The holly and the jolly

2010 was hands-down the most roller-coaster year of my life. The highs were incredibly high and the lows were pretty unmistakable. The highest of highs for the year happened on August 11, when my husband and I officially became home owners for the first time. Fast forward to the end of December, and the need to commemorate our first Christmas in our first home.

A new home also meant a little more decorating for me. When I was a child, we always had this wreath made of pine cones hanging on our wall at Christmastime. It lit up with Christmas lights and had small toy ornaments on it. My mom and I collected small pine cones from a field in Cape Breton when I was home in November, and I was able to recreate the wreath with the help of a glue gun and a lot of time.

And what would Christmas be without everyone's favorite annual holly jolly portrait of Christmas elf Simba!

Hope everyone's season was wonderful, and all good things for everyone in 2011!

She's not only gorgeous...

Back in November, Georgina and I headed to Cape Breton to visit our families and investigate the old stone church we both grew up attending. You may know me well enough by now to know that by "investigate", I really mean "take pictures at" so she toted along her wedding dress to see if the cold would beat it into submission, seeing as the ocean had previously been unsuccessful.

While she changed, I hung out with her brother and his family, which included the overly-excited and incredibly photogenic Chevy.

Then we strutted across the yard to the church, only to find it is crumbling with age and we were unable to get inside. That Georgina, however, is a trooper and was willing to flaunt her stuff in a lowly 10 degrees celsius to get a few good shots before the biting wind got the best of both of us.

I swear, I don't choose my friends based on how photogenic they are (well, not SOLELY on that, anyway) but seriously... look at this girl! She's not just gorgeous... she's GEORGEOUS!

If you don't believe me, here's a closer look.

Alas, the dress is also a trooper and is not yet willing to give up. I expect you'll be seeing more of it in the not too distant future.

Monique & Steve

September 17, 2010 was a Friday. Black Friday as it jokingly became known as in our little social circle. It was on that day that we married off the last of our group of girls: the lovely Monique Innocent. Now, I normally don't use last names in my posts, but how could I possibly overlook a 'Little Miss Innocent got married on Black Friday quip'? Add to that the fact that the lucky man, Steve, starts with an "S" and I'll leave the naturally following S&M jokes to you, because I know I've heard them all already: that's just how these two work.

The ceremony was held at Hatfield Farms, just outside of Halifax. There was no better choice for horse-lover Monique and outdoorsman Steve, or for my photographer self for that matter.

I began with the details Monique so painstakingly prepared, starting with the ideal footwear for a cowgirl about to walk down the aisle...

...and the pearls and brooch finally settled on after a number of purchases and returns...

...and wine glasses engraved with only days to spare.

On the day of the wedding, it poured rain, and the wind blew so hard that the drops fell sideways. Not to be deterred, Hatfield Farms simply moved the ceremony inside and, much to my delight, did an amazing job with white lights wrapped endlessly around wooden rafters and the vows themselves being framed by a massive stone fireplace adorned with lit candles.

 

They also provided use of a horse and carriage, which the girls arrived in for the ceremony and the bride and groom were given a tour of the grounds in afterward.

At one point, I was taking photos of the wedding party and turned around to find Monique chatting it up with this beautiful creature.

Oh my gosh, Monique, DON'T MOVE.
Score one point for candid photography.

The supper was also wonderful, the food fantastic, and the reception magical. I'm not sure what Steve was expecting allowing the now-blog-infamous Georgina to make a speech...

...but clearly she nailed it!

Afterward, the new Mister and Missus allowed me a brief moment to soak up the grounds with a few night shots...

...before Monique donned her custom-made Bride 2010 sweatsuit and joined the wedding guests on the mechanical bull.

Hatfield Farms puts on a fantastic evening, and I can't wait for another opportunity to shoot there. Monique and Steve also put on a fantastic evening, and I wish them all the best for a long and happy future together.

The Other Way

On the long Labour Day weekend in September, four of us girls hopped into the car for a road trip to Scrapbooking Cafe and a grand tour of some of the more southern areas of our province.

Our first stop was a very windy and remarkably beautiful Peggy's Cove. The lighthouse at Peggy's Cove has to be one of the most photographed landmarks in Nova Scotia.

and the fishing village town is just as photographically perfect.

