While we’re based in Edmonton, Alberta, we’ve had the pleasure of planning and designing weddings in many beautiful destinations – both in Canada and abroad! This series showcases some of our favourite locations including information for couples considering a wedding away from home.

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Destination ‘I Do’ Wedding Series: Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona is a popular vacation and winter home destination for many Albertans – why not celebrate your wedding in the warm, dry heat with spectacular sunsets and stunning desert backdrops?!

Why Scottsdale?

• Fly direct to Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport from both Edmonton and Calgary.
• Rain is rarely a concern, and temperatures are warm year round.
• The venue options are plentiful. Choose from luxury resorts, golf & country clubs, outdoor gardens and more.
• Your guests won’t run out of things to do – Scottsdale boasts more spas per capita than any other city in the USA, and there are over 200 golf courses in the area. The city also has a vibrant nightlife scene and desert hiking via Camelback Mountain or Pinnacle Peak Park.

Our Canadian summers are always so busy as people try to pack in trips to the lake, yard work, camping and ALL the weddings. We love the idea of getting married in a warm destination during shoulder season months like October, November, March and April. Your guests will love it too, as they’ll get to escape the cold winter!

Paula + Sheldon’s Scottsdale destination wedding was the winner of the 2014 Canadian Event Industry Star Award for Best Wedding and was also featured on Style Me Pretty. Their venue – Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North – offered a gorgeous, natural setting with southwest charm while providing the 5-star amenities and service that the Four Seasons brand is known for.

Real Wedding: Paula + Sheldon
{Photos: Stephanie Fay Photography}

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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Scottsdale Arizona Wedding Planning + Design
Phoenix Arizona Wedding Planning + Design

After visiting Sparkling Hill Resort shortly after it opened, I knew we had to do a wedding there – and when Christie + Nav came to us wanting a B.C. destination wedding, it was the perfect fit.

One of the most easy-going couples we’ve met, Christie + Nav wanted their wedding weekend to be stress-free so they could relax and enjoy celebrating with their most cherished family and friends. The wedding day was overcast but luckily the rain held off so we were able to take advantage of the stunning terrace overlooking Okanagan Lake. The sky was dramatic and beautiful, making for some amazing photos during the ceremony.

Tailored Fit Films put together this beautiful ‘Same Day Edit’ film which was played at the reception, and Kevin Trowbridge did such an incredible job capturing the day. Enjoy!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Okanagan Wedding Planners + Designers
Kelowna Wedding Planner, Vernon Wedding Planner

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Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Kevin Trowbridge
• Videography: Tailored Fit Films
• Photo Booth: Engaged Photo Booth
• Officiant: Stu Pike
• Ceremony Music: Caroline MacKay – The Harp Lady
• Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis (DJ Invizible)
• Stationery: Papyrus
• Florist: Celebrate Lavish Arrangements
• Cake: Sugar Sweet Cake Co.
• Décor: All Occasions Party Rentals
• Hair + Makeup: Melissa Craven
• Gown: Bridal Debut – Maggie Sottero Cassandra 9362

Katherine + Stephan spent their entire wedding day smiling – which is exactly how it should be. These two have an infectious zest for life, and this celebratory atmosphere was present throughout the festivities from start to finish.

Once they were all dressed up and looking incredible, Katherine + Stephan met up at Fort Edmonton Park for a ‘first look‘, followed by photos with their awesome wedding party. The rain held off for a late afternoon ceremony on the Hangar lawn. Guests then enjoyed refreshments and lawn games including bean bag toss and mini golf.

The evening continued inside the Hangar, where over 200 guests celebrated with delicious food, drinks, toasts, an ice cream dessert bar, and of course – dancing! Kelsy Nielson did a gorgeous job capturing the special moments of the day. Enjoy this sneak peek!

Katherine + Stephan: thank you for allowing us to be part of your incredible day. Looking forward to seeing where your next adventure takes you!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management
Edmonton Wedding Day Coordination

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Credits:

• Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography backdrop: ubackdrop
• Pastor: Matt Ziprick
• Florist: faBLOOMosity
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Drapery / Lighting: Site 6 Events
• Cake: Crave Cupcakes
• Music: Happy Wife, Happy Life
• Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
• Transportation: Apex Limousine
• Hair + Makeup: Behind the Blush
• Gown: Lilybridal
• Bridesmaid Dresses: Groupdress
• Suits: Derks

Lee-Ann + Moe’s Art Deco inspired wedding at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald was a day full of love! Both ceremony and reception took place in the beautiful Wedgwood Room – the perfect setting for the wedding theme. The classic decor had details reminiscent of the Art Deco era, including intricately beaded linens, Gatsby inspired stationery and lush, romantic florals with gold accents. Even the guests dressed in 1920s style attire!

