New Year’s Eve, Ice Castles and Prince Charming! Just seems to go hand in hand!! Today’s beautiful bride fell in love with The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise when she was a little girl and dreamed of someday having her own fairytale nuptials there. Years later … voilá! A picture perfect celebration ~ from Kirstie Tweed of Orange Girl Photographs and Lynn Fletcher Weddings …
From Kirstie … Julia and Matt chose to get married in a winter wonderland at Chateau Lake Louise in Canada. Their New Year’s Eve wedding week-end started with an outdoor ice bar. Despite freezing temperatures of -25 degrees celcius the ice bar was packed for the entire 3 hours. Julia and Matt braved the cold temperatures to take advantage of the huge ice castle out on the lake for photographs. Guests were treated to martini ice luges during dinner with an ice hockey skate for the boys and a high heel for the ladies. My favourite moment of the evening was during the couple’s first dance when it started to snow!
From Lynn Fletcher (their wedding designer) … Julia and her family took many Christmas trips to Lake Louise as she was growing up. When Julia was around 10 years old she saw a wedding being set up in the Victoria Ballroom at The Chateau Lake Louise with her Dad and Julia told her Dad then that when she got married she wanted it to be in that very room. Nothing made Julia’s dad Grant more proud than to be able to give his eldest daughter the wedding of her dreams just as she had predicted it years before. Julia and Matt chose to get married on December 31st as it was that date 3 years ago that Matt asked Julia out on their first official date.
I asked Julia and Matt what their favourite part of the wedding was ( I talked to them separately)…they BOTH said the walk down the aisle and the ceremony itself. Julia was surprised with her answer as she thought she would focus more on the decor and the pretty things she so carefully planned with me. Matt said that he took my advice to lock his eyes on Julia at the end of the aisle and not look away. It really helped him feel the depth of emotion and the magnitude of the moment. I was overjoyed with the answer as that is what I want to hear from every couple. After all, THAT is the reason they spend so much time, energy, and money on their day: to feel that feeling that they will never forget as long as they both shall live!
There are SO many more amazing shots from this epic celebration in the SMP Photo Gallery as well as on Kirstie’s blog and Lynn’s blog:
Orange Girl Photographs: The Wedding, Orange Girl Photographs: The Ice Bar, Orange Girl Photographs: The Reception
Lynn Fletcher Weddings: Part One, Part Two
Photography: Orange Girl Photographs / Event Planning & Design: Lynn Fletcher Weddings / Venue: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Coordinator: Chad Mendelman) / Lighting: Stardust Event Group / Flowers: The Nosegay / Cake: Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise / Quartet: Allegra String Quartet / DJ: Alan Smithson / Officiant: Robin White / Favours: Bedazzle my Bonbons / Ice bar: Frozen Memories / Bride’s make-up: Trena Olfert / Bride’s hair by: Naomi Schaap / Shoes: Oscar de la Renta / Dress: The bride had her Fairy Princess dress by customized by having the waist moved, the flowers repositioned and the neckline switched to a sweetheart.