What a fun bride and groom, AND crazy bridal party!  Obviously, Shawn and I had a ton of fun capturing the wedding day of Josh and Hope.  We were fortunate to have the privilege of “sneaking” around from the pre-wedding at the Coast Hotel in Sherwood Park, to the formals at the Royal Alberta Museum, to the ceremony at Lendrum Mennonite Church on the southside, and back to the reception at the Coast Hotel…(Shawn and I especially love the sneaking around/paparazzi part of the wedding experience )  The image examples shown are some sneak peeks into the pre-wedding and formals time.

This group is a great example of the fun/crazy/spontaneous/beautiful shots we are able to capture during the pre-wedding time–great times before the busy day begins! 

Thanks for being so willing to have a good time with us–Josh and Hope–you had an amazing wedding day.  Thank you so much for asking us to be the ones to capture your moments on YOUR day!  Enjoy your many many pictures…It has been a privilege

–

Melanie

I have to say that even though I have a really nice-looking ring finger, and rings tend to looks really nice on that particular finger, my ring finger is my least favourite body part. why? b/c it’s always a statement! whether you are wearing a ring or not. doesn’t matter. wearing a ring, married? engaged? hooked up? not wearing a ring? single? divorced? argh! I just hate how this finger always has to make a statement. Frankly, I don’t know what to do with it. I’m not entirely sure if I want a wedding ring even if I’m married, and let’s say I’m married and have a ring, why should every random person on the street know that I’m married? isn’t it creepy?

maybe I should chop it off.

no.

kidding.

horrible, horrible, horrible, bad, bad, bad idea!

Seems like everyone’s getting married. and i wonder, is there something wrong that I’m not getting married? or that I’m not even thinking about it? Or that I can’t even imagine myself in a white dress? Marriage seems so far to me. Weddings don’t even exist in my mind. Yes, at some point in my life, I want to make the decision to be someone. But not yet. The thing is, in all honesty, I think marriage is too risky when you’re young. I mean how do you know that the person you have only known for a minimal percentage of your lifetime is going to be the person you wanna spend the rest of your life with? you simply have minimal knowledge about yourself and that person. The only thing that makes me think that marriage should happen at a relatively young age is that I don’t think having a large age difference with your children is a great idea. Children need young and enthusiastic parents. The other problem is that as women age, reproduction also gets more difficult. Damn nature! But of course you can overcome this problem by adopting. But what if the woman really wants to experience pregancy and child birth?

too many thoughts. marriage is too risky. that’s my conclusion. and, well, i am still young.

When we first started planning the Boy signed us up at the Kn*t so we could get our planning going. It was not long afterward that I realized the list there were not really meant for those small of budget. Then we found WeddingWire and decided to use that because we could do our wedsite with online RSVP’s and it would link into our online guest list.

Then last week I saw a ad for a new online wedding planner that I think is so cool. www.myweddingworkbook.com They have some of the best looking lists and you have a choice about what you add to your planning calender. Every thing is printable so when you need to cart around your planning binder you can…with all the info online. Now if only they had wedsites, we could switch to them and not have to use W edding Wire at all.

Of all the hardships that are in life everyday. Many times the discouragements that come our way are far more than the encouragements that are needed at that current point of time. Sometimes it feels like we are in a big maze and we have enemies chasing us left and right. We do not know what to do. We do not know how to handle it. We then hide it within the back of our minds and try to play like it’s not there. It’s human. In fact, in the bible many times some of the people who God had to deal with he exposed the very thoughts that were in their minds and what they said in their own hearts. Without them saying a word! I believe that is the difference when you are a child and you have a father. Than just left in this world to figure it all out by itself. Which is not the case at all. It’s human to try to do all things on are on. However, it’s within the true knowledge of God as our father do we have the option to handle it on our own. The best choice is to give it to him.

Everyday we need inspiration to lift us up. We need life! We need to recharge our batteries consistently because the warfare for your life is at risk everyday. Do you have your armor on? (Eph 6:13-17) Therefore, in the midst of all our warfare we thrive for the things that recharge us and give us life. Such as: Friends, Family, Events, Music, Food, TV, and Shopping. However, not all the intake that we consume to give us life really does give us the ample amount we need to catapult us in life. It’s like the small dots in a pac-man game. The small dots help us clear the level. However, it’s the big dots that help us clear the game and DEFEAT THE ENEMY that stalks us. What are the big dots?

