windy & chilly is cured with cuddles – Edmonton engagement photography

A wobbly knee, snow fall in April and a mighty spring wintery wind wasn’t going to stop these two from performing the most darling 80′s dance moves we ever did see. With one part cuddlefest, two parts determination these two crazy kids equal a whole lot of love. August can’t come soon enough. Thank you Alicia & Isaac for an awesome day, I can’t wait for August. Who cares if we litter, it’s organic!!

How did the two of you meet?

Alicia says, “We met by chance at church. I got a call 2 weeks prior to a big concert that Isaac’s church needed a piano player. I noticed Isaac right away. I was 14 he was 15 so there wasn’t much chance of anything other than friendship because my Dad is pretty traditional. The concert was a success and a year went by before my friends started telling me I should attend the Church on 99th to meet up with Isaac again. We maintained a friendship through the end of high school then bible college classes. Once we were ready, we announced our mutual liking for one another. Like turned to Love and we started growing our love for each other through God.”

I can’t stand how gorgeous you are Alicia, wow.

It wasn’t even cold at all during this part!

I asked Isaac to show Alicia his dance moves.. somehow the best 80s dance party ensued.

Thank you to the best assistant on the planet Donna Gamble
Alicia’s hair and makeup: Makeup by Elizabeth
Isaac’s

 

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Beautiful as always!

The compositions of these are PHENOM. Loveliness!

'PEGGER

CONGRATULATIONS WITH THE “WEDDING BELLS” ENTRY !!! HOOT-HOOT !!!

Vintage Glamour – Edmonton Wedding photography

Cyndi and Victor gathered their closest friends and family for a perfect day. I mean nothing weird happened, no one ran late, the day was impeccable. The holiday wedding was a perfect combination of Cyndi’s sense of humour & style with Victor’s classic taste’s & debonaire stature – and laughs, lots & lots of laughs. I barely ever tear up during weddings but Victor wrote the best personal vows I think I’ve ever heard. Cyndi is probably one of the funniest ladies I’ve ever met and her vows brought down the house, there was tears of joy on top of tears of laughter. It was awesome.

Thank you two for allow us to be there with you on your day. Documenting this start of your amazing love story was our absolute pleasure.

Edmonton wedding photographer

Name of Bride and Groom: Cyndi Le and Victor Quang
Wedding Date: December 28,2012
Ceremony: Hotel MacDonald – Wedgwood Room
Reception: Hotel MacDonald – Empire Ballroom

Cyndi and Victor opted for a first look, where they saw each other prior to the ceremony. This was one of my favourite first looks, Cyndi was gushing, Victor took a deep breathe and she came out from behind the door. It was just awesome. Donna was on the other side with Cyndi and got a few sneaky shots through the window curtain. So great.

With more time allotted for just the two of them we could create some memorable photos prior to their ceremony.

Seriously, Cyndi, you are gorgeous. You pulled off the sexiest of Friday weddings. You are my muse. 

The Wedgewood room at the Hotel MacDonald is a perfect setting for their vintage glamour theme. What a beautiful space.

From Victor’s vows “You give me companionship. You give me happiness. You give me motivation. You give me support. You give me laughter. And sometimes you give me attitude. But the most important thing you gave me was an important life lesson. We were going through a rough time and I was feeling really defeated. And then you said to me “Love is like life. It is never easy, it will always be hard. You have to keep fighting for what you love and that’s what makes you stronger and your relationships stronger”. This showed me the type of person you were and your dedication to me. It changed my outlook on life and shown me the type of man I wanted to be. And because of that I vow to protect you. Vow to comfort you. Vow to stick up for you. Vow to support you. And most importantly I vow to, no matter how though it gets, never stop fighting for you, and for us.”  this girl… tearing up!!!!!

What an awesome ceremony. Cyndi was next with the most hilarious vows I’ve ever heard, I’m totally hiring her to write mine. It cracked everyone up–especially the groomsmen.

What an elegant, awesome wedding party. They really rocked the session and kept Cyndi and Victor laughing and relaxed. We also had a birthday girl in the house. Holla Ashley!

The reception moved over to the Empire ballroom. Another amazing room that was so elegantly designed. Cyndi hand picked most of the lace that was used in the space. It was the perfect mix of their theme.

Hydrangeas in old antique water bottles with chalk stickers for table markers was a really sweet touch. 

Heart felt speeches brought us to the dance party. What what an amazing dance party it was! DJ Esco was really great.

 

What was the best advice you received while planning your wedding AND what is a word of advice you would pass on to future brides? From Cyndi (she means “assholes” in the sweetest possible way) I didn’t receive any advice because my friends are assholes. My advice is to be prepared (make check-lists and write down questions you have) and aim to have everything done at leastweek before the big day. Also, take Benadryl or melatonin the night before the wedding. Enjoy every moment because it goes by super fast.

Cyndi, you changed me. You complete me. You are my african queen. I will forever carry your hypothetical heart in my pocket for when we run away together. Victor, good luck with her man. I can’t wait to have your sweaty bodies in front of my camera again some time soon.

Second shooter: Donna Gamble
Wedding dress: Blue by Enzoani from Novelle Bridal
Bridesmaids dresses: BCBG Maxazria
Mens tuxs/suits: Indochino
DJ: DJ Esco
Make-up: Julia McGarvey
Hair: Stacie Paige Hair & Patricia J Hair Designer

 

Awesome images of a beautifully elegant couple and their wedding! Congratulations to Cyndi & Victor.

donna

What a super fun day and a beautiful venue….Michel you ‘awe’ me. Cyndi & Victor you make it so easy….when a job isn’t a ‘job’.
Congrats to you both.

