An Elegant Wedding Reception at the Fairmont Palliser in Downtown Calgary

Alyssa and Antonio celebrated their wedding day this past winter after the pandemic saw them postpone their May 2020 wedding to November 2020. The wedding ceremony took place at Ascension Catholic Parish with the reception following at the newly renovated Oak Room at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel in downtown Calgary.

At the time Alberta Health Services was allowing 50 people at indoor wedding ceremonies and 50 guests at indoor structured events. Calgary wedding planner Moments by Madeleine made sure all guests followed the AHS guidelines and that no mixing and mingling took place during the reception.

It was an absolutely beautiful wedding day that followed all social distancing requirements but was still incredibly memorable for the couple and their guests because of the thought and care that went into planning their special day.

The Oak Room was the perfect setting for A + A’s reception with its soft grey tones and vintage modern decor and lighting. It is ideal for 90 guests seated which worked well with their smaller guest count of 50.

Since the couple wasn’t able to have a formal dance with their guests they had a private dance. The couple arrived at the Oak Room along with their parents before their other guests arrived. They had their reception reveal along with a private dance and cake cutting. Pez Productions set up indoor sparklers that went off on either side of the couple as they shared their first dance as husband and wife. Our videography team captured the couple’s first dance, the dances with each of their parents and their cake cutting and we put together a same day edit to be able to share these special moments with the rest of their guests who, due to restrictions, couldn’t be present.

It was not your “normal” wedding but there sure was love, joy, happiness and beauty to surround the bride and groom making it an amazing day!

We are so glad we could be there to capture your wedding day in video! Congratulations Alyssa + Antonio!

Tips from Moments by Madeleine for creating a pandemic friendly tablescape:

1. No flatware. The venue placed rolled cutlery when guests sat at their seats.

2. Packaged Favours were also used as place cards.

3. Less guests per table. 6 foot round tables were used to seat 4-6 guests by household. Normally this size table would seat 10-12 guests. This left plenty of room for distancing. The Tables were also spread apart in the venue to allow for people to go to the washroom without having to go near other tables.

Design & Planning: Moments By Madeleine

Photography: Heidrich Photography

Videography: Castaño Films

Florals: Flowers By Janie

Rentals: Modern Rentals + Special Event Rentals

Hair & Makeup: Bellamore Beauty

DJ: Pez Productions

Ceremony Venue: Ascension Catholic Parish

Reception Venue: Fairmont Palliser

Cake: Fairmont Palliser

Stationery: Blanche Paperie

Blush & Raven A Bridal Boutique for the Modern Romantic Bride

If you are a bride and in need of a wedding gown we highly recommend that you make an appointment with Blush & Raven. They are an intimate and locally owned bridal boutique located in the Beltline of Calgary, Alberta. Blush & Raven specializes in styling the modern romantic bride in stunning, one of a kind wedding dresses from Canadian and international designers.

We had a chance to talk with the ladies of Blush & Raven to find out more about what makes their bridal store unique and where the name Blush & Raven came from. Owner Liane Knox, had the vision for Blush & Raven after her own bridal gown shopping experience left her feeling like there was a missed mark in terms of an intimate space to feel relaxed. She also wanted to inspire a space where every body could come in and feel comfortable and at ease. Having a team of knowledgeable stylists was important to her and she wanted brides to be able to shop couture gowns at a moderate price point.

Meet Liane, Sara, Madeleine and Maddie and hear what they have to say about Blush & Raven and put a name to a face when you book your appointment. They know dress shopping can be overwhelming and they work hard to reduce the overwhelm for each of their brides!

Watch the video to learn more and get excited for your unique dress shopping experience!

Hair + makeup for the B & R team by Trena Liane Makeup Artist

Video by Castaño Films

Blush and Raven Boutique Photos by Kristyn Harder Photography (above)

Photos with model by Justine Milton Photography

Fireplace Mantel and Bouquet Florals: Flowers by Janie

Planning + Styling: Moments by Madeleine

Hair: Blush and Coco

Make up: ML Artistry

Accessories: Joanna Bisley Designs

Rentals (Candleholders): Modern Rentals Weddings

Model: Anastasia from Mode Models International

The Lake House on Lake Bonavista Featured Calgary Wedding Venue

We interviewed Kirsten Davies, the events coordinator at one of our very favourite Calgary wedding venues, The Lake House on Lake Bonavista. Our video team has had the pleasure of filming and live streaming numerous weddings at this beautiful venue over the past few years. Kirsten and the staff have all been incredible to work with and made ours and our clients experience extremely memorable. My wife and I recently held our 10 year wedding vow renewal ceremony at The Lake House so you might see us dancing in part of the video.

