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!

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!

Cherilynn and Austen had their intimate St. Mary Campground wedding surrounded by nature and their closest friends and family. Family played a very important part in their day by having all of their siblings in the wedding party, as well as their own daughters.

Using the private group area of the campground at the St. Mary Reservoir meant no tourists crashed the wedding, but allowed a few extended family members to swing by to congratulate the couple. It also gave a clear view for people to drive over the dam and honk their congratulations! Cherilynn tried her best to wave at everyone who did so even if they couldn’t see her.

They combined their cultures in a fun way by having a bagpiper introduce their spiritual First Nations ceremony. After their ceremony and family photos, they opened up their outdoor dance floor to party under the night sky. Outdoor receptions are so gorgeous and everything was perfect… minus the mosquitoes (who were a bit much for everyone there!).

Congratulations, Cherilynn and Austen!