To continue my year of couples throwing tradition to the wind, Janelle and Marcus planned their big day to be one big hangout with their friends and family. We visited a ton of their favorite places on their wedding day, including a walk down East Village (which Janelle really loves in particular), pizza with their immediate family after their wedding ceremony, and a casual hangout at Cold Garden Beverage Company with their friends just before their reception at Kilkenny Pub.
Janelle’s dress was everything I thought it would be when I first saw it – the beautiful blush pink flowy skirt with a big flower on the front, which was her favorite feature. Janelle was truly happy the whole day, she was radiating and Marcus had his signature smile out, which means he had a great time, too. Marcus arranged a school bus as their mode of transportation for the day, which was so fitting for Janelle being a school teacher! They had their first look at their ceremony spot at Pearce Estate Park, with their entire wedding guests as witnesses – this was a first for me as the first look is generally a private exchange between the couple; it was so sweet to see their closest friends and family be a part of this sweet moment.
The couple really wanted to focus on the candid moments throughout the day so my team and I made sure we captured as many people as possible just enjoying themselves. The Kilkenny did an amazing job with the food and drinks throughout the evening, and the 7 cakes (yes, 7!) that they had were a huge hit. It was truly a beautiful gathering of people just enjoying themselves without the pressures of most wedding traditions, which was exactly what the couple wanted. I’m so honored to have been able to document this truly unique and amazing day!
Describe your planning process! What made you decide on the location and style of wedding?
J + M: Planning was a little rushed. We decided to get married in 3 months with nothing planned up to that point. Once we decided on a date, we picked a Friday to make sure most vendors and services were available. The wedding was formal for us, but very casual overall. We decided to keep things easy and try to plan an enjoyable day.
Your favorite part of the day?
J + M: Haha, “I do” was the best part of the day, but beyond that it was being surrounded by family and friends at so many great venues and being able to celebrate with them. It was amazing to see everyone together and be able to spend time with them. Family and friends have always been important and it felt great to share the day with them. Visiting Cold Garden for a couple pints after we got married was a fun and unique way to celebrate. It was a great opportunity to enjoy the moment and make special memories with our guests!
Best advice?
J + M: Take time before and after to breathe and spend some time together, just the two of you, to focus on what’s really important and special for you as a couple. For us it was amazing to get away for a week to Ontario prior to the wedding and to Invermere for a few days after the wedding to decompress. Also, just enjoy the day, it’s over quicker than you know and to not stress about anything the day of. So many good memories throughout the day, just need to take time and enjoy it. For us, travelling around the city with just the two of us on a school bus was the perfect chance to sneak in some quiet time on our own. This time allowed us time to enjoy the significance of the day and the promises we had just made to one another.
Ceremony venue: Pearce Estate Park, Calgary // Pub photos: Cold Garden // Reception venue: The Kilkenny Irish Pub // Bridal attire: David’s Bridal // Groom’s attire: Moores // Transportation: Southland // Music/DJ: Plug & Play DJ Service // Hair & make-up artist: Jen Hoyda // Flowers: Pushing Petals Flowers // Cakes: Crave Cupcakes
