Here they are, the wedding pics!  Enjoy!  Thanks to Keywest Photography and Barry Cullen for his amazing work!

The Lord blessed us with a wonderful day.  Thank you to everyone for all of your well wishes, to our families for their love, cooperation and support all this time, and to all of our friends who couldn't be there to share this with us.  At the bottom of this page I've included the script of our ceremony for those who may be interested.

The Ceremony

The Portraits

The Families

The Ceremony Script

February 15^th, 2003 – 5:00 PM – Elkhorn Ranch – Manitoba

Shortly after 5:00 PM , Brian and Rachel approached the front of the room and the ceremony began….

“Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.  Unless the Lord builds a house, those who build it labor in vain.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.”

At this time, I would like to ask that everyone except for Bill and Marlene and Bruce and Doreen to please be seated.

To start this blessed ceremony today, I wanted to involve and ask your parents a couple questions.  To the parents, I would say this – you should be very proud of these two extra-ordinary people.  Obviously I’ve known Rachel a bit longer than Brian, but in getting to know them as a couple, I have seen that they have taken characteristics, traits, morals and beliefs from two different homes and shaped them into a workable, livable and real faith that has endeared them to many friends, co-workers and of course, family.  At this point, I will ask the parents 3 questions and if you care in agreement, please respond with “We do”.

To Bill and Marlene, do you affirm your continuing support and love to Brian and Rachel as they grow in their marriage?  We do.  Do you celebrate with them, the decision they have made to choose each other?  We do.  Do you offer to them the best of your care and counsel in their times of struggle and your celebration with them in their times of joy?  We do.

To Bruce and Doreen , do you affirm your continuing support and love to Brian and Rachel as they grown in their marriage?  We do.  Do you celebrate with them, the decision they have made to choose each other?  We do.  Do you offer to them the best of your care and counsel in their times of struggle and your celebration with them in their times of joy?  We do.

Thank you to you both, you may be seated.

Now, there are some people that couldn’t be here today that I’ve been in contact with that wanted me to pass along their sentiments, so I’ll read those now :  (as an aside – I forgot to bring the actual emails from the chalet, so I had to do this from memory alone – but I’ll insert their actual words here)

From Rob and Alice Brooks in Callender, Ontario :  Unfortunately, we moved away from Calgary before Brian and Rachel met, so everything we know about Rachel is from the email Brian has sent.  It sounds like they're perfect for each other, even if she settled for a Jeff Gordon fan.  Please pass on our 'best wishes for a happy future' to them for us.

From Don Craig at Telus:  “Congratulations on your big day Rachel & Brian.  Rachel I'm sure you are an absolutely radiant bride and I know how excited you have been for this special day.  Brian, the handsome groom who is one of the few guys I know who can talk about photography and yet still remain studly.   But Coralee & I are extremely happy for you today and our thoughts are with you.  Ah it brings back memories.   When I first hired Rachel, all the men in the office suddenly needed to see me in order to have the chance to get to pass by Rachel.  Especially Brian. In the 9 months I was at Cadvision prior to hiring Rachel, I think Brian had come to my office maybe once a week and usually only if it was critical (i.e. that extra zero he wanted on his pay stub was missing).  With Rachel on board, I suddenly had the honor of Mr. Fisch 2, 3 even 4 times a day!  For any reason at all.  It was both cute and pathetic at times.  Once I could tell that Rachel was interested in Brian it began to border on nauseating.  The constant giggle as they exchanged messages was interesting (and I’m speaking of Brian's giggles not Rachel’s).  Suddenly accounting & finance interested Brian.  He'd come by to ask Rachel any question at all to get her attention and would sound genuinely interested!  ("Oh, so that's what double entry accounting is...wow Rachel, that is so fascinating, can you show me how you reconcile that bank statement...oh whoops I dropped my papers...why yes I do work out thanks for asking").

But seriously, Brian I know how interested you were in Rachel right from the beginning.  I always admire people who go for what they want no matter the obstacles, and you did it sir, You got the girl!  It’s so great to see, and it’s been fun to watch your relationship blossom and arrive at this big day.  We're sad that we can't be there to share it with you, but let’s be honest, its Manitoba in the middle of February :)  Haha.  We hope you come back out to Cowtown soon so that we can celebrate with you Calgary style (that means it likely involves spurs and livestock).  Take care, good luck and God bless.”

And finally, from Matt Smith , who is a guy that I think I would like to get to know and hang out with: “Brian and I have been on numerous road trips together (fishing, skiing, hiking, just pissing around) and every time we start out on a journey, our goal is always the same, “nobody dies!”  Our motto for all road trips is exactly that.  Brian and I have been through a lot together, we have been friends for 10 years or so, Brian is without a doubt my best friend in the world.  I wish him and Rachel all the best in their future together.  Give my best to them both and tell Brian “Window open!!”

Knowing how much you both cherish and appreciate the children in your families, I wanted to take a moment and ask two very special little ladies to join us up here.  So, if I could have Karina and Laura come up here, that would be great.  I’ve learned from both of your families that both of you shared a common trait when you were younger.  You both had very strong attachments to blankets.  Now, my understanding is that your blankets have long since been destroyed or at least in one case, eaten.  With the help of some co-conspirators, I’ve managed to re-create your blankets here today.  Your blankets meant security, comfort and stability.  Excellent traits to bring into a marriage.

Laura, can you give Brian the piece of blanket that you have please?  Thank you.

