Alyshea + Al-Karim (Part 1): Mehndi Party at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Alyshea and Al-Karim celebrated their union with multiple events over a weekend in Edmonton – a destination they chose because of the recently opened Aga Khan Garden at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
This wedding weekend was such a delight to plan and design (and there are so many incredible details to share!) that we’re breaking it into three blog posts:
- Part 1 – The Mehndi Party at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
- Part 2 – The Wedding Ceremony at Aga Khan Garden
- Part 3 – The Gala Reception at JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
The festivities kicked off with a Bollywood Chic Mehndi party at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald. Guests enjoyed a custom ‘Flavours of India’ menu and could visit a draped Mehndi tent to have professional henna artists adorn their hands with beautiful designs.
The event featured dance performances, traditional Ismaili ceremonies and Vancouver’s Juno-nominated DJ A-SLAM. Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 coming soon…
This wedding is not only featured on Wedluxe, but it was also honoured as a finalist for Best Wedding over $150,000 at the 2020 Canadian Event Awards!
Credits:
- Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Getting Ready Location: JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
- Mehndi Party Venue: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
- Photography: Mango Studios
- Cinematography: A Love Story
- Live Trio: Indian Music Academy
- DJ: Divinity DJs (DJ A-SLAM)
- Florist: Fabloomosity
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals, Dress My Day, M Weddings
- Stationery: J. Gartner Studio
- Henna Artists: YEG Henna
- Transportation: Exxotic Cars
- Hair + Makeup: Nickol Walkemeyer
- Bridal Attire: Pooja Boutique
- Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo
- Jewelry + Rings: Zameer Kassam
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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Mehndi and Sangeet Event Planner, Edmonton
Edmonton Wedding Coordinator: Khadija + Dan
Aga Khan Gardens is one of the Edmonton area’s newest and most in-demand outdoor wedding ceremony venues. An open amphitheatre nestled within the forest, its mandate is to provide a peaceful gathering space to develop human connections.
It was such a pleasure to provide Wedding Day Management services for Khadija and Dan, who held their ceremony at the Aga Khan Gardens followed by an intimate celebration at Khazana Restaurant. See more of their wedding in Blush Magazine as part of the 2019 Venue of the Year feature.
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Ceremony Venue: University of Alberta Botanic Gardens, Aga Khan Garden
- Reception Venue: Khazana Restaurant
- Photography: Jade Gabrielle
- Ceremony Catering: NAIT Catering
- Ceremony Music: Josh Sahunta
- Reception Music: DJ Vijay
- Florist: Tickled Floral
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Hair + Makeup: Calvin Alexander
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Suzanne, Lead Planner | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management
Edmonton Wedding Coordinator: Kristen + Craig
If there was ever a couple you’d picture together forever, Kristen + Craig are it. Together with family and friends they celebrated their special day last spring at Delta South’s Top of the Inn.
It’s such an honour to coordinate multiple weddings within the same family! Our team had the privilege of helping with each of Kristen’s siblings’ weddings, including Stephanie + Matt’s wedding last year.
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Ceremony + Reception Venue: Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre
- Photographer: Jade Gabrielle Photography
- Officiant: Father Mike
- Ceremony Music: Bernard + Michelle
- Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis (Harman B)
- Florist: Fabloomosity
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Transportation: Apex Limousine
- Hair Stylists: Christina Dominelli Salon
- Makeup Artists: Melissa Bell + Kierra Stiel
- Gown: Delica Bridal – Hayley Paige Teresa Gown
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Suzanne, Lead Coordinator | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management
Bachelor Party Ideas in Edmonton
If you’re in charge of planning an unforgettable bachelor party, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a sampling of creative Edmonton stag ideas to make sure the groom has the best “last night of freedom” before his big day!
Cheer & Beer
Cheer on the green and gold at an Edmonton Eskimos football game, then hop on the LRT downtown to sample Canada’s largest selection of draft beer at Craft Beer Market or check out the beer board at Beer Revolution.
