The Cenaiko’s Banff Wedding at the Moose Hotel and Suites

A Beautiful Wedding in Banff National Park

Alina and Justin Getting Ready

We met Alina and Justin bright and early on the day of their wedding. They were getting ready at the Moose Hotel and Suites, a hotel of rustic charm and elegance, nestled in the heart of Banff.

When we arrived at Justin’s room, he already had the gifts laid out for the guys, who were all getting ready and enjoying the morning. The gifts were all suit-related, so as they got dressed they opened their pocket squares, ties, belts, cup cozy’s, Earls gift cards, and tiny bottles of fireball! They pulled on their custom jackets by Indochino, a brand known for their bespoke menswear, luxury shirts, and suits that are accessible to everyone. The suits came complete with each man’s nickname embroidered in the lining.

Justin also had a gift for his nephew Brixtin, who would serve as ring bearer during the ceremony. Because Justin now lives with Alina in Edmonton, he’s become an Oilers fan, much to the dismay of his brother Jason, an avid Flames fan. Sure enough, Brixtin received a brand new Oilers jersey from his uncle and tickets to any game of his choice at the new Rogers Place in Edmonton.

Before heading over to meet the girls, we focused on the date on the newspaper, and set the rings next to it. The photographs turned out wonderfully, a keepsake of July 28, 2018. To wrap up, the guys shared a toast, sipping their prosecco and orange juice to Justin and Alina.

We then left the men to meet the women, just as Michelle Walsh and her partner Chantal were finishing up hair and makeup. We got started with some shots of the details, including the rings, shoes, flowers, and robes each of the girls had been gifted. Alina was surrounded by her bridesmaids, her mother, and her soon to be mother-in-law, and it was clear to see that this family is already tight-knit.

We photographed the dress, and once Alina was ready, we snapped a few fun shots of the bridesmaids, excited about the upcoming ceremony.

 

The Ceremony at Tunnel Mountain

For the ceremony, we headed over to Tunnel Mountain Reservoir, where we were greeted by jaw-dropping views of the mountain. Once the guests were seated, the wedding party entered to the delicate sounds of the harp, played by Harp Angel Deborah Nyack. It was a lovely touch, the notes floating down into the valley and high up into the mountains.

The floral arch was set before the vast expanse of Tunnel Mountain, making for an incredible and indescribably beautiful ceremony backdrop. Officiant Jerry Stilson followed the party and settled in to deliver one of his signature tailored wedding ceremonies. He began the service by asking a few of the children what love meant and shared their answers with the guests. Brixton, the ringbearer, then walked up the aisle dressed as a secret service agent, complete with a tuxedo, sunglasses, and a little silver case. He was excited to play the role, and to be such an essential part of the day.

The couple then shared their personal vows, both touching and emotional. There were even a few tears from their parents, seated in front. Justin and Alina were also full of emotion during the service, though Alina only allowed one tear to fall from her eyes.

Just as they were finishing their vows, the warm Rocky Mountain day gave way to a sprinkling of refreshing rain. They stepped from beneath the arch, and signed their papers, under an umbrella the harpist had luckily brought along!

With the conclusion of the ceremony came a continued sprinkling of rain. Even though it wasn’t coming down hard, it still would have been unpleasant to photograph in, so we hid indoors to wait it out. It didn’t take long to clear, so as soon as it let up, we stepped back outside with the family. They were an easy group to photograph, keeping the session short and sweet.

 

The Creative Formals at Tunnel Mountain

One of the main reasons for getting married at Tunnel Mountain was for the unbelievable views. We started the creative formal session right there in front of the mountain, before heading down to Bow Falls. Justin and Alina had their engagement session there and were excited to return on their wedding day. We found a bunch of great locations at the falls, and many of the visitors were kind enough to move around so we could photograph the happy couple alone, making it look like they were the only two there.

Finally, we had the newlyweds stroll across a faraway bridge, giving us some incredible long distance shots.

 

Cascade Gardens and Downtown Banff

We hopped back into the limo and drove out to Cascade Gardens, a tranquil garden near Banff’s famous town centre. This beautiful terraced site gave us plenty of fantastic locations for photos, and because we were within walking distance to the centre of Banff, we used the beautiful Banff Avenue in the pictures too.

 

The Cenaiko Reception in the Canoe Room at the Moose Hotel and Suites

We wrapped up our photo shoot and headed back to the Moose Hotel and Suites for the reception. Luckily, the guests were already inside, because on the drive back the skies opened and it began to pour. It seemed like the rain coordinated perfectly with our day, stopping and starting at just the right moments.

The entrance to the reception was quick, and the party jumped right into appetizers. Crackers, cheese, sausage and dips, fruits, fish balls, and salads all came out, and the guests mingled as they nibbled. Dinner followed, with a salmon or chicken option, potatoes, and a plethora of delicious side dishes.

Speeches kicked off after dinner, starting with the groomsmen. They shared humorous stories of drunken escapades on cruise vacations and of blossoming friendships. The bridesmaids shared the story of the proposal, of meeting Alina as children, and of becoming friends at a medical conference while they bonded over a shared taste in music. The parents’ speeches followed, each welcoming their new daughter or son-in-law into the family. After the outpourings of love and humour, Justin and Alina thanked everyone for attending and sharing their special day.

After the speeches, we shared our same day slideshow, and then it was on to the first dances. Once the newlyweds had taken a turn around the room, they followed up with the father-daughter/mother-son dance.

Cake cutting took place after the dance, featuring a tower of cupcakes of different flavours, including strawberry, carrot, and double chocolate. Just before the dance kicked into full swing, we grabbed some shots of the newlyweds with their parents… and then it was time to party! DJ Chris from Revolution Entertainment had people on the dance floor all evening. Then, midnight lunch of pizza came around and, refuelled, everyone danced into the night!

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 Cenaiko 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 Alina and Justin

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.

Banff Wedding Photographers – JM Photography © 2018

Some of my Favourite Photos from Alina and Justin’s Mountain Wedding

The Cenaiko’s Banff Wedding Credits

Date | 7.28.18
Planner – Reava Calvez with Wedding Worx
Officiant – Jerry Stilson
Ceremony Location – Tunnel Mountain Reservoir
Reception Venue – Moose Hotel and Suites
Hair and Makeup – Michelle Walsh with Michelle Suffolk-Walsh Hair and Makeup Artistry
Wedding Cake – Yvonne Okhiria with Yvonne’s Delightful Cakes
Decor – Shannon Collins with Chair Flair
Florist – Andrea Johnson with Pretty Petals Floral Design
DJ – Chris Minor with Revolution Entertainment
Photography by Jeremy Martel & Muhammed Alsalim

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.

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