When Stephanie and Chris invited me to come to Calgary to photograph their Great Gatsby themed wedding, I didn’t have any second thoughts. I knew Stephanie was an uber talented interior designer and I knew her wedding would reflect her impeccable taste. I also knew she’s a big fan of jazz and old Hollywood movies. After a few months, emails, and one plane ride later, our team arrived in Calgary to the warmest welcome ever. What came next is documented in the photos below!
This stunning couple tied the knot in Calgary where they had a modern, Catholic wedding ceremony at Knox United Church. It had a very old world feel with grand staircases and ornate woodwork. Stephanie said, “It reminds me of Europe,” and I couldn’t agree more. Architecture in Calgary is a whole different subject. As a person who has never been there before, I was pleasantly surprised by the city! It has all kinds of beautiful buildings with intricate architectural work. I also loved the Central Memorial location located in front of an old library with spectacular gardens and fountains.
Did I mention Stephanie and Chris’ love for old romantic movies, jazz music and hollywood parties? Well, that’s how you can sum up their entire wedding day! Stephanie and Chris mixed modern twists with classic Gatsby inspired hints, for a wedding with an old hollywood glamour feel. Stephanie’s eye for interior design was key to bringing her vision to life. The wedding featured dark, elaborate floral arrangements and dramatic decor to create a moody atmosphere as opposed to the traditional pastel summer wedding.
Weddings are a family affair, and one of my favourite moments was when Stephanie’s dad picked her up from the hotel to drive her to the wedding. Their father-daughter reveal was one of the cutest! If you missed it, see it here.
The ceremony room was filled with love as we captured Stephanie’s walk down the aisle in her gorgeous, lace back Pnina Tornai gown. They exchanged vows in front of their friends and family with their son leading them into the ceremony. The crowd was filled with joy and excitement for the couple as they embraced their friends and family members after the ceremony!
One very important thing was to capture their portraits effortlessly. Every time I am photographing my couples that is the look I’m going for. I want their photos to remind them of the moment they were in and the feelings they were experiencing. It was fantastic to see all the raw emotions that each moment provoked throughout the day. We took the couple for a creative session that featured strong architectural elements adding that extra bit of found elegance while letting them still enjoy the moment.
Stephanie and Christopher’s ceremony and creative photos were followed by their friends and family dancing the night away. Everything put into their day reflected the timeless feel of their relationship and highlighted their roots: family.
Stephanie and Christopher, thank you so much for being the sweet couple that you are and inviting Mango Studios to be apart of your big day! I wish you all the best in your new life together!
Did you LOVE this post? Here are some other real weddings you might want to check out:
Outdoor Wedding: Jessica and Chris
Elegant Graydon Hall Wedding
Casa Loma Glass Pavilion Wedding