They involved both their families in every part of the day: their grandchildren made up their wedding party; Lee-Ann’s brother and son walked her down the aisle; and their children were witnesses in the Signing of the Registry.

SideOne band provided the entertainment for the evening and they really brought the party with their high energy and incredible voices! Enjoy a glimpse at this special day captured by Nicole Ashley Photography.

Suzanne, Lead Coordinator | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management

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Credits:

• Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings (Suzanne)
• Photography: Nicole Ashley Photography
• Officiant: Kerry Yeo
• Florist: Laurel’s on Whyte
• Music: SideOne Band
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Linens: Dress My Day
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations + Stationery
• Cake: The Art of Cake
• Favours: Bernard Callebaut
• Hair + Makeup: Behind the Blush
• Gown: Pure Bridal

Kari Ann + Trent knew exactly what kind of wedding they wanted: Sophisticated, Luxurious and Timeless. These words perfectly describe them as a couple too, which is precisely what your wedding should be – a reflection of your personalities and your relationship.

The ceremony was held in the iconic Hotel Macdonald Wedgwood Room, followed by refreshments and mingling with their guests on the terrace. We transitioned the all-white, classic design of the ceremony into a more bold and edgy look at the reception. Long rectangle tables with modern white florals suited the Art Gallery space perfectly.

Geometric design elements added a contemporary edge, beginning with gorgeous custom black and gold foil invitations by Pinkpolka. We used gold geometric place mats underneath glass charger plates, and custom gold acrylic laser cut names greeted each guest, doubling as both place card and favour.

After the meal and toasts guests hit the dance floor, and cotton candy on glow sticks brought next-level fun to this one-of-a-kind event! Just Married Photography did such an awesome job capturing the details of the day, not to mention shots of the STUNNING Bride + Groom.

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

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Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Just Married Photography
• Videographer: A Love Story
• Officiant: Tammy Banting
• Ceremony Music: Violin-Cello Duo (Mathias Silvieria, John Fedor)
• Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
• Florist: faBLOOMosity
• Cake: Art of Cake
• Cotton Candy Station: Mr. Inflatable
• Rentals: Special Event Rentals
• Transportation: Baseline Limo Bus
• Hair: Hair Designs by Maggie
• Makeup: Eclectica Beauty Studio
• Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Many people have the impression that destination weddings are easier and less stressful than planning a wedding at home – but that’s not always the case. Here are 5 important factors to consider when planning a destination wedding

1. YOUR GUESTS
Destination weddings ask a lot of your invitees: the cost of travel, of course, and depending on the location guests may have to take time off work to attend your nuptials. You’ll likely have friends or family who cannot attend or choose not to attend for various reasons. Be prepared for some loved ones to miss the occasion and don’t take it personally.

Tips:

• • Provide accommodation options at different price points to suit a range of budgets.

• Setup a wedding website to convey travel information to your guests to make it easier for them to attend.

2. PLANNING FROM AFAR
If you have “Type A” tendencies, a destination wedding may not be a good fit! Unless you’re able to travel to the location before the wedding to scope out venues and meet with vendors in person, you may find it difficult to make all your plans remotely, especially when cultural differences and language barriers come into play. In some destinations it can take weeks to receive email responses – not every bride has the patience to deal with that pace of planning.

Tips:

• Do your research! Search for real photos from travel review sites or destination wedding blogs to avoid unwelcome surprises.
• Engage the services of a Wedding Planner experienced with weddings in the area.

3. BON VOYAGE BUDGET
It is a common belief that destination weddings are much cheaper than celebrating at home, however tropical resort packages can be deceiving as they are often for a very small number of guests and do not include a private reception.

A weak Canadian dollar can affect affordability of destinations abroad, so why not consider a beautiful destination closer to home? Canada boasts incredible locations throughout the Rocky Mountains, Okanagan Valley and West Coast.

