High Culture — A Preferred Vendor of The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald

{Photographs in High Culture’s ad from left to right: Pink Sugar Photography, JDS Photography, Cassie’s Camera}

It is with considerable joy that I officially announce that I have the great privilege of being one of The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald’s hand-selected preferred vendors. It is an honour to be among a dozen of Edmonton’s finest industry experts, many of whom I have had the pleasure of working with. I greatly look forward to working closely with The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald on a number of weddings and special events throughout 2013; their venue, their staff, and their service are unparalleled.

To see one of our weddings that took place in the Empire Ballroom, please visit Nadia and Felipe’s wedding post on the blog.

Edmonton Wedding Planner: Nadia & Felipe the eleventh of August | two thousand and twelve

Advice From the Newlyweds

Get a wedding planner, it’s worth the investment. Ensure that who you have next to you (your wedding party) are those who will stand by you, even after your wedding. Enjoy every moment, soak it all in, and get a good photographer and videographer because you will want to relive that day—trust me! Also, go on your honeymoon right after the wedding, it’s a nice way to finish the wedding celebrations.

It is hard to believe that it was already nearly two years ago that I, along with some of Edmonton’s finest wedding professionals, designed and co-produced Edmonton’s Exclusive Royal Wedding Event hosted at The Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre. Together, the collaborative sponsored the largest event celebrating the royal wedding in Edmonton. While we celebrated the wedding of the century, our sponsors and our community proudly supported the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation and Edmonton’s Food Bank.

Local designer Lani van Rooyen of R O O Y Couture created a number of sketches of designs that she believed would be suitable for the Duchess of Cambridge. Following the event, she shared her experience of Edmonton’s Exclusive Royal Wedding Event, along with the highlight video designed by Raj Patel of A Love Story — check it out here — by far, this was one of my highlights of 2011. Through social media networks and the “sharing” of the video, bride-to-be Nadia found me. After conversing on and off for a number of months, we finally met and delved into the design of her and Felipe’s wedding. From our initial consultation, I became inspired by Nadia’s adoration of clean, simplistic design and the significance of family (including their fur baby Sinatra!) and their cultures; I was asked to design a wedding that would convey their story. Nadia and Felipe’s wedding would become one of my highlights of 2012 and following their wedding, I was granted the honour and the privilege of becoming one of The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald’s preferred vendors.

It was Thanksgiving weekend of 2009 when Nadia and Felipe first met; they have been inseparable ever since. True to his South American roots, Felipe played the role of the finest host to his friends for a Thanksgiving dinner. A mutual friend of Nadia and Felipe invited Nadia to join — an invitation that she is glad to have accepted. Instantly, Nadia and Felipe were attracted to each other; their smiles, their eyes, their personalities — there was an instantaneous, unexplainable connection.

Slightly over a year into their relationship, Felipe invited Nadia to join him in a place close to his heart — his home country — Chile. Although they knew that they wanted to share the rest of their lives together, after only a few months into their relationship, Nadia did not anticipate that their trip to Chile would be life changing. Here, Felipe surprised Nadia with a proposal and, of course, she said yes.

The wedding ceremony was held in the beautiful Empire Ballroom at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald; there was an immense amount of joy, laughter, and love as Nadia and Felipe exchanged nuptials. Following the candlelit ceremony, guests were invited to join the newlyweds on the Terrace as they released eleven balloons — to symbolize the date of the wedding day — that had handwritten wishes from their guests attached to the strings. As their guests’ wishes were released into the sky, the couple were greeted by their loved ones. Meanwhile, inside the Empire Ballroom, a team meticulously flipped the room into a beautiful reception space; the promptness of the switch was impressive.
    

A few short hours later, guests returned to the Empire Ballroom only to be witness to a dramatic change compared to what they had witnessed earlier. As they entered the room filled with candlelight and lush white floral, they were welcomed by the smooth melodies of a live jazz band. While wishing to maintain a simplistic, clean, romantic atmosphere, we also wanted to incorporate elements that were unique and significant to the couple. Their fur baby came into play; we requested that Sinatra would have a voice within the reception stationery where he “thanked” his parents’ guests for celebrating their wedding day with them and in lieu of traditional favours, the couple opted to donate to the Humane Animal Rescue Team (HART).