In the video below, we chat with Kirsten about all things weddings and events at The Lake House and how it works to book your event. She talks about capacity, options for ceremony locations and highlights all of the best reasons why couples fall in love with this stunning Calgary wedding venue. Who wouldn’t want to exchange their vows in front of the iconic fireplace or enjoy a candlelight dinner with with lake front views while dining on delicious Canadian Rocky Mountain Cuisine?!

The interview is mixed with footage from past Lake House weddings and all of the floral arrangements seen in the video were designed by our sister company Flowers by Janie who is known for their fireplace mantel installations.

Watch the video to learn if The Lake House could be the perfect Calgary wedding venue for you!

If you need a videographer for you next event at The Lake House Calgary please get in touch!

7 Reasons Why you Should Hire a Professional Wedding Videographer

The one thing I regret the most from my own wedding was not hiring a videographer. This was before I became a wedding filmmaker myself and realized the importance of having someone document our wedding day in video. My father-in-law tried to do some filming on a newly purchased camcorder but it was an epic fail with mostly shots of our guest’s shoes. My wife and I don’t remember our vows, or my father’s words as he married us. We don’t remember my brothers playing guitar and singing a song they wrote us during the ceremony and we don’t remember our guests speeches. My grandfather has since passed away and I wish more than anything that I had a recording of his voice and interaction with family at our wedding.

So why should you invest in a heirloom wedding film created by a professional wedding videographer?

I’ll give you my 7 reasons below:

1. Non Photographable Moments.

   Many moments of your wedding day can’t be captured in photographs like the recording of the words said during your first look or vows, the music played during your first dance, toasts and speeches given by family and friends.

2. Missed Moments.

   The wedding day passes by so quickly and in a flash it's over. There may have been things you missed seeing like your grandma and grandpa dancing together or your partner getting ready in another location. Wouldn’t it be extra special to see what each of you were doing separately the morning of your wedding?

3. Relive the Memories.

   Wedding films can be rewatched during anniversaries, on special occasions or anytime when you want to remember the love you and your partner exchanged that day and the people who were there supporting you.

   If you choose to elope, your wedding film will be treasured by family and friends who missed being part of the wedding day but can relive the day with you through video.

4. Remembering Loved Ones.

   How many times will all of your loved ones be in the same room at the same time? This is a celebration when your most important people are there in one room supporting you. Why not have a professional videographer who can document this experience for you, capturing the true experience in a visual and audible way? It is also a very special way to remember loved ones who may no longer be with you (like my grandfather).

5. It’s Easy to Share

   Most professional wedding videographers have online links so that you can easily share your video files through their private gallery or through Vimeo or YouTube. If a friend or family member was unable to attend, this is a great option to let them experience the day with a quality film.

6. Quality Product.

   A professional wedding videographer will have the correct gear and experience to film your wedding day unobtrusively, while creating a quality film and editing with skill and technique. Professional wedding videographers know what equipment is best for capturing certain details and they have special devices for recording beautiful audio. They also subscribe to licensed music software. If you are going to be sharing your wedding videos online you can’t use copyrighted songs, which many non-professionals do.

7. A Cherished Keepsake

   A professional wedding video will turn into a family heirloom that can be passed on through the generations and be enjoyed by your children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren etc.

Hiring a wedding videographer may be an expense you hadn’t budgeted for but I can guarantee you that you will not regret having these memories preserved in film. - Oscar

Photo Credit: Twenty Twenty Photography

If you are still in need of a professional wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding or elopement, I’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch!

River Cafe Downtown Calgary Wedding

Matt and Nat were married on a gorgeous September day at River Cafe on Prince’s Island Park in Calgary, Alberta. Considering that their original venue flooded a week prior to their wedding date, these two were in the very best spirits and simply over the moon happy to be marrying each other! We couldn’t have asked for a kinder, more laid back couple to spend the day with!

