Sure, Alberta winters can be tough, but this winter photo shoot is proof they can also be breathtakingly beautiful. Brought to us by Sandra Bettina Weddings & Events, it channels winter elegance while including something old, something new, something cold and something blue.

With a light winter colour palette, festive individual pies and cedar trees- it will leave you appreciating the beauty of winter. 

Kim & Riley met 12 years ago working summer jobs in the town of Invermere B.C. A mutual friend thought that they would make a great couple, introduced them and the rest is history.

The Proposal

Riley really wanted to propose on the frozen lake while ice skating in Invermere but the winter was surprisingly warm and the lake wasn’t really that frozen. Instead he prepared a nice dinner and popped the question on Valentine’s day in the town where they first met. 

The Big Day

Kim and Riley LOVE the mountains and all of Canmore’s breathtaking views. The Silvertip Resort has one of the best views overlooking the Three Sisters Mountains so they held their wedding at the property. Riley has many hobbies but one of his favourite is fly fishing around Elbow river and in B.C. They were able to find someone who knew how to tie fly fishing hooks and had him make all of the guys boutonnieres. It was a great personal touch and Riley and the guys loved the fact they could keep them.

Favourite Moments

Kim:“The first look, it was such a intimate moment between the two of us I will never forget!”

Riley: “Seeing Kim walk down the aisle and calling her my wife!”

Engagement Ring Cut

Princess

First Dance

‘Crazy Love’ – Michael Buble

Newlywed Advice

“Get a day of coordinator!!! it really helps to have someone there to tell you what to do and relieve any stress on the day of the wedding. 100% worth every penny!!! Not only did we appreciate all their hard work but so did our family.”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

“Being able to spend a lifetime together and making new memories as husband and wife, it only took 12 years!”

Honeymoon

Belize & Costa Rica

Ice Castles Edmonton is an icy attraction from another world. The hand-built glacial formations, archways, and maze-like tunnels transport you to the Arctic in one visit.

No other location could quite capture the whimsical wonder of a winter like the Ice Castles. This was the first year our city hosted Ice Castles so photographers and designers were all over it, giving us so many beautiful shoots to go through. We’ve even seen couples head over there for their wedding photos.

This shoot captures the themes of winter weddings and proves that love can be celebrated year-round!

After surviving breast cancer at 23, five-foot-tall firecracker Leah started volunteering for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. At one event, another volunteer offered to help her carry a large box of t-shirts upstairs. Leah made a smart-ass comment about being more than capable, took a few steps and dropped the box. Despite Leah’s sassiness, Chad helped her pick up the shirts and carried them up three flights. “We’ve been together ever since, and he still has to put up with my sass,” says Leah.

The Proposal

One Friday night after a dinner of chicken fingers and fries (Leah refused Chad’s suggestions for fancy restaurants), Chad drove Leah to the Citadel Theatre, where they are season ticket holders. They always toss change into the fountain and make silent wishes, but this time Chad asked Leah if she wanted to know what he wished for. He got down on one knee and didn’t even have time to pop the question before Leah started crying and said “yes.”

The Big Day

The couple chose the Wedgwood Room at the Hotel Macdonald for its soft colours and classic lines for their small winter wedding. As a unique touch, Chad and Leah made a wine-capsule to commemorate their day. They exchanged letters and sealed them in a wooden box with a bottle of wine, only to be opened on a momentous occasion or when they need a reminder of why they married each other.

Favourite Moments

Leah: “My favourite moment of the wedding was right after the ceremony. Chad and I went to a separate room and it was just the two of us for about 5 minutes. It was right then that I realized that we had just done a very big thing and that I get to spend the rest of my life with my perfect person.”

Chad:“Seeing Leah walk down the aisle.”

Engagement Ring Cut

Oval

First Dance

”If I Had a Gun…” – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Father-Daughter & Mother-Son Dance(s)

“Grace, Too” – Tragically Hip cover by Justin Rutledge

Newlywed Advice

“Get a wedding planner! A wedding planner will help you to cut down the amount of bickering you do about the wedding. Planning a wedding is stressful, and even though you know you’re being crazy and unreasonable, sometimes you can’t help but take it out on the one person you shouldn’t: your fiancé. Our wedding planner was a saving grace”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

“We are most looking forward to all the adventures we will have together and expanding our little family.”

Honeymoon

Moorea, French Polynesia; San Diego, California

Kristilee and Sam met in high school but didn’t start dating until three years later, when they reconnected with a friend’s help. Sam’s romantic proposal took Kristilee on a journey of their relationship.

The Proposal

Sam planned a picnic date and had Kristilee guess the location–the park where he first told her he loved her. After dinner he asked her when their first date was. After a few wrong guesses, he produced the ticket from the improv show they went to. He had her turn around to guess what was for dessert, and when he started saying her full name Kristilee hugged him before he could finish asking the question. A hidden photographer caught their smiles and tears on camera.

The Big Day

Kristilee and Sam wanted their wedding to reflect their personalities: fun and relaxed. Kristilee handmade all of the decor with the help of friends and family, and the whole bridal party had a blast travelling in a school bus. To top things off, the couple treated guests to a sundae bar in lieu of a traditional cake.

Favourite Moments

Kristilee: “There were so many amazing, hilarious, fun and breath taking moments during are day. But my favourite one would have to be standing in front of all the people we love and care for and saying our personal vows to each other. There was a moment when we both just looked at each other and I whispered “Holy there is a lot of people here.” And there were, they were all there to support and cherish that very moment with us. It was an incredible moment.”

Sam: “After I picked my jaw up off the floor seeing Kristilee walk down the aisle, I looked at the crowd and there wasn’t a face in the crowd that wasn’t some mix of amazement and love. Kristilee is truly an amazing person and my favourite moment of the wedding was seeing her impact all 200+ people the same way she impacted me.”

Engagement Ring Cut

Round

First Dance

‘You are the Best Thing – Ray Lamontagne

Newlywed Advice

“Do what you want, don’t get caught up with what other people are telling you. Stay off of Pinterest, as much as you want to check out all those beautiful weddings it is not realistic with everyones location/budget/etc. Travel with your bridal party – the drive on the school bus with our bridal parties was one of the top moments for us. And for all you brides out there remember – if your dress isn’t dirty, you didn’t have enough fun. Be fearless in your dress; climb fences, run through horse pastures, sit on gravel roads, you have one day to wear your dress so make the most of it.”

Looking Forward to Most Now Being Married

The newlyweds look forward to settling into their home, traveling the world and eventually having a family.