Elyse & Johan, New Year’s Eve, 2017

Honestly, I’m not a winter person. Once the snow falls and the temperatures drop, I tend to stay inside with hot tea and heavy blankets and quiet, indoor activities. Because of this, I occasionally forget what time spent outside in the snow can feel like in Alberta.

The morning of Elyse and Johan’s wedding, the air was crisp and the forecast stated “frigid” – which is intimidating enough but it then turned out to be the record-breaking coldest day of 2017, or more specifically, -46 degrees C with windchill. Being New Year’s Eve, there were outdoor festivities planned all over the province which were cancelled last-minute due to the dangerous cold. As for us, this wedding was happening and it was going to be amazing no matter what. In Elyse’s words, to embolden the bridal party as we stepped off the bus for outdoor portraits, “God hates a coward.” We got those portraits and we were all stronger for it.

This wedding was classic and beautiful with a winter wonderland theme. Elyse was stunning, stepping out looking like a 1940’s Hollywood starlet. I can’t count how often she was told she looked like a “winter princess”. Johan didn’t see her until the moment she approached him down aisle and he had to hold back tears. After all, this was the man who knew she was The One two weeks into dating. In fact, he started writing her letters from that moment and gifted them to her when he proposed.

Johan is a man of many talents. He meticulously ironed all of the pocket squares for his groomsmen as they dressed. (Those were some sharp pleats.) He installed spruce trees all over the reception space for that winter wonderland feel and smell. He even built the backdrop behind the head table and I don’t just mean nailed it together. No. Johan chopped down the trees, prepped them, and then built it all from scratch. It was perfect.

A few tips from this wedding which may (or may not?) have helped us survive:

Warm fur wraps! Elyse and her bridesmaids were wrapped up in the most gorgeous, soft wraps. Out of all of us, Elyse was by far the warmest in her luxurious rabbit fur.
Flasks. These babies were passed around the bus at every break with liquors of all flavors. I like to think it helped warm everyone from the inside out.
Keep that party bus running! We planned ahead for each set of photos so that everyone knew what to expect. We ran off of the bus, took our portraits, and ran back on.
Indoor back-up locations. In our case, the amazing Sunworks Art Gallery in downtown even had coffee on hand as we took family portraits.
Planning ahead for small details. Fresh floral bouquets can’t handle subzero temperatures so once frozen, they need to stay frozen. Within minutes of the cold, they had frozen solid and made a crunching sound when set down.

Looking at these images, all I see is two people so very in love, regardless of circumstance. They were overjoyed that their day was here and that so many loved ones came to celebrate with them. The tears overflowed throughout speeches. I’m so grateful to have been part of it.

*All portraits taken in Red Deer at the Sunworks Art Gallery, Norwegian Laft Hus, and City Hall Park.

**************************************

Make-up Artist: Alana Turcott Makeup Artistry, Red Deer

Dresses: Elite Bridal, Lacombe

Fur Wraps: Sisson Furs and Leather, Red Deer

Jewelry: The Bay

Menswear: Indochino

Florist: Calyx Floral Design, Red Deer

Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Parish, Red Deer

Limousine: Premiere Limousine Services, Red Deer

Reception Venue: Red Shed Malting, Penhold

Catering: Blue Sage Catering, Red Deer