The day started off with a first look on the roof top of Hotel Le Germain in the heart of downtown Calgary. You’ll want to watch the full video as Matt cries as soon as he turns around and sees Nat! It’s a really emotional first look and so special that we were able to capture it for them.

The wedding party photos took place at Prince’s Island Park and then the couple slipped away for a private lunch just the two of them at UNA Pizza + Wine. They chose this restaurant because it is where they had their first date- so romantic right?!

The ceremony took place on the outdoor patio at River Cafe with the reception following in their dining room. Matt’s dad announced the newlyweds arrival at the reception in full traditional Scottish dress and a bag pipe serenade which was definitely unforgettable.

Another highlight was the poem written and read by one of the groomsmen; one of the most hilarious poems/speeches we’ve ever heard at a wedding reception.

Watch the full video below and then scroll down to read about the creative editing process that we used to edit this film.

Here is the creative process behind the video for those wanting to know why I (Oscar) filmed and edited the wedding video the way I did.

I used the words ‘Romantic, fun, and casual’ that Matt + Nat had mentioned in the pre-wedding questionnaire that I sent them. These are the words they wanted to describe the ambiance and feel of their wedding day.

Since the wedding ceremony didn’t have personal vows, I had to approach the subject from ‘outside’ rather than from the subject's point of view. Thus, the groomsman’s poem in the reception worked perfectly to tell the story in a fun and casual way. I saw this approach visually like a circle with the couple (the subject) in the middle. The idea of the circle was reinforced later when Matt’s dad mentioned the Celtic circle in his speech and how “it has no beginning, it has no end, it just keeps going around and around… family is everything”.

This can also explain the structure of the video with music that goes from a more upbeat vibe to a slow and romantic song, and then back to the upbeat music. It also places the couple in the centre with the moment at UNA exactly in the middle of the video (where everything started). I took the liberty of finishing the part with the romantic and serious vibe with a groomsman’s joke since Matt + Nat mentioned that they like not taking each other too seriously. The groomsman’s poem was the main thread keeping all the parts together and ‘closing the circle’. I also used the windmill to consolidate the concept as it was the only circled object moving around and around that I could capture on the wedding day. The windmill is present in the beginning, middle and closer to end of the video. The video also has a 80’s vibe since Matt really likes ‘indie and 80’s’ music and because a Mad Max parade took place just outside of the venue before the reception (it was the Beakerhead Festival Weekend).

For the colour grading, I used a LUT with moody teals and tonal greens that enhanced not only the floral arch but the mood inside the venue.

I hope this explanation give you a little more insight into the creative process that goes into producing a wedding film!

A special thanks to all of the amazing Calgary wedding vendors that Mark + I had the pleasure of working with!

Florals: Flowers by Janie

Photography: Mint Photo

Bridal Gown: Pearl + Dot

Planning: Paper Doll

Officiant: Vows by Judy

Hair + Makeup: Something Borrowed Beauty

Bridal Jewelry: Joanna Bisley Designs

DJ: Local DJ

Photo Booth: Silly Booth

If you are still looking for a wedding videographer for your Calgary, Canmore, Banff or destination wedding. Please get in touch!

Destination Wedding in La Paz, Bolivia

As a Calgary wedding videographer, you can often find me filming destination weddings in Canmore, Kananaskis or Banff, Alberta. I even have a wedding in Jasper National Park planned for July 2020; but last fall I had a destination wedding that took me all the way down to the southern hemisphere.

Last September took me back to my roots for the ultimate destination wedding, to film my younger brother’s wedding in La Paz, Bolivia where I (Oscar) lived until I was 25 years old.

This was a highly emotional time for me, not only was my brother getting married but I hadn't seen him in person or been back to my home country, Bolivia, for 8 years!

Time really has a way of getting away from you. I didn’t plan to be away for so long but with starting life in a new country (Canada) learning the language, studying in college and starting my Videography company, I put off going back. Maybe I was afraid of seeing all the change or of wanting to move back because I missed family and friends so much.

