We got back from a wonderful and much needed family vacation in Jamaica this winter and had to share this with you all. Our week-long stay at Valley High Villas was amazing in so many ways, but I'm sure the photos will better show you than any description we can write.

The breath-taking views and fantastic accommodations coupled with a friendly staff make this a perfect getaway.  Situated high on a hill, we caught these beautiful sunsets almost every evening.

We loved the rich forests and trees of Jamaica and you can hear the parrots and all kinds of birds living nearby. 

You can see the ocean in the distance from the villas and it is only a short walk before you arrive at a private beach which we enjoyed every day when we were not swimming in the pool. 

There are actually two villas you can rent.  These first few photos are from the original Valley High villa, which has 7 bedrooms.

This is the newly built second villa, called La Palmeras, a 6-bedroom villa with 3 floors of living space and a 4th floor upper terrace. We stayed here with our group of 16 (including kids).

We all dined outside every meal in this covered dining area. The cooks provided were friendly and catered the meals perfectly for us, with a mix of local foods (oxtail was superb as was the jerk chicken!) as well as some customized meals we requested.

Brides, if you are looking for a unique, non-resort destination wedding paradise, we know you and your guests are going to love being catered to at Valley High. Larger parties of 30-50 can rent both the villas, but the newly built La Palmeras villa is the one with the outdoor wedding ceremony and reception venue onsite, as well as the 6 bedrooms.

This is the upper terrace and outdoor ceremonies of up to 100 people can be held here. The pergola structure overlooks amazing panoramic views. We could have stayed and enjoyed the views from up here every day! 

There is a larger dining area upstairs equipped with a bar and lounge area for larger groups or perfect wedding reception.

La Palmeras with the pool at night.

If you are looking for an adventure and would like to experience local culture in Jamaica, just thought we'd share this fabulous villa we found for family vacations and/or the perfect destination wedding. You can find more information on their website at www.valleyhighjamaica.com and contact the owner, Helena, as she is quick to respond to emails and is really fun and easy to work with. For brides, there is a wedding planner onsite that can help you plan your perfect destination wedding!
 
Valley High and La Palmeras villas are definitely high on our "Must Visit Again!" list.

Much love,
Sam and Mary

I remember the conversation with Karen and Andrew as we were finalizing the details of their wedding.  Saturday alone would be packed: hair, makeup, ceremony, portraits and a full reception out of town at Temple's Sugar Camp.  But on top of that, Sunday followed up with a massive 10 course Chinese banquet at Yangtze for their 150 closest family and friends!!! :) Karen smiles and says "When this is all done, we're going to be good friends, Sam".  She couldn't have been further from the truth.  Their warmth and openness had me feeling like family in no time, we couldn't have been more lucky.

Here's a quick one we stole between courses 8 and 9.  Stay tuned, many more will follow!

Karen and Andrew, thank you for inviting us into your celebration and your lives. Your hearts are bigger than you know and we wish tons of blessings on you both!

Lots of Love,
Sam and Mary

We are so excited to share with you Shannon and Adam's wedding at Le Cordon Bleu.  We first met, Adam, who came to us with a desire to have a collection of amazing photos and albums of his upcoming wedding to his beloved bride, Shannon.  Right away, we knew we were going to get along.  Adam is sensitive, caring, and puts his love for Shannon above all else.  If there ever was a "Groom of the Year" Award, Adam would definitely get our vote!

After meeting Shannon, not only is she super sweet, but we found out that she has impeccable style and taste - and of course a huge heart for Adam. 

Here she is getting ready for the big day at the Chateau Laurier.

Loving these stylish Christian Louboutin shoes.

And personally delivered to her door, a McCaffrey Haute Couture dress of her dreams.

Shannon and Adam, it is such an honour to have gotten to know you both and to be a part of your amazing day!  Thank you for opening up your home and sharing part of your lives with us.  We wish you all the best as you embark on many more adventures together and continue to pursue your passions with one another.

Keep on lovin',
Sam and Mary

Vendors:
Venue: Le Cordon Bleu 
Bridal Gown: McCaffrey Haute Couture
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Caterer: Le Cordon Bleu
Barber: Imperial Barber Shop
Flowers: Bloomfields
Invitations, name cards: Marsha Youssef at Ottawa Calligraphy
Tuxes: Harry Rosen
Rings: Tiffany and Co.
Harpist: Sarah Adcock

Spring arrives and reminds us another season has begun.  We have been quite busy in the past little while and taken a bit of a break here on the blog to focus on our family and current clients, but have lots to share!  If you are still here reading our blog, well, these upcoming posts are for you.  Thanks for keeping us inspired and special thanks to MOB and blog-reader, Dawn, whom we've had the privilege of meeting, for giving us just the push we needed to keep writing.

Some personal news: We recently welcomed baby girl #3 into our family last month and despite the exhaustion, we couldn't feel more blessed.  Stay tuned for more on that in an upcoming post! 

Other than that, we have some really exciting weddings, engagements, and lifestyle sessions, to share (including a few maternity and baby sessions that we have had the privilege of shooting).  Up first though, is a sneak peak of Pamela and Jimmy's recent winter wedding in February. 

Happy Spring!

Hugs,
Mary (& Sam)

Wow, is it fall already?  This summer seemed to fly by way too fast but here's a gorgeous wedding we wanted to share with you.  

Julie and Brady came to us last year with a vision of a classy and traditional wedding with a modern edge.  Julie has been planning this Chateau Laurier wedding since she was a little girl and it has turned out to be everything she's dreamed of.

The all-day rain didn't dampen this wedding one bit as guests arrived from all over the world to celebrate with our happy couple. 

  Getting ready in the Parlour room.

Another stunning creation from McCaffrey Houte Couture

Jule and Brady, we're so glad that your day turned out as beautifully as you had dreamed.  Thank you for your warmth and your hospitality and inviting us to be part of your celebration.

Much love,
Sam (and Mary)

Vendors:
Venue: Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Bridal Gown: McCaffrey Haute Couture
Bridesmaid's Dresses: Ann Nininger
Tuxes: Morris Formal Wear
Cake: Artistic Cake Design
Caterer: Fairmont Chateau Laurier
Wedding Planner: Marry Me Productions
DJ: Quality Entertainment
Hair: Rinaldo's Hair Salon
Makeup: Kaitlin Maher
Flowers: Flowers Talk
Registry: The Bay
Invitations: Paper Studio
Rings: La Maison D'Or
Linens: Groovy Linen