[wedding: Mark & Janeen ]

Winter weddings in Vancouver are always a bit nerve wracking, but when I met Mark and Janeen a few months back for their engagement shoot, their laid-back attitude was a calm assurance that their day would be great - regardless of the weather.

The plan was for me to meet where the bride and bridesmaids would be before the wedding, and it was a full house.  Grandparents, parents, bridesmaids, other family and friends ... there wasn't a nook or cranny that wasn't filled with chatter or laughter.  The vibe was great, right from the start.

It's not often that all four grandparents are able to attend their granddaughter's wedding, and Janeen was so blessed to have them all there.  It was even more special because Janeen's grandmother was very ill, and yet - with incredible strength and much joy in being able to be there - she rose above her pain and brought so much happiness to her family.  

... seeing her with her grandparents made me miss my own, in a lovely sort of way.  I loved the way she looked at them ...

THEN.  We headed to the church ... and there, I met the characters of the day:  Mark's groomsmen.  Boy oh boy ... Mark sure knew how to pick 'em *grin*.

... meanwhile, the lovelies that were spending the last "single" moments with Janeen, joined together in a heartfelt prayer.  This ceremony was to be far more than just a promise between two adults.  This was a chord of three, with God being the centre ... 

The ceremony was full of both traditional Catholic traditions, as well as special Filipino customs.  And I love it when both parents walk the bride down the isle ... it's such a beautiful representation of the approval of both parents ...

Their wedding mass was a sacred ceremony, but not stuffy ... Mark and Janeen were relaxed and even had a few giggles ... 

... and then they were Mr. and Mrs.  I just love that moment.

Now.  It was December 18th in Vancouver, BC.  Do you know where you were?  Probably at home, snuggled with a cup of hot cocoa.  Not us *grin* ... it was slushy, wet, windy, cold and the worst part - it was dark.  I knew we only had about 45 minutes of light left after the 1.5hr ceremony ... 

Plus, the wind was making the rain whip across the poor bridesmaid's coiffed 'dos.  The guys were graciously giving up their coats - when they really wanted them for themselves *grin*.  My hands were numb.  My clothes were drenched.  And that was even with all the hiding under any covering we could find at the locations we chose ... They were going to have outdoor photos if it killed them *grin*.

And in all that - we had such a great time.  This group were troup-ers!!

... this has to be one of my favourites.  We were hiding under the soccer bleachers ...

... the light was almost gone, it was ridiculously cold, and the rain was pooooouring.  And the lovely Janeen and Mark allowed me to capture this ...

And then we headed to Janeen's grandmother's rest home.  There, we captured all of the family groupings and even had time to snap a few more of the wedding party ... I had never done wedding pics in a rest home before *smile* ... 

... and out came the Christmas carols.  And never a full song ... just parts of them *grin*.

When those pics were done, we headed back to their church where the reception was going to be held.  

The room was full of family and friends ... with accents of purple and the smell of incredible food.

The speeches we heartfelt.  The support of this couple was obvious.  People couldn't say enough of their integrity, their devotion to God and to each other ... so many happy tears.

And their first dance made me SMILE.  It was obvious that there were lessons had, or at the very least - a planned routine - to Michael Buble's "Everything".  People couldn't take their eyes off of them - even with the couple giggling through the steps ...

Mark and Janeen, what a privilege it was to be a part of your wedding day - to hang with your family and friends, to be invited into your home, your lives.  Thank you for your easy-going spirits, for not letting the rain dampen your day, for just living your day to the very fullest.  

And be ready for a looooong slideshow *grin*.  Looks like there'll be 700+ edited pics for me to choose from ... oh boy!!

Interested in having RedHanded Photography for your wedding?  Event?  Family portraits? ... please contact me at RedHanded Photography and click "contact" - filling in the information there.  All 2010/2011 rates are listed there as well.  Thanks!!