I’m glad I was able to be together with my parents, brothers and new sister-in-law to celebrate their marriage!

Below is my brother Andres and his wife Greace’s feature wedding film captured by me and my wife.

You’ll see glimpses of the city I grew up in and where they still live. I can’t believe my brother is grown up now and is a married man. When I left Bolivia, he was 22 years old; a couple of days ago he turned 30. What a privilege it was to capture his wedding day and reconnect with him, get to know my sister-in -law and see extended family and friends.

This video will forever document their wedding day but will also be a cherished memory and heirloom of our family being reunited after being apart for far too long.

Epic Banff Wedding at Tunnel Mountain Reservoir

We had the best time filming Jesse and Jordan’s mountain wedding; these two sure know how to have fun!

Their wedding day started off on a gorgeous June day with the couple getting ready separately in Calgary before heading out to the Canadian Rockies for their outdoor ceremony at Tunnel Mountain Reservoir in Banff National Park. It was a perfect day (aside from a brief pre-wedding drizzle) for an outdoor wedding with warm temperatures and little wind. In Alberta you never know what kind of weather you are going to find as one September we filmed during a blizzard in this exact location (watch that film here)!

After their non traditional beer pouring/drinking ceremony and their first kiss as husband and wife, the couple danced back down the aisle to celebrate their marriage.

The formal photos took place at Tunnel Mountain and the rest at Lake Minnewanka. During their wedding portraits a local chipmunk came to greet them, likely wishing them many years of love and happiness!

The reception took place back in downtown Calgary at the Pioneer on Stephen Avenue where guests were spoiled with delicious food catered by Hotel Arts, a sweets table from Pretty Sweet Bakery and incredible floral displays from Flowers by Janie.

An amazing team of wedding vendors worked hard to pull everything together to give them the wedding of their dreams.

See the full vendor credit list below after watching their feature wedding film!

If you are looking for a Calgary, Canmore or Banff wedding videographer we’d love to hear from you! Travel is always welcome!

Videographer: Castaño Films

Photographer: Jade Gabrielle

Wedding Planner: Moments by Madeleine

Florist: Flowers by Janie

Hair + Make up: Top Knot Brides

Wedding Dress: The Bridal Boutique

Catering: Hotel Arts

Reception Venue: The Pioneer

Rentals: Modern Luxe

Stationary: Bexley Design Co.

Sweets: Pretty Sweet Bakeshop

Arch: Hornwood Works

Benches: J.M Wilkinson Design Co.

To watch Jesse + Jordan’s engagement video also filmed at Tunnel Mountain and around Banff National Park, click here.

Heli Engagement at Marvel Pass in Banff

Your wedding engagement photos and video should reflect the two of you as a couple, doing the things you love to do.

Madeline (Madie) + John travelled to Canmore from Houston Texas this past August for their engagement photo and video session. They got engaged while travelling in Austria for Madie’s best friend’s wedding. John proposed on top of a mountain in Salzburg after what she says “felt like the worlds longest gondola ride”. They love the mountains and hiking. Since neither of them had ever visited Banff National Park they decided to plan their destination wedding for May 2020 at Banff Gondola (Sky Bistro). Banff is where they are getting married and it’s a bucket list item for them so they decided on having their engagement photos/video there as well.

Alpine Helicopters gave them an amazing experience with “top notch views” as Madie said neither of them had ever been in a helicopter before. They hired Dr. Lindsay Copeland of Twenty Twenty Photography who specializes in Canmore and Banff wedding and engagement photography. Lindsay contacted us to ride along and film the e-session for the couple! We surprised them with a hand tied bouquet of flowers from our sister company Flowers by Janie who will be doing the couples wedding florals next May in Banff. Lindsay also surprised the couple with champagne and cupcakes (from Kake by Darci) at the end of the heli tour.

We flew to the south west border of Banff National Park to Marvel Pass. The views below in the photos and video will speak for themselves as to the incredible beauty that can be found in the Canadian Rockies. From Canmore we flew over the Three Sisters, Spray Lakes Reservoir, Marvel Lake and Mount Assiniboine. We landed around 7,200 feet near Aurora Lake for amazing views where we captured the couple in photo and film doing what they love; hiking in the mountains.

