The Most Beautiful Canadian Wedding Photography You’ll Ever See

With the arrival of spring (finally!), we know that wedding season is just around the corner. So many details go into planning a wedding: the perfect dress, amazing food, gorgeous flowers, thoughtful invitations, meaningful vows, stunning (yet delicious) cake…the list can seem endless. Luckily, with some of the most stunning scenery on the planet, beautiful wedding photos are one thing we don’t have to worry too much about around here. Here are some incredibly beautiful Canadian wedding photos we found!

1. Cottage Country

Here’s a gorgeous shot of a quintessential Muskoka Cottage Country wedding. We hope it was at the beginning of the summer, because the guests probably wanted to stay well into September.

2. Alberta Tranquility

A moment of quiet beauty was captured in this unexpected wedding photo, shot just outside Calgary.

3. Romantic Kootenay Adventure

Hats off to this brave BC bride who looks like she’ll do whatever it takes to get a great wedding shot.

4. Beauty at Banff Springs

After celebrating their nuptials in a modern, Western style, this Korean-Canadian couple chose to include a traditional element in their wedding to pay respect to their families and customs, and their photos captured both colourful traditions beautifully.

5. Banff Beauty, pt II

As one of the most beautiful places on earth, Banff is a common locale for weddings, and this gorgeous couple certainly took full advantage of the ready-made scenery for this epic wedding shot.

6. Two Sara(h)s in Ontario

The Fanshawe Conservation Area near London, Ontario is the perfect location for an outdoor wedding, and these beaming brides undoubtedly got a ton of beautiful photos here.

Do you have a jaw-dropping Canadian wedding photo you think the world should see? Share it with us in the comments!

Here’s Why Countless Canadians Trust Us with Their Photos

Welcome to the London Drugs Photolab!

With over 35 years of photofinishing experience, the London Drugs Photolab can help you to preserve your memories and bring your photos to life. Our Photolab provides a wide variety of prints and personalized gifting products to creatively share your best photos, from photo books and mugs, to fine art prints and so much more.

Our experienced Photolab Technicians are dedicated to producing the highest quality photofinishing products, as well as offering Photolab services including film processing, scanning, and digital restoration: all using state-of-the-art equipment.

Why trust us with your photos? Watch the video to see how our LDExperts Nikki and Dave have built trusting relationships with their Photolab customers. Or just ask the countless Canadians – families and photographers alike – who already trust us with their photos!

Visit the London Drugs Photolab online or in-store to start creating something unique with your photos, or download our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android. We can ship to your local London Drugs for pick-up, or deliver anywhere in Canada.

4 Unique Father’s Day Gifts for a One-of-a-Kind Dad

Father’s Day is quickly approaching and you want to gift Dad something extra special this year. But where to start? A sure way to impress is to gift him something from the heart. Our Photolab Experts suggest creating a personalized gift that shows you put time and thought into it. From cards to beer steins, we have a few creative and customizable gift ideas up our sleeves that Dad will love.

Father’s Day Cards

Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to tell dad just how grateful you are to have him in your life. So why not say it with photos? Create a completely personalized Father’s Day card with your own photos, to show him just how many special moments you’ve cherished together.

You can even choose from our wide variety of Father’s Day-themed card templates. Does he love baseball or golf? We have designs for those and much more. As always, our cards also come in an assortment of styles and papers, so you can make your Father’s Day card one-of-a-kind—just like Dad!

Father’s Day Photo Mug

You know Dad needs his ‘jet fuel’ every morning, so why not gift him a personalized photo mug to sip on his favourite brewed coffee? We have designer mugs, espresso mugs, latte mugs—even a special designer magic mug, which only reveals your hidden design when hot liquid is added.

If you’re helping the kids with their Father’s Day gift, our Photolab Experts suggest adding an extra special touch, using their own artwork! Make it a fun DIY project at home, then scan their hand-drawn images and upload them to our Photolab website, or we can help you scan them in-store. Then just simply add their scanned artwork to any of our mugs! Will it make dad tear up? We think it just might.

Father’s Day Beer Stein

Or if beer is more dad’s style, we have a feeling he’s going to be very excited to give this new gift a try. Our designer beer stein can be personalized with Father’s Day-themed templates and your own photos and text, to create a special keepsake he’ll love to use.

Instagram Photobook

You and dad have shared so many special memories together. You’ve posted a lot of them on your Instagram, but if dad isn’t the most tech-savvy, he may not have had the chance to see them. Show him how much you’ve treasured those times together by whipping up an Instagram photobook of your best square snapshots. He’ll appreciate having a hard copy he can flip through and cherish for years to come.


Remember: our Photolab Experts are always here to help you with your photo gifts. Just visit us at your local London Drugs! Or, if you’re ready to go, you can start personalizing your Father’s Day gift on our Photolab website, at any of our in-store Photolab kiosks, or using our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android.

