Calgary and Kananaskis Country Wedding Photographer
Kananaskis Country and Crestmont Community Hall
Wedding Vendors
Dress – Bridal Fashion Group
Bridesmaids’ dresses – Azazie
HMUA – Devoted to you Artistry
Rings – Marlow Design
Suit – Tip Top
Venue – Crestmont Community Hall
Pastor – Trevor Peacock
Catering – Soul Kitchen BBQ
Sound System – Starlite Rentals
And the Family Members Who Helped Make this Day Possible
Flowers – Renee Klassen, with the help the bride, bride’s mom, Samantha Klassen and Jaqi Singer
DJ – Bride’s brother Alex Chester
Cake – Jaqi Singer
Arches – made by the groom
And a huge thank you to all of the wonderful friends and family who helped with setup of decorations, tables, sound and more. “We couldn’t have done it without them!”
A Note from the Photographer
I first met Taylor and Jonathan when I was shooting their friends’ wedding in Cremona. When we were planning to meet at a coffee shop to go over their wedding plans, I learnt that they live in the NW, which was super convenient since I also live in the NW. So we met for coffee and here’s how our first conversation went:
“– I’m in that neighbourhood right there.
– Us too!
– On that side. What about you?
– Us too!
– On that street.
– Us too!
– Wait what? We’re neighbours?!”
We went all the way to Cremona to meet when we live five doors down from each other! So on their wedding day, I put on my camera harness and walked five houses down to go take pictures of this stunning bride getting ready as I waved to my neighbour across the street being like “I’m going to work”!
The other thing we discussed during our first meeting — the part that was actually wedding related — was how they wanted to spend their day. They had a beautiful ceremony planned with their friends and family, but wanted something different for their bridal portraits.
Your wedding day can be anything you want it to be. These two decided that it was going to be part elopement surrounded by mountains in Kananaskis Country, part celebration with friends and family here in Calgary. And it was a perfect day.
What was the best part of your day?
I usually reserve this one for the very end of the post, but this couple gave me an amazing answer — a four part answer — so you will find bits and pieces scattered throughout!
Why did you pick this specific mountain location?
“We decided to get married and we ended up planning the wedding before getting officially engaged with a ring. We were looking at some of Val’s recommended photo spots for our engagement photos and our wedding photos. We drove around through Kananaskis and Banff and at this location we decided this is where we wanted our wedding photos. We walked around the lake, through the forest, to some lookout with benches and Jonathan was acting a little strange and seemed to be walking us around to lot more places here. It turns out that he was just trying to get away from the other hikers in the area so he could propose! After he proposed that sealed the deal of this location for us and made it even more special.”
Throwing in a little behind the scenes! When we got there, it was bright and to have the mountain landscape in the background, we needed to be facing straight into the sun. So this gorgeous six foot tall bridesmaid was the perfect person to hold my reflector as a light filter!
“One of the best parts of our wedding day was starting with photos and getting to have fun with Jonathan and our bridal party before the ceremony. I found that just having fun all together before the ceremony was really relaxing.”
“The ceremony was beautiful and having our Pastor who went through premarital counseling with us do the ceremony was even more meaningful, and just that reminder of what we were doing and committing to was so special.”
“Our Bridal party got us aprons because they know I am a crazy messy eater and we were having BBQ.”
“We loved dancing with everyone — for the forced chicken dance, which the kids kindly joined us for, the classic line dances, and just having fun with my terrible dance moves.”
Some parts of your wedding felt like an elopement and others were shared with your friends and family in a great venue. You truly made your wedding day what you wanted it to be. What is your advice to other couples as they decide how to spend their wedding day?
“I would say not to stress about the wedding — it’s one day, and as great as it is to celebrate with family and friends and to have fun together, the marriage is what’s important. So if it rains, get a little wet, if something doesn’t go as planned no one else will know. At the end of the day remember to focus on the marriage to come. Also the day will go by quick, so remember to enjoy each other and laugh together throughout the day.”
Valerie Richer Photography 