Words from the couple:

“The heli shoot was incredible. Oscar and Lindsay were super welcoming and made us feel very comfortable from the beginning. They were both playful and patient with us. They went above and beyond in the services they provided from a stunning floral bouquet to delicious cupcakes and champagne at the end! We ended the day back at Lindsay’s place and got to know each other more over beverages on Lindsay’s patio. Lindsay opening up her home to a couple of strangers really speaks to her character. Overall we had such a fun experience and would recommend it to anyone!” -Madie + John

View some of the images from their heli session as well as their engagement video below. If you are looking for a Canmore or Banff wedding videographer or photographer please reach out to us!

Marvel Pass, Banff National Park. Photo Twenty Twenty Photography

Madie’s hair was done by Railee Hair Co.

Lindsay caught Oscar in action filming the couple

Wedding Inspiration at The Nash YYC

I want to start off this blog by saying that if you have never had the rotisserie chicken at The Nash YYC, you are missing out! I had never filmed at The Nash before and I enjoyed working with the creative team on this spring styled shoot. Christy and Alexis from Beyond the Proposal were amazing to work with and, with them in charge, the day ran smoothly even with very limited time. It was also a pleasure to work alongside Calgary wedding photographer Tara Whittaker and I’m really looking forward to our real wedding together this July in Banff!

This spring styled shoot had a heavy floral focus as much of my videos do. It’s a perk of being married to a florist (Flowers by Janie) and getting to film her creations. The venue was unique and I loved the natural light as well as the feature wall with the original town map of Calgary!

Enjoy the video below as well as some of my favorite images photographed by Tara.

Scroll to the end for a complete list of all the Calgary wedding vendors who participated in this styled shoot.

Planning + Design Beyond the Proposal | Photography Tara Whittaker Photography | Florals Flowers by Janie | Rentals Modern Luxe Rentals | Videography Castaño Films | Hair + Make up Glamaway Beauty | Cake Pretty Sweet | Venue The Nash YYC | Dress Blush & Raven | Accessories Joanna Bisley Design | Stationary Bexley Design Co. | Model Victoria Lang from Mode Models

Tunnel Mountain Engagement Film Session

Jordan + Jesse will be getting married in an outdoor ceremony at Tunnel Mountain in Banff, Alberta this coming June 2019! Instead of opting for engagement photos the couple chose to have an engagement film created for them. We met them in Banff at Tunnel Mountain where we kicked off the session in the exact spot where they will say their vows in June. The weather was perfect for an April evening with only a slight breeze. The mountains were perfectly majestic and we had some great sunset light! We also spent time filming at Cascade Ponds and then in an open field on the way to Lake Minnewanka! We can’t wait to film their Banff wedding ceremony with a Calgary reception following at The Pioneer!

June is going to be good!

If you are looking for a Calgary videographer to capture your surprise proposal, engagement or wedding please get in touch! We’d love to hear your story!

Pearl & Dot Bridal Boutique For the Modern Bride

If you are recently engaged and bridal gown shopping you’ll likely have heard about Pearl & Dot, a lovely and intimate bridal boutique located in downtown Calgary. Their boutique is located on the second floor of a sun soaked loft apartment and is really a stunning place to visit, full of all things pretty + wedding!

We recently had the privilege of interviewing Alyssa Conrad, owner of Pearl & Dot, so she could answer all of the questions brides typically inquire about. In the video below Alyssa talks about what you can expect at Pearl & Dot, how long appointments are, how to figure out your bridal style and what her favorite things are about owning a bridal store. She tells us all about the current and upcoming trends for 2019 and 2020 wedding dresses and the trend that she is most excited about! Alyssa also shares tips for wedding dress shopping and how to reduce your stress and not become overwhelmed with the process.

One piece of advice that Alyssa gives is “don’t overthink it, trust your instinct, trust your gut, you’ll know when you’re in a dress that feels like your dress”.

If you are searching for the perfect wedding gown or accessory and want to know more about the Pearl & Dot experience we invite you to watch the short interview below!

Happy shopping!

Isle of Skye- Scotland

Where does a wedding videographer go on vacation? The answer, Scotland (or anywhere with amazing views and culture).

