My 5 Favourite Venues from 2019 - Edmonton Edition

I love getting to explore so many interesting places as part of my job. Discovering both new and traditional venues is such a fun experience, especially when decor can change the look and feel so dramatically.

These are my five favourite wedding venues in Edmonton from the 2019 season. I would go back in a heartbeat!

1. The Parlour Italian Kitchen and Bar

https://centuryhospitality.com/parlour/

Stephen and Jason chose this venue for their wedding reception, and it could not have been a more perfect fit. The Parlour is classy, elegant and in a great location for that evening sun - the magical golden hour we photographers and videographers can't get enough of! The staff were helpful and friendly, the food is amazing and I love the interior design with one rustic brick wall.

2. Aga Khan - U of A Botanical Gardens

https://botanicgarden.ualberta.ca/weddings-functions/weddings/

This garden has become one of my all time favourite ceremony venues. When I'm here, I don't feel like I'm in Edmonton. I don't even feel like I'm in Alberta. I feel as though I could be in Japan or China in the midst of nature. The clean minimalism, the movement and stillness of the water features, the surrounding trees all combine to make an environment of serenity, beauty and bliss. I feel an inner peace here for sure.

3. Snow Valley

https://www.thelodgeatsnowvalley.ca/weddings.php

I love this venue for both ceremonies and receptions. The location is amazing, you are really in the valley and can totally immerse yourself in your event. The interiors of the lodge have a rustic yet elegant feel, and I particularly love the ceiling lights. It has its own separate space for a dance floor which doesn't require having to move table and chairs which is great!

4. The Royal Palace

http://www.theroyalpalace.ca

A newer and up and coming venue, I was very pleasantly surprised with the layout inside. The addition of an upper floor makes for some great shots and a grand entrance that can have you entering from a staircase! The staff were very accommodating and helpful, and the food was absolutely delicious. I would go back just for the food!

5. Beaumont Community Centre

https://www.beaumont.ab.ca/431/Community-Centre

This one is a little further afield, but I wanted to mention it because the space is honestly amazing. It's a huge hall with big windows that create a beautiful light and airy look. I filmed here on one of the longest days of the year and once again that golden hour was spectacular! The space is a blank canvas in the sense that you can totally make it your own depending on what decor you go for.

Ainsley and James - Jasper, January 18th

Anyone in Alberta knows how intense the cold has been this past couple of weeks. It did not subside much for Ainsley and James' wedding day, but that did not stop them from having the outdoor ceremony they wanted!

I always love shooting weddings in the mountains, it's hard not to. Jasper is one of my favourite places in the world, whatever the season it is utterly spectacular.

Ainsley and James chose the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for their venue, and what an incredible place it is.

Chad and Celeen - Edmonton, November 23rd

When I first met Chad and Celeen, I couldn't help but fall in love with them. They are so incredibly sweet and sincere.

At the time of our first meeting, the only location they had confirmed for their wedding was the ceremony - St. Joseph's Basilica.

I am always filled with a sense of awe when I enter this majestic building. I was SO excited to learn this would be where they were getting married. It's a challenging place to film simply due to its scale. I want to do justice to the magnitude of the building, but also to the details in the architecture and stain glass. It's such an inspiring place to be!

My day did not start at the Basilica, however. It started at the JW Marriott Hotel in downtown Edmonton, which is an incredibly elegant and impressive hotel.

Celeen and Chad had separate rooms on the fourteenth floor with some of the best views of Edmonton I've ever seen. There was an air of excitement and nervousness, but the joy felt by both of them was palpable. They are the most perfect fit in every way.

We were also gifted a beautiful sunny day, above zero! It was a cool 8 or 9 degrees, with a light wind.

The couple each wrote a letter to one another which they read before leaving the hotel, and I can't wait to tell their story in film! Let's just say there were tears...

The ceremony was one of the longest I have ever recorded, around 1 and a half hours. It was a privilege to have creative freedom in such a magnificent space for this length of time. Again, I am so excited to create this film for them!

The rest of the day was full of fun and laughter. We lost light fairly quickly during the photo session, with it being this time of year. Luckily we were able to get plenty of variety with multiple locations, my favourite being the Royal Alberta Museum and the Muttart.

Their wedding reception was held at The Grand Imperial, which is as impressive as it sounds. I would especially recommend their catering - the food was insanely delicious!

The highlight of the evening, however, had to be Chad's choreographed dance with his groomsmen for Celeen! So much fun.

This young couple have already had seven years together, and the future holds so many more for them. The best is yet to come!