Emerald Lake wedding Archives - Banff And Canmore Wedding Planner

7 Tips for Communicating with Your Wedding Party

August 11, 2016 By Sharon Auld

If you’re like most people, you want your wedding party to be a fun, cohesive group where everyone gets along, are well informed and helps out with some of the wedding tasks. More often than not, though, your wedding party consists of friends and family that are spread across the country. Not only that, many of your friends have never met. A sibling, a childhood friend and a couple of college buddies might all make up your wedding party. It’s difficult to expect that everyone will be comfortable together. This can make communication extremely challenging. Fortunately, there are solutions to make your wedding party communications easier.

Here are 7 tips for communicating with your wedding party:

Start a private Facebook Group to Introduce everyone. If members of your wedding party have never met, it’s time for an introduction! Don’t wait until a few days before your wedding for everyone to meet. Instead, why not start a private Facebook group, and invite your wedding party to introduce themselves (and of course, everyone can check out each other’s Facebook profiles)? It can be a great way for you to keep everyone informed on wedding events and for the group to chat with each other. There is even a Facebook Group app that makes it really easy to stay up to date without having to be distracted by the rest of your Facebook feed.
Facebook Messenger is great for group chats or for individual chats. It’s best for short chats that don’t require more in-depth responses. You can even use Messenger for group telephone calls!
Have a group chat on Google Hangout. This is especially fun to do in the beginning. It’s a great way for everyone to say hello and put a face (and voice!) to the names. If it’s not possible to meet in person, this can be the next best thing!
Create a VIP contact list. Make a list of all your wedding VIPs. Include their names and individual role in the wedding (e.g. Maid of Honor). You’ll also want to include contact information for each, such as an email address and cell phone number. This can serve as a handy, quick reference for you and for your VIP’s to contact each other (e.g. when the girls are planning your bridal shower with your mom). It’s especially useful to have a copy printed up on your wedding day. You might have all your contacts listed on your cell, but it’s unlikely everyone else will do the same.
Use FaceTime or Skype for quick chats with individual members of your wedding party. When your friends don’t live close by, it’s always nice to see their faces! Not only is it great for keeping a close relationship, it’s also great to see your friend’s expressions. While emailing and chatting on the phone can serve a purpose, you can’t always pick up on the little nuances of expression. You know your friends better than anyone and you’ll likely pick up on when they don’t like something (even if they don’t tell you). If you get in a habit of using FaceTime, at least some of the time, you can hopefully steer clear of conflicts and misunderstanding.
Use a free app like Doodle to ask group questions. It’s a great way to create polls and ask questions to get a group consensus without having to email back and forth. For example, if you and your wedding party are trying to decide on a good date for your bachelorette party, a quick poll might reveal a convenient date really easily. You can also do polls in Facebook Groups.
Keep the lines of communication open. Great communication is the key to a happy wedding party. You and your partner are the common thread of your wedding party regardless of whether everyone knows each other or not. Your friends are there to support you and you to support them. Let your friends know how much you appreciate them. No matter what dynamics may arise between the group, you want to ensure your friendships with the individuals stay intact. Set the stage and encourage open and honest communication with everyone. If you’re doing your best to make sure everyone is happy, they’ll likely take your lead and work towards ensuring you’re happy as well.

Hopefully, with these tips, you and your wedding party will have an amazing wedding journey together! Tell me in the comments below, in what ways are you communicating with your wedding party?

Happy Planning!

Photo Credit: T.LAW Photography

Banff wedding planner and stylist, Naturally Chic, is available for mountain weddings anywhere in the Canadian Rockies. Contact hello@naturallychic.ca.

A Modern Guide for Choosing Your Wedding Party

July 6, 2016 By Sharon Auld

Choosing your wedding party can be one of the most fun tasks that you’ll get to do as part of the wedding planning process! What can be more fun than deciding on which of your besties will stand up for you as you marry your true love? Unfortunately, for some, this can be one of the most complicated, stressful undertakings. Not everyone’s relationships and family dynamics are clear cut. What is an easy task for some people, might be a daunting task for others!