After a busy wedding season with pretty much every weekend between June to September booked up to film weddings and loads of editing work after that, by October or November it’s time for a much needed holiday. My wife and I decided that our big trip for the fall of 2017 would be Northern England and Scotland. We enjoyed two weeks taking in the views of the countryside and cities by bus and train spending time in York, Staithes, Whitby, Edinburgh, Inverness, Portree, Glasgow and London. In Inverness we decided to be brave and rent a car to drive to the Isle of Skye (I really missed the wide Canadian roads and having a shoulder on the side of the highway). We spent 5 days driving around and exploring the Isle of Skye with a rad cottage Airbnb in Portree as our home base.

I tried not to spend too much time filming so I could be more present and take in the breathtaking landscape (and let’s be honest…enjoy the scotch). This is just a little bit of the beauty I was able to capture in video of the hike we did to the Fairy Pools near Glenbrittle. If you get a chance to visit Scotland, go here!

I would go back to Scotland in a heart beat so if any Canadian couples are looking to elope and want a wedding videographer to tag along with them, pick me!

The Malcolm Hotel Outdoor Winter Wedding Inspiration in Canmore

The evening after our Banff inspiration shoot at Sky Bistro we headed to the Malcolm Hotel in downtown Canmore, Alberta to stay the night and be part of a second creative winter wedding shoot in the mountains. Wedding planner Madeleine from Moments by Madeleine orchestrated the day, planning and designing a stunning outdoor wedding ceremony at the newly opened Malcolm Hotel. Thankfully the weather was a few degrees warmer than the previous day and more enjoyable to be filming outdoors. The bride wore a floral print skirt from Blush + Raven Bridal Boutique by designer Tara Lauren which flowed so well and looked amazing in the video. The bride and groom (Tara + Tyler) were a real life couple (married for over 3 years) and their love + chemistry for one another was undeniable and pure magic to capture!

Thank you to the staff at the Malcolm Hotel for making our stay and our photoshoot so enjoyable. If you are looking for a beautiful mountain wedding venue in Canmore, be sure to check out the Malcolm. Watch the film we created from the day below. You’ll find lots of mountain wedding inspiration for planning your Canmore wedding day!

Please scroll to the bottom to view all of the vendors involved in this styled shoot.

Photos by Kadie Hummel Photography

Photography Kadie Hummel Photography | Planning + Styling Moments by Madeleine | Florals Flowers by Janie | Venue Malcolm Hotel Canmore | Rentals Modern Luxe Rentals | Bridal Store Blush + Raven | Dress Designer Tara Lauren + Emmy Mae Bridal | Bridal Hair + Make up Mslay Studio | Bridal Jewelry Joanna Bisley Design | Desserts Pretty Sweet | Stationary Bexley Design Co | Brenches J. M Wilkinson Design Co. | Romper 4 Fold Threads |

Banff Winter Wedding Inspiration at Sky Bistro

A team of Calgary and Banff wedding vendors came together to create winter wedding magic on top of Sulphur Mountain at Sky Bistro in Banff. It was an extremely cold day but the mountain wedding inspiration that resulted was phenomenal. Castaño Films had the pleasure of being a part of the creative team and capturing the details from the day in video. If you are looking for a unique Banff wedding venue with amazing mountain views and delicious eats, be sure to check out Sky Bistro! Watch the video below for all the winter wedding inspiration!

Photos below by 20.20 Photography.

For a full vendor list please scroll to the end of the post!

Planning + Design Moments by Madeleine | Photographer 20.20 Photography | Venue Sky Bistro Banff | Floral Design Flowers by Janie | Bridal Gown from Blush and Raven | Bridal Hair Lilies and Lace Beauty Co | Make up Beauty Mark Makeovers | Rentals Modern Luxe Rentals | Gown designer Jenny Yoo + Something Blue Vancouver | Veil Designer Daphne Newman Design | Menswear Supreme Menswear | Cake Bake My Day | Stationary Art + Alexander | Engagement Ring Luxura Diamonds | Gift Boxes BoxSmith | Ring Box The Mrs Box

To see more photos from this creative Banff wedding shoot visit Flowers by Janie.