One of the couple’s favourite elements of their reception was the entertainment. Unlike a traditional wedding filled with numerous speeches, Nadia and Felipe opted to share with their guests some of the things that were most important to them; song and dance. The bride’s best friend opened the entertainment with a beautiful rendition of Etta James’ infamous At Last. Following this special gift of song, Nadia and Felipe invited performers to share their heritage; in honour of his Chilean roots, Judith Garcia, a local flamenco dancer performed alongside the live music of her husband, followed by a colourful performance by Cheremosh, to acknowledge Nadia’s Russian background. After an evening filled with entertainment and dancing, Nadia and Felipe shared another one of their favourite things with their guests — breakfast for late lunch.

Directly following their wedding, the newlyweds jetted off to California for a few weeks to relax and rejuvenate in the sunshine; instead of a typical resort honeymoon, the couple opted to create their own adventure filled with the things that they love most.

Nadia & Felipe, Thank you for providing me with the privilege and honour of working with you on the planning, design, and details of your wedding. I greatly enjoyed our many lattes and scrumptious breakfasts (even if they weren’t during “breakfast!”). May you continue to flourish in your businesses, with the love, support, and encouragement that you share as newlyweds. Wishing you many blessings throughout your marriage. Love, Rebecca

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Wedding date: 11 August 2012 | Location: Edmonton, Alberta | Guest list: 145 | Ceremony Venue: The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Empire Ballroom | Officiant: Pastor Dan, Red Willow Church, St. Albert | Reception Venue: The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, Empire Ballroom | Wedding Planner: High Culture | Photographer: pink sugar photography | Videographer: Dave Tameling | Gown Boutique: Bridal Debut | Gown Designer: Maggie Sottero | Bride’s Accessories: Claire’s | Shoes: Toms | Groom Formal Wear: Jimmy’s Tailor, custom suit | Groom’s Shoes: Gravity Pope | Jeweller: Gemoro, West Edmonton Mall | Stationery: Paperhearts studio | Cake Shoppe: The Art of Cake | Floral: Urban Affairs | Design & Décor: High Culture | Rentals: Urban Affairs | Make-up Artist: Mimi Make Up | Hair Stylist: Christine Goodridge | Music: Galen Noland (harpist, ceremony) / Infinite Entertainment Services (dj, reception) / Oliver Miguel (band, reception) | Additional Entertainment: Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company / Flashworks (photo booth) / Judith Garcia (flamenco dancer) | Transportation: Budget Car Rentals | Honeymoon Destination: California (hermosa beach, san diego, los angeles)

{Published} Blush Magazine Spring|Summer 2013

Firstly, check out the cover of the newly released Spring|Summer 2013 issue of Blush Magazine. What do you think? It was an incredibly fun, creative shoot with Brianna Hughes of Brianna K Photography, Jenn Chivers of Jenn Chivers—Freelance Hair & Makeup, and Mackenzie Jardine of Mode Models—I could not have asked to work with a better team. As the creative director, working with a team that consisted of a strong group of women who hold variety of creative perspectives, I could not be happier with the way the result; what started as my vision became our vision and I believe we created a fashion forward, haute couture, Vogue-style shoot to inspire the readers of Blush Magazine.

As well as my work for the cover shoot, I also played a role in two of the featured weddings. It is always a great privilege to be involved in one of the most significant days in a couple’s life together. An added compliment to my work is when these weddings are published. After months of waiting, I am thrilled to now be able to share that two of our couples are featured in the Spring|Summer 2013 issue of Blush Magazine, Edmonton’s leading wedding publication now distributed Alberta-wide. The magazine consistently proves to be a great inspiration and guide for brides and, although I am biased, the featured wedding section is one of my favourites. As the exclusive writer of the featured wedding section, it is always exciting to see the beautiful weddings and see which of the submissions the editor selects. Upon selection, I have the opportunity to interview the couples and I was happily surprised to see two who I knew on the list. One of my favourite aspects of writing this section is being able to document the couple and their love story in a unique way—to keep as a special memento of their relationship and of their wedding day. Congratulations to Carmen & Patrick (photographed by Cassie’s Camera) and Kim & Avery (photographed by Kelly Redinger); it was an honour to be a part of your weddings.

