The Higgins’s Wedding at Calgary’s Glenmore Sailing Club

On the day of Laura and Patrick’s wedding, we watched the temperature climb to almost 34 degrees Celsius! We began our day by meeting the girls at the Delta Calgary South Hotel, in the Atrium Building directly across the street from the main lobby. Inside the building, we were met with a gorgeous staircase, which we would later use for the first look.

We headed upstairs to meet the girls, who were having their final makeup touches done by Christina Kemp with Modern Makeovers. The girls had a big bottle of champagne at the ready, preparing to toast Laura on her big day.

The First Look

Once everyone was ready, we took them downstairs to the second floor and lined the bridesmaids up along the staircase. The grooms, his groomsmen, and Liam, the officiant and friend to the couple, met us there.

Patrick was set up at the bottom of the stairs, looking in the opposite direction of the reveal. Therefore, when Laura descended the stairs, we captured the nervous anticipation on his face. When he finally turned, he saw her for the first time in her gown. They shared a beautiful and touching moment, and then we headed straight out for the creative formals.

The Creative Formals at the Rundle Ruins, St. Mary’s Cathedral, and Lindsay Park

We hopped into an AM PM limousine and drove out to the Rundle Ruins, the remains of Calgary’s second general hospital. The building was the first purpose-built hospital in the city, became a nursing home in the 1950’s and eventually, was demolished in 1973. The ruins, including the original 1894 cornerstone, were incorporated into Victoria Park the following year. They serve as a wonderful backdrop for photographs, and we used the towering sandstone bricks as our setting for photos of the wedding party.

We moved locations and headed to the Alberta Ballet beside the beautiful St. Mary’s Cathedral. The foundations for the original cathedral were laid in 1887, and the impressive sandstone structure was completed in 1889. A new cathedral was built on the same site in 1955, and today it stands as an important historical site in the city of Calgary. Next to St. Mary’s stands the current Alberta Ballet building, which began as the original St. Mary’s Parish Hall in 1905. It was quickly converted into a CNR station in 1913 to accommodate the booming city, and in 1985 the Alberta Ballet made its new home inside.

We started the photographs on the outside of the cathedral, snapping some incredible shots right in front of its towering façade. We paid homage to a popular collection of Instagram shots, with Laura in the center of the photo, leading an off-camera Patrick by the hand toward the church.

We headed across the road to Lindsay Park and crossed a bridge to get a few shots of the couple looking over the Elbow River. Down a set of stairs that led to the exposed rock basin along the river, we wrapped up the formals. It was time to head off to the ceremony!

Their Ceremony at the Glenmore Sailing Club

At the edge of the sprawling Glenmore Reservoir, we settled in at the Glenmore Sailing Club for Laura and Patrick’s nuptials. The Sailing Club is the home of Calgary’s sailing community and has remained so since 1959. From the back lawn, one can see over the expanse of the reservoir, with the majestic Rocky Mountains hovering in the background.

The ceremony, led by Liam Sorrenti, began at 4 pm on the lawn. Patrick stood under a beautiful arbor surrounded by gorgeous flowers, waiting for his bride. Because it was such a hot day, everyone was provided with sunscreen and led straight to the sailing club with creative signs.
The ceremony was short and sweet, and Liam led a simple service, their friendship adding a personal touch to the day. They each read their vows, then they quickly put on the rings, and shared their first kiss as husband and wife!

The family photos were a breeze, and we even got to include Laura and Patrick’s adorable 11-month-old daughter Ella in the shots. During the earlier part of the day, she was babysat by her grandparents, and in the afternoon, she was such a joy to photograph.

The Higgins Reception at the Glenmore Sailing Club

To begin the reception, guests relaxed on the lawn with cocktails and lawn games. Dinner was a casual cocktail stand-up meal by Sorrenti’s catering company (Liam’s family)! The appetizers featured sliders, cheeses, fruits, bruschetta, lamb and chicken skewers, and dumplings. The staff wandered around with trays, providing bites for the guests. For dessert, everyone was treated to beautiful cupcakes and baileys and milk shooters. They all seemed to enjoy the casual cocktail party on the patio, where they could spend the evening chatting and catching up with the newlyweds.

A few speeches followed dinner, and we then presented our same day slideshow. Then, we left the rest of the partygoers to dance the night away, and enjoy a tasty midnight lunch!

We had a wonderful day with Laura and Patrick!

Online Gallery

An online gallery of all their images is available for the next 90 days. From the online gallery you are able to favourite images, order prints and share the gallery with your family and friends. The gallery can be accessed via the link below and you can contact the couple directly for their secure password.

The Higgins Wedding Day Slideshow

Above you will find the Wedding Slideshow that we created from a selection of the best edited photos that we captured on their special day.

Additional Blog Posts for Laura and Patrick

In addition to their incredible wedding day celebration, they also have other blog posts you can enjoy. Click the links below to check out those posts.

We are so fortunate to have had the opportunity to share this special day with them and all their family and friends. We wish them many years of happiness together.

Want to share in the experience? Contact us today for a free consultation or click here to book a portrait session! We also have a wickedly fun Calgary Photo Booth that is great for any event as well as Corporate and Event Photography for all sorts of events and corporate functions.

Calgary Wedding Photographers – JM Photography © 2018

The Higgins Wedding Credits

Date | 6.21.16
Officiant – Liam Sorrenti
Ceremony & Reception Venue – Glenmore Sailing Club
Hair – Christina Kemp with Modern Makeovers
Wedding Cake – Crave
Catering – Sorrenti’s Catering
Photography by Jeremy Martel & Amy Cheng

Learn more about our studio

JM Photography offers Calgary brides the very best in wedding photography! Our unique style and best in class experience is one of a kind. Each wedding is treated with the greatest of care and creativity, resulting in breathtaking imagery. We also offer Calgary newborn photography, capture maternity sessions as well as family portraits.

We are one of the top studios in Western Canada, servicing the Calgary area, including but not limited to, Canmore, Banff, Cochrane, Chestermere, Airdrie, Lethbridge, and Red Deer. We also offer coverage in Edmonton, Vancouver and to destinations worldwide.