After some well-deserved scrap-shopping and kitty love at Scrapbooking Cafe, the girls delighted in taking me to Mahone Bay for my first shot of the infamous three churches there. I've been told you can't call yourself a Nova Scotian photographer without a shot of this street, so I have now complied, but can't choose between the vertical and horizontal.

We then strolled the streets of Lunenburg, home of the Bluenose II, the Nova Scotian-built schooner portrayed on the Canadian ten-cent coin, and these charming park benches lining the street.

While I'm still partial to the northern part of the province, mostly for the sentimental reason of homesickness, it was awesome to explore some of the southern regions. We got some exercise and fresh air and spent too much money, but there were great people and great discoveries, and great times with a great bunch of girls!

Virginia & Tommy

Late last year I received a Facebook message from my friend Virginia.

"I know you knew this was coming, Terri, and I want you to be my wedding photographer." Huzzah! Tommy and Virginia were high school sweethearts, who reunited at another wedding I shot a few years back. On July 31, 2010, they were married in Sydney, Cape Breton.

I got the chance to hang out with the boys first, which is not something I get to do often, so I reveled in the opportunity and we had a lot of fun!

 Then it was off to the hotel where the beautiful bride was preparing for her walk down the aisle.

And finally to St. Joseph's Church for the ceremony. St. Joseph's is laid out differently than most churches in that it is wide as opposed to long. As a photographer, this makes me very happy because I am always close to the action, but easily out of the limelight.

 

 

The parents had rented the new Mr. and Mrs. a convertible mustang for their drive to Catalone for photos. Naturally, they rocked it!

and this could be my favorite groom photo EVER.

 There's not much to see in Catalone. That is, unless you're a photographer! Naturally, as soon as the wedding party started crossing the bridge, along comes 7-8 cars wanting to pass over its one lane. We had cat calls of "Don't Do It!" and "Jump now while you still can!" and folks hopping out of their vehicles for pictures of the pictures. Most folks were good-natured in their wait and got a birds-eye view of this favorite of mine being created:

A few good props are also useful for formal wedding photos. This hat was a souvenir from Tommy's bachelor party. The beer in their hands was the start of an evening I'm sure none of them will forget.

I wish all the best to Virginia and Tommy, and long and happy lives together. They are so well-suited to each other that I can not imagine any other possible outcome. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it!

Sarah and Michael

I originally met Sarah when she co-starred as Maid of Honour at Jillian and Mark's wedding. She and Jillian have been friends forever, so I had heard so much about her by this point, I was more than excited to shoot her big day as well.

The girls got ready for the ceremony at Sarah's parents' beautiful home in Clayton Park in Halifax. The whole family was there: younger sister Tessa helped with the make-up, brother Adam mowed the lawn for photos, and older sister Danielle kept everyone in check.

The church was gorgeous, with just the right amount of light.

And the bride, of course, was stunning.

 

I was absolutely delighted to find the groom and his groomsmen wearing kilts. Also delightful was this little corner outside the church with a bush of the very flower that Sarah had chosen to decorate her ceremony.

Some fun with the girls.

And with the boys.

Instead of a limo, Sarah and Michael rented three hot-red Dodge Chargers to carry their wedding party around. Sarah was nervous about climbing onto the hood of the car, but I am so glad she did!

I loved her amazing full-length veil!!!

Immediately upon leaving the church, Michael turned to Sarah for a high five. It's the cutest thing ever when the bride and groom have a 'thing' that they do, so I was thrilled when they continued throughout the day.

After the photos at the park came a stroll on the Halifax waterfront. My original plan was to wait for some of these background folks to move along, but clearly that wasn't happening. Turns out, I think they add just a little more magic to the shot.

And then back out at night for a little mood lighting.

It is without hesitation that I declare Sarah and Michael's reception the best I have ever seen. The DJ opened with Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", which is always guaranteed to get some feet hopping, and the dance floor didn't clear once all night. In this case, that included pretty much everyone, from Sarah's grandmother to this little breakdancing tyke.

With so many family and friends coming to Nova Scotia from "away" I hope Sarah and Michael's gang had as good a time as I did. Many wishes for many long, happy years for the two of you, and the best of luck in everything!