Choosing your wedding party will be one of the most important decisions you’ll make! On your wedding day, you want to be surrounded by loving, supportive people. With great people around you, how can your wedding not be amazing? While we can’t guarantee all your decisions will be straight-forward and drama free, there are ways to help make the decision making easier.

Here are our Best 8 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Party

Take time to enjoy your engagement before selecting your wedding party. There will be time enough to ask friends or family to be your attendants. Enjoy this time in your life. Don’t rush into any important decisions without time to think. Tell friends and family that you haven’t had a chance to give your wedding planning much thought yet. Let them know that you are currently focusing on enjoying your engagement. Don’t let yourself be pressured.
Discuss Your wedding vision with your partner. One of the first things you should do when you’re engaged is discuss your wedding vision with your partner. One of you may be thinking about a large, lavish wedding, while the other person is envisioning a small wedding. It’s best to work out your shared vision before committing to a wedding party.
Consider your budget. This is an exciting time and you may be tempted to rush into asking friends to be part of your wedding. Instead, take the time to consider not only your wedding vision but also your budget and other restrictions. While it might be nice to think “the more the merrier”, most people don’t realize that the more people you have in your wedding party, the more it can impact your overall budget. More attendants can mean more bouquets and boutonnieres, more wedding gifts to give, more people to feed at your rehearsal dinner etc. A large wedding party may also be challenging in terms of space. There may not be room at your venue for all your attendants to stand at the ceremony. If your wedding party is large and there are space restrictions at your venue, you may need to consider having a sweetheart table instead of a big head table.
Discuss your expectations. What are you expecting from your wedding party? It’s best to think first about what you are wanting, and how much support you require. What role do you want your attendants to play? If you are counting on them being at every pre-wedding event and helping with all the wedding plans, you may not want to consider the friend who is living on another continent. On the other hand, if it’s more important to have them stand up for you on your big day, feel free to invite your long distant bestie. When everyone knows your expectations up front, they can make informed decisions.
Give your friend time to consider the responsibilities and decline gracefully if need be. Is your bestie away at Law School and in the middle of exams? As much as they would like to say yes, he or she may need to say no. Is your sister expecting a baby and not able to be there for you? Or, is your friend experiencing financial difficulties, and will the added responsibilities be more than they can handle? Depending on their circumstances, they may have to decline. Don’t take it personally if someone says no. After all, you want the people who are willing and able to stand up for you, be part of your wedding party. Don’t however, automatically exclude someone based on your preconceptions about their situation. You might think they will say no and assume you shouldn’t ask them, but you never know! Maybe they can make it work? Even if they have to say no, they still may be thrilled that you considered them. It’s best to have an open and honest discussion, and then let your friend decide. Be sure to give them time to make their decision.
Break the ‘rules’. Nowadays there are no rules. You’re planning a modern wedding, and you don’t have to stick to old traditions. You don’t have to have an equal number of attendants on both sides. You don’t have to have all female bridesmaids. You don’t have to have a child for your ring bearer. You may just want your adult brother to be the ring bearer! Your ‘best man’ just might happen to be the ‘best woman’. And, while it’s nice to have your sisters or brothers be in your wedding party, there are no rules saying you have to. Choose people who are important to you, and that you really want to have in your wedding.
Be considerate. Now that we’ve suggested you break the rules, we still want you to be considerate. If you want to have your best friend as your maid of honor instead of your sister, you’ll want to sit down and have that conversation with your sister (preferably before you ask your friend). Though, in the end, it just might make sense to do things the traditional way. You may decide that it’s more important to keep the peace than to do something out of the ordinary. Your budding relationship with your partner’s sister might be more important than including an old school friend you haven’t seen in years. Whatever the situation, the decision is yours. Do yourself a favor and consider the relationships you have. Be mindful of possible hurt feelings and do what you think is best for your relationships. How you handle things can make all the difference. You may want to come up with more positions of honor for the other VIP’s that don’t make the cut (e.g. readings, ushers etc.).
Choose a wedding party that meshes. Choose a group of people that you think will get along well. There’s nothing worse than having to referee the drama between a couple of friends who don’t get along. Where possible, save yourself the headaches, and opt for a fun, cohesive group. This, of course, relates back to our previous tips. Break rules if you need to, but be as considerate as possible.

