Justin & I met at Olds College while we were both taking Agriculture Management. Before long, we were the best of buddies: working on homework, going for Subway lunch, and Thursday night partying!! He introduced me to his fabulous parents: Marcel & Wilma (they are the best!), and his sweet sisters. Justin raised sheep with his dad on their farm east of Bowden. Being a farmgirl from a cow/calf & grain background I was curious about the sheep and Justin was more than happy to take me under his wing and teach me about lambing. One night I accompanied him on his nightly rounds, checking the sheep, and was totally blown away. His family is so warm and welcoming and you can just feel that energy when you are in a room with them!! When I arrived at the farm on September 5, I was greeted with ginormous hugs from Wilma, Marcel & Justin’s sisters.. And welcomed into the family again.

They had a giant tent set up on the front lawn for the reception: with a snuggly little heater and beautiful decor everywhere you looked. Everything was so elegant & country. The day was overcast, rainy and cold; so we were very thankful for that tent heater later in the day (that tent was home to the biggest party in the county that night!)!! Once in the house, I went upstairs to give Ali a hug. I had only met Ali once before, and I was so impressed by her smile and kindness– she left a big impression!! I found all the ladies busily doing their makeup & hair.  Before we knew it.. it was time, and Mom & future Mother in Law got Ali into her dress.

The ceremony was in the gorgeous, original barn on Justin’s family’s new farm. Marcel had his longhorn cattle “on display” as you walked up to the venue and with a little investigation, I heard the peeping of chickens from an adjacent barn. NOW– thats a country wedding!!!  They had decorated the inside with rustic burlap-covered haybales for guest seating & fairytale twinkling lights were strung from the rafters. I sat in the barn, beside College friends I hadn’t seen in years, as Justin anxiously waited for his bride to walk down the aisle… And then she was there: silhouetted by the light as she strolled arm in arm with her Father. I watched my dear friends face as he struggled to keep it together as the love of his life made it down the aisle— Promptly I burst into tears (effectively fogging up my camera), my hands were shaking, and in that moment you could tell that this woman was his world: the girl he’d always dreamed of & told me all about when we were in college– his ‘perfect woman’…. The girl he introduced to me a  year ago, with a huge grin on his face.. And the woman he promised all his love to, eternally, on that rainy day in September.

VENDORS

Flowers: Grower Direct, Red Deer

Hair: Ashlee Oldenburger from Avant Garde Hair Studio, Vancouver

 Caterer: All Seasons Pig Roast and BBQ, Red Deer

Dress: AGAPE Bridal, Abbotsford

Bridesmaids Dresses: Champagne and Lace Bridal, Abbotsford

Ceremony & Bridal Portraits Photographed by Ashley King Photography