There’s something undeniably beautiful about each and every image from today’s vow renewal captured by Krista Fox Photography. In fact, just going through the collection of images, I wish I could have shared them all.
From Paula: Chris and I have always felt deeply connected to Nature and Native practices, and so a proposal at our cabin in Ontario couldn’t have been more fitting. A few minutes after Chris’ insanely sweet proposal, a huge bald eagle landed on the rocks not far from us. Both of us watched as this massive bird watched us. We managed to snap a couple photos and knew our union had been sanctioned by a meaningful and deeply connected power. When we asked the residents who have lived there for 30 years (or more) about the eagle sighting, they demanded proof, as eagles have been very rarely sighted and not at all in the last 20 years. My ancestry is part Native Canadian, and bald eagles and their feathers are highly revered and considered sacred within many North American traditions; they represent honesty, truth, strength, courage, wisdom and the balanced use of power – important “medicines” that we could use to navigate through life together.
Fast forward to planning our wedding ceremony: to honour the profound circumstance of our proposal, I chose to use my eagle feather (gifted to me by a Native Elder) and the Native tradition of smudging. Smudging is the burning of certain herbs to create a cleansing smoke bath, it is a powerful ritual to clear out the old and make room for the highest energy that honours all present. Placing the herbs in an abalone shell is said to create a balance between fire and water elements, the smoke from the sacred plants rise up as a prayer and the eagle feather is used to move the smoke and send the prayer on its way.
Exactly one year to the day later, we found ourselves surrounded again by nature; and together we reaffirmed our intentions for each other and our marriage through another smudging ceremony. The thick cleansing smoke of the sage and sweet grass reminded us of our beautiful wedding day a year ago, and instilled within us the conviction to look lovingly into the future…together.
Photography: Krista Fox Photography
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FINALLY! I’m getting married this week.
THIS WEEK.
The last couple of weeks have been lots of fun, with showers, BBQs, friends are in from out of town and everyone is excited.
Aside from all that fun, there have also been a few more hiccups behind the scenes, but nothing world-ending. It is what it is, right? Keeps things interesting.
Everyone wants to know if I’m a) excited or b) nervous.
Excited? VERY! Nervous? Yes. However, I’m not nervous about the actual marriage, life-time commitment, saying “I do” in front of 150 people. I’m more concerned about the event as a whole and how everything will come together and hoping that our friends and family enjoy the whole event. Wedding planner brain never really turns off. But I’m leaving everything in some very capable hands and I’ll do my best to relax and enjoy every moment. Even if that means carting around my own personal box of Kleenex and ruining my lovely make up. Because I’ll likely cry happy tears from the moment I wake up, until the moment dancing begins.
I’ll leave you with a little sneak peek of our colourful wedding favours, that I just love. Dave was even allowed to help with this one.
If you’re inclined to follow along this weekend with all the festivities, you can catch me on Instagram @kjandco, or check for the #kdforlikeever hash tag.
Gold and pink – oh how I love thee. The combination is all too pretty in today’s wedding from our featured vendor, Geneviève Sasseville Photography.
Photography: Geneviève Sasseville Photography
