Real Wedding: Classic Downtown

Sandra and Daryl had the perfect October day for getting married. This gorgeous October wedding went off without a hitch, and I couldn’t be happier for these two. From the first time I met with them, I could tell that Sandra and Daryl were a perfect fit. Their personalities fit together just right, and if just felt comfortable to be around them. I think everyone at their wedding felt the same way…it just felt good to watch them get married!

The two of them had put together a great plan for their day, and I came in with about a month left to go to make sure their plans came to life. They made that easy to do with all the care they had put in to planning their day.

Getting Ready

The morning started off quietly, with all the girls working their way through hair and makeup under the expert watch of Terrilyne and Toni. These ladies know their stuff! Sandra’s look was perfectly understated and natural, just like her. While I headed out to get flowers, check on the guys, and prep the church, the girls finished up and Sandra’s dad dropped in for his special first look. Maybe it’s the pregnancy hormones, but these shots make me cry every time!

The guys house was just as excited to get going for the day. Daryl passed me his puffer, just in case she took his breath away! After collecting a few last minute items, I left them in Nikki’s capable hands to take a few last shots as a single man, and headed to the church to set up.

There’s not much to set up at the First United Church. The sanctuary is absolutely stunning, and with the afternoon light pouring in, it was breathtaking. One of my favourite jobs of the day is always pinning on the boutonnieres. While this seems like a daunting task for most wedding parties, it’s surprisingly easy once you know what to do. This always gives me a chance to touch base with the groom and the family and see how everyone is doing before the ceremony starts. This moment is full of so much anticipation and emotion, I love to be a part of it! I hand out Kleenex and water bottles, and make sure everyone is ready to go before giving the signal to start.

The Ceremony

Through each moment of the ceremony, you could see the love the Sandra and Daryl shared shining through. Like the light pouring in the windows, the way they looked at each was enough to brighten any dark corner. Of course their adorable flower girls stole the spotlight for just a few moments!

After a few windy photos on the gorgeous stairs outside, the wedding party headed off to let Nikki work her magic for a few hours. It wouldn’t be a prairie wedding with a little (or a lot) of wind!

The Reception

This night was everything you want your reception to be! Their kissing menu was a huge hit, there was so much singing and so many funny stories! And the band…I can’t say enough about how amazing this band was! I think my very favourite moment of the night was Sandra and her grandpa taking over the dance floor. Not too many of us are lucky enough to do share a moment like that with our grandfathers!

This cake though…definitely my second favourite part of the evening!

Thank you so much for all that you have done to make our day run smoothly!! We can not thank you enough!!
Sandra & Daryl

I had a great time working with this family! This wedding was full of laughter and love.

Steal It From Them:

Here’s a few ideas to take away from Sandra and Daryl’s wedding and try out on your own day!

1. A Live Band

I love a good DJ, but there’s something about a really good band that you just can’t replicate. If you’re stuck for ideas, Liquid Rhythm was amazing! But there are options out there for every style if you dig a little. The atmosphere you get from a live band is like nothing else!

2. Know Your Crowd

If you want your reception to be a really great party, you have to know what will work with the people you have coming. Sandra and Daryl knew they had a lot of groups of friends who would be all over getting up and singing a funny song for them to kiss, and their kissing menu reflected that. They knew they had a bunch of people who liked to dance (I mean actual dancing!), and the band was a perfect fit for that. When planning your reception, or getting your emcee to plan things, take a few minutes to think about the people attending and what they like to do for fun. The more people you can get involved, the better your party will be!

3. Have A Plan

Lots of people like to DIY certain parts of their wedding. Doing it yourself is a great way to save yourself some money on an expensive day. But don’t underestimate the amount of time and planning that goes in to putting a wedding together. Sandra took on all her own decor, she had a plan and she pulled it together wonderfully! If you are planning to DIY, or having some of your family take on part of your day instead of hiring someone, take the time to research and make a plan before you start. It will save you so much time and stress when you do!

What is your favourite part of this wedding? Let us know in the comments!