African queen

Michel (aka my baby momma), I don’t know where to begin as this post makes me speechless. All the photos and your kind words gave me butterflies and aroused me at the same time. You are so damn sweet and amazing. These photos are beyond perfect. What a perfect day. You and Donna were the cherries on top. I love you and will always be your African queen.

- always sweaty

Solomon True – my new love

It’s been a week and he’s still alive, I think we’ll all be ok. A 48 hour trip to Mission BC and back, a terrible hair cut in our bathtub, picking up my first public poop, trying to keep a straight face while kicking him off the bed when he’s being the cutest dog on the planet, a vet visit, numerous ear drops and a foot infection– brings us to our week-a-versary!! Matt and I have joined the ranks of pet owner and we couldn’t be more honoured to call his mutt ours.

I’ve never had an pet as an adult. I had a bird, various cats a rabbit and my dad took care of my horse as a kid but I haven’t had the actual responsibility to keep another being alive since I was about 10. I always wanted a dog but we weren’t allowed. Probably since the 3rd month Matt and I started dating, my answer to almost all of this questions was “a puppy”. “guess what I got you?!” he’d ask - a puppy ”do you need anything from Sobeys” yup! a puppy –I was kind of obsessed. But to be honest, when he started the search for our new family member it made me super nervous. Other than my stupid selfish self, I haven’t really had anyone or anything depend on me to sustain their livelihood. I mean Matt keeps me alive with his cooking, not the other way around. So when he text me the picture of this super face, I thought I could actually picture the next 12 or so years with this little man. (12 years!!!!! – that’s a hefty amount of time too!) So, I guess we got a puppy. Now I can shut up.

3 things I didn’t know about having a dog:

  • when you are a person that already talks to yourself having a dog around only makes you feel more like a crazy person
  • no matter how cool you thought you were in high school, there is nothing graceful about picking up a warm poo of your neighbour’s lawn
  • I call myself Mom to him – just like I always made fun of the way my Dad did. When he jumped on the bed the first thing I said was you wait until your Dad hears about this, and now I’m my Mom too. awesome.

I have a sneaking suspicion you’ll be seeing an awful lot more of this handsome devil. I love my Solomon man. xox

 

can’t even begin to tell you how much you sound like me in this one, and how much it sounds like our experience.
so happy for you.

'PEGGER

CONGRATULATIONS !!!…A HANDSOME DUDE TOO !!!

Super cute! We’ll have to get him and our Johnny together for a playdate ;)

March 10 on 10 – AFRICA!!!!!

Don’t think I don’t know that using my Africa trip for my 10 on 10 is a bit chintzy. I know, but screw it, here we go.

Floating in a boat, down the Nile seeing Elephants, Hippopotamus’, crocodile & monkeys is pretty surreal. We spent most of the time quietly  reflecting the amazingness we were witnessing. They even had beer on the boat! Pure heaven.

Matt told our driver Sumi that if he didn’t want to drive around all day, he better find us a giraffe. “dude, the whole reason I came to Africa was to see my girl see a giraffe.” love him so much. And then we did.

On the drive back from Safari we stopped at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. We got out of our truck and followed a skinny Ugandan guide into the bush. I recall thinking this seems like a really awesome idea but they are fricken RHINOS in there dude!!!! Being 20 feet away from a Rhino, on the ground, was pretty amazing.

I thought the goat photo was my favorite . . . until I got to the monkey. Holy, holy . . . adorable! Looks like you had an amazing time!

'PEGGER

PUT A PAIR OF GLASSES ON THAT TURTLE….”IT’S MATT !!!”

Laura

WOW!! Incredible. Love the giraffes!

Laura

WOW!! Incredible. Love the giraffes! The colors are gorgeous.

Wowzers- what an amazing trip! Glad you found a giraffe because those pictures especially rock :)!

Xanthe

Stunning all of them, but especially the giraffes, they are my fav too.
What an adventure xxx

Oh man!! I want to see more! Your photos are gorgeous and makes me want to go even more. The monkey…the giraffe…I really want to see a giraffe in the wild. Wow.

these are incredible! i love all the different crops you used to capture the giraffes, they look amazing together. i adore elephants so i love that shot of all of them along the water. this must have been such an awesome trip.

also, that quote? brilliant.

damn, these are awesome. it’s crazy because we have all seen pictures of these animals, but these are real life pictures…i think it was necessary to make these your 10 on 10. the elephants are beautiful, the giraffe images are so incredible. i wasn’t expecting this, and it was a gift. i hope it was a wonderful trip.

Lindsey

For some reason the Rhino’s are my favourites. So huge yet peaceful and oddly beautiful at the same time. I have been looking forward to these photos for weeks. Dare I say that Giraffe may be more photogenic than me : ) Amazing!

I saw these.
I walked over to my husband and said “in a couple of years when the girls are older, we are traveling with them. a lot.”
Oh I’m so jealous. What an incredible opportunity!!!!

incredible!!! and the one of the baby monkey makes my heart melt!!

Jenn

These pictures are STUNNING, Michel. Absolutely amazing. So glad you got to go!

Awesome images, Michel! That Giraffe’s saying “Does my butt look big in this?” and you said: “No, it’s looking mighty fineee!”

looks like you had an amazing time, I love the Britney quote :) very funny.

donna

‘Dear National Geographic…..I have something I want you to see……..’

Your amazing! simply Brilliant my friend. Brilliant.

These are so amazing! Seeing a giraffe walking in the wild is quite something isn’t it? They are so elegant :)

This. Is. Amazing. That giraffe’s behind.

wow these are amazing!!!

C h e c k   U s   O u t !