special edition A DV E N T U R E I S S U E
the refinery T H E W E D D I N G L I F EST Y L E M AGA Z I N E
table of contents
adventure issue WINTER 2014
real engagements sera & ote
6
matt & dom christina & kiehl cadence & adam
14 22 30
38
HACIENDA WINES
real weddings sabine & viktor
56 66
jasmine & mitch
78
natalie & blake
90
field & flour
MELBOURNE SUN
120
city guides
city guide: ROME, ITALY 104
132 HE SAID/SHE SAID with shari + mike
120
travelling through VIETNAM
144
a letter from the EDITORS... Hello Lovelies! With the closure of our first year, thoughts turn to the prospect of adventure, new beginnings, and a whole new year to explore life with your loved one. To kick it off, we bring you a special edition of The Refinery Magazine, jam-packed full of stunning photography from far and wide, and inspiration for your travels through life in 2014! Thank you to our wonderful wedding creatives and new friends who helped make this issue possible. Creating relationships with amazing creatives around the world has truly made this experience even more meaningful for us! The list of countries represented truly amazes us – from Vietnam, Australia, Spain, and Scotland to Germany, Mexico, USA, Canada, and Italy! We hope that this inspires you to take your love and your upcoming celebration to new heights! Stay tuned for February 14th, 2014, as we introduce you to our newest love: The Refinery USA! Valentines day is going to be mega sweet as we launch Issue V and USA 1, on your online newsstands! All the best for 2014, and always remember: Eat well. Travel often. Love fearlessly. Xo Ainsley & Madison
ainsley
madison
thank you to all of our amazing
CONTRIBUTORS a insley re id chloe bla ir ma dison hope
PHOTOGRAPHY b rit t any ma hood photog ra phy hal ey she ffie ld photog ra py jarusha brown photog ra phy kev in kle in photog ra phy l aura golde nbe rge r photog ra phy m arie l ha nna h photog ra phy n e ssa k photog ra phy n irav pate l photog ra phy pop! photog ra phy sean fla nig a n photog ra phy shari + mike photog ra phe rs to m as z wa g ne r photog ra phy
PLA NNING & DE COR sha nnon houg h eve nts a shley nicole
santa fe, spain
Sera & Ote SEAN FLANIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY
isle of skye, scotland
Matt & Dom NIRAV PATEL PHOTOGRAPHY
A Note from the Editor: Having close ties to the north of Scotland, I was thrilled when Nirav suggested Dom & Matt’s engagement
for
this
year’s
Adventure Issue. Having travelled to the Isle of Skye myself, I remember the incredibly rocky and mountainous environment, and the inspiring natural landscape of the highlands.
north to visit my own family's village of origin on the Isle of Lewis and Harris, we had the opportunity to stay in the village of
Gearrannan,
which
offers
up traditional black houses for accommodation with renovated interiors. It was amazing to feel like we were living like our
We loved looking through Nirav’s stunning
Having travelled even further
photography,
as
this
gorgeous married couple captured the essence of exploration, while hand in hand with their loved one. We encourage all couples to travel the distance together to further expose themselves to the wonder of our world, and to build stories together to share with generations to come. Matt & Dom travelled from London, England for this adventure session with Nirav Patel Photography.
ancestors,
while
in
complete
comfort in a remote seaside community. Certainly a place any couple can find solitude, seclusion and connection with each other and nature. Be sure to find even one night this year to get away from it all and seek adventure - even if it’s in your own backyard! - xo Ainsley
washington, D.C.
