Dedicated. Passionate. Creative.

How to Choose the Best Venue for Your Alberta Mountain Wedding

Megan Sawchuk • Jan 09, 2024

Nestled among the majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies, Alberta offers breathtaking backdrops for couples looking to exchange vows in nature. Weddings in the mountains are becoming increasingly popular, captivating hearts with beauty and charm. 



Choosing your wedding venue is a decision that can shape your entire matrimonial experience. Whether planning an intimate ceremony on a scenic ridge or a larger gathering in a mountain lodge, Alberta’s natural landscape offers breathtaking opportunities for you and the one who takes your breath away. 


Keep reading to learn how to choose the best Alberta mountain wedding venue. 

mountain weddings calgary

Consider your Wedding Theme and Style

Choosing your wedding theme is an essential part of the planning process. Since your wedding reflects your unique love story and personal style, determine the vibe you want to evoke for this special day. 


Whether you envision a romantic affair, a modern event, or a vintage-inspired celebration, your vibe will set the tone for the rest of your wedding planning decisions. Once you have your vision, look at venues that align with your desired theme. From rustic mountain lodges to elegant ballrooms, your venue will help create a memorable experience for you, your love, and your guests. 


Assess the Size and Capacity of the Venue

As you plan your special day, consider how many family members and friends will share in your moment. The size of your guest list can influence the overall atmosphere of your celebration and can help narrow down your options for the perfect venue. 


When you draft your initial list, consider your desires and practicalities. What is your preferred intimacy for the celebration? Do you want something small with close family and friends, or do you dream of a grand affair filled with laughter and cheer? 


Along with personal connection, factor in your budget and venue capacity. Creating your guest list is a meaningful process involving balancing your family dynamics, social circles, and personal preferences to create an experience that reflects your relationship. 


Accessibility and Transportation Options

Along with aesthetics and ambience, the convenience and accessibility of your wedding venue can help bring your dream to life. Here are a few things to consider:

  • How easy is it for you and your guests to reach the venue?
  • What is the availability of parking?
  • Are there transportation services?
  • Where are the best places to take photos?
  • How long does it take to walk or drive to key locations?
  • What is the weather typically like during your wedding month?


Answering these questions will provide insight into crucial details so you can plan where to go, how long it takes, what to bring, and what could be helpful to prepare. Choosing a venue that can accommodate all guests without difficulties can help ensure everyone can participate in your joyous occasion. 


While prioritizing a seamless experience for your guests is important, your journey matters, too. Consider the proximity of your venue to your ceremony location and accommodations. This strategy can streamline the logistics, allowing you and your love to relax and enjoy the anticipation of your celebration without worrying about commutes. 


Outdoor vs. Indoor Venues

Deciding between an outdoor venue and an indoor setting shapes the atmosphere of your wedding. Here are some pros to outdoor mountain wedding venues in Alberta:

  • Natural beauty: Outdoor mountain venues offer stunning backdrops. Serene lakes, majestic peaks, and lush landscapes do the decorating for you. 
  • Unique environment: Open skies and alpine air create a unique, romantic ambiance in a natural setting.
  • Picture-perfect memories: Outdoor settings offer breathtaking opportunities for your wedding photos. From scenic trails to mountain views, capturing your special moments in the wilderness adds additional beauty to your wedding album. 


As beautiful as it sounds, there are some cons to outdoor settings:

  • Uncertain weather: Rain, snow, wind, or unexpected cold spells can be challenging for outdoor weddings. You can minimize this by exploring indoor venue options for a mountain wedding.
  • Logistics: Outdoor venues may require permits, external restroom facilities, or have limitations like uneven terrain. 
  • Limited amenities: Unlike indoor events, outdoor venues may lack amenities like dressing rooms, vendor accessibility, and heating or cooling options. 


Booking the Wedding Venue

After finalizing your venue decision, it’s time to secure the venue for your wedding date. Here are a few tips to ensure a seamless transaction:

  • Confirm availability and pricing
  • Schedule a venue tour
  • Break down your quote to understand costs and inclusions
  • Negotiate your package (if necessary) to accommodate your needs
  • Review your contract before signing and ask for clarification on anything that seems unclear
  • Submit your deposit to secure your wedding date


Megan Sawchuk: Alberta’s Expert Mountain Wedding Planner

There’s an undeniable allure to mountain weddings in Alberta, with the crisp air, rugged landscapes, alpine lakes, evergreen forests, and romantic panoramic views. 