Photos: Race to the Altar
For the groom with a need for speed, Castrol Raceway offers an afternoon of excitement watching drag racing or drifting. Want in on the action? Book your own Mini Grand Prix at Speeders Indoor ProKarts.
Photo: Castrol Raceway
Thrill-Seeking Stag
Throw away any pre-wedding jitters at The Rec Room, then unleash your competitive side with adrenaline-inducing adventure at Paintball Action Games.
Photo: Axe Throwing
Gentlemen’s Fiesta
Head to La Tienda Cigars to learn about and sample some of Cuba’s best, then vamos to El Cortez Cantina for tacos and tequila.
Photo: El Cortez Cantina
Shaves n’ Scotch
For the sophisticated gentlemen – indulge in hot shaves at Barber Ha, followed by an evening of Scotch and charcuterie at The Bothy Wine & Whisky Bar.
Photo: Scotch
As published on ExploreEdmonton.com
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Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design
Edmonton Wedding Planner: Lezlie + Michael
Lezlie and Michael were married at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald on a beautiful October day. The sky was bright blue, the sun was shining, and orange leaves still dusted the trees in Edmonton’s gorgeous River Valley. Living in Montreal, the couple wanted their special day to be easy for their guests, and for the focus to be on connection and celebration.
Family is so important to Lezlie and Michael that they chose to have all their siblings in the Wedding Party, including their adorable nephews and nieces walk (and dance!) down the aisle. The traditional Jewish ceremony took place under a custom chuppah covered in greens, willow and ombré florals.
Immediately following the ceremony as they were walking back down the aisle, The Counterfitz took to the stage to play the Hora, while photos of the bride and groom’s grandparents were displayed on a large screen next to the stage. The rest of the evening was full of energy, good food and dancing! A farewell brunch the next morning wrapped up the glorious weekend.
Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planner
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Credits:
- Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Photography: Nicole Ashley Photography
- Videographer: Plaid Collar Films
- Officiant: Rabbi Kliel Rose
- Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
- Ceremony Music: Marc Beaudin of The Counterfitz
- Reception DJ: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis (Harman B)
- Band: The Counterfitz
- Florist: Fabloomosity
- Dessert Table: The Muffin Top Bake Shop
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Chuppah Structure: Site 6
- Hair: Pam Poch, Dianne, Rashelle Beaudry
- Makeup: Colleen Nuc
- Favours: Montreal Steak Spice
Edmonton Wedding Planner: Jessica + Jayson
Jessica and Jayson were married on a gorgeous fall day. They held both their wedding and reception celebration at The Oasis Centre with over 300 loved ones in attendance.
One of the first steps in the wedding planning process is identifying what elements of the experience are most important to a bride and groom. For Jessica and Jayson, excellent and abundant food and drinks topped the list, along with photography, good music and an awesome party!
After a beautiful ceremony, we transformed the Grand Hall with three different table designs in a palette of ivory, champagne and a gradient of pinks from blush to burgundy. Bold lighting enhanced the grandeur of the space, adding drama and ambience.
Before heading to the dance floor, guests helped themselves to an expansive dessert table including the couple’s favourites: eclairs, tiramisu, cannolis and mini apple pies. The beautiful images below are courtesy of the ever-so-talented Just Married Photography team. Enjoy!
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: YEG Wedding Films
- Officiant: Tammy Banting
- Ceremony Music: Keri Lynn Zwicker
- Cocktail / Dinner Music: Don Berner Band
- Reception Music: Premiere DJs by Urban Metropolis (Harman B)
- Caterer: Stir Catering
- Florist: Laurel’s On Whyte
- Wedding Cake: The Art of Cake
- Photo Booth: Ready, Set, Booth
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Lighting: Production Lighting
- Transportation: Esquire Limousine
- Hair + Makeup: Sen Studios
- Bridal Gown: La Sposa
- Bridesmaids: Dessy from Novelle Bridal
Edmonton Wedding Planner: Jessie + Mat
Jessie + Mat wanted to do something a bit different to celebrate their wedding. Rather than a formal seated dinner, they decided to throw a cocktail reception style event with food stations and plenty of outdoor space for their guests to enjoy Edmonton’s beautiful summer.
