REAL STORIES FROM REAL Couples
Katie & Brandon
It was a gorgeous day in Banff, AB and you could tell that something was happening. Buffalo Mountain Lodge was buzzing (and it wasn’t just the bees outside). As the rentals, cake, and decor all filtered into the hall, the ladies shuffled into the bridal suite to get ready.
Katie, her mom, and the maid of honor shared a special quiet moment before everyone came in to greet them. Leah quickly came in to get a quick debrief before tucking herself away in the hall to prepare for the day and set up the tables for later. Napkins here, candles there, everything was coming together. Onto the ceremony!
Set with mountains in the background, Leah (with the help of the amazing Buffalo Moutain Lodge team) framed the small ceremony space with a ground flower arch. With some intimate and custom additions, Brandon met Katie at the end of the aisle with the outpouring of love and support from their family (who by the way came all the way from California!!!).
As things wrapped up and photos were taken with family, Leah quickly headed back to the hall to repurpose Katie’s arch flowers on her tables. With the champagne tower set, the custom dog cake-topper set. Leah snuck away for the bride and groom and their family to celebrate into the evening.
Jamie & Mike
Jamie and Mike have been together for a long time so this wedding has definitely been a long-time coming!
Tucked away into the mountains outside of Canmore, the Day of Details team has started their unloading of all their supplies (and flowers) from their cars. The sun is shining and it couldn’t have been a nicer day for a wedding. Spreading the greenery amoungst their tables, securing more greenery to the ceremony aisle chairs, and lighting the hundreds of candles around the hall, plans are coming together!
The musician arrives and starts warming up in the gazebo, adding a level of anticipation for the big event.
As guests arrive, Jamie quickly sneaks into the main building. Leah meets with the rest of the wedding party, walking them through the timing and what to do once they get to the end of the aisle. Making sure that Jamie is good to go (and ensuring her viel is secure as well), the music starts and the groomsmen start down the wooden walkway.
The weather suddenly shifts and there are now looming dark clouds in the back and the smell of rain is in the air.
Once Mike is safely down the aisle, Jamie and her father come out and also start down the aisle. But as she walks through the door, seeing Mike waiting for her, a thunderous BOOM of thunder echos all around. You can tell everyone loves it and just makes the space more electrified (punn intended?).
Cailee & Dario
It was already a hot day in June and Cailee and her parents took in the peacefullness of Bearspaw before the craziness of the day set in. Clouds were rolling in so rain looked inevitable. But that wouldn’t stop us, the day, or celebration to come!
We all had planned for this possibility and made the decision to bring the ceremony inside with the picturesque backdrop still there...not hard to do in a place like this.
Tables were set, chairs were lined up (yes, the rain had stared)...and Cailee and Dario made their way to a small tree grove at the bottom of the hill. There, Dario saw his bride for the first time. They took this small moment just the two of them while Cailee’s mother looked on lovingly from the club house above.
A short while later, surrounded by family and friends, Cailee and Dario said their ‘I dos’.
With a quick transformation, the rows of chairs disappeared and 12 tables all neatly set with bud vases and black napkins took shape. On each table setting, a hand-made time capsul message was placed for each guest to write down their well-wishes and congratulations to the happy couple. But the custom details didn’t stop there, from the welcome sign to the hand-written thank you notes, they made this day their own. They even had the popular ‘shoe game’ at their reception, only it wasn’t shoes they put up, but their own personalized drinks (of which they had to drink from when they got a question wrong)!
Despite the rain, it really was the perfect day.
Nicole & Joel
Nestled in the stunning mountains of Fernie, BC, the Elk View Lodge bustles with activity. Nicole and Joel’s friends and family all drove out a few days early to take in the sites and get the lodge ready for their much-anticipated wedding!
With a large reception area in the back, tables are being rolled in and decor is being unboxed. Soon, things are a mess. Good thing the pizza has arrived. They all gather around, what is soon going to be the head table and chow down on a much-needed slice and refreshing beer.
The next morning, things are a flurry! As Nicole gets ready upstairs with her bridesmaids, the catering company arrives and settles into the kitchen. Next thing you know the officiant, the florist, and the cake baker all show up. With an organized hand, Leah swoops in and easily directs everyone to where they need to go. Then the guests start arriving! Leah ushers them upstairs to the loft where the ceremony is set to take place, while secretly escorting Nicole, her wedding party, and her dad, downstairs (making sure that Joel doesn’t see her)!
The music starts playing and slowly but surely, each bridesmaid and groomsman slowly ascend the stairs followed by Nicole and her Dad; while Leah quietly and discreetly follows behind her, fluffing her train as she walks up. The ceremony is simple with a few laughs, especially one where her maid of honor accidentally almost marries Nicole by nearly singing the certificate in the wrong place!
Afterward, everyone filters outside for photos while Leah and a group of helpers, light the candles for the reception and fix all the last remaining details.
As everyone finds their seats a few short hours later, one can’t help but feel the excitement for the party and marriage ahead.