Christina & Kiehl CAPTURED BY NESSA K PHOTOGRAPHY
brooklyn bridge,NY
Adam & Cadence HALEY SHEFFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY
hacienda wines CAPTURED BY MARIEL HANNAH PHOTO PLANNER and DESIGNER: SHANNON HOUGH EVENTS
rentals WALKER LEWIS, WYLD AT HEART and SIMPLY SHABBY CHIC stationary DESIGN HOUSE OF MOIRA cakes & sweets CAKES BY DORENE cater FULL MOON BAR & BISTRO venue PEAR VALLEY WINERY
photography MARIEL HANNAH PHOTOGRAPHY planner and designer SHANNON HOUGH EVENTS styling KIMBERLY LAWSON floral design EDEN FLORAL hair design JACOB HERNANDEZ makeup TRICIA LEIGH headpieces LACIELLE ROSELLE shoes benjamin adams & Luichiny tux FINO MENS WEAR model MARY RUBY of ELITE AGENCY dresses CHIC LITTLE DEVIL, FILM FASHION and LADIES AND GENTS BRIDAL Ines de Santo, Eugenia Couture (bridal gowns) & Winnie Couture (bridesmaids dresses)
groemitz, germany
Sabine & Viktor KEVIN KLEIN PHOTOGRAPHY
A note from the bride... It was a wonderful and unique photoshoot! Though the sun did not shine and it rained every now and then, I enjoyed the hours of smooching with my newlywed husband! It was a lot of fun and having these beautiful pictures from the ocean, beach and harbor made the day totally worth it. - Sabine
OLIVIA HEADPIECES | SHARI + MIKE PHOTORGAPHERS
VE N DORS d o you wa nt to se e your busin ess h e re? CONTACT US - ADVERTISING@THEREFINERYMAG.COM
cabo san lucas, mexico
Jasmine & Mitch CAPTURED BY TOMASZ WAGNER - MANANETWORK
venue Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas photographer Tomasz Wagner bride’s dress Angeline Bridal bride’s sash Handmade by bride bridesmaid dresses Artemisia groom & groomsmen outfits Le Chateau groom’s bow tie Handsome & Lace flowers Emporio Arte Floral stationary Frame & Follie wedding website (jasmineandmitch.com) Frame & Follie
Our special day... There were a lot of factors that lead
Still, the main reason we opted for
to our decision to have a destination
a destination wedding was for the
wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
chance to get to go on vacation and
We were engaged for almost two years
celebrate with friends and family for a
before we actually started planning
whole entire week! In the sun. On the
anything!
scheduling
beach. With free drinks!! How often
definitely played a role in that. Trying
does that happen? Even at a relaxed
to book a local venue on a weekend in
beach wedding, not everything went as
the summer seemed like an impossible
planned. There were a few hiccups on
feat, while getting married on a cold and
the day, but we had so much fun!! And
rainy Tuesday in Vancouver seemed
we kept having fun. We’re so excited our
like an implausible option.
friends could join us on our special day,
Budget
and
but we’re just as happy that we could join them on their holiday as well!
vasquez rocks, california
Natalie & Blake CAPTURED BY LAUREN GOLDENBERGER PHOTOGRAPHY
field and flour CAPTURED BY BRITTANY MAHOOD PHOTOGRAPHY STYLING by ASHLEY NICOLE
styling ASHLEY NICOLE photographer BRITTANY MAHOOD PHOTOGRAPHY stationary ONE PLUS ONE DESIGN + ILLUSTRATION floral design ACADEMY FLORIST calligraphy JULIE DOAN hair & makeup PREP HAIR cake JENNA RAE CAKES dress BLISS BRIDAL
GUCIO SHOOT
melbourne sun JULIA ARCHIBALD POP {PHOTOGRAPHY}
shoot stylist + photographer JULIA ARCHIBALD POP {PHOTOGRAPHY} wardrobe styling RENEE BLAKE DESIGNS floral design ROBYN MORRISON, BOBBY and TIDE hair GRACE, GEORGE and GRACE dresses BRIANNA JOY DESIGNS and KUWAII accessories ABBY SEYMOUR table arrangement POPPY LANE food truck MR BURGER
CIT GUIDE
city guide
ROME, ITALY CAPTURED BY JARUSHA BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY
WHEN IN ROME Eat + Drink - Eating Italy Food Tours, Daylight Trastevere Tour (75 Euros)
To Stay - Air BnB
when in rome... by jarusha brown
One of the best parts of traveling is
like she was proudly showing us her
undoubtedly the food, and the Italians
neighbourhood and the characters that
have really got it figured out. The two
live there.
main things that my fiancé and I knew when we were planning our trip to
Trastevere means “across the Tiber”
Rome, other than seeing the sights,
and it’s character comes from it’s
was that we wanted to stay in the funky
narrow cobblestone streets, medieval
old area called Trastevere and that we
houses and village-type atmosphere.
wanted to go on a walking food tour.