Brian, you are now the earthly holder of security, comfort and stability for your bride Rachel.  Keep this piece of fabric to remind you of your responsibility to provide those things for her.

Karina – can you give Rachel the piece of blanket that you have please?  Thank you.

Rachel, you are now the earthly holder of security, comfort and stability for your groom Brian.  Keep this piece of fabric to remind you of your responsibility to provide those things for him.

Thank you girls, you did a great job, and you can go and sit down now.

As we move through the events of today, and we all are a part of this blessed occasion, I’ve had some time to think about my role here.  I am very honored to be the ‘mouthpiece’ for this part of the day and wanted to bring a short message that would challenge and encourage both Brian and Rachel, as well as everyone else here today.

Because of the disease that Brian and I share, I decided to speak about photography. When Brian and Rachel visited us before Christmas and we had a chance to visit Niagara Falls and take some pictures, Rachel was overheard to say to Dawne that together, they would be photo widows, as Brian and I had wandered off, looking for some great shots.

Photography is a wonderful hobby and Brian has become very accomplished with it, and I’m sure Rachel has come to appreciate his talents and share his passion.

When we look at photography, there are two sides – the photographer and the subject.  Both are equally important, but have very different roles.  As the two interact, there becomes a fluid knowledge of what to anticipate from each other.  Comparing this to this marriage, the two of you are subjects, and Christ is the photographer.  When you want a great picture, you go to a pro.  You two today wouldn’t trust just anyone with documenting this day for you, so you went to somebody who knows his stuff.  Christ knows the best way for the two of you to have a healthy, happy and vibrant marriage.  You both have accepted Christ as your personal Savior and that alone is the best asset you can bring into this marriage.

Your reliance on Christ is much like your reliance on your photographer.  You want the best possible pictures, so you listen to him when he tells you where to stand, where to look, and so on.  In your daily walk, you need to take direction from His written word and His Holy Spirit which lives in both of you.

If you were to tell your photographer that you knew the best poses, lighting and locations for your pictures, when you received them back and they didn’t turn out well, you would have nobody but yourselves to blame.  A truly great marriage is one that has Christ at the center of two individuals, focusing their reliance on Him as well as remembering their responsibility to share their time and talents with others to show them the love of God that He has given freely to us.

Listening to your photographer and relying on him will get you some wonderful photos that will capture the beauty, magic and essence of today.  Listening to God in your marriage will give you a long, happy and mutually fulfilling marriage.

Even after your job as photo subjects is done, the photographers work isn’t finished.  God started a work in both of you when you both accepted him as Savior.  He is constantly performing things in your life – He is DEVELOPING your talents to use at home, work and your home church.  He is CROPPING out the things that can interfere with your relationship with each other – like financial concerns.  And best of all, He is FINISHING what he started in both of you.

The Bible, which is the Word of God, declares marriage to be honorable.  It was ordained of God in the time of mans innocence, before he had sinned against the Lord.  Since marriage has always been a divine institution, it is to be entered into soberly and discreetly, in His sight.

God himself united the first members of the human family, which fact alone should abolish all light and frivolous views of marriage.  The bridegroom and bride are partners in life, each forsaking mother and father to cleave unto the other.  They share a common name, a united household, a common experience and a love which transcends all the cares and trials of life.  The mathematics of love are simple – add and multiply joys while subtracting and dividing the sorrows.

Brian and Rachel, you now have common interests and goals.  You hold property and possessions in common, and you are beginning one history and journeying towards one destiny.  Inscribed in the Word of God is the counsel you will need for this mutual and blessed relationship.  Your vows are to be broken only by death.  In token of having chosen each other as partners for life, I would ask that you now join both of your hands and recite your vows to each other, beginning with Rachel.

<Rachel's Vows>“How far we’ve come to be here today, and yet, this is only the beginning.  I promise to support you in love through every challenge and every joy.  I promise to be open and honest and share my feelings and thoughts with you, and to be patient with you and try to understand your point of view.  I promise to hold you close but still let you spread your wings.  I promise to cherish you as your wife and best friend as we share one life while we still have breath.  I promise to remember these vows I make to you, for whatever tomorrow holds, it will always be enough just to be together with you.  I love you.”

<Brian’s Vows>  “Finding the person who perfectly compliments you and is your ideal match is what everyone dreams of, hopes for and prays for.  The Lord has blessed me with everything I’ve ever wanted.  Our friendship started based on respect, honesty and openness.  I promise to continue using these values to guide our lives and build our family.  These aren’t my words, but they are so relevant: “I can’t believe how much I see when you’re looking back at me.  Now I understand what love is.”  You’ve shown me a love that I didn’t think I’d ever find.  I can’t guarantee that every day is going to be fun, or easy.  But I promise that I will put in every effort, every day for the rest of our lives together, to show my love to you and to return the love that you give to me.”

At this point in time, we will have the exchange of the rings.

Brian – you will now place a ring on the third finger of Rachel’s left hand, and holding the ring there, say after me:  “I give you this ring as the symbol and pledge of the covenant now made between us”

Rachel, you will now place a ring on the third finger of Brian’s left hand, and holding the ring there, say after me:  “I give you this ring as the symbol and pledge of the covenant now made between us”

Let these rings continue to be to you both a symbol of the value, the purity and the constancy of true wedded love, and the seal of the vows you now have made.

Brian, you may kiss your bride.

We will conclude this part of today with a short prayer, and then we will head upstairs to the main lobby for pictures, and then return here for dinner afterwards.