Words by Maureen Young

“From the 1st day I met you at Big Valley Jamboree I knew you were the one I wanted to spend my life with.
Asking you to marry me was the easiest decision I have ever made.
The bets advice my dad gave me was to marry a friend.
Someone I can laugh with, and who enjoys the same things I do.
Well, today I get to marry my best friend”

-Shaun Thompson

We first met Carmen + Shaun in Autumn in a Corvette and found a beautiful couple who shared a love of fast cars, country music and a little pup named Oscar. Friday was a fast and furious day as the 14 members  of the bridal party let off some steam on the race track.  Even as the bride-to-be Carmen didn’t get any special treatment and had a couple of bruises after!

The girls booked into a downtown hotel and had an early night, the boys operated on Thompson time (i.e. late) and went to bed roughly about the time Carmen woke up! Marriage is the start of all sorts, but Carmen is adamant it doesn’t mean a new way of keeping time!

While having their hair done, Carmen was abuzz with seeing a year of planning come to fruition and the bridesmaids were placing bets on whether Shaun would cry.  All the girls were near tears when Kara, the maid of honour, gave Carmen a Tiffany box from Shaun.  Inside was a pearl bracelet and a note from Shaun;

After having their hair done, Jodi, Shaun’s sister and a bridesmaid, took the girls from beautiful to gorgeous with her flair for make-up. Back at Carmen’s parents house it was a family affair as relatives were on hand to catch a glimpse of the bride, ensure all the bridesmaids were fed and simply enjoy each other’s company.   Carmen was given her grandmother’s ring, and this something blue was tied to her garter for her big day.

Despite a late night, the boys were at the Air Hanger in Fort Edmonton Park transforming a space into something amazing… by tieing 300 chair covers.  7 boys in 3 corvettes then headed back to Shaun’s and starred in their own version of Old School.  Girls, it’s true, when it’s just the guys they order pizza, beer and hang around in their boxers.  (Sorry boys, this doesn’t mean your illusion of pillow fights and sleepovers is true, it just means girls are always right, hee hee).

The boys getting ready was a comedy of errors, proving that it was a good thing Carmen’s sisters were helping out with the ironing of shirts for the day when Rudy and Dave both got their shirts soaked trying to steam out the wrinkles!  When Morgan could only find a pair of nose trimmers to trim his sideburns, Rudy was the go to guy and turned barber to trim both Morgan and Dave’s.

Lee, the best man, couldn’t shake his engineer training and drew a schematic for Dave to review since he missed the rehearsal.  Lee talked Dave through it all and, as a fellow engg, Anton translated to ‘stand here.’

The ceremony at the Citadel was a gorgeous affair as Carmen walked down the aisle accompanied by her mum and dad.

Lee, although an Engineer, locked his keys in his Corvette and no Engineer can break the lock on a Corvette (translated to pop the lock).  Instead of 3 Corvettes we did a photoshoot with 2 and the biggest bridal party we’ve ever accompanied!

Stay tuned for Part II coming soon.

Your dear friends,

~Anton + Rina