Kristen and Paul

We've often heard the phrase, "that's what friends are for."  It can be used in so many different ways from a simple statement to a full out swagger of song.........but I was reminded of it several times throughout the wedding day of Kristen and Paul.

Darlene and I pulled up to Kristen and Paul's house shortly after 10:00am and I was shocked to see Paul standing there.  He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and was gathering last minute items before he set off to meet up with the guys.

Hiding in the house was Kristen, her mom, and the bridesmaids.  Kristen was scurrying around finishing up her last minute details from adding the finishing touches to her speech to making sure everyone had their shoes and flowers.  I had to laugh.........here is the bride and groom, on their wedding day...making sure everyone else is taken care of.  Wow, what an amazing couple.  One of her bridesmaids even pulled me aside to show me the gorgeous scrapbook that Kristen had put together for her.  She was so touched as Kristen had documented their friendship with old photographs and keepsakes.  Anyone who has ever scrap booked, or attempted too-knows the hard work and TIME  that goes into the creation of a memory book.  Kristen designed and made one for each of her bridesmaids.........now that it love!

As the morning passed I had a chance to walk around Kristen and Paul's home, it is filled with framed pictures of all of their friends.  From weekends at the cabin to tropical holidays, every photograph had a theme of "good people, great friends..............fantastic times together."
By 11:00am Kristen was ready to step into her beautiful vintage-style wedding gown.  I loved this dress from the elegant neckline to the flow of the material.  Kristen's hair and accessories added the finishing touch to compliment the Old Hollywood design.

When Paul arrived with his merry group of men, he too looked fabulous.  I could see the smile on his face from a few doors away.  It was a perfect day from the warm weather, to the bold blue sky above, but what caught our eye the most was how an airplane had flown by and put a giant "x" over top of Kristen and Paul's house.  As Paul put it best............"x" marks the spot.  Was this coincidence?  Or someone (above the clouds) reminding Paul where his house was in case he had too many beers to celebrate?? Just kidding!  It was pretty cool though.

Within moments Kristen stepped out of the house to greet her soon-to-be-husband, Paul.  After hugs from all of their friends they all posed for a picture before the Party Bus arrived.  This photo was a special request from the bride herself, all she wanted was a photo of her bridal party in front of their home.  This was such a great idea as Paul and Kristen celebrated the beginning of their wedding day with such an important group of people.............their friends.  Cheers!

Darlene and I had such a fun time travelling around with Kristen, Paul, and the wedding party.  What an adventure!  We started along Waterfront of the Exchange District, went to the park in Headingly, and drove through clouds of dust along the winding gravel roads that brought us to our final destination of Bridges Golf Course.  We did all of this in a matter of 3 hours........along with a memorable wasp sting, and a brief fall off the bus.

By the end of the tour all parties involved were still laughing and having the time of their lives.  At this time I knew how lucky I was to be a part of such a fun day with such an amazing group of friends.  This was a group that truly adored Kristen and Paul and they shared in the happiness of their day.

Kristen and Paul were married just before 5:00pm in front of all of their family and friends.  The ceremony was short, sweet, but filled with laughter as the couple walked down the aisle raising their arms with celebration and cheers.  "We did it!"

The reception was fantastic filled with hilarious speeches, a timeless slide show, and a photo booth.  We even had time to sneak out for a few moments to capture a couple of sunset photos.  Any couple who has worked with me knows just how much I love a great sunset.  I was thrilled when Kristen and Paul surprised me with, "hey do you want to go outside for a few more shots?"  Yes!!!! the sun was just about to fall behind the trees as it caught shimmers of Kristen's dress and lit up the sky in pinks and purple.  Paul stood smiling his adorable grin, they both looked wonderful!

Thank you to all of the friends and family who have brought so much joy to the lives of Kristen and Paul which made our day fun to capture the candid moments of their wedding.  As we all know, friendships come and go but sometimes we find friends that last a lifetime.  Kristen and Paul share their lives with such a great group of people and I can see how much they are loved.   Kristen and Paul are more than a husband and wife but are each other's best friend who get to spend the rest of their lives together.

A special Thank you to Kristen and Paul........thank you for your humour, your fun and for giving me the great joy of sharing such a beautiful day with you both!