Real Wedding: Summer In Swift Current

Last summer I had the privilege of coordinating the wedding of my dear friend and her husband.

Kelsy and I have been friends since high school, and in fact, she was my maid of honour way back in 2009.  I am so glad she found the perfect person to spend forever with, and their day was absolutely perfect!

Here’s the story of their summer wedding in Swift Current.  Many thanks to Collin Stumpf Photography for the gorgeous photos.

The morning was full of laughter and preparations.  As the ceremony was being set up, the wedding parties were busy making themselves beautiful.  A first look with Kelsy’s dad finished off this special time.

Kelsy and Dustin opted for a first look session, so that their ceremony could be later in the afternoon.  I love a first look!  It’s so intimate and personal compared to the public display at the ceremony.

After the first look the wedding party got some photos then headed out for more in the river hills.  I think the results speak for themselves…I love this location!

After an afternoon of fun, it was time to make it official.  The ceremony felt so intimate nestled in the trees of Hansen Park.  The giant floral arrangements were almost as breathtaking as the bride…ok not even close in that dress.  But they were stunning!

Since photos were already taken care of, we could move straight over into the reception.  Kelsy and Dustin had the amazing idea of handing out Jell-O shots as their ‘receiving line’.  It was such a fun idea and everyone loved it!  The reception was perfect, from the food, to the laughs, to the dance.  Even the bouquet and garter toss were amazing (I’ll admit, often these are cringy, but I guess you just need a top notch DJ to make it awesome).

STEAL IT FROM THEM

Splurge On Florals

I know that everyone has different priorities, but if a decor wow factor is one of yours, stunning florals are a great bet.  You can see in this wedding how they can work in lots of different venues.  In the park, where there was a beautiful backdrop already, they provided a pop to bring your eye into the ceremony.  In the Saloon, where you’d like to distract people from the ‘ruggedness’ of the room, they provide the focal point.  

First Look

I know it’s not traditional, but some traditions are silly.  The idea of not seeing each other before the ceremony dates back to not wanting people to back out of an arranged marriage.  I’m assuming you know what your fiance looks like, so this isn’t really a worry you need to have.  So it really comes down to, how many people would you like to be watching when you first lay eyes on your soon-to-be-spouse all dressed up?

Late Ceremony

I know there’s a standard wedding day timeline around here.  It goes something like this.  One o’clock ceremony, then photos, followed by a five o’clock cocktail hour and dinner at six.  Sound familiar?  Believe it or not, there are other options!  Having a later ceremony that moves straight into cocktails is a great one.  For more details see this post about the pros and cons of different wedding day timelines.

This was such a beautiful wedding to be a part of. Thanks to all the incredible people who worked together to make it happen. I hope it helps you plan your summer wedding in Swift Current!

If you’d like your day managed like Kelsy and Dustin did, schedule a free call to chat about how it works!