The Kaglar’s Banff Wedding at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge

We began our day with Bre and Joey at Buffalo Mountain Lodge, where they were each getting ready in their respective suites. The Lodge is set upon Tunnel Mountain in a grove of pine trees, with beautiful vistas of the Rocky Mountains. The stunning location set a perfect backdrop for Bre and Joey’s wedding.

Starting at 9am with the guys, we photographed them as they donned their shoes and ties. Joey then opened his thoughtful gift from Bre: a star chart of the sky on the night of their first date. When he opened the card he laughed; he almost bought her the same one! It was a funny moment and demonstrated the bond that the couple has built over the past 18 years together. To finish off his suit, he fastened his custom cufflinks, inset with the thumbprint of their young daughter Cali.

We left the guys and headed over to the ladies, who were finishing off hair and makeup. The girls ducked into the next room to get Bre into her dress, and we photographed the details. Cali was also hanging out with the girls and was all dressed up in a rose gold sequined gown with a crown of flowers in her hair. She looked absolutely adorable, and we snapped a few quick shots of her looking up at her mother’s gorgeous gown.

Bre’s mom came in to put the final touches on the bridal look by pinning her veil up. We then all stepped outside for the first look with her dad, to whom she also gave custom cufflinks.

Their Ceremony in the Wapiti Longhouse at Buffalo Mountain Lodge

After the first look, it was time to head down to the Wapiti Longhouse for the ceremony. The room was set up beautifully, the rustic elegance of the space playing in perfectly to the theme of Bre and Joey’s wedding. In came the party, and the service began.

Officiant Robyn White led a lovely service, beginning with a reading. Then, the couple took part in a unique handfasting ceremony, wherein each different colour of ribbon placed upon their hands represented something meaningful to their marriage.
The ceremony ended with a prosecco toast, and we wrapped up with a group photo of the newlyweds and all their guests.

To begin the family photos, we headed down into the Buffalo Mountain Lodge’s wine cellar. The wine racks have an intricate geometric pattern, which served as an excellent backdrop for the family. After photographing the newlyweds, we brought in their adorable daughter Cali for a quick photogenic kiss before heading on to our next location.

We gathered up the wedding party and headed down to the Tunnel Mountain Reservoir. For most of the day, the landscape was blanketed in a thick layer of smoke from the many forest fires across BC and Alberta. When we had scoped out locations for the shoot, the mountains were barely visible. But, as we crested the ridge overlooking the reservoir, a quick burst wind blew through and dissipated the smoke, giving us a stunning view of the mountains. Taking the opportunity for photos, we moved smoothly through the wedding party shots before photographing the newlyweds.

We let the others go, and moved down to the Banff Springs Hotel, where the smoke hovered in an ethereal mist over the valley. It was very atmospheric; the smoke made each layer of the landscape distinct, looking more like a painting than real life. The haze softened all the edges, creating a delicate romantic glow.

Our final locations for the creative formals was Bow Falls, where the couple was engaged on Valentine’s Day! We took several shots of them next to the falls, congratulations from passersby as they reminisced on their engagement.

The Kaglar Reception in the Wapiti Longhouse at Buffalo Mountain Lodge

We arrived to find the Wapiti Longhouse completely transformed. It had turned into a massive hall, with long tables and perfect lines, where every piece of cutlery was aligned, and every cloth was precisely folded. Little heart containers full of candy served as favours, and each table was decorated with a floral filled lantern. Each lantern had the door open, so guests could smell the flowers.

Two doors swung open to frame the head table, providing the perfect amount of natural light. Later in the evening, as a thunderstorm rolled over the Rockies, and the echoing thunder and rain provided a cozy and comforting aesthetic.

Dinner began with pumpkin squash, warm buns, and several mixed salads. Three options were presented as mains: a vegetarian dish, a tenderloin medallion, and a free-range chicken. These were accompanied by steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. A brownie dessert wrapped up the meal. The delightful dinner was provided by the attentive and professional team at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge. Throughout the evening the team was instrumental in creating a fine-dining atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.

Speeches followed dinner, full of kind words and heartfelt wishes for the newlyweds. The Matron of Honour Courtney got up to speak about Bre, who she met in 2001 while working at Home Depot. She joked about the Bre-isms that have worked their way into her life, such as “What’s my pickle,” “Let’s get cereal,” and “I love your face.” Her speech was very comical, bringing a humorous tone to the night. The bride and groom then stood up and led a round of applause for the catering staff and everyone who helped them with their special day.

The cake cutting took place, but not before the little groom on top decided to topple over and shatter. Everyone had a good laugh, reminded of when the groom fell off of her sister’s wedding cake too! Once they had recovered, the happy couple cut into the delicious dessert.

We followed up with our same day slideshow, and then it was time for the dances. Bre and Joey started things off with their first dance as a married couple. Next, Bre broke off and moved into the father-daughter dance. Then, they held the bouquet and garter tosses, and the midnight lunch macaroni bar came out! Once everyone had danced and eaten a snack, we took Bre and Joey outside for a few photos in the twilight. We used the balcony in front of the honeymoon suite for some dramatic views across the moonlit landscape. We then said goodnight, and left the happy couple to return to the reception to dance the night away!

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 Kaglar 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 Bre and Joey

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

The Kaglar’s Banff Wedding Credits

Date | 8.11.18
Officiant – Robyn White with Banff Lake Louise Weddings
Ceremony and Reception Venue – Buffalo Mountain Lodge
Hair and Makeup – Jenna Grey with The Pretty Haus
Wedding Cake – Darci Weil with Kake by Darci
Decor – Patti Secord with Special Event Rentals
Florist – Friend of the Couple (Jodi)
DJ – Rob Isley with Hype Entertainment
Photography by Jeremy Martel & Jay McDonald

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.