Wedding P lanner the
WRITTEN BY: Chris Zimmerman
SUPPLEMENT TO The Wellington Advertiser
From ‘I do’ to Happily Ever After PHOTOS BY: Chantel Dirksen
Nicole and Derek Scharringa were engaged on one of the coldest days in January 2023 as they walked along a snow-covered trail on the outskirts of Erin. “Derek planned the whole day, so I kind of figured that he would propose because he doesn’t normally plan any dates,” Nicole said. “It was just a really perfect, sunny winter day.” Derek had chosen an intimate spot to propose, confident that his bride-to-be would say yes to spending the rest of her life with him. “We went on a hike and although I kind of thought [the proposal] was coming, nothing happened the entire hike and I was freezing,” Nicole recalled. “We were walking past a wishing well when Derek stopped. I didn’t notice at first and I kept walking before I realized I was on my own. I turned around to go back to him, asking what he had wished for and then he proposed.” Nicole said yes, saw the beautiful ring and hurriedly put her gloves back on before heading back to the relative warmth of their truck. The couple were married eight months later on a warm September day at Maranatha Canadian Reformed Church in Fergus. Along with her maid of honour and two bridesmaids, Nicole got ready for her big day at her parent’s house in the countryside. “It was just a really nice, relaxing morning. We had fruit, croissants, and coffee and a very close friend of mine is a hairdresser, so it was great that she could be there,” Nicole said. “My cousin was my maid of honour, and her daughter was our flower girl, so it was really
special to spend the morning with them and get ready together.” Derek and his three groomsmen got ready for their day at his family home in Elora, with a detour to the Cataract trail to have pictures taken together. They’d decided on Broderick’s Clothing Co. in Fergus to outfit the groom and groomsmen with their suits and accessories. Derek was more than happy with the look and style of his suit, and it was fitted to perfection. “The guys at Broderick’s were great. They were
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that it was actually happening,” Nicole said. “I was very nervous, and I think Derek was too. I had convinced him that my dress was going to be short, so when he saw my long, flowing dress he was caught off guard.” Deciding on a wedding dress often comes with its own set of challenges, but for Nicole the process was a breeze. Part of the reason for this was her decision to go with her mom, mother-inlaw, and sister to Taylor’s Bridal in Elmira. “I tried on a bunch of dresses, and I thought I wanted more of an A-line style, [a gown
We wanted our wedding day to be fun, cozy time where people could just have a good time and hangout all night - and it was
quick and very efficient with our fittings and time. The fact that they are close to home was very convenient as well,” Derek said. With the ceremony drawing nearer, Derek and Nicole headed to a property on South River Road for their first look. Nicole had done some work on the grounds, maintaining the gardens with the landscape company she worked for and chose the location because of its beautiful layout. Off-white hydrangeas in full bloom towered over a manicured greenspace in front of a beautiful stone building. It was here the couple saw each other for the first time that day. “It was during our first look that we realized
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Nicole & Derek
characterized by a fitted waistline and flared skirt] but then the bridal stylist said she was going to put me in some other dresses. She came out with one and I absolutely fell in love with it. I just loved that it was nice and flowy, and it was perfect for an outdoor wedding.” Following a relaxed morning of preparations, the wedding party and guests gathered at the church, where both Derek and Nicole regularly attend on Sundays, for the ceremony. The couple was married by a minister who helped them with their vows. Nicole chose to walk barefoot down the aisle, with piano accompaniment before saying ‘I do’ in front of
family and loved ones. They were pleasantly surprised after the receiving line to find a classic Model-T waiting to escort them back to the bride’s parent’s property. “We had no idea it was happening, but it was nice to have a relaxing time with just Derek and I after the craziness of the ceremony, getting ready and posing for photos,” Nicole said. “We wanted our wedding day to be a fun, cozy time where people could just have a good time and hang out all night – and it was.” The evening wedding reception unfolded beneath the stars with fire pits casting a warm and enchanting glow over the celebration. The space was filled with laughter and joy as guests savoured a delectable array of charcuterie and the newlyweds mingled with their guests.
Capturing everlasting moments Chantel Dirksen is a natural light, wedding, and lifestyle photographer based out of Guelph, Ontario. Her company specializes in professional wedding photography services that focus on natural light and candid moments from romantic celebrations. “My photography style would be best described as light and airy with a film-like feel. I use a documentary style approach to capturing weddings,” she said. With more than 12 years of experience, Dirksen uses photojournalism as her primary style of photography to capture the most magical moments of her client’s wedding day. She emphasizes the importance of capturing the essence of the couple’s story. “To me,