Rustic chic might be the defining trend for the last few wedding seasons and with weddings planned as beautifully as this one by Cathy McRae at Creative Weddings Planning & Decor, it’s easy to see why brides and planners alike love to put themes like this together. Soft ivories, pale pinks and little touches of glam (wait until you see Heidi’s shoes!!) made this couple’s big day a dream come true. Find out more from the Couple and from the Designer after the jump!
All photographs by Edward Ross Photography
From the couple:
Looking back at our wedding it’s amazing to think about how something that took so long to plan, went by so quickly. For a year we obsessed about everything -flowers, dresses, suits, guest list, etc… but when it was all said it done we didn’t notice any of those things, just each other. Everything else just went by in a beautiful blur.
The only moment where time truly stopped was when Heidi first appeared before walking down the aisle. In that one instant she captivated everyone’s attention with her beauty and smile. All of our friends, family and loved ones held their breath, or smiled or started crying tears of happiness….even Mel got emotional. In that one pure moment there was such an overwhelming sense of joy and love. Maybe it’s because we’re still in the honeymoon phase, but that feeling has stayed with us since.
From the Designer:
Right from our initial meeting, Heidi had lots of great ideas about the look that she was going for. She wanted many of the “down home” touches, but with a sense of classic elegance. The term we coined for it was country chic!
Heidi had her heart set on the color champagne ivory with a hints of blush pink. For the outdoor ceremony, we already had a spectacular view of the Canadian Rockies that we didn’t want to interfere with. Keeping things simple, we added barnwood pedestals with floral arrangements made of peonies, garden roses, hydrangea. Vases were wrapped with bands of burlap and lace. Limewash Chiavari chairs were brought in specifically for the event with their distressed appearance.
The Chinook Room at the Cochrane Ranchehouse has extremely high ceilings, so when creating the centerpieces, we wanted something to include tall centerpieces that would draw the eye up. I’m a big proponent of creating visual interest for the guests so we also came up with two additional centerpiece designs at various heights creating a total of three different looks for the tables.
There were lots of favorite memories, but one of my favorite memories from the ceremony was the “love plant”. The couple repotted a plant together (carefully as not to get dirt on the dress) that will keep in their home, watering and nurturing it just as they do for their own relationship.
Another highlight of the day was the evening party celebration! Right from the beginning, the couple had talked about hiring a band. We were fortunate enough to find Livin’ In Swing. This amazing 12-piece jazz orchestra kept the guests on their feet and dancing until the wee hours of the morning with incredible energy and enthusiasm and a fantastic repertoire of music that spanned decades.
What I enjoyed was that both the bride and groom were very involved throughout the planning and design process. There were so many personal touches that we wanted to include, helping tell their story and journey to this special day. We are grateful to have been able to share this experience with Heidi and Mel!
Photographer: Edward Ross Photography
Designer: Creative Weddings Planning & D cor
Venue: Cochrane Ranchehouse
D cor: Creative Weddings Planning & D cor / Special Event Rentals Calgary / Creative Weddings Stationary Designs
Lighting: Creative Weddings Planning & D cor
Music and Entertainment: Livin’ In Swing Jazz Orchestra
Florist: Janelle Gerestein of Creative Weddings Floral Designs
Hair and Makeup Artists: Colleen Sams (hair) / Trena Laine (makeup)
