Joan and Leigh, a Manitoba Wedding

I can't remember exactly when I met Joan, but I can't remember a time at University that I didn't know her. Joan and I would spend hours carving in to the delicious leather hard clay, as we shared stories and laughed. Studio time combined with working together at a book store most days we spent 18-24 hours together. Our love for detail, carving and crazy work ethic brought us together, oh and she had all the tools I was missing from my kit and vice versa. A lot of the stories Joan told me about her growing up have greatly affected how we are raising our daughter. The lessons her grandfather taught her and how her warm parents guided her through life, makes me strive to be more like them, successful in business and family.

I admire how easy going she is and how even keel, nothing sets her off in to a fury, but her laugh is so beautiful and contagious. She has this beautiful messy asymmetry to her art and life and I admire how she goes into a mess a pulls out the most beautiful work that is usually completely ergonomic... except for that "dog coil"..hahaha.

Oh and the food, if you are fortunate enough to eat something Joan has prepared you are in for a treat! She asks for nothing and gives freely of everything to her carefully chosen friends. I feel so honoured to be chosen to photograph her and Leigh's wedding, thank you for flying me out to be part of your day and giving me and Taylor a chance to see our family.

I have to admit I miss the Manitoba weather, the morning was clear and hot, the bright blue sky perfectly filled with clouds for the ceremony, then as we got ready for the group shot the clouds blocked out the sun creating the perfect overcast sky for flattering formals. Then as the dancing started inside the sky opened up and poured big fat rain drops. I can't help think that the perfect range, and timing of the weather had to be the work of Joans late grandfather.

For the first dance Leigh wrote a song for Joan as a wedding present. The song in the video below was written and sung by Leigh Kippen, he is very talented. Just try and listen to it with out tearing up.

I had the chance to see some of Joans late grandfathers beautiful photographs years a go, and its funny but it is him that I was thinking about as I photographed. Wondering if he would approve, and I wanted nothing but the best for this amazing couple. I really wanted to capture how beautiful Joan is.

It was a long-wonderful-energizing weekend photographing all day Saturday at this fantastic Croatian wedding, then with 3 hours sleep hopping a plane to Manitoba getting there just in time to start photographing for Joan and Leigh's wedding.
Its funny I almost didn't get on the plane as Joan booked me in as Melanie Seel-Jones instead of Melanie Seal-Jones, I called 2 times to get the mistake changed and to double check the flight, but I guess the calls didn't stick. Luckily my cute daughter convinced her to let us on as Taylor (21 months) smiled and said "please" - So thank you Air Canada!

Its amazing how much energy you have when you are doing what you love. I had so much fun setting up multiple flashes to photograph the live band and the people dancing. At the end of the night as I chatted with the groomsmen about my weekend and trip they laughed and asked me how many redbull/coffee/etc I had that day, when I said none the looked at me like I had 2 heads. "How do you have this much energy they asked" I smiled and said "I'm doing what I love".

Thank you all for laughing at my cheesy jokes and allowing me to get fantastic photographs of you all. I'm am so lucky.

Song Credits for the music in the video

Leigh Kippen: Written, recorded, Bass and Vocals
Craig Wood: Co/written and recorded by
Dj St.Germain: Guitar,
Kevin Radomsky: Drums