Tofino wedding dreams

There is a reason people from all over the world fall in love with Tofino and the west coast of Vancouver Island.  It is remarkable.  Even if  you don't believe in magic, you'll still find yourself holding hands at sunset, standing in awe at the fog rolling in and staring in amazement up at the vast canopy of  lush green rainforest all around you.  Tofino has the uncanny ability to charm even the coldest of hearts on seemingly ordinary days.  Yes, it's a long windy road to get there... but, it is always worth it.  

These two, their wedding.... oozed effortless elegance.  

Tucked in a rustic coastal paradise {aka Middle Beach Lodge}on Vancouver Island,  Decima and Mario had a wedding that perfectly depicted their beautiful and tangible connection.  The breathtaking west coast shoreline this set the scene for a remarkable celebration with two glorious souls.  They are both... truly special beings.  They are kind, so kind.  Stylish, sweet and incredibly thoughtful.  The details were all thought out with love, care and incredible taste.  The lodge, the stunning Truvelle gown, the seemingly simplistic yet lovely attention to detail in the most relaxed and authentic way.  The bride lovingly included the most soulful touches in memory of her cherished sister.  It was all just so heartfelt and beautiful.  Months later, it has still left impressions on my heart and today, I just felt like sharing.  

Weddings are truly whatever you want them to be.  What I love is celebrating love, and being able to capture those precious moments for you to continue celebrating long after they've past.  Celebrating connection, family, joy.  Bringing people together in ceremony to honour something as ancient as life itself.  May we always choose to celebrate all the beautiful moments that create our story.  How dull life would be without these beautiful ceremonies.  Plan on beautiful people.  Create the wedding of your dreams.  It doesn't have to break the bank, it can be as sweet and intimate or as grand and wild as you can imagine.  But whatever it is, it will be yours.  xo 

Amazing vendors that will make your life and planning easier, and way more beautiful.... {Decima and Mario's dream team}

Middle Beach Lodge

Shaesby jewellery

Truvelle 

Celsia Florist 

Mandy from Headquarters Hair Studio

Moment Junkie

Here's the thing, I'm a moment junkie.  Have been for a long, long time.  Love being witness to moments, noticing them, seeking them out.  Capturing them, looking at them.  Studying them long after the moment has passed.  Lately, I've been pretty swept up with the in between moments.  The ones that are easy to miss.  So easy to miss.  

Racing around in the morning.  I stop.  I look around, the kids... their sweet little tv coma faces... staring at whatever show they've decided on this morning.  Ignoring me.  That moment.  Getting Maisie her waffle... finding a matching sock for Elliot, for Maisie for me.  Grabbing their clothes, my keys... those moments.  To me lately, these are the most beautiful.  To me, they mean we are all ok.  We are going on with daily life.  The magic in it is actually miraculous to me.  Waking up to Maisie's flashlight too early as she sneaks around in the morning.  "mommy..." Magic.  Going into get my almost 3 year old out of his crib that he is still in and loves.  It doesn't even occur to him that he can easily get out of it.  Magic.  Cleaning up their toys that mean they are happily engaged in playing.  Making a mess, being wild.  Being alive.  So f'ing grateful.  Today, everyday moments are the ones that have my heart.  The regular day moments.  The simple, the messy, the laundry piled up means we got up and wore clothes, and got them dirty.  The big pile of stuff beside my computer means I took Elliot to feed the birds instead.  I'm ok with me.  I'm ok with us.  I'm freaking grateful to be able to drive Maisie to school in the morning, the same way... every day.  It means we're ok, and that is a massive blessing.  

I'm a moment junkie.  The big, the obscure, and the hidden gems.  It makes my heart peaceful to take deep breaths into the mundane.  The every day.  The every day moments are how we spend our lives.  There is no finish line.  Not the weekend, not the birthdays, not Christmas... 

This, is everything. 

and I just felt like sharing that with you. 

xo

Mountain top maternity

If I told you she was an amazing helicopter pilot {currently 8 months pregnant} you may already think she was rad. What if I then told you she volunteers tirelessly in hopes for finding a cure for Cystic Fibrosis (an awful disease that one of her best friends suffers from) Not just a little here and there... we're talking she rode her bicycle 1,200 km with the Gear Up 4 CF crew,  as if that wasn't enough she organizes huge garage sales,  and the local Great Strides walk and every other event the Campbell River CF chapter comes up with.  She is a force, and someone you want to know.  I affectionately believe she is a rock star.  

