Holly + Ben are one of the most relaxed couples I have worked with! They are both so easygoing and calm – there was no doubt in my mind that they would enjoy their wedding day to the fullest.

Their outdoor ceremony was held at Ben’s family acreage just outside of Devon, AB. The property was absolutely beautiful as the family had worked hard all year preparing for the wedding. Their efforts definitely paid off – the lawn was perfectly manicured and gorgeous flowers were in bloom everywhere! Here’s a shot of the lovely trellis that served as the focal point for Holly + Ben’s ceremony:

Holly + Ben chose a really unique format for their wedding reception. After the ceremony they held a private dinner for their bridal party in the Fantasyland Hotel’s L2 Grill before heading upstairs to join guests at their cocktail reception. This gave them the opportunity to spend some quality time with their closest friends.

Here’s a look at Holly + Ben’s relaxed, fun-loving day, courtesy of Shandro Photo:

Check out Shandro Photo’s blog post on Holly + Ben’s special day, and while you’re there be sure to spend some time looking at their awesome work!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: Shandro Photo.

Here’s a sneak peak at Danielle + Danny’s romantic Banff wedding:

You can find more stunning images on photographer Perry Thompson’s blog!

Jennifer

Photo Credit: Perry Thompson Photography.

I am thrilled and honoured to announce that Jennifer Bergman Weddings has been invited by Style Me Pretty (the wedding blog of all wedding blogs) to be a part of their prestigious Little Black Book:

“…a highly edited collection of wedding service providers –
from mom and pop boutiques to A-Listers.
Bottom line, these vendors are the best of the best.”

Here’s a link to our vendor profile, which we’ll continue to update with our stunning weddings of 2010. Don’t forget to check out the Style Me Pretty blog for amazing wedding inspiration and eye candy!

Jennifer

Despite all the rain we’ve been subject to in July, the 17th was sunny and warm for Tammy + Chris’ wedding day. The late afternoon ceremony was held at the Christian Reformed Church of St. Albert, and it was followed by a fabulous reception at the St. Albert Community Hall.

Tammy knew she wanted the décor to be sexy and chic with a little bit of ‘bling’ – other than those brief instructions she gave me free reign to design the room (a wedding planner’s dream)! One of Chris’ requests for the wedding was to have a wedding pie instead of cake – it was a great personal touch.

Ashgrove Catering served a delicious meal, and the gorgeous flowers were arranged by Panda Flowers St. Albert. Thanks to Gayeung for assisting me, and to Jenna and Darla for helping with setup.

Here’s a shot of the Hall before:

…and after the transformation:

Tammy + Chris: thanks for allowing me to share in your day. Enjoy your weekend at the Hotel Macdonald!

Jennifer

Nicole + Ryan were married on July 10th at Grace Point Church of God in southeast Edmonton. Nicole was such an elegant, graceful bride (which is no surprise considering her dance background). The music at the ceremony was performed by Erica Viegas – an amazingly talented local artist.

Here’s a look at Nicole + Ryan’s beautiful day, courtesy of Harm’s Photography. You can see more of Harm’s work on his Facebook Fan Page.

Nicole and her honourary bridesmaid!

…and here are a few more shots of the reception room at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair Golf Club, beautifully decorated by Elegant Touches. Flowers were arranged by Kelly of Kate Ashton Florists.

Congratulations, Nicole + Ryan! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your day!

Jennifer and Krista

Dorothy + Chad were married in Jasper, Alberta over the May long weekend (you may remember the sneak peek I shared a while back). I began working with this down-to-earth couple in February 2009, and after 15 months of planning it was so wonderful to see them enjoy the day with their family and friends in the Rockies.

The wedding reception was held at The Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, and the day was captured beautifully by A Different Angle Photography. Guests danced the night away to tunes played by DJ Tommy of Jasper’s Alpine Music. Special thanks to Christine for assisting me throughout the day.

Dorothy + Chad’s son, Chase, is the cutest little boy! He had the important job of being the ring bearer at the ceremony.

The ceremony was held at one of the lookouts on Jasper’s Pyramid Lake Island. A handmade wooden sign pointed guests in the right direction.

This wagon pulled the flower girl and ring bearer down the aisle, while announcing the bride’s entrance! How cute is that!?

It’s tough work bearing rings!

Dorothy’s beautiful, rustic bouquet – all flowers were arranged by the wonderful team at Elysion Florals. As a surprise for the couple, I had two wooden tags made with Dorothy + Chad’s names engraved on them.

It was a chilly walk across the bridge to meet her groom, but the stunning scenery made up for it!

The ceremony was performed by Marriage Commissioner Beryl Cahill.

The beautiful bride!

Dorothy + Chad decided they wanted the reception décor to be a surprise. Here is their reaction to seeing the room for the first time!

We designed the table décor with an “Alpine Elegance” theme in mind:

• A brown lantern sat on top of a wooden slab covered in earthy elements (moss, pine cones, sticks and berries);
• Votives and candles in mason jars surrounded the lanterns to make the tables glow;
• Ivory pintuck linens, chocolate satin chair wraps and brown napkins polished off the look.

