JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District Wedding: Vanessa + Jamie
Vanessa and Jamie were married in February 2020, and while we didn’t know it at the time, they were our last “normal” wedding before the world changed. Lucky for everyone in attendance, these newlyweds know how to celebrate!
Not ones for the traditional wedding reception format, Vanessa and Jamie chose to host their celebration with a cocktail party vibe to encourage mingling and dancing. With mixed style seating, creative food and drink stations around the room, Ukrainian dance performances and an incredible party band (The Barkells), they treated their loved ones to a night to remember at Edmonton’s new luxury hotel – JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District.
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings (Suzanne)
- Ceremony + Reception Venue: JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District
- Officiant: Seanna Collins
- Photography: Sharon Litchfield
- Videography: Blushed Beaute
- Cake: Cake Affair
- Florist: Fabloomosity
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Rentals (chairs): All West Wedding Rentals
- Limo: Last Minute Limousine
- DJ + Photo Booth: Revolution Entertainment
- Reception Band: The Barkells
- Hair + Makeup: Blushed Beaute
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Suzanne, Lead Planner | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District Wedding Planner
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Wedding Coordinator: Grace + Shane
Along with 150 of their favourite people, Grace and Shane travelled to the majestic Rocky Mountains for their winter destination wedding at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
As most guests were visiting the area for the first time from the US, Grace and Shane hosted a welcome reception the evening prior to the wedding. They shuttled their guests from Lake Louise to wine and dine at the The Bison and experience the world-renowned Town of Banff.
The wedding day itself was mild as far as Canadian winters go, and the happy couple were able to exchange vows outdoors in front of the icy blue lake. After dinner and toasts, they danced the night away in the Victoria Ballroom to old and new hits covered by Five on the Side Band!
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings (Suzanne)
- Rehearsal Dinner Venue: The Bison Banff
- Ceremony Venue: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Lakefront Terrace)
- Reception Venue: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Victoria Ballroom)
- Photography: Brittany Esther Photography
- Officiant: Jason Suydam
- Ceremony + Reception Music: Five on the Side Band
- Cake: Jessica Shaw
- Florist: Banff Mountaintop Flowers
- Charter Buses: ABBC Charter Busses
- Rentals: Mountain Event Rentals
- Hair + Makeup: Botega Salon + Gallery
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Suzanne, Lead Planner | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Lake Louise Wedding Planners
Rocky Mountain Wedding Planners
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald Wedding Coordinator: Irene + Geoffrey
Irene and Geoffrey’s fall wedding was nothing short of a fairytale! A horse-drawn carriage reminiscent of Cinderella was waiting for the newlyweds following their traditional Catholic ceremony at St. Joseph’s Basilica in downtown Edmonton.
Their vibrant reception at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald featured drummers, traditional African dances, indoor fireworks and a magical first dance in the “clouds.” The day’s events certainly kept us on our toes, and we were honoured to be a part of Irene and Geoffrey’s love story!
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings (Suzanne)
- Ceremony Venue: St. Joseph’s Basilica
- Reception Venue: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald (Empire Ballroom)
- Photography: Carey Nash
- Videography: A Love Story
- Reception Music: DJ Paddy Entertainment
- Cake: Cake Affair
- Florist: Therese Lopez Florals
- Rentals: Exquisite Affairs
- Dance Floor Wrap + Sparklers: Talent Productions
- Horse-Drawn Carriage: Diamond B Ranch
- Limo: Apex limousine
- Drummers: Afrah Al Majd Group
- Hair Stylists: Hair Designs by Maggie
- Makeup Artist: Allure by Mariam
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Suzanne, Lead Planner | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management
Edmonton Wedding Coordinator: Ania + Matthew
Ania and Matthew began their wedding day with a traditional ceremony at the spectacular Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. After the marriage was official, they took off for photos in a gorgeous red vintage Porsche!