After all, is said and done, it’s your day. Plan the wedding that you want to have, not the wedding that’s expected of you.

Tell me how you’re breaking the rules when choosing your wedding party? Any challenges you’re facing when it comes to making these decisions?

Happy Planning!

For more information on planning a Canadian Rocky Mountain Wedding, contact us at Naturally Chic, or at hello@naturallychic.ca.

Photo Credit: T.LAW Photography.

Rustic Elegance at Emerald Lake Lodge

December 15, 2014 By Sharon Auld

By Sharon Auld

Today I wanted to share a sneak peek of the rustic elegance, styled wedding inspiration “Emerald Apparition”, that we created for the latest edition of Luxe by Calgary Bride at the always spectacular, Emerald Lake Lodge.

I was extremely fortunate to collaborate with several of the most talented, creative wedding professionals in the business: including the fabulous husband wife team Trish and Matt of F8 Photography, and the talented Lyn Chapman of Flower Artistry among others. I had so much fun creating this rustic, elegant wedding inspiration!

Stay tuned as we have many more beautiful photographs and details to share with you!

The Creative Team of this Rustic Elegance wedding inspiration:

Credits:

Photography: F8 Photography; Designer / Designer & Stylist: Naturally Chic; Florist: Flower Artistry; Venue: Emerald Lake Lodge; Linen: Celebration Creation; Makeup: Canmore & Banff Makeup Artistry; Hair: Mountain Beauties; Cake: Buttercream Bakeshoppe; Stationery: Collaboration Plush Invitations + Naturally Chic; Bridal + Flower Girl’s Attire: Cameo and Cufflinks; Groom’s Attire, shoes and cufflinks: Ed Williams Menswear; Wood Arch + Wood Details: created by Naturally Chic; Decor: Naturally Chic, Flower Artistry, Great Events; Models: Tyler Trapp and Bailey Christensen, Molly & Mim.

Publication: Luxe by Calgary Bride

Contact Naturally Chic for more information on planning your mountain wedding!

Happy Planning!

Emerald Lake Lodge Wedding

July 21, 2014 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

We’re excited to share the beautiful Emerald Lake Lodge wedding of Michelle and Jon!

Michelle and Jon were married on a gorgeous summer day on the Cilantro on the Lake patio at Emerald Lake Lodge (one of our favorite wedding venues 🙂 ).

It was a privilege to witness everything about their wedding; from their touching vows, to the love they shared not only with each other, but with their family and friends. Their wedding epitomized everything a beautiful mountain lodge wedding should be and Naturally Chic was honored to play a role in their special day.

The day was beautifully captured by Terence Law of T.Law Photography! Not only is Terence an amazing photographer, but he’s laid back and fun! Terence was one of the first people I met in the wedding industry, so it’s always great to work with him!

Emerald Lake Lodge wedding from Naturally Chic | | Photo by T.Law Photography.

The beautiful Emerald Lake, near Field, BC, Canada | Photo by T.Law Photography.

At the Point Cabin getting ready | Photos by T.Law Photography.

Michelle’s wedding day essentials | Photo by T.Law Photography.

Michelle’s dress | Photo by T.Law Photography.

Michelle was stunning!

The bride before the ceremony | Photo by T.Law Photography.

Jon was looking pretty good too!

