Lisa & Dave- My Wedding Gift Couple 2009

Lisa and Dave were married on March 6 2009 in Edmonton in a small ceremony surrounded by their closest family members. I had the pleasure of photographing their wedding after receiving an email from Lisa explaining their situation. After I heard their story, it was easy to choose them to win my free wedding of 2009. Not surprizingly, they are a beautiful couple, inside and out and I loved being the one to capture their memories. Their story touched me and I am honoured to share her words with you:

Our situation: We both come from big families. In fact, we both have 8 siblings. We always knew that a wedding budget would be tight. Recently, I went on an 18 month church mission - did lots of service & enjoyed it tremendously. I moved to Edmonton to finish massage therapy training, balancing work and school. I met Dave right away, and became good friends; we were just ourselves, with no great romantic interest.

But the more I got to know Dave, the more I liked him.

Eventually I talked him into dating me knowing that I would be moving away in a few short months...but then his mother passed away very unexpectedly - such grief, a very a tangible loss for his family.

Dave withdrew from his university courses temporarily to be with his family; and then it seemed that we had more time to spend together. I met his family, helped him clean his car, played piano and sang songs from movie scores with his brother.

They told him never to let me go.

Then Dave met my family, helped my mother do the dishes, even asked my father's blessing in the traditional way. He gained their approval.

It then time came for our planned, but still difficult separation. I moved to southern Alberta to help out my aging Grandparents and spend some special individual time with them. We were planning on being apart for four months. It ended up being...five weeks. You see, as independent as I am, I didn't anticipate missing Dave as much as I did. So yes, absence "made our hearts grow fonder" and we decided to move up our wedding date.

Funds are tight, and emotions still a little raw after the death of Dave's Mother, so we're having a small, quiet wedding on March 6th with mostly immediate family. We are having the reception at a family friend's home. Dave's sister is making my dress and helping me with my hair and make-up. A friend is making me a bouquet. My Wedding Band is Vintage yellow gold, a gift from my oldest sister. I am also having another band, from Dave's mother's ring, precision cut to encircle my own engagement ring. The rest of the details are all falling into place.

I was the last girl with plans for marriage. He was planning on moving away for school, but something held him back. I know most couples must feel this way, but we truly feel that our marriage was meant to be.

We feel that everything happens for a reason, and the big guy upstairs who knows us best has given us more than we ever could have dreamed of - each other.

I also believe that everything happens for a reason and know that someone is smiling down on you both in approval of your marriage. I am sure she would be so proud of your decisions. Your day was unique, special and most of all full of love. What impressed me the most was that you both were so centered on your marriage and didn't get caught up in the sometimes craziness of planning a wedding. I was also very happy to see how excited you both were to spend forever together.

Here's to your happy ending....or happy beginning!

Lots of love,

Kelsy

The beautiful winning couple!

Isn't she adorable?

Such a serene scene....

Until a lovely wind gust of snow blows in.... brrr!

Love this :)

I also really loved this one...especially when I notice Dave is wearing my " just-in-case-I-need-to dig-myself-out" emergency car gloves. Stylin'... but it was -10C so I forgive him for trying to sneak them into the pictures. You guys were real troopers!

Edmonton River Valley images always make me happy....

It was a pleasure spending your wedding day with you and hearing your story. I hope the day was everything you imagined and more.