Maxine + Arthur
Storm Mountain Lodge Wedding

If you have ever talked to me about where to stay, get married, or eat in the mountains I can almost assure you I have sung the praises of Storm Mountain Lodge. Set between the townsite of Banff and the iconic Lake Louise, up a hill and easy to miss if you blink is a little collection of historic cabins. A place to relax and disconnect, to enjoy a delicious meal, to plan the next day’s hike. So it was the perfect way to kick off my 2019 wedding season, with two people who love the outdoors, surrounded by their closest friends and family, in a place that is truly inspiring.

Maxine and Arthur’s wedding day was the week after a nearly month-long deep freeze, giving a distinctly wintery landscape, with snow piled high and frosty mountaintop backdrops, but without all the trouble of having to put on a dozen layers before heading outdoors. They forewent having a wedding party, choosing instead to get ready leisurely with their families before their tea ceremony. With crampons and borrowed boots we set out for portraits, fortunate to find the classic glacier teal-hued water and the stark rock walls of Castle Mountain as our backdrop. Maxine’s custom made blush skirt stood out spectacularly against the white landscape and Arthur’s fabric floral boutonniere were ideal choices for a winter mountain wedding.

So began their fireside ceremony, their family and friends circling around on a delightful assortment of couches and chairs – some propped on oversized sofa arms, others leaning on the check-in desk. Laughter erupted when the timber doorframe was a minor impediment to Maxine having her parents walk her down the aisle. Tamara shared their story, they put aside a bottle of wine for their first anniversary, and overcame the obstacle of putting a ring on fingers that may have swollen a touch from the temperature change. A champagne toast kicked off the evening festivities and libations celebrating two.

Venue and Catering | Storm Mountain Lodge in Banff National Park . Officiant | Tamara Jones . Hair and Makeup | Simply Me in Canmore . Bouquet | Amborella Floral

Check out this Cathedral Mountain elopement if a rustic ceremony spot mixed with portraits by glacial rivers make you oh so happy.