Kissing under the stars at Fossil Farms Oceanside Retreat | Wedding venues in Halifax and Nova Scotia
Lane and Maria won the Ultimate Engagement Contest that myself and six other Nova Scotia wedding vendors ran last year.
You, a flame by your feet, your flame in your arms and everything is perfect in the world in this very moment.
Maybe you’re talking about your future, imagining five years ahead, or maybe you’re silent, just enjoying the view of the Big Dipper. Whatever it is that’s going on through your mind — hold on to this thought — in a week, a month, a year — these very moments are now memories. And maybe this exact memory will be just the thing to pick you up, brush off your feather and say “We got this!” Remembering is amazing, jumping back into it through photographs is simply magical.
You just made magic happen - the two of you met.
Your boo, bae, hunny-bunny, sweet cheeks — (it doesn’t take much for me and my Tony to lovingly embarrass our kids these days) — you found your best friend, who loves you for calling them silly names, you found your partner for life, with whom you’re ready to take on the world — always you and them against the world, never you against them.
For them and for yourself,you will always do your best to better yourself.
For them and for yourself, you will always seek to understand, compromise, and not be stubborn in your ways because you want to grow to be the best possible you that you can be.
For them and for yourself…you will suck on ice cubes during your engagement photo session so that you don’t look like dragons breathing out fire when you were going for romantic “Under the stars” photos. But now that I think about it — “Dragons in love” would have been a pretty rad title (yes, I am rad years old 😂).
Just you and your flame under the stars…and your photographer hiding in the bushes. “It will be fun, I promise!” your photographer yells from a few feet away. You laugh “Oh, it’s already pretty memorable!”
Fossil farms has it all — Private cabins with fully equipped kitchens, a modern, yet rustic charm barn, amazing views of sunsets, a giant telescope, fire pits, kayaks, and golf carts to get around…oh, and did I mention the cutest sheep who know how to smile?
Robyn at Fossil Farms was just my kind of lady — upbeat and with a total “Yes, and…!” attitude. When I contacted her about running the contest, she was full of ideas within seconds, hah! She managed to raise the steaks (there was a charcuterie board involved — see what I did there?) by getting The Inglis Jewellers and Pastasalt of Pictou County to participate in the giveaway, bringing the total winnings to $2000!
Robyn and I are social media sisters, lol — when we announced the contest winners, both her and I did a live-streaming session — first ever for the both of us. We made it through, and now share a very special bond.
The winners went home with a set of decorative candles from Vineeta Rajani of the Halifax Henna and a private boat tour of the Halifax Harbour with Halifax Harbour Tours. I recommend both of them as a source of creative and unusual presents your bae will love — an intimate tour of the harbour is a super romantic date idea! And after hiring Vineeta to have a henna party for my mother-in-law’s 75th birthday was a total hit — no one has ever thought of such thing and I will toot my own horn, thank you— I was pretty popular at that party, lol. Henna tattoos lasted me for weeks, and I was asked multiple times where I got such work done. Highly recommended!
Views of the sunset at the Fossil Farms Oceanside Retreat.
Another one of my favourite wedding vendors generously gave her time and expertise — Bri who amongst other things runs mobile bridal makeup services Beauty by Bri. We’ve worked together several times and it’s always good to see her! She knows a few of my tricks with lighting and always lets me know when that hairspray will go off, so that I can create magic with my camera, as she works her own magic with her make up and hair brushes.
Bri generously gave her time and expertise to Maria and Lane, who entered the giveaway.
I love Bri’s work — after her professional gentle touch, her clients look natural, relaxed, fresh, and stunning all day long. And that makes my job as a photographer and a photo-editor so much easier! If you’re looking for a makeup artist who appreciates natural, soft look, you will love Bri’s work.
I can definitely say that Fossil Farms truly is a hidden gem of Nova Scotia at the moment. You can find more info about the offer on their website here. And inquire if I am available on your date — I know just which places to show you around the retreat:)