Fun Wedding at The Brownstone in Calgary
Laura and Shane’s Brownstone wedding in Calgary felt like a country wedding – which one of Laura’s bridesmaids described as “the most fun.” And it was the only wedding we’ve ever seen where the groom got a big cheer when he came out. That was the first clue it was going to be a fun day…
Getting ready at The Brownstone
Sometimes wedding days involve a lot of travel, going from venue to venue, dealing with traffic and trying to find parking. The beauty of an all-in-one venue is that it simplifies everything. Particularly for guests with mobility issues.
The day began with Laura and Shane getting ready in their separate rooms at the Brownstone. The feeling was light and relaxed. There was a little bit of tension and anticipation as they got ready for their First Look in the early afternoon.
A First Look Before Guests Arrive
A First Look is a little bit of scheduling magic that not only breaks the anxiety, but allows for a pre-ceremony creative photo/video session. This helps avoid a time crunch between the ceremony and reception. And the bride and groom can mingle with their guests during the cocktail hour.
Shane and Laura decided to keep things simple and did their first look in the ceremony aisle at The Brownstone, before guests started arriving. After this intimate moment, they exchanged the emotional vows they’d written for each other.
A Creative Photo/Video Session in Inglewood
With the First Look completed, Shane and Laura gathered up their wedding party, hopped in their limo, and headed out for a creative session in Inglewood. For the first part, we stopped at the Pierce Estate Park. It was a hot day, so the second stop at the Cold Garden Brewing Company for some refreshments was most welcome.
Then it was back to The Brownstone for the ceremony. Guests had already started arriving and were mingling while being served cocktails and appetizers. Officiant for the ceremony was Sue Deyell, a polished presenter and public speaker familiar to anyone who has listened to 770|CHQR radio in the morning (aka Global.)
Brownstone Wedding Reception
Laura and Shane asked us to set up a “video guestbook” during the cocktail hour where people could leave messages and advice. This used to be a thing back in the day, but was something we hadn’t done for a long time. With music playing and guests enjoying their conversations, we needed a quiet place without too many distractions. Our solution was to use the same room that Shane and his groomsmen had gotten ready in. It was right next to the cocktail hour room and it had a door we could close. We had the DJ make a few announcements to get things rolling and got some nice personal messages for the couple.
Meanwhile, the staff at The Brownstone cleared the ceremony space for the reception dinner. Tables were quickly brought out and décor set. It was a beautiful evening and a lot of fun for Shane, Laura, and their guests. The had a terrific grand entrance, an entertaining and experienced MC, emotional speeches, and everybody hit the dance floor after!
Cinematography | Dream Day Films
Wedding Planner | Picture Perfect Weddings
Venue | The Brownstone YYC
Officiant | Sue Deyell
Photography | Mint Photo
Make-Up Artist | Blush & Coco
Hair Stylist | Heather DeKlyn and Britney Wurmnest
Florist | Chickweed Florals
Transportation | Calgary Limo
Catering | Food Works Craft Catering
DJ | Vegas Entertainment
Music | “Your Love is My Home” by The Light The Heat, “Here to You” by Tyler Brown Williams, “Magic Hour” by The Dramatics – all licensed through MusicBed.