Jon gets ready | Photo by T.Law Photography.

The wedding party looked amazing; the guys in their modern blue suits and the girls in their gorgeous greyed jade dresses which complemented beautifully the natural surroundings and emerald colored waters.

The Wedding Party | Photos by T.Law Photography.

Michelle’s beautiful bouquet of garden roses, hydrangeas and greenery and the bridesmaids’ baby’s breath bouquets were designed by the talented Michele Masterson of Blue Hydrangea.

Michelle’s bouquet from Blue Hydrangea | Photo by T.Law Photography

The ceremony was set under sunny skies on the Cilantro on the Lake patio at Emerald Lake Lodge. We loved creating the small decor touches such as the chalkboard program and reserved seating signs for our couple!

cilantro-patio-wedding-ceremony-emerald-lake

Wedding ceremony on the Cilantro on the Lake patio | Photo by T.Law Photography.

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5 Tips to Planning Your Spring Wedding in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

May 18, 2014 By Sharon Auld

Spring weddings in the Canadian Rocky Mountains can be awe-inspiring and breathtaking. They also have risks, especially if you’re planning an outdoor ceremony. It’s been said that the only thing reliable about Spring weather in the Canadian Rockies is that it’s variable. If you’re getting married in the mountains, you need to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings! It might rain, snow, sunshine or a combination!

Does this mean you should avoid a Spring wedding in the Rockies? Absolutely not! Endlessly stressing about the weather isn’t the answer either. In the Canadian Rockies the weather can change drastically from day to day and even substantially throughout the day. Praying to the weather gods might work for some, but a more realistic approach is to expect some wet conditions. Be informed and know what to expect. Having a plan is the answer! If the weather turns out to be warm and sunny, Yay, count your blessings!

Here’s 5 tips to better enjoy your Spring wedding:

Have a back-up plan if you’re planning an outdoor, Spring wedding ceremony. It’s not only good sense, it’s extremely wise! Even if conditions look great, a sudden storm may move in swiftly. Think of all your guests! Sitting in cool, damp conditions on wet chairs is not very comfortable. Your guests won’t enjoy getting wet! Booking a venue for an indoor back-up may cost you a few hundred dollars, but it’s well worth the investment!
Check the local weather conditions the night before and again on wedding day morning. The weather office in Banff has an up-to-date recorded message that gives the daily forecast, weather warnings and advisories for Banff and area. Their number is 1-(403)762-2088. It doesn’t hurt to check road conditions either. You can call 511 in Alberta or check AMA for local driving conditions. Your photographer may want to check out the trail conditions too if you’re planning on getting outdoor photos in the Park. Check out this link on Parks Canada for up to date conditions.
Make your weather call early. Your wedding venue and your planner will need to know where the ceremony will be held so that they can set up. It’s important to ensure that the people setting out your chairs and decor have adequate time to do this. It’s especially important if your indoor back-up space is in the same room as your reception. Most venues require at least two hours to “flip” the room from ceremony to reception (changing the room configuration, setting out tables, linens, silverware etc). Your planner will need time on top of that to set out your decor and make the room look beautiful. If everyone is waiting on you to make a decision about the ceremony, it will only add extra pressure to make things look perfect.
Dress for the conditions. You may want to add a stylish shrug over your gown so you aren’t chilly during the ceremony. You’ll also want to be prepared for precipitation and cooler temperatures when you head out for wedding day photos. Take clothes that will protect you from the wind, rain and snow. This may mean dressing in layers, having a sweater or stylish rain coat, and having proper footwear. Five inch heels may look beautiful on your bridesmaids, but if the ground is uneven, muddy or slippery a pair of waterproof boots or shoes are better! This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of some cute photo ops of you wearing stylish rubber boots and carrying a pretty umbrella. Ensure that you have enough umbrellas for your entire wedding party too!
Have a positive attitude! This is one of the most important tips for your Spring wedding in the mountains! You can’t change the weather, so you might as well embrace it! Not only do you want to look happy in your photos, but you’ll want to truly enjoy your wedding day. A positive, relaxed attitude can go a long way. Besides, rain on your wedding day is supposed to bring good luck to the marriage! If you’re really lucky you just might see a double rainbow. That has to be good luck right?

