Grief & Joy During the Holidays

Fighting the Stigma | Mental Health Awareness

Grief & joy during the holidays are two polarizing emotions you wouldn’t necessarily expect to see in a sentence together. The Holiday season is a time of joy and love. Giving and receiving, family time, eggnog spiked with rum & Christmas baked goodies abound. For many people though, the Holidays (& winter months in general) bring about not just a stressful time but a reminder of grief and loss in their lives. 

It’s no surprise that at a time of year when we are supposed to be focused on our loved ones, people fall deeper into depression, feel lonely, sad, and can experience feelings of grief for those no longer in our lives. It’s a time where you’re meant to feel surrounded by family but it can make you feel more alone in the world than ever.

The circle of life is all around us. New life is constantly being born, we are always meeting new people, new relationships are being formed, and connections create bonds that leave a mark on us forever. At the same time, we wouldn’t have life without death and the holiday season is a stark reminder of all that we have lost sometimes. Whether you have experienced the physical death of a loved one or, like many of us including myself, the emotional loss of many people, it can be easy to be hit with waves of grief unexpectedly especially during this difficult time of year. Both types of death, physical and emotional, are gut-wrenching and can stay with you forever, though time can help the frequency of these painful moments.

Part of living life is learning to accept the losses of relationships and people around you, no matter how much it hurts, stings or stays. Always believe there’s a purpose to it and focus on how you can take that pain to better yourself and make yourself stronger at the end of the day. It doesn’t mean you won’t always hold love for them, and it sure as hell doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. But soldiering through the pain, I’ve learnt, is all part of the daily battle of life. 

To feel pain, to feel loss, to feel joy, to feel love. It’s all a part of our journey. 

 

 

Did you know that if you send a text to 686868 when you are feeling depressed or suicidal (any type of crisis), a crisis worker will text you back immediately and will continue to text with you? 

Many people don’t like talking over the phone and would feel more comfortable texting. This is a free service for anyone in Canada. ♡

Campbell Valley Engagement

Natasha & Ben

The Couple

This sun-drenched joyful Campbell Valley engagement session is truly one of my favourites of the year. Natasha & Ben are such a fun couple but there’s so much more to them than that. These two are both Chiropractors and met in school preparing for their careers. They share a zest for life, passion for helping others, competitive but caring spirits, and a crazy awesome love & admiration for each other.

The Engagement

These two have a passion for a healthy & fit lifestyle. It’s one of the many things they bonded over and both admire in the other and as a result from the start of their relationship they often found themselves visiting the gym together to work out. It couldn’t have been a more perfect fit for these two that on one of these outings to the gym the normal expected outing would become the unexpected. They had talked of their dreams of the future before. With Ben from the US and Natasha from Canada, they knew they’d have logistics to work out, but a little commute never scared anyone. With them settling into their careers, the next step forward was just one gym visit away. And so one day on the way to their old university gym where they first met, Ben dropped to one knee and asked his other half to marry him. Spoiler: she said yes!

The Session

I met these two for their Campbell Valley Engagement Session late on a Saturday afternoon in October. We have been so fortunate this fall with a beautiful warm mild & NOT rainy season. This session was no exception and we took full advantage. We had so much fun running around Campbell Valley Park, dancing in one field, and practicing the lift scene from dirty dancing in the next haha.

Gallery

I can’t wait for their wedding next July and will be spamming my Instagram & Facebook with ALL the Sneak Peeks.

Here’s a curated look at some of my favourites from their Campbell Valley engagement session.

Engagement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the authentic & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Loved this Joyful Campbell Valley Engagement Session & Images? Check out Jason & Ashley’s Romantic E-Session here.

Click here to Learn More about Wedding & Engagement Pricing.

 

 

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Fort Langley Fall Wedding

The Story

With Halloween being upon us, this moody beautiful Fort Langley Fall wedding couldn’t be a more perfect fit to share. These two were so sweet with each other. Every touch & little kiss was so tender and gentle between them. We took full advantage of the dark clouds, stormy weather, changing leaves & our Fort Langley location for these two to complete their dream portraits. Specifically requested by the bride was a cemetery. Their wedding took place with Halloween right around the corner. That timing combined with Jess’s stunning fiery red hair and dramatic floral arrangements (oh-my-goodness-GORGEOUS!!) made Cemetery Bridal Portraits sound entirely enticing. (PSA: if anyone is up for exploring/modelling for me in a cemetery THIS winter, message me on the Contact page or over on FB/IG, I have some sweet ideas!!).

