Calgary Wedding Photographers | Sam & Shaeleigh’s Alloy Restaurant Wedding

Calgary Wedding Photographers

Sam & Shaeleigh’s Alloy Restaurant Wedding

Red Bloom Photography

One thing that I remember so extra clearly about this day is that Sam & Shaeleigh’s day

was not about a wedding, it was about a celebration with their friends and family. Their day

was all about the people around them. I noticed this first thing in the morning from the way

that the interacted with their friends and put their wedding party first.  As I captured their day their friends

were always close and around them making sure things were good and asking how to help.

The second Shaeleigh slipped into her dress she burst into tears, it just hit her that she was

about to say I do. Her bridesmaids came in and immediately tried to make her laugh so she

did not cry away her makeup.  That is definitely what I would want my girls to do. She laughed

and cried a little more as they helped her with her jewelry and finishing touches.

Like alot of weddings, this wedding ran a little bit late which was probably for the best as it

was unseasonably cold so this cut our photo time in half. It was way to chilly for these girls

to spend 1.5 hours outside so we did all their photos in 45 minutes.  I did convince them to

give me another 10 minutes during the reception but let me tell you it was not easy to pull

them away from celebrating with their friends. 

I could talk forever but lets hear from Sam & Shaeleigh!

How did you guys meet?
We met through Instagram!  We are both fitness competitors and Sam had seen a poster for

an upcoming show that I was on so he looked for me on Instagram, added me and sent

me a DM.  I think he said something lame like “hey do you like shoes?”.  I didn’t respond

for about a month but for some reason, something told me to respond!  We began talking regularly

but didn’t meet face to face until about 4 months later because he lived in Edmonton and I

live in Calgary.  He came to Calgary in January 2017 for a work training course and we met then. 

We went to the gym (ha, of course) and went for sushi after.  Ever since that time he came

to Calgary, Sam drove every single weekend from Edmonton to Calgary to see me

until he made the move to Calgary in October 2017.

Please share the proposal story with us?

Sam planned a weekend in Banff at the Rimrock Resort Hotel. While I knew we were going to

Banff for the weekend, he kept the details of the weekend a secret.  The first surprise was when he took

me to the Helicopter tour.  When we landed on the top of a mountain, he got on one knee and proposed. 

He was so nervous!  We took the helicopter back down and spent the rest of the day at the spa getting

couples massages and relaxing at Red Earth Spa.  After, we went for dinner at Eden in the Rimrock Hotel

and it was easily the best dinner we have ever experienced.

Most memorable moment from your wedding day?

Bride – When I first saw Sam. Also, the minutes leading up to the first look when

I was getting into my dress.  That’s when it all became real.
Groom – Seeing Shaeleigh for the first time during the first look. 

Also, getting ready with the boys was pretty fun too

Tell me about the special aspects of your day that made it unique to you two?

My mom crocheted white roses to put in my bouquet and a blue heart to sew in my dress.

Besides making the choice to marry each other, what was the easiest decision

you made for your wedding? What made it so easy?

The venue, Alloy.  It was where we had our first date and we both love the food there. 

Also not to have a cake, we both don’t like cake.

What was the most difficult, time consuming choice that you made for your wedding day?

And advice to couples on this?

Finding a DJ.  I would say really shop around and get quotes.

Advice to couples planning their wedding day? 

Start planning early, set a budget, and don’t get too tied up with the small things.

Make a timeline for the day of the wedding and give a copy to everyone in the wedding party

so they all know where to be and when.  

Also, if you’re doing a first look make sure to have the guys corsages and ladies bouquets

with you at the location you’re getting ready and not delivered to the venue like we had!  When

I had a friend bring them to our hotel in a rush for the first look and wedding party photos they

brought the corsages for my grandma and other family members to the groomsmens room too.

The family corsages were left in the groomsman’s hotel room because the guys didn’t know

what they were for and didn’t ask.  So my grandma and other family members didn’t get

their corsages unfortunately.

Also, on the day make sure to breathe and take it all in.  It goes by very fast!

And now Sam & Shaeleigh’s Wedding Story

~ VENDOR LOVE ~

Red Bloom Photography

Intimate Photography for Adventurous Couples