Dave & Macey Tie the Knot

On Saturday, May 30, 2015 we were all privileged to be witness and be part of the marriage between David Veldman and Macey Scullion.

In the past two and a half years, our family has been part of four weddings among our siblings.  The saying,  "it never rains but pours" could not be truer of our family.  As we all entered that phase of our relationships around the same time, we began with Josh & Amber, Matt & myself, Joseph & Danielle, and finally Dave &  Macey.

Each wedding was unique in it's own way, a personal statement on the individuality of each of our relationships and personalities;  Dave and Macey's wedding was unique indeed.

Married on the Borden base of the CAF, we were all treated to a glimpse inside the lives of the army.  I had the assignment of shooting some simple photographs for Dave and Macey. 

Disclaimer:  I am most definitely not a professional photographer and I'm sure other people attending with cameras were able to catch more vivid images.  These are the particular few that I enjoyed the most from that day.

To Dave & Macey, I wish you a long long marriage of happiness, learning and love.

Updates Galore!

It's been a terribly long time since I've updated and I have no excuse...other than being caught up in the usual busyness of Christmas and wedding preparations.

Life seems to have gotten busier as I grow older.  Clearly part of it is due to the natural transition of moving through life stages...but I am swamped!

Here are some photos to give you an idea of what I've been up to!

Lake Ontario frozen!  Just before Matt went off work for Christmas vacations, I was still taking the dogs to the beach, but the water is now partially frozen and the mornings out there are COLD.

The week before Christmas we had an actual snow fall.  I mean, for the past couple years, despite being in Canada, our Christmas's have been green.  This year was a treat though--for the people who want a white Christmas.

Instead of buying a large freshly chopped tree as we had initially planned, we decided to go with something a bit more green friendly.  We bought a small live spruce in a pot from Canadian Tire.

Okay, so he's a bit small, but he's mighty at heart and he'll still be with us next year! (Fingers crossed, I don't have the best green thumb.)

Matt bought me a pretty candle holder for more Christmas decor...

We also got some pretty stars from Ikea to hang in our windows...

More exciting stuff!
I won't show what's IN the box, but we bought our wedding bands today.

Buying the wedding bands made everything seem so much more...real.  I can't believe we're getting married!!! It is the natural progression of things (for most people), but sometimes it's so hard to imagine being a MRS.

To add to that--

We've finally made some honeymoon decisions and I think most everything is figured out!  I have some important things left to do, but for the most part I feel calm and on track about all of it.

Having Matt home from work for a couple weeks has been so awesome.  I've been working a lot myself this week, so I'm very much looking forward to a 4 day stretch off that I have coming up.

We took the dogs to the dog park today and Oliver was a good little photogenic boy.

Cutest little man.

Well, that's all for now!  Stay tuned for more wedding plans and all that boring stuff!

~Marcia

P.S. Did I mention...I BOUGHT A DRESS???  

Wedding Planning: Part One

Since Matt and I announced our engagement, I have been inundated with loads and loads of advice and thoughts from different people.

Now I just want to point out:  I don't think Matt has been given any advice at all.  None.  If he has, he has not imparted it with me.  It seems to me that the bride-to-be is the one who receives the bulk of this shared wisdom, whether it is wanted or not.  Traditionally I suppose this is because the bride is typically far more involved in the details of the wedding than the groom.  Whatever the case may be, I have received a lot of ideas/thoughts/wisdom/advice, much of it that I'd rather not hear.

Then after doing research online and making choices about our wedding ceremony, venue, etc, I came to this huge realization (again, because I keep having it over and over like Groundhog Day) that the wedding industry is a huge money-making scam.

For example, I looked at mobile makeup and hair costs.  $400 just for the bride. 

I cannot justify that in my head even for the airbrush foundation technique.

I also have stumbled across a host of wedding do's & don'ts.  One website in particular really irritated me.  Here's their list of all wedding things considered tacky:

• Chocolate fountains
• Facebook invites
• Pulling up in any old ride
• Ice sculptures
• Dance performances
• Visible tattoos
• Banning kids
• No alcohol
• Ratchet music
• A revealing dress
• A crown
• Asking for money
• The money dance
• Dresses that aren't white
• Getting married at your favourite store

Albeit, some of those ARE a little strange and not up my alley, such as wearing a crown and revealing dress.  HOWEVER, if people want to do wear a champagne or pink wedding dress, why the heck can't they?  Why should they be considered tacky if it's something that they truly want to do?