Tips:

• Look off-resort for great local venues that will give you more flexibility in customizing your wedding and choosing your suppliers.
• Some locations may offer better rates for weekday and/or low season weddings.

4. THE UNEXPECTED
Destination weddings are more likely to be affected by factors beyond your control. Examples include extreme weather, such as hurricanes, snow storms, floods and forest fires (we’ve had weddings affected by all of the above); health outbreaks like Swine Flu and most recently, Zika Virus; and foreign political unrest.

Tips:

• If you’re heading somewhere tropical, check when that area is most likely to experience severe storms – in other words, don’t have your wedding during hurricane season!
• Look into getting traveller’s insurance and wedding cancellation insurance.

5. MAKING IT LEGAL
Each country has their own legal requirements for marriages. Some countries mandate blood tests and may require that you’re in the country for a specified number of days before the wedding takes place. In Canada and the U.S. marriage licenses are issued by province / state, so be sure to check the particulars for your wedding location.

Tip: 

• Consider getting married legally at home shortly before or after your destination wedding, and have a symbolic ceremony abroad. This can look and feel exactly the same as a legal ceremony so your guests won’t know the difference – and you may save yourselves some headaches.

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As published in the Fall/Winter 2016 issue of Blush Magazine.

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

Kara + Adam jetted off to Jamaica for their nuptials at Sandals Whitehouse (see more of their destination wedding on Style Me Pretty).

One month later, they celebrated in Edmonton with a chic reception for their family and friends at the Art Gallery of Alberta. Their evening cocktail party reception was one of timeless sophistication with crisp white furniture, modern florals and a show-stopping dance floor. We loved the mixed seating and minimalist design that our friends at OneWest Events executed for our discerning couple.

See more of Kara + Adam’s wedding in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue of Blush Magazine.

Suzanne, Lead Coordinator | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management

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Credits:

• Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings (Suzanne)
• Photography: Eternal Reflections Photography
• Videographer: A Love Story
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
• Florist: faBLOOMosity
• Cake + Dessert Table: The Art of Cake
• Photo Booth: Neat Photo Booth
• Decor Design: One West Events
• Rentals: One West Events, Special Event Rentals
• Dance Floor: Dance Floor Décor
• Calligraphy: Justine Ma Design & Hand Lettering
• Music: Johnathan Morris
• Hair: Janice Patterson of Kaleidoscope Hair
• Makeup: Sen Studios
• Bridal Gown: Galia Lahav New York
• Bridesmaid Gowns: Sorella Vita from The Bridal Boutique
• Groom’s Suit: Suits by Curtis Eliot / Tom Ford Holt Renfrew
• Groomsmen Suits: Zara
• Bridal Jewellery: Elsa Corsi
• Bridal Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Last spring’s unseasonably warm weather meant the beautiful pink blossoms were out 3 weeks early – a welcome surprise for Monica + Sam’s wedding day!

The morning of the wedding was full of festivities, as traditional Chinese Tea Ceremonies were held at both family homes. Tea is the symbol of purity, stability and fertility, and the act of serving tea to family members represents respect and gratitude for all the years of love and care they’ve shown the bride and groom.

The wedding ceremony was held at the Oasis Centre in the early afternoon, and when the bridal party departed for photos we whipped out our wedding wands and transformed the space for the reception. Romantic gold Chateau chairs and timeless ivory linens set the tone, while accents of mint, blush and peach added a hint of whimsy. The Oasis team was top-notch, as usual! We love working with this superb Edmonton wedding venue.

Food was a very important part of the celebration, as Monica + Sam love cooking together and trying new restaurants around the world. We worked with Stir Catering to design a custom 7-course meal served family style, which incorporated Chinese fusion dishes.

Monica + Sam’s gorgeous wedding day was captured by Nicole Ashley Photography and Ring Tail Films – they even had a Same Day Edit shown at their reception for their guests to enjoy!

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planners + Designers

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Credits:

• Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
• Photography: Nicole Ashley Photography
• Photo Booth: Ready, Set, Booth
• Videography: Ring Tail Films
• Officiant: Bill Pisarchuk
• Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis (DJ Kidslim)
• Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
• Florist: faBLOOMosity
• Caterer: Stir Catering
• Cake: The Art of Cake
• Décor: Special Event Rentals
• Lighting: Production Lighting
• Transportation: Esquire Limousine
• Hair + Makeup: NewHairLine