Real Weddings

Mountain Views, City Lights

This Real Elopement is juxtaposing themes, done perfectly. Calgary wedding planner Jacqueline Rae Weddings Events Interiors designed a modern, sleek elopement that features natural elements, bold metallics and takes advantage of the natural landscapes of Calgary – our gorgeous cityscape and our stunning mountain views. Calgary wedding photographer Sarah Beau Photography took advantage of natural light and the views as a backdrop to highlight just how beautiful this couple’s vision is. Hear more from the Creative Team and from the Couple after the jump! 

From the Creative Team:

The design concept behind this elegant elopement reflected our featured couple, Kassandra and Justin perfectly. The bride and groom are city dwellers, but fell in love in the Rocky Mountains while hiking Mount Yamnuska, just west of Calgary. The pair weren’t interested in a big wedding and liked the idea of doing something unique. Our team of local vendors managed to merge big city tastes with an intimate escape to the mountains for an elopement in the elements.
Bringing together the best of two worlds, Kassandra and Justin tied the knot at Lake Minnewanka before returning to Calgary for a small reception at Le Germain Hotel. Styled by Jacqueline Rae Weddings, Events and Interiors, the ceremony was earthy and understated. Vows were recited in front of a metal lattice draped with fresh winter greens from Hen and Chicks. All wedding day florals boasted bright white roses that were contrasted beautifully with wild forest greens, also provided by Hen and Chicks.
Looking ever-so-romantic, Kassandra wore a cream silk skirt for both the ceremony and the reception. A three-quarter sleeve top kept her warm for the ceremony and she slipped into a delicate black lace tank for the reception. Avenue Beauty tied Kassandra’s locks in an updo for the windy mountains and styled them down for the reception. The bride’s hair clip and bracelet from Joanna Bisley were wonderfully subtle and well-suited to Kassandra’s taste.
Jacqueline’s tablescape and cake table design were exquisitely modern, featuring items from William Sonoma and Pottery Barn including all place settings, glassware and a custom marble centerpiece. The candlelit cake area was displayed beside a caramel leather lounger and ottoman from Pottery Barn, adding to the polish and sophistication of the evening. Above the dinner table hung a contemporary, one-of-a-kind piece from Modern Emulsions, an artist who specializes in blending effects between resin and acrylics.
Sweet Art by Nicole created a stunning three-tier cake with white roses and more greens from Hen and Chicks. Lovesky Design provided the paper cake top, reading, I love you to the mountains and back along with a paper invite suite consisting of a mountain range with an urban skyline. Sarah Beau Photography, who concentrates her talent on outdoor weddings with adventurous couples, captured Kassandra and Justin’s delightful day in the mountains followed by their romantic evening in the city.

From the Couple:

We wanted our wedding to best represent who we are. We chose an elopement to the mountains because of our shared love of hiking and skiing. Justin actually proposed at the top of Heart Mountain. The city feel of the wedding also represents our day to day life, and our love for living in the heart of downtown. We left the information with Jacqueline and she brought our vision and theme to life, better than we could have dreamed. The best part was actually legally getting married and knowing I was spending the rest of my life with my best friend. A close second and third was having our families over and sharing some time with them before we had more friends over for the evening. They all mean so much to us and we wanted more of an intimate time with them to celebrate.  Sarah Beaulieu made our day an absolute blast, and at the same time kept us light hearted and completely comfortable for photos- which was a considerable, knowing we were taking photos outside in -5 degree weather!

Sources

Sarah Beau Photography/Jacqueline Rae Weddings Events Interiors/Lake Minnewanka/Hen and Chicks/Lovingly Sweet/Avenue Beauty/Joanna Bisley Designs/Lovesky Design/Modern Emulsions/Williams Sonoma/Twyla Jacobson/Le Germain Residences