Even worse, some people tell me (unknowingly) things they don't like about weddings/choices brides make without knowing I have opted for those very things. Then it becomes this awkward discussion (always at work) about wedding etiquette and what should be expected from a bride.

Them:  Wear a veil.  Wear contacts.  Have a flower girl.  Have a candle lighting ceremony.  Weddings should always be open bar.  Invite all your cousins or else.  Get actual bridesmaid dresses.  Don't be cheap.  Get your nails done.  Go to a spa prior to wedding.  Throw a stag & doe.  Throw an engagement party.  Set up a registry.  Do whatever you want.  Do what everyone else does.  It's all about you as a couple.  Don't be weird or do weird things.  Get professional invitations done.  Cover up your tattoos.  Show your tattoos and be proud.  

Me:

When it's all said and done, here is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I am focusing on:

I am getting married to my favourite person in the world.

Nothing else matters.  I am constantly repeating that over and over to myself.  What I opt to do is my choice alone.  If people don't like our style, they don't have to come.  We're not getting married for other people, we're getting married for ourselves, because we love each other and are committing to each other in front of people who love us.

And in an actual wedding update, so far I have:

• chosen a date and time
• gotten hair & make up darlings set up
• booked the church
• booked the reception venue
• started working on invitations
• chosen bridesmaids (and Matt has chosen his men)
• chosen a reception menu options
• booked photographers (so excited to work with Mike & Jenny!)
• started a website (ballers like that)
• picked an walk-down-the-aisle song (what is the official name?)
• asked my brother to DJ an after party (he said yes, obvi)
• sort of picked a dress (still have to try it on)

I am on schedule!  Soon I will release our website URL when all the information has been input.

Among words of advice, people ALSO keep saying to me, "Planning a wedding is SO hard, it's SO MUCH WORK, you will get so overwhelmed, make sure you delegate..."  Up to this point, I have found it to be none of those things.  When I mentioned that it was smooth sailing so far, I got the "WAIT until the DAY OF YOUR WEDDING and THEN you will see WHAT I MEAN!!!!111!!!!"

*deep breath*

I am getting married to my favourite person in the world.

I am getting married to my favourite person in the world.

I am getting married to my favourite person in the world.

I hope you will all come and dance Schmidt-y like with me.  Stay tuned for more wedding updates! 

Josh & Amber Get Married!

After months of planning, my brother and his fiancée got married this past Saturday!  It was a wonderful day with many beautiful moments.  I thought I'd post a few pictures and high-lights on here. 

(Sorry for any blurriness. I didn't want to use my flash during the ceremony.)

The bridal party ladies.  They each chose and wore their own dress, all the colour green.  It was a funky and interesting choice.

The men all wore generic grey pants with suspenders.

Of course, Amber looked beautiful and Josh was handsome in a green dress shirt and grey pants.

Here they are, saying their vows--which by the way, moved quite a few people to tears.

Our significant others

My mom and dad from behind

My beautiful sister sitting beside me

And the look on my brother's face when he turned to talk to his girlfriend

My other sister, the classy pianist who played the processional and signing of the vows

Our little brother watching my brother sing a song for his new wife

He later climbed into my OTHER brother's lap

Josh singing a song to Amber was the most poignant moment of the night to me.  I saw him pouring out his heart and feelings to his new wife.  Having lived with Josh for many years, I have always known that he has had so much love and affection to give, but he had to wait several years until he found the right person.  I am ecstatic that he has found the woman who eagerly receives and cherishes all the love he has to give--which is a lot! I'll admit it: I cried. Isn't it joyous to watch our family and people we love come into a wonderful and good thing?  Isn't it amazing to watch someone be so fulfilled with their emotions and relationship?

Their first dance as husband and wife

I'm so happy for both of them and wish them all the best!

Now...who's next?