Julie and Aaron

Saturday July 28, 2012

Like many little girls we often imagine our wedding to be like a fairytale.  I know I did, but as we grow up and become a member of "real life" we often replace the frills and fairies of our imaginary world for our education, career, and everyday life.  Sometimes I get a glimpse back into my childhood dreamland when I photograph a wedding.  Whether it's the dress, the flowers, the bubbles, or a familiar tune of music I often find myself smiling and remember the joy and wonder of what it would feel like to be a princess.  Today I photographed the wedding of Julie and Aaron, a wonderful couple who tied their day together with strings of love, family, and a tradition that goes back a hundred years!
We travelled to St. Adolphe, Manitoba where we were greeted by the dashing groom, Aaron at his father's house.  One by one his fellow groomsmen and brothers arrived to help Aaron get ready.  Then again I think Aaron did the helping as he tied each tie and made sure their jackets were perfect.  Other family members joined the fun including Julie's father and godfather.  Not only did they share in a celebratory drink but they also followed an old family ritual of "shaving" the groom before the wedding.



We arrived at the Historic Hotel Fort Garry for 10:30am where Julie was getting ready.  Julie's parents are from Macedonia, a beautiful place in the southeast of Europe (by Greece).  Throughout the day I learned more and more about Macedonia traditions and life in the "old country".  It was fascinating but what I loved the most was how Julie was able to incorporate these traditions from the early generations and add a modern flare.
If I could imagine a princess bride she would look a lot like Julie.  I have often told her she has such a striking resemblance to the real princess Katherine but Julie's beauty is beyond her exterior, she has a genuine heart of gold for her family and her friends.
Julie was getting the final touches on her hair when we arrived sitting patiently in her chair wearing her cute "sexy little bride" t-shirt.  We were welcomed by her friends and her proud mother who greeted us with tears of joy and the biggest hug.   
Within moments Julie stepped into her wedding gown.  Wow, I had tears.....Julie looked elegant, full of grace....beyond breathtaking.  A true beauty!


Julie and Aaron were married at 1:00pm in a traditional ceremony held at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral followed by family photographs.
It was another warm and sunny afternoon so we headed to the Exchange District and met at one of the tunnels.  The wedding party arrived full of smiles, charisma, and practical jokes.  The guys were hilarious as they posed for the camera flashing me their "blue steel smiles" and crazy tactics.



I had such a great time photographing this group but I especially loved watching the sincere love and admiration shared between Julie and Aaron.  They have been referred to each other as "the perfect puzzle piece" for each other.  They are right.  Throughout the day I would often catch them smiling quietly at one another, or sneaking in a kiss or too.  I am so happy to be a part of such an amazing day but to have the opportunity to meet such a terrific group of people makes it even more memorable.







Not only is Julie stunningly gorgeous but she has such a zest for life and having fun.  I couldn't resist capturing this moment of her "dancing in the street".  Thank you Julie, you are every photographer's dream but you would make any little girl believe that they were looking at a princess in their storybook.  You and Aaron were my dream come true, so Thank You, we had a blast.



 Our next location was to the Hydro building where we got a break from the heat and enjoyed the modern architecture and lavish waterfall.  However, it wouldn't have felt right without the guys adding one more joke to the list, yep they couldn't resist picking up Aaron for another candid snapshot.







We ended the formal photos at the park.  It was a perfect day to photograph Julie and Aaron by the pond and surrounding areas.










The wedding party looked amazing but couldn't resist having a little childhood fun of climbing the trees and having a quick dip in the pond.  This was a crazy group who loved the attention from the local tourists who couldn't resist snapping a few photos of their own.  I couldn't stop laughing.  Thank you to you all for bringing your love and support to Julie and Aaron but for adding a little bit of your spontaneous charm to each and every photo.


Our evening ended with a fantastic dinner and reception held at the Hotel Fort Garry.  The room was decorated with a theme of elegance, tradition and royalty.  The cake was made by Kayla Milligan (Live, Laugh, Love Cakes) and it brought sweet smells of vanilla to the room.


Thank you again to Julie and Aaron but to all of their family and friends who we had the pleasure to meet and to listen to stories from "the old country".  We had a great time travelling back in time as we watched the famous "bread dance" a Macedonian tradition.

My favourite photo....