I have flown with her a few times, most recently she flew Bryce and I to a mountaintop for our wedding photos (a truly remarkable experience).  When I found out she was pregnant, I naturally imagined her and her baby bump on a mountain top.  When she suggested having her brother fly us up to a snowy peak I was instantly on board.  (Yes her brother and her dad are both pilots as well and they make up Grizzly Helicopters).  Kristas hubby had to work, so we substituted in her more than willing mom in.  Her mom mentioned to me that Kristas first time in a helicopter was when she was 5 weeks old, so it all just seemed to fit so well.  I feel lucky to have the opportunities that I do with such incredible people.  Flying 10 minutes out of the Campbell River they basically fly me to paradise and as they are hovering over the below area say "Erin, does this look ok?"  Um... ya... if you're into the whole winter wonderland pristine beauty kinda thing.  A fresh pile of snow with not a footprint to be seen.  Untouched.  Beautiful.  It was insanely cold and windy,  I could have spent hours up there (if my hands and face weren't numb) however I believe we were only there for about 20 minutes or so.  In any case, 20 minutes on a mountain top and a remarkable experience with amazing human beings.     

A dress

Dear Maisie, 

August 31 2015

This morning... before coffee.

"I know mom, lets put on our wedding dresses"
"Ok Maisie".
"Ok mom... now can I please please please try on your wedding dress... I'll be careful I promise."
"Sure Maisie"
"Do I look like a mermaid mommy?"
"Yes peach... you kinda do."

I hope you always find inspiration in every day moments Maisie Lu.  I hope you always get excited to try on a beautiful dress and that you have the courage and freedom to ride the inspiration into creating whatever your heart desires.  I hope that life showers you with beautiful moments, so that you can continue to share your joy with the world.  I love seeing you light up from your soul... and sharing that with you. ox

Lets grow old together. ox

Love you, 

mom. ox

The light.

Creative people have to be fed from the divine source. I have to get fed.  I had to get filled up in order to pour out.
Johnny Cash

I should be ready for it.  It happens every year.  Every year I photograph my heart and soul out from generally about May-September.  Weddings, families... non stop action.  This year was March-October so I really, really shouldn't have been surprised.  But, I was.  I crashed.  Pretty hard.  The after wedding season crash.  Done. Out.  Nothing left.  {don't worry creatives are always a tad bit dramatic about the creative process}  For me it looks like... not really wanting to leave the house a whole lot {at all}.  Junking things out.  {finally dealing with the insane mountain of laundry that used to look like our bedroom}.  I just get tired.  I want to watch tv, gap out, zone out, indulgently lay in bed with the kids.  I don't typically even want to look at my camera gear.  I don't want to sit at my computer.  I just want to go to yoga, sleep in, hug my kids.  I haven't felt like sharing, speaking, posting on social media... I just wanted to hide out.  Tuck away.  Regroup.  Until today.  Suddenly the sun was shining and I had my camera in my hand and found myself in the light.  Inspired.  I had no idea where I was going... but I just got in my car, piled it full of my kids and a camera... and started driving.  We wound up on a trail we don't often go to... as we were walking the light started pouring in through the trees.  The big giant magic light.  You know, the kind that stops you in your tracks.  Except as I was showing the kids the light, taking photos of them, of the light... my mind was blown at how many people didn't even look at it.  Couldn't see it.  Don't see it.  Just walk right by it?  It always blows my mind.  They shouldn't see it really, perhaps they're not obsessed with light.  I love good light.  Spectacular light.  Irresistible light.  Then I started thinking... I can see it.  I do see it.  Therefor... I should keep catching it.  Or at least try.  And just like that, the spell was broken.  The creative low, the block... gone {for now}.  Subsequently I ended up spontaneously photographing the kids again tonight in one of my favourite places {photos shown here}.  15 minutes in the light, with my babies and I'm a happy girl.  

I guess all I'm saying is, when the creative juices seem to dry up... when the well appears to be empty.  It is time to fill it up.  It is not anyones job to fill it up for you.  It's up to you.  You can't feed yourself unless you go out and look for food, search for it.  Go get it.  That might mean shutting down for a day or two (or week or two)  but if you trust the process you're going to get hungry, and when you get hungry... you get out and get some food.  Just go get it.  Find it.  Just pick up your tools and go out in search of beauty... I'm positive you will wind up finding it.  Or if you are actively seeking, chances are it will find you.