Every stop on our tour was like being
Happily, one of the best tours was of the
introduced to the colourful locals of
Trastevere neighbourhood where we
a little Italian town. We nibbled on
stayed, and because we took our tour
fresh cheese, meat, fruit, baked goods.
at the beginning of our 8 day stay, we
Roman-style pizza and gelato, all
were able to revisit the tour locations
while learning the history of the area.
over and over.
At midday we stopped for a long table pasta meal with wine and fresh baked
The tour was just over 4 hours long
bread and finished up the tour with
and we left happy and full. Our guide
custard and dessert wine. All in all it
was born in Rome, raised in England
was an incredible day of eating and
and is now back in Rome again living
walking, learning and snapping photos.
in the area. Romans are very proud to
I would do it again in a heartbeat and
call themselves Romanss and we felt
maybe try the company’s nighttime Trastevere tour next time!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
he said/she said WITH SHARI + MIKE CAPTURED BY DAVID of ROWAN JANE PHOTOGRAPHY
Getting to know you... with Shari + Mike Tell us a little bit about who you are as individuals, and as a couple. Tell us about your business, and all that you do with Shari + Mike Photographers?
Our personalities are different but we have learned in our relationship and our business that our differences work well together and make us stronger. Mike is outgoing, enjoys taking risks, and is a live-life-to-the-full (and then some!) kind of guy. Shari is a small-town girl who loves living in the big city. She genuinely loves connecting with people on a deeper level and has an uncanny ability to make you want to tell her your life story. Together we are Shari + Mike. Not just wedding photographers or business partners but a fun loving couple who genuinely enjoys life. We are volleyball enthusiasts, world travellers, an auntie, and an uncle. We are friends, lovers, and people of faith. Our business is our baby. Someday we will need to actually balance a baby along with our business but for now our motto is work hard, play hard. When we aren't shooting weddings or editing, you can find us playing board games with friends, travelling the world, antique shopping, relaxing at the family farm in Saskatchewan, or planning our next adventure.
Where have you travelled to shoot destination weddings?
We are just starting to get our feet wet in the destination wedding market. So far the farthest we have photographed weddings has been in the Bahamas, Mexico, and New Brunswick. We also shoot several weddings each year around British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan with some of our favourites having been Tofino, Pemberton, Fernie, and Camore. We are excited to see our love of photography, travel, and weddings merge together at a new level.
What are some of the amazing things you have witnessed as photographers documenting weddings worldwide? Whether we are driving through the mountains on our way to Alberta, dipping our toes in the ocean while in Mexico, seeing the vastness of the prairies, or witnessing fall in New Brunswick, everywhere we go we are amazed at the beauty of this world. Our goal is to someday shoot in places like Croatia, India, or Iceland but we do also hope to shoot from coast to coast in our own country. Having the opportunity to photograph a wedding in Saint John, New Brunswick made us realize that we don't have to travel to foreign countries to shoot in interesting places. Canada itself is one of those places.
It is apparent that you must live quite a lot from your suitcases! What are some challenges and solutions that you have mastered for life on the road?