Fort Edmonton Park’s Blatchford Hangar was the perfect venue to host this unique soirée, as it offered us the ability to hold an outdoor ceremony that transitioned directly into cocktails and lawn games, with plenty of space for the youthful guest list to run around.
Jessie’s vision for the wedding design was an ethereal garden party with lots of lush greenery, vibrant tones of pinks and gold accents. Mixed styles of seating ensured party-goers could mingle and experience various areas of the Hangar. This included vintage lounge furniture, cruiser tables with stools, round dining tables and tall cocktail tables. Two stages – one for the band, the other for the wooden DJ booth – flanked a centre dance floor with a jaw-dropping greenery chandelier dripping in plumosa and ferns.
Food stations were themed around summer BBQ-style comfort foods including gourmet potato salad, a perogy station with all the fixins’, a prime rib slider station, and a made-to-order pasta action station.
The Counterfitz Band and DJ Twix alternated sets throughout the night, keeping all ages entertained and on the dance floor until the early morning. The newlyweds served their guests a late night snack of hot dogs from the infamous Viking Meats (Jessie’s hometown), alongside a delicious dessert table with treats from The Art of Cake.
Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design
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Credits:
- Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Photography: Kelly Redinger
- Officiant: Tammy Banting
- DJ: Happy Life – DJ Twix
- Band: The Counterfitz
- Invitations / Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
- Florist: faBLOOMosity
- Dessert Table: The Art of Cake
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals, Neat Rentals, Site 6 Events
- Transportation: Apex Limousine
- Late Night Snack: Viking Hot Dogs
- Hair + Makeup: Behind the Blush
- Gown: Novelle Bridal
- Suits: Suits by Curtis Eliot
Fernie Wedding Planner: Kristen + Kendal
Fernie is a very special place for Kristen + Kendal. They travel there dozens of weekends year round to ski, hike and relax in nature. They love it so much, in fact, that they recently purchased an inn that they are now renovating! Naturally, they wanted their friends and family to experience the beauty of their favourite place, and so they planned a weekend of events to celebrate their marriage.
Friday evening kicked off the weekend with a casual meet & greet hosted at a family cabin. The wedding day brought blue skies and sunshine, and the ceremony was held at a quaint B&B property called Birch Meadows Lodge. Kendal and his father built a beautiful wooden arch and benches for the ceremony seating. Kristen + Kendal said their vows surrounded by mountains in a beautiful meadow full of wildflowers – it couldn’t have been more picturesque.
The Rusty Edge was host to Kristen + Kendal’s reception. It’s a local restaurant / pub that the couple frequents when they’re in town. Using wooden tables and chiavari chairs, natural linen fabrics, lush greenery and white florals, we enhanced the restaurant’s natural, organic aesthetic to stay true to our mountain-loving bride and groom. The next day, guests joined the newlyweds for coffee and pastries to reminisce about the weekend’s events before heading back home.
Photographers Lolo & Noa did a perfect job capturing the essence of Kristen + Kendal’s style. I mean, you couldn’t make this couple look bad if you tried, but we’re still thrilled with how the images turned out!
Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Rocky Mountain Wedding Planner
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Credits:
- Wedding Day Management + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Photography: Lolo and Noa
- Pastor: Larry Fry
- Ceremony Music: Linden Anthony
- Reception Music: DJ Jeff McRae
- Invitations: Minted
- Stationery: Pinkpolka Invitations & Stationery
- Florist: The Green Petal
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Chair Rentals: Patti’s Party Rentals
- Hair + Makeup: Niawigs
- Gown: Grace Loves Lace