From the Bride…

Before the Ring:
Jordan and I grew up in a small town and had known of each other in high school but we both had different groups of friends and interests. In 2011 I was waitressing at a local pub and Jordan would come in after work sometimes with his coworkers. After a while, I began to notice he was coming in more often and would sit in my section every chance he could. We started talking a lot and getting to know each other, and he would pick me up early in the mornings after my shift ended. He would sit with me while I did my cash out then drive me home. We started dating shortly after.

The Proposal Story:
Jordan proposed end of August 2014 while we were camping with friends. We had recently purchased a side by side and were about to head out quadding for the day when Jordan asked me to put the registration in the glove box. As I opened the glove box, a gorgeous ring was sitting inside. I was so shocked! He got down on one knee and asked if I would spend the rest of my life with him as his wife and I said yes right away! He was so nervous that he was shaking and we had a good laugh about it afterwards.

Photographer:  Melanie Bennett Photography / Cake Designer: cake affair / Reception Venue: Clymont Hall / Bridesmaid Dresses: Davids Bridal / Makeup Artist: Melissa Bell Makeup Artistry / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

Photographer: Joanna Moss Photography / Dress Store: Isabelle’s Bridal / Hair Stylist: Jen Mathison – Aisle Hair / Design and Decor: Jevents Planning & Design / Cake Designer: Kelly’s Cakery / Makeup Artist: Tarah Kostenko Makeup Artistry / Other: The Cross Decor & Design / Floral Designer: Vivio FLowers / Other Location: Whytecliff Park / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

From the Bride…

Before the Ring:
Phil and I met through friends at a local bar, went on a date the next weekend and have been together ever since!

The Proposal:
He proposed at these beautiful falls on the French River, what I thought was a normal walk with our dog Poe ended with Phil down on one knee with my dream ring. It was simple and sweet – exactly how I imagined it. We actually got married just down the road from where he proposed, at his parents’ house just over a year later!

Details of the Day:
I had a lot of inspiration for the wedding but it all started with me falling in love with a retro pastel color scheme. I also got inspired by vintage thrift store finds, wedding blogs which featured amazing vintage weddings and ideas, and the beautiful French River where both the ceremony and reception was held.

As for the invitations, programs and table numbers, I had a vision of what I wanted and my friend Kaitlyn Morrow did a wonderful job designing them and putting them all together!

Photographer: Caroline Ross Photography / Floral Designer: Fleures Magiques Flowers  / Wedding Dress:  Ascher by Maggie Sottero / Purchased Dress from: Blissful Bridal Boutique / Bridesmaid Dresses: unique-vintage.com / DJ: Best of Times DJ / Event Venue: Groom’s Parents’ House / Tables, Chairs, Linens, Tent: Pete’s Party & Tent Rentall / Caterer: Classic Catering 

Photography: Melanie Bennett Photography / Concept + Styling: Melanie Bennett Photography & Rhonda Mayer / Bouquet + Centerpiece + Table Runner: Valley House of Flowers / Veil: Michal Designs / Makeup: Morgan Bailey / Hair: Camille Weston / Linens + Candelabras + Wood Chargers: The Flower Farm / Stationary: AJ’s Craft Creations / Dessert Table & Sign: The Peppermint Hen / Cake: Lindsey’s Cupcakes and Cakes / Bakery: Rocky Mountain Chocolates / Dining Table: The Country Barn / Assistants: Greg Bennett and Brandon Mayer / Models: Kayla and Mitch Boucher

From the Bride…

Nima and I got to know about each other when we were continents apart. Waiting to meet one another was just as exciting as the first date when I truly felt like I had met my soul mate. I was jet-lagged the first day I got back to Vancouver and he was about to go on vacation the next day but that didn’t stop us from meeting each other. Our love was born that day and it blossomed every day when I looked at the incredible comfort and peace in his eyes. Our life blossomed with every connection we established through our experiences together.  He gave me my “rock” on top of the Rockies in Banff on my birthday. Every day from the first day I met him has been a blessing and I cannot wait to feel blessed with his love and affection for the rest of this gorgeous thing we call, life. A life as breathtakingly beautiful as a cherry blossom on a beautiful spring day.

Photographer: Maru Photography / Venue: Vancouver

Photography: Bonnallie Brodeur Photographes / Ceremony and Reception: Haut Bois Normand / Catering: La Meute / All Other Details were DIY

From the Bride…

Before the Ring:
Vic and I met in Nishinomiya, Japan (a city in Kansai, btw Osaka and Kobe) in 2005. We’ve been together now for about 8 years, and actually met there as part of a university exchange program at Kwansei Gakuin University. We were both Canadians at the same “sister school” in Japan, although we were from different parts of Canada and attended different universities in Canada on opposite coasts of the country. He was a student from UBC, as he grew up here in BC, but I was born and raised in Ontario and was attending a school in New Brunswick from which I went on the exchange. Anyways, it was totally by chance that we met and fell in love in Japan, and continued our relationship when we returned to Canada, even though it meant doing a long-distance relationship for the final year of our undergrad degrees, before I decided to move out to BC upon graduation, so that we could be together.

