Allow Kicking Horse Mountain Resort to be your host and backdrop for the most important day of your life.  Have your alpine ceremony at the a one of a kind venue where within minutes of stepping into the gondola, you are surrounded by the pristine wilderness of six national parks.

From the “I do’s” until the last dance….. Start with a breath taking ceremony on the Terrace of the Eagle’s Eye Restaurant with the vast peaks of Banff, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks in the background.  Take mountain top photos to cherish for a lifetime followed by a reception in the restaurant and a fun-loving and memorable evening, dining and dancing the night away.

You are going to LOVE this venue!

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Mike & Megan

Angela,

We can’t thank you enough for planing such a perfect wedding for Megan and Mike. We enjoyed working with you so much and you surpassed our expectations.   You are an amazing person with many talents!  Everyone was so impressed with all you did. You did an outstanding job with Mike & Megan’s wedding and we can’t thank you enough! We hope you will look us up when you come to Florida. Please keep in touch as we have so enjoyed you.

Take care and keep in touch.

Love,

Bonnye

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View this article here: http://www.banffcragandcanyon.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1625872

By Shawn Slaght

shawn@thecrag.ca

With the wedding season just around the corner, there are many ways to make a wedding in the Bow Valley more eco-friendly according to local executive wedding planner Angela Schrempf.

Schrempf, who has been in the event planning industry since 2002 and currently operates Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting based out of Canmore, said there are some simple and inexpensive ways to make a wedding more environmentally friendly.

“We like to focus on really being green about everything,” said Schrempf. “Because I respect the area so much.”

Schrempf said one of the things to consider when planning a wedding is to reduce fuel emissions used by guests and the cost of the venue rentals by holding the ceremony and reception in one place.

“There are many venues in both Banff and Canmore and all over the Rockies for that matter that offer both hotel services and services for both outdoor and indoor ceremony locations and receptions,” she said.

If that is not possible, consider getting a shuttle bus for the guests from the ceremony to the reception or carpool in hybrid vehicles.

There are also facilities that promote environmental preservation that can be rented out for special events. One of the local facilities that Schrempf recommended was the Chateau Lake Louise.

“They are really, really big about that with their expansion,” she said. “They actually reduced the amount of water they use and other utilities when they expanded and doubled their property size.”

She said there are also facilities like Buffalo Mountain Lodge and Emerald Lake Lodge that produce their own game and meat for the meals.

When it comes to brides, they can consider wearing gowns made of natural fabrics or wear a used gown.

With photography, she recommended going with a photographer who keeps photos digital and only prints out the photos that are wanted.

“They won’t actually send you a proof book. You can go online,” said Schrempf.

Schrempf also recommended planning an eco-travel honeymoon. She said eco-travel agents can be found online and can meet anyone’s needs such as hiking, lounging on a beach, or strolling through a museum.

“We don’t have to go on a cruise or do something that is going to harm the environment producing carbon emissions,” said Schrempf.

She also suggested, along with holding the ceremony in the Rocky Mountains, staying in the Bow Valley for the honeymoon.

“Ditch everyone and stay in the Rockies,” she said. “Go exploring, go on a lake and do some canoeing. Enjoy yourself, it is gorgeous here.”

Another idea Schrempf suggested was holding the ceremony near water and, instead of leaving in a limo, leaving the ceremony in a canoe.

With décor, a few of the suggestions Schrempf had included using soy candles, which burn cleaner and longer and spills are much easier to clean up. She also recommended using natural elements such as branches and river rocks.

For invitations, the paper can be made of high-recycled content or from alternative fiber such as hemp or bamboo.

“They are really unique in how you can get tons of textures, colours and designs,” said Schrempf. “You can really customize it and also the same price than going with your normal invitations, so why not.”

Flower arrangement can also be done with wildflowers. Also those planning a wedding can ask their florist about donating the flowers to facilities such as hospitals.

One of the simpler ways to make a wedding more eco-friendly in the mountains is to simply go outside.

“Why use lighting indoors and air conditioning when you can have your wedding outside,” said Schrempf. “Go to a lake or a meadow. There are plenty of locations around here.”

However, permits are required for holding an outdoor ceremony in the National Park. Or information is available regarding the permit by contacting the Banff National Park Information Centre at 762-1550.

Hiring local vendors and entertainment cuts down on travel and carbon emissions. Also acoustic musicians can cut down on electricity.

“Local vendors are not more expensive than in Calgary,” said Schrempf. “Calgary vendors are actually more expensive than our vendors.”

More information about eco-friendly weddings can be found at www.sweatoccasionsbanff.com or by contacting Angela Schrempf at 403-678-6366 or by email at angela@sweetoccasionsbanff.com.

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Creating an Eco Chic Wedding

By Executive Wedding Planner Angela Schrempf

Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting

Banff National Park located in Alberta Canada is no doubt one of the most beautiful protected areas in all of North America.  A perfect setting for a luxurious wedding or an intimate elopement, the Banff National Park offers world class accommodations, dining & scenery that is completely unmatched.  The preservation of this gorgeous landscape is paramount and brides enjoying the Rockies can do a few small things to help preserve this beautiful place for their children.

