Lindsey + Collin | Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Winter Wedding - Anna Michalska Photography

I am still in shock, days later after the wedding as I write this, at how incredibly fortunate we got for Lindsey and Collin’s big day in the mountains. The couple came with a handful of people from Portland, OR, to our Canadian Rockies at Lake Louise, hoping for a beautiful winter-themed wedding day and they honestly have topped the “best” winter wedding day, ever. (They even made the trip twice to Canada, once before for their beautiful engagement photos in Banff!) The weather could have gone any which way; instead, we were greeted with an unreal beautiful climate. A warm sun, clear skies, and the ground full of fresh snow made for the most picturesque scenery – it made the long distance wedding all worth it. Lindsey was such a sweet bride, and everyone was incredibly nice and accommodating. It was beautiful to see how strangers to your country being so considerate of how you’re doing, as if they were hosting you in their own home.

I was mostly impressed with how amazingly relaxed the couple were the entire day, as if nothing could faze them – not even a slightly late schedule (as it typically goes for weddings regardless). They made sure everyone was doing well, had a great time with their family and friends, and made sure everyone was warm by presenting them with incredible bespoke blankets they had commissioned back in Portland. The family of bride did their speech as a team effort, complete with an entire poem and slideshow presentation – including some of Lindsey’s baby clothes! And, as soon as the music started, the guests hit the dance floor. That’s how you know you’ve got a great group of people.

We ended the night with sunset photos on the frozen lake and, truly, I couldn’t have thought of a more Canadian-type photo opportunity than that. Lindsey and Collin, I truly thank you for trusting me to be your long distance guide and for including this Canuck in your grand wedding adventure!

Describe your planning process! What made you decide on the location and style of wedding? Feel free to share some experiences of your planning, and if there were any particular challenges.
“Collin loves skiing, and Banff/Lake Louise was on his bucket list. After he went the winter before the engagement, he suggested the idea of getting married at the Fairmont to Lindsey. At first, she was apprehensive, but quickly fell in love with the majesty of the Canadian Rockies! Coordinating a destination wedding was a bit of a challenge (most guests lived in California and Oregon), but keeping the guest list small helped with that.”

Your favorite part of the day? Obviously, saying “I do!” was most likely the best part of the celebration! What other parts of the day really surprised you or stood out for you?
“Being able to watch all of our nearest and dearest people meet each other and have conversations with each other was especially heartwarming.”

Best advice? Planning a wedding must take a LOT of organization, phone calls, and most of all, patience. What advice would you give to newly engaged couples planning their big day on planning a wedding?
“Giving ourselves plenty of time was helpful, and made it easier to space out chunks of the planning. Also, saying yes to people who are willing to help definitely took some of the planning burden off. Lastly, a few choices we made to minimize the complexity of the day saved us a lot of additional planning: having a small wedding (about 40 guests), choosing a place where the ceremony venue, reception, and hotel are all the same, having family members take on roles (the officiant, the cake, and DJ were all managed by family). We trusted our instincts with all the major decisions to put the day together, and took input from others with a grain of salt. We also let our vision for the day (instead of letting tradition and what we “should” do guide it). The result was the day we always dreamed of!”