Meridian Beach Wedding

Last year I had the privilege of meeting sweet Leah – who despite the time difference Skyped me all the way from Australia! (I’m pretty sure she had just woken up and was still in pijamas…) After I got off that call I exclaimed to my husband “I have to shoot this wedding – it’s at Meridian Beach! – They are amazing!!!!- Ahhh!” Leah and Blair are both so laid back, kind and lovely people. Their wedding day truly embodied what it’s all about: Love.

When we arrived at the beach, the gents clearly had everything in order, were totally ready (and more than a little tired) while the ladies on the other hand were popping champagne and doing a little pre-workout to get pumped up. We knew we were in for an awesome day!

We had an amazing time capturing their wedding – and they were so adventurous! (Even when we came out of the trees and literally ran in what seemed like impending tornado clouds…to jumping in a rowboat that was more than a little filled with water…to standing in the rain smooching).

 

From Leah: 

Blair and I met 11 years ago at the University of Alberta Residences through mutual friends. We got to know each other through many early Uni year shenanigans and started dating a couple of months later.

Engagement story:

Blair and I had been living in Australia for just under a year. We had just bought a car and on our first ride out to the coast together Blair proposed on the beach at Rainbow Bay. I was shocked and even after 9 years, Blair could barely get his words out…

Blair and I knew long before we were engaged that we wanted to get married at Gull Lake. We are happiest outdoors and by the water. When you are in outdoors the simplest of things are the best, like sand between your toes and sun on your face. Green is the colour of nature- thus keeping it simple, we decided that ivory and wood were the best and most natural accents.

Our ceremony was my favorite part of our wedding. Although eating, dancing, and drinking are fun- I wanted everyone to know why Blair and I were getting married, and I wanted everyone to feel our love. In the time that Blair and I have been together, there has been a lot of laughter, tears of joy, and tears of sadness, and most of all a whole lot of love. I think that our ceremony portrayed our love, and it was perfect. I also loved our party- and it was a party! We danced until the wee hours of the night with all of our friends and family… We had a big dance floor and it was full!

We love Ed Sheeran and have for years, we even saw him live in Brisbane last year. When I first heard his song “Thinking out Loud,” both Blair and I knew it was perfect. I also walked down the aisle to “Teneriffe Sea”- “Cause all that you are is all that I’ll ever need.”

 

Favorite Wedding Details: My dress- I found this dress on Pinterest and fell instantly in love- only to find out that it was from Burleigh Heads, an hours drive from Brisbane where we were living! We had a beautiful cake- but we made Ice Cream sandwiches as well- My favorite dessert is cookies and Blair’s is Ice Cream… and they are the perfect combination together!

 

Our flowers and tent decorations were also amazing. Our flowers came from the talented Carol from Flowers for you in Ponoka. Ponoka is a tiny little town with this gem of a lady. She helped make our flowers so special with “Aussie” accents of eucalyptus and heaps of flowing greenery.

 

Advice for other couples: Decide what is most important to you and make this a priority! We wanted a Photobooth more than a DJ, and Cookies and Ice Cream more than a big wedding cake- although our little cake was pretty awesome as well…

Really talk through the day of the itinerary with everyone… and choose what photo’s you and your partner want! I really wanted some rowboat photos and it was totally worth sneaking away from our party for a bit to take some time with each other and get some awesome photos.

 

 

 

As summer comes to a close, check out this beautiful fall wedding at Azuridge!