Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/430877
28 real weddings planning guide 2015 Choosing to hold the wedding in Vancouver instead of Anchorage was a no-brainer for the couple, whose friends and family are largely in the Lower Mainland. But doing all the planning from such a far-flung locale made it feel as if they were planning a destination wedding, Heidi recalls, citing endless emails, phone calls and Skype meetings with vendors. To help with logistics, the couple hired Vancouver-based wedding planner Jenna Smith of Revel Events to take care of all the nuptial nitty-gritty. One easy decision for the pair was choosing Heritage Hall for both their ceremony and reception. As Heidi explains, "We loved the architecture, and the interior was decorated with such rich colours it didn't need much additional décor." Of course, it still needed some dressing up, so the couple added several fun personal touches to achieve their mutual vision of a "vintage academic" theme. Rather than typical flowers and ribbons, they decorated the historic ballroom with an assortment of rocks, globes, maps, terrariums, geodes and even miniature dinosaurs. e couple's attire was equally unconventional. Heidi eschewed traditional wedding white for a blush-pink silk Monique Lhuillier gown — "I bought it in Vancouver, as options are somewhat limited in Alaska," she jokes. And Larry chose a navy-blue tuxedo rather than basic black. e two made a striking couple as they stood before 105 guests, flanked by a quartet of groomsmen and bridesmaids, to recite their own self- written vows. And though it poured rain on their wedding day, the spirit of the occasion wasn't dampened in the least. Guests staved off the winter chill with a chef-created menu full of upscale comfort foods such as mac-and-cheese, Swedish meatballs, and prime rib with caramelized winter vegetables, followed by dancing to local R&B band Brown Paper Bag. In a night full of wonderful moments, Heidi's favourite came just before the reception, when she surveyed the scene and "real- ized everything came together and all we had to do was enjoy the rest of the night." For Larry, a highlight was "looking around see- ing all our guests mingling and getting to know each other" — but the icing on the proverbial cake came later, when his new bride jumped onstage to sing a rendition of "Unforgettable." It was the perfect song to sum up a day that had, indeed, been unforgettable. rw Heidi and Larry's unusual touches included a Kransekage almond cake in honour of their Scandinavian roots, plus an assortment of globes, rocks and terrariums in their quirky geology- themed décor.