Nestled amongst the ponderosa pine forest in the rural beauty of Southeast Kelowna there is a magical little farm past down through generations named Caldwell Heritage Farm. Kenzie and James are stylish, professional urbanites from Calgary, but enjoy spending summers at the family vacation home in Kelowna. Their wedding was a perfect mix of nature and sophistication, with their ceremony outdoors amidst a grove of trees at Caldwell Heritage Farm, followed by their reception at the historical Hotel Eldorado, one of Kelowna’s only waterfront venues.
To help them put together a memorable experience for their guests, they chose Filosophi, an amazing wedding planning team from Vancouver, who crafted, along with many other local vendors, a one of a kind ceremony and reception that highlighted this couple’s elegance and celebratory spirit.
Please read on for more details on the events and special moments…
Kenzie was blessed with the opportunity to wear a set of jewelry from her father’s collection which perfectly suited her Art Nouveau inspired gown designed by Katie May, which she found at The Bridal Boutique in Calgary.
A heartfelt note and gift from her husband-to-be brought tears to Kenzie’s eyes. Kenzie’s adorable niece and flower girl, Lennon, was so inquisitive and wanted to know what was so special.
Makeup and hair by the wonderful Denise Elliott Beauty Company took place on the open-air porch overlooking the ceremony area, along with lunch and bubbly.
James spent the morning with the guys at his family waterfront vacation home and traveled to Hotel Eldorado to feature the ‘Spirit of the El,’ a 1952 classic wooden Chris Craft 34’ Sedan Cruiser and for some drinks at the Smack DAB, a stylish, modern gastropub.
Kenzie enjoyed some special moments with her mother, Jacalyn, and sister, Diyon, while they helped her get her gown on. And of course, how could we not include the adorable flower girl!
A child’s inquisitiveness in the happenings of a wedding day is so special – as Kenzie left to find James for their first look in the rye field on the Caldwell property, I was lucky enough to capture this magical shot of Lennon peeking out the front door.
I loved the leading lines and rustic beauty of this field and fence line – it was the perfect place to capture the Kenzie & Jame’s intimate first look and couple’s portraits, followed by wedding party groups.
There is a wide range of heritage farm equipment on the property, but one of Caldwell Farm’s greatest treasures is this classic Dodge truck.
One of the most recent additions at Caldwell Farm is the transformation of this little potting shed, which was decorated by Vintage Origami just prior to the wedding. Filled with family heirlooms from the owners of the farm, it was the perfect place for Kenzie and James to relax and enjoy some alone time together prior to their ceremony. Kenzie gave James a gift and love letter, with a few tears and laughter shed.
This couple chose to complete the majority of their portraits before the ceremony to allow the guests to enjoy a seamless transition into the reception. First, Kenzie surprised her dad with his very own reveal (aww!), which followed into family group portraits in front of the stunning ceremony backdrop created by Filosophi Events and A New Leaf Floral Design.
The ceremony décor was impeccably styled with a mix of comfort and design. I loved the mix of linen chairs and benches with cushions and blankets.
Side One, the live band this couple chose, played throughout the events from the pre-ceremony cocktail hour to the final party song of the night.
After the ring exchange, James’ dad let off the family tradition of sabering off the top of a bottle of champagne, followed by filling a pyramid of towering champagne glasses, which were served to guests to prepare for a toast before the first kiss. So fun and a great way to kick off the celebration in style!
The reception at Hotel Eldorado was set up beautifully with sit-where-you-want seating, a casual lounge area for the speeches, and multiple tapas-style food stations for guests. This led to a night full of mingling and good times for all – best of all, no one was stuck at the back of the room!
After the first round of speeches, I whisked the couple of the night away for just a couple dusk pictures on the Eldorado boardwalk. I love this time of day for couple’s portraits since all the pressure of the event are over and they can connect and let go, plus you can’t beat the vibrant blue dusk sky.
The party transitioned into the couple’s first dance to Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” after much laughter, happy tears and cheer of the final speeches.
The band Side One was impressive spanning every genre of music with flawless skill and style. Even the Cotton Candy Lady visited the party to provide a light-hearted, yummy evening treat.
One of the most special moments of the night was when Side One performed a rap song that the bride wrote especially for the groom in ode to his youth goal to become a rapper. I can’t imagine a more personalized gift. Congrats Kenzie & James – may love take you all the places that you wish in life!
Venue: Caldwell Heritage Farm
Wedding Planner: Filosophi Events
Makeup & Hair: Denise Elliott Beauty Co.
Florals: a new leaf floral design
Décor: Perspective Event Design
Bridal Gown: Katie May from The Bridal Boutique Calgary
Bride’s Shoes: Oscar de la Renta
Groom’s Suit: Paul Zileri from Henry Singer
Band and all music: Side One
Videographer: Daniel Abraham Films
2nd Shooter: Jenny Schildpatt
