Al Fresco-Inspired Brunch Ceremony at Glasshouse Kitchen
Listen, I get it - we all love those stunning al fresco Italian weddings where everyone is clinking glasses together in the garden as lemon trees twine overhead and everyone enjoys the warm breeze on their skin. HOWEVER - we live in Alberta, where the weather can change in five minutes. Your ‘nice, warm summer wedding day’ turns into a +40 degree scorcher that has guests keeling over mid-ceremony. Thunderstorms can roll in unannounced. It can even snow as early as September. Trust me, over the years, I’ve seen it all. Outdoor weddings here are risky pretty much no matter the season, and the Boy Scout motto of “be prepared” rings true for all wedding vendors on the daily. It makes it a big challenge to plan as far in advance as you have to for an outdoor wedding day!
Enter Amol and David, and their planner Joelle! With a vision inspired by those al fresco meals and bougie lunches in the garden, they brought their brunch wedding ceremony indoors at Glasshouse Kitchen. Complete with a romantic pergola (built by Joelle herself) and a circular ceremony setup reminiscent of ceremonies a big open field, their brunch ceremony felt just as light and airy as if we were dining in a European garden - with the bonus of enjoying that beautiful air conditioning.
Amol and David’s BRUNCH WEDDING at glasshouse kitchen
Bringing the outside in with tons of greenery and peach florals
When choosing the vendors for their wedding day, Amol and David wanted it to be a complete partnership with all of their vendors and gave full trust to everyone involved. One of the things they asked me during our initial call was what they could do to make the photos the best they could possibly be (a question I love), and I could tell them that they’d already done it - delegate the hard stuff to the professionals, and put your trust in them. Then they could be free to enjoy their wedding day to the fullest, being completely present with their loved ones, and allowing me the freedom and creativity to document it to the best of my ability!
Benefits to hiring a wedding planner
I had the enormous pleasure of working with Joy by Joelle on this wedding, and let me tell you the honest truth: wedding days that involve a full-service planner from start to finish are just in an entire league of their own. What makes it different is that a planner has the ability to create something so visually interesting and completely unique that ISN’T on someone else’s Pinterest board (yet). The way Joelle goes above and beyond for every single one of her couples is so incredibly admirable!
When it comes to logistics, planners know what works and what doesn’t, how to problem solve when things go wrong, and how to save you both time and money. Having a wedding planner is also going to allow all of your other vendors to focus properly on their own jobs instead of having to bear the additional weight of managing logistics when there is no planner present. You are booking wedding vendors that you admire. You need to trust in them that they will get the job done, and - I’m speaking from experience here - that trust means the world to them. It is not something your vendors take for granted. When you trust in us, we are able to do our absolute best work. It is so much easier to be more creative when you know the couple has faith in you and trusts you implicitly. When that trust is not there, it doesn’t create an environment where that ‘creative flow’ can thrive.
The bottom line is that when you choose to work with a planner - and, this is key: fully trust them - your result is going to wildly exceed even your own wildest dreams! Take it from Amol herself: “ If you can make it work, get a wedding planner. They don't just ensure the wedding day goes smoothly. They are there for the tastings, to listen to all the family drama, to squash any worries you might have, connect with amazing vendors. They take care of all of the logistics so that at the end of the day, you can enjoy your day together because they have thought of everything.”
Bringing the feel of an outdoor ceremony indoors
Guests were seated in a circle around the ceremony ‘stage,’ which - you’ll notice a theme here - was built by Joelle herself. The natural wood tones complimented the bright florals perfectly. Salisbury Greenhouse created beautiful potted floral arrangements that gave the feeling of wildflowers outdoors, but were extremely practical, and were able to be repurposed into reception decor. The arrangements were even brought over to Amol’s parents’ house later on in the evening for the mehndi!
Creating an atmosphere with good flow
Amol and David were inspired by the ‘micro-weddings’ that were so popular during the pandemic years. They loved the idea of being able to share a really special connection with every single person at their ceremony, to look out and see their faces. It created such a special atmosphere of love and support.
In a ceremony officiated by their best friend Kim, Amol and David exchanged personal and heartfelt vows literally surrounded by their closest friends and family. Amol walked down the aisle alone, which truly allowed her a moment to pause and take in everything and everyone in front of there. You could tell just by watching her through the lens that as soon as she made eye contact with David, everything else just melted away.
Considering how guests move from one location to the next is just one of the many reasons why you need a wedding planner. Making the transition between spaces smooth makes for a much more impactful guest experience! After the ceremony, the curtains were opened behind the ceremony platform to the brunch reception space. This reveal was so dramatic and had guests gasping as the beautiful king’s table to Amol and David’s nearest and dearest was revealed.
Time for a wedding brunch!
As the curtains were drawn aside, guests were able to snag a mimosa (non-alcoholic versions available too!) from a nearby display and wander in to the lunch area. Wicker lanterns and greenery were suspended from a lattice frame (once again built by Joelle - how is this woman so good at building everything?!) overtop of a gorgeous toile patterned table cloth and peachy pink and orange florals. Pink napkins were lightly tucked under the custom stationery from Palm & Lotus. The layers of carefully curated colors, pattern and textures worked in such harmony with each other. Live music from Intertwined Studios set the mood perfectly! Guests were able to mix and mingle before sitting down for a delicious plated lunch served by Glasshouse Kitchen and Bar.
As a nod to Amol’s sweet tooth, guests snagged a box containing a delicious, giant freshly-baked cinnamon roll from the shelf near the exit to take home with them for a snack later! They were baked fresh in house at the Wild Earth Bakery, located inside of The Enjoy Centre.
Towards the end of the afternoon, we ducked out for some portraits in the beautiful greenhouses at The Enjoy Centre, before heading back to Amol’s parents’ house for the mehndi!
An evening mehndi
A few hours after the ceremony, close friends and family met at Amol’s parents’ house for a low-key mehndi, where guests had their henna applied and delicious food was shared. My favourite part about mehndi is that it’s common for the bride to have her partner’s name incorporated into the henna design, and their partner is supposed to find it once the design is complete.
Edmonton wedding vendors
Photography: Janine Rose | Planning + Design: Joy By Joelle | Videography: Parfait Weddings | Venue + Catering: Glasshouse Kitchen & Bar at Enjoy Centre | Cinnamon bun favours: Wild Earth Bakery at The Enjoy Centre | Rentals: Special Event Rentals | Florals: Salisbury Floral Studio | Print Design: Palm & Lotus | Hair + makeup: Vanity Box Beauty Salon | Musicians: Intertwined Studios | Aisle Wrap: Talent Productions | Henna: YEG Henna | Bride’s dress: Alena Leena from Everly Bridal | Bride’s earrings: Olive & Piper | Groom’s suit: Harry Rosen
This wedding was featured on Rock n Roll Bride!