Stephanie and Mike

Saint John, NB, Canada

Photographer | Sean Mcgrath Photography | @seanmcgrathphoto

Venue | AREA 506 | @area506fest

From the Photographer

We always strive to showcase something different for our couples. We like to get adventurous and go to new places whenever possible. Mike and Steph recommended we have their engagement session at a very popular music festival called AREA 506 in Saint John. It hosts some of the worlds top bands and has a unique venue due to all the cargo containers that surround the area. It fit the couples personality perfectly as they were going to this festival already. We just happen to bring the camera along and make some magic happen!

Let’s start at the beginning. How did you two first meet?

Tinder. Three and a half years ago after swiping right it all started with a beer when we met for the first time at a local microbrewery (ironically on my parents 34th wedding anniversary) around the corner from where we will wed August 2020.

What makes your relationship special? Tell us some things that you both value in your time together. What makes your relationship unique?

My job is very unconventional traveling out of the country approximately 160 days a year for work (now primarily in Southeast Asia) with some trips lasting upwards of 30 days. Not a day on the road goes by where I feel distant from Mike despite the upwards of 10,000+ kilometers between us. We are avid craft beer fans who live to travel, love the outdoors and always enjoy a good concert.

How did you know your partner was the one? When did you first know this in your relationship?

It was relatively early on when I knew Mike was the one. We’re two simple people who like simple things and that’s exactly what our relationship is, simple.

Give us all the details about the proposal. How and where did it happen? Was it a surprise? What was the planning process?

The ring was carried clear across the Pacific as Mike brought it during our ten day holiday to Oahu, Hawaii. Never finding his quiet moment, the day after our return home to Canada Mike proposed. Unknowingly our roof had begun leaking while away, it was chilly and I was hangry wearing my flamingo onesie watching TMZ as Mike made me dinner (as usual) when he asked me to be his for the rest of time. I responded by saying “but the TV is on”… and then started crying and said yes.

We’re all about the bling… Tell us all about that ring!

We have done the reverse of traditional rings. Traveling immensely as I do (and to not the safest locations), my engagement ring is simple glittery diamond band. Although we will be wed with my late Grandmothers diamond in a new setting, this ring will stay safe at home during my long-hauls across the globe as I wear my band always and forever. Mike is a contractor so instead of exchanging rings, we’ll exchange a beer from our favorite brewery and second home, Foghorn.

Are you excited to start planning your wedding day? Do you have any ideas in mind yet?

With my crazy schedule I’m an avid planner so we have much already decided despite our 15/08/2020 date being over a year away. The most important aspect of our day aside from ourselves committing to one another is ensuring that all of our favorite people from all different spheres meet and celebrate us in our Saint John. The airport that always takes me home to my Mikey is coded YSJ and so, our wedding will be YSJ themed showcasing our favorite places. Our first look will be at the same exact location where we first met, our wedding in an alley between the restaurants and bars we’ve spent a lot of our time together in and the reception at Port Saint John on the Bay of Fundy that spills into the Atlantic Ocean connecting us by water wherever it is on Planet Earth I’m working.