New Blog NEWS!

I've been working hard on a brand new blog these past few days! It looks very similar to this one, but much easier to navigate and interact via comments and is linked facebook directly - very cool! Stay tuned for a few wedding blogs, portrait updates and many great posts in the next few weeks!

WWW.RANDIGALLANTBLOG.COM

Michelle + Tim ~ Wedding

All the way around the world to find love.
That's how Michelle and Tim found each other. Sometimes, love is not right in front of us and we spend longer looking than others. In their case, it was certainly worth the wait.
During her speech at the reception, Michelle reminded everyone just as she had before that No, Tim did not buy her from the internet!. That statement speaks volumes about Michelle. Her personality, her charm, her quick wit. She is hilarious, honest, and never holds back. I love that about her. Yet she is so sweet and caring and everything you would want in a friend. Tim is kind, gentle and has his own wit about him too. He also supports Michelle's love of COACH handbags which certainly puts him on my "Fabulous Husband List"! I truly believe that Tim and Michelle were made for each other by every means of the term.

Their families travelled from China and all over to be with them on their big day here in New Brunswick. It was so nice to experience a ceremony that tied in both of their cultures, and even with a little language barrier, everyone mingled so well and the mood was so full of love and fun the whole day.


We began the day at Nakai Spa in Saint John. I just LOVE their decor. So modern and chic. The girls were relaxed and excited and a great mood was set for the entire day.

Michelle hugs her hair stylist for a job well done.


Michelle and her girls did a practice run of the ceremony right in the hotel room. So cute. During the girl's prep time back at the hotel, Marc ended up running to Walmart to get some emergency BOUNCE sheets to fix some serious bridesmaid dress static cling! :)
{Thanks Marc! I don't know what I'd do without you :)}


Michelle... Gorgeous.



The ceremony and reception were both held at Riverside Country Club, in Rothesay. I love the staff there, so friendly and great to deal with.




Some bridal party fun. What a gorgeous group!

Michelle had two outfits for the day. A traditional white bridal gown and a stunning Asian dress. Both were so beautiful.



Next, we were Off to the Renforth Warf to shoot some portraits with just Michelle and Tim.


Michelle was so proud to show me what she had come up with for her "Something Blue", she almost couldn't wait until we got back to the hotel to show me earlier that morning. It certainly was adorable and very creative!



Back to Riverside for the reception. The details were in traditional Chinese colors, Red & Yellow. I loved the Wisdom tree. Such a wonderful idea and to have handwritten scriptures from each of their guests. Some funny, some serious, but all written with a personal touch. After dinner was served Michelle and Tim invited the entire kitchen staff out for an applause. What a grand gesture which I am sure was very appreciated and speaks volumes about the type of people Michelle and Tim are.



Michelle changed back into her white gown for the first dance. A beautiful day ended with a beautiful moment.


Marc and I met some wonderful people from around the world and shared in a gorgeous day of two people that deserve nothing less than the best in each other.

Michelle + Tim ~ Wedding

Congratulations to Michelle + Tim who were married this past weekend. Just a few teasers for now :)

Randi + Josh ~ Wedding

It was a perfect day. Perfect weather, perfect skies, lots of love in the air and Marc and I were destined for a beautiful backyard wedding in Norton.

Randi's wedding attire came from Lochhart's Bridal in Sussex.


To start the day we arrived at Solutions Hair Design in Sussex (the salon Randi works at) for some getting ready shots with the girls.


After the salon, we drove to Randi and Josh's family home in Norton where the wedding was being held. As I said during their engagement blog post... The location is Amazing! Rolling hills, perfect pastures, private treed pathways, old weathered barns, a vine covered swing set, the pool ... and the list goes on. Just beautiful! I love the fact that it is so personal to them as well. They recently renovated their new home on the same property as Randi's mother's house. What a lucky bunch to live in such picturesque views together.

Beautiful.



The whole Wedding setup was done with not one detail spared. Wendi at Spurs in Saint John came to the table just a few short weeks before the big day while Randi and her mother Theresa happened to be in her store looking for some last minute details. Regardless of a time crunch, between her and Randi's mother Theresa, they made it happen. Wendi even weaved cherry blossoms into the vine covered swing set and covered the swings with pink fabric and matching ribbon.
Up until the last minute, Brad was putting the finishing touches on the custom walkway over the pool leading to the gazebo, also built especially for the wedding. Every detail had a personal touch. Everything was pink and sparkled. Crystals dangling in the wind over the ceremony gazebo. Pink and white floral feather arrangements and martini glasses lined the tables inside the reception tent. The center of the head table had a gorgeous silver candelabra. Lanterns were hung from the trees around the yard.






Love.




The "Ready Jane" PINK portable washrooms were quite the thing! Seriously. They had blue flush water, hand washing stations, and even a mini-makeup mirror on the door! I never thought I would refer to such a thing as being cute… but they certainly were!


