Wedding By the Sea...

Many, many, many months ago my friend Katelyn told me about this incredible idea she had, which was to give away a dream wedding in Saint Andrews By-The-Sea! I was instantly onboard and so delighted when she invited me to be apart of the creative team she was pulling together so that one lucky couple could have a dream wedding, on us! Now, after months of tireless work by Katelyn and a few other key organizers, hundreds of emails and excited phone conversations, we are now able to let the Persian cat out of the bag!! 

So, without further adieu... Newly engaged couples, this is for you! 

You have the chance to Win & Wed by the Sea! A wedding package over $20,000.00!!! 

Submit your wild & whacky proposal (photo or video) story with a description to mail@thewave.ca |mail@thetide.ca | mail@country94.ca by Wednesday, July 3 and you could win this dream wedding!!! Remember originality counts so be creative! Re-enact if you have to, we are looking for something wild!

Important Contest Dates:

Submissions June 17 - July 3

Top 10 will be announced July 6

Top 10 voting on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/973thewave) will take place July 6 - 17 2 will be announced July 18

Voting for winner via poll available here soon July 18 - 21

Winner announced July 22 during the Wave Wake Up Show with Dan & Lori

The date for this dream wedding is set for July 19th, 2014

Wedding Prize includes:

Venue: Kingsbrae Garden (Value: $3,700.00)

Based on 100 guest wedding, private ceremony site, tent site, elegant white folding chairs for ceremony and reception, free two day admission, PA system

Caterer: Savour In The Garden & The Garden Cafe (Value: $3,500)

3 course meal (protein specific)

Photographer: Shannon May Photography (Value: $2,950)

Capture the day package and album credit

Tent and table rentals: Celebrations by Sarah - Event & Wedding Planning (Value $2,250)

30’x60’ tent – seating for 100, and cocktail tables

Decor: BarbaraLee Designs, Custom Weddings & Events (Value $2,197)

Linens, drapery, chandeliers, theme and concept creation within the Bride and Grooms vision

Wedding Planner: K. Bella - Wedding and Event Planning (Value: $2,113.20)

Full Coordination Package (one year of wedding planning)

Music: Tempo-Lite Sound and Light Show – with DJ Mark Downey ($800)

Reception, and Dance

Accommodation: Algonquin Resort (Value $788.00)

2 rounds of golf - $95/round, 2 night stay in a suite - $299/night

Flowers: Garden by the Sea (NB) Fabulous Flowers Soaps & Teas (Value $700)

Cake: Danielle's Desserts Cake Shop and Bakery (Value $600)

3 Tier cake, 80 servings, includes delivery

Transportation: HMS Transportation (Value $600.00)

3 hours with the White Lincoln Stretch – 9 passenger Limousine.

Stationary: You're Invited - Invitations for all Occasions (Value $350)

$200 in invitation, and $150 day of stationary

Hair & Makeup: Luxe Day Spa & Salon (Value: $322)

Bride, and 3 bridesmaids – hair and makeup, false lashes, travel to St Andrews, Free trial updo and makeup for Bride

Favours: Ganong Chocolatier (Value $275)

2 piece box with wedding date and name

Can you believe it?

When things began to fall into place for this contest and it was obvious this would be moving forward I had the realization that out of all the incredible vendors making up the creative team, I will be one of the first that gets to work with our lucky couple when we meet to talk about their wedding and plan their engagement session!! I am the lucky one that gets to capture their love and tell their love story!! This realization made my hopeless romantic heart burst with joy!

I am so grateful to Katelyn, the Kingsbrae team and Acadia Broadcasting for working tirelessly to bring this idea into fruition and am so looking forward to working with every single vendor that is going to make this a dream wedding for YOU!

Love & Sunshine,

Shannon-May

PS: please refer any questions to mail@thewave.ca |mail@thetide.ca | mail@country94.ca

PORTRAITS | Esther, part one

Esther is one of the first people I ever photographed when I was first exploring the idea of photography as a profession. I had a Canon Rebel XT and zeal. Esther had awesome red curls and loved being in front of camera. I believe her exact words to me during the shoot were "I was born to be in front of the camera." The results of her shoot were a huge encouragement to me. My friend Kristen, who's opinion means so much to me, told me that I had a gift.

It is amazing to see how both Esther and I have grown over the last three years. She has matured into a wise, self confident young lady but has not lost her passion and intensity for life, and love for the dramatic arts. She is off to UNB this fall to study literature and theatre. I have built upon the passion and skills I have as a photographer and am working full-time as a wedding photographer.

Esther and I had been trying for nearly a year to schedule another shoot together!! Finally, our schedules worked and the weather cooperated and we were able to collaborate once again. I love how these images show the dynamic person that Esther is... joy-filled, intense, confident, fun-loving, dramatic, graceful... I could go on and on.

These portraits are just part one of Esther's senior portrait session. We worked on something special for part two, which I will blog later this week!

Love & Sunshine,
Shannon-May

ENGAGED | April and Ryan

April and Ryan spent their first date getting know each other over coffee followed by a bowling match, where Ryan showed off his stellar bowling moves and "won April over." They capped the night off with a drink in the bowling alley's lounge, where April won over Ryan when she told him she grew up hunting! I've heard that the way to a man's heart was through is stomach but only ever associated that with cooking; in April's case, this cliché is applied to her hunting and cooking skills!

When Ryan proposed in September it came as no surprise other than that it was happening right then!! Both April and Ryan knew from very very early on that they would end up standing together and promising to love no other.  What probably sealed the deal for Ryan was their second date, when April went fishing with Ryan while she was happily wearing Ryan's dad's leaky chest waders! Her ability to surprise Ryan never fails. Ryan took April for a walk along that same river and patiently waited for the right moment to place a ring on April's finger and ask her to be his.  It was dark and it was raining, but it was perfect.

I met April and Ryan the hour before we began shooting their engagement session. They live in Ontario but were out in October to visit April's family and I was so excited to finally meet these two and hear all about their fall 2013 wedding plans!  When we sat down with our pumpkin spiced lattes (me and April; Ryan had good ole black coffee), and I felt as though I was sitting down with good friends. We talked about "How I Met Your Mother" as if all the characters are our personal friends and we laughed, a lot.

These two emit joy, are so comfortable with one another, and bring out the best in each other. When I asked what they love most about each other they both wrote about how the other makes them feel. April wrote that she loves how Ryan is so supportive, caring and unjudgmental; Ryan loves how much April loves his goofy personality!! The way April looks at Ryan with such confidence and trust, and the way Ryan can make April smile and laugh out loud is indicative of the words they wrote. And their engagement photos capture this perfectly, in my humble opinion.

I say this about all my couples, but only because it is true... I can not wait to photograph their wedding. Their vision is a compilation of their love for family, nature, beautiful things and good food. But most importantly, their wedding will be a day when they seal the deal on their love and begin book two of their beautiful story of love!

Love & Sunshine,
Shannon-May