time keeping Chris’s attention, he was a true boy at heart and wanted to go out exploring instead of getting his photos taken.

It is always so amazing seeing you guys!  I am bummed that I will be missing your wedding in August!! 

My mother loves to tell the story how I was missing for over an hour as a small child at my dad’s shop, and that they had to get the whole body shop looking for me.  I used to love climbing up into the back cabs of the transport trucks and explore…this particular time I ended up curling up and took a nap…oops.  I have fond memories of hanging out at Brockley Truck.   Now that my son is a bit older we decided it would be fun to take him to Neutzie’s (grandfather in Italian is Nonno…long story how it became Neutzie)…anyways…Max and my neice Angela had an absolute riot climbing into all the trucks and cars.  Here are a few photos of them exploring…

Then the sun peeked out and turned into a really nice day so we decided to take the kids to the beach to ride their new scooters.  It was nice to get out for a walk and some fresh air.

Here are just a few photos of our trip to Ridgeway, Ontario… I promise to do a better job in the last week that I am here … lol!  Stay tuned for an exciting contest that I am about to launch in the next few days …

This is our friend’s gorgeous 10 month old baby…Edan.  Look at these eyes…my goodness!

My husband Mike and his friend Chris grew up together in Brockville, Ontario.  I have been married to Mike for 10 years and have noticed that these two men cannot be together without talking about fishing…going fishing…talking about past fishing experiences…planning fishing trips…eatting fish…etc.  :).  So, it was not a surprise when they suggested we go fishing at Sherkston Shores…my son was extremely excited! 

Looks like it’s going to be chicken for dinner

It was a great day getting caught up with a dear dear friend, and especially lovely to finally meet Melanie who Chris will marry in August.   It felt like we have known each other for years!  I love it when that happens

here’s the photo of Edan in black and white too…I couldn’t decide which one I liked better…

Well my son and I were in Ontario for our great pumpkin search this year. My sister found the most amazing pumpkin patch with all kinds of mazes, rides, bikes, tractor rides, bouncey castle, etc. for the kids. What a wonderful day had by all.

Happy Halloween … don’t forget to brush those sugar bugs out!