In his suit pocket, there are two small wreaths of myrtle leaves; one for Noah and one for Hannah. The myrtle comes from Noah’s Baba's shrub in Nanaimo, care of Canada Post and a damp paper towel. Myrtle is an evergreen, like the family's wishes for their love. Beyond the circular wreath representing an everlasting love and unity, Ukrainian wedding traditions infused Hannah and Noah's wedding celebration. First the korovai, an old style "wedding cake" that is broken and shared amongst the newly formed community. Next a gift of money, in this case a Canadian toonie, just one dollar each but a coin that is physically united. The gift of garlic symbolizes good health and long life. A small pot of honey to bring sweetness to their lives together. Wheat as a symbol of fertility. And finally dirt, a representation of groundedness and deeply rooted connection with the earth.
Here are two short extracts from Hannah and Noah's vows:
Hannah, in the commitment we make today, I offer you a trade. Give me your low days, your too long days and exhausting days, your work days with frustrating colleagues, your not enough coffee days, your scared of somethings, your oh goodness a bug, your car troubles your what was that sound? Give me your everyday, and I will give you all my love and support to make everything ok.
Noah, I love that you can always make me laugh (or groan), with your quick jokes and puns that always seem to come out of nowhere. I love that you are always willing to support me by listening, providing advice, or just being there physically. Thank you for teaching me that leisure time is an important part of life, and that my self worth is not contingent on how much I do in a day. Thank you for seeing me as the imperfect human that I am, and loving me for being just that. Thank you for encouraging me to love myself as much as you love me, and loving me even more on days that I cannot. Thank you for being the best man and partner I could have ever hoped for.
Despite having planned four different iterations of their wedding in the middle of a global pandemic, Hannah and Noah's Edmonton wedding was a dreamy and intimate backyard wedding with their immediate family and closest friends. This Life by Selena Photography blog post was written by Montreal wedding photographer Selena Phillips-Boyle. Selena often travels to Edmonton for weddings, family photo sessions, and other projects. She is also open to commissions across Canada, so send her a message on her contact page if you have a project in mind! Here you can see Emily and Royden's Edmonton wedding at Borden Park. You can also see Kate and Jordan's Edmonton wedding at All Saints Anglican Cathedral and Edmonton's Polish Hall.
Vendor List
Wedding Dress: The Bridal Boutique
Suit: Indochino
Flowers: Best Buds Flower Co.
Catering: Nak's Bistro & Catering
Hair: Beauty Boss