I was raised in a northern community and found myself drawn to camping, hiking and exploring at an early age. After high school I started out on my first international backpack trip and before I knew it, nearly ten years had passed, and I had traveled around our globe many times. During my years abroad I had the good fortune to meet some great people…two of which, a young Danish photographer and a Parisian artist, set me on my path to photography. I had no formal education in photography but I saw the world quite differently than many others I knew.

My greatest success was meeting my wife Colleen, who comes from a completely different background.  She is well educated and encouraged my passion and has taught me how to pursue my dreams with hard work.  In our nine years together she has given me three amazing little backpackers. I’m goofy, I laugh a lot and I don’t take life too seriously. And when I take photos I don’t just want them to be pretty, I want them to be pretty freaking awesome.

My parents. They had me at a young age and left their remote hometown and followed an opportunity for a better life. Life wasn’t easy when we were young but they taught me to explore, be independent and take risks. For photography, Sebastiao Salgado. His early work is quite dramatic and I am drawn to his framing and powerful emotions.

My work has continued to change and develop over the past 15 years. I’m not sure I can label it, but from my travel background I’m drawn to wide spaces and powerful and intense portraits. I lean towards the dramatic even though my personality is loose and light – perhaps that style of imagery is my outlet for my dramatic side?

I’ve been fortunate to shoot in incredible places with fun brides and grooms which has lead to some pretty cool weddings and shots. I don’t think I could pick one favourite and I’m just happy that people trust me with them.   The new father in me has really changed the way I view weddings from when I had no children. Of my three kids I have two daughters, so every wedding reminds me that one day I hope to be lucky enough to walk these princesses down the aisle.

Each couple and the photographer have their own personality and style. Speaking on behalf of myself I want to remind couples that this day is about bringing family and friends together one time! No two weddings or emotions are ever the same so your day will be yours, and your images unique to your wedding.  So you might have images in mind from Pinterest or somewhere, but it’s likely impossible to replicate them, and they may look forced. Trust whoever you hire on your wedding day to capture the real moments that mattered to you that day and take time to enjoy your day and the people surrounding you.

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Visit Carey’s blog to see all his latest adventures!

Cheers,

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

Krista + Scott are such a fun couple and we had a blast together at planning meetings. They knew they wanted a modern design for their wedding, and they weren’t afraid of incorporating colour. After some initial discussions we decided on a “Modern Garden” concept that would brighten a classic black & white palette with pops of fuchsia pink flowers and vibrant green boxwood hedges and orbs.

The ceremony was held in the Art Gallery of Alberta’s Ledcor Theatre where boxwood hedges, floating candles, gladiolas and dendrobium orchids created a gorgeous backdrop for the vows. After taking photos with their families and wedding party, Krista + Scott joined their guests for dinner and dancing at Matrix Hotel. The entire ballroom was lit in fuchsia and purple, and contemporary furniture created a lounge space near the dance floor.

Krista + Scott’s families LOVE candy, so they decided a candy table was a must at their reception. Working with LOVEinc Dessert Styling we designed a fun pink and green sweet spread full of the couple’s favourites. Stationery by Pinkpolka Wedding Design pulled everything together.

Enjoy these stunning images by Sharon Litchfield Photography!

Krista + Scott:  It was such a pleasure working with you to create this amazing celebration of your love. Wishing you a blissful marriage and continued success in your careers!

Jennifer + Team| Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Sharon Litchfield Photography
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Florals: The Wild Orchid
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals, Elegant Touches
• Lounge Furntiture: D’Lusso
• Candy Table: LOVEinc Dessert Styling
• celebrity dresses: Incelebstyle
• Prom Dresses: JoJobride
• Ceremony Music: Mathias Silveira
• Reception Music: Premiere DJs
• Full Lace wigs: addcolo
• Makeup Artist: Brenna Dixon

We still have some beautiful 2012 weddings to blog, and since these two lovebirds are celebrating their 1st Anniversary this week, what better time than to share their amazing day!

