The Johnson’s Wedding at Calgary’s Valley Ridge Golf Club

The First Look

We began the day at Baker Park, where we met up with Yvonne and Jeff for their first look. Baker Park is a beautiful, 30-acre, recreational site, and makes up part of the Bow River Pathway which links many of Calgary’s urban parks and green spaces. The location of a former WWII Sanatorium, the park is abundant with different types of trees, planted by gardeners of the previous medical institution. It has many beautiful promenades and archways and looks over the Bow River from a picture-perfect observation point.

We found a path off to the right, which allowed Yvonne to walk up behind Jeff for the first look. The all-male wedding party was there: Yvonne’s bridesmen Matthew and Igor, Jeff’s young son Clark, and his groomsmen, Mike and Landon. We photographed the men pinning their boutonnieres on, and prepared for Yvonne to make her grand entrance. Down the path she walked, sneaking behind her intended for a quick hug. He turned to see her for the first time, and they shared a kiss.

The Creative Formals at Baker Park and Valley Ridge Golf Club

The day of Yvonne and Jeff’s wedding was a warm one, so we did our best to keep them in the shade. We started the formals with the bridal party in the shade of the giant trees throughout the park. Then, we braved the heat and moved out onto a sunny stair structure for a group shot. Back in the shade, we photographed the group at the river-view observation point, where the Bow River flows beside the park.

Once we’d completed the group photos, we all drove to the Valley Ridge Golf Club, the site of the ceremony and reception. We parted from the wedding party and took Jeff, Yvonne, and Clark to the side of the Golf Club for a few family photos.

The Valley Ridge Golf Club is set in a quiet valley, yet is close to the city centre. The award-winning course had plenty of beautiful spaces to photograph, and many of those in the shade! Under the trees, the light filtered through onto the happy couple. We pulled out some flash and backlit them, standing against the main building. Yvonne’s unique Allure Bridal gown was covered in intricate lacework, so we had to get a shot of the train. We took the bride out onto the grass and used some creative lighting to manufacture a glow around her, giving the shots a magical quality.

When we’d finished with the photos, Jeff and Yvonne wanted to stay hidden from their guests, so they went inside their air-conditioned limo to wait for the ceremony.

Their Ceremony at Valley Ridge Golf Club

The guests all moved out onto the Valley Hall Ceremony Site, located outside on a patio overlooking the pristine lawns of the golf course. Judge Higa, a friend of the family, officiated the ceremony. Jeff’s brother-in-law Pat decided that live music would enhance the moment, so as a surprise he hired a harpist, Emily, to play during the service. She played beautifully throughout, and it indeed added a little something special to the ceremony.

The bridesmen came down the aisle first, escorting Yvonne’s mother to her seat. Clark followed with the rings on a pillow, accompanied by his three adorable cousins/flower-girls Caroline, Isabel, and Katherine. Then, Yvonne and her father walked down.

The ceremony was short and straightforward, with a set of vows, the ring exchange, and a kiss. They signed their documents, received congratulations, and moved right into family photos!

The Johnson Reception at Valley Ridge Golf Club

Once we were done in the sun, everyone moved inside for the cocktail hour, Yvonne’s self-proclaimed favourite part of weddings! Groomsman Landon and his wife Ashley brought their newborn son along, so we staged a quick newborn session with them.

Just before dinner, we took the newlyweds back outside to get a few more photos. The winds had picked up, bringing smoke from the many forest fires into the sky. The smoke turned the sun blood red, staining the sky with an orange hue. We set up a few backlights, and with the golden sky and landscape of the golf course, we got some gorgeous images of the couple.

Back inside, dinner began with a spicy tomato soup. Then, a salad of spinach and feta went around. The main course consisted of three choices: beef, chicken, and vegetarian ravioli.

The speeches commenced after the soup course and ran between each plating. Jeff’s father kicked off the speeches, followed by Yvonne’s parents, who welcomed Jeff to the family. Then, bridesmen Matthew and Igor shared a few stories about Yvonne, including how she and Matthew became friends by nearly killing him with pesto. The groomsmen came up to share a few stories about Jeff, and then Yvonne’s grandmother Rita, her oldest living relative, shared a few words of wisdom. She was followed by Clark, who was ecstatic at the opportunity to speak. At eight-years-old, he delivered an impressive speech to Yvonne, reminiscing about first meeting her and expressing how grateful he is to have her in his life.

The bride and groom then wrapped up dinner and speeches with their thank-you’s.
After dinner, it was time to cut the cake. The naked cake, from Yvonne’s Delightful Cakes, was a gorgeous 3-tier decorated with minimal icing, flowers, and macarons.

After cake, Yvonne and Jeff danced their first to: “Hard to Concentrate,” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They did the parents dances, and then the DJ took over!

DJ Chris from Revolution Entertainment did an impressive job. He not only spoke well over the mic, but he also had an incredible music selection and knew how to work for the crowd. When things slowed a little, he threw down some Backstreet Boys and got everyone back up and dancing! It was a great group, and they continued the party into the night!

We had a great time at Yvonne and Jeff’s wedding, and hope they love their images as much as we enjoyed photographing them!

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 Johnson 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 Yvonne and Jeff

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 © 2017

The Johnson Wedding Credits

Date | 9.2.17
Officiant – Judge Don Higa
Ceremony Location – Valley Ridge Golf Club
Wedding Cake – Yvonne’s Delightful Cakes
Florist – Colleen McGill with Avenida Grower Direct
DJ – Chris Minor with Revolution Entertainment
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.