Calgary Wedding Photographer
Folk Tree Lodge, Bragg Creek
Wedding Vendors
Venue – Folk Tree Lodge
HMUA – Devoted to You Artistry
Silk Florals – Kochetova
Dress – Cameo and Cufflinks
Suit – Black Knight
Officiant – Jane Patterson, JP Weddings
Veil Cape – Etsy
Bridesmaids Dresses – Azazie
Rings – Etsy
A Note from the Photographer
Capturing C + J’s Rustic Elegance at Folk Tree Lodge
Folk Tree Lodge on that rainy fall day set the perfect setting for a magical wedding, with its rustic log cabins, warm oranges and yellows, and wide open fields.
It was a very relaxed morning — my arrival may have disturbed the guys who were having a chill morning and had not realized it was that time!
After hanging out with the groom, I headed back to the ladies, where rustic met elegance and timelessness.
The bride’s mother helped her into her gown and added the final touch with a breathtaking cathedral length cape veil covered in pearls. It was a photographer’s dream. It completed the perfect canvas for creative portraits and editorial shots that would capture their love.
C + J had told me during their engagement session that touch is their love language, and it radiated through every moment we captured together. They embraced the day with open hearts, fully trusting in the creative process, and allowing me to document their journey in a way that was both genuine and intimate.
Images that truly reflect their connection.
We see it in every glance, every touch, and every smile.
The wedding day was intimate, with only a few friends and family joining them. But this was just the beginning. They hosted a larger gathering over the weekend, turning their wedding into a multi-day event that reflected who they are as a couple, reminding us that a wedding can be anything you want it to be!
Their connection was real, their trust unwavering, and their love, present in every frame.
What made Folk Tree Lodge the perfect venue for your intimate wedding?
“The atmosphere was calm and welcoming and gave us the ability to create memories with our loved ones in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature. It was an escape from the hustle and bustle of regular life. It felt like the perfect oasis! We loved that we could host our loved ones while not stressing about people getting to and from the ceremony.”
Your cathedral length pearl adorned cape veil. So. Beautiful. Absolutely perfect for editorial and creative portraits. I’m in love.
That’s a statement and not a question.
Here comes the question.
How did you feel the first time you tried it on?
“I was dress shopping with my mom when I found the dress. We had gotten to the part where they put a veil in your hair to make it all real. I had seen some beautiful photos of veil capes on Pinterest and wanted to try one on. Grace, my dress consultant, took two cathedral veils and pinned them to my straps… I can’t describe the feeling. It was euphoric, more than everything I had ever imagined. My mom wasn’t quite sold and wanted me to try on a hair veil. 0.3 seconds after Grace pinned the veil in my hair, my mom told her to take it out and put the make-shift cape back on. Jeryd has always called me his Queen and that’s exactly how I felt marrying my King.”
Courtney, what was your favourite part of your wedding day?
“Our first look; I had called to tell you to get your butt outside so we could do our first look and I saw you pacing on the grass right where I was about to meet you. There were so many emotions going through me but all I could think was how lucky I was to get to marry you, someone who truly loved me and all my… quirks. I knew right then that marrying you was the best decision I could make, nothing else mattered and no one else existed in that moment.”
Jeryd, what was your favourite part of your wedding day?
“The Ceremony; standing on the small hill looking over that pond with your hands in mine getting married. I was so lost in your eyes I didn’t even hear what Jane said when I had to repeat after her. Getting to marry you was the best day of my life, so if I had to pick my favourite moment from that day, the ceremony would be it.”
Thursday ceremony and photos and Saturday reception. How did you come up with this brilliant idea?
“We come from two very different sized families and ultimately decided we wanted a small ceremony with only the people who mattered the most to both of us. I (Courtney) am very close with all of my extended family and the wedding was becoming mine instead of ours. So by doing our ceremony during the week, we got to have our day — a day where we could spend time together and bask in the joy of getting married. But it was still important to me to celebrate with my extended family, all 100 of them! So we threw a massive party at the Olds Legion. We chose to do our special dances and speeches there so everyone would feel included in the celebration of our love. We got the best of both worlds — a small intimate wedding and the celebration of a lifetime.”
Valerie Richer Photography 