Be sure to visit a Chapters/Indigo location near you, or the Blush subscription form to order your copy of the Spring|Summer 2013 issue of Blush Magazine, to see these features and many other beautiful real weddings and inspiring features and articles.

Now that the publication is released, be sure to visit the blog soon for a special blog post for each wedding.

Empowering the Modern Bride: A Collaboration Between High Culture and Shandro Photo

{The Fashionable Groom}


Author: Haley Shandro

The bridal gown is often the focus of the wedding style – the right gown can set the tone for the wedding.  But what about the groom? It’s important for every groom to choose attire with the right style and fit to match his partner, and help him look dapper on his wedding day. Today we’re exploring the options of rentals vs. purchasing a suit.

Purchasing

One of our grooms opted for a custom suit for their wedding.  Here is Shauna’s perspective on why Troy bought a suit from Henry Singer instead of renting.

“We talked about a rental but neither of us really thought we’d get the right suit to rent for the day.  Troy doesn’t wear full suits to work but he will on occasion wear pieces of the one he’s purchased (the shirt, pants).  We also thought it would be nice to bring the pants on the honeymoon for some dressier dinners we’d be going to, so really it was a balance between getting the polished look Troy wanted that we didn’t know a if a rental could provide, versatility post wedding and really wanting to give Troy the opportunity to wear something unique/special on the day too – why should brides have all the fun!  It worked for us, in fact he left this morning in his suit pants.”

Renting

We asked a few of our couples about their experiences with one of the popular rental companies in Edmonton: Derks Formals.  The questions we asked were:

- why did you choose rental instead of purchase?

- why did you choose Derks in particular?

- were you happy with the choices offered – ie were they standard, were you looking for something different

- how was the service?

- anything else you want to mention?

Laura & Joe:

“For us the big reason we picked rentals over purchasing is price. For 150 – 200 you can get the suit you want for a weekend. To spend 500+ to get a really nice tux and accessories to wear it once seemed like a waste of money. Plus what guy wants to permanently own a hot pink vest!

We chose Derks as they actually had suits you can try on. Some places didn’t actually have all the suits to try on. I didn’t like the idea of not being able to try something on until right before the wedding.

I was happy with the choices as they had lots of options for jacket styles. With a few men in the party having the wide broad shoulders but little waists, the regular box cut jackets wouldn’t do. We need slimmer cut jackets and they had that available.

Service was good, I wouldn’t say it was above normal or exceptional, but no complaints either.

Know the specials for groom discounts and such. I think we may have gotten overcharged as I know most places have a book 4 groomsmen or something like that get the groom free. We didn’t get any type of offer like this with ours.”

Amanda & Foster

“Rentals were the practical option for us. With the groom and his groomsmen all being around 24, none of them could ever afford to purchase everything!

We chose Derks because of their good reputation, it was a no brainer.

They have so many options of styles and colors for those who might want something different than a plain black and while tux.

The service was great. The staff were very attentive and worked hard to make sure we were completely satisfied.”

Joanne & Colin

“Price was definitely a factor in choosing rentals over purchase, and I didn’t think my groomsmen would pay to buy anything pink! We also had some sort of deal from a bridal show or something that we got a discount of some sort. I think we got shoes and maybe something else free and we also got the groom free for having 4 other rentals.

Derks seemed to have good service as well as a good selection for colors. We too were looking for a ‘hot’ pink and the color Derks had seemed to match best with the color we had selected for the bridesmaid dresses. The selections as far as the tuxes went were great too.

Also, they made everything pretty hassle free as far as having all of our groomsmen living out of town and being able to send in measurements as well as us living out of town. Service and follow up was pretty good in that regard and we got an adorable tux for our little ring bearer too”

Groom and Groomsmen Style

Finally, here is some inspiration for you!  Your wedding may have a strong colour theme, and renting a tux may help to accomplish that. What the groomsmen wear is also very important to keep a cohesive theme, match or complement the bridesmaids, and support the look of the bride and groom. Don’t forget cool accessories like funky socks or uniquely themed cufflinks! Here are a few unique looks from our weddings.

A collaboration between High Culture & Shandro Photo.

