When I think about my ideal couple to photograph Eric and Katie definitely check all the boxes. They’re both funny, laid back and madly in love with one another. They didn’t get caught up in the should do’s and don’ts of their wedding day – they chose to celebrate in their own true style. I first met them in person during their engagement shoot. It was a great way to connect with them which I find incredibly important before photographing people.
From the start it was clear that the most important thing for Eric and Katie was to have an intimate style wedding with the people they love most, and what better place to be than 7,700 feet at the top of Purcell Mountains. Kicking Horse Mountain Resort truly is breathtaking!
Why did you choose the venues/ town you did?
Both of us inherited our love for the Rockies from our families. So as a nature-loving Prairie couple, we couldn’t imagine a more magical way to celebrate our special day than being surrounded by our community on top of a mountain.
We were drawn to Golden as a less busy but equally picturesque alternative to Banff, Canmore, and Jasper. Once we discovered Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, we were blown away by the opportunity to bring a few of our favourite people on an adventure and get married at 7,700 feet!
What was your favorite part of the day?
Katie: One of the most magical parts of the day was when we walked out onto the terrace for our ceremony and saw our community – people from all different phases of our lives who had travelled far and wide to celebrate with us. It was such a surreal feeling!
Eric: My favourite part was when my friends and I got off the gondola at the top of the mountain and walked together towards the Eagle’s Eye restaurant (our venue), where Katie’s friends were out on the balcony cheering. After two years of being engaged, it was cool to finally arrive to that moment.
What were your favorite details and why? (dress, suits, flowers etc)
Katie: We wanted to support local businesses and make socially and environmentally conscious choices as much as we could, which ended up being some of my favourite details.
My parents live on two acres of forest in northwestern Ontario, and my dad made most of our decor from trees that had fallen on their property. We sourced plantable invitations and wine tags made from wildflower seed paper. For dinner, we served a delicious red wine from BC’s only 100% Indigenous-owned winery.
Etsy was our go-to for gifts, accessories, and other items. Even our rings were handmade by makers on Etsy!
Eric: After dinner, I gave out some cigars for a few of my closest friends to smoke around the portable bonfires outside for making s’mores. The day had been so full, so it was one of the first moments where we could completely relax and chat.
Why did you choose me?
Our photographer was the only person to be with us for the full day, so we wanted it to be someone we genuinely enjoyed and felt comfortable with. When we met Erin on our first Zoom call, we immediately felt at ease. She’s authentic, upbeat, funny, easygoing, insightful, and personable–someone we could completely be ourselves around.
We also wanted a photographer who was local to Golden, knew the area, and was skilled at capturing the breathtaking landscape – which was so evident in Erin’s portfolio. She has incredible composition and the eye of an artist and storyteller.
Do you have any wedding advice for couples getting married in the future?
Focus on what you value as a couple. Not everything will go the way you plan, but that’s okay when you’re grounded in the bigger picture and what really matters to you.
To see more from Eric and Katie’s day click here