Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/307716
30 real weddings SPRing / SUMMER 2014 On the morning of August 31, Alhan joined his "co-best men" for breakfast while Shawna prepped. An "open-door policy" welcomed all guests to visit the bride and, if they wished, have their hair and makeup done. All was well until, suddenly, the nerves hit. "I went to put on my gown and my heart started pounding. I sort of shut down," Shawna recalls. "If I could have snapped my fi ngers and been married, I'd have done it." Her saving grace came from an idea she and Alhan had initially opposed. "Leanne, our photographer, suggested we do our photos before the ceremony, to minimize the wait until the reception," she says. "We wanted to save our 'fi rst look' for the aisle — it seemed more romantic — but logistically, it didn't make sense." Turns out, the time she and Alhan spent alone together before saying "I do" had a calming eff ect on both bride and groom. Best of all, Alhan's emotional reaction to seeing Shawna for the fi rst time was captured forever on fi lm. "It wasn't something I ever expected of myself," he recalls. " e instant I saw her, I started tearing up. Here was my wife-to-be, and I was just overwhelmed with happiness." "It was the kind of reaction you dream about," Shawna adds. "After that, I was ready." e Bahá'i ceremony, which honoured Alhan's faith, unfolded in an open fi eld with few extra frills; a bright blue sky and majestic Mount Currie bore witness in the background. "Satin bows on chairs isn't really my style," Shawna says. "Besides, all the satin in the world couldn't have beat the natural beauty of that place." e several small added touches included a vintage sofa and trunks that created a fun setting for a Vanity Fair-style photo shoot. Guests sipped on sig- nature cocktails before tucking into a family-style dinner that included farm- to-table fare. In lieu of cake, the newlyweds "cut" into croquembouche — golden orbs of pastry drizzled with caramel. At sundown, the party moved beneath the shelter of a rustic open-sided barn. Ninety-fi ve guests celebrated under wooden rafters strung with sparkling lights. Looking back, Shawna and Alhan say that, despite the relative simplicity of their nuptials, working with a planner was the best decision they could have made. "We had an amazing team in our corner, and they delivered in spades," says Alhan. " ey really took care of everything and hid any issues that were happening during the wedding," Shawna agrees. "All that was left for us to do was enjoy our day." rw Clockwise from top left: Vintage furniture created a relaxed outdoor lounge setting; signature cocktails preceded a family-style meal of farm-to-table fare; the newlyweds and their guests danced the night away inside an open-sided barn; Shawna's understated bouquet was the perfect accent for her simple, custom-made gown. "It was the kind of reaction you dream about," Shawna adds. "After that, I was ready." e Bahá'i ceremony, which honoured Alhan's faith, unfolded in an open fi eld with few extra frills; a bright blue sky and majestic Mount Currie bore witness in the background. "Satin bows on chairs isn't really my style," Shawna says. "Besides, all the satin in the world couldn't have beat the natural beauty of that place." e several small added touches included a vintage sofa and trunks that created a fun setting for a nature cocktails before tucking into a family-style dinner that included farm- to-table fare. In lieu of cake, the newlyweds "cut" into croquembouche — golden orbs of pastry drizzled with caramel. At sundown, the party moved beneath the shelter of a rustic open-sided barn. Ninety-fi ve guests celebrated under wooden rafters strung with sparkling lights. their nuptials, working with a planner was the best decision they could have made. Alhan. during the wedding," Shawna agrees. "All that was left for us to do was enjoy our day." p28-33_Shawna+Alhan.indd 30 14-04-17 12:37 PM