{Grand Opening} Pottery Barn

On Thursday afternoon, I, on behalf of Blush Magazine, had the great pleasure of being given a private tour of Edmonton’s first Pottery Barn location. Located in West Edmonton Mall, this leading American brand is a specialty retailer of high-quality products for the home. I have had the pleasure of visiting other Pottery Barn locations across North America, but the architecture and design of this store is unique to this location; the wood that was used for the ceiling is recycled from an old barn.
With the opening of Pottery Barn, Edmonton has now welcomed a source of inspiration for the home like nowhere else. The 15,000 square foot store is organized into “rooms”—just as if you were in your own home. With areas dedicated to living rooms, outdoor spaces, dining rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms, as well as feature walls that will display lighting, rugs, and window treatments, you are bound to find a plethora of inspiration. You are invited to shop comfortably and visit design specialists in-store—you’re welcome to bring in photos of your home and seek the advice of the Pottery Barn’s design experts.

Features that I love about Pottery Barn:
1. Gift registry—available for any special event including weddings, anniversaries, birthdays. Also, a feature that I love about the gift registry is the “completion discount.” If your guests do not purchase all of the items on your gift registry, you will be granted an extension period to purchase the items yourself at a discounted rate.
2. You can shop Pottery Barn from the comfort of your own home—and I don’t just mean online! Should you not have a schedule that permits you to visit Pottery Barn, a design specialist can come to your home to discuss your design needs and you can order your items directly from your very own living room.
3. Instead of taking a bottle of wine as a hostess gift, Pottery Barn offers a gift bar with affordable and unique items that are already packaged beautifully—so you don’t even have to think about the wrapping paper!

If you have a moment this weekend, amidst your Thanksgiving feasts, I highly recommend paying a visit to Edmonton’s very first Pottery Barn.

Follow Pottery Barn on Twitter: @potterybarn and Facebook.

{Spotlight} Jennifer Williams Boudoir Studio & Jenn Chivers Freelance Hair and Makeup

 

Autumn has officially arrived, which means that although the first snow has not fallen, the thought of the holidays are beginning to emerge. Boudoir is popular among brides-to-be as gifts for her fiancé, but if you’re already married, why not consider this surprise gift for your husband? Jennifer Williams, a highly sought after boudoir photographer residing in Vancouver will be visiting Edmonton, in the coming weeks. Jen says that “one of the most incredible gifts a woman can receive is being able to see herself as beautiful, strong and sexy.” I am a huge fan of Jen’s work and have worked with her in Edmonton and in Vancouver. Fortunately for Edmonton, this talented photographer will be visiting and hosting a boudoir marathon on Sunday 21 October 2012. With only a limited number of sessions available and few visits to Edmonton, now is the perfect time to reserve a session and embrace your beautiful self. In order to provide you with the perfect package, Edmonton based hair stylist and make-up artist Jenn Chivers has paired up with Jen to ensure that you are ready for your glamorous boudoir photography session. All images will be ready in time for the holiday season.

With a luxurious studio in Yaletown, Vancouver, Jen has been shooting boudoir since the beginning of her career, three years ago. In January 2012, Jen decided to take the plunge and offer boudoir photography exclusively. Get to know Jen and if you’d like to see what happens during a shoot, you can watch her ‘behind the scenes’ video.

Who, or what kind of woman should have a boudoir shoot and why?
Jen: Any woman who wants to feel beautiful or gain more confidence should do a boudoir session. A boudoir photo shoot is scary for many women; however, when you do something that scares you, it gives you more confidence that you can go forward within your life. Women should have the opportunity to experience being feminine, glamorous, admired and desired.

Is boudoir photography an empowering experience?
Jen: Boudoir is empowering because women spend so much time putting themselves down that they don’t realize how beautiful they actually are. Every woman is unique and beautiful in her own way. It’s my job to identify her beauty and evoke that from her through communication and posing.

Why do you exclusively shoot boudoir?
Jen: What can I say? I love helping women feel better about themselves, give them that little extra confidence to accomplish big things.

Feel free to contact Jennifer Williams at studio@jenniferwilliams.com and visit her on Facebook.

