Kimberly + Harley - married! Farm Wedding Heffley Creek, BC
This post marks my 206th blog post, my first gig as a photographer and a bridesmaid (at the same time) and caps element's 2013 wedding season. A season that extended from May through to the end of September took us to Vancouver, Calgary, Maple Bay (x2), Shawnigan Lake, Rock Creek, Osoyoos (x2), Kelowna, Winnipeg, and Kamloops. It felt like I travelled a BAzillion kilometers to capture love in so many different ways! Thank you newly weds for such an enjoyable time. I value your creativity and for trusting us to document your most special day! Thank you to everyone who borrowed me a bed even though many times I was crashing as more of a guest than a friend crawling in late at night and disappearing in the wee morning hours. I appreciate all of you more than you know ; )
Kimberly + Harley, your wedding was one that I was looking forward to in anticipation for a long time! The words I have to express how wonderful this day was are many. Get ready!
The morning started when we stepped out the hotel at Sun Peaks into heavy rain. The sky was THICK. Molasses thick. It was heavy, and my heart sank a bit in that moment. It couldn't be raining, not today! We covered up and ran for cover as I silently prayed the weather would break.
We arrived at the Jette Ranch where the smell of coffee was drifting through the house and Kim was starting to get her hair done. Obviously disappointed by the weather in Heffley Creek but smiling non-the-less. The hairdresser told us it was sunny in Kamloops! There was hope! Makeup and hair was finished and just as Harley arrived for the first look the clouds broke. BOOM SHAKE THE ROOM - hallelujah it's time to get married! Surrounded by every cowboy and cowgirl in Heffley Creek (and some from Kentucky too) Kim + Harley exchanged their vows. We witnessed a beautiful wedding ceremony under a trellace that Harley built for Kim on the edge of a cliff overlooking the pasture below.
Malcolm and I were lucky to BOTH be included in the wedding day - and we got to make a toast together. I thought it might be fun to share to give a little history on K + H.
"erika - I met Kim while studying Pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan. Isn't she stunning tonight? After grad we both headed west myself to the Okanagan and Kim to Vancouver Island. Malcolm and I got to know Harley during our last year in Osoyoos, he instantly became one of our closest friends. His charm quickly won us over - his cornbread and famous apple pie may have helped too.
malcolm - Erika would often borrow Harley's dog Leduc. She always called them her Tuesday's with Leduc. She would take him on walks and runs all over town, he never even needed a leash. Such a southern gentlemen he is - wish I could say the same thing about Harley... I love this guy he is friendly and honest and seems to have an endless amount of tales to tell. We always enjoy our time spent together. Erika often mentioned the need to find him a girl which would be perfect because that meant I would spend far less on beer.
erika - rewind to October 2011. Kim, Rachelle and I were heading to Maui. During this girls trip I really got a good idea of the kind of man she was looking for. At that time Kim was pretty much done with BC and ready to head back to Saskatchewan. Back to big skies and her horses. It was one day after we returned home from Maui when I decided it would be a good idea to play a little match maker with two of our best people we know. We were packing up our home to move to the island. Harley was "helping" us by drinking the rest of our beer : ) Earlier that day I had been on the road and thought about setting up Kim with Harley. Everything she confided in me in Maui lined up with everything I knew about Harley. I was so excited I pulled over right there on the highway between Oliver and Osoyoos and called her. I told her about him and suggested she check out his Facebook profile and left it at that. Later that night while we were sitting around with Harley I said "hey Har check out my friend Kim, she's cute - on Facebook - he obliged and started flipping through her photos on my iphone. Malcolm continued to chat away when we heard a familiar apple vibration and things got a little quiet. In his southern drawl Harley says "I'm going to have to go ahead and give this back". Harley played it cool and handed the phone back to me. Across the little screen was a green text bubble that read "Hey! I checked out his page and Harley's really cute!!". And well that was that! Followed by a prompt phone call from Harley their relationship took off like a prairie wild fire. We knew we were in trouble.
malcolm - fast forward to January 2012 - Harley's first visit to the island. We decided prawning and beach bonfires would be a fun thing to do on a first date. After consuming 300-400 prawns on the beach well we didn't see much of Kim + Har for the rest of the weekend! We knew crustaceans were aphrodisiacs...but well we never really believed it, until now. A few more Skype dates and a few expensive flights along the way and before summer hit Kim was packing her bags! The rest is history and now - here we are!
erika - We've had a short time knowing these two as a couple and look forward to the adventures we know we will have together in the future. To Kim and Harley - GOOD LUCK AND BOTTOMS UP!!!!"
My top 5 favourite things from this wedding (in no particular order) 1. The BEST bootstompin', two-steppin', line dancing crowd i've seen in a long time. Burning holes in the dance floor till the wee hours of the morn 2. Harley's emotional greeting of his family and friend immediately following the wedding. 3. the dinner TRIANGLE that guest got to wail on to get Kim + Har to kiss 4. Kentucky Moonshine shots (read Harley's homemade apple pie) 5. Watching Kim ditch her high heels for wool socks and her boots ; )
BIG thanks to Liza who took on the role of the lead photographer so that I could embrace the 'maids role when I needed too, your the best!
Friends + Family - if you would like to place an order for prints or view K + H's entire gallery of images click on the PRINT SHOP tab in the menu above. The PASSWORD is married (if logging in from a computer) OR 62b7 (if logging in from a hand held device)
______________________________
Now if you haven't already...(in my very best Kentucky accent) ya'll better grab a tissh-yu-Ah (read tissue) because some of yaaa'll are bound to come undone.
______________________________
Brides Dress - Viva Bridal, Kamloops
Bridesmaid Dresses - Weddington Way
Hair - Ally Health + Beauty
Makeup - Strut beauty + Design
Flowers - Art Knapp, Kamloops
Stationary - Modern Invitations
Catering - Olena + Lenny Johnson
Decorations- LOVE sign - Highberry Dew: a Design House
- Props + Tables - Rusty Nail Home Decor + Events by Kate