Canmore mountain wedding from Banff wedding planner Naturally Chic

Photo courtesy of RW Photography

Emerald Lake Lodge wedding from Naturally Chic | www.naturallychic.ca

Photo courtesy of Orange Girl.

Here’s a little bonus info. if you’re planning a Spring wedding in Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper or Emerald Lake Lodge (Field, BC):

May and June brings a fair amount precipitation to the mountains and often with it, cooler temperatures. Though temperatures can be warm during the day, they can drop to just a few degrees above zero overnight. According to Environment Canada this is what you can expect during the Spring months in the Canadian Rockies:

Average Temperatures and Precipitation Levels:

Banff Townsite:

May – High temp. 15 degrees celcius and low temp. 2 degrees celcius

June – High temp. 19 degrees celcius and low temp. 5 degrees celcius

May – 62mm

June – 68mm

Lake Louise:

May – High temp. 13 degrees celcius and low temp. -1 degrees celcius

June – High temp. 17 degrees celcius and low temp. 3 degrees celcius

May – 40mm

June – 54mm

Jasper Townsite:

May – High temp. 16 degrees celcius and low temp. 3 degrees celcius

June – High temp. 20 degrees celcius and low temp. 7 degrees celcius

May – 31mm

June – 51mm

Field, BC (Yoho National Park):

May – High temp. 15 degrees celcius and low temp. 2 degrees celcius

June – High temp. 19 degrees celcius and low temp. 6 degrees celcius

May – 54mm

June – 79mm

Source: Currentresults.com / Environment Canada. Meteorological Service of Canada. Canadian Climate Normals 1981-2010

Spring wedding tips in the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Banff and Canmore wedding planner, Naturally Chic

Photo courtesy of Eric Daigle Photography

Happy Planning!

For more information on planning your Spring wedding in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, contact Naturally Chic at 1.888.679.9056 or at hello@naturallychic.ca.

Photo Credits: RW Photography, Orange Girl, Eric Daigle Photography.

Caroline + Brock’s Whimisical Winter Wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge

April 10, 2014 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

One of my favorite weddings to work on was Caroline and Brock’s winter wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge (one of our favorite places!). Caroline and Brock are one of the nicest couples and working with them was a pleasure! From the start, I knew working on their wedding would be a wonderful journey. I loved that Brock was very involved in the wedding process and Caroline put so much of her heart (and creative soul) into their wedding. Working together was a collaborative effort as Caroline really wanted to “DIY” several projects. I also loved that they wanted to incorporate their personalities into every aspect of the wedding and it was really important to them that their guests were well taken care of!

I waited to post this wedding as it was just featured on the fabulous blog Wedding Chicks. The wedding take place at Emerald Lake Lodge (not Vancouver as mentioned in the title on their post). 🙂

Caroline and Brock live in Red Deer, Alberta but spend much of their free time in the Rocky Mountains. Brock proposed to Caroline while snowshoeing during a surprise weekend at Emerald Lake Lodge, so it was a natural fit to get married there too! Caroline had actually never really thought about getting married in the winter but after Brock suggested it, she really warmed to the idea. They both love skiing and the outdoors; Emerald Lake Lodge was a natural fit!

Once the wedding venue was chosen, we got to work. One of the first things Caroline and Brock did was choose Julie Williams Photography for their wedding! The couple loved Julie’s fun, relaxed and up-beat personality, and of course loved her photography style! Julie did a fabulous job photographing all the details on snowy and somewhat chilly February day!

Caroline looked gorgeous with her hair and make-up done by Stephanie Roy.

