Christy + Rich got married in Kelowna in November, and IT. WAS. AMAZING. These two…. you meet them and all of their tenacity and real, honest, true selves just make you want to become their best friend. Christy is one of the morning show hosts on 99.9 Sun FM, in Kelowna, and she is loads of laughter and fun… but so super down-to-earth, and she is warm and wonderful… Basically, she makes everyone feel at home and comfortable. Rich is one of the kindest and most gentlemanly men you will ever meet. He will literally give you the shirt off of his back (or boots, as we learned a few weeks later… but that is another story for another time).
On this super-mega-cold day in November, Christy and Rich were wed. And this is the wedding that every little girl dreams of having. Literally.
Christy got ready with her rock-star hair and makeup team, in a suite at The Delta Grand in Kelowna. The accommodations were bright and spacious and walked right out onto the lake. There is definitely a more relaxed atmosphere when brides have their hair and makeup team come to them, rather than rushing around town and hoping traffic doesn’t make you late. These ladies relaxed over chicken strips and french fries while their hair and makeup were getting done. Which is another thing we loved about this wedding.
Loyal from Loyal Hair Therapy Kelowna, perfected the ladies’ locks with sun-lit hair spray, while Ramona Satar basically created a custom gilded with gold smokey-eye (not literally… but… really). Meanwhile, Janice from Crocus Floral Design arrived in all of her humble sweetness with her GORGEOUS florals. She created everything from bouquets, boutonnières, floral rings, to floral crowns, etc.
Because we live in the North-West, and these two were getting married in November at 4pm, we made sure to head out-of-doors for some bridal portraits and portraits with the bridesmaids before the ceremony. Just so we are all aware, 3pm in Kelowna in November is golden hour. And it was the prettiest golden light you’ve ever seen. Christy, adorned in her Floral Crown (because, as she herself said on her wedding day, “If you have an opportunity to wear a floral crown YOU TAKE IT!”), danced around in her flowy wedding dress in the magical sunlight, with the Okanagan Lake and the Mountains as her backdrop. Prettiest bridal portraits ever.
Across the lake and up on the side of the mountain, Rich was getting ready in West Kelowna. Rich was calm and cool and very relaxed. He was sure of his decision. He was ready. After getting dressed the boys enjoyed a drink, and we headed outside for some warm, sun-lit portraits. Check out those cool socks.
Meanwhile, at Sandhill Winery, Yuriko of Vintage Origami Wedding Decor was creating magic. Something from a Fairy Tale…. just imagine an Enchanted Forest Wedding and you will be envisioning Christy + Rich’s wedding. The wedding ceremony was indoors, as it was quite cold on this November day. Guests arrived dressed in tuxes and suites and gowns. Fall weddings are sometimes more fun because people feel more at liberty to really dress for the occasion.
Christy’s dad walked her down the aisle. Watch out for the photograph of Christy’s brothers losing it as they see their sister walk down the aisle to meet the man who was better than all of her dreams.
There are so many special moments during this day that only the photographs can explain.
The Reception at The Laurel Packinghouse was decorated by Yuriko from Vintage Origami, following the same theme of the ceremony. With pops of copper and greenery on each table with white pillar candles, there was no detail overlooked. The stationary throughout the day and on all of the tables was custom created by the very talented Carrie Mayhew of Ginger Creative. Day of Coordinating was done by the fabulous Stephanie Sielmann of Dream Big Event Management.
Be on the lookout for the beautiful sweets table where Vintage Origami elegantly displayed Whisk Cake Company’s fabulous delicacies amidst greenery, and warm candle-light, and splashes of vintage copper.
Having worked in the radio industry for a few years now, Christy has loads of friends, with SO. MUCH. TALENT. We were all entertained by the fabulous husband and wife duo who performed a little custom-re-written “Love is an Open Door” about Christy and Rich, from the beloved movie Frozen. And later, we were all graced with Christy’s co-host, aka work husband, performing a little diddy from a radio ad in the 1950’s about what makes a good wife.
And the fooooood! Joy Road catered, in all of their local, fine-dining glory.
This was probably the most fun and entertaining wedding reception we’ve ever been to. DJ B-Mack rocked the DJ board, with his excellent ability to read a crowd and play what the people want to dance to.
We feel so blessed to have been such a HUGE part of Christy and Rich’s day, and we hope you all enjoy the photos, as much as we enjoyed taking them.
Be blessed, you two! Congratulations. We can’t wait to keep in touch with all of life’s adventures that lie ahead of you!
Big thanks to our wonderful friend Heather from Heatherly Photography, who joined us as a third shooter, because she loves us so. There are definitely a few of her amazing shots in this blog.
Barnett Photography also assisted by Kaila Brianne.