Jessica + Jason | Carriage House Inn Calgary Wedding

Jessica and Jason’s big day started at Jessica’s mother’s amazingly European-styled house. She put together this gorgeous spread of pastries and Italian drinks that was fit for royalty. Seriously. Much of the family had arrived to the house to get ready and to get a first glimpse to see Jessica in her bridal gown. But before she put it on, she wore a beautiful vintage blue house coat that has been a part of the family’s weddings for generations. Everyone was absolutely blown away as Jessica descended the stairs to greet her family in her amazing dress.

The ceremony was at one of my favorite churches in Calgary, Sacred Heart Church.  While the formalities unfolded, I caught glimpses of the both of them stealing a gaze, smiling from ear to ear.  When they were finally faced towards each other, they couldn’t stop smiling.  It was so, so sweet!

We completed photos with the bridal party at the McDougall Centre, and the rest of the time was just Jessica and Jason. As a photographer, it was a dream come true. Being able to spend time with just the couple, documenting their interactions and love for each other freely before the reception, was an amazing experience that was made even more extraordinary with the easy-goingness of this fantastic couple.

The reception was held at the Carriage House Inn, and just like Jessica and Jason when they first walked into the room, I was blown away. It was absolutely gorgeous in there and they did such a fantastic job with the decor!

I could not have asked for a more chill and amazing couple than that of Jessica and Jason. Right from the start of our relationship, they were fantastically trusting and open, and they made their day as stress-free as possible.  Thank you both so much for everything!

Big thanks to Crystal of Sujata Photography for her assistance on the day of the wedding!

Describe your planning process!
Jessica and Jason: “We wanted our wedding to be a mix between a traditional Italian wedding and our more relaxed style. The most traditional aspect we included was of course the food. It was very important to Jessica to share a traditional Italian feast with her guests, and since the Director of Food & Beverage at the Carriage House Inn was Italian himself, it seemed to be a great fit. Another important factor was to host a reception in a place large enough to hold a dance floor. Many locations we looked at were beautiful and didn’t require much wedding decor, but we just couldn’t give up a wedding reception without a dance floor. We wanted the feeling of the wedding to be romantic and airy and chose light pinks and purples to accomplish this. Jessica really loves nature and wanted to include lots of fresh flowers and tree branches into the reception decor. Although not initially chosen, birds became a constant theme in our wedding. From wedding invitations to bird stamped candy bags, Jessica’s love of birds made its way into the wedding. To show some of Jason’s personality, we had a candy bar available to our guests that included 6 of Jason’s gummy favorites.”

What was your favorite part of the day?
Jessica: “The best part of the day was taking photos with just the two of us. The day was so busy from morning to night and I felt this was the moment where we could just enjoy one another without answering to others and being watched by everyone else. I was really able to admire how handsome Jason looked from head to toe for the first time that day and share this moment with him.”
Jason: “The moment that stood out to me was walking down the aisle after saying “I do”. It was a wonderful feeling holding my wife’s hand for the first time as husband and wife and seeing the smiles on peoples faces as we left the church.”

Do you have any advice to couples planning their day?
Jessica and Jason: “The biggest advice we have is to enjoy the day as much as you possibly can and to take time just the two of you to appreciate what’s happening. It was something we wish we did more of. When it comes to planning your wedding, find out what’s important to you and your spouse to be and incorporate that into the wedding. It’s very hard to plan your own wedding when everyone wants to give their input, but at the end of the day, it will be your day together and therefore should be what the two of you want. A planning technique that really helped me was following a wedding schedule. These can easily be downloaded from many websites and includes which month to do what. There are many small details to keep track of, and this helped me ensure I didn’t miss anything.”

Ceremony venue: Sacred Heart Church / Reception venue: Carriage House Inn / Officiant: Father Edmund Vargus / Bridal attire: Mori Lee dress from Jessica’s Bridal / Groom’s attire: Black & Lee / Transportation: Limo To Go / DJ: DJ Nico / Hair and makeup: Mehnaz Khan Makeup & Hair Inc. / Florals: Occasional Bloom / Cake, decor, and caterer: Lino Savino at the Carriage House Inn / Stationary: Minted /