Jeff + Gabrielle - Amanda Lachapelle

***This blog post is sooooo late but I am working to catch up and I don’t want to miss anyone! Better late than never! Enjoy***

When a friend announces their engagement I never take it for granted that they will ask me to photograph their day. Trying to provide a specific type of image means that not everyone will like what I do, as is their right – and if what I do isn’t for them then it’s probably better that they find a photographer that fits what their looking for – friend or not. But if I am to be honest when Jeff and Gabrielle announced their engagement – I was really crossing my fingers. I tend to gravitate towards two types of clients; client a) is mushy, cuddly, head over heels – PDA loving – kissy kissy soulmates kind of people and client b) is two soulmates who are also each other’s best friends, are comfortable doing or saying anything in front of each other and love to laugh together. The perfect client is a mix of both and some definitely have characteristics from both types – but in general that’s who I want to work with. Jeff and Gabs definitely fall into the second category – they are first and foremost each other’s friends – the way they laugh, joke and tease each other would make you think that they have known each other their whole lives.

Where to begin with these two – I was friends with Jeff first – in my college years a bunch of us would get together and go to a local bar (ahem *cough* somewhat dive) and have some drinks and sing karaoke. We were an eclectic mix – some of us knowing each other from high school and then of course some of us would bring friends from other places along some weeks too. This was pretty much a weekly thing and I absolutely loved it – you see I love to sing. I get nervous heading up to the microphone and Mariah Carey I am not – but ever since I was a little girl I have always sang in church, cleaning at home with my mom, or even in the car with my whole family. In some way or another music has always been a part of my life in a major way – needless to say karaoke is definitely a favorite pass time. So my good friend, eventual maid of honour Tina was one of the regulars that would come every week with her boyfriend (now husband) and her and Jeff had been friends for a long time. I’ll never forget those karaoke days – they were fun because we were singing but they were even more fun because of people like Jeff, people who don’t care and know how to let go and not be self conscious. I always envy people like that – on a dare one night Jeff – Mr. I don’t care if I embarass myself agreed to get up and sing Shania Twain – Any Man of Mine. Let me just say that most of our table had a hard time not peeing themselves and cheered louder than ever when he was done. That is how I will always think of Jeff – someone who loves life too much to let it pass him by.

Enter Gabrielle – I met Gabrielle for the first time as Jeff’s date at a stag and doe – she seemed nice and super friendly but definitely more mature than our silly Jeff (and I mean that in a good way Gabs). Soon after with college ending and the real world beginning karaoke nights went by the wayside and then our beloved bar burnt down. I didn’t see much of Jeff nor Gabs – just at random functions with Tina. Then Gabs came and helped out Bryan and I with administrative work around the office and we got a little closer. The next thing I know Gabs is paying me the highest compliment any of my friends could – she gave her brother my name for his wedding. If you read the blog you may remember Emily and Anthony who got married last October – that is Gabrielle’s brother and sister in law. Spending the day getting to know Gabs with her family was awesome – they are the best kinds of people – they love life and love dancing and anything Trinidadian. I really understood how these two ended up together after meeting Gabrielle’s family – see Jeff loves life just as much as Gabrielle’s family loves life.

When they announced their engagement I was happy but a little surprised – sometimes Jeff gets teased for being a consummate bachelor – he’s definitely the type to head out for a weekend fishing trip or a day on the boat. But I found out that Gabrielle doesn’t mind going with him and enjoys a lot of the same things he does, and that they enjoy it more because they are together. Funnily enough, during the planning process I got to see a different side of Jeff completely, the side that is thorough (groomzilla as a nickname was thrown around a few times heh heh) inventive, organized and a family man. You see, Gabrielle has a daughter named Lily who is around 13 and the ways in which they included her in the ceremony and the way in which Jeff just embraced them both as family was amazing. The day was filled with so much love and meaning about the joining of not only two hearts but the creation of a family. When they got to the part of the ceremony especially for Lily where they stated their vows to her and their family I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It was a touching, fun, beautiful, and yes definitely silly day and I am so honoured that my friends chose me to be there. See this is why it takes so long to blog! I just love everyone in front of my camera so much I want to do them and their love justice with not only my photos but my words too!

Check out a few of the photos and hopefully they fill in the blanks of what I just couldn’t express with words . . .

I saw this boat in Jeff & Gabs’ bedroom and I couldn’t resist so I stole it and brought it with me to the ceremony so I could snap up the rings for this photo.