Caleb and Steph's wedding in Banff, Alberta

Photos: Tunnel Mountain Reservoir (3:45pm)

Photographer & Videographer - Kim Payant, Jessie Bigler & TMC Weddings

Cocktail hour: Wine Cellar at Buffalo Mountain Lodge (4:30pm)

DJ: Boyd Entertainment - Vince Boyd

Reception: Wapiti Longhouse at Buffalo Mountain Lodge (5:45pm)

Decor: Mountain Event Rentals - Amy Venue: Buffalo Mountain Lodge - Kerrie Carter & Sam O'Callaghan

Our 2-week Trip Out West

Day 1: Fly into Vancouver to meet up with close family & friends. Reunite with them after over 4 years of not seeing them in-person!!!

Day 2 & 3: Drive to Whistler and camp in rented RV's. Mountainous hikes with snow on the ground (at the end of June). Explore Whistler main strip!

Day 4: Drive to Hope and camp in rented RV's. Catch up on sleep from jet-lag.

Day 5: Drive to Kelowna and camp in rented RV's. But first, a wine tasting looking over the lake!

Day 6: Drive to Revelstoke and camp in rented RV's. Visit Martha Creek Provincial Park for a dip in the glacial lake. Head up to the luge at Revelstoke Mountain.

Day 7: Drive to Golden and walk across the Golden Skybridge. Continue on to Emerald Lake Lodge for the BEST dinner (EVER!!!) and staying overnight in the hotel.

Day 8: Walk around and go canoeing in Emerald Lake. Saw a bear and a moose!! Drove to the Lake Louise Ski Area to meet the rest of our friends and family that flew into Calgary. Went on the shuttle to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Went out for dinner at Balkan Greek place in Banff! (Great food, a bit expensive for family style).

Day 9: The Day Before... Some of us went hiking at Tunnel Mountain Trail, some went golfing in Canmore and others went canoeing on the Bow River (off the main street in Banff). Cocktail hour with all guests, followed by the rehearsal dinner at the Wainwright Room of Buffalo Mountain Lodge.

Day 10: The Wedding!!!! Most beautiful day. See details above.

Day 11: Breakfast/Brunch offered for all guests in the Wainwright Room at Buffalo Mountain Lodge. Walked along the Bow River to go for a drink at the Fairmont.

Day 12: Rented e-bikes to go explore Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake.

Day 13: Went to the Red Earth Spa for a massage and hot tub (main street in Banff). Dinner was at The Vermillion Room in Fairmont Banff.

Day 14: Rented a boat on Lake Minnewanka and saw some mountain goats along the shore! Drove to Calgary and went out to a cool bar with games!

Day 15: Rented e-scooters to explore Calgary, had breakfast at Red's Diner and caught our flight to Toronto.

Days 16-20: Lake Muskoka for days of sunshine, boating, water sports and drinking on the dock.

What a magical wedding journey it was. We are incredibly grateful to our family/friends coming over from Australia and truly had the time of our lives.

The Proposal and Our Story

My partner and I have spent over 3 years doing long distance. This comes with the nature of our international relationship... growing up in countries across the world (🇨🇦 & 🇦🇺) . However, during COVID, my partner went back to Australia for his brother's wedding. He had to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks and test negative to attend. Luckily, he made it!!! After a small wedding during COVID, the borders were then shut down. He was unable to come back to Canada. We had been away from each other for over 6 months, and then... he proposed. FROM AUSTRALIA, while I was in Canada!!! How could this happen? Well, it definitely took some planning. A blue-green sapphire engagement ring was couriered from Australia to Canada. Then, with help from my Dad, the ring box was carefully placed in our boat up at Lake Muskoka. I received a call over Facetime from my partner. While on the video call, I walked down to the boat and... little did I realize my partner was going down on one knee, on the beach in the Gold Coast of Australia. He told me where the ring box was and to open it while asking me to marry him over the phone. I still can hardly believe it. Making magic happen, despite being apart during the pandemic. Such a special moment that I will never forget.

If you made it this far, thank-you for reading our story. I am so happy to share this milestone, for I will look back on this note and be able to relive this amazing memory in our lives. It was the most incredible time and I wouldn't change it for the world.