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Ethereal Weekend-Long Lake Louise Wedding

February 25, 2023 | justine

Samantha and Jacob’s ethereal Lake Louise wedding was a sight to behold. Their goal was to have an adventurous elopement without having to sacrifice tradition, and they absolutely nailed it. The pair chose a stunning location in the Canadian Rockies to set the stage for their weekend-long affair and not only that, their timeless aesthetic, airy florals, and all-white color palette elevated the romantic vibe. Talk about a magical celebration of love!

With the majestic mountains, a sparkling lake, and alpine trees as a backdrop, the two exchanged beautiful heartfelt vows under a fabric-draped chuppah. After the ceremony, the couple explored the surrounding areas and went on a canoe ride for some breathtaking portraits in nature. Though the scenic views were hard to top, the true highlight was their reception at the Victoria ballroom. The space featured large windows that perfectly framed the surrounding landscape. Here guests were treated to a fondue dinner and wine on elegant candle-filled tablescapes.    

With captivating scenery, delicious food, and a whole lot of love, their big day is a reminder of what truly matters, your love. And thankfully, Henry Tieu was there to capture all the luxurious details and unforgettable moments that are sure to blow you away. 

The Couple:

Samantha and Jake

The Wedding:

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Canada

How They Landed On A Weekend-Long Wedding Lake Louise Wedding

When we began wedding planning, we were looking for a fundamentally different type of event that struck a balance between a “traditional” wedding and adventure elopement. We wanted to host our family and friends for a weekend of incredible food and fun in a rugged and adventurous setting that felt luxurious and comfortable for guests with various comfort levels with being outdoors. And we smashed it with the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Our guests could walk, hike, canoe, or simply sit on the gorgeous terrace and enjoy the views. In terms of design, our wedding day vibe was ethereal, romantic, and contemporary. We leaned into ethereal fabrics and textures. We’re incredibly fortunate that instead of having a dream wedding day, we had an epic wedding week adventure with 80 of our closest family and friends.

Giving Their Guests Practical Welcome Bags

We intentionally gave welcome bags for all our guests instead of wedding favors. I’m a strong advocate for functionality, and the welcome bags would be a delightful surprise for our guests as they checked into their hotel rooms. We included a combination of functional items for the weather and our planned activities, post-celebration survival essentials, some of our favorite treats, and an ode to our wedding destination, maple cream cookies.

Kicking Off Their Wedding Weekend With A Bachelorette Party And Rehearsal Dinner

I have moved around quite a bit, so naturally, my bridesmaids lived across the country. We decided to host my bachelorette party in Kananaskis a few days before the rest of our guests arrived. This maximized our time in beautiful Alberta and meant that my gals didn’t have to make two separate PTO requests and needed only one flight instead of two. We relaxed at the Nordic hydrotherapy spa, had a pizza party and pajama party, and then went to Lake Louise to hike the iconic Lake Agnes Tea House hike. The party concluded, and we celebrated the official start of our wedding weekend with an unbelievable rehearsal dinner with our wedding party. We worked with the fantastic Post Hotel Lake Louise team to plan a four-course dinner with sommelier-selected wine and creative non-alcoholic pairings.

Making Their Day More Meaningful With Personal Touches

We had several meaningful, memorable parts on our special day. Jacob and I wrote private letters to each other that we read while getting ready. We also wrote personal vows for one another that we read to each other during our ceremony, and we’re going to cherish these forever. We agreed that one of our favorite parts of the day was Yichud. It’s customary for the newly married couple to share some time in privacy to reflect on the wedding ceremony and rejoice in their new life. During yichud, we fed each other cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres and got to try our signature cocktails. After yichud, we celebrate.

Taking Their Guests To Their Fave Spot And Treating Them To A Farewell Brunch

On Saturday, we hosted our guests for an afternoon at Moraine Lake. We fell in love with Moraine Lake the first time we visited, so it was great to experience one of the most beautiful places in the world (in my humble opinion) with our favorite people. We also had one of our favorite local places—Trailhead Cafe—cater wraps and sweets, which made the afternoon even better! The day after the wedding, we hosted a farewell brunch in honor of Jacob’s favorite meal. Then following our brunch, we hit the road for more intimate adventuring. We spent the next two days with our planner, videographer, and photographer, hiking, canoeing, and experiencing even more epic views.