If you are looking for a Calgary, Canmore or Banff wedding videographer please get in touch. We are now booking 2020 wedding dates.

Canmore Winter Wedding Intimate Moments with the Bride + Groom

We love covering full day weddings with film because so many special moments are captured throughout the day. We want our clients to be able to relive these memories for years to come and share them with generations to come.

Georgina + Justin had an intimate moment together prior to their Banff wedding ceremony. The couple decided to have a first “no look” moment rather than a first look. The bride’s parents have a home in Canmore and so it took place in their back yard. The groom waited with his back facing the house and the maid of honour (Georgina’s sister Alice) + one of the bridesmaids helped the bride to walk backwards into the yard so she wouldn’t see Justin. The idea was that they would share some time together before the wedding but without seeing one another before the ceremony.

So, rather than seeing each other face to face, the couple stood back to back holding hands and sharing laughs prior to leaving separately for the church in Banff.

This was a really unique and beautiful wedding day moment that I’m so glad we were able to capture on video for them. Now they’ll be able to watch each other’s reactions and relive these few seconds now that the wedding day has come and gone.

View the short video clip below of their winter wedding "no look” in Canmore!

Planning Lynn Fletcher Weddings | Gown Pearl + Dot | Hair + Makeup Nikki B from Hedkandi Salon + Butter Beauty Parlour | Florals Flowers by Janie

Canmore and Banff Romantic Winter Wedding

Justin + Georgina were married at St. George’s in the Pines Anglican church in beautiful Banff, Alberta in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The church bells began to ring as the newly weds exited hand in hand as Mr. and Mrs. after the ceremony, something that was perfectly British and a nod to the bride’s English heritage. Watch the film below until the end to hear the bells and see their grand exit!

The couple’s mountain wedding reception took place at Silvertip Resort in Canmore, Alberta where lots of laughs and great food was shared among family and friends. The pavilion at Silvertip Resort was transformed into an elegant, romantic, candlelit soiree by the team at Lynn Fletcher Weddings, who had less than 3 months to plan this wedding and did a phenomenal job which the family was so very appreciative of. The team at Flowers by Janie, worked closely with Georgina and her mum to create florals with an english garden feel and decorated the fireplace mantel, the arbour, head table and all the guest tables with fresh flowers in a palette of deep red, pinks and navy. The three tiered cake topped with a pair of gold glittered deer was designed by Kake by Darci in Canmore. The couple even had the surprise of watching video clips from family members in England that couldn’t make it to the wedding but wanted to wish the couple well on their wedding day.

As wedding videographers, our favourite part of the day was the getting ready/detail shots of both the bride and the groom (Georgina’s gown from Pearl + Dot was stunning btw)! Seeing the couple interact with their parents and wedding attendants prior to the busyness of the wedding ceremony + reception is also a favourite element to film. The first ‘No Look’ (separate blog about this coming soon!) was a first for me as I have shot ‘First looks’ before, but I loved this concept and it felt very intimate. There is so much emotion in the hours and minute leading up to the ceremony that we highly recommend having us there to capture these special moments. A shout out to the teams from Hedkandi Salon + Butter Beauty Parlour for doing an incredible job on the bride + bridesmaid’s hair + makeup!

The photo + film session between the ceremony and reception was another incredible part to the day. Calgary and Canmore wedding photographer Geoff Wilkings directed the session and had the perfect location in mind. We were able to work with Geoff and capture incredible mountain vistas and of course the beautiful bride and groom on film. We love filming weddings in Canmore and Banff because of the spectacular scenery and the breathtaking videos it allows us to create for the couple to watch for years to come.

It was an honour for us (Oscar + Mark) to be able to spend the day getting to know both Justin + Georgina and their family and friends and to film their special day. See the feature film below from their mountain wedding day and scroll further down to see the shortened 1 minute highlight video.

Wedding films + Still frames from video below by Castaño Films

To see some of the professional wedding photos from Geoff Wilkings Photography click here.

Georgina + Justin leaving the church to the chiming of the bells!

The bride + groom and their attendants having a great time as the snow falls!

If you are are still looking for a Calgary, Canmore or Banff wedding videographer, please get in touch. We’d love to chat with you about how we can be a part of your wedding day!