At Megan Sawchuk Weddings, we plan for your perfect day one detail at a time.


Questions about setting priorities, determining your guest list, figuring out your budget, or finding the right mountain wedding venues in Alberta? 

Let's Chat

Have you always dreamed of you and your love standing at the end of an aisle at the Bow Valley with mountains as your backdrop? The castle experience at Fairmont Banff Springs offers stunning views of the Canadian Rockies. 


Or maybe you prefer a sleek, chic theme that takes a modern, elegant approach over the classic rustic look of many lodges? In this case, you might consider Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, which can host up to 400 guests in their Olympic Ballroom.

Wedding ceremony set up with wood chairs under a long wood pergola at the Saskatoon Farm.

How to Use Pinterest to Plan Your Wedding

By Megan Sawchuk • 24 Apr, 2024
Pinterest is a wonderful search engine full of photos and ideas for almost anything including weddings. Most people start here when they are gathering ideas for their weddings. While Pinterest can be a wealth of ideas, it can also be a let down in other areas. The way that you utilize Pinterest will make your wedding planning much easier and provide fewer let downs. Here are some of the ways we utilize Pinterest with our clients.
A wooden table topped with a book, a camera, a bird cage , and flowers.

Your Perfect Timeline: Scheduling Your Calgary Wedding Day for Success

By Megan Sawchuk • 15 Apr, 2024
Ensure your Calgary wedding day is a success with these timeline tips. As your wedding day draws closer you need to consider various factors that could impact your plans.
A bride and groom are posing for a picture with their mother at their wedding reception.

The Hidden Value of a Wedding Planner

By Megan Sawchuk • 28 Mar, 2024
Everyone knows that a wedding planner helps bring everything together for a wedding. But there are hidden values that may not be apparent right from the beginning.
How to Choose Your Vendors

How to Choose Your Vendors

By Megan Sawchuk • 20 Mar, 2024
Hopefully you have already sat down and discussed with your partner what your wedding priorities are. If you haven’t, take a moment to talk about this as it will make your decisions that much easier. With your priorities sorted out, you are now ready to start booking your vendors. But how do you choose? There are so many to choose from - how do you find the ones that will work best with you? Here are our steps to finding vendors that suit you and your wedding.
10 Essential Wedding Planning Tips Every Couple Should Know

10 Essential Wedding Planning Tips Every Couple Should Know

By Megan Sawchuk • 08 Mar, 2024
10 essential wedding planning tips to streamline your big day! From setting budgets to adding personal touches, we've got you covered to help simplify the process.
Unique Ideas to Make Your Alberta Mountain Wedding Truly Memorable

Unique Ideas to Make Your Alberta Mountain Wedding Truly Memorable

By Megan Sawchuk • 07 Feb, 2024
Craft an unforgettable Alberta mountain wedding with our guide. Personalize your ceremony, embrace nature-inspired decor, and create memorable guest experiences.

2024 Wedding Trends

By Megan Sawchuk • 23 Jan, 2024
What's hot in wedding for 2024?
badge stating 2024 avenue's best wedding services runner up

We're One of Calgary's Best Wedding Planners!

By Megan Sawchuk • 27 Dec, 2023
From the desk of Megan Sawchuk: I am thrilled to announce that Megan Sawchuk Weddings has been named one of Avenue Calgary’s Best Wedding Planners for 2024 . This is one of those pinch me moments. To be named one of the best by our peers, clients, family, and friends means the whole world to my little (and growing!) business. Because it takes a team to get here, I need to take this moment to say thank you! First, if you voted for Megan Sawchuk Wedding - thank you! You have no idea how much it means to me that you took time out of your busy schedule to hit that vote button. Second, if you are a past or present client, big hugs and thank yous. I am grateful that you chose me to produce your wedding and even more grateful for the relationship that we have built. And if you are still saying my name and supporting me after all of these years, I couldn’t say thank you enough. Third, this company is much more than me. Thank you to everyone who has assisted on a wedding and had to deal with my demands. This goes out to my family and friends you have stepped up, but also to the amazing team of people who have found me and decided to jump on board. And lastly, I need to thank my wonderful family who probably thought I was nuts to completely change my career path and life. I like to believe that it has been for the better. Thank you for jumping in when I needed help. Thank you for listening to me endlessly talking about weddings and this business. I couldn’t have gotten here without you. And if you are reading this and you may be a future client, I can’t wait to meet you, get to know you, and plan your amazing wedding. Cheers! Megan