 

Bridal Fantasy Edmonton: The Bridal Show Everyone is Talking About | January 2012 | Edmonton Wedding Show Booth Designer

 

As I said in yesterday’s post, I love getting into the wedding show spirit with my colleagues and assisting them with the design of their booths. I have had the fortune of having many colleagues employ me to design their wedding show booths and the first booth of 2012 was for The Art of Cake at January’s Bridal Fantasy Edmonton: The Bridal Show Everyone is Talking About. The artists behind The Art of Cake are a husband and wife duo with over fifty years combined experience in the pastry industry. Since 2007, The Art of Cake has specialized in custom, made-to-order cakes and sweet offerings that combine flawless aesthetic with pristine taste. I have worked with The Art of Cake on a number of weddings, events, and photo shoots, so it was a lot of fun to do something differently to showcase their talents. Adhering to the “art” theme and the frame motif on the company’s branding, I decided to use an eclectic mix of vintage frames to showcase photographs and 3-D cakes. The Art of Cake is fortunate to have had their work published in many Canadian magazines, including the show’s very own Bridal Fantasy magazine, Alberta-based Blush Magazine, and Canadian luxury magazine Wedluxe; therefore, we showcased some of their recently published work, along with photographs from real weddings.

Booth Details — The Art of Cake
Design: High Culture
Floral Design: faBLOOMosity
Photography: Creations Photo

Visit the blog next week to see our booth design for Willow Lane Photography at this Sunday’s Bridal Fantasy: The Fall Fashion Edition.

Bridal Fantasy: The Fall Fashion Edition | Edmonton Wedding Show Booth Designer

 

There were likely many summer-time engagements; therefore, there will be many newly engaged couples who are entering into the first stages of wedding planning. With Autumn’s wedding show season upon us, it is expected that many brides will opt to take their mothers, their bridesmaids, their best friend, or perhaps even their fiancé to at least one wedding show. Amongst the first of the large shows in Edmonton is Bridal Fantasy: The Fall Fashion Edition which will take place at Northlands Edmonton Expo Centre on Sunday 23 September 2012. With about one hundred and fifty booths, you are bound to find something that inspires you.

I first met Crystal of Willow Lane Photography on the set of a photo shoot that we worked on together. Earlier in the summer, the photographers had appointed me to design a stylized photo shoot and gave me creative freedom to construct something unique for them to shoot; I am so blessed when my clients trust me implicitly, so that I can truly design. Not long after the photo shoot, Crystal approached me to possibly design her booth for Bridal Fantasy and a few short weeks ago, she confirmed that she would contract me to design her vintage-inspired booth. I have had the fortune of having many colleagues employ me to design their wedding show booths and this is a service that I truly love to offer to my colleagues. It is always fun to work with my colleagues in different ways. I’m looking forward to sharing photos of Willow Lane Photography’s booth after the show, but if you’re a bride-to-be and have not decided what to do on Sunday 23 September 2012, I’m sure that Crystal would gladly show you her booth along with a beautiful option for your wedding photography.

About Crystal 

Crystal and her husband love to travel, so much, in fact, that they were engaged and married on a single trip to Africa! Enthusiastic to capture the world around her, as she saw it, Crystal decided to pursue an interest in photography. With the gift of a DSLR camera from her husband in 2006, she engaged in many photography courses starting in 2007. This year has been Crystal’s first year in business, offering wedding photography services, and I am very impressed with her growth and talent already shown in her premiere year.

Booth Details — Willow Lane Photography

Booth #91

Design: High Culture

Floral Design: Akiko Floral Artistry 

Prize Package: A Complimentary Wedding Photography Package by Willow Lane Photography or A Makeup Gift Basket Compliments of Mookie Salinas Makeup Artistry

Visit the blog tomorrow to see our booth design for The Art of Cake at the January 2012 Bridal Fantasy Edmonton: The Bridal Show Everyone is Talking About.

Empowering the Modern Bride: A Collaboration Between High Culture & Shandro Photo

{Bringing Your Favourite Destination to Edmonton}
Author: Rebecca Fisher-Swarbrooke

Haley and I both recently returned from a trip to Canmore with each of our families. It was nice to spend a few days in the mountains, to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, to breathe in the fresh mountain air, and to spend time with our loved ones. Rejuvenated and inspired, we thought that it would be fun to talk about how you could potentially bring your memories of your favourite travels to your wedding, regardless of the location. What’s stopping you from bringing your favourite destination to Edmonton? Through transforming a venue, a space can be converted into your favourite place.

