love

Ben and I never expected to find our soulmates. In fact, neither of us thought we’d get married again. But within weeks of our very first date, we both knew. Marriage wasn’t a maybe anymore… it was inevitable. The Universe seemed to confirm it over and over again, with little moments that felt like magic: perfectly timed lightning and even fireworks on some of our earliest dates.

And here’s what has never been lost on me… Ben wasn’t just marrying me. He was stepping into the role of step-dad to my four kids. Add his kiddo to the mix, and suddenly he became the most incredible dad of five. That takes a special kind of love, commitment, and heart.

We’re both at a stage in life where we didn’t want (or need) a traditional wedding. Been there, done that. What we wanted was something that felt like us. Intimate, joyful, and meaningful. So we decided on 30 of our closest friends and family: our kids, our nieces and nephews, and our siblings and parents… all gathered at home with good food and good music.

We chose October 12th, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. Partly because we dreamed of a fall wedding, and partly because so much of our family was flying in from across Canada: Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. We rolled the dice on an outdoor ceremony, no tent rental, and promised ourselves we’d say screw it, rain or shine. As it turned out, the weather was perfect.

The day began at home. While the kids and Ben got ready, I sat in Beau’s room, (who was also my maid of honour), with my makeup artist and stylist. It was calm, but buzzing with anticipation. Once we were dressed, we took photos with the kids, then Ben and I snuck away. We hopped into his Jeep and drove to the ceremony holding hands… maybe our favourite part of the entire day. It was the first time we were truly alone, and it felt so grounding, like the deep breath before the moment we’d been waiting for.

When we arrived, our guests were already gathered. Our singer, Courtney, was playing, and there was no formality, no stiff schedule. When it felt right, we started. My sister-in-law officiated, which was so special, and even remarked during the ceremony about how lit up Ben and I looked, just staring at each other. It was everything we wanted… simple, real, and full of love.

And then, as if the Universe wanted to remind us yet again, a massive Lancaster plane flew right over our heads as we kissed. Our guests thought it was planned. It wasn’t. Just one more nod that we were exactly where we were supposed to be.

After the ceremony, we all headed back to our house. The caterers had set up, the open bar was flowing, and our playlist (built during months of Saturday nights dancing in our kitchen) carried through the air. There were no speeches, no formal dances, just laughter, stories, food, music, and love. Our kids and all of their cousins ran wild on the trampoline, plates full of food, giggling until the night wore out.

One of my favourite moments came at the end of the evening when our makeup artist (who doubled as our nanny that day) pulled me aside. She told me she had been to countless weddings, but she had never seen a bride and groom so connected. She noticed how, in every pocket of busyness, Ben and I kept finding each other… reaching out to hold each other, catching each other’s eyes. That observation felt like the truest reflection of our day.

It wasn’t about putting on a show. It was about love, connection, and creating a celebration that was exactly what we wanted.

This was our wedding day. And next week, I’ll be sharing all the details: from the vendors who helped us bring it to life, to the DIY touches that made it personal. Stay tuned for Part Two.

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