Happy Friday everyone! You’ve probably noticed that I’ve been showcasing more engagement sessions lately, but it’s certainly not surprising because engagements are highest during the winter months. When I got hold of this particular engagement shoot, I knew I had to post it, as I am biggggggg fans of Ambient Studios based out of Toronto, Ontario. The session was held at Michele & Greg’s cottage in Muskoka and included their absolutely adorable 5 month old puppy George. Goes to show that you should always consider including your furry companions if they’re important to you :] Boy do I love this first shot!
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Thanks to Ambient Studios for sharing and be sure to check out their blog for much much more. Have a fabulous weekend everyone.

{images courtesy Ambient Studios}

Ah! Anyone watching the Olympics? An absolutely thrilling day for Canada in men’s hockey, speed skating relay and women’s bob-sledding. EEEK…so excited. I’m working on an engagement post that you are going to absolutely adore and just going through the shots, I feel like I need to have a cup of hot chocolate with the mini marshmallows in it. Here’s a sneakpeek for what’s to come tomorrow evening from Ambient Studios.

Love love love…I use this word WAY too often, but I really can’t help it! I’ve got another winter engagement session to share by Shaun and Renee Photography, based in Edmonton. They’re an up and coming talented duo who I eagerly wait to share one of their weddings with us in the future. Renee shared a little bit of information about the lovely couple, Martina & Tilo, with me:

These two are so compatible and fact that they met, and are now on their way to getting married, is pretty darn amazing. Why, you may ask? Tilo is from Germany and has only been here for four years! I know, right? What are the chances? Well, it must have been fate because Martina & Tilo are perfect for each other! They love to laugh and have fun, and are totally smitten with each other.

{images courtesy Shaun and Renee Photography}

Despite the fact that I live in Edmonton where winter seems to last a lifetime, I have yet to post any winter-themed images. But of course there’s a first for everything and I am so excited to share with you the engagement session of Suzanne & Thomas sent over by Edmonton-based photographers Scade Photography. I know most couples shy away from winter engagement sessions because of the cold, but look how beautiful it can turn out? Not to mention, you get to witness the changing seasons in your portraits. A big thanks to Stephanie (who is planning her wedding as well!) for sharing these sweet images with us.

How cute are these two?

{images courtesy Scade Photography}

I love this sweet engagement session by the fabulous Carey Nash . This lovely shoot of Edmonton couple Nadiar & Ethan was held at the University of Alberta campus, along with a mini ride on the LRT (light rail transit) for some amazing shots.

{images courtesy Carey Nash Photography}

I’ll have to keep my tabs on Carey because I definitely want to see this wedding. Check out his blog for more wedding inspiration.

What a great way to end off the week, you are going to LOVE this engagement story sent over by Leslie Brown Photography, based in Fort McMurray. Courtenay and Gerard are such a cute couple and will be married in Canmore next year. And now for that charming story I was telling you about, from the bride herself:

The story of the beard.

Once upon a time there was a beard….

After returning from a vacation in Hawaii with our good friends the Kucy’s, Gerard looked in the mirror and couldn’t bear to shave the stubble he had grown during our week in the sun. Days turned into weeks and a bet was made. I proposed the following “If you want to keep that beard then you can’t shave until you propose”. I was sure a quick proposal was coming my way. There’s no way he’ll keep that beard for more than another week”.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. To my surprise G was lovin’ the beard, he was getting compliments left and right and he looked REALLY good. After realizing that G was going to look like Harry Griswald for months to come, I set the bet aside and realized that my plan for a quick proposal had back fired.

Fast forward to August 30th, 2009. Its a beautiful summer evening and I decided to head onto our patio and finish up a novel. Half an hour later G opens the patio door with flowers, a little box and NO BEARD. Having asked my Dad for his blessing weeks before, Gerard got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was a beautiful moment and we can’t wait to live happily ever after…sans beard!!!

Says Leslie (the photographer):

For the engagement session we started down in the alleys of whyte ave and just had a blast hanging out. Courtenay is so gorgeous and Gerard has the most natural smile - its easy to see how in love they are without even trying!

Such a cute story. Thanks for sharing this with us Leslie (be sure to check out her blog for more lovely photos ). And thanks to Courtenay for sharing this story. Best wishes to you & Gerard xoxo

Jasser (JAG Photography), a recent contributor to Wedding Obsession, sent over these loving engagement images of Edmonton couple Isabelle and Dave. And yes, I did say ‘loving’ because you can really see the LOVE between these two! The wedding is planned for June 2010 and will be held at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald. I asked Isabelle to share with us how she and met Dave, along with her engagement story in beautiful Santorini, Greece. You really have to read it. It’s heartwarming and absolutely romantic.

I can still clearly remember the day I first heard about Dave. I recieved an extremely excited phone call from one of my girlfriends explaining that 3 guys had moved in next door to her, and that she was secretly watching a good looking man watering his lawn, shirtless. A couple days later while I was over, the neighbours came over to say hello, and that was the first time Dave (the shirtless man) and I met. It took a full year before we started dating since I had another boyfriend at the time. But he sure was persistent that entire year! I later learned that he told all of his friends that after the day we met, he knew I was the girl he was going to marry!

3 and a half years later, Dave and I planned a holiday to the Greek islands. Its been my dream to visit Santorini for as long as I can remember, and the vacation wound up being more than I could’ve imagined! On our first morning there, I had a feeling Dave was up to something. He was acting a bit nervous and disappearing out of the hotel room unusually often. I remember even joking around and checking his pockets for a ring. Little did I know, that was actually his plan! We rented an ATV and cruised around the island all afternoon. It was one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever been on, complete with white washed villages, wineries, and endless stretches of sea. When we got back to the hotel room, I saw that he arranged for us a private dinner on our balcony overlooking the amazing sunset and sea. As the sun was setting, he told me to stand up, where he then got down on his knee and asked me if I’d spend the rest of my life with him. I wept like a baby and stuck my hand out for the ring before I could even respond with a yes! His proposal was incredibly romantic and absolutely unforgettable.

Congrats on your recent engagement, Isabelle & Dave. xoxo.
And Jasser, thank you for taking the time to share these lovely photos with us.

{images courtesy JAG Photography}

Drumroll please….the photos have arrived! I was initially hesitant about posting my engagement photos on this site, primarily because I hate the “look at me!” moments, but after the urges of some people, I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea! Admitedly, I am not one who loves my pictures taken, but Jason & I felt that engagement photos were a must! We opted to take them last may, just before the heat of the summer and with just enough time till the wedding to see how we’ve changed. Capturing our memories was especially important to us, so we decided that above all, photography was something we would not sacrifice. Fortunately after meeting just two photographers, we decided on Jessica Fern Facette Photography. We are absolutely smitten over her work. I don’t think I’ll ever stop raving about Jessica’s talent.

The GOLD writing was a little inside joke to match Jason’s kicks. I just had to let him wear them because they really define who he is as a person - flashy, yet lighthearted!

Ok, enough talking. There were many, but here are a select few!