Lethbridge Weddings & Portrait Photography by Tanya Plonka

Prescilla and Dane planned their entire Payne Lake summer wedding so that they could enjoy the beautiful views outside of Waterton Park all day. They rented a property along the lake so that they could have everything in one place! After getting ready at the house, they had their ceremony at the lakeside with a tented outdoor reception right next to it. It’s so beautiful there that we didn’t even need to leave for photos in another location!

Their son Levi played an important part in the day, standing in the wedding party with Dane. We made sure he was included in a bunch of their portraits, and I only made him hold his mom’s hand a couple times! They are already established as a family, and this wedding was just to officially celebrate that.

The entire day was full of laughter and many failed attempts to keep things PG. Their dogs partied harder than all of the other guests combined and were passed out before the reception even started.

Congratulations, Prescilla and Dane!

Skye and Dave held their Lethbridge County farm wedding at their own place. It made the outdoor event so much more meaningful for them and their guests, and meant the dogs got to take part throughout the day. Just like at their engagement session, their dogs were absolutely excited about everything. Once they got used to all the people there, the dogs followed us around for photos and were easily distracted with a game of fetch.

A lot of work had been done since I was last at their farm. Dave cleaned up all of the areas we had discussed using for portraits, and Skye put so much work into the flower arrangements throughout their yard. They decorated their back patio and yard with hanging lights for an evening outdoor reception, and created a beautiful laid back country wedding.

Congratulations, Skye and Dave!

Hannah and Mark’s Springbreak Flower Farm greenhouse wedding centred around their love of adventuring outdoors. They chose their mountain venue in the Crowsnest Pass and wore hiking boots with their wedding attire. Any adventure they’ve embarked on with hiking boots has worked out, so why not extend those good vibes to their marriage? :)

The couple opted to have a first look in the greenhouse before their early evening ceremony, and we visited the nearby waterfall for their portraits. Their hiking boots meant we could get right up to the falls.

After the outdoor ceremony, their reception started with speeches inside the greenhouse, and finished off the night with one of the most active dance floors we’ve seen!

They had such huge smiles on their faces through the entire day that we barely needed to direct them. It’s so amazing to see high school sweethearts have a love that flourishes into such a happy life together. They are such sweet, caring people surrounded by that same love from their family and friends, and we were so grateful they extended that warmness to us sharing the day with them.

Congratulations, Hannah and Mark!

Rebecca and Aaron’s Countryside Barn summer wedding was a family-focused event that included their children at the forefront and incorporated many of Aaron’s family’s cultural traditions. They chose their date to coincide with Rebecca’s parents’ anniversary and several family members’ birthdays, so as they carried the date through COVID delays, their final date ended up on a Monday.

Not a single attention to detail was overlooked. (Not surprising when they are teachers!) Their navy and gold colour scheme continued through every detail, even the flowers, and they ensured their guests had tons of activities to keep them entertained. The most central feature was the teepee, which was the most popular (especially with the kids!).

Even though they had a few stressful starts to the day, they were so laid back and able to ride the flow of the day and enjoy themselves. This was my first time doing a wedding at Countryside Barn Venue, and it couldn’t have been for a better couple :)

Congratulations, Rebecca and Aaron!

Michelle, Claire, and Andrey had a summer solstice polyam wedding at Pavan Park with nearly every rich, colourful detail handcrafted by them. This was the first polyam wedding I’ve had the opportunity to photograph and it means so much for it to be for friends I’ve known for well over a decade! Claire fully became a part of Michelle and Andrey’s lives during the pandemic when their friendship blossomed into love. It’s because of the pandemic that I haven’t had a chance to get to know Claire yet, but I know that if they love her, she is truly amazing – and spending the day with the three of them only served to enforce that.

Another first for me was witnessing a ceremony performed by a drag king! (I can still find new things to photograph after doing this for so long!). Calgary drag king Brad Diesel was both their officiant, MC, and a reception performer.

Their aptly titled “lovebirds handfasting ceremony” took place in a fairy ring they created under their favourite tree on the grounds of the John Martin Recreation Area. Everything took place in Pavan Park on this perfect long summer evening.

Congratulations, Michelle, Claire, and Andrey!

Sheridin and Ian based their wedding around the mountain landscape of their hometown. Their Willow Drive outdoor wedding, entirely held at Ian’s brother’s place, provided sweeping views of the mountains in the Crowsnest Pass and made it easy for so many family members to be there.

This wedding was a celebration of the life Sheridin and Ian have already built together. After meeting in high school, education and work pulled them in different directions for many years while they successfully maintained a long distance relationship. They have finally been able to build a home together and were ready to have a party to celebrate that fact!

After getting ready at their own home and having a backyard first look, we headed to Willow Drive for portraits. Having their wedding there made it so easy to hop between the amazing views in the field and at the Starcreek Falls trail.

They really wanted to center the reception around their love for their families. The heartfelt speeches resulted in so much laughter and crying (sometimes both in the same breath).

Congratulations, Sheridin and Ian!