Sweet sixteen and always been kissed

Sixteen years married today. Sweet sixteen and always been kissed.

Time to share some of the beautiful photos from the most beautiful day. I am so lucky to have what I have. Douglas, I might hate on you a lot of time, but I love you more than I could ever explain. Here's to the next sixteen years! ❤

 

marriage is forever

sometimes we need a little reminder of why we work hard at our marriages... and here is a good one.

 my marriage was, from the very beginning, something that i intended to be a part of for time and all eternity. i told my young womens class once years ago, that an eternal marriage was something i wanted, because when you love someone that much, this life just isn't long enough. for that reason, i intend to keep building... so that when we reach the eternities, i have something huge that we built, together, day by day, that will truly last forever. 

jae + jesse

this past saturday i had the amazing opportunity to take some photos for a friend on her wedding day. i was their temple photographer and it was such an honour. they are a beautiful couple and i loved being able to capture the beginning of their "happily ever after"

congratulations jae and jesse! ♥

letitia and jordans wedding

today was a great day. we got to be with one of our very favourite familys, one of those "friends who have become family" familys and watch as their daughter was sealed to her husband for time and all eternity in the melbourne temple. this of course was the whole reason for our trip to melbourne and i am so glad we were able to be there. 

i am so grateful to mum and dad for dropping everything this weekend to be with the "big" kids while we whisked alex away with us. it makes being away that much easier when you know they are being taken care of. alex was an angel. spent most of the time sleeping when he wasn't being doted on by all our friends and dougs family who we are staying with.

doug and one of the lovely bridesmaids tayla. they are all samoan so he lays claim on them as his little sisters. 

and it's become somewhat of a tradition for him to have a photo with these two at every fepulea'i wedding, even though letitia was the bride today, she was more than happy to get in on it.

it was such a lovely day too. the temple ceremony was beautiful and then we were able to spend time with some of the family at the house they were staying at between the temple and the reception. we were certainly being looked after today too. we had someone lined up to cuddle alex while we were in the sealing, someone who wasn't going to be in there, but they ended up running late to the temple. we were certainly in a pickle as we obviously couldn't leave him by himself. as a last desperate attempt, i asked the man at the recommend desk if there was anyone that might be able to hold my baby for a few minutes while i attended the sealing. he ummed and ahhed a little, but said he would ask, just as a worker rushed forward and said she would love to help us. what a blessing! plus, we found out later that this lady was a good friend of the grooms mother. oh was i pleased. i was so scared that one of us would miss it after coming all that way. the world is full of wonderful people if you only know where to look - and the temple is a very good place to start!

each of the guests had one of these wooden name cutouts on their plates at the table. they even had one cut for baby alex which was so sweet. i couldn't resist having a photo of him with it.

having fun at the reception. alex was fast asleep, so we made some time for a selfie or two

the newlyweds letitia and jordan. we heard so much laughter from them today, which makes me sure that they will be very happy together. there is nothing better than being able to laugh with your spouse and be able to mock each other. (in a nice way of course!)

what a cute set up. ♥

us with mr and mrs faamausili. thanks for an amazing day guys. we felt so honoured to be a part of your special day.

letitia even insisted on having a photo with baby alex which i thought was the cutest! she'll be such a good mum one day.

us with our cute babe

♥

12 years down, eternity to go

on friday doug and i celebrated 12 years of marriage, at home on the couch... with a grumpy little boy who had been to the doctors for his needles that morning. sigh. i guess that's how life as a parent goes hey! but... saturday night, we got a babysitter (dougs sister, how convenient) and headed out to the mahogany creek inn, with our friends who live next door to dougs parents, and just happen to have their wedding anniversary the day after us! it was a great night, good food, good company (half her family showed up, she kept apologising, but it was great, they are good value!) and lots of fun.

we've been to the inn multiple times and would still highly recommend it to anyone. their service and food is excellent!

tobiassen sealing

just after christmas, we were lucky enough to be there when our friend ryan and his lovely wife lindsay and little baby boy hayden were sealed for time and all eternity.

as members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, we believe that through sacred ordinances performed in holy temples, we are able to be with our family and loved ones not only for this life, but throughout the eternities. 

and so, when when our friends are sealed, we feel so blessed to be there and share that joy with them

♥

it was an amazing day... 

filled with so much love ♥

a special sealing

best. day. ever.

yesterday our friends were sealed as a family. it was the most amazing day, with so much love in that room. i felt so blessed to be in there and share that moment with them. we took a lot of beautiful pics, but this watercolour will have to do... as it's a day i don't ever want to forget.

theron and emily's sealing ♥

"for the temple is a holy place, where we are sealed together...

as a child of god, i've learned this truth,

a family is forever."

today we had the joy of being there as theron and emily were sealed for time and all eternity. one of the most wonderful parts of being a member of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints is having the knowledge that once we are married in the temple we are able to be with our spouse and children for not only this life, but whatever comes after. it was a truly perfect day, not a cloud in the sky and there was so much love in the room as they promised to love each other forever surrounded by family and friends.

each time i have attended a temple wedding or a temple sealing (meaning we are "sealed" together) it has given me an opportunity to think back on my own, almost twelve years ago, still the greatest blessing of my life. i know there are difficult days, but the promise of eternity makes it worth the effort.

it was beautiful to be able to take the children with us today too (big thanks to those who chased them around the gardens). i love knowing that they are growing up with the temple in their sights. they know that family and friends have been and will be married there, and they know it's somewhere they want to be. i can't wait until they can come inside with us.

temple date night

both of our mums are away, but i am thankful for beautiful friends who love our children like their own and looked after our babies this evening so that we could go to the temple together... for the first time in months! what better place could there possibly be for a night out? ♥

d e m k e w e d d i n g

it's finally happened. after the last thirty-five days of crazy planning, we pulled it off and bryan and dominique got married today! who knew it was possible? but... to be honest, all it's done is make me realise what i am capable of if i have more than a month haha

dominique looked so beautiful in her dress and as you can see, was blissfully happy, so it made all the hard work worth it ♥

it is such a blessing to know that our marriages as members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints are for not only this life, but for the life to come and will last throughout the eternities. that being said, i'm glad that niques has made a good choice in marrying bryan. he is great fun and has fitted into our family perfectly, as though he has always been here, we kind of like him a lot.

the complete kendall family!

the best man and i, showing up to grace the wedding as the maid of honour. i love love love the suits and ties the boys ended up choosing (from roger david) and my dress was ordered from asos... i was so thrilled with it, took a chance on the size and it arrived during the peak christmas period from london, in just four days! hooray for asos!

my favourite father in law and husband

dominique and i. how lucky i felt to be beside her on the biggest day of her life. i love you girl!

niques and her mum. i love this photo, it made me crazy happy.

the pinkall crew outside the temple after the sealing. i love this shot too. there are some people that become family, and this right here, is family. ♥

it was the most perfect day for it, it had been so hot over the last few weeks, and then all of a sudden it died down today and after a disgusting start to the week, we had a beautiful 26 degrees!

my beautiful friend jamie-lee took over my camera and snapped these gorgeous pictures for me while i played bridesmaid, it was a nice change to being behind the camera for once.

our little family. how i love them!

and my little flowergirl, in a dress lovingly made for madeline by her insanely clever nanna. who also spent hours adding sleeves to dominiques dress. we are so lucky to have her.

such a beautiful girl, so glad her day was perfect!

we are waiting on professional pics, but will try to wait calmly while they are done... i will certainly report back once we have them, with pics of the decor and reception venue etc. but these will have to do for now. but it's done! she's married...

congratulations mr & mrs demke 

♥