Today’s Real Wedding is extra special. Not only is it a stunning two day wedding, filled with love, laughter and beauty from cultures near and far, but it was submitted with love. Reader Jennifer graciously shared the love story of Real Calgary wedding couple Grace and Doug.
I remember Doug (the groom) being one of her first crushes and us joking about her marrying him when we were 13. She is one of my closest friends.
Thank you so much to Grace, Doug and Jennifer for submitting today’s Real Wedding!
For Grace and Doug Ajele-Campbell, it was important to celebrate and honor the paths that lead them together and the people who accompanied their journey. So naturally, their wedding turned into a two-day affair of love, laughter, dancing and food.
Day One consisted of a traditional Nigerian ceremony, the handmade outfits designed and sewn in Nigeria arriving mere hours before the ceremony was set to begin. As is custom , Doug and his family was made to work hard to gain the acceptance of Grace and her family, having to show their true grit dancing, bowing and even being fined by Grace’s Aunt if they were considered unworthy. Thankfully, after a minute of consideration Grace accepted Doug and then the dancing and eating of handmade meals such a jalof rice, pounded yam and fried plantain.
Day 1, July 10
Venue: Centre Street Church Bridgeland Campus
Catering & MC: Motunrayo Ogunsus Oladipo ( family made)
Photographer: Ashley Lazette
A perfectly overcast Day Two arrived on the acreage decorated with simple and sweet baby breath flowers, twinkling lights and chalkboard signs. There was a set up amongst the trees for an old English tea party video booth. The Bridesmaids were outfitted in pale pink urban outfitters dresses and Misty Meadows flowers, and the bride wearing a baby’s breath crown and stunning champagne dress from Blissful Bridal made for a sweet sight, and few dry eyes. The day was full of surprises, from the bridal party and wedding guest flash mob, to the kissing game that resulted in both sets of parents re-enacting a “spider man kiss”, to the song performed and written by Grace for Doug as a last address to the crowd. It could have been the horses gently grazing in the background, or the fact that the forecast for rain held off until after the ceremony, or even that a fiasco gelato food truck pulled in as a tasty treat for the guest , but all taken together it seemed a magical evening.
Day 2, July 11
Venue: Angela & Colin Woodley, Acreage in Blackie, Alberta
Catering: Highwood Catering
Flowers: Misty Meadows
Dessert: Fiasco Gelato Foodtruck
Dress: Blissful Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Urban Outfitters
Videographer: Oleksander Nadaloshko
Photographer: Glynnis Mutch Photography