It is certainly worth every moment planning to see it all come together on a day like this. Randi and Josh, I hope it was all you wanted and more :)

A mother, a friend, a beautiful woman.

As I sat down this evening ready to work on some client galleries, I noticed Jess's heartbreaking news that her mother Brenda had passed away suddenly yesterday. I was at a loss for words and so sad for Jessica, Tim and their wonderful family that I had the privilege of spending their wedding day with last year.

I remember the day clearly. It down poured when I arrived at the Naish house for bridal prep session but everyone was in good spirits in anticipation of the day ahead. Jess's mother hand made her wedding dress as a gift to her. It was so beautiful and you could tell that love was delicately sewn with every loop of her thread. She was proud but modest about her creation for her daughter. I remember Jess telling me before the wedding that she would really love some images of her and her mother, as she usually hid from the camera. I am glad they have these and I am sure they will be cherished forever.
"we don't have many photos of her as she always hid from the camera, and the photos you took of her at our wedding last year really capture her happiness and beauty."


Jessica, My heart goes out to you and your family. I feel so lucky to have met your mother and to have been part of your wedding day.

It is moments like this that remind me of how fragile life is and to appreciate those important to me every day. As much as it is easy to get wrapped up in the romance, the fashion and beautiful images taken on my clients' wedding day, I know that each photograph I take will be an eternal memory of that person someday. To remember their beauty, their life, the moments shared. What an honor. Hug the people you love and appreciate them for as long as they live.

Off to BO-TTAWA we go!

Just a quick note: If you contact me between July 15-26th it may take a while to respond as I will have limited access to email and voicemail. However, I will respond to all requests as soon as I can. Thank you for your patience!
Bo-ttawa. Yes, that's right! It may not be an actual location on the map, but it is a destination that we will travel to! In case you haven't figured out my invented phrase, it's {Boston, then to Ottawa} for a mini-vacation. We are taking my awesome little sister Samantha too. I can't wait to show her the city that we both love.
a photo our friend Natasha took last year in Boston
We seem to visit Boston about once a year lately. I can't really explain why, except thanks to Marc's every lasting obsession with the Boston Red Sox and he has somehow roped me in! As I tell some of my clients, I'm sure he actually thinks he IS part of the team sometimes, literally. Actually, if I allowed him to have the Red Sox print bed sheets and matching curtains, I'm sure he would! We spent our Honeymoon in Boston and we have a dog named Fenway. I think that about sums it up. Because of our many visits and thanks to the internet, we've developed great friendships as well. I've actually grown to love the city. It is somewhat like a very large Saint John except so much bigger and more beautiful. (Older East Coast heritage with small town feel) I've live there if it were not for the crazy traffic.

After Boston, we head up to Ottawa. I will be doing an Engagement photo shoot with Julie + Troy who will be getting married in 2011. We will also be visiting my Aunt and Uncle who recently purchased their gorgeous retirement home in Merrickville, ON. It's beautiful and has tons of character from what I've seen so far! I've been told this is a photographer's paradise, so I'm quite excited to see what it has to offer!

Courtney + Mike ~ Engagement

Courtney was referred to me from one of my awesome long time clients, Sandy. I am so lucky to have such amazing clients that have sent friends and family to me over the past few years. As I've told most, all of my business has been WOM (Word of mouth advertizing only) and I am very thankful for that.

Courtney and Mike drove down from Fredericton for their engagement shoot.
I find that lately, uptown seems to be a popular spot for my Fredericton clients. I guess, maybe because it's so different from their hometown. Regardless, it's one of my fav choices! Not to mention, my studio is uptown as well as a few of my fav places to shoot in. While planning her session, Courtney asked me if it was ok to bring her dog Koda. Really? Did she really HAVE to ask? OF COURSE! To my future clients...Bring the puppies along.. please! :)

I always encourage my clients to bring a few outfits. After all, variety is the spice of life! And... more outfits = more awesome photos! Courtney arrived in an adorable black polka dot dress that complimented her long flowing brown hair ~ Gorgeous. I just knew our shoot would be PERFECT. Our shoot was fun and we laughed a lot. Thanks to Marc for coming along and dog-sitting for a bit during the non-Koda shots :)
Since it's 7:30am and I haven't slept all night (Seriously, I have been working since midnight here to get work done for vacation! lol) let's get on with some photos.

So cute.

Koda. So so so sweet. Such a nice dog, so kind, and friendly. Courtney said that she thought she loved Koda's images more than the ones of her and Mike! :) I wouldn't go that far, but he is super adorable for sure, and definitely very much loved!


Possibly one of my favs.



Sweet little family :)

I love Courtney's gorgeous eyes in this one. She will certainly make a beautiful bride! Mike, you will make a handsome groom too :)

Love.



It was calling for rain all day, but thankfully it held out just enough. Umbrella shots are always so romantic.

Beautiful.

Stay tuned for their fabulous Wedding later this summer which is taking place outdoors in a beautiful Apple Orchard by Fredericton.