Alan Dickson Photography

Posted in WEDDING STORIES by Alan Dickson on 9/15/2010 10:15:06 PM

Now that our summer months are over, let us not forget the 31 degree weather we had on Aug 28-the hottest spot in Canada! After shooting 8 weddings in August (by far our busiest month),  I want to show you the last wedding of  August - Amanda & Derek. For this blog I am going to tell the story in order of the day and the photos to go along with that order. It all takes place at 2 Spirits Retreats Bed and Breakfast. This Thunder Bay Gem is tucked away just 3km up Hilldale Rd. It is a spot all on its own, and has the feeling that you are far way in the bush, but it is actually very close to town. When I met up with Amanda & Derek, we decided to take a walk on the property where the wedding was to take place. It gave us a chance to talk about what was going to unfold in the days ahead and the kinds of things that were special to both of them. Amanda is a gypsy at heart and both she and Derek are very globally-minded, so the wedding was a reflection of this independent, earthy and global spirit. Also, everything was to take place at the resort, so it gave us more time to make some stunning images. We started off capturing the girls getting ready and then we did some shots of the couple right after. Seeing that the ceremony was at 6:00 pm, we needed to do all the photography of the families, bride, groom and wedding party before they headed down the isle. This is a trend that is growing in the States and is beginning to make its way here, to Thunder Bay. Take a look at some of these pre-wedding images:

          







    

    





















    







The ceremony was simple and fresh, with Asian elements to transport us from Thunder Bay to parts of the world that are colourful and rich in culture...





Right after the ceremony we all headed into the tent to experience  the most colourful reception decor ever! Amanda had acquired items for the wedding from far and wide. The material that covered the table were Saris that were bought from a used East Indian store in Toronto, Tea lights were rented from Marsala Grill and the Peacock feathers were picked by Amanda while she worked for the Winnipeg Zoo. So there had been alot of planning to make it look this stunning - Amanda you are truly talented.  ( And Derek, you are a very wise man to let a creative woman be free to create! I know - I live with one!~) And to add to that note, Salt & Pepper Catering put on a fabulous dinner - great job Dave and staff! The whole day went off just perfectly, not a cloud in the sky, a beautiful couple and some wonderful  images that will keep reminding them of that special day. Here are a few more of the images that I love!











    







 Amanda & Derek, your day couldn't have been more perfect. It was a wonderful experience shooting at 2 Spirits Retreat. I hope someday I will be able to return and make it a wonderful experience for another couple.