Joel and Victoria Wedding Day :)

Joel and Victoria were engaged for two years and had come up with a few potential wedding ideas, but when a couple things aligned, the wedding venue at the 'Dvele Inn' in St. John's, Newfoundland came together.  

We had been planning our cross Canada trip and when we gave our itinerary to Joel and Victoria, it turned out her parents, Reg and Ann, plus her brother, Liam, were going to be in Newfoundland at the exact same time for business. With both sets of parents and one brother all going to be in Newfoundland at the exact same time, they took that as a sign and began planning a wedding. 

Ten of the most important people in their lives came together for their special day.

Victoria make-up session

The morning is filled with make-up artists and hair stylists and all the girls have a slotted time :)

Great make-up artist

At 10 am it is decided the 'Plan A' wedding on the East Coast Trail is a go. It's raining lightly now, but it is supposed to be clear by the afternoon. 

About 1 pm the guys start getting dressed.

Joel and Gerrit steaming shirts

Handsome groom

Final touches 

Backgammon 

There are a few games of backgammon and an Iceberg beer as the guys wait on the girls :)

Bride meets her groom

At 2:45 pm Victoria walks down the staircase to her waiting groom. Then it's the parents followed by the siblings (+partners) down the staircase to greet Joel and Victoria. 

The Parents - Chris, Reg, Ann and Sheila 

Wedding Limo

About 3:30 we all hop in a Limo Bus that takes us out to the 'Silver Mines Head Path', which is officially a section of the East Coast Trail. 

Glimpses of the East Coast Trail wedding site

East Coast Trail wedding :)

There are a couple of very talented musicians playing a violin and a guitar who play 'In My Life' by the Beatles as the song we walk Joel down the path to. 

Victoria is a trooper, and has no additional covering for the ceremony, but I am thankful Victoria's mom, Ann, brought an extra coat along for me :)

Husband and Wife

It is windy and a bit cool, but no rain and the sun even begins to shine for their vows. 

The ceremony is awesome and Joel and Victoria share the vows they wrote for each other. There is also a 'ring warming' ceremony where their wedding rings are passed to us all and we each take a turn to warm and bless their rings :) Next it is 'I Do' and voila...they are married. 

Back on the bus and we head to the 'Ocean Sciences Viewpoint' where Joel and Victoria head off alone with their photographer for some more scenic east coast wedding photos. 

Toast to the Bride and Groom

It is about 7pm before we get back to the Dvele Inn where we all share a special bottle of champagne to toast the new couple. Cheers!!

The musicians from the wedding are now playing at the Dvele and everyone takes a spot around the beautifully decorated table for supper and speeches. 

Gerrit speech to the groom :)

They cut their wedding cake with the knife we used at our wedding back in 1987 :)

First dance :)

The evening flies by with fun conversation, laughs, dancing and so much more.

Joel, Charlotte, Liam and Reg

Such a beautiful, intimate day that goes until 2am before people finally start saying their good-nights. It is everything Joel and Victoria hoped for plus more.