A white Christmas is beautiful, but what about a white wedding? There's something about snow that makes everything look so magical and romantic, right? Alyssa and Dan's stylish real wedding at ATB Financial Arts Barns in Edmonton, Canada is giving us serious Frozen vibes. Honestly guys, between the snow and the STUNNING Christos gown, this wedding looks like a real-life fairytale! Jill Coursen Photography did such an incredible job at capturing the magic...
Dan & Alyssa met through mutual friends at the University of Alberta, "Dan was a close friend of a guy who me and my girlfriends met while in Mexico over reading week. He is now one of my best friends' husband, and he introduced Dan and I shortly after returning from that trip!”
Dan popped the question with a romantic festive proposal, “Dan proposed on Christmas Eve, 2015, in the privacy of our new home after coming home from a dog walk in the park – He had written a Christmas card for me to read, while sneaking the ring out of his pocket! It was a very intimate moment shared together, and we were able to celebrate with our loved ones throughout the holiday season!” Alyssa tells us.
Getting ready for that first look - Eeek!
Alyssa & Dan really wanted to create a seasonal feel with their wedding, “Our 'one-liner' to sum up our day was white winter wedding. It was very simple, with elegant touches to really capture the essence of winter’s beauty. Our mission was to create an ultra-social, super fun environment for our guests and ourselves to enjoy!”
I mean, just LOOK at that dress!
The bride and groom made it a priority to really enjoy their day, "Our mantra was to ensure that ourselves and our guests had the most FUN day! The priorities reflected this, as we focused a lot of our costs on the location of the venue, food, drinks, and entertainment. While we were planning and toiling over costs, we often asked ourselves: Will this expense improve our day or our guests? If the answer was no, (like for florals or fancy chairs) we’d find a more cost-effective option!"
The couple recruited the help of professionals to make the day run as smoothly as possible, "We splurged on some incredible wedding coordinators who helped us with some of the planning, but took on the day-of coordinating, which eliminated any ounce of stress (regarding the logistics of executing a huge event) we had on the day of!” Alyssa explains.
Alyssa's maids carried rustic, wintery bouquets made from a variety of foliage. (P.S. we just LOVE bridesmaids in white!)
A chic, modern ceremony setting.
The couple tell us about why the ceremony was the most special part of the day was for them, “We wrote our own vows, which was INCREDIBLY emotional, but was so amazing to share them with one another, in front of all our friends and family. We also attended our own cocktail hour, since we did all of our pictures before the ceremony - this was so great to let loose and enjoy a drink with our guests, instead of hiding out before the grand entry!”
Alyssa & Dan wanted to be mindful of their guests in their choice of venue, they tell us why ATB Arts Barns was 'the one' for them, “The location, and the production value they allowed - the ATB Arts Barns is very central in Edmonton, and being in the dead cold of winter, we wanted to make sure our guests had somewhere close to go in between our ceremony and reception for a beverage or two – Whyte Avenue offers some of Edmonton's best bars and restaurants, and was a stone’s throw from the venue! It also allowed us to bring in the BEST entertainment (duelling pianos) for our dance, and came equipped with all the lighting and staging needs we could have dreamed of!” It sounds like their thoughtfulness paid off!
Well that's a fairytale pic if we ever saw one!
We told you this wedding had a Frozen feel!
Any advice for other couples planning their wedding? “Don’t forget about why you are spending ALL the time, money and energy for this day – sometimes you need a reminder so you don’t get too caught up in the little things. It’s a day to celebrate your union, and love for one another, so the time leading up to the big day should be enjoyed!” Alyssa says. Wise lady!
The winter wonderland aesthetic kept going throughout the reception decor too.
Another highlight of the day for Alyssa was the dance floor action, “I think the most unique part of our wedding was our duelling pianos for the dance, it was so much fun, and being an all-request show, everyone had a blast dancing to their favourite songs – live! We both spent the entire night on the dance floor!”
And after a cold weather wedding, the couple opted for more exotic climes for their honeymoon, “We went to Tokyo, Vietnam, and Cambodia – BEST. TRIP. EVER. It was the perfect combination of luxury, relaxation, adventure, and love!” Stop making us jealous, Alyssa!
Huge thanks to Alyssa & Dan for sharing their special day with us, and to Jill Coursen Photography for taking such beautiful photos!
The Wedding Details
- Photography: Jill Coursen Photography
- Wedding Venue: ATB Financial Arts Barns, Edmonton
- Wedding Dress: Christos at Novelle Bridal
- Bridesmaids dresses: BCBG
- Shoes: Stuart Weitzman
- Bouquets: Azalea Azoreana
- Groom(smen)’s suits: Suit Supply & Derks Menswear
- Cake: Handmade by family members
- Stationery: Minted
- Make Up & Hair: HP Artistry & The Weekly Trim-True
- Wedding sash: Delica Bridal
- Earrings - Yu Fashion
- Necklace - Who Cares Wear
- Wedding Bands: Al-Brite Jewellers
- Reception Music: Red Piano Duelling Pianos, Tegmentum Entertainment
- Catering: Culina Restaurants and Catering
