Prairie Love | Stephanie + Rich in a Manitoba Wheat Field

I am so excited to celebrate my cousin Stephanie’s engagement here on the blog!  Steph and Rich live in Manitoba, and while I can’t make it out to their wedding this August  (since I’ll be staring my due date smack in the face–oh right, did I mention, I’m pregnant!!!), I’m thrilled that I had the chance to photograph Steph and Rich together last summer near my old hometown on the prairies.  Thankfully we were able to  squeeze in a shoot on some of my Grandparents’ farmland that was just about to be harvested…another day or so and this field would have been empty.  Anyway, the setting was perfect: the sky was hazy from harvesting and the long Canadian days of summer gave us loads of golden shooting light!  Unfortunately the mosquitos were what drove us to a mad finish once the sun had set!

I am so incredibly blessed to have Stephanie as a dear cousin and friend.  We’ve been close ever since we were little and I was honoured to have Steph as one of my own bridesmaids four years ago.  Sadly I won’t be able to attend or be a part of Steph and Rich’s own celebration, but I am super pumped that Steph will be joining me this May in Colombia where I’ll be shooting a destination wedding (at this GORGEOUS villa)!    Steph and I have never been able to coordinate travel plans, though we’ve both spent a good deal of time on the road and have even managed to bump into one another in both Cuba and London.  However, the timing seems to have finally worked out so that we get to meet up in Colombia just before she gets married and I have a baby.  I’m so excited to get to spend this special  time with one of the most loyal, intentional, adventure-driven friends I have.  And how extra-special when that friend is also family!

All right, enough chatting…enjoy the photos, the lovely prairie sky, and this gorgeous couple in love!  Oh and happy Saint Paddy’s Day weekend!  Any fun Irish-inspired plans to share?  Maybe I can convince Will to pull out the bagpipes for a few celebratory tunes!

“There is no describing [the prairies]…They inspire feelings too unique, so distinct from anything else, so powerful, yet vague and indefinite, as to defy description, while they invite the attempt.”

– John C. Van Tramp

Stephanie’s Outfit:  Bracelet – Silver Lotus  |  Earrings – Ten Thousand Villages  |  Belt – Forever 21  |  Boots – Born  |  Dress – GAP

PS I know I mentioned a fantastic cause (and opportunity to win prints) a little while back, and wanted everyone to know that it’s still in the works, there are just a few details to iron out.  Hopefully this awesome opportunity to give back, buy travel prints from the Middle East, and win a series of your own prints will be ready to reveal very shortly!  Thanks for your patience!