Our vibrant city has a lot more to offer than meets the eye and if it’s another destination that inspires you most, well, why not bring your favourite things from that place to your Edmonton-based wedding. Of course, it is easy enough to say that you could just have a destination wedding, but it isn’t always as simple as that. Often, brides and grooms are deterred from destination weddings because of the financial significance to their guests, the matter of having to take time off from work, and the simple fact that not all of their loved ones will be able to attend the affair. So, why not bring touches of your favourite destination to your wedding and save the traveling for your honeymoon.

Here are a few things that you should consider when deciding on how to incorporate your favourite place into the design of your wedding.
1. Why is this your favourite place? Does it bear any significance on you as a couple?
2. What is your most-liked part about this special place? Is it the food, the architecture…?
3. Are there any unique wedding customs from this chosen spot that could be integrated into the schedule or design of your wedding?

One of my clients were married in Hawaii last December. On their one year anniversary, they will be hosting a small reception to celebrate their love again with their families and closest friends. While working on the design, we first thought that we could bring their Hawaiian nuptials to Edmonton by incorporating a Hawaiian-inspired menu, colours reminiscent of the tropical paradise, and of course, tropical flowers native to the State.

Another loved destination by a couple is Italy. The bride and her fiancé both share a passion for the country and hope to have an Italian inspired wedding next year. It is a favourite, sentimental place for each of them because she lived there for awhile and his ancestors are Italian. They greatly enjoy the cuisine and the vibrancy of the streets, architecture, and setting throughout Italy; therefore, I would recommend having not only an Italian-inspired menu, but also transforming their venue into Italy, so when guests arrive they will feel as if they have just landed in Italy itself.

You can have small touches of the destination by giving favours from the city or country, or naming your tables after your favourite things from that place, or, you could have a wedding with a full destination theme. Your options are truly endless.

What’s your favourite destination and how would you include a piece of it in your wedding?

Edmonton Wedding Planner: Anastacia & Blair the fourteenth of July | two thousand and twelve

Rebecca, We can’t thank you enough for all you have done for us. You have gone above and beyond our expectations and have helped us plan the wedding of our dreams. You are amazing at what you do! Love, Stacia & Blair

Stacia and I grew up together with The Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre as a key part of our lives. A family run hotel, they always say that once you work there for awhile, you become a member of the “Chateau Louis family,” but for us, it was different. I have a small family in Canada, so Stacia’s Baba quickly adopted my family as her own. I recall visiting the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for many years with Stacia’s family where her sister, Micki, and I would follow Stacia to the store to buy girly magazines and spend our days lounging poolside learning about some of the things that, at her wedding, Stacia’s siblings said she knew about best; relationships, skincare, and horoscopes. Years later, I would begin to date one of Stacia’s cousins and I feel as if Stacia is not just a friend, but truly family.

When Stacia and Blair became engaged, of course I hoped to be their wedding planner, but to have been asked was a great honour. Throughout the year leading to their wedding, we had to consider how to best fuse their interests and personalities; his the great outdoors, hers glamour. The result? A beautiful, glamorous meets wilderness wedding. Together, we came up with a design for their wedding that best suited who they are. All of the materials from the forest were hand sourced by Blair who collected willow tree branches for the centerpieces, cut pieces of birch for the table number stands, and built a stunning birch tree backdrop—of course, we added a hint of bling to suit Stacia’s tastes. Even the card box, handcrafted by the bride’s father, suited the rustic feel of the affair.

Although their guest list was over three hundred, theirs was truly a family affair. From Stacia’s Dido who sang in the choir at Church and her uncle who sang Ave Maria during the bride’s blessing at the ceremony, to her sister and cousins who performed with the Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company, a series of videos put together by their siblings who emceed the event, and Stacia’s cousin who created a rap music video for the couple, the greatest theme of the wedding was family. I must say that I have never seen such a unique emcee duo. Stacia’s brother and Blair’s sister wanted to include as many family members, so throughout the night, they played special video clips that they had made from short interviews that they had had with the couple’s family members. Some had the crowd in tears, while others had them in stitches. Even Zach Galifianakis sent the newlyweds a special message.

When I asked Stacia what she thought some of the most unique details about hers and Blair’s wedding were, she said that the Chateau Louis knocked down a wall so the room would be large enough for all of their guests. I remember sitting at my kitchen table with Stacia and Blair one evening where she looked at me with a puzzled look on her face and asked “well, how does this normally work?” To which my response was “most venues don’t knock down walls for a bride’s wedding!” The renovations and the setting couldn’t have been more perfect for this rustic woodland meets glamourous affair. With the family connection, the sentimentality associated with the venue, and the significance of family, this venue was truly perfect. 