What to Consider When Asked to be a Part of a Wedding Party

By Megan Sawchuk • 13 Dec, 2023
In the second part of our series on wedding parties, we are now talking to the people in the wedding parties. You can make or break the wedding experience for your person and yourself. Don’t damage your relationships with some of your friends and family. Ask questions You have received the ask - will you be in my wedding party? Before you scream your excitement from the rooftops, you need to ask some questions. Get the whole scope. What are the couple’s expectations? Do you need to plan wedding adjacent events like showers and/or bachelorette/bachelor parties? What will you have to pay for - attire, grooming/beauty? Take in this information and consider if you have the time and finances to be in the wedding party. Say no if you need to If being in the wedding party would cause you too much stress, it is okay to say no. But let the person know why, if you are comfortable sharing why. You can still be supportive by talking about the wedding, being a sounding board, and even attending the wedding. Clearly communicate If you say yes, you are now in the thick of it. Be sure to keep the lines of communication open with the couple and the other people in the wedding party. Make sure that you are contributing and answering texts. If you say you will do something, DO IT! If something isn’t going well, bring it up early and help find a solution. Don’t be a drama llama Don’t start drama, don’t play into drama - just don’t. If the couple want to do something a certain way, remember that it’s their day and you signed onto this even if you disagree with it. Be on it for the day The day of the wedding has many moving parts and you are one of those parts. Make sure you have the timeline and you stick to it like glue. Show up on time. Be in your attire and ready to go. Help keep areas tidy. Make sure there is food when you are getting ready. Don’t over consume alcohol. Be present for the major events like speeches. You have no idea how many times I have to hunt down wedding parties in the bathrooms so that speeches can happen. Have fun Obviously, you have a special connection with the couple or one of the person’s getting married. You are allowed to have fun and celebrate their love. Be their biggest cheerleader, cry those tears, and rip it up on the dance floor. 

How To Select Your Wedding Party

By Megan Sawchuk • 05 Dec, 2023
This is the first part of a two-part series on wedding parties. This first part is for the couples getting married. We have compiled some advice on wedding parties and how to make the experience amazing! Consider your people carefully The right people can make this experience wonderful. And the wrong people…well you may find yourself in wedding hell. So take this moment to evaluate the people you are considering for your wedding party. Will they meet your expectations? Will they keep to a timeline? Or are they going to cause problems? Or will they do something cringey? Go ahead, be different It’s okay if your wedding party numbers on each side don’t match. It’s okay to have different genders on one side of the wedding party. Pick great people who you would love to have standing right beside you. Be clear on your expectations When you ask someone to be in your wedding party, you should have an idea of the financial commitment, the time obligations, and any other expectations you may have. For example, will they have to purchase attire (dresses, suits, accessories)? Will they have to purchase specific attire that they may never wear again? Will they have to plan showers, bachelorette, bachelor parties? Are you expecting them to travel out of city/province/country for these events? Will they have to travel to the wedding? It’s okay if they say no If after presenting your expectations, let it be okay if they decline the invitation. Don’t take offence to it. Instead, give your friend/sibling/relative grace. It may be a hard period in their life and while I know that they would love to stand up there with you, it may not be possible. Instead, be happy that they will likely be at the wedding and possibly some of the surrounding events and can enjoy being there rather than stressed out to the max. Keep the communications clear Once someone has signed onto the task of being in your wedding party, keep the lines of communication going. Check in with them to see how they are doing. Is anything stressing them out about the wedding? Before the big day, it is a good time to reset the expectations for the day of the wedding. Provide a timeline to everyone and where they are supposed to be during the day. Other things to discuss could be alcohol consumption, seated for speeches, who is giving speeches and how long do they have? Are they expected to help get people on the dance floor? 
More Posts
Share by: