One Free Wedding//Laura and Derek

Ever since I was young, I have dreamed of having a beautiful, rustic
wedding. Derek and I booked our venue last week at Copetown Woods golf
course (Hamilton) and are getting married this August (August 20,
2016). I contacted Jonathan today about photography prices but
unfortunately we cannot afford paying that amount. Derek recently
graduated from a private Christian university, and I will be
graduating from that same university this coming May. Our parents are
both regularly paying for Christian education for our younger
siblings, and we both do not have much money. We are aiming to keep
this wedding under $8,000 because that is realistically all we can
afford. However, I really do want to hire Jonathan for our wedding
because he was an amazing, energetic photographer to work with and we
both believe that he would take incredible pictures on our wedding
day.

Derek and I are both musicians and I am a gifted piano player. I
finished my music major last year and am in teacher's college this
year at Redeemer to someday become a music teacher! Since piano is my
life and Derek used to always visit me in the practice rooms at
Redeemer, he ended up proposing last week with a scavenger hunt around
Redeemer which ended in my practice room, with roses and him playing
piano. I never would have dreamed of a proposal like that which was so
personal to me. We both enjoy playing piano together, or he plays
guitar and we sing. Music is a large part of our relationship and is
one of the things I love so much about us as a couple.

Derek and I also love going on adventures together! Whether that means
hiking, biking, exploring, baking, cooking, and the list goes on, we
love sharing those memories together. This past December we visited
some family of mine in California which was an incredibly positive
experience. It was then that we decided we wanted to get married
earlier (this summer) and spend life together, going on adventures and
making memories.

Lastly, Derek and I love sharing our struggles with each other and
supporting each other. We both struggle with anxiety and have been
through difficulties in life. The fact that Derek relates to me on
that level too makes our relationship even more meaningful. We love
each other even with all of our struggles.
And that is why I would like Jono & Laynie Co. to photograph our
wedding. I strongly believe that you will be able to beautifully
capture the love between Derek and I, as well as our fun spirits and
love for life. I really wish we could afford hiring you for our
wedding, because I truly do believe you would capture the moments
beautifully! In looking through your portfolio, you really do capture
the stories behind individuals and the sense of wonder, love and
excitement between them. That is what I hope to have for Derek's and
my wedding day!

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Sincerely,

Derek Benjamins & Laura Dieleman

Free Wedding Contest Entry//Rachel & Derek

That is a picture of my messer of a little sister and equal of a messer fiancé off on a weekend trip somewhere in the outter wilderness of Toronto.

They took that picture during a weekend away trying to make up their minds on the hardest decision any newly engaged couple has to make.... location of venue. As an emmigrated couple that question was doubley compounded by whether to come home for their wedding to the lush green lands of Ireland, or stay where that have built a life and a future for themselves in Toronto. As you have guessed from the competition entry they have chosen the latter... early August this year.

My sister Rachel and her fiancé Derek have been together for 9 years. After Dereks mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time he began to worry if he waited any longer he might not get to see her face on his wedding day. So he popped the questions on their anniversary in Toronto at their favourite restaurant. Dereks mothernis making another amazing recovery as only a woman of her calibre could. They are both nuts and have the intrinsic irish ability for banter that is in all irish blood. They are perfectly matched fault for flare for fault.

We are hoping to all make it for the day that's in it and stand up beside them in celebration, but as Dereks brother is also getting married next year as am I there are rumblings that the guests might be thinner on the ground than we would hoped. 

So I hope that you take this entry in the spirit it was intended as a gift to my sister who I love so dearly that no distance in geography can diminish.

FACTS 

- Rachels nick name is stone heart.

She talks faster than the road runner.

Nobody knows it but she is actually really caring.

-Derek works in finance but djs at night.

The fact that he couldn't drink from a pint glass in Toronto made him so sad we had to send him some from home.

He's the only one who knows just the right way to look after my sister while still taking the piss out of her.

Thank you for your time.

Lorin Lawless

On behalf of Rachel Lawless and 

Derek Mulvahney