Scottsdale- Part 1
On October 13th, my mom and I traveled out to Arizona for a very special wedding. We reconnected with my Godmother, and her family. Diane is my Godmother and her youngest daughter was getting married.
We arrived on Thursday, after 4 long flights, we were quite sore and tired. Coming from a cold climate we had worn jeans and a sweater, we regretted that decision as soon as we stepped out of the airport. It was a balmy 35 Cº. Way too hot, but we were met with open arms by Diane. For context, the last time we were together was about 18 years ago. My mom and Diane went to school together, and are lifelong best friends.
Arizona was so beautiful from what I saw through the car. I was half asleep when we arrived at her home, and that was where I found my extended family. Diane has 6 children all together, they are all very close. Throughout the 5 days I was there, I became close with each of them.
We ate dinner, while more people filed in, another friend from school arrived with her husband from New York. Eventually two of her sons and their girlfriends would arrive as well. As we talked about this and that, I was informed that as a tradition newcomers must sing a song… Well, I wasn’t having that, since I can’t sing to save my life.
Although later that night, I came up with the perfect song that wouldn’t make me so embarrassed I could never return. “Tequila” was the song of my choice, so all throughout the day, I would randomly shout “Tequila”. I was inclined to believe that was a perfect song to choose. However, I was told otherwise. As many people asked what I did for a living, they quickly discovered that being a reporter, I was always listening, and nothing was ever off the record.
The second day came, and Diane’s brother and sisters came in, throughout the flurry of excitement, I got the briefest introductions. Before people arrived, mom and I decided to walk to the grocery store down the road. It wasn’t very far, nor was it a very hard trek. However, as we were walking back, two cars pulled up behind us. The Miller family had sent out a search party because they were worried we were gone for so long. According to them, many people don’t just walk to the store. We assured them we had water, and it wasn’t a bad walk, either way we made it back, and we survived.
As most Canadians love hockey, most Americans love football. Many of the families grew up in Syracuse, New York, so it was obvious who the group would root for, in the Syracuse and North Carolina game. Mistakenly, I asked who we were rooting for, and boy oh boy, those pitchforks came out quickly. Syracuse was the only way to go. It was all in good fun.
Friday, we had the rehearsal dinner, where we gathered in the mother of the groom's backyard. It was certainly a pretty place, and for the first time that I remembered, I tried food from The Olive Garden Restaurant. There were pans of different kinds of pasta, between alfredo, and spaghetti, with red and white sauce and salad. There was lasagna and breadsticks, and I was in heaven! The desserts were out of this world and no one went away hungry.
Since the photographers for the wedding were strictly at the venue, I was tasked to shoot the more candid moments. This is where I shot some of my favorite photos. During Makenna's bridal shower her fiance would ask her questions and for every question she got wrong he would stuff a piece of gum in her mouth.
Well, during the rehearsal dinner she got her pay back. He got 14 wrong, out of 24. Some of them were trick questions, and when asked where they had their first kiss he didn’t hesitate as he excitedly said right over there! My favorite photo showed him thinking while chewing gum, as Makenna looked at him. Sweetest thing ever.
I should also say, I had a 4 year old clinging on to me the whole time I was there. The eldest sibling, Patrick, has two sweet little girls, Deveena 4, and Adeline 6. On the second day, Deveena warmed up to me and would constantly seek me out. With a little giggle resembling a dolphin she would greet me with that each morning claiming her spot on my lap. This was wonderful, although it made it hard to get things done when carrying her around.

Rehearsal Dinner
Cole Whitner chewing 14 pieces of gum as his soon-to-be bride, Makenna Miller, tries to contain her laughter.