Jesus Christ

Jesus says,”The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Jesus said this almost 2,000 years ago. Which to the un-discerned it’s hard to parallel the practical aspects of who is the thief and what is our life everyday.(Mat 6:11) It’s not like Jesus walks in physically everywhere with everyone. No. Here is a picture of Jesus:

1.) Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4)

2.) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

3.) That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own,and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:9-12) 4.) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

With that foundation, here are some illustrations to further. Anytime we love in his name we love in accordance with life itself. Anytime we forgive in his name we forgive in order to redeem life in relationships. Whenever we are honest in our dealings and pure in our motives towards other people. We imitate the name of Jesus Christ. Is it wrong to live faithful? Is it really square to not be rude or offensive to anyone intentionally? Is it a crime to be kind to the poor and merciful to the weak? Or is it the shame of the look of the gospel within a man in the world that is the problem? For in as much we should not fear it’s presentation. Rather,we should be joyful that it’s power overwhelms any response of ourselves according to our own minds.

A friend can say everything is going to be alright. However, when your Dad says,”Everything will be alright.” You have a confidence like no other. Furthermore, if a dad has so much influence in our lives how much more when you hear God say,”Fear Not!” Be of good cheer. Be encouraged. That can have a man walk from Alaska to Peru. The world would suggest that you return evil for evil. Which does not lead to life at all. The world would say dress in a way that’s suggestive. The world would say never return anything you borrow. Or, step on anyone that gets in your path of success. All of such does not lead to life in relationships with other people. In as much, it damages the person who does it more than the person who it is done to. Sowing evil spawns revenge, hatred, dislike, discord, separation, factions, and more. It’s like chewing on one of the dots in the Pac-Man game and multiplying or strengthening your enemy. Our days are so bogged down by agreeing with things that pull us down instead of things that lift us up. This week everyone should plan things within their relationships that add seeds of life. Getting together for positive fellowship. Or, randomly helping someone that is in need. Choosing to be encouraging to your spouses no matter the outcome. Forgiving people. Loving people beyond opinion. Giving to charity. Attend church services. Gather your family and pray together. Spend sometime alone with God and give him your burdens. Admit to him you need him and you cannot do it all alone. This aspect of life carries so much weight than any other.

No matter if you are a single mom, Father, Teenager, Grandma, or Great Grandpa. You have humbled yourself before the Father of all and identified yourself as a child of his; no matter the age. You have admitted that you need God’s love and mercy and the respect for the testimony of Jesus Christ. God’s begotten son.

R.Williams

inquiry@realisticimaginations.com

www.realisticimaginations.com

Had a nice little weekend back in my hometown for a couple of old friend’s wedding. My friends have been dating since the 6th or 7th grade and I went to school with them most all of my life before college and they finally got married this weekend! Congrats! I forgot my camera though so I have no pictures of the beautiful occasion. I also had a weekend away from my computer which was kind of nice. But once I got home I dropped my bags, cuddled a bit with the cat and went straight for my computer. But more and more I’m sure I will be able to spend longer periods of time away from my computer. It is a process.

Anyways, while checking e-mails and what not, I came upon something really cool! I  love calendars and calendar design is something that I want to try at some day, but I have never seen anything like this.

Oscar Diaz Ink Calendar

It is a strip of paper with the days of the month that sucks up the ink out of a little bottle. Each day the paper sucks up the correct amount of ink to color a day of the month. How cool.

Lina and I would like to announce that we are now very happily engaged. To be honest, we have been engaged for the last couple of months.

For those of you who know us, you are all very aware that we have been together for ages. I’m sure that it’s not a surprise to any of you.

We will be having our ceremony on October 4th of this year.

Hey everyone just got done with my website http://MelanieDsibrowPhotography.com

This set of wedding dolls is a custom order for Yonnie. This is another set of enlarged dolls based on the design of Dilian and Mayee; however, the hairstyle of the bride is changed to that of Lindsay’s.

I am guessing that Yonnie is expecting to have a updo hairstyle on her wedding day, elegant and neat.

The dolls are blown up to approximately 15-16cm tall, as requested. This is probably the best ideal size to enlarge dolls to. Any larger may compromise the cuteness, don’t you think?

Most of my dolls are designed to be tiny – look at the small wedding dolls placed in the front for comparison – and enlarging dolls doesn’t just involve multiplying the stitches (you may try doing that, and I guarantee that you won’t ever get the exact same proportion that my enlarged dolls turn out to be), but to consider all details and ensure that the final output is proportional. Most importantly, I believe that you like my dolls because you like the style of my design, and I want to make sure that regardless the sizes, the dolls must carry with them the signature style of my original design.