Table seating cards in a bed of moss pointed guests to their seats.

The rustic wooden table numbers were custom made by the highly talented Sharon Auld of Naturally Chic. They went so perfectly with the theme and design of the wedding!

Dorothy + Chad opted for delicious cupcakes from Bear’s Paw Bakery Jasper.

Dorothy, Chad + Chase: Thank you for trusting me with this important day! I wish you all the best as you begin this new chapter in your lives.

xoxo

Jennifer

Photo Credit: A Different Angle Photography.

A new section has been added to JenniferBergmanWeddings.com. Check it out here to read some of our recently married clients’ experiences!

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Jennifer

I had the pleasure of working with Infused Studios on a 3-day convention earlier this year. The creative eyes behind the cameras belong to Anthony + Rina, who not only capture spectacular photos, but they seek to tell your love story through imagery. When I sat down to chat with Anthony + Rina, what really stood out to me is how much they strive to personalize the wedding photography experience for each and every couple they work with. I hope you enjoy getting to know them!

Quick – give us your best Tweetography (ie. tell us about yourself in 140 characters or less)!

Visual Poets :: Love stories are our inspiration & it is an honour to tell them. Big kids at heart, we love to have fun, eat food & travel.

Why did you become photographers?

Rina :: After getting my Bachelor of Design I worked primarily as a graphic designer. I also did some art directing and fashion/ commercial photography. There was a disconnect between myself and the models and after I shot my first wedding I realized why. Capturing a pretty face is one thing; capturing true love and the connection between people is entirely different. It’s more challenging and also more rewarding.

Anthony :: I never owned a camera as a kid. I was raised in a traditional Chinese household, so my career path had 4 options; doctor, lawyer, accountant or engineer. I chose to be a mechanical engineer and became a successful project manager at a reputable oil and gas company within 3 years of graduation. Deep down something was missing – I knew there was always this yearning to express myself artistically though I never had the chance…until Rina came into my life.

She introduced me to her collection of camera equipment and I was instantly hooked. It was like an addiction, every day I would be excited to get through my day at the office because then I could get my photography fix at night. I was intrigued with the idea that I could express myself and create art without limitations, equations, or constrained by the laws of physics. On one chilly October afternoon, I gazed out my office window and asked where I saw myself 20 years down the road…I knew intuitively that I couldn’t see myself like my boss across the hall. The next day, I handed in my resignation letter and never looked back.

Who have been the biggest influences in your life (photographers or otherwise)?

Rina:: I look for paintings and drawings for my inspiration. Monet for his Impression of landscape paintings. Picasso, Degas, da Vinci and Michelangelo for pushing body movement. Dali for creating the surreal and unnatural forms of life. Also music videos and movies.

Anthony :: One of my biggest influences are movies…and especially ‘chick flicks’ because they have the best cinematography and lighting. C’mon, I mean who can forget epic scenes like the boat scene from “The Notebook,” or even the forest scene from “Twilight?!”

What are some wedding day photography tips that couples should keep in mind?

• Before booking a photographer, make sure you see an entire wedding that they’ve shot. Teaser images from blogs & website don’t convey how well a photographer can capture a wedding.
• Plan to schedule at least 2 hours to spend time with the photographers (ideally, we’d love to have 4+ hours)! And if there are people that you want to have photos taken with, let us know beforehand so we can be on top of it for you.
• Select based on who you want as a guest at your wedding. Yes, we’re there to work, but really, do you want to hire someone you don’t like to attend your wedding?
• When considering your photography budget, instead of choosing a price point choose the style ‘musts’ that you want. Then look at who photographs in that style and work out a price range from there. It’s heartbreaking when couples choose based on price and aren’t satisfied with their images — after all, you can’t redo your wedding day!

Do you have a favourite wedding or wedding moment that you’ve photographed?

Every wedding that we have shot so far has been an exciting moment — our clients are beautifully unique. Photographing the epic “pearl harbor” moment at the Cold Lake municipal airport with the plane flying in the background while Kylie and Warren kissed stands out. We had one chance to get the shot and it turned out exactly how we imagined. Anthony got the shot and Rina was so excited she jumped in the air and whacked him on the head with her telephoto lens!

What’s in store this year for Infused Studios?

• We’ve shot 3 destination weddings so far and are shooting across Alberta through to the fall.
• We’re shooting inspired engagement sessions with our couples and continuing our pursuit of artistic expression.
• We’re also looking out for new studio space but this summer we’re immersed in love stories!

What’s unique or interesting about you two?

Rina:: My closest friends know that I’m goofy, VERY clumsy and still a kid at heart.

Anthony :: I’m dorky, VERY easy-going yet a deep thinker at the same time.

Together :: We love watching classic Disney cartoons and we have a combined collection of stuffed animal friends around our place.  =)

~~~

Here are some amazing images by Infused Studios. You can see more of their stunning work on their website and blog:

Thanks, Anthony + Rina!

Jennifer