To be honest, our suitcase rarely got put away this summer! With weddings all over BC and Alberta, we were constantly going from place to place and for the most part we were driving. With over 23,000Km driven this past year for work, I guess you could say that we spent a lot of time together locked in a car and we are happy to report that we still like each other. There are definitely some challenges with living from a suitcase but we love it so much that the challenges are well received. Wrinkly clothes are cool, right? I would say some of the things we have learned while being on the road are: 1. Plan ahead and leave enough time for mishaps. That said, role with the punches and be adaptable 2. Find what works for you to stay alert and awake while driving. For Shari, nothing works. For Mike, good old sports talk radio does the trick! 3. Enjoy the journey. There were too many times where we had photo regret because we didn’t stop when we saw something awesome. Now we stop all the time! 4. Always pack a swimsuit. You never know when you will want to jump in a lake!
Tell us a funny or sentimental moment that you have shared while travelling together?
Shari: I first fell in love with photography over a decade ago on a trip to the Maritimes with my family. I remember the exact spot I stood when I took the photo that officially started my journey with photography. I'm not sure really what made that moment so significant or why it became so engrained in my memory, but Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia will forever have a special place in my heart. When we booked a wedding in New Brunswick in October, we took a few extra days to tour around the Maritimes. One of the places we knew we wanted to spend some time at was Peggy's Cove. Mike had never been before and it was a place I wanted to revisit. It was a surreal moment standing in the exact spot I fell in love with photography but now I was doing what I love with the man that I love. It felt as if life had come full circle.
Share some advice for couples planning on having a destination wedding, or planning on having some photos taken in a far off land!
Since we haven't done a lot of international weddings yet our advice is minimal to couples planning a wedding abroad. We would just say to do a lot of research, find a place that fits what you always dreamed of, and don't be afraid to think outside the box. Also, since you are planning something so important and extravagant you want to make sure it is captured in the best way. Just because a friend has a great camera or Uncle Bob likes taking pictures of ducks doesn't mean they will make a good wedding photographer. We are very passionate about what we do, have worked hard at it and take it very seriously. Consider hiring a local professional or bringing you own photographer with you.
How has your marriage strengthened while owning a business, travelling constantly, and witnessing love time and time again? What advice would you give to those who are embarking on marriage soon?
Being a husband and wife photography team is the best. We feel so lucky to not only be running a successful business but that we get to do it together. We love what we do! We love getting to live together, work together, travel and adventure together. It does mean that we do spend a lot of time with each other but we have found what works for us. Communication is key. We play off each other’s strengths and have found what roles each of us love to do. What Shari is not so good at, Mike crushes or vice versa and it has worked out quite nicely for us. These are significant lessons we have learned through our business that also directly apply to our marriage and life.
Best advice we can give to couples venturing into marriage: you’re not opponents. You're a team. Take a trip! You learn a lot about the other person when you travel, especially when you are in a place that is out your comfort zone. Relish and embrace your individuality and encourage each other in who they are. Remember to always tell the other person they are loved and appreciated. Don't always be in a rush! Just like travelling, enjoy the journey. Document your life through photos but remember to stay present.
Shari + Mike are available worldwide and would be more than thrilled to document your wedding journey. If you are interested in joining Shari + Mike for a photo session at an exotic location, here's where they will be next!: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - March Iceland - sometime in the spring West Coast (Vancouver to San Fran) - sometime in the spring New York - sometime in the fall Florida - November
CIT GUIDE
travelling through
VIETNAM CAPTURED BY SHARI + MIKE PHOTOGRAPHERS
HANOI HIGHLIGHTS See + Do - The old quarter - the cities heart beat that is rich in history. Great place to just wander + get lost amongst the chaos. - The Ho Chi Minh mausoleum - a monument honouring one of the countries most loved leaders. Definitely a unique experience. - Ho Kiem Lake - Great spot for a morning jog + some yoga
Eat + Drink - Bia Hoi - find it and try it - Street Food in the old quarter - try it if you are brave, just ask locals or guides for good quality spots. - Pho for breakfast
Travelling through Vietnam written by Shari + Mike
Picking a place to travel to was not an easy task. We
• The People - For the most part we didn't feel like we
had a list of our top choices but narrowing it down
were treated as tourists by the locals which was very
to one was harder than we imagined. We wanted
refreshing. They were hospitable, friendly and had
someplace a bit off the 'tourist' path but relatively
amazing stories to share.
safe, someplace rich in culture, and that would be beautiful to photograph. Vietnam fit all of our criteria
• Taking a cooking class - A great way to take a piece
+ gave us so much more. For three wonderful weeks,
of Vietnam home with you considering that food was
we travelled the country…starting in Hanoi in the
a big part of the trip. Also, our cooking instructor gave
north + ending in Ho Chi Minh City in the South.
