Archive | June, 2011

cabin weddings

While June 21 marks the longest day of the year, the solstice and the beginning of summer, there’s something about July that just says cabin season. Warm docks, canoes, hammocks on porches covered in shade *sigh*. Feeling nostalgic? Moi aussi – hopefully you are able to get yourself to a cabin this July.

Last summer in Salmon Arm, we stopped in to a pub for a bite and I noticed an unmistakable group of fellows. Dressed in suits with matching vests and ties, they were undoubtedly a wedding party. 6 boys, dressed in their finest, their hair all gelled, freshly shaven. So while my mother scolded them for taking tequila shots before noon and bought them a round of coffees (I’m not kidding) I got to thinking about what a dreamy setting a cabin would be for a wedding.

Surrounded by what Canada is world famous for – our beautiful landscapes – there is something incredibly romantic to me about getting married in the heart of true Canadian beauty with the people you love most in the world to watch you make a life commitment. So natural, so simple – kind of represents exactly what love really should be, doesn’t it?

There are, of course, perks to a cabin wedding – no need for décor, no need for pomp or circumstance, no obsessing if the bows on your chair covers match the table runner in the foyer. Just good food, loud music and a few great speeches. Hang lights that will have a twinkling reflection off the water, hire a local band and have your rehearsal dinner at the closest pub. No one is afraid to take their shoes off to dance at a cabin wedding.

Some great places for a cabin wedding around Southern Alberta? Most definitely Island Lake Lodge, just outside of Fernie, has a stunning backdrop for weddings (image below) with tall grass, tall trees and tall mountains. Another beauty? Emerald Lake Lodge, just outside of Field – so picturesque, they even offer an elopement package.

Island Lake Lodge
Image via Island Lake Lodge

In for something different? Why not try renting out a summer camp? A shout out to my wonderful friend Bethy May, last summer she and her fiance Jesse rented an entire summer camp in Northern Saskatchewan for the weekend. It came fully equipped with a lake, a mess hall with fully operational kitchen, accommodation (cabins) for about 60 plus water toys, fire pits, and scenic hikes. It was a gorgeous weekend – think back to any church camps you’ve driven by on road trips, or do some Googling. Perfect for a scenic cabin wedding!

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Image via leahleephotoblog.com
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Image via Intimate Weddings
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Image via Emerald Lake Lodge

go forth and wonder

So yes, lots of you girls who read this blog regularly are getting married this summer or fall. The anticipation is really starting to build, you’re getting exciting and the countdown is on. I can relate, you all know that by now. But I find it odd that I am suddenly 3 months away from my wedding – because for an entire year, my wedding has been so far in the distance, it’s been more of a curious dream than an actual event that is soon to take place. It’s like Christmas – it’s always so far away and then suddenly, it’s here!

I won’t start reflecting on the past year– please – but it did get me thinking about how I got my whole process started. Some girls just instinctively know exactly where to begin. For other girls, weddings are an overwhelming, all consuming project that everyone else seems to do so naturally – except for them. Today I decided to write a little something for our newly engaged friends out there, whether they be in a flutter of excitement or a panic with a hint of cold sweat.

What to do, where to start, how to start. It’s all fine and dandy to have 50 girls tell you to book a photographer and a venue right away but seriously – where do you even find those? I started crawling through the blog world (quel surprise) – both the big wide world and the Calgary and Alberta world. I knew that the big wide world would have lots to teach me and inspire me. But I also knew that only pros in Alberta and Calgary would know how this corner of the industry works. They know what flowers are most readily available, they know how to work the landscape, they know the managers at the venues, the set up guys from the rental place and the catering team leads. The pros in Calgary know Calgary best – and that’s where I started my hunt. And guess what? They love to share – because they just love weddings!

It’s great and important to be inspired by Style Me Pretty, The Knot, Green Wedding Shoes and Sparkle and Hay. For all of you newly engaged (congratulations!!), its just as important to get know the community that is going to help you build the most exciting day of at LEAST the next year (I hesitate to say your life, because I don’t think you’re going to peak this early). Go forth and read, snoop, wonder, dream, show, squeal, clap and email. Here are a few fab photos and a list of great professionals to warm you up a little and check out our Facebook page for a list of more great teams.

Creative Weddings and Occassions

Image via Creative Weddings and Occassions

Creative Weddings and Occasions

creativeweddingsandoccasions.com

Check out their Facebook Page here
GreatEventsGroup

Image via Great Events Group

Great Events Group

greateventsgroup.ca

Check out their Facebook Page here
Lavish Event Mngmt & Design

Image Via Lavish Event Management & Design

Lavish Event Management & Design

lavisheventdesign.com

Check out their Facebook Page here
LFW WF

Image via Lynn Fletcher Weddings

Lynn Fletcher Weddings

lynnfletcherweddings.com

Check out their Facebook Page here
The Wedding Planner

Image via The Wedding Planner

The Wedding Planner

askaweddingplanner.com

Check out their Facebook Page here

simple shimmer: Jim Hjelm Bridal

You hear it all the time – brides who want to look different than everybody else. When I first started dress shopping, I was one of those brides – I think I was on the conservative side of that, but I definitely felt a pang of unease when I thought about wearing a fitted strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. As we all do, I suffered from a few bouts of I want to be different, as well as I don’t want my dress to look dated, what if I pick the wrong dress and I don’t want people to think I’m crazy for picking a wedding dress with a skirt made of paper mache. I know.

But of course, there came a time that I simply got over it. It was when my mumsies said to me “Alix, it doesn’t matter what you style of dress you wear. They all look beautiful – what do you want to wear?” It was like her words unlocked a magic door to bridal sanity because as soon as I started looking at it that way, things got a lot easier. Every dress will date, every guest will gasp at your beauty and every single bride is different. What do I want to wear? Do I love 12 foot trains? Do I love a lace floral pattern? Do I love more crystal than necessary? Needless to say, my dress does not have a paper mache skirt.

So in the spirit of looking different, I have to tell you that I have simply fallen in love with Jim Hjelm bridal. I LOVE these skirts. The delicate petals make the skirt move in a whole different way. Fabric petals like these are actually a great way to add some very subtle shimmer to your dress. There is clearly little to no bling on these dresses, but as you move and walk, the petals move indirectly and independently from each other. With that, they will catch and reflect just a touch of light to give the illusion of sparkle. Think of it almost like a water fall – the smaller the petal, the more the shimmer effect. Want to really see what I mean? Check out the runway show that features this collection right here.

Obviously, Jim is smart. He has designed five gowns that will give off this effect, but the gowns come in three different styles as not to limit any bride. Below you’ll see two ball gowns, two trumpets and a classic (and stunning!) A-line. He has given Calgary brides the option  – because how many times do you see a little something on a wedding dress and you love it, until you pull it off the rack and realize that it in the exact opposite style you were hoping to wear?

My recommendation? Try one on – just for bridey kicks. You can find Jim Hjelm designs at the Calgary wedding dress shop Cameo & Cufflinks at Dalhousie Station in the North West.  After all, how can you know you don’t want to wear it until you’ve tried it on?

 

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