The newlyweds celebrated with their loved ones later that evening at Fairmont Hotel Macdonald in the Wedgwood Room – one of our favourite Edmonton wedding venues – infusing several Ukrainian and Russian traditions to personalize the event. It was such a pleasure to provide Wedding Day Management for this happy couple! Enjoy this beautiful snippet of their day.
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings (Suzanne)
- Ceremony Venue: Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John
- Reception Venue: Fairmont Hotel Macdonald (Wedgwood Room)
- Photography: Nicole Ashley Photography
- Reception Music: DJ Kwake Entertainment
- Cake: The Art of Cake
- Florist: Fabloomosity
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Hair + Makeup: Blushed Beaute
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Suzanne, Lead Planner | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management
Edmonton Backyard Wedding: Lisa + Alex
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic made backyard weddings the new norm, Lisa + Alex chose to celebrate their marriage with an intimate guest list at Lisa’s childhood home. Their vision for the soirée was a relaxed evening with their favourite people, dining al fresco and dancing under the stars!
If you’re planning your own backyard affair this summer, here are some of our top tips for ensuring a successful event.
- Expert evaluation. A large, empty lawn can be deceiving – involve an expert to evaluate your space for grade and access to power, and to advise you on the right tent, layout and rental requirements.
- Bathroom basics. If you don’t like the idea of guests coming in and out of your home to use the washrooms, consider renting portable toilets. The options have expanded over the years and now there are luxury models available with fantastic lighting and ventilation.
- Be a good neighbour. If neighbours aren’t invited but may be affected by your wedding (more traffic/cars parked on the street, noise late into the evening) it’s courteous to let them know you’re hosting a big event.
- Consider guest comfort. Use your wedding invitations to inform guests the events are outdoors so they can prepare accordingly. Having sunscreen, fans, bug repellent, lap blankets and umbrellas on hand will make you the ideal host.
- Prep a ‘Plan B’. Weather in Alberta is unpredictable – be prepared for the worst case scenario. Rent extra tents in case of rain, heaters for chilly evenings and fans to help cool down a hot day.
- Hire help. You want to enjoy your wedding day so let others handle decorating, bartending, catering, serving and clean-up. Hiring professionals will allow you to relax and avoid placing this burden on family and friends.
Credits:
- Wedding Day Management: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Officiant: Howard Saunders
- Photographer: Jacinta Daniele Photography
- Catering: Stir Catering
- Dessert Food Truck: Ohana Donuts
- Florist: Laurels on Whyte
- Rentals (Dinnerware): Special Event Rentals
- Rentals (Chairs, Tables): All West Wedding Rentals
- Hair + Makeup: Filament Hair Inc.
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Elyse, Lead Coordinator | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Day Management
Edmonton Backyard Wedding
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: Donna + Olivier
Donna + Olivier are from two very different backgrounds and opposite ends of the country, but love has a way of bringing people together when they least expect it.
Olivier is from Halifax, so they flew out there for their engagement session with Sharon Litchfield and got some incredible, picturesque photos. Their September wedding festivities incorporated several Chinese traditions including a morning Tea Ceremony, door games and a 10-course dinner at Golden Rice Bowl Restaurant.
After an elegant ceremony at Winspear Centre with classical music and timeless décor, the Wedding Party took photos at the newly opened Rogers Place (Donna is a huge Edmonton Oilers fan)! After dinner the newlyweds shared a romantic first dance surrounded with sparklers and continued celebrating with their 250 guests until the early morning.
The whole day was a perfect blend of two families and two cultures. Enjoy this sneak peek at Donna + Oli’s love story!
Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design
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Credits:
- Wedding Planning + Design: Jennifer Bergman Weddings
- Photography: Sharon Litchfield
- Officiant: Howard Saunders
- Ceremony Music: Terry McDade – Harpist
- Reception Music: Baseline DJ
- Florist: Laurel’s On Whyte
- Wedding Cake: The Art of Cake
- Sheet Cakes: Garden Bakery
- Rentals: Special Event Rentals
- Transportation: Esquire Limousine
- Hair + Makeup: Sen Studios
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