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WHATI/LAC LA MARTRE - With our Northern summer clearly making its inevitable turn towards the finish line, folks are scrambling to get all of the events in they can before cold nights again replace warm days.

Newlyweds Joanne (Champlain) and Matthew Reed - as well as their two-year-old daughter Leah - are seen here days before their wedding in Whati. - John Curran/NNSL photo

Nowhere is that more true than Whati, where four sets of brides and grooms all got married over the course of a weekend earlier this month.

"Everything was wonderful with the weddings," said Shirley Beaverho.

The couples included Gary Nitsiza and Leona Flunkie, Curtis Rabesca and Holly Smith, Elvis Kotchilea and Loreen Beaverho, as well as Matthew Reed and Joanne Champlain, she added.

Reed and Champlain have been together for about 4.5 years now and have a two-year-old daughter, Leah, and another child on the way.

"It's so nice to finally bring everyone together for a celebration like this," said Champlain.

It was hectic leading up to their wedding.

"There's so much to do," the anxious bride told News/North NWT a few days before her ceremony.

They chose Whati for their wedding, because it's where Champlain is from - though nowadays the couple calls Fort Smith home.

Reed's parents also made the trip to Whati from the Ottawa area to share in the occasion.

"This is our first time getting to see Joanne's (Champlain) home," said Susan Reed, Matthew's mother. "It's amazing having a wedding in a place like Whati because the community gets so involved in the process - a group of us are baking the cake later."

For Matthew's father, Don Reed, the wedding was a special time made even more memorable by the surroundings and friendly new family members. He also ended up with an extra duty he never expected.

"I get to be the best man at my son's wedding," he said. "Some of the ladies in town even made me a beautiful vest to wear for the ceremony."