Monthly Archives: June 2011
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CLAIRE+MIKE. A SUMMER SOLISTICE WEDDING.
30/06/2011In the spring of 2010, Ms. Claire Dibble reached out to me saying that she’d be zipping through Canmore on her way to Calgary from her home in Golden to catch a flight on a particular afternoon and that she’d love to meet for coffee. We sat down for a good chat about all things photography and mountain life. We also set up a few dates to shoot together during the upcoming wedding season.
Back this winter, I got a note saying that she and her longtime partner, Mike had gotten engaged and wondered if I’d be able to come out and shoot their Summer Solstice wedding. After getting to know Claire over the previous wedding season, I knew the two of them would throw one heck of a shindig to commemorate their relationship.
I checked out Nipika Resort online, from what I could tell, it looked pretty cool. But it wasn’t until I arrived on the afternoon of the wedding that I truly realized what a gem this spot was. If we weren’t already in the thick of planning our Kananaskis campsite bushparty-wedding, I would have booked this place on the spot. Nipika is an amazing eco-resort, it is completely off grid. All the power used at the resort is sourced from the sun, stream and forest. All of the buildings and much of the furniture on the property has been constructed using local BC trees which had been previously killed by mountain pine beetles.
Claire and Mike are so lucky to have such an amazing community of friends and family who traveled from ski towns and coastal destinations all over the continent to share in their day. A few weeks before the wedding, Claire told me how some of the plans Adam & I had been working on for our wedding had recently kicked her into gear and inspired her with some craft projects. After being present for their wedding, I was also particularly inspired of what she and Mike had put together – not only because of the perfect location, awesome outfits and quirky decor…but the entire atmosphere created by them and their guests. Congratulations friends!
Mike’s suit was straight from the 1960′s. Well straight from Ebay, but before that, the ’60s.
Claire’s outfit was also from an earlier decade. She searched mountain town thrift shops high and low before finally finding this gem in a little Cranbrook store. After seeing their two outfits during the preparations, I mentioned to Mike that they were going to look so good together, Mike responded, “Well, we feel good together.”
She mentioned that the only traditional bridal piece she was missing was “something new”…even her shoes were borrowed!
A few moments before the ceremony was set to kick off, someone questioned what they would sign the wedding papers on…luckily this charming table and chair was kicking around the property.
Claire and Mike created a unique ribbon ceremony which included all of their guests at once.
Claire plans to make a decorative weaving with all of their wedding ribbons.
The florals were done by Claire’s mum. The boutonnieres were made with greenery from their yard.
They figured it was appropriate that they do some bush whacking on their wedding day…
It got us to a pretty amazing spot.
I LOVE this place. Even the outhouses are ridiculously cute.
Vintage fabrics and laces repurposed as meters upon meters of quirky bunting which was hung EVERYWHERE…including the picturesque barn for the dance portion of the event.
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THE BOLER AT TWO JACK LAKE.
29/06/2011We recently zipped out to Two Jack Lake for the Boler’s first night in the woods. [The Boler has most certainly had several nights out in the woods throughout the first 40 years it's been kicking around, but this was the first time with Adam and Julie.] I absolutely loved all the tenting trips we’ve done in the past, but I have to say, it was pretty great to roll up to the site, have our little trailer un-hitched and jacked up, a fire going, dinner on the BBQ and caesars poured within twenty minutes of arrival. It was extra awesome to wake up the next morning to the lovely pitter patter on the fiberglass roof…and know that we wouldn’t have to pack up a soggy tent in the midst of a rain shower.
I know there’s a bunch of people out there who are just itching to see the snazzy, spruced-up interior. While it’s 100% useable at this point, we’ve still got a bit more polishing to do before this little guy is ready for the official “after” photo shoot.
He makes fire and food. I pour the drinks.
The feet on the left belong to Terence. We’d bumped into each other earlier that day at Communitea. He was in the valley over the weekend shooting a Friday wedding and helping his wife, Terra set up a wedding at The Juniper on Saturday. He mentioned that he’d have some time to kill in the evening and that we should grab a drink and a chat. I told him about our inaugural Boler mission and extended an invitation for a couple of beers around the campfire. Thanks for the company…and beer run, Mr. TLaw
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OUR WEDDING. THE BAKEFEST.
28/06/2011Well, it’s been nearly a month since the last update on the wedding bushparty progress. Things are certainly trucking along. I thought I’d share a few photos of a recent get together with some special ladies. Julie’s Wedding Sweatshop: Round Two…The Bake Fest. Much like the last “wedding sweatshop” my mum hosted, the festivities were up in Camrose and we had plenty of very helpful hands on deck.
We are opting out of a traditional wedding cake…we’re not even going for cupcakes or macaroons. Instead we’re offering up an impressive array of tasty home baked goods. On the menu: classic chocolate chip cookies, triple gingersnaps, cookies and cream truffles, DL’s famous brownies, the family’s favorite lemon squares from my grandma and three flavors of cake bites – chocolate & peanut butter, carrot cake and cream cheese as well as lemon and dark chocolate. HOLY MOLEY.
Of course, since it’s a camping party, there will also be s’mores…and a few flavors of hobo pies! [a brilliant idea from Callandra]
A big thanks to the most amazing lady around, my MUM, DL! Also, my fantastic aunts Marian and Val for all the help in the last couple months…these two gals have been an incredible help with all these projects. Also my lovely friend, Katie who helped conceive this bakefest idea and made the journey to Camrose to help out. I also need to mention both my Grandma and Adam’s mum – neither of which were able to be onsite for the projects, but would have been there in a second if circumstances allowed…either way, they’ve also both offered so much great help throughout all our ambitious wedding projects.
ps. I’m so sorry if this little photo-collage gives you the mid-afternoon munchies. I’ll be 100% upfront and mention that I did, indeed, sneak into our freezer and grab just one cake bite to enjoy while I prepped these photos. I promise, Mum, only one.