The snow was falling…

The scene was set for a magical, outdoor winter ceremony with a mountain view, on the Cilantro on the Lake patio.

Mt. Burgess is always a gorgeous backdrop…

Snowflakes and scarves ceremony decor.

I love that the Caroline and Brock wanted to take care of their guests (as they were having an outdoor ceremony). They provided hand-warmers (packaged in cute bags – an easy DIY project), as well as fleece scarves, gloves and blankets. Guests helped themselves to whatever they needed before the ceremony.

Warm up station by Naturally Chic | Photo by Julie Williams Photography.

Here comes the bride (with her mom and dad). Caroline looked amazing in her vintage inspired, lace gown.

Brock’s pinecone boutonniere.

The Ceremony…

Caroline and Brock are so sweet and their ceremony was touching.

Caroline and Brock decided to include a wine box filled with love letters during their ceremony. The plan is to open it on their fifth wedding anniversary!

Yay! Congratulations! We wish Caroline and Brock a lifetime of happiness!

Following the ceremony a hot chocolate / coffee station was set up for the guests to enjoy while the family and wedding party had their portrait session with Julie. Even though it was a little chilly out, the guests didn’t seem to notice as they milled about.

Time for some fun… Enjoy Julie’s photos of the couple and their wedding party and some winter fun!

Photos on the lake…

Caroline and her girls looked absolutely adorable!

Brock actually proposed to Caroline on a snowshoe trip out to Emerald Lake Lodge, so it was only naturally they get a photo of the two of them snowshoeing.

Brock and Caroline LOVE skiing, so it is no surprise their wedding has a ski theme to it (You’ll see more creative ski ideas in Part 2 of this post)!

We hope you will stop by again soon to see Part 2 of Caroline and Brock’s winter wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge. Their wedding colors were inspired by this HBC blanket and of course their love of skiing! Don’t miss it!

Planning a winter wedding at Emerald Lake Lodge, give us a call at 1.888.274.6994 or email us at hello@naturallychic.ca!

The Creative Team:

Wedding Planner / Designer: Sharon Auld Naturally Chic

Photographer: Julie Williams Photography

Venue: Emerald Lake Lodge (www.crmr.com/emerald)

Venue Coordinator: Tyler Trapp

Flowers: Katrina Russel of Cattleya Chic (now working at Calyx Floral Design)

Hair and Make up: Stephanie Roy

DJ: Patrick Smiley Entertainment

Wood Stationery: Naturally Chic

Wood Items (birch vases, signs, letters etc.) : Naturally Chic

Dress Designer: Allure Bridal

Groom’s Attire: Prada

Jewelry: Tiffany and Co.

Shoe Designer: Sorel

Veil or Hair Accessories: The Sparkling Sparrow

Maid of Honour: BHDLN

Maid of Honor: Jim Hjelm Occasions

Best Man: Banana Republic
Rings: Tacori
Hanger: LilaFrances
Mr and Mrs. Owls: The Owl Shoppe & wood signs by Naturally Chic

Pom Pom Buntings & Knitted Napkin Tie Scarves: Bride & Bride’s Mother

Officiant: Kim Chapman

Rustic Western Inspired Wedding Inspiration

July 4, 2012 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

With the 100th Anniversary of the Calgary Stampede just around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate for a “Western” wedding inspiration board. The “western culture” is in our blood around these parts. My mother grew up on a ranch when she was young and has fond memories of training and riding horses. She also remembers the very first time she visited the Calgary Stampede with her grandfather when she was very young.

I can’t remember the first time I was on a horse because I was so young, but I also have fond memories of horseback riding in my youth (and yes, getting bucked off, but always getting right back on). Even though I have horses now, I don’t get out to ride as often as I would like. But there’s just something about rustic wood beams, weathered old barn wood, old horse shoes and of course, horses that I love!