Madison + Kalen were married in a sweet and personalized ceremony at Covenant Christian Reformed Church. Their reception was at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in the Empire Ballroom, where guests dined on a delicious 5-course meal along with a divine sweet table spread by Whimsical Cake Studio.

Carey Nash was their photographer and as you’ll see from the images below, he has an amazing way of capturing the emotion of a moment.

Madison + Kalen: It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since your special day! It was a pleasure working with you and I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness and success.

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Carey Nash Photography
  
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Florals: Laurel’s On Whyte
  
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Ceremony Music: Strathcona String Quartet
• DJ: Revolution DJ
• Transportation: Eternity Limousine
• Cupcakes + Sweet Table: Whimsical Cake Studio
• Hair: Kristin from Inspirit Beauty & Veryhair
• Makeup: Brenna Dixon
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Instyledress
• Flower girl dresses: lilybridal

Sabrina + Fil’s July wedding day began with a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony in honour of Sabrina’s heritage. Then the wedding party travelled to The Westin Edmonton, where both the wedding ceremony and reception were held. Sabrina was perfectly styled in Vera Wang, Jimmy Choo and Elsa Corsi jewelry. Both her parents walked her down the aisle to her handsome groom, and the couple exchanged vows in front of the family and friends that would support them throughout their marriage.

The reception started with a bang as the traditional Lion Dance was performed before guests indulged in a delicious 4-course meal. Sabrina put a lot of effort into selecting the perfect sweets for the candy table and her hard work paid off – the table was a huge hit (and that’s an understatement)!

I love the thought and creativity Sabrina + Fil put into their photo session with Sharon Litchfield. They used confetti and sparklers as props and the images turned out amazing, as is the case whenever you have Sharon behind the lens. Enjoy a selection of our favourites below!

Sabrina + Fil: It was an absolute pleasure working with you both on your beautiful wedding day! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness together.

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Coordination + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Sharon Litchfield Photography
• Florals: The Wild Orchid
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals ,  Arlene Yam Décor
  
• Ceremony Music: Wild Rose Quartet
• Music: Premiere DJs
• Hair Stylists: CaptainHair
  
• Makeup Artists: Sunita Sumaru and veryhair
• Prom Dress: prombee
• Bridesmaid Dress: bridesmaid.design

Thoughtfully pairing food and/or beverage elements can create a memorable experience for your guests. Often referred to as “Petit Pairings,” these culinary combinations are a great way to personalize your wedding and share your favourite edibles in a unique way.

We love incorporating these unexpected surprises post-ceremony, during cocktails or as a late night snack. Here’s a round-up of our faves:

Photo Credits: Fish Tacos + Patrón, S’mores + Milk, Doughnuts + Hot Chocolate, Carrots + Hummus, Sliders + Beer, Popsicles + Prosecco, Tacos + Margaritas, Pop Rocks + Champagne, Spaghetti + Meatballs, Grilled Cheese + Veryhair, Cookies + Milk.

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Suzanne | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

A noticeable trend this year in design – whether in fashion, interiors or events – is a return to the rich colours, bold geometric shapes and lavish ornamentation of the Art Deco era. We’re even seeing this on the big screen with this weekend’s release of one of the most highly anticipated films of 2013, The Great Gatsby.

Whether you’d like to incorporate a few touches from the era or have a completely Art Deco themed wedding, here’s some eye candy for inspiration!

Photo Credits: Art Deco Cake, Art Deco Earrings, 1920s Style Wedding Shoes, Vintage Bridal Cap, Art Deco Invitations, Gatsby Style Wedding Decor, Typewriter Guest Book, Gatsby Styled Wedding, Gold Art Deco Wedding Invitations, Gold Gatsby Cake, Art Deco Fashion.

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Suzanne | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

This morning we’re dreaming of all things sweet and delicious, thanks to this feature on one of Edmonton’s premiere cake boutiques. Annie Dam is the owner and cake designer of Cake Couture – a quaint shop in Edmonton’s west end that creates some of the most beautiful and unique cakes and cupcakes. We have worked with Annie and her team on numerous occasions and we’re always excited to see how her cakes will complement our wedding designs.

