Jennifer and Shawn met while studying music at Mount Allison University, where Shawn was an organist and Jenn a soprano. Shawn wooed her with his amazing baking skills, and Jenn taught him all about vampire slayers, zombie runs and alien romances. While their lives have taken them to numerous cities since – to live and work, or to explore – they made their way back to Jenn’s hometown of Saskatoon for their fall wedding.
It’s not a stretch to imagine that their wedding would be centered around their mutual loves of music, travel, and all things nerdy. Knox United Church was chosen for their ceremony due to its incredible acoustics, and it did not disappoint. As they’d already had a first look on the riverbank, Jenn and Shawn broke even further from tradition and walked each other down the aisle. Various beautiful pieces were performed by a choir of friends as well as a solo by renowned soprano Laura McLean. The Saskatoon Children’s Choir’s rendition of Eternity by Michael Bojesen during the register signing brought tears to many eyes, and still gives me chills when I think about it.
Jenn and Shawn incorporated their travelling adventures into their wedding decor. They named each table after a city where they’d lived or visited, and decorated with banners from maps. Their wedding favors were second hand books, set out for everyone to choose their own, and personalized bookmarks. And the cake! OMG, the cake. Shawn baked a traditional kransekake, an 18-layer Norwegian pastry masterpiece. It was decorated with flags and guarded by trolls dressed as the bride and groom – right down to Shawn’s pink bow tie.
For the reception, Jenn and Shawn had developed a “Comprehensive Kissing Game” requiring some pretty elaborate theatrics to elicit a smooch. Options included original poetry, seranades in two (or more) part harmony, abridged 60-second renditions of favourites including Harry Potter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or General Hospital, and verified unicorn sightings. Turns out Jenn and Shawn have a pretty talented group of family and friends, as the music and nerdiness continued long into the evening. After the first dance, Shawn’s grandpa kicked off a good old East Coast style dance party that kept the dance floor hopping.
This couple is sweet, talented, and quirky in all the right proportions. As Shawn put it: “I become more nerdy according to my geographic proximity to her.” Here’s to many years of beautiful music, early morning canoe rides, new adventures, and jam on your poached eggs 😉
Ceremony: Knox United Church
Music: Current and former members of the Saskatoon Children’s Choir, Laura McLean and Evan Mounce, and guests
Reception and Catering: Top of the Inn at the Sheraton
Bride’s Dress: Robert Bullock, purchased at Cedar Closet Boutique, Ottawa
Bridesmaids Dresses: Dessy
Hair and Makeup: Brooke Hook
Flowers: Jane’s Floral
Cake: Groom
Jennifer says
LOVE! Gorgeous wedding!
Jyn says
Gorgeous fall colors! Such a pretty wedding.
Ashley Durham says
Love that fall foliage, so gorgeous!
Melissa Mowrey says
Your lighting is amazing throughout, even with the changing scenery. WOW. They are a blessed couple to get such great images, wonderful work.
Esther says
WOW! What a beautiful Fall wedding! Love the gorgeous autumn colours framing the doting couple. So perfectly captured.
tracy says
Thank you Esther! That’s one of my favourite images ever!
Michelle says
Beautiful wedding photos and that Fall colour is amazing!
tracy says
Thanks Michelle! The fall colors were incredible that weekend!