Great Stirrup Cay is in the most northern part of the Bahamas and is only  2.5 x 1.5 miles wide! Population: 6 people and…two cats! Yes…two cats. It’s mainly one big amazing beach, palms trees and looootsa sun. Anyways, enough talk. More photos. Thank you guys again for another fabulous day of a super relaxed and fun photoshoot! We had sooo much fun :)

Being on a cruise that visits many islands gave us an opportunity to take Asha and Marc-Andre on a day after the wedding photoshoot! Asha got back in her gorgeous dress, Marc put on some hansdome beach wear and here’s what happened…

 

 

 

 

 

 

We managed to scope out a little sweet coloured hut!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super handsome portrait of Marc-Andre:

 

 

Asha’s beautifully serene portrait:

 

 

You can see our cruise ship anchored on the left and the tender on the right!

 

 

 

Ultra-romantic…

 

 

 

Thank you Mr.Seagull for patiently hanging out during the session :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s one of the two cats living on the island! He couldn’t be bothered by aaaanything…just chillin’ like the king of the island.

 

 

 

 

Marc and Asha called us about 9 months ago asking if we could photograph their wedding day. Nothing out of the ordinary so far. As usual I start off by asking what day it is to see if we are available. I run to my appointment book to check, and see that their date is a Tuesday. I think hmm, okay, a Tuesday… strange?! And I say, yes we are available. And then Marc goes to say… Well there is a little “problem” you might say… I go “oh yes?” “What is it?” “Well the wedding is in the United States Virgin Islands on this little Island called St. Thomas“… Ah-ma-ZING! The rest is history…
 

We got the distinct honor and pleasure to join Marc and Asha along with 80 amazing people for a 7 day cruise to the Caribbean at the start of this month. We set sail on Jan 3rd 2009. The wedding was on the beautiful island of St. Thomas with spectacular views, incredible atmosphere and of course HOT beaches! The setting for their magical wedding was on Bolongo Bay Beach, a little drive away from where our tender boats dropped us off. Everyone was taken by these oh-so-not-safe-seatbeltless-and-doorless safari trucks, along the winding and hilly roads, praying for our lives. But of course we enjoyed every second of it and we all got there safe and sound to witness their marriage, amongst, friends, family, palms trees, powder white sand and the splashing waves of the teal blue ocean water. What more can you ask for as a photographer?! It was the perfect natural setting for some of the most spectacular photos we have ever taken.
After the wedding we set off in a private van, where we had asked the driver to bring us to place, that shows off St. Thomas. Not the commercial touristy stuff. The REAL St. Thomas. The driver (naturally wanting to show us what every tourist sees) needed a liiiitle more convincing that we reeeealy wanted to see the raw culture on the island. And so we did. We finally pulled around a corner down a steep hill and both Bartek and I screamed “STOP!”. We found the perfect spot, got out and the result is below, along with the most beautiful beach wedding we have ever shot. Marc and Asha were such great sports even though it was +500 degrees with blazing hot sun cooking us…but we were lucky…we weren’t wearing a suit or a wedding dress!
 
It was an amazing experience, which we have Marc and Asha to thank. Thank you guys for an amazing friendship, killer trip, and fantastic wedding pics! We hope some of these will fit the frames you had prepared for your wedding photos a while back! ;)

 

“The Good Life- When we began planning our wedding, we had no idea that it would turn out as beautiful as it did.  We are blessed to have the most wonderful people in our lives.  Surrounded by their love and positivity, we were able to eloquently express our love for each other.  Really, we could ask for nothing more. “
                                                                                                                                                                                                               - Marc-Andre and Asha

 

 

 

What a location!

 

 

Asha getting ready for the big sunshiny day!

 

 

In the neighbouring stateroom, Marc-Andre getting some much needed assistance from his bros…

 

 

Anxiously waiting for his bride…

 

 

Glowing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The whole gang together

 

 

Sorry girls. He is now, officially taken!

 

 

And yes, you guessed it…Asha is also taken gentlemen ;)

 

 

Booyah! I think everyone’s quite happy for them!!

 

 

We took a few shots on the pier at the beach…

 

 

 

Asha’s mom made this dazzling parasol for Asha to use on her wedding day!

 

 

Finally we managed to sneak the newlyweds away for a little breather and some more stuuunnnning photos!

 

 

 

 

The houses had some insane colors and architecture…a photographers dream.

 

 

 

 

 

We tried to imagine what this street would look like in the 1920’s…pretty darn HAWT!

 

 

 

GQ, anyone?

 

 

A lady let us use her private little yard for the next two:

 

 

 

America’s. Next. Top. Model. Is……

 

 

 

 

We just uber-adore this building!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally we reluctantly headed back to the ship!

