Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/619218
realweddings.ca 27 Both hailing from Sherwood Park, Alberta, Danielle and Kurtis chose Victoria for their destination wedding as a location not far from home, while allowing their guests a short getaway in a beautiful setting. Their ceremony was held in the sunshine at Westin Bear Mountain Resort before moving inside for their reception. Hire a planner. Danielle says the best decision they made was to hire a wedding planner to ensure the day ran smoothly: "We truly felt we could focus on our guests and just have an amazing time." Be present in each moment. "You only have one day, so take your time, relax and soak in all the love and joy," says Danielle. "I prefer a later start time for a wedding, as it really allowed me to relax without feeling rushed." Get outside. "I love an outdoor ceremony because if it's at a beautiful location, it doesn't require a complete transformation," says Danielle. "You'll save on decorating costs with a space that is already amazing on its own." WORDS OF ADVICE softly in the background, the pair held hands beneath a flower-draped arbour, flanked on each side by a striking sentry of groomsmen and bridesmaids, to exchange their vows. If the mood was intimate and ethereal, it livened up soon afterward, as the couple's 70 guests mingled over sips, snacks and the music of a live singer-guitarist while the wedding party departed for photos. Strategically, the newlyweds ensured that they returned in time to catch the tail end of cocktail hour: "We didn't want to miss out on all the fun," chuckles Danielle. Later, the crowd shifted indoors, to a banquet room aglow in candlelight and flowers, for a sumptuous buffet dinner and a round of heartfelt toasts that had guests alternately loosening their belt buckles and dabbing their eyes. For the bride and groom, it was the single most memorable moment of their entire wed- ding. Says Danielle: "Listening to those speeches from our family and friends was something that Kurtis and I will always remember and treasure." Plenty more memorable moments were to come when a DJ took to the turntable to work up the crowd's appetite for dancing, cake cutting and a late-night pizza and nacho bar that carried the fun far into the night. And though most weddings experience a glitch or two, Danielle says happily, "Everything went perfectly as planned. It was all just so magical!" s