Backyard Canadian Garden Wedding
It was such a difficult feat to edit down these images from Shari + Mike Photographers! Genevieve and Joel were married in a glorious park setting, and had a backyard reception that was somehow even more gorgeous. Be sure to grab some tea or coffee as you scroll through this one, as it’s a real looker:
From the bride, Genevieve: The inspiration for our wedding came from the simple saying “all things we are, all thing we love.” It was very important for us both to have our wedding reflect us and our easy going approach to life. I am a wedding photographer and Joel works in online marketing so we consider ourselves to be the creative type. We wanted to think outside the box as much as we could, so that our day would not be a cookie cutter wedding but rather a intimate event designed around who we are as a couple.
We chose to design our invites with a poker feel while still keeping it classy. we then pulled the deck of cards theme into our reception with the seating chart, the kissing game, Vintage pinball machine and our thank-you’s. I made my own bouquet and flower arrangements to help keep cost down. we ordered babies breath from Safeway, did a massive Costco run and picked bushes of bachelor-buttons and strange flowers from several back alleys… yes, back alleys!
Our Ceremony took place under a large Elm tree. Due to Joel’s Jewish heritage we chose to have a messianic Jewish ceremony complete with chuppah hand made by Joel and his groomsmen. We chose to have our reception in my grandparents backyard because of it’s pure quaintness.. My dream had always been to have a small and intimate outdoor reception that went on into the night and this was the perfect place. We temporarily sodded over the vegetable garden to accommodate a lounge area, and built a small checkered dance floor to act as a stage.
Three 30′ tables were brought in to host our 70 guests, and strands of white lights were hung from the trees. The tables were set with white china, vintage books, family heirlooms and simple floral arrangements made by my bridesmaids and I. We rented chandeliers for the trees and let the sweet summer night work it’s magic. When the last toast was given we opened our cookies and ice cream bar.. This was a fun alternative to the wedding cake and a very much “us” dessert.
View all images from this wedding in the gallery
Wedding Vendors (Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada):
Wedding Ceremony: Kiwanis Picnic shelter, Henderson Park / Wedding Reception: Private Grounds / Wedding Photographer: Shari + Mike Photographers / Event Planner and Decor: Everything Beautiful Events / Wedding Dress: Casablanca “1914” / Wedding Shoes: Roberto Vianni / Bride’s Earrings: Anthropologie / Bride’s Necklace: Vintage / Bride’s Robe: Urban Outfitters / Bride’s Hair: done by bride / Bride’s Makeup: Leanne Wood / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shirt: Harry Rosen / Groom’s Tie: Club Monaco / Groom’s Pocket Watch: Vintage / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Zara, ModCloth, H&M, Forever 21, Gap / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: “Lovely Bird Locket” by Blue Tree Studio / Flower Girl Dresses: Handmade by bride / Seating Chart and Thank Yous: made by bride / Invitations and Programs: made by bride and groom / Flowers: Assembled by bride and bridesmaids / Pinball Machine: Vintage / Table and Chair Rentals: Wards Rentals / Catering: Coco Pazzo
love her shoes! the card set up is pretty adorable too!
I really have to applaud Shari and Mike for such beautiful images! You made this wedding perfect for Joel and I and we can’t thank you enough! such good memories!
I love all the flowers! They are beautiful! The seating chart is great too! It’s the first time I’ve seen one like it! Congrats to the happy couple!
Her shoes are so cute! And love the deck of cards theme for the invites!
This truly was a most romantic and intimate wedding that took guests out of the typical wedding setting giving them the close family experience of belonging and being included that both the groom’s and bride’s sides share freely. Many hands directed by this creative bride made for allot of fun and beauty that will have lasting memories.
Gorgeous wedding! How did you build the checkered dance floor?? Thanks 🙂
A wedding which definately had personal style all over it, yet still SO classy and elegant. LOVE.
It feels so great to have an amazing wedding like this.
This is so fantastical!! So happy for Shari+Mike photographers and for Genevieve Renee. LOVE
Wow what a gorgeous wedding – love the rustic flowers and the cookies – yum!
WOW!!!Love all!!!The first photo is so beautiful and fresh!! Love the landscape!! And so special dancing place!!!
Beautiful wedding! Love checker dance floor, vintage containers, the brides shoes that tie with ribbon, the twine wrapped boutonnieres, and the brides bouquet is so very pretty!
I love the brown paper wrapped favors. Favorite thing: Brown paper packages wrapped with string.
what were inside the brown paper box wedding favors?
Joel, the groom, is a big fan of poker so they decided to give away decks of cards as the favors, nice touch!
This wedding is so romantic and the beautiful photographs capture such amazing moments between the couple! How lucky they are to have these wonderful images to share with their friends and family. Perfection!
I love how personalized this wedding is. Elegant but also casual personal touches throughout with glimpses of both the bride and grooms personalities make this a beautifully perfect wedding!