A Fairmont Wedding at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
“A majestic environment perfect for a dream wedding...”
Congratulations on your wedding! What made you decide on having your wedding with us at Fairmont?
The location of The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is unparalleled in natural beauty. The glowing turquoise lake, snow capped mountains, and deep green pine trees create a majestic environment perfect for a dream wedding. The historic hotel has lovely rooms, great restaurants, and an attentive staff. Many of our guests traveled far for the wedding, and really appreciated the beauty and hospitality of the Fairmont.
Where did you have your ceremony? Did you incorporate any special or cultural traditions?
We had our ceremony outside in front of the lake, and could not have imagined a more stunning backdrop. Our florist set up a beautiful, flower-wrapped chuppah (traditional Jewish canopy). A classical music trio accompanied the groom's sister, an opera singer. We were all so moved by her beautiful singing, which made the ceremony truly special and unforgettable.
What made you decide to have a destination wedding?
Our wedding was a destination for about half the guests - including us! Many of them came from South Florida, and were so excited to have a summer vacation in beautiful Banff and Lake Louise. The guests had a great time hiking and taking in the gorgeous environment.
How did you plan your day from afar?
It was so helpful to have our wedding coordinator, Connie Grace, as well as the Fairmont advisor Valerie Trudel. Together they worked with us to make sure everything would go smoothly - and it did! We visited the hotel a few months before the wedding for a food tasting, meeting with the florist, and hair and makeup trial. We arrived a few days before the wedding to settle in and enjoy the area. Our coordinator and the hotel staff worked with the vendors to make sure everyone was on schedule.
Another integral part of the day is the wedding dress! Tell us about what you chose to wear.
I found my wedding dress online, and it was the first and only dress I tried on. It was a buttercream organza A-line gown with appliqued butterflies. I loved that it was classic with a whimsical twist.
Tell us about what it is like traveling with your dress!
My sister, trusted maid-of-honor, hand-carried my dress on the plane, and the flight attendants hung it during the flight. We steamed it before the ceremony - it wasn't a problem at all!
Do you have any advice for brides planning on having a destination wedding?
You would be surprised at how much you can plan from home - but it is always helpful to have someone at your destination to be a point-person for all the details, making sure the day goes smoothly so you can relax and enjoy the day.
Tell us about the flowers you chose. Did you go traditional or contemporary?
Our flowers were whimsical and romantic. The centerpieces were casual clusters of small colored glass vases with garden fresh blooms. The bouquets included pale peonies accented with smaller, brighter flowers. The florist perfectly interpreted our requests and the flowers lent a really romantic atmosphere.
Tell us about the meal you served your guests. What type and flavor cake did you have at your reception?
The food was delicious. The meal was a crab cake appetizer, with choice of beef or salmon for the main course. Dessert was a chocolate tart with espresso gelato. Our wedding cake was orange cream - simply decorated with buttercream frosting and sugar flowers, and topped with two hugging bears. We also had a delectable late night buffet that included macaroni and cheese, sliders, cake pops, and truffle popcorn!
What element(s) did you add to make the wedding uniquely ‘yours’?
We had a butterfly theme inspired by my wedding dress, which carried over into the invitations and decorations. Each table had an electronic "butterfly in a jar" - which flutters so realistically, that some gusts thought they were real butterflies! The theme was subtle, but appropriate for the summer season and the natural beauty that surrounded us.
What was the first song you danced to as newlyweds? Why did you pick that particular song?
Our first dance song was "Into My Arms" by Nick Cave. My husband chose it because it is a deeply romantic, beautiful song that felt unique and personal.
Now that you are married and have had time to reflect on your wedding day, what was your favorite moment?
We loved every moment of our wedding - especially the emotional first dance, the yummy cake, and the joyous dancing with all our friends and family.
Vendors & Service Providers:
• Photographer: Alan Maudie alanmaudieweddings.com
• Florist: Forget-Me-Not Flowers banffflowers.com
• Classical Music: Music Mosaic musicmosaic.ca
• DJ: Adam Bertsch banffentertainment.com
• Wedding Planner: Connie Grace elegantbanff.com
• Decor Company: CDM Consulting Group cdmgroup.ca
• Table Overlays: Wildflower Linen wildflowerlinens.com
• Hair & Makeup: Stephanie Roy stylingsteph.com
• Officiant: Oren Steinitz orensteinitz.com
For more information or to start planning your wedding at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise:
www.fairmont.com/lake-louise/meetings-weddings/weddings