Grad 2018: Preserve Your Graduation Memories

As the school year comes to a close, many graduates begin to look forward to the end of classes, graduation festivities, and the future ahead. Graduating is an incredible milestone – one that often takes a great deal of blood, sweat and literal tears (and perhaps some sleepless nights studying) to get there. And all of that hard work culminates in that special moment when you – or your child – walks across that stage in their cap and gown. It’s a moment that is most certainly worth preserving.

 

Graduation Cards

This special milestone is only made better by being able to celebrate it with your closest family and friends. Invite them to attend your graduation, or your graduation party or dinner, with personalized graduation cards.

To start creating your own unique grad cards, choose from flat or folded, single or double-sided cards, and our selection of specialty papers. Then browse our large selection of graduation-themed templates. Lastly, add some personalization with a photo and the details of your graduation celebration.

To preserve this special date, keep one of your grad cards tucked away for yourself that can be added to a scrapbook or memory box. It’ll be a special moment you can look back on years from now!

As a parent of a graduate, you may want to customize your own graduation announcement cards. Is there really anything better than bragging about your kids’ accomplishments? These certainly help. Personalize them with photos of your proud graduate and a personal message that you can hand out or mail to family and friends.

 

Prints & Enlargements

The day of graduation, you’ll likely be snapping a lot of photos, whether it’s using your smartphone, a point-and-shoot, or DSLR. Luckily, with the help of our new London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android, you can order prints of your favourite graduation pics right from your smartphone – or upload your photos to our Photolab website or in-store kiosks. While digital photos are great, for special milestones like graduation, it’s always best to have some hard copies – even if they’re just as a backup.

You can also share this academic achievement with all of your family, near and far, by sending them a few copies of your graduation photos. You know grandma is going to love showing off her super smart grandchildren to anyone who will listen, after all. We ship across Canada, so you can even send them your graduation prints directly when you place your order with our Photolab.

If you had professional graduation portraits taken, we can also create beautiful prints of those images. Order prints or enlargements you can frame, or a fine art print like our aluminum metal panels. We even offer graduation-themed collage templates for our aluminum metal panels, so you can customize a unique and treasured graduation keepsake to hang on your walls.

 

Graduation Photobooks

When there’s just too many great photos to choose a favourite, a photobook is a great way to preserve all the best moments from graduation day. We even have special themed grad templates so you can just pop in your photos, add text, and voilà! You have a beautiful, professionally printed photobook you can keep front and center on your coffee table.

Need a little help getting started? Speak with one of our Photolab Experts at your local London Drugs! Or, you can make your graduation print order through our Photolab website, at any of our in-store Photolab kiosks, or using our London Drugs Photolab App for iOS and Android.

Become a Featured Photographer in the London Drugs Photolab’s Local Inspirations Artist Gallery

At London Drugs, we are committed to being involved in the communities we serve. Our London Drugs Photolab Experts have a true passion for photography, and enjoy any opportunity to celebrate artists in our local photography community. From the Capture Photography Festival to the Local Inspirations Artist Gallery program, we aim to support photographers in many ways, in an effort to share the joy of photography.

Local Inspirations Artist Gallery, featuring local photographer Yuji S.

The Local Inspirations Artist Gallery program is an ongoing company-wide celebration of photography at the community level. The photographer’s work is featured in a gallery at the artist’s local London Drugs, professionally printed by our London Drugs Photolab Technicians, using state-of-the-art printing equipment. The gallery is a platform for local photographers and artists to showcase their work to others in the community, while also helping them gain new clients and grow their business.

Yuji S. is one of our Local Inspirations-featured photographers, whose images are currently on display at our Broadway & Vine store. Yuji is a stock photography contributor for Getty Images, and enjoys taking photos of animals, people and nature. He uses our London Drugs Photolab for all of his printing and custom created photo gifts, so naturally Yuji knew the Photolab would be a great place to showcase his favourite prints! For those interested in purchasing one of Yuji’s prints, they can contact him at: yuji@ysphotography.ca.

If you wish to be featured in an upcoming gallery, visit your local London Drugs Photolab for details about showcasing your work and becoming a local inspiration to others.

HEPA Air Purifier Contest

The Honeywell® True HEPA Allergen Remover is designed for large rooms.  Honeywell Air Purifiers are the #1 brand recommended by Allergists.3 This console air purifier will provide cleaner, fresher air in larger rooms while still looking sleek and not taking up too much space.  The True HEPA filter effectively captures up to 99.97% of microscopic allergens as small as 0.3 microns.1  It also features an auto VOC sensor that operates the air purifier automatically. The highly effective filters help reduce odors, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and certain germs.1,2

Your Bluetooth® Smart v4.0 compatible iPhone® or Android™ device can be used as a remote control for your air purifier. You can operate your air purifier from another room in your home within 30 feet of the Bluetooth® Smart device. The App also offers additional features not available on any standard air purifiers, such as proximity sensing for auto shut-off/turn on, air quality alerts and auto-operation based on conditions in your zip code and operation scheduling.  Simply download the free App to your compatible mobile device.