After a year filled with big decisions, this couple were most deserving of the surprise honeymoon planned solely by the groom. They spent a romantic and adventurous week at a private house on the island of St. Lucia. They’ve promised each other that they will revisit their honeymoon destination for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and I look forward to counting the years with them.

The Courtship 

Stacia and Blair went to the same junior high and high school, but since Blair was a grade above Stacia, the pair never spoke. Instead, Stacia secretly had a crush on Blair. A few years after high school, the couple connected online where they learnt more about each other, including the realization of interesting family connections. As it were, Blair’s father and Stacia’s uncle had worked together at the fire department—Blair is also a firefighter, so they had a few photos taken at his workplace! As a result, their families were close, so much so that Blair would often babysit Stacia’s cousin, and Stacia’s uncle would become Blair’s sister’s godfather. As they say, it’s a small world! After going on a number of dates, it was evident that they shared something special, so they soon became a couple. With shared morals and values, while they have many different interests, they compliment one another very well. Stacia believes greatly that they are a special couple because they bring out the best in each other; “our lives are so much fuller, after meeting one another.” 

The Proposal

At the wedding, Stacia’s father shared the story of how Blair asked for Stacia’s parents’ permission to have their daughter’s hand in marriage. Each time he tried to find a private moment with them, something would come up, but he persisted and finally found his moment before the pair went to Canmore for a weekend of skiing, skating, and relaxing. One evening, Blair suggested that they should go to the hot tub where he had placed candles and rose petals. Knelt down on one knee, Blair held open a little pink box and shared sweet sentiments with Stacia—words that she apparently does not recall. Upon seeing Blair on one knee with a diamond in hand, she immediately said “YES!”



Blair: I knew Stacia was the one, once we had gone on several trips together and she had met my friends and family. Everything just felt right. I just realized, this is what it’s supposed to feel like—when it’s the right person, you just know.

Favourite Moments

Stacia: My favorite moment was the walk down the aisle. I was so nervous before they opened the big wooden doors—I was breathing heavy and had butterflies in my stomach—but that all went away the moment I saw Blair waiting for me at the altar.

Blair: My favorite moment was seeing Stacia walk down the aisle. She looked so beautiful and I couldn’t believe that this woman was soon going to be my wife.

Advice From the Newlyweds

Get a wedding planner! It was wonderful working with someone just excited as we were about our wedding. Rebecca had so many great ideas, was so organized and really kept us on track. She was such a big help on the day of as well, we had nothing to worry about, everything went smoothly.

Stacia & Blair, It was a privilege to work with you on planning the details of your wedding. It is a greater honour to call you friends, but most of all, family. It has been a joy to witness your love blossom and I look forward to wishing you bon voyage in twenty-five years when you revisit St. Lucia. I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness, and many blessings. МНОГАЯ ЛІТА. Love, Rebecca

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Wedding date: 14 July 2012 | Location: Edmonton, Alberta | Guest list: 320 | Ceremony Venue: St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Parish | Reception Venue: Chateau Louis Hotel & Conference Centre | Wedding Planner & Designer: High Culture | Photographer: Shandro Photo | Videographer: A Love Story | Gown Boutique: The Bridal House | Gown Designer: Maggie Sottero | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Bride’s Accessories: Purchased from numerous vendors on Etsy | Groom Formal Wear: Rented from: Moores / Designer: Guy Laroche | Groom’s Accessories: Moores | Jeweller: Ben Moss / King’s Jewellers / Titanium Style | Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas (Invitations) / Self (Reception Stationery) | Cake Shoppe: The Art of Cake |Floral Designer: Flower Affairs | Design & Décor: High Culture | Rentals: Elegant Touches (Head Table, Damask Linens ONLY) / Infinite Event Services (Lighting) | Makeup Artist: Rivera Make-up Artistry | Hair Stylist: Ricci Hair Co. | Ceremony Music: Axios Men’s Choral Society / Ursus String Quartet | Additional Entertainment: Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company / Social Photo Booths | Honeymoon Destination: La Toc Sandals Resort, St. Lucia