sarah & nick met in ontario while attending medical school. in her first year, sarah ran a photography auction, to which nick submitted some photos. they met up in person to confirm some details and sarah was immediately drawn to him. her first thoughts included, he’s cute with a really intense gaze, that’s making me uncomfortable so i’m gonna laugh at his ridiculously long/messy hair. the next time sarah and nick crossed paths was at a “heads for cure” fundraiser, where nick shaved his “ridiculously long/messy hair” to raise money for cancer research. the conversation turned to running — a passion of both sarah and nick — as sarah had recently run a marathon and nick was training for his first. finally, nick emailed to ask sarah if they could “hang out” some time — and that hangout turned out to be a first date!

when i met up with sarah and nick at matchstick coffee last week, i loved hearing their proposal story. nick proposed ten metres from crossing the finish line at the ironman canada competition in penticton. craziness! i asked, “why before?” and nick said, “after you’ve been going for ten hours, i was confident i could go another ten metres.” fair enough! loved seeing the photos on sarah’s iphone of the proposal — nick ran over to the sea of spectators near the finish line and proposed right over the barrier to sarah. so cool. these two share such similar interests: both physicians, love being active, cycling/running, have a heart for their families, a strong work ethic and love working on projects together around their home. sarah and nick will be a joy to photograph at their september 2 wedding!

catherine and erik knew of one another — as sometimes friends of friends do — but until 2009, didn’t know one another personally. the first official meeting came a few years later, over drinks at a pub in abbotsford. serendipitously, their first meeting was a few short days after erik moved home from japan. since the start of their relationship, cat and erik have loved doing life side by side. they lived on a sailboat for a year in the vancouver harbour, have a huge passion for travel and love the alternative life they get to live. they’ve traveled across europe and are even taking a 10-day sailing trip for their honeymoon!

fittingly, their ocean-side brock house restaurant wedding [with a ceremony at the vancouver art gallery] will be nautical themed. i loved incorporating elements of what they love into their engagement session. from the first location, gastown, where cat and erik love hanging out after work, to third beach, where they bike and relax on the weekends. the other fun element of the shoot was erik’s car, a nissan pulsar, painstakingly imported from japan — we cruised around the city at sunset & i got to experience the myriad of craning necks as people strained to check out his ride.

it was a perfect, perfect night for photos. truly an evening where i look around and think, why would anyone not want to live here? ;) congratulations catherine and erik — i look forward to joining you in celebration on july 14th.

nicole & dan met online four years ago; they enjoyed the company of one another, dated for a few months and found the timing wasn’t right. they parted ways and started to move on — until a year later, in may of 2009, they started chatting once again. they knew it was right this time and have been together ever since. i’ve loved getting to know these two at our initial meeting and now at their engagement session at new westminster. they have a ton of fun together and are very comfortable in front of my camera, which makes things fun for everyone. loved laughing with nicole & dan at their adorable [HUGE] dog named Odin, who joined us for part two of the session.

their wedding is currently my last booked for the year, the bookend to my 2012 wedding season! i am looking forward to another wedding at the capilano golf & country club — and more time with nicole and dan. unfortunately odin won’t be attending the wedding. ;) enjoy!