How the air purifier works:  a fan continuously draws in airborne pollutants.  The dirty air passes through the activated carbon pre-filter that traps large particles and absorbs VOCs, gases and odors.  The air then passes through the HEPA filter that captures the really small particles, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, mold spores and more.  The filtered, cleaner and fresher smelling air is then circulated back into the room.

Together with Honeywell, we’re excited to be giving away one Honeywell True HEPA Air Purifier with Bluetooth! See below for full Terms & Conditions and how to enter.

 

 

London Drugs Facebook Contest Terms & Conditions

To enter: Comment with how an air purifier would benefit your family on the Honeywell HEPA Air Purifier Contest Facebook post.

Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since June 1st, 2017; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as of June 1st, 2018; (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per person per social network per contest. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 PM Pacific Time on June 15th, 2018. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.

One (1) winner will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must correctly answer a skill-testing mathematical question and must sign London Drugs’ declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

There will be one (1) prize of one Honeywell Bluetooth HEPA Air Purifier ($299.99). See details and contest date below. Prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. Prizes will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to contest winners.

Contest date – Friday, June 1st, 2018 – Friday, June 15th, 2018, 11:59 PM Pacific Time

Draw date – Monday, June 18th, 2018

Only one prize may be won by any one person and household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.

Selected winners will be contacted by email or on the social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winners do not respond then they will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winners still do not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

London Drugs and their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs, an independent judging organization, and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use, and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice, and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

 

References

  1. From the air that passes through the filter, 0.3 microns and larger
  2. Based on independent testing report 100954017COL-001
  3. Based on the Nov. 2014 Cascade Survey Research results reporting 80 out of 84 (95%) surveyed Allergists that recommend a brand of portable air purifiers to their patients, recommend “Honeywell” air purifiers.

Thumbs up for my new Ninja Pro-Touch Blender

My new Ninja Pro-Touch Blender fresh out of the box. It also comes with a large smoothie cup.

I love to make smoothies but I’ve never had a blender that could properly mix them up without leaving me with lumps, or doing that thing where the blades are spinning but everything is sitting on top so nothing is getting mixed up. So frustrating!

I realized it was time to do something about this so I bought the Ninja Pro Touch Blender hoping that it might be the solution to our half-mixed smoothies. As soon as I saw the spiral blade that ran right up through the jar I couldn’t wait to put it to the test. I packed it up with all of my favourite ingredients and watched it spin that smoothie into perfection. But my 21-year old son decided to put it to the real test. He and his friends (who are all track athletes for university) had come up with this protein rich concoction that they love but haven’t been able to mix properly so we decided to give it a try in my new Ninja.

Tyler’s Marathon Smoothie

  • 1 banana
  • 1 cup of fresh spinach
  • 1 large scoop of vanilla protein powder
  • 1 cup of natural peanut butter
  • 1 – 2 cups of frozen blueberries
  • 1 cup of yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon of natural honey
  • ice cubes
  • apple juice

Now this recipe is pretty thick and it will burn out a blender pretty quickly but we threw all of the ingredients in and watched it mix up in one shot. No need to stop and push ingredients around. The Ninja mixed it up beautifully. While this mix of ingredients may sound less than mouth-watering, it actually tastes pretty good. And if you’re planning to run 30 km a day like my son and his friends, then it’s just what you need!

However, I don’t run all day and I also really don’t enjoy cooking that much so when I do cook I like to make large batches so it lasts awhile. Recently I switched to a plant-based diet (much to the dismay of my family of boys who are all hard-core meat-etarians) and I have been playing with some great soup recipes that fill me up while still feeling like comfort-food. One of my favourites is a cream of broccoli soup that uses cashews as the cream base. So I fired up my Ninja and decided to whip up a new batch of soup. One of the things I really love is that it has a much bigger jar than any of the previous blenders I’ve used. It has a 9-cup capacity so when it came time to put all of the ingredients into the blender and cream them up I could do it in larger and less batches.

All-in-all I would say that my new Ninja Pro-Touch Blender is a huge hit in our home. It’s powerful, easy to use and the spiral blade makes mixing so much easier. Thumbs up!!

Cream of broccoli soup

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 onions chopped up
  • 2 celery stalks chopped
  • 2-3 carrots chopped
  • 3-4 garlic cloves minced
  • 7 cups of broccoli chopped
  • 6 cups hot water
  • salt to taste

Soak cashews in 1 cup hot water for 15 minutes
In large pot saute onions in olive oil over medium heat
Add celery and carrots and stir for 5 minutes
Add garlic and broccoli and stir for another 5 minutes
Add 5 cups of boiling water. Bring to a boil
Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes, covered
put cashews and water into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour out into bowl and then add the rest of your soup to the blender in batches and puree until smooth. Mix with the cashew cream. Add salt to taste.
I like to add a few roasted cashews when I serve the soup for a little crunch.

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