Wedding Planning Advice: Start With Your Guest List

If you’re not sure where to start, start with building your guest list. Having an early understanding of the number of people you couldn’t imagine getting married without is helpful for budgeting and finding a venue. From there, focus on the things and people who are meaningful to you. Our guiding philosophy: “People will never forget how you made them feel.” So we wanted our guests to feel loved and included.

Planning A Wedding That Showcased Their Love Story

We planned a wedding celebration and adventure that captured the essence of “us.” We feel fortunate that we got to say “I do” and share this once-in-a-lifetime trip with our closest family and friends in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. After the wedding, we had multiple people thank us for motivating them to take a trip outside their comfort zone. This was meaningful, considering all our guests went out of their way to travel to Lake Louise to be with us. Not a small ask, but they did it with love!

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Henry Tieu photography
Event Planning – Rain and Pines
Ceremony +Reception Venue – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Floral Design – Goldenrod Floral
Activities Day Catering – Trailhead Cafe
Officiant – Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Live Music – Supersonic Hearts Band
Videography – Integra Wedding Films
Invitation Design – Robinson Creative House
Makeup Artist – Shalonda Peguero 
Bridesmaid Makeup Artist – Bloom Bridal & Beauty Co.
Hair Styling – En Vogue Banff
Wedding Dress – Lovella Bridal
Groom’s Apparel – Indochino
Groomsmen Grooming – Beatnik Salon
Rehearsal Dinner – Post Hotel Lake Louise
Rentals – Modern Rentals
Transportation – Universal Coach Lines

 

Congratulations to Samantha and Jacob on their ethereal weekend-long Lake Louise wedding. And a big thank you to Henry Tieu for capturing all the beauty, love, and joy of the most unforgettable day of their lives.

Remember: the goal during your wedding planning season is to create a wedding that feels authentic to you. By infusing unique elements of your relationship into every aspect of your celebration, you’ll create a truly memorable experience for yourselves and your guests. To help you get started, check out our guide for insights on designing a wedding that captures the essence of your love story. 

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Modern and Timeless Southwestern La Fonda on the Plaza Wedding

February 24, 2023 | Junebug Weddings

Eliza and Taylor gave Southwestern chic an upgrade with their modern La Fonda on the Plaza wedding. From the vintage details to the neutral color palette, and even the couple’s swoon-worthy Southern-inspired fashion—this celebration was packed full of personality, culture, and effortless style. 

The lovebirds started their day with an outdoor ceremony decorated with dried desert flowers and endless sunshine. The bride wore a sophisticated long-sleeve gown paired with a floral crown and gorgeous fringe veil. The groom rocked a muted green suit with a bolo tie After saying “I do” the pair led their loved ones to the reception space featuring tablescapes with terracotta details, vintage postcard table cards, and desert-hue blooms.  

This couple put their all into designing a timeless celebration genuine to their love, and we’re so glad talented photographer ​​Alicia Lucia was there to capture every bit of it. Keep scrolling for desert chic wedding inspiration you’ll want to use as an influence for your big day.

The Couple:

Eliza and Taylor

The Wedding:

La Fonda on the Plaza, Texas, United States

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Alicia Lucia Photography 
Event Planning – Just Lovely Weddings
Ceremony + Reception Venue – La Fonda on the Plaza
Floral Design – Floriography Flowers
Cake – Maggie’s Wedding Cakes
DJ – Desert Disco Music
Invitation Design – Reb Peters Letterpress
Makeup Artist + Hair Stylist – Amy of A.Salon Santa Fe
Wedding Dress – Scout Bridal
Bridal Accessories – Ofrenda Studio
Groom’s Apparel – High Society
Rentals – Darling Details Rentals

 

Congratulations to Eliza and Taylor on their dreamy La Fonda on the Plaza wedding and thank you to Alicia Lucia for sharing these sweet “I do’s” with us. 

If you’re looking to plan a desert chic wedding where florals take center stage, then a florist should be at the top of your priority list. Not sure where to start? Check out some of our favorite florists in our directory of top vendors from around the world.  

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How To Plan A Bachelor Party

February 23, 2023 | riley

Spending one last weekend with some of your best friends is one of the best ways to celebrate becoming a married man. As you get older, you may find it hard to get everyone together the way you used to when you were younger. That’s why hosting a bachelor party the groom will remember for the rest of his life is an absolute must before the big day. 

We understand that there are a lot of moving parts that go into planning one, though. From figuring out who does all of the planning to choosing a date and organizing activities, it can be stressful. Especially if you’re not used to planning big events like this. That’s why we’re breaking down everything you need to know to plan the bachelor party of a lifetime.

