Caitie and Mark had the most beautiful wedding at Camp Chief Hector in February! Although the weather was a bit too snowy to take pictures down by the lake, it worked out well with the beautiful tree lined roadway we used! We then entered their reception where it was lit with hundreds of candles, giving off the most warm and inviting ambiance. Their day was something out of a fairy tale!
Mark and I got engaged in March of 2017 on a game reserve in South Africa. We were visiting South Africa for the first time and we stayed at an incredible game reserve for a special night with just the two of us. We’d spent the day touring the reserve and seeing every African animal you can imagine. After the game drive, we decided to have a quick swim in the pool overlooking the valley where wild game were flocking at sunset – it was like watching Lion King live – one of those moments you can hardly believe is real. All of a sudden Mark jerked away from me and when I looked over, he was on one knee, with a mixture of nerves and happiness all in one. He said something very sweet but it ended with “will you marry me” and of course I said yes.
Mark proposed without a ring, which I hardly even noticed to be honest, and instead we chose together and had something made there. The kicker is that I’d actually found a ring about a month before our trip hidden in our closet. I checked the hiding spot right before we left and it was still there, so I made up my mind that an engagement just wasn’t happening. Obviously I was wrong but it made for such an amazing surprise! It was Mark’s grandmother’s and now I’m lucky enough to have two rings, a family heirloom from the past and one from the present. We just recently visited South Africa again for our honeymoon.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
Apart from the ceremony and vows themselves that had me laughing so hard and smiling from ear to ear, my favourite moment was immediately following the wedding when we went outside to take photos with the just bridal party and popped some bubbly. We were all laughing, goofing around and having the best time, despite the cold. I remember feeling so much joy and happiness in those moments and will never forget it.
What’s a piece of advice you could offer to others planning their wedding?
I have two things:
1. Don’t wait to do things at the last minute – I had a very long ongoing to do list that I started tackling as soon as we got engaged, which helped so much by the time we were getting close to the date because many things will pop up at the last minute that you can’t anticipate, and then you’ll feel more prepared to handle them.
2. Ultimately, remember this day is about you and your groom/bride, so try not to get overwhelmed or bogged down by other peoples’ thoughts, feelings (harsh, I know) or opinions. This I think is the biggest key to your success!
Venue:Â Camp Chief Hector // Planner:Â Hera Weddings + Events // H&MU:Â Annimations Mkup // Florals:Â Flowers by Janie // Video:Â Ring Tail Films
