A FAIRYTALE AT HERITAGE PARK
Emily and Elijah’s wedding day was a countdown I had been eagerly anticipating. Earlier in the year, we had captured their engagement session at the Calgary Public Library -- a session that still stands as one of my all-time favourites. The emotion, the ease, and the connection between them translated effortlessly through the lens. To say I was excited for their wedding would be a vast understatement.
The morning of their celebration, I met Elijah at the quaint gazebo just kitty-corner from the Prince House, where their ceremony would soon unfold. As I snapped candid moments of Elijah with his groomsmen, their camaraderie was infectious. Elijah carried a quiet nervous energy -- his anticipation radiated in every smile, every glance toward the path his bride would soon take. His groomsmen, ever the supportive crew, kept the laughter flowing, helping ease the weight of the moment.
The ceremony space was a vision -- an aisle lined with a rainbow of wildflowers leading up to the historic Prince House. But it was the sound of distant hoofbeats that signaled something magical was about to happen. The gentle clip-clop of horseshoes on pavement stirred a hush over the guests. Emily was arriving. Seated in a charming horse-drawn carriage, Emily turned the corner, and the entire gathering collectively leaned to catch their first glimpse. Her father stepped down first, offering his hand to help her from the buggy. A murmur of admiration swept through the crowd as Emily -- veiled and radiant -- made her way down the aisle, a true vision of elegance and grace. Elijah’s eyes shimmered as she approached, and when he took her hand and led her up the steps of the Prince House, it felt like watching the final page of a long-awaited chapter turn.
Their ceremony was deeply personal -- rooted in faith, filled with heartfelt reflection, and shared in the presence of those who mattered most. At the moment Elijah was told, “You may now kiss the bride,” he gently lifted Emily’s veil and kissed her to the sound of thunderous applause. The joy was palpable.
After a ceremonial tree planting and the signing of their marriage papers, Emily and Elijah walked hand in hand from the ceremony site and into the start of their new life -- though not before we began capturing their portraits across the grounds of Heritage Park. Emily, with her love for fairytales and Disney princesses, embodied a modern Cinderella. With grace and a glimmer of whimsy, she embraced the moment when we recreated a storybook scene on the stone staircase overlooking the Glenmore Reservoir. Her gown flowing behind her, she turned back just once on the steps -- her real-life fairytale in full bloom.
We continued our journey through the park, stopping to capture quiet, romantic moments by the vintage steam train and station, among the vibrant gardens, along the nostalgic railway tracks, and in front of a charming historical ranch home. Each location added a new layer to their story -- one that blended classic elegance with the rich textures of history.
Emily and Elijah brought poise, romance, and a timeless charm to their wedding day. And Heritage Park, with its beautifully preserved past, proved to be the perfect setting for a love story that felt as though it had always belonged there.
VENUE: Heritage Park, Calgary Alberta (@heritageparkyyc)
DRESS & VEIL: Bridal and Fashion Group
SUIT: TipTop (@tiptop)
RINGS: Spence Jewellers (@shopspence) and People's Jewellers (@peoplesjewellers)
FLOWERS: Harmony Art and Floral (@harmonyartandfloral)
MAKEUP: @merlegirl73
HAIR: Katelynne @k.at._
CATERING: Heritage Park (@heritageparkyyc)