Bachelor Party FAQs

Who Plans The Bachelor Party?

Unlike planning a bachelorette party, there’s not typically one specific person who does most of the bachelor party planning. In fact, according to a study done by The Knot, it was found that 41% of those studied had their friends plan it, while 39% said that the best man took on the planning. If you’re the best man, don’t need to hesitate to reach out to other friends for help. And if you’re the groom, there’s nothing wrong with hosting your own party, either!

When Do You Host The Party?

The last thing you want is to deal with a killer hangover on your wedding day. That’s why having the bachelor party ahead of time is key. Most parties take place one to three months before the big day. If your partner is having a bachelorette party, it’s wise to plan them over the same weekend. This way, you’re both out of town at the same time and can come together with wild stories to talk about once it’s over. 

If you are hosting a party out of town, you’ll want to start planning three to six months before you jet off. This gives you plenty of time to get everyone on the same schedule, purchase all of the decorations, and plan activities.

When’s The Best Time Of Year To Plan A Party?

If the schedule permits, hosting the bachelor party over a holiday weekend allows you to spend more time with your friends and family without running the risk of using your PTO. Some holidays–like Labor Day and Memorial Day–come with incredible weather, too, so you can spend your time by the water if you’re planning on a lake or beach day. Just be mindful that typically hotels and flights cost more over long weekends, and your destination may be a bit busier. 

Is The Groom Involved?

As we mentioned earlier, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to whether or not the groom is involved. You can be as involved or as hands-off as you want. Sometimes they like to be completely surprised, while others enjoy being a big part of the planning. It is their weekend, after all.

Who’s Invited To The Bachelor Party?

The bachelor party should include everyone that matters most to the groom–think groomsmen, best man, and any other close friends they may want there with them. When you begin party planning, reach out to everyone that the groom wants there to give them a heads up. This will help determine who’s interested and help you get a rough estimate of who can attend and who isn’t available. 

Do You Need To Send Out Invitations?

Unless you really want to send out invites, feel free to skip them. Doing so saves you time and money. Instead, send out a group chat with all the details (aka date, location, etc.). This allows for a quick conversation and easy access to all the information when needed. 

Are Gifts Required?

Just like invitations, gifts are not required for bachelor parties. You may want to bring something small as a token of appreciation for the groom, but it’s not necessary. Not sure what to bring? Great gift ideas include alcohol, cigars, or sports equipment or merch. If gifts aren’t your thing, you can also cover one of the activities during the party, such as dinner out or a round of drinks.  

How To Plan A Bachelor Party

Figure Out The Guest List

When figuring out the guest list, include all of the groomsmen and the best man. From there, you can also include any friends that the groom wants in attendance. The most important thing is that whoever tags along should also be invited to the wedding. 

Choose A Location And Date

Where you host the bachelor party determines the budget, the attendees, the decor, and the activities. That’s why figuring it out early on is so important. Whether the groom wants to see their favorite team play or wants to get away to Vegas for a weekend full of drinks and gambling, it’s crucial you figure this out before booking lodging and transportation. If it’s a destination party, you may find that some cannot attend for various reasons–such as work or money.

In terms of when it takes place, remember that you can’t please everyone. If the groom and a majority of his groomsmen can make it, that’s all that matters. Of course, you want everyone to be able to make it, but don’t stress yourself out trying to make that happen.

Book Lodging And Transportation

Before you book lodging and transportation, have a final number in mind. This way, you won’t get stuck paying for an Airbnb that’s too expensive and too big for your guest count. Although final numbers may change some, this will prevent any drastic changes that can hurt your wallets. 

If you’re planning on traveling for the party, we recommend booking an Airbnb over a hotel. At an Airbnb, everyone can stay together, cook meals together (which helps you save money), and be in one easy-to-reach, central location throughout the weekend. It also makes parking much easier, too. 

Plan Activities

Contrary to popular belief, there’s a lot more to do at a bachelor party than drink for a weekend straight. Although we imagine the alcohol is going to be constantly flowing, it’s also vital that you plan some activities. This can include lounging by the pool, going to a concert or comedy club, hanging out at a casino, or a couple of rounds of golf. You want an itinerary that isn’t too structured. That way, you have wiggle room for laying low if you need some time to recover. 

Finalize Who’s Coming

Once you have the Airbnb picked out and how everyone is going to arrive at the destination, you can finalize who’s attending. When you’ve made it to this step, you can let everyone know that once they’re confirmed, there is no backing out. This means agreeing to all of the expenses and activities. 

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