The Calgary Stampede honors our “Cowboys” and “First Nations” heritage and even though Calgary’s new motto is “the New West”, I still love the history and the spirit of the ‘Old West”.

From the Calgary Stampede website: “Some say the spirit of the West is the spirit of fair play – a simple and honest code of ethics that guides every man and woman who loves this land. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Keep your promises. Be true to your friends. And honour the land.”

Happy 100th Birthday to the Calgary Stampede!

western chic inspiration by Naturally Chic, all items by Naturally Chic and photos by HiS.Co Photography, except cake and cake photo by KD Photography via Style Me Pretty, Bouquet by Willow Haven in Canmore

Are you planning a western wedding? If so, what ‘western’ elements will you be including?

To see more beautiful work from Banff and Melbourne photographer HIS.CO Photography click here and from a western inspired wedding shoot here.

For more information on our Naturally Chic wedding planning and event design, call us at 1.888.679.9056 or drop us a line at hello@naturallychic.ca.

Happy Planning!

Rustic Emerald Lake Wedding featured in Weddings Alberta

May 9, 2012 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

We are so thrilled that this rustic emerald lake wedding that we planned and designed with our amazing couple Kimi and Scott is featured in the Weddings in Alberta magazine! Stay tuned tomorrow as we will be blogging about our experience working on this wonderful Emerald Lake Lodge wedding! We have lots more details to share!

Photos by Orange Girl Photographs

Emerald Lake wedding of Kimi and Scott

Colorful and Rustic wedding at the beautiful Emerald Lake Lodge

Canadian Olympian Kimi Zakreski marries her sweetheart Scott at Emerald Lake Lodge

For more information about our planning and design services at Emerald Lake and in the Rocky Mountains, contact us at 1.888.679.9056 or info@naturallychic.ca (www.naturallychic.ca), or visit our sister site Canadian Mountain Chic for more inspiration.

Happy Planning!

Alan Maudie Photography – Naturally Chic Vendor Spotlight

May 17, 2011 By Sharon Auld

Today we have the extreme pleasure of chatting with one of my favorite photographers, the immensely talented Alan Maudie of Alan Maudie Photography.

One of the first weddings I ever worked as a lead wedding planner, I was fortunate enough to find myself working with Alan. Not only is Alan one of the nicest guys in the industry, but he is also easy-going, good natured and professional. He is considered one of the premier wedding photographers not only in Alberta, but in all of Canada. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his art, but what strikes me most about Alan is his likeability. In an extremely competitive industry, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone speak ill of Alan. From other wedding photographers to wedding planners, to couples to venues, Alan is highly liked and respected.

If you’re like most wedding couples about to be married, then your wedding day photography likely tops your priority list for your special day. If you’re wanting someone that will put you at ease and make you feel comfortable, then Alan is an obvious choice. One look at his blog, and you will see he has an immense talent for capturing precious moments at every wedding he photographs. Alan is truly the best of the best.

I hope you enjoy our interview with Alan Maudie!

You have a Master’s of Science degree from the University of Calgary (my alma mater as well); how did you get involved in photography and in the wedding industry?

Throughout my undergraduate and graduate degrees I was really passionate about photography. For some reason I still can’t explain, when I finished my Master’s degree I thought I would try starting a photography business. It was really a bad idea, since I had no clue of how to run a business and no income potential. Initially, I didn’t photograph weddings, but over time I was drawn more and more to them. By 2004 I was shooting about 10 a year by word of mouth and had a couple really good ones that gave me a promising look at how rewarding weddings can be to photograph if you have the right couple. In the fall of 2004 we launched our first website and opened our 2005 schedule up to weddings. The rest is kind of blurry 🙂 .

What do you most love about your job in the wedding industry?

I enjoy producing something for couples that is so important to them that if their house ever catches on fire, it will be one of the things they grab on the way out the door.

What’s the biggest misconception about wedding photography?

