prairie girl musings

Category: Love

Celebrating Our First Wedding Anniversary

Before COVID-19 took over our lives, Nick and I celebrated our first year of marriage. Looking back at the photos, I’m reminded of a simpler time in our lives. It was right before our (now cancelled) flights to Canada and the start of what would’ve been a new chapter. I wanted to do something memorable rather than exchanging gifts; this day will be forever etched in my memory as one of my favourites.

I’ve known Sophie since she moved to Christchurch from Nelson a couple years ago. I absolutely adore her work (and her personality) and we’ve done a few blog and fashion photoshoots in the past. I wanted to do a couple shoot with her before our move back to Canada and our anniversary was the perfect excuse.

We packed a bottle of champagne (a special wedding gift that we’d waited a year to open) and headed to Godley Head just in time for sunset with Sophie there to capture it all. It was a warm night and we spent the whole time laughing; she’s the best third wheel around! We’re so happy with the photos, which perfectly reflected our relaxed evening sipping champagne while the sun set over the sea. With adventures few and far between these days, we cherish these snaps even more and I thought I’d share my favourites with you.

Nick also surprised me with dinner at our favourite restaurant, Twenty Seven Steps. It was extra special as it was our last meal out before everything closed for lockdown in New Zealand.

How do you celebrate anniversaries? Are you more of a gift or experience kinda person?

They say you spend your whole life rewriting the first poem you ever loved. Together, we’re working on our novel and every chapter is more beautiful than the last. ⁣⁣

The story of us has spanned our twenties, but it’s not a chronicle that we’ll look back on. There are still so many chapters yet to be written and (now more than ever) we’re dedicating ourselves to filling the pages with love, laughter and adventure.

April 21, 2020
We’ve got something to tell you…

… Nick and I are engaged!

After nearly nine years together, we’ve decided to tie the knot. We’ve discussed marriage on and off for a long time, but ultimately wanted to wait until we had our ducks in a row before taking the plunge. It’s funny poring over old blog posts I wrote five years ago, after university, when Nick and I were embarking on another long distance stint. I’m forever grateful for those long, excruciating months we spent apart; refusing to sacrifice our ambitions despite our love for each other:

As we grow and evolve, I hope we continue to see the choices we’re making at the moment as the right ones. Perhaps I’m a walking, breathing cliche, but following my heart has never failed me. I hope you have the courage to follow yours. x

Since moving to Christchurch, figuring out our careers, and buying our first home, we finally feel like we’re ready to take the next step. With my parents visiting from Canada, it’s been fun discussing potential wedding ideas. Details on the wedding are yet to be determined, but I wanted to share a few engagement photos taken by the lovely, Nancy Zhou. We ventured to Sumner Beach, just after sunrise, a few days after Nick popped the question with his grandmother’s ring.

December 29, 2017
You’re so beautiful, you could be a florist.

I used to work at a flower shop in my hometown. It was a transitional period in my life, but one I will never forget. I found this on Pinterest, and was absolutely intrigued. Enjoy! xx

December 9, 2013
13 Things I’m Loving Right Now

1. Lorde’s alternate universe in her new Team video.

2. Thai Iced Tea and Massaman curry from Khao San Road

3. These over-the-knee socks from American Apparel.

4. Toronto’s Christmas Market in the historic Distillery District (they have samples of mulled cine and hot scotch cider!)

5. Travelling. I am planning something for 2014 already.

6. My family and having my sisters in Toronto. I feel myself becoming the boring sister, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
7. December, it’s my birthday in two weeks, Christmas in three, and I have made a serious dent in my Advent calendar.

8. Working from home, and achieving a work/life blend.

9. #GivingTuesday because everyone was posting #unselfies and donating to worthy causes like Girls’ Education.

10. Canadiana, Christmas pyjamas and ONESIES. Also, listening to Christmas carols at work. (I know, that’s technically four things)

11. The upcoming nuptials of my friends, Jill and Riley.

12. “Candles are expensive, and they don’t get you drunk.” Regardless, I’ve been burning candles like a madwoman.

13. Awaiting a visit from my Kiwi friend, Ash!

December 4, 2013
they were kids that I once knew

Isn’t first love amazing? This photo is exceedingly nostalgic, and too adorable not to post on a overcast Friday morning. I’ve just finished a brisk, 6km run and am pouring over old photographs from the past three years as I’m on Nick’s laptop (mine was left at university during finals, oops!) We’ve reached the end of our three week long holiday in Saskatchewan, and Nick is heading back to Auckland to resume his Honours degree in Transport Design.

As Nick packs up his bags, I’m left with the remnants of our time together this summer. He recently spent his twenty-second birthday in Saskatchewan, as well as his twentieth and twenty-first. I’m utterly perplexed as to how we made this relationship work, despite the endless shifts we’ve encountered due to being from different continents. So, here we go again; another three months apart until I (possibly) return in October for my university convocation. My heart has been stretched, has expanded in so many ways over the past three and a half years. I neglected my first love, dance, in favour of new loves: travel, romance, and adventure. I never fathomed I could exist without it, but somehow I managed, even thrived without the thing that once defined me. Upon my return to North America, I jumped right back into it and planned on dancing on a cruise ship for 6-9 months. My first (and only) audition was flawless, and my mother watched as they ruthlessly cut the dancers down from 76 to 20, then to eight and finally, four. But foolishness always gets the best of me, and after my audition with Royal Caribbean Cruises in Edmonton, I decided instead to move to New Zealand to give love (and a liberal arts education) a fair chance. I’ll blame it on listening to far too much Celine Dion as a child.

Before we head off to the airport, I’ll leave you with a photograph taken two summers ago. It was taken at a pub we still frequent in Saskatoon called O’Shea’s during Nick’s first visit to Canada. We hadn’t seen each other since February, and I was about to move to Auckland to begin my BA at the University of Auckland. Life was full of possibility as I embarked on a new journey.

As we grow and evolve, I hope we continue to see the choices we’re making at the moment as the right ones. Perhaps I’m a walking, breathing cliche, but following my heart has never failed me. I hope you have the courage to follow yours. x

V.

July 13, 2012