A Rustic Countryside Wedding at Stonefields Estate with a Raw, Inspiring Story

Today we're sharing a touching story of love and loss. A wedding day captured by Stephanie Mason Photography at Stonefields Estate that will pull at your heart strings, leave you inspired and most importantly - remind you to love unapologetically, hold your loved ones close and live every day to its fullest. The sheer strength of this stunning bride will shake you to your core. We feel so incredibly honored to be able to share her raw and emotional story with you all today, continue on to read her beautiful and brave words...

From Stephanie Mason Photography... Mikaela and Shane's wedding day was right out of a fairytale. They were surrounded by family and friends by one of the most elegant rustic countryside venues in the city. Mikaela was the ultimate DIY bride making a lot of the decor herself. When her wedding day arrived she was eagerly putting her finishing touches together. She was calm, laid back and excited to meet her future husband at the end of the aisle. After slipping into her wedding dress, giving her children a big hug, she was ready to say her vows.

Mikaela and Shane's children played a big role in the wedding. Their family and friends witness their two little ones walk down the aisle. Once the ceremony was done, you could see them playing freely on Stonefield's Estate sprawling acreage. Mikaela even found out that they were expecting their third child that was expected to arrive the following Spring. Only months after Mikaela and Shane's wedding day, Shane went on a trip and unfortunately suddenly passed away while away. It was a huge shock to all of her family and friends. She said her I do's to live happy ever after for the rest of their lives but Mikaela didn't think she would be robbed of time with her new spouse. Mikaela writes often to help her grieving process and says, "For better or for worse, till’ death do us part” is a vow we both took very seriously. Both coming from families who’s parents were married young and still together after 25+ years of marriage, we knew in our hearts that no matter what obstacles we faced our love and devotion to one another was going to last a lifetime.

Our wedding was beyond perfect just like our life together before getting married. In just 4 short years, my future husband took on the role of becoming my daughters step father, we bought a house together, got engaged, had a beautiful little boy together, went on a breathtaking European honeymoon adventure, got married and to top it off got pregnant again with a sweet little girl. Little did we both know, only 5 months after saying, “ I do” , our perfect life we created together was devastatingly flipped upside down. My loving husband, my soulmate and whom I thought was going to be my life partner tragically and suddenly passed away while on a weekend trip with some friends. The sudden and still very fresh loss my children and I have experienced has truly been the most heartbreaking, life altering experience I’ve had to face in my 24 years of life. I was robbed, stripped away of any chance at continuing to build a life together with Shane. When I lost him, I also lost a part of myself. Who I am will forever be split in two. It’s now, who I was before the accident and who I'm turning into after the accident. I’m forced to rediscover and redefine who I am without him.

Through all this pain, I still try my best to remain optimistic and hopeful. I know in my heart that my kids and I will be alright, that we will slowly heal together as a family and our life will still be filled with happiness and blessings. I am so thankful of the time I did have with my husband before he was called to heaven. I’m thankful for all the love, the adventures, the most joyous moments, and the laughs. In 4 years, we got to do so much together. It was truly a life well loved and lived. This is a sad ending to one life chapter but also the start of a new one. One that will be filled with so much love and healing in which my husbands light will always be present, helping guide us through it."It is a reminder that through all the planning and the stressful times wedding planning can sometimes bring on, that the most important part of your day is that you are marrying your best friend. It is a reminder to love unapologetically hard and live each day to its fullest. Mikaela is such a strong woman that has been inspiring our whole community through her writing and sharing her raw story. She reminds us without even really knowing it that we need to put the silly arguments and stresses aside and to appreciate the present. Hold your loved ones close and always tell them you love them. Cherish each day and be thankful for the opportunities and adventures that await you. Remember to live in the now and reflect on your blessings often.

Photographer : Stephanie Mason | Florist : Capital Florist | Rings : Tacori From Maison D'or | Make Up : Amber Miranda | Suit: Nordstrom | Officiant : Kimberly Sabourin | Wedding Venue: The Design Co. | Carte Blanche Haute Coiffure Salon: Patricia Lovett | Decor : Mastermind Event Rentals