Year in Review Film for Flowers by Janie

Last year, 2018, marked the first full year of weddings for Castaño Media and we were thrilled to work with so many amazing couples as well as wedding vendors. We filmed weddings in Calgary, Canmore and Banff at some of the most beautiful venues and mountain locations such as The Lake House, Saskatoon Farm, Teatro, Silvertip Resort, Creekside Villa, Cornerstone Theatre and The Fairmont Banff Springs. We were also very fortunate that all of our couples invested in quality wedding flowers designed by our sister company Flowers by Janie. Since there were just so many beautiful florals to film last year, we created a 2018 year in review for Flowers by Janie to feature some of the fresh florals their team created! Even though we are in the midst of winter we hope this video fills you with warmth and wraps you in the fragrance of fresh summer blooms!

All photos and video below were created by Castaño

Tunnel Mountain Elopement in a Snow Storm

Suzanne and Gordon anticipated a beautiful fall wedding for September 13, 2018 at Tunnel Mountain Reservoir in Banff, Alberta. The Canadian couple, living in Savannah Georgia, were looking forward to their elopement with fall foliage and mountain vistas. Nature had other plans for their wedding day complete with a snow storm in the middle of their outdoor wedding. The couple toughed it out, frozen lips and all, in the middle of a true Canadian snow globe! Despite the cold, Suzanne and Gordon were all smiles as they said their vows. Though the snow was so thick at times that the mountains were barely visible, the falling snow made for a magical touch to their Banff wedding film.

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are magnificent in clear weather, rain and even snow storms and they are a very remarkable and memorable place to say “ I Do”.

Take a look at their “winter wedding” below (still photos + video by Castaño Films)!

A big thank you to Suzanne + Gordon for allowing us to capture your wedding day and for braving the cold! Congrats to you both!

What is an Engagement Video?

You might have noticed that among our wedding films we've snuck in a few engagement videos of Calgary couples. We have recently added this service to our full day wedding plus package. Just like with a photography engagement session, a videography engagement session allows you to have one on one time with each other as well as your videographer. This will allow you to get to know your wedding videographer a little more before you work with them on your wedding day. If you are camera shy this is also a great way to relax and have fun and shake off those camera nerves before your big day.

While the wedding film will capture your special day; from getting ready, to first looks, to ceremony, reception, first dance and the party; your engagement session will be more focused on the two of you in your natural surroundings doing activities you love doing as a couple. Do you love the mountains (hiking, fishing, boating), plan an e-video in the Rockies or if you prefer the city we can film you in your favorite coffee shop or the restaurant where you had your first date. Your engagement video will be similar to your engagement photos as it is a documentation of this special pre-wedding day, but it will be different than your photos as video not only captures what you look like together but also the the sounds, movements, ambiance and all the feelings from the day!

Check out a couple of our recent engagement films to see if this might be something worth investing in!

Still looking for a Calgary wedding videographer or perhaps you'd like a film of your proposal? We'd love to hear from you so please get in touch!

Rain on your wedding day is a good thing

Rain on your wedding day can be better than a bright, sunny, cloudless day! Don't believe me...keep reading to find out why!

Cloudy skies highlight the natural colours of you and your surrounding and make the colours appear more vibrant rather than washed out. Having a sky full of clouds (with or without rain) also creates softer shadows which are easier to photograph and film under rather than harsh, direct light from the sun.

Rain also gives the day a fresh feel and a calming vibe. The aroma of nature can be enjoyed more and the senses of your guests will be heightened. Rain drops also look great on camera and the cooler weather unconsciously makes the couple snuggle closer together for warmth, creating more natural, romantic and intimate moments for photographers and videographers to capture.

Also, umbrellas, can we take a minute to stay how romantic it is to see a couple together under the same umbrella! 

Dan and Cassandra were married at Silvertip Resort this past July and they had a mix of sun, then a heavy downpour and some light rain in between. A couple of my favorite shots from their teaser video included rain; the light rain drops on the turquoise pond and the rain falling on them when they are walking together with their umbrella. Take a look and see for yourself, rain is a good thing on your wedding day!

If you are looking for a wedding videographer to capture your wedding on film in Calgary, Canmore, Banff or beyond get in touch!