That we (photographers) only work for a few hours on the weekend. For me, it’s a full time job to book, photograph and produce 20 weddings a year.

Your couples always look very comfortable in front of the camera, what tips do you have for couples on their wedding day?

Don’t plan your wedding on your wedding day. A perfect wedding day should not involve any decision making. You know what you are wearing, where you are going and what time dinner is at, so why add a bunch of stress to your day by making decisions that should either be made in advance or delegated to a planner. It is also really important to trust the vendors you have chosen. Nothing gets a bride or groom more stressed than things going wrong on the wedding day.

From a photography point of view I think my couples look relaxed mainly because by the time the wedding comes around they trust me. All they have to do is have a good time, I take care of the rest.

Your couples are always photographed in unique and creative locations, how do you decide what locations to photograph your couples in?

Lighting is more important than the location. Most of the locations I use are chosen based on the lighting options they provide. I ask couples if they want an urban or natural setting (or both) and then I usually pick a few places that work with their venues and timing on the wedding day.

Other than weddings, what do you like to photograph most?

My family and friends, landscapes, backcountry sports.

When you’re not taking photos, what are your favorite activities to participate in?

It’s been a lot of fun teaching our kids to ski and bike. We camp a lot and enjoy the outdoors as much as possible in all seasons. Mountain biking and backcountry skiing are my favourite two activities.

One of my favorite photos of yours, is one with Scott Niedermeyer holding up the Stanley Cup at the top of Fisher Peak near Cranbrook, BC (my favorite hike as a youth)? That photo is now a part of the Cup’s travel history, how did you get involved with that photo (and did you and Scott hike to the top or did you get a helicopter ride like the Cup)?

I grew up across the street from Scott in Cranbrook, B.C. Fisher Peak is the highest mountain in the immediate area and as young kids it was a big deal when we were old enough to climb it with the rest of the neighborhood crew. In our late teens and early twenties we did a lot of mountaineering together and joked about getting some photos on the summit of Fisher with the cup someday. After Scott won the cup for the second time in 2003 he was scheduled to get his day with the cup in Cranbrook during the summer. He arranged for a helicopter to fly it and us to the top. Hiking wasn’t an option because we didn’t have enough time with all the community appearances he had promised. I took a lot of different photos in the 20 minutes up there but my favorite is the one that gets published the most where his back is to the camera. You say a lot of crazy things as kids, so actually pulling something like that off was so amazing that it was almost kind of weird.

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I go days and weeks without touching a camera. I’ve never been a “camera around my neck 24/7” type photographer.

Enjoy more of Alan’s beautiful images here and on his blog.

A huge thank you to Alan and to his wedding couples for graciously allowing us to share these photographs! To see more of Alan’s amazing work go to http://www.alanmaudie.com or http://www.alanmaudieblog.com (seriously addictive) .

Winter Weddings in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

December 3, 2010 By Sharon Auld

by Sharon Auld

Are you dreaming of a winter wedding in the mountains? There’s just something about a fresh blanket of snow that makes everything look fresh, clean and so beautiful. What could be more beautiful and intimate than a mountain lodge surrounded by fresh snow covered peaks, a cozy fire burning in a big stone fireplace, hot chocolate and candles glowing softly? Winter weddings in the Canadian Rocky Mountains have so much to offer and there are so many venues that are perfect for your winter wedding dreams. Here are a few images to kickstart your winter wedding dreaming.

One of our favorite winter wedding venues in the Canadian Rockies is Emerald Lake Lodge.

canadian-rocky-mountains-resort-emerald-lake-lodge

The beautiful Emerald Lake Lodge in winter

Here are some fun ideas for winter weddings.

Photo Source: 1-6 Martha Stewart Weddings 7. Naturally Chic 8. Emici Bridal 9 – 10 Naturally Chic

Contact us at Naturally Chic for assistance with your winter wedding in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, 1888.679.9056 or hello@naturallychic.ca.