In a picturesque setting beneath the open sky, surrounded by the lush greenery of nature, Danielle and Chris embarked on their enchanting journey of love in a breathtaking wedding celebration. With their hearts set on an intimate gathering that felt more like a cozy outdoor dinner party with cherished friends and family, every detail of their special day exuded warmth, love, and joy.

For Danielle and Chris, the vision was clear from the start – an outdoor dinner party filled with their favourite people. Long tables stretched elegantly across the venue, adorned with simple yet sophisticated decor, creating an atmosphere of togetherness and camaraderie.

We can’t wait for you to dive into this blog post. We’re immensely grateful to Danielle for generously sharing her insights and answering all our questions with such care and thoughtfulness. Her dedication shines through in every word, as she fills the post with a treasure trove of tips and details that are sure to inspire couples planning their own outdoor wedding. From heartfelt touches to practical advice, Danielle’s expertise transforms this post into a valuable resource for anyone seeking to create their dream celebration under the open sky.

WAS THERE A THEME TO YOUR WEDDING?

Outdoor dinner party with our favourite people.
The long tables were a must for me. I wanted it to feel like we were just having fun with our friends
and family.
For aesthetics, we went more neutral & simple.

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

Having an outdoor wedding has always been my dream and plan, so it was an easy choice. But it
doesn’t come without its stress and worry. You need to commit that if you’re having an
outdoor wedding, you will try to let go of the things out of your control.

Anytime I would say to Chris (my husband), “What if it rains?”, he would say, “We wanted an outdoor
wedding, and we will love it if it’s sunny and we will love it if it rains.” And it’s true. No matter what
the weather is on the day of your wedding – it’s your wedding day. It’s going to be magical.
Some ways I tried to be prepared for outdoor options were baskets with sunscreen, fly spray, and
paper fans. Baskets with umbrellas and having blankets available. Powdered sunscreen was also key for a less greasy look! I also wrote on our wedding website and our invites encouraging people to
wear appropriate footwear and bring a jacket for the evening.

At the end of the day, the weather is out of your control. It could rain, snow or be 40 degrees, or
smokey. Embrace it.

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

We loved The Gathered so much!! We wanted to celebrate our love with all of our favourite people, hang out with them all day, playing lawn games, relaxing, dancing, and sharing good food together. The Gathered was exactly that. A stunning property. The beautiful cottage, the clear tent so we could see the night sky, the lights everywhere, the firepits, the beautiful trees. So many perfect add-ons: The lawn games, the donuts, the grazing table.

Elaine and Alysa were so kind and helpful at our meetings. Elaine came out during our dinner and ensured each table was enjoying their meal. They were just amazing. People are still talking about our wedding day, how perfect it was, and how amazing the property and the food was. It was truly perfect. Thank you to The Gathered! 

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF?

There’s nothing that I really would have changed.
I have seen in a few weddings since ours, where the bride and groom stand on opposite sides of
their parents, so your parents can see your face during the ceremony. I love the idea of this, and
wish I had thought of this for our day.

DID YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MOMENT OF THE DAY?

The first look with our private vows, the toasts, and the ceremony.
Then probably the Ceremony. Which surprised me. I planned the wedding, and every
detail, but the ceremony I didn’t have much say in. Our friend married us and wrote the speech,
another friend read a poem that I wanted as a surprise, and Chris and I wrote our vows. So I
had no idea what to expect. We were both a little nervous about the ceremony, we didn’t want it to be boring and dragged out.

Walking down the aisle with my Dad to the band playing.
Seeing all of our favourite people smiling at us made me so happy.

We had one of our friends marry us, and I had no idea what she had prepared. She read a poem
about the ocean and the mountains (I’m from Newfoundland, and Chris is from Calgary), and that
poem was so beautiful and perfect. Chris and I both laughed and cried at the altar, our guests laughed and cried, and it was so relaxed
and chill.

When we walked back down the aisle, one of my uncles high-fived us, and it caught on, and then
everyone high-fived us, and it was so fun and such a happy time! It was so perfect and better than I could have imagined.

Everyone’s speeches were a close second. They were one of the few things on the wedding
day that was a surprise to me! Each speech was so so good. Heartfelt, funny, and made us
feel so special. I think people are starting to move away from toasts, but we loved them!

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

Enjoy it.
It comes and goes so fast, and then it’s done.
I tried to make everything into a date!

