Shawna & Mike here! We are your Kelowna photographers!

I am still not finished my season but I know this is and will be my favourite wedding of 2012. It’s not because this wedding was at the Summerhill Winery. It’s not because Julie and Mike’s friends and family are absolutely amazing. It’s not because there was so many beautiful details to photograph that I could have spent hours doing so. It was because of what I learnt from Julie & Mike.

I first met Julie & Mike earlier this year. They live out of town and came to Calgary to shoot their engagement session. Unfortunately Julie ended up getting sick so Mike and I met them for coffee to go over their big day. I liked them right away. I knew I would even though we had only spoken by email. We have lots of things in common and very much have the same positive outlook on life. We spoke again via email a few months before their wedding and Julie went on to tell me that Mike was diagnosed with cancer and that he was going in for surgery. My heart dropped. I was shocked as Mike is so young and you just don’t expect this to happen to someone who is so full of energy and seems so happy & healthy. I personally live my life thinking that I am indestructible.

Julie sounded very positive and they were hoping for the best. Now in no way was she giving me the impression that the wedding was going to be cancelled. I got the feeling that she felt that the show must go on with or without cancer and that it did! The wedding was amazing. It was one of those days where you could cut through the emotion in the air. From the moment I met them at their wedding rehearsal to the moment I left I had warm butterflies. I knew it was going to be an emotional wedding but clearly I should have kept tissue in my pocket! Now just to be clear…the emotion wasn’t pity or sadness it was love, laughter, smiling, joking, caring, happy tears and simply people loving each other and embracing life.

During the reception Mike’s speech was that of positivity. He told us that when he found out that he had cancer….that the doctor said that he wasn’t sure if the wedding would or should take place. He spoke through his tears and Julie just stood by him quietly smiling. When he came home to tell Julie her reaction was; I will stand by your side whatever the outcome and no matter what we will be getting married. Yes as you can imagine my tears were flowing. I witnessed immense courage. Pure love and strength that will endure through anything. When Mike and I were driving home from Kelowna I was suppose to sleep in the truck as we had a wedding to shoot the next day. I couldn’t sleep. Mike and I couldn’t stop talking about what Mike and Julie were going through. It had hit my Mike pretty hard. He too was shocked as Mike & Mike are close to the same age. It’s amazing how one shift in life can change your path into a completely different direction.

I spoke with Julie yesterday and she happily told me that her Mike is doing well. They seem to have gotten all of the cancer and there is no need for further treatment. I told her that I was doing the happy dance in my office. It actually brought tears. I have taken away so much goodness from this situation. I am now more deeply aware of life’s little treasures. My skies are bluer and my flowers more colourful. I see that there is more to life. I have been trying to better relationships with others that I meet.
Life is too special and sometimes too short to worry about the small stuff. We need to have a passion for life. I appreciate life much more and am thankful for each day. I look forward to what life has in store for me. The things that we think are so pressing and urgent often aren’t. It’s about family, friends, appreciating nature, taking risks and helping others. Sometime it takes a little wake up call to show you to experience life at its’ fullest, find your passion and fulfill your fate. I have learnt from the experiences of Julie & Mike and I am so fortunate to have met them. Because of them I have my own, new to do list:

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