I was very surprised when I received only 3 entries for this contest…I thought that people loved to win free stuffs! :( . Nonetheless, less entries mean a better chance for our contestants to win a free wedding photography coverage, right?

The first entry that I received was from Alicja & Eddie. They were the original winners, and unfortunately I was already booked on the day they were planning on getting married. I felt bad for them, because they shared a very moving story and I thought that they deserved to win something, and since Alicja is currently pregnant, I thought it would be very nice to offer her a free maternity & newborn session! They were totally thrilled about this idea and I can’t wait!

The second entry that we received was from another couple, but sadly, they dropped out of the contest, due to personal reasons.

Finally, our winners! Sabrina & Ray! Congratulations to both of you!!! When I met up with them, they just kept telling me that they still couldn’t believe that they had actually won this, and I could totally tell, by the look on their faces!

Again, congratulations to both Alicja & Eddie, and Sabrina & Ray! I can’t wait to do your maternity session, newborn session, engagement session, and your wedding day!

Where do we begin…?

Our story began 10 yrs ago, Ray and I first met at Church whiles rehearsing for a wedding. We were both participating in a wedding party. He was the usher I walked down the aisle with. Who knew that 10yrs later we would be destined to also tie the knot? On our wedding day, it will be exactly 10 yrs since we first met.  In our eyes what makes this so sincere is that we have been together for so long in a long distance relationship. We stayed with each other until we finished school. After 8 years we got engaged.  Ray lives in Florida and I in Toronto. For 10 yrs we have made countless trips back and forth and racked up many phone bills to keep the relationship that we’ve known would be ours one day.

Our engagement, I’ll never forget. It happened in Florida during one of my trips in 2007; however it was my first US thanksgiving. It started on the Saturday after thanksgiving, Ray planned a long day for us that started with shopping (how could a girl say no…right?). He told me that I have to find a totally new outfit because we were going out. I felt like ‘pretty woman’ going into all the stores trying to find the perfect outfit for a night out. By the time my dress and shoes were purchased it was time to get dressed for what I thought was a night out with a group of friends. As we drove Ray told me that we’re not going to meet friends rather that we’re going to dinner, just the two of us. Immediately i got suspicious and my heart started pounding…I thought was this it?? Was this going to be the night? We pulled up to my favourite restaurant. Ray arranged for the waiter to pull out all the stops. A pre made menu, wine, romantic setting…all the time my nerves kicked in and I could barely eat a bite. We got to dessert and I excused myself and went to the washroom to put some lipstick on bc the moment was about to happen is what I thought …lol  I returned to the table, ate dessert slowly and waited for ‘the’ moment.

Dessert came and past, the bill was paid and Ray was ready to go meet our friends.

As we started our drive I was a little disappointed because I thought for sure it was going to happen. It was evident that Ray was so nervous during dinner; he kept fiddling with his silverware and spilt wine all over the table. However I was a little more calm now bc I was so nervous during dinner.

Ray had to stop in at his house before heading over.

As we walked in the house, candles glowed throughout the house and the floor layered with rose petals. His brother and friend had prepared the house in time for when we pulled up. My mouth dropped and heart melted. Ray sat me down on a chair in the dining room where the dining room table had a bunch of roses, candles and bottle of champagne and he began to say the sweetest words from his heart which today are all a blur to me. It was about being together for so long and his love for me throughout the years. It ended on bended knee with the question “Will you marry me?” We both already had tears in our eyes after the first sentence out of his mouth. After lot’s of kisses and hugs we finally headed over to meet our friends, which all the time was to celebrate our engagement. What a day! Nine and a half years and I’m finally going to be with my prince.

And so our story begins…

My name is Alicja, and this is our story…….

Me and my Fiance Eddie met at our old work in February of 2009, we fell in love instantly. A lot of negative things had happened through out our relationship but has only built our love stronger. On July 10th of 2009, after driving Eddie to work, on my way home I had got into a serious car accident, totaling my entire car and had been rushed into the hospital. Eddie had gotten the call at work and had rushed to the hospital immediately finding me in a hospital bed hooked up to monitors and iv’s. Fortunately the doctors told me I was ok, and I was lucky to walk out of the hospital with 3 pushed in ribs. Due to my accident  I had gotten replaced at my work and became un employed. About a week later Eddies work had let go of all staff that was hired in the summer time so there we were , me injured and both of us un employed.
In August of 2009 we had gotten the great news that we were having a baby!!!!! We both were extremely extatic of the news, and we were  happy that something good has happend for a change. I had finally found a new job as a receptionist, it was a good paying job and supported my family including my two step children that Eddie has full custody of. We had decided that things were going great and that we wanted to get married in 2010! We had gotten engaged in October, and set our date to Sept 11. 2010, we were both thrilled!!

I had decided to inform my work that I was pregnant, excited to let everyone know our great news!!! Well the great news, ended up being the last of my job. Yes, they had fired me for being pregnant. I couldnt have been more devastated, after all the the excitement of the wedding and the joy of the baby, me losing my job had put me down, extremely.
Due to all of the things that have occurred, we have been trying to manage our wedding with our budget. We have gotten almost everything taken care of, except the limousine and photograpy, due to these being the most expensive categories of our wedding. It would be a miracle to win this contest and have this chapter of our lives started in a positive way!!!!

Eddie & Alicja