• Venue hunting – date day.
• Dress shopping – a wine date with the girls.
• Suit shopping – dinner date.
• Floral planning – wine date with the girls.
• Picking our songs – cocktails by the fire listening to song choices.
  … It sounds like my other advice is wine. haha.

IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PEOPLE KEEP TALKING ABOUT?

You guessed it – The food!! My only regret from the day was not eating more. The food was
absolutely amazing and the people really are still talking about it.

People also still talk about the Band – The Two Bit Bandits. They were so good and kept the
dance floor full all night!!

Honestly, people keep talking about the full day. They loved the venue, the food, the view, the fun
we had, the band, the dancing, the speeches, everything.

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

Being organized helped me stay calm and less stressed during the planning process.
I had lists on lists on lists. I had a post-it note wall. My mom also came for the month before the
wedding to help with tasks – and she might be the biggest help that de-stressed me!
I also tried to continually remind myself that it will all come together, and while the tiny details are
nice, no one remembers that. People remember the feeling of the day and the love that was
shared.
One of my bridesmaid’s motto is “It is what it is.”, and we said that a lot leading up to the wedding! If
something wasn’t exactly as planned – It is what it is. It’ll all work out.
Chris was also a great destresser. He is very calm and level-headed and helps ground me when I
get too excited!

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU?

For me, I was actually surprised at how relaxed I was. I thought I would worry about how things
were turning out, and if everything was perfect. But on the day, I was so happy, and relaxed, and I felt
like I truly lived in the moment.
Chris answered this question as well and his answer was perfect:
“I was surprised at how happy I was, I don’t think I have ever truly felt joy like I did on our wedding
day. I couldn’t believe the love that was surrounding us that day!”

“Enchanting Outdoor Dinner Party”

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

We have our custom cocktail sign on a shelf in our house, as well as some flowers from our arch in a
vase.
I did dry my flowers, but I haven’t done anything with them yet.

WHAT VALUES DID YOU HAVE FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY?

I wanted our wedding day to be about celebrating our love with our favourite people. An enchanting outdoor dinner party with our closest friends and family. Which is why we chose The Gathered as a venue.

We tried to honour our parents at every step, and include them in whatever ways we could.
And celebrating us – being with each other, and having time together was a priority.

WHAT EXPERIENCE DID YOU WANT TO CREATE FOR GUESTS?

We wanted to spend time with everyone, especially having so many people travel. That was one of
the other reasons we chose the Gathered. To have everyone in one place for the whole
day so we could spend the most time with them. We were able to see everyone during cocktail
hour, and dinner, and then dance the night away with them!

Good food, good music, and good people. I may be biased, but I think we nailed it. It truly was the best day ever!

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

We tried to incorporate some aspects from our parents and grandparents.
I wore my Grandma’s pearl ring since she couldn’t come to the wedding and I wore a ring my parents gave me when I was little.

We used my parent’s cake knife and server, and Chris’ parent’s cake topper from the 80’s. Additionally, we had a plate of cake set aside for Chris’ Grandma. When she passed away she told Chris to save her
a piece of cake at the wedding. I loved our cake table so much. It was a simple cake, but there was
so much meaning at that table.

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

One of our favourite memories together was our golden hour photos.
I struggled to leave the dance floor for these photos because I was having so much fun. But I am so
glad we did!
It was truly the only moment of the entire day that we were alone.
I remember standing with Chris and taking a deep breath, really soaking it in. A moment for just us.
It was so calming to be out in the field, flowers everywhere, the sun setting, and just holding each
other.

Thanks for reading!

Wow – such amazing answers from an amazing couple that means so much to us.

In the end, what stood out most was the palpable sense of love and happiness that permeated every aspect of Danielle and Chris’s enchanting outdoor dinner party. It was more than just a celebration; it was a testament to the power of love, family, and the simple joys of sharing a meal with the ones we hold closest to our hearts.

As the stars twinkled overhead and the night drew to a close, Danielle and Chris looked around at their loved ones, their hearts overflowing with gratitude. In that moment, surrounded by the ones they cherished most, they knew that their outdoor wedding had been everything they had dreamed of and more – a perfect beginning to a lifetime of love and happiness together.

Photographer Westy Rae Photography
Video String Lights Film
Day of Coordination Fiore Fine Events
Decor @Craft_night_with_lp and Leighton Designs
The Band The Two Bit Bandits
Audiobook Confetti Call
Florals @sweetivyyyc
Cake @lepanierpleinyyc
Dress Bridal Boutique
Suit Indochino
Hair @hairbypaige_
Make up @makeupbycar.g & @ssamanthahislop