Whitehorse newlyweds overwhelmed with love at Halifax Pride Parade
'People were just cheering, saying congratulations, getting pictures,' says Tamara Boiteau
When the wedding photographers for Nicole Merrick and Tamara Boiteau suggested they go down to the Pride parade in Halifax on Saturday to shoot some photos, Merrick wasn't sure if she was up for the idea.
She says she's a bit of a private person and she'd never been to a Pride parade before.
"I didn't really know what the reception would be like from others," she said.
As it turned out, the decision was a great one as the couple were showered with love and attention.
"People were just cheering, saying congratulations, getting pictures. It was amazing and completely heartfelt," said Boiteau.
People taking part in the parade even got in on the action, taking photos of the couple and giving high-fives, beads and hats to them.
A video of the two posted on the CBC Nova Scotia Facebook page has been viewed more than 70,000 times.
The couple live in Whitehorse, but first met when they were students in the education program at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S.
The two decided about a year and a half ago to get married on July 23, 2016, but they had no idea it was going to coincide with the Pride parade.
"Friends of ours were commenting how awesome it is that we planned to have our wedding on the same day as the Pride parade and Tamara and I were like, 'We didn't plan that,'" said Merrick.
In fact, the two only had the realization a few days before the ceremony.
The two were married Saturday afternoon at CFB Stadacona's Juno Tower.
The only damper on the day was their florist got the day mixed up and as a result, the couple didn't have flowers for their wedding, but that didn't ruin the day for them.
"It was the most magical day," said Boiteau.