It was so much fun meeting Rikki! As soon as she walked through the doors I knew she would be a blast to be around! I am so happy that she was able to come out for the shoot and be her bubbly giggly self. Thanks Rikki for all the laughs, looking forward to taking more photos in the future!

When did you get Engaged?
officially with a ring on Christmas eve.. dress was bought and wedding was planned a few months before that lol

When did you get married?
April 27th, 2016

How did you go about planning your wedding?         
We initially started planning a wedding here in town (Fort St. John) with a wedding planner Faye Anesty. She was amazing to deal with and absolutely worth it, she would be able to get us the fancier stuff (i.e chairs tables etc) for the same price we would be able to get the basic stuff. She would’ve set up and take down (huge deal for us.) We initially had a big outdoor wedding planned, however it was getting to be just too much. We both have huge families and felt obligated to invite too many people. So after a couple months of planning we threw in the towel and decided on a destination wedding. We love food and we sure the heck weren’t going to get married at a resort that had gross food. So I did HOURSSS of research on tripadvisor based on the location and reviews on food and then narrowed it down based on the wedding ceremony locations that were available. We ended up getting married on a private beach front deck at The Azul Fives in Playa Del Carmen. It was AMAZING. And super HOT a whopping 39 degrees (thank God I decided not to get a veil to trap all that heat in). We hired a wedding planner at the location and emailed back and fourth and I picked things based on pictures and sometimes sent images I had seen on pinterest and they were very accommodating.

What is the most important thing that had to be right? I wouldn’t say it was one thing.. just that it had to be stress free. It’s the start of our lives together its supposed to be fun and happy not full of worry over things that, in the end, don’t matter like tablecloths. So I guess having a wedding planner, and a destination wedding where they do all the work for you was the most important thing.

Why did you choose your dress and how much was it? There was next to no lace on it, also the train is amazing!! The year we got married EVERY dress was just covered in lace and I didn’t want to look like anybody else. We went into 2 dress stores in Edmonton and they literally did not have one dress that wasn’t at least ¾ lace. I believe it was $2100 with the belt I had added to it (with tax.)

How much on photography, why did you that photographer? We got an amazing deal because our photographer was new at destination weddings so I think we just had to pay for her to get there and then her accommodations. I loved her photography before and was planning on using her for our wedding in town so was wonderful we could take her with us. Felt so much more at ease having somebody local come with us in case something went wrong with our pictures when we got home, at least I’d be able to talk with her and have total faith I’d get them and be able to communicate what I wanted.

What was the best part of your day and why?  Marrying Shaun obviously! I think my favorite part was getting ready with my girls, drinking blended mojitos and being so full of excitement and happiness. Until having my daughter, that is the first time I had been so overwhelmingly happy my face hurt from smiling all day.

If you could do it all again what is one thing you would change?  We only went for a week and I wish that we had stayed for 10 days because the first few days were full of wedding stuff and we didn’t get to leave the resort to make the excursions others had went on.

If you could tell a future bride one thing she needs to do to make her day perfect what would that be? Pay the money to have somebody else plan it for you. You will basically pay the cost of him or her in your savings for the things you actually want. Also you wont be stressed out on the big day worrying if things are showing up or being set up or if anybody is running behind. You can focus on yourself and your man’s big day and actually remember it because you aren’t super exhausted.

Make Up: Angela Moody Makeup Artistry

Hair Stylist: Jessica Diehl

Florist: The Flower Hut

Photography: Hope Linzee Photography