Shannon & Mike ~ saying I do

I met Mike years ago when I did some family portraits for his family. Shannon wasn't in the picture yet and I just thought what a super nice family. Fast forward to June of 2011, Mike and Shannon were getting married. I met up with Shannon in downtown Hamilton at the hotel. She had a fun room, girls laughing, doing pedicures, trying to find champagne and getting all dressed up. I had just been with all of them at the salon Madison Ave and watched all the happenings there. One neat idea was that all of them had to have a braid somewhere in their hair. It was an Irish thing. The Irish theme went on through the day (loved it). So during all this, Anthony was back in Brantford with the guys. Now guys are always easier to shoot, less hairspray, less makeup..you know, tie, socks, pants, we're good to go kind of thing.
We all met at Dundurn castle in Hamilton. It was hot, sunny and gorgeous to get married kind of day. Up into the coach house for the ceremony. During which Mike's brother, and Shannon's sister sang U2's song, All i want is you. It was amazing.
Family photos and wedding party photos afterwards on the grounds of Dundurn. These involved kissing in the green grass, running away from the bridesmaids and lots of laughs. Shannon and Mike had picked green for their bridesmaids dresses with orange flowers, and orange ties for the guys...so essentially the colours of the Irish flag.  Green, orange, and white.
So obviously our next stop was to the Slainte Irish pub for dinner and dancing. This is a totally unique site. parts of the pub have been brought over from Ireland and if you don't look outside, you would swear you're sitting somewhere deep in Dublin. In fact, for dinner fish and chips and Guiness steak pie were choices we could choose from. Definitely not your typical wedding meals. It was awesome...plus any beer really you could ever want. They had neat glass mugs with a clover and their initials as wedding favours. A big clover shaped wedding cake and lots of dancing and amazing cheesecake for dessert.

looking beautiful Shannon

all the bridesmaids and shannon

Mike has his brother and sister and best friend stand up for him

the very cool mugs

a kiss for mom

the boys

Mike and Shannon have now settled into married life buying their first house and enjoying the neighbourhood. I'm sure kids will follow ;)