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Annie Dam, Cake Couture

Tell us about Cake Couture.

Cake Couture is a high quality cake boutique located in Edmonton, specializing in the design and creation of unique and delicious cakes and cupcakes for all occasions.

Inspired and created in Europe, Cake Couture uses its French and Spanish artistic flair to bring you amazing personalized cakes with special attention to detail – from conception to beautiful execution.

Cake Couture strives to offer our high quality products to everyone: from cupcakes made with classic buttercream to please the little ones, to elaborate sculpted and novelty cakes for the more sophisticated crowd.

Whether you are looking for a traditional wedding cake, or something a bit more unconventional, we can create it for you. A work of art for any style and occasion, from an informal birthday party to the most formal of personal or corporate events.

What is your experience in the industry?

Annie Dam is the owner and cake designer of Cake Couture. After receiving a Science degree at the University of Alberta, Annie travelled to the south of France on a scholarship to teach English. After 3 years in France, her travels took her to Spain where she lived for 5 years. During her years abroad, Annie had the opportunity to develop her real passion: combining art with her love for baking. As Annie perfected her style and learned new techniques in Europe, her work recognition grew, and so did the list of clients.

She has written about cake decoration for a range of publications and has had her wedding cakes and cupcakes featured in blogs and magazines around the world. Annie published her first book in 2011, Cake Couture: Modern Sugar-craft for the Stylish Baker.

What makes Cake Couture different?

Attention to detail and innovative designs.

What are some of the upcoming cake trends that you’re excited about?

Working with more colours and textures. Also, couples are putting more and more personal touches in their cakes.

What are the most popular flavours at Cake Couture?

Red Velvet with Cream Cheese!

How far in advance should couples book you for their wedding cake?

We suggest that you book your wedding cake 6-8 months ahead of your special day as some popular dates fill up very fast. Our suggestion – do not leave it to the last minute. The earlier, the better.

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Visit Cake Couture’s Facebook Page to keep up-to-date on their gorgeous work!

Cheers,

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

Tina + John’s gorgeous Art Gallery of Alberta wedding was recently featured on WedLuxe.com – home of Canada’s luxury wedding magazine.

The day began with an intimate candlelight ceremony in the AGA’s Ledcor Theatre, followed by a cocktail reception on the 3rd floor terrace. The couple’s signature drink, aptly named “Evening Love Affair,” was served with personalized cocktail napkins. Delicious sweets accompanied their four-tier wedding cake, all black & white in theme with pink ombré rose petals overflowing on the table.

The menu by Zinc Catering was exquisite! Guests were given a choice of four entrées which were served with the couple’s favourite dish – truffle macaroni & cheese – as a side. Dessert included anise poached pears with caramel ginger sauce and frangelico crème brûlée.

Tina + John kept their guests entertained all night – from amazing music for the dancing crowd to take-home caricature drawings to a drool-worthy late night snack from Drift Food Truck – there was something for everyone! These two have so much fun together and this shines through in Kelly Redinger’s beautiful photography shown below.

{Special thanks to Krista, Lana and Arlene for assisting on this wedding!}

Tina + John: Best wishes for an amazing future together – and congrats on your recent addition to the family!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

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Credits:

• Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Wedding Photography and Photobooth: Kelly Redinger
• Catering: Zinc Catering
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Wedding Design
• Florals: Laurel’s On Whyte
• Drapery and Canopy Design: Site 6 Events
• Rentals: Production Lighting and River City Events
• Cake: Whimsical Cake Studio
• Entertainment: VIF String Quartet and Baseline Event Services
• Caricature Artist: Quirky Art Cafe
• Formal Wear: Sam Abouhassan
• Gown: Ines Di Santo from Blush Bridal
• Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo from Holt Renfrew
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale from Delica Bridal
• Hair Stylist: Tracy Underwood
• Makeup Artist: Eric MacNeil