Our wedding was perfect. I know this is something so many people say, which is a blessing when you consider the anticipation, planning and nerves that go into the day. But it truly was!

We made it a priority to set out specific intentions at the beginning of the planning process. This made for the most wonderful, romantic and true-to-us days we could have dreamed of.

our wedding intentions

One of our main goals was to make everyone feel like they had gathered for a family dinner. The Gathered was the absolute perfect place for that. The outdoor setting and the never-ending possibilities of the space, it was the perfect blank slate for our dream wedding to take shape.

Another priority to us was that we saw this day as the beginning of our marriage. This actually took a lot of the pressure off of what a “wedding” should look like. We didn’t feel the need to do things that weren’t true to who we are. This was our celebration and we wanted it to be a perfect representation of us and our marriage.

One of the best things we did to mitigate stress and nerves was to have a first look. For this, Samuel and I actually went to Canmore. I know, who is crazy enough to drive out from Calgary to the mountains to do their first look. But our team of photographers and videographers saw our vision and were happy to take on the challenge of this morning adventure. This actually turned out to be one of our favourite parts of the day.

Having a first look meant Samuel and I got to share some alone time, which as everyone knows is scarce throughout the day. The first look set the tone for the rest of the day because the anticipation of ‘seeing your bride’ was over. This made the rest of the day completely relaxed and easy-going.

the ceremony…

Walking down the aisle was a really special moment. Our tribe was there watching as I walked towards our forever. The fact that all of these people were there to support us made this moment even more incredible.  

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After the ceremony was over and we were walking back down the aisle as a now-married couple turned out to be a really emotional time for us. We both looked at each other and started to sob.

Received by all

We stood in a beautiful area of the garden waiting to greet everyone in a receiving line. To be able to kiss and hug each of our friends and family was wonderful. The fact that they took time out of their busy lives to come to support our love was something we will hold in our hearts forever.

It was an emotional and sweaty mess, but it was by far one of our most cherished parts of the day. This allowed us to take a moment with each guest and thank them for being with us. In the excitement of dinner and the reception, it can be hard to have a moment with everyone individually. The receiving line was the perfect way to celebrate with each guest. This way we could share with them the special part they played at the beginning of our marriage.

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a dreamy reception…

There are actually a couple of things that people continue to talk about from our wedding day. We did things a little more “our style” by having our father’s face off in a ping pong match. We joked that the bride and groom would take the last name of whoever won the match. Samuel and I thought this was a true representation of us and our families because games after dinner is something both our families do.

Of course, the staff at the Gathered were happy to accommodate this request and any other visions that we had for the day outside the norm.

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oh the food…

Even though this match was wild, the thing that almost every single guest still raves about is the FOOD. This was one of the most important things to us as a couple since our intention was a celebration that felt like a family dinner. The Gathered delivered. The menu was curated with such love, every detail down to the spices, herbs, and their commitment to growing or locally sourcing each item that is on the plate was truly felt with every bite.

Honestly, I could go on about this but for simplicity’s sake I will say; I would choose this beautiful venue over and over again simply based on the food. 

One thing to keep in mind while your planning your wedding is to choose vendors that see your vision and are willing to work with your dream. The Gathered was absolutely everything we could have wished for in a venue. They made it the most memorable day. 

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Our day was perfect because it felt effortless and this is in part due to The Gathered. Their incredible attention to detail and level of professionalism was undeniable. They had the ability to move throughout the day’s events without distracting from anything. We cannot thank them enough for the effort and pride that goes into creating a beautiful garden, the tent, and every bite of food.

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Images: https://www.romanceyourwild.com/