I am so excited to share this romantic award-winning wedding on the blog! It’s no surprise 2019 Taryn and Robs wedding won for “Best Destination Wedding Under 50k” for the WPIC Wedding Awards. Of course, we were honoured to be part of this special day. From the endless flowers to the hanging pampas grasses, this wedding is sprinkled with modern flair.

Scroll through these beautiful images from Nomad by NK and be sure to read the memories Taryn and Rob shared about their wedding day.

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS FOR PLANNING AN
OUTDOOR WEDDING?

Don’t JUST prepare for bad weather! Prepare for a hot day as well and consider wind for your ceremony spot. Consider the ground as well as the sky (turns out tulle also doubles as a stick/grass catcher). To be serious, we can’t imagine anything that would have actually ruined the day. However, we let our guests know it would be a more pleasant experience for them if they were not wearing 4-inch stilettos. 

• 

• 

WAS THERE A SPECIFIC WAY YOU HANDLED THE NERVES OF AN OUTDOOR WEDDING?

We both accepted early on that there were things that we wouldn’t be able to control and constantly reminded each other to be mindful of what the day was really about. Weather was a concern, but we agreed that if it rained (or snowed) that we’d simply get wet, and that was okay. We were able to embrace the day without worry because we knew the only thing that really mattered was getting married to one another. 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR VISION FOR THE DAY…

We wanted a (literal) intimate gathering away from city distractions. Having our wedding at The Gathered meant our family and friends from across the country were able to experience the beauty of the Alberta prairies as we did, growing up wild and free. We wanted it to have a true family feel, without the constraints of a corporate venue. We live in Vancouver, so planning remotely was a definite challenge. Our wedding coordinator and the staff at The Gathered were instrumental in helping us bring our vision to life from afar! 

• 

• 

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENT?

We feel really grateful it was so windy on our day. As Taryn was walking down the aisle her hair blew straight into her face, and it made for such a genuine moment of levity and laughter. She stopped midway down the aisle to announce she “couldn’t see a damn thing.” After her father brushed her hair out of her face, Taryn and her parents walked to the alter laughing the whole way. The ceremony was absolutely breathtaking, and the wild wind only added to the beauty and passion of our vows to one another. 

We also have a very distinct memory of turning to one another during dinner and realizing everyone we loved was under one (beautiful clear) roof. The family style dinner was absolutely perfect and we can’t imagine it being any other way. The staff at The Gathered were so accommodating and it really was a magical experience.

• 

• 

IS THERE SPECIFIC MEMORY THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS CHERISH?

There are so many moments we shared that day. From arriving at the venue to our first look to sharing our first meal as husband and wife and having our first dance. There really is no way for us to choose. That’s NOT to say everything went according to plan. We had a minor incident with a cheesecloth set too close to a candle… But at The Gathered all of it just faded into the background and all that was left was love. We danced in the prairie winds the entire day, from the time we first saw each other to when we left.

And we’re still dancing. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO COUPLES IN THE PLANNING PROCESS?

Be open. Trust each other. A kite flies on a string, not a stick, so try not to get caught up in controlling moments instead of experiencing them. 

Side note: social media can be great for inspiration, but it can also be a curse. Don’t let staged weddings make you question your decisions. Let it be your day and don’t worry about what it will “look like” for other people. 

IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT?

People continue to talk about the experience of our day. They never reduce our wedding to its parts but speak about it as a whole experience. 

• 

• 

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT SURPRISED YOU?

SUPER CLICHE – but the day truly goes by so fast. We’re so thankful we hired the right people to keep us organized and capture the moments we couldn’t be there for. 

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF?

SUNSCREEN! Everyone will scare you about rain (and snow), but we never thought that we would luck out. As Taryn was preparing for a hailstorm, we should have been putting sunscreen on the best man. 

WHAT DID YOU LOVE ABOUT HAVING YOUR ROMANTIC WEDDING WITH A MODERN FLAIR AT THE GATHERED?

We loved we could truly make it our own. When we first spoke with Alysa and Elaine, we asked for a blank canvas. They said the only thing we couldn’t do was “uproot a tree, or steal a goat”. They were charming and accommodating from the beginning. Additionally, every single staff member blew us away with their level of service. 

Dress: Pearl & Dot

Florals: Foxglove Studio

Photography: Nomad by NK

Planner: Morgan & Vine 

Makeup: Bellamore Beauty

Hair: Carrie Van Norman 

Live Ceremony Music: Mike Todd & Jeremy Gignoux