Have you ever dreamed of having your ceremony in the mountains and a reception to remember in the prairies?! That is just what Miranda and Ruben did on their wedding day. After an intimate ceremony, they joined their friends and family at the farm for a big celebration full of laughter and lots of dancing!

WHAT ARE SOME TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHILE PLANNING AN OUTDOOR WEDDING?

Plan for different weather scenarios but then let go of any stress or anxiety about it. We probably spent more time than we needed to worrying about things we couldn’t change!

DID YOU HAVE ANY DIY PROJECTS FOR YOUR WEDDING?

Many! I did all of the signage myself and had a “Mrs.” jacket that I DIY’d just for the occasion. We also did our own music so crafting our playlist was another labour of love!

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

We tried to keep our reason for it all in perspective and remember that at the end of the day, we would be married to each other. This helped us focus on making the day feel like “us” rather than feeling picture perfect- but I’d say that wine helps too. 

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENTS OF THE DAY?

My husband and I included so many moments throughout the day for the two of us to connect. We had an intimate ceremony in the mountains and then headed back to our hotel to take a break before the reception. It helped us feel like our day was ours and we could soak in every moment together.

DO YOU HAVE ONE SPECIFIC MEMORY THAT YOU WILL CHERISH AS A COUPLE?

We both remember walking into down the road into our reception and seeing all of our friends and family for the first time that day. It made us feel so loved and grateful to all be there together!

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

It’s your day so do what you want! From the beginning, we were committed to having a celebration that reflected who we are as a couple, without anyone else’s influence and that’s exactly what it was. We also picked a few things that were most important to us; food, venue, and a mountain ceremony in our case. Prioritizing those above having the perfect DJ or a ton of florals, we picked what matters most to you and go from there. 

IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT?

The food of course! Everything was incredible. And the fact that the bride never left the dance floor.

WHAT DID YOU LOVE ABOUT HAVING YOUR WEDDING AT THE GATHERED FARM?

Honestly everything! The property is beautiful, and the incredible staff took care of everything and made it so easy for us. The food was amazing and the lawn games were a hit with everyone! We absolutely got the big backyard party we imagined and got to just show up and enjoy every second. 

DID YOU INCORPORATE ANY PERSONAL MEMENTOS OR FAMILY HEIRLOOMS IN YOUR WEDDING?

Yes, my husband’s wedding band was passed down from his late Opa. Having his Oma there to witness him wearing it for the first time felt so special to us both. 

DO YOU PLAN TO REPURPOSE ANY OF YOUR DECOR, IF SO HOW? 

The Gathered is so naturally stunning that we had minimal decor but we are planning to use some of the frames from our signage to decorate our baby’s nursery.

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT AN OUTDOOR WEDDING? 

Yes! My husband grew up on a farm and we both loved the idea of having a wedding that felt like a big backyard party with all of our favourite people.

WERE THERE ANY PLANS YOU STARTED WITH THAT YOU CHANGED LAST MINUTE?

We planned to do a sparkler send-off, but in the end, we felt like pulling our guests out of the moment for a photo-op wasn’t the right move for us. 

Photography: Modern Nest Photography

A Reception to Remember