In the week leading up to the wedding, the weather forecast was not looking good. Rain, Rain, Rain. All day.  But I don’t put too much stock in the forecasts.  This time it hit right on the head and on my drive to PEI from Nova Scotia, it started raining, and it kept raining.  As I arrived in Charlottetown to meet Sydney and her girls at the Great George Hotel, the roads downtown were at times over a foot deep in water.  I was glad I packed a full change of clothes and a good rain coat.

Sydney was running on schedule with her friends when I arrived.  They were just popping some champagne and finishing their makeup.  I took some photos around the room and made sure to get the beautiful flowers her friend put together for her and she got from some Florerias en Houston online.  I made sure to get a couple photos of the rings and put them back in the boxes before it was time to make the 25 minute drive to the Rivershed.  I left at the same time as the girls, whom were greeted with a surprise mode of transportation.  The original mini bus was broken down, and they were sent a large bus.  This bus couldn’t fit in the tight parking lot of the Great George, so everyone had to run through the rain a bit farther than they thought they did.

About 5 minutes into the drive I received a phone call from Sydney.  She wanted to know if I could go back and get the rings which were left in the room as it would be easier for me in a car than for the entire bus to turn around.  I of course said I could.  When I got back to the room, a hotel staff member was a bit worried as she had been looking for the rings for 5 minutes, unable to find them.  I started looking as well, and finally found them after a few frantic minutes.  They were on a serving tray which had been moved and another tray placed on top of it.  I rushed out the door and back on the road, arriving at the venue after everyone else.  I had the chance to meet David briefly before heading into the back room to see Sydney being escorted into the building by her father holding an umbrella over the two of them.

The song Sydney was walking down the aisle to was Depth over Distance by Ben Howard, a long time favourite of mine.  As she approached David, you could see him getting emotional.  That first look moment is always a special one.  The ceremony was up on the stage at the front of the room and was quite a step up (because who wants to walk around to the side and use the stairs?).

We planned on doing the photos right after the ceremony but we had to delay a bit because of the rain.  We eventually decided to take the family photos out on the deck beneath a small overhang.  I stood out in the rain and got wet while keeping everyone else dry.  When I worked for WestJet, I never had cause to use my coat outside in rain, but I can assure you, it turns out the coat is pretty damn good.  I was in pretty heavy rain and didn’t even need to change shirts like I thought I would.  My hair was a disaster though.

We found a bit of a lull in the rain and took full advantage, getting a good photo session in before heading back inside for the dinner.  Throughout dinner we found another time to head outside during the blue hour for a few photos, and despite Sydney falling while on the wet deck, I think the photos turned out beautifully.  Inside, the highlight of the dinner was when Sydney and David found out that they had been Iced.  I don’t know the full details, but apparently if you find a Smirnoff Ice, you need to chug it.  Well, Sydney and David found two taped the the underside of their table and chugged them on stage immediately after.

Sydney and David were lucky and the rain stopped, allowing them to have their first dance outside on the deck.  They danced to another song I love by Ben Howard, Only Love.  After Sydney danced with David, she danced with her dad, and he took the award for best father daughter dance I’ve seen to date.  Dads, step up your game, the bar has been set, and it’s high.

The rest of the dance was back inside the beautiful Rivershed and up until the point it was time for me to say good night, people were loving the dance floor and the late night pizza.  Despite what could best be described as a crappy weather day, this was still an absolutely beautiful day and I enjoyed getting to spend it with Sydney, David, and their fun group of family and friends.

Here’s a look into Sydney and David’s first day married together.

Enjoy!!!

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