Fort Langley Fall Wedding Gallery:

In all honesty, I’m a sucker for any Fort Langley Fall Wedding. I love where I live, and it is SO beautiful (albeit a little rainy) in the fall months to photograph!! Once you add in the potential of capturing authentic moments in a super adventurous spot (believe it or not, cemetery bridal portraits AREN’T the norm for me 😉 ), it makes for another dream come true. I loved getting to know Jessica & Jamie on their wedding day last year.

Here’s a curated look at a few of my favourites from their Fort Langley Fall Wedding Gallery…

Ceremony:

Bridal Party // Bride & Groom Portraits: Cemetery Bridal Portraits: Reception:

 

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the authentic, joyful, & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

All Photos here shot & edited by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Loved this moody Halloween/Cemetery Bridal Portrait & Fort Langley Fall Wedding Gallery? Click here to discover more Love on The Blog!

Click here to Learn More about Wedding & Engagement Pricing.

Check out my Instagram Page here.

 

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Wedding Shot with Bree Ross

 

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Baseball Theme Wedding – Chilliwack Golf Club

Ashley & Jason

These two met on the field, so it’s NOT hard to believe they chose to seal the deal in their own Baseball Theme Wedding. What IS hard to believe is that it’s been over 4 years since this beautiful family came into my life. It was this time of year in 2014 when Ashley first got in touch with me. At that time, she was expecting the latest addition to complete their family, Linden. I’ll never forget Ashley expressing to me how she wanted to find a photographer to grow with them as a family over the years. At that time I was just starting out and her faith in me & my creativity has meant the world to me from the start. You can check out my most recent family session with them last fall by clicking here. Since then, life has changed drastically for all of us but these guys have stood by me through everything as I’ve been there to witness pregnancy & births, family, love, engagement & now a wedding. That’s what being a part of the Meg Kristina Photography family is all about.

You can read more about their love story as well as see my favourites from their engagement session here.

Wedding Day Story

As I’ve mentioned, in both their engagement story (click the link just above to read it), as well as above that these two came together to plan their dream Baseball Theme Wedding. These two met & fell in love playing ball, so it couldn’t have been a more perfect location to exchange vows at. If there’s anything I’ve learnt about Jason & Ashley over the years, it’s that there’s two things that are extremely important to them – ball & their children/family. These two cherish their children and have worked hard to create a loving environment for them to grow through life together. These things resonated throughout their day, to no surprise but to many tears. From including the children in their marriage vows during the ceremony to having their First Dance become a Family Dance, there was no hesitation that these children knew they are a valued integral piece of the family. Their ceremony was held right at the heart of the ball field with their reception being hosted by Chilliwack Golf Club. You guys.. Chilliwack Golf Club may be my new favourite venue in the area! They have a brand new reception building to serve you and I absolutely love how great the entire venue is – portrait locations, catering, staff, & more, it’s awesome!

Ashley & Jason’s day was perfect in every way. The details couldn’t have been more perfect. The sun was shining in true reflection of the happiness that radiates from the life these two have created together. Their friends, family, children, teammates & more gathered around them to lift them up in celebration over this next stage in building their lives together. AND we even got to sneak away for Sunset Portraits – my favourite!

Gallery

I am so lucky to have clients like Ashley & Jason who care just as much about not just photography but also about supporting the growth of my business as I do. I cherish all of my clients and truly fall in love with each and every one of your love stories. I have absolutely loved getting to know these two & their family over the years.

I truly could write about these two, their family, and all the little moments that made their day absolutely unforgettable but we would be here forever. To be honest, sometimes the photos just speak for themselves. I can’t wait for you to check out all the details from their Baseball Theme Wedding.

Here’s a curated selection of some of my favourites from their Baseball Theme Wedding in Chilliwack…

Getting Ready

Ceremony Bridal Party Portraits Bride & Groom Portraits Reception Sunset Portraits

 

 

 

 

 

photographer for the authentic, joyful, & adventurous

www.megkristina.com

All Photos here by Meg Kristina Photography.

 

Loved this sweet Baseball-Theme Wedding Story & Gallery? Click here to discover more Love on The Blog!

Click here to Learn More about Wedding & Engagement Pricing.

Check out our Instagram Page here.

 

Booking Now for 2019 & 2020 Weddings

 

Vendor Love:

Photography: Meg Kristina Photography

Second Shooter: Hannah Cummins

Officiant: Joanna Sheppard

Caterer: Chilliwack Golf Club

DJ/MC: Wailin Dalen