 

 

 

 

To see the rest of the day, click play below!

 

 

 

*** Also, say tuned for Asha and Marc-Andre’s unbelievable day after photo shoot in the Bahamas!!! ***

Keep checking back here, but in the meantime here’s a little teaser to wet your appetite ;)

 

On September 12th, 2008 we had set out to Ottawa, Ontario to shoot Nancy and Jose’s wedding day the next morning. The morning of the wedding we got a call from one of Nancy’s bridesmaids…wedding is cancelled! On September 12th, at the wedding rehersal, Jose Angel fell very ill and was rushed to the hospital with what turned out to be a critical condition. He spent weeks in the hospital where he was moved from emergency to ICU fighting for his own life. We were just stunned, and incredibly worried for them and prayed that Jose gets through this.

What started off as the worst day of their lives (not knowing what might happen) thankfully ended beautifully, as two best friends - Jose Angel and Nancy exchanged their marriage vows in the hospital’s ICU right before midnight on September 13th, 2008!  Although this was not how their marriage ceremony was originally planned, it was said to be one of the most beautiful ceremonies ever witnessed by the very few people who got to be there with them.  After weeks of being in the hospital, they finally got to go home, together… They thought it was all over, and were SOOOOO ready to start their lives together, Jose Angel was yet again unexpectedly rushed back to the hospital, with a more alarming critical state than before. No one knew what was going to happen… weeks passed, and thankfully Jose being the strong man he is, in faith and body, was getting stonger and stronger. In November he was finally realased from the ICU to go home with his wife. Jose is a fighter and managed to battle through it all miraculously. Nancy’s undivided love, attention and faith also helped bring Jose back to health, and we have her to thank big time! Good job girl!

Even though Jose was not at 100% yet, we were SO happy to hear that it was Jose Angel’s desire to have a Wedding reception on December 21st, 2008 to celebrate their love and life with family and true friends. We finally had the chance to capture one of our most beautiful wedding day’s ever.  Although it turned out to be a snowy blizzard outside, it was the perfect day for them to have their wedding reception. A greater number of tears fell inside as the couple celebrated their love with everyone.
 
Today, as we spoke to Nancy, they are planning a trip down to Californias magical disney land together! It brought tears to my eyes to hear that. We are so happy for them! God bless you guys in your life, and all the best! We’ll end off with a quote written by Jose Angel today about their touching love. Prepare your box of tissues:

 

“A story of two paths that crossed with a purpose.  As days go by we continue to learn what unconditional love means.  Nancy has demonstrated by actions and words what true love means, even when we were married on September 13th, 2008 under the most difficult circumstances, she showed me what she was inside, her inner beauty. As I recovered in the hospital she was there night and day, through the highs and the lows.  On December 21st, 2008 we shared our wedding celebration with family and friends.  We are humbled by the love and the prayers from all.  We thank you all.”

 

 

Nancy (finally!) getting ready!

 

 

 She has every reason to be happy…

 

 

 

 Then it was mom’s turn :)

 

 

 The beautiful shoes and dress for the special day…

 

 

 

 

 Nancy sported some killer knee high socks for the crazy winter conditions!

 

 

 Here’s how the guys were getting ready…which took all of about five minutes!

 

 

 Here is a photo in Nancy & Jose’s room of their wedding ceremony in the intensive care unit at the hospital. And next to it is Jose, getting ready for the reception! Incredible!! :) Thank God for that!

 

 

 Doesn’t he look amazing?

 

 

 Nancy’s reaction to seeing Jose walking through the snow to her house to meet her…and while Magda took this photo, she too needed more than one tissue.

 

 

 

 

 

 The furniture was begging for some vintage action!

 

 

 

 Jose’s Disney princess:

 

 

 The ferocious girls…

 

 

 

 The incredibly handsome dudes…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We didn’t need to tell them to be all up in eachother…they just were ;)

 

 

 

 Their first dance:

 

 

 

They had a photo booth at the reception hall, where everyone got two copies of the photos. One for everyone to keep and the other to paste into their signature book. Superfragilistic idea!

 

 

 

 Jose looooves chocolate cake, as well as collecting Disney snowglobes…so his cake suited him very well. And behind is their delicious wedding cake too!

 

 

 When they came out in their ears, everyone was so excited! It was really cute and magical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally we’ll end off with a photo of Jose’s son Justin who was unfortunately not able to be there during the wedding day. Nancy and Jose sent us this photo for us to at least include here, on our blog, as a celebration :)

 

 

 For the rest of the fabulous day, check out the slideshow below: