Lovelies, I’m so excited to share today’s wedding with you as it’s something completely different from anything I’ve seen before. Given the snowy weekend we’ve just experienced, too, it’s the perfect time for some wintry wedding vibes.
I invite you to come away with me to Mount Engadine Lodge, Canmore, Alberta, Canada for the elopement of Lottie and Jack. Lottie, a writer and creative consultant working in the publishing industry and Jack, who runs an IT business with his father, are from the UK but chose to elope to the Canadian wilderness to marry on their seventh anniversary.
The pair exchanged their vows in the snowy outdoors first thing in the morning on 9 October 2018 before relaxing in the Lodge and hiking in the countryside. The beauty of the Canadian mountains, along with soft pastel colours of foraged flowers, inspired their uniquely wild and natural celebration.
Photography Brittany Esther Photography
“We met at university, quickly fell in love and have been inseparable ever since. We were engaged in December 2017 at one of our favourite places, Tom Kerridge’s The Hand and Flowers in Marlow. We decided to elope on our seventh Anniversary the following year, seven being a lucky and magical number for us both.”
“We decided to fly out to Canada to get married because we couldn’t think of a more wild or beautiful place. Wilderness was at the heart of our elopement. The beautiful, cosy, laid-back setting of Mount Engadine Lodge was perfect for us.”
“The Canadian wild inspired our wedding day style. We opted for natural colours, foraged flowers and few additional details to let the mountains we stood before speak for themselves. It was important to us that our wedding felt unconstrained, wild and free.”
Lottie and Jack planned their day according to their personal list of priorities, an approach that sounds so free-ing and true to themselves.
“We didn’t have a budget, instead a list of priorities. A wonderful photographer, clothes that made us feel joyful and that was all we needed. I think an elopement allows for that level of laid-back planning.”
Marrying outside meant warm footwear, thermals and coat, so Lottie donned Timberland boots and cleats. Her accessories were simple, adding just a flower crown handmade using pine foraged from the area and dried flowers brought from the UK.
“I opted for simplicity when it came to accessories and let my dress, our happiness and the wonderful backdrop shine instead.”
In her arms, the bride carried an armful of native pine and more flowers from home.
“I assembled my own bouquet, flower crown and Jack’s boutonnière. I wanted wild flora to complement the style of our elopement and couldn’t think of anything more fitting than pine foraged from the local area. I finished the bouquet, flower crown and boutonnière with dried flowers from our native UK, a reminder of how far we’d come to celebrate our love.”
Jack’s relaxed suit comprised a warm tweed suit and a navy and burgundy stripe braces from Charles Tyrwhitt and whimsical dinosaur cufflinks from T.M. Lewin.
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“We got ready together in the morning, after Jack bought me a cup of tea as he always does. We got married first thing in the morning at 9am. It was snowing as we were married, the clouds shifting around us, the landscape continually changing. I wore thermals under my dress, which I was very grateful for.”
The couple walked through the snow together to meet their celebrant Marion Kutzer and exchange their vows.
“Rather than an aisle, we had a path cut through the snow by a local bull moose.”
And the sound that they walked to?
“Just the quietness of falling snow.”
Lottie’s bridal style was completely relaxed and natural, thanks to her timeless, beaded Needle & Thread gown. The bride’s own words summon up its vibe perfectly, and I love the contrast between its delicate blush pink and the blindingly-white snow.
“I loved the soft, untraditional colour, the bohemian style and the beautiful embellishments. It made me feel ethereal, like I was the subject of a Rossetti painting.”
“To complement our intimate ceremony, we decided to write our own vows. We designed our wedding rings together at Simon Lewis in Hatton Garden, London – the same place that Jack designed my engagement ring.”
Lottie’s description of the moment is so evocative.
“Standing together between the mountains, feeling rooted to the earth and one another as our wedding vows were read out. Seismic.”
These crisp and clear photographs, which breathe wild and natural vibes, are from local photographer Brittany Esther Photography.
Her countryside shots are breath-taking, and it looks as if Lottie and Jack could really relax around her meaning she could capture such romantic, intimate moments.
“I knew immediately that Brittany was the right photographer for us. Her style is so un-intrusive yet intimate and always celebrates the surroundings of her photographs. On the day, she made us completely at ease. She captured us in our quiet and natural moments for which I am so thankful. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
After the ceremony, the couple braved the snow to get these beautifully romantic portrait shots together. Their love just shines from these photos, and I can’t take my eyes off the beautiful surroundings.
The snow was a handy chiller for the bottle of Champagne which the couple enjoyed back in the warmth of the Lodge, along with a delicious cheese board.
“We didn’t have a first dance. Instead I played the piano in the Lodge and Jack picked up the guitar. We made our own music, whilst we warmed up next to the fire with mugs of Champagne.”
“We opted for the lodge’s quite excellent cheese board, which we ate stretched out in front of the fire in our room, after we’d changed out of our wedding garb.”
“Taking our wedding garb off, eating cheese and then going hiking was a wonderful way to spend our first afternoon being married.”
The couple celebrated their marriage on their return home, bringing Canadian treats with them.
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“We made wedding favours to give to our families. We made them all bags of trail mix cookies, inspired by our time in Alberta and using maple syrup we bought back in our suitcase.”
Words of Wedded Wisdom
“You do you. Craft every element of your wedding to bring you and your partner joy. It is completely about the two of you – revel in that and celebrate it.”
Lovelies, have you been inspired to do completely your own thing like Lottie and Jack? We have had the pleasure of featuring other intimate elopements which you can see here. Lottie and Jack, thank you so much for sharing your magical day with us today.
Thank you of course to Brittany Esther for your work; it’s been such a treat to see these photographs.
Ele xx
