Art Gallery of Alberta Blush's Wedding Venue of the Year 2011

From its prime location in the heart of the arts and culture district in downtown Edmonton, to the catering par excellence, the Art Gallery of Alberta is Blush’s pick for best wedding venue of the year.

Staging your wedding, engagement or rehearsal events in Edmonton just got a whole lot more elegant.  Not only is it connected via underground tunnel to some of Edmonton’s biggest names ensuring your guests ease of movement, it is also a singular architectural achievement that needs next to no adornment for the brides who like to keep it simple.  For those who like the extra oomph, the space itself transforms beautifully.  Zinc Catering are the exclusive contract caterers for AGA and also the brainchild behind the AGA’s gastronomically delightful dining experience. Zinc catering’s Elisa De Fazio took Blush on a tour of the gallery so we could get a better idea of who’s holding their weddings there and why.

A chat with Executive Chef David Omar gave us a glimpse of what is easily one of the most creatively derived menu selections in fine dining available in Western Canada.  Blush loves Chef David’s vision, incorporating both locally sourced and fresh ingredients in his signature creations, all developed by integrating the couple’s preferences.  “I think that what we do with our couple’s choices in mind really stands out, especially when you see that even colour is taken into consideration,” says Chef David illustrating his point by explaining some of his more innovative uses of texture and colour to play into the couple’s theme.

The space is a multitiered visual extravaganza that seats 200 for plated dinners and 300 comfortably for standing receptions.  Renowned architect Randall Stout is known for “creating environments that capture the unique composition of their natural surroundings, while transforming light, shadow, form, and materials into dynamic architecture. His projects are known for vibrant forms, state of the art technology, and environmental sustainability.” Going chic and green this year is easy when choosing the AGA as your venue, especially since 90 percent of the steel used is derived from recycled materials.  The exterior usage of patinated zinc panels and the curving stainless steel inspired by Aurora Borealis at a staggering height of 102 ft makes the dramatic art factor high for this venue.

“The space itself is magnificently engineered both for acoustics and for lighting with the best technical options available,” explained Elisa. The Light Column, made of acrylic panels and lit from within, is unmatched in an Edmonton venue for both ingenuity and the fact that it can be custom lit to suit the couple’s preferred colour.  From the mezzanine to the stunning staircase leading up to several areas that can be sectioned off or booked as a whole, the AGA has an appropriate space for events ranging from engagement dinners to gift opening luncheons.  If the surreal structure and their gourmet approach to cuisine isn’t breathtaking enough, the fact is you are staging your event at an art gallery showcasing some of the biggest talents to ever grace Alberta should be the tipping point.  What does an art loving couple give as wedding favors?  Passes to the gallery, of course.