The BIG Win Your Wedding Photography Contest 2011

I met my future husband, Jon, when I was 13 years old—which was at a young age considering I immigrated to Canada and moved to Waterloo when I was only 12 years old. We were in the same core classes together and we had several common friends (one of which introduced us). In grade 8, we tried dating, but it ended in utter disaster—as I feel most relationships do at that age. Nevertheless, we stayed friends all throughout high school. I would write him notes, asking him if he would consider dating me and he never showed any interest back. I was pretty upset about my ninth grade year…Then, in tenth grade I had a major life changing and very dramatic event occur. I had my grandfather staying at our house, visiting from my native country and out of the blue, he started licking my foot. Completely disgusted, I left the room. Then, slowly that night, I started recalling how I had been sexually abused at a very young age by my grandfather. I had never experienced anything like this, and being only 16 I wasn’t sure how to deal with it. Slowly, I started confiding in Jon. This brought us closer because we were both struggling in school due to personal problems. That summer, we hung out every day after summer school (where we were both repeating courses we had failed as a result of poor grades). We went on long walks and held hands before we even dated. This was the beginning of our unofficial relationship. One day, he wrote me a letter. I remember vividly walking down the street, with him at my side. I opened the letter and it read “I love you, Ana”. I was stunned but super excited…and we weren’t even dating yet. We feared taking the next step in our relationship, dating, because we feared it would impact our entrusted friendship if our relationship failed. Finally though, a year later, we became an official couple. This was in grade 11. We became virtually inseparable and the “ideal couple” from the point of view of most of our friends. Now, almost seven years later, I admit, we are deeply in love with one another, but I think that it’s a rare love: one that stems from the depths of the heart.

In 2009, he decided to visit me in Europe for Christmas while I was on exchange for 8 months in France. He flew across the Atlantic for the first time, and ironically, landed in the city I was born in. He spent 12 days abroad and in that time, he proposed. It was a clear day and we decided to go on a hike together rather than taking a very cheap (and simpler way) up. We climbed some very steep and dangerous sections along the way to the summit…but we always had each other to entertain and distract ourselves with. It was a magical journey and when we finally reached the peak, he knelt down and asked me to marry him. He metaphorically related the journey up the mountain to our relationship: sometimes steep and unsure, but other times, strong and determined. You can’t always be in control, but determination goes a long way, he said. From Jon, I’ve learned everything I know about love: that the best thing is to believe in yourself and your heart. He re-taught me how to laugh again, love again and live again after my traumatizing childhood. I owe a lot to him and honestly, I don’t think I will ever love another man as much as I love him.

I am somewhat still in shock that I am going to marry my best friend in 2011. We’ve decided that we want the wedding to be rather small with all the most important people attending. Of course, family and friends but also significant characters that have impacted our lives in some way. We don’t have any major plans, just to marry and be happily in love. The one thing I do want though is lots and lots of flowers—which can be a rather pricey endeavour. I imagine we’ll marry outside, as both of us are nature freaks (and we love camping). I would like an archway of flowers, flowers in my hair, flowers with the entire wedding party, and flowers at every table. If I could, I would cover the entire dance floor in rose petals and dance the entire night away under the stars. If I got this prize, i would invest it all towards flowers and our photographs (because I am in complete awe with most wedding pictures I’ve seen). For our wedding, I would like a very good friend of mine, Ana, to be the photographer. I just met her a year ago when she offered to teach me how to use an SLR camera. Although she is still a student studying photography, I feel she has a very rare talent as a photographer. She has an eye for stunning photos and she can make anything look absolutely magnificent through the lens of a camera. I want her to be my photographer, though she’s told that she prefers to be a guest rather than take photos. I am hoping to convince her otherwise.

I’ve summarized my life story with Jon and my ideal wedding plans. I have nothing elaborate planned, just a romantic wedding filled with happiness and joy, lots of flowers and the best photographer I presently know. It’s just an honest and humble wish. I hope that I am considered for this prize as I know that it will be greatly appreciated and every penny will be spent wisely.
Thank-you for your time and consideration.
Yours truly,
Ana Caradima

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