Mike the nickname "Hot Boy"….true story.
Our Vietnam Highlights
• Getting Clothes Made - A must do when visiting
• The Food - From north to south the food is incredible
Hoi An but it helps to go with a plan…these guys can
and the flavours are diverse. Every region has a
make anything you want!
different spin on the local cuisine. • Biking through the countryside - A great way to see • Halong Bay - this is probably one of the most
life in the rural side of Vietnam.
beautiful places on the planet, an overnight boat cruise is well worth it. Also, Shari got attacked by a
• Meal with a local family - This was a real treat as
monkey…true story.
we got to help prepare and enjoy a great meal. This is another benefit of connecting with the locals.
• Crossing the Street in the busy cities - you just have to keep your eyes forward and walk, don't hesitate!
• Visiting a local fishing village at sunrise - As photographers this was a dream. We got to witness
• Sleeper Train - This is a must, it will totally take
the chaos that happens when the fisherman bring in
you out of your comfort zone. It's a great way to meet
the morning catch.
some locals and fellow travellers. • Teaching kids some breakdance moves in a little • Driving a motorbike around the Island of Phu Quoc
village - totally spontaneous + drew quite the crowd
- We weren't brave enough to try it in the city but it
Freedomland - an eco resort on the Island of Phu
was an incredibly fun way to discover this beautiful
Quoc
island.
HOI AN HIGHLIGHTS Eat + Drink - Try your hand at a Vietnamese cooking class - Best spring roles in the country in our opinion
See + Do - Take a walk through the quaint town amongst all the historic buildings. - Hop on a bike and explore the countryside - Enjoy a boat trip on the river with the locals - Take a trip to the beach - Get custom clothes + shoes made - When planning make sure you have room in your suitcase to take a new wardrobe home. Also go prepared with some ideas that you would like made. They make anything for a decent price.
Phu Quoc + Freedomland
long, turquoise table lit with only string lights draped between the trees was the
We heard about a little retreat called
setting for such an evening + was a great
Freedomland on the Island of Phu Quoc
way to meet people from all over the world.
from some friends of ours who had travelled
A spectacular meal made with only local +
there the previous year.
After spending
fresh ingredients + prepared by Peter (the
almost three weeks in the business of
owner) + his staff was seriously one of the
the cities , finishing our trip on a remote
best meals we have ever had. Every night
little Island was the perfect ending to an
it's something different, and always as
amazing trip. Freedomland is a small eco
delicious as the night before. Freedomland
resort situated in the jungle with individual
would make a fantastic location for a couple
bungalows each with their own hammock
looking to have an intimate, destination
+ open air bathroom. Although it has no
wedding. If you have always dreamed of
hot water or AC, the different pace of life
getting married somewhere exotic + off the
was refreshing. The Island was very laid
beaten path you should definitely check this
back + less busy which allowed us to tour
place out.
the entire Island on a motorbike, which you could rent right from Freedomland. It
This country + its people grabbed our heart
was scary at first but once we got the hang
(and our stomachs). If you are looking for a
of it, cruising around the gorgeous Island +
trip to take this year, we highly recommend
making random stops at beaches to enjoy a
Vietnam. We rarely ever want to go back
cold drink was definitely a highlight of the
to a country we have already visited as we
entire trip. What makes Freedomland so
feel there is so much of the world we want
special is the communal dinners they put
to see. Vietnam is an exception to this rule.
on in the evenings for all their guests. One
We can't wait to go back.
see you in february for our spring issues!
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