I love the bow tie I made for the large groom doll!

My dolls are not overly accessorized because the beauty of simplicity is ‘less is more’, it has the magical power to withstand the test of time, and remains as elegant as it is designed to be. That said, it’s really individual’s preference, I dressed simple for my own wedding, so you get the drift that I belong to the minimalist.

I really love the dolls.. really! I hope Yonnie loves them too.

I finished the groom first, and when I was in the process of making the bride, Mike picked up the groom and pretended that the groom was looking for his lovely bride. After a while, he said something like ‘hey, no matter what happens, the groom is still very blissfully happy!’.

There is a reason why I love my own wedding dolls so much – apart from being a narcissistic, that is – they are always blissfully happy! Marriage is not always a bed of roses, it comes with its fair share of challenges and difficulties along the way. However, if we always remember that blissful smile we had on the special that we exchanged life-time vows of love, we are able to take on any challenge ahead of the journey and come out of it being stronger, if not unscathed.

SONNET LXIX
By Pablo Neruda

Maybe nothingness is to be without your presence,
without you moving, slicing the noon
like a blue flower, without you walking
later through the fog and the cobbles,

without the light you carry in your hand,
golden, which maybe others will not see,
which maybe no one knew was growing
like the red beginnings of a rose.

In short, without your presence: without your coming
suddenly, incitingly, to know my life,
gust of a rosebush, wheat of wind:

since then I am because you are,
since then you are, I am, we are,
and through love I will be, you will be, we’ll be.

I am so VERY excited to finally have some new music on my website!  I was tired of the same ol’ songs that are available to everyone or that royalty-free elevator music.   Just not for me.  I came across a songwrite by the name of Chad Beall on another forum that I visit and was blown away by the words of his songs and the emotion that comes through each one.  Especially the one called “Dedications”…which would be a PERFECT First Dance for a bride & groom. 

So I contacted Chad Beall to see if he would be willing to let me use his song on my website and you can only imagine my excitement when he wrote back saying he’d love the opportunity!  He also mentioned that he writes songs for bridal couples (or anyone for that matter) pertaining to their story.  Meaning, you tell him things about your relationship, life, etc…and he will PERSONALLY write a song JUST for YOU.  How awesome would that be?!  I only wish he was around when I got married…. =)

So, I HIGHLY recommend checking out his music, bio and for more info on Chad at http://www.chadbeall.com  Take some time to listen to his songs, I hope you love them as much as I did!

The week after Lauren’s wedding in Wyoming was the wedding of my good friends from Tulane, Grey and Rachel.  Again, I got to travel for this one, down to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this time.  This is going to be another multiple-post collection, and I’ll start it off with these 6, showing a pretty good size wave crashing over the rocks and onto me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordansangerman//sets/72157621588050829

This past weekend I was a 2nd shooter at a wedding in the Milwaukee area.  I was a little skeptical as to what our options were going to be for the formal shots.  The clouds were giving the sign of rain to come, and the local meteorologists predicted rain at 5:00.  Which was the exact time we would be shooting the formals!  We were able to get in a few shots before it the skies let loose.  And it didn’t just rain, but it poured!!!!  I felt like a drowned rat running to save my equipment!  Luckily the rain only lasted a short while and we were able to get out there and get some more shots in.  Scott and Beth were absolutely wonderful to work with.

Justin and Cheryl met in Washington. There was an instant attraction …

Now, present day … their wedding, July 18th, 2009. They were beautiful and radiant. More to come …

Here are some random photos from St. John. Please notice Fred’s-Bar/conveniencestore/dancehall/
restaurant/center.
We ate dinner at the Fish Trap restaurant which was excellent!

I am so excited, yesterday Kim Fei and I went to look around at the bridal shop. We only went to 3 bridal shops and we signed up with their package with the last bridal shop. I understand that other experience brides advice to look around every bridal shops but I fell in love with this one when I enter it. It gave me a peaceful feeling and I totally blended well with the sales assistance, her name is Wey Wey, she was so nice and she advice me truthfully and now white lies. We even tried on a few wedding gowns and I am totally flaunt with those gowns. It’s much better than the previous 2 shops I visited. Furthermore the package that they gave me are reasonable with quite a number of free things. The most attractive part is my extra ROM gown and coat for father in law. I am so excited with this. Can’t wait till January and May 2010.