The Proposal Story:
The proposal is kind of a funny story. You see, since we were together for such a long time before getting engaged or married, we had discussed it many times but we wanted to be financially stable first, with jobs and have a place of our own to call home. So, we bought a home together first, and then he knew I had a very specific idea of what I wanted for a wedding ring, and since I am a fine artist for a living, I actually designed my own engagement ring. Basically, I drew it up, and had my family jeweller in Ontario make it (Italian families tend to work with one jeweller for generations). My parents came out to BC for a visit from Ontario, and my Dad stealthily gave the ring to Vic to put into safekeeping and out of my sight until the time was right. Of course, I knew the entire time that it was hidden somewhere in our house. Anyways, it took him almost 2.5 months from that point until he finally found the right way and right time to propose…We went for a walk at UBC Japanese Gardens one day, and sat down by a really lovely koi pond. And then he opened up his knapsack and started pulling out photos of when we met in Japan, reminiscing about our first fond memories as a couple. I noticed his hands shaking, and that he was purposely distracting me to look at the photos and not at his fumbling hands, searching for the ring box in his bag. A minute later, he got on one knee, with tears in his eyes and a shaky voice, and he asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes and started crying like a baby.

Wedding Day Inspiration:
In terms of inspiration, we both wanted something simple but classically elegant. He’s really fond of the eggplant purple color we chose to incorporate, and I thought it would work really well with the royal blue accents and bright green. Originally, we hoped to keep the whole wedding to a simple, small event here in BC and another small event in Ontario for my extended family, all of whom would not be able to attend out here. But, in the end, it somehow turned into 3 full-on receptions, a MUCH bigger wedding than we anticipated. Our event on the Sunshine Coast, at the West Coast Wilderness Lodge in Egmont was our smallest event of the 3. There were 30 people at the ceremony and reception, and although we ended up having 2 huge receptions after that day, the event at the lodge was the low-key and elegant event we had initially hoped to do. The weather was stunning, and my dress had the classic and timeless appeal I wanted – something I can look back on in photos 20 years from now and still think is beautiful. So, I’ll never have one of those “What was I thinking?!” moments. We really wanted to have a focus on nature, and since I grew up in Ontario, and my family had a cottage near Muskoka all while I was growing up, the lodge immediately resonated with me, like a place I could almost call a home away from home, and it just felt “right.” The food was fabulous, the staff was friendly, and the lodge itself was immaculate. It couldn’t have been more perfect as a venue choice.

Photography: Modern Romance Productions, Inc / Venue: West Coast Wilderness lodge / Flowers: Les Fleurs de Fi / Hair: Tara Porter of Hair Matters / Makeup: Christina Visser / Seaplane: Harbour Air / Wedding Commissioner: Andrew Barker, retired RCMP Chaplain / cake: Clayton’s Bakery

Photography: Milton Photography / Reception Venue: Miner’s Union Hall / Dress: from Your Wedding Place in Red Deer / Hair: Jordanna from JK Hair Designs / Makeup: Maisie McClure / Décor: DIY by bride’s parents and some bought and upcycled from other brides / Cupcakes: The Sweet Side / Rentals: Chairs from Special Event Rentals Banff, Linens from Trend Events in Blackfalds / Balloon Guestbook: Free printable from Wedding Chicks

From the Bride…

Details of the Day:
After we had decided on the theme, everything else flowed out of it. Instead of going for the vintage book-feel, we decided on a timeless and classic elegance. Candles were, then, an easy decision. We wanted them everywhere. They lit up our wedding ceremony, lining the aisles and the stage, as well as highlighting all of our reception centerpieces and guestbook table.

We wanted navy and grey for the wedding party, the perfect colors for an elegant day. Although I wanted each of the bridesmaids in the same color and fabric, they each got to choose their own style of dress, and I loved how all of the dresses came together. On top of the navy and grey, we had several red accents throughout the wedding decorations. One such decoration was the globe that we had guests sign as part of the guestbook. Both Tim and I love to travel, and we thought it would be a perfect added touch to the color-scheme while also telling our guests a bit about who we are as a couple.

I have to take a moment to admit that this day would not have been what it was without Pinterest. Almost every idea that I had either originated from or became a reality because of the things that I found on Pinterest. I would recommend it to any bride looking for ideas and inspiration.

Photographer:  Vanessa Voth Photography / Dress Store:David’s Bridal / Event Planner:memorymaker events / Reception Venue: Eaglequest Coyote Creek Golf Course / Makeup Artist: Mink Makeup & Hair / Dress Designer: Sottero and Midgley / Dress Designer: Vera Wang / Invitation Designer: Wedding Paper Divas / Submitted via Two Bright Lights

From the Bride…

The Proposal Story:
We went hiking in Jasper and had hiked all the way up to the top of a mountain. Chris had the ring the whole time, and seemed to be acting kind of funny but I didn’t think too much of it. He kept wanting to look at different spots and none of them were quite “perfect” enough (later he told me he was worried I’d faint and fall down the mountain haha). As we were hiking back down the mountain he told me he wanted to stop “at that beautiful lake we passed,” so we did but when we arrived and it was raining! He said he still wanted to walk down to the lake. As we walked down he slipped in the mud! So he went down to the water to wash his muddy hands and the next thing I knew he was down on one knee : )  Oh and did I mention the rain stopped at that very moment!? And the sun came out! It was magical and perfect.

Most memorable moment/s from the Wedding Day:
Honestly I couldn’t pin point one… the whole day was perfect and we couldn’t have asked for anything more! 

Advice to Couples in the Planning Process:
Don’t stress : ) I planned our wedding in just three months! I really lucked out on my dress which helped, but I just didn’t worry about crazy details. I went with my gut and hammered it all out and it was perfect. I don’t think I was stressed out even once. All that matters is that you are married at the end of the day and nobody got hurt. 

Photography: Photography by Ginevre / Venue: The Delta Lodge at Kananaskis / Dress: Vera Wang / Hair + Makeup: Finding Forever After (Calgary) / Flowers: Elements Floral (Canmore) / Décor + Planning: Bride / Cake: Whippt Desserts & Catering (Calgary)