Here are some fantastic tips to save the environment and some money:

Venues

• Host your wedding in National Park or natural reserve.  This is a great environmentally friendly choice; not to mention makes an amazing backdrop for your wedding!
• Host your ceremony and reception in one place, reducing the amount of fuel emissions used by the guests and the cost of venue rentals.  Buffalo Mountain Lodge & Emerald Lake Lodge are fantastic venues that offer beautiful natural ceremony & reception locations & lodging.  For the Princess Brides the Castle in the Mountains Fairmont Banff Springs also offers posh ceremony & reception venues and world class accommodations!

Lindsay & Daniel enjoy a natural ceremony in the heart of the Rockies.  Created by Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting. Photography by Peak Photography.

Vendors

• Hire local vendors. The less transportation, the lower the vendor cost!
• As a wedding planner specializing in the Canadian Rockies I know that each vendor in my community can provide the same service & specializing in the Rockies.  Vendors from out of town will charge you more for their gas & travel time and will not have as much experience in the Rockies as local vendors.  Support the local economy and save yourself some money with our local vendors.

Design & Decor

• Look for soy candles, they’re made from a renewable resource, are cleaner and longer burning than regular candles.  Avoid those nasty table cloth cleaning charges at your venue because spills are easy to clean – just use soap and hot water!
• For the invitations & stationary use paper that has a high-recycled content or print your invites on a gift of seed paper.  Guest can plant your stationary and enjoy beautiful flowers!
• For placement cards pluck leaves from trees and handwrite the guest’s names on each leaf, add an shiny silk ribbon at the stem and tie the leaf around the napkin for the perfect natural touch!
• Give life to your guests with little seedling trees as favors.  As your love grows so will the trees and your guests will always remember how spectacular your wedding was every time they see their tree!

Fashion

• Consider purchasing a gown made of natural eco-fabrics like silk and hemp.  You could also please your budget by purchasing a used gown or wearing a family member’s gown.
• For your rings choose silver instead of gold. Silver mining has a much lower impact on our environment and there are plenty of gemstones besides diamonds to choose from which are equally beautiful and are one of the latest trends!

Transportation

• If your wedding is near the water instead of leaving in a limo leave your ceremony in a canoe!   Couples can also departed on depart in a horse drawn carriage, sleigh, or even on bicycles.
• Book a shuttle bus for guests.  Guests flying in will be happy that they don’t have to rent a vehicle and you will be helping the environment.  If vehicles are necessary consider carpooling in hybrid vehicles.

Photo by Peak Photography.

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My husband and I were grateful to have Angela and her team to help us plan our special day. We did not worry about a thing the day of and were able to enjoy each and every moment of it. Angela was very professional, organized and very attentive to our requests. Together her and her team created a wedding day that exceeded ours and our guests expectations.
If you are having your wedding in the Banff National Park area, I highly recommend Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting to make your special day a stress-free one.

- Lindsay & Dan – May 10th 2009

Visit Sweet Occasions Facebook for more photos!

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She pulled off a wedding more beautiful than I imagined in a place I had never visited, with just my deions of my destination wedding dreams to go on, and within budget. My fiance (now husband) was also impressed by how she thought of so many things to address that we had never thought about, but were obviously quite important.

She put our minds at ease, so that we could enjoy the weekend, rather than stressing over it. Guests remarked on our calmness prior to the ceremony, and we owed it to her, as well as the other fantastic vendors that she recommended.

For someone so young, she came across with experience and confidence, as well as a true joy for what she is doing. My father started having an asthma attack with the flowers in his boutonniere (who knew he’d have trouble with freesias), so she even improvised one in under 20 minutes! She even took our flower arrangements to local hospitals to “recycle” them. I’ve heard so many brides lament about how they did not enjoy their wedding as much as they had hoped, because they were stressed; I am lucky to say that with Angela’s help, I had the best time I could have imagined, even despite the rain that forced my dream outside ceremony at Lake Louise indoors (which was about the only thing that Angela did not have under control)! I recommend her for anyone thinking about having a wedding (or any event for that matter) in the Canadian Rockies.

-Yokko & Bruce Lee

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Step 2
Get married on a holiday when the church will already be decorated. Christmas and Easter decorations already set up in a church can make a beautiful backdrop for your wedding.

Banff Garden Wedding Flowers

Step 3
Shrink your bridal party and your guest list. Fewer people mean fewer bouquets and decorations.

Step 4
Coordinate with another bride who is getting married around the same time as you. The two of you might be able to split the cost of flowers.
Step 5
Look outdoors for decorations. An outdoor wedding can save you tons of money on flowers and the Rockies are naturally beautiful!

Emerald Lake Lodge

Step 6
Supplement large arrangements with less expensive flowers. Usually, these arrangements are far away, so your guests won’t be able to tell anyway.

Step 7
Create your own arrangements. You can use silk flowers or even flowers from your own garden. And you save a lot of money in the process.
Step 8
Fill spaces with greenery instead of flowers. Large potted plants can be rented for significantly less than flowers. Ivy and other greenery is also beautiful as an accent.
Step 9

Think about fruit and other alternative arrangements. A vase full of fruit is just as eye catching, and it’s quite a bit cheaper.

Design by Angela Schrempf

Enjoy!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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Here is a creative bride and groom that shook up the traditional processional. I LOVE the idea of customizing a wedding day exactly to fit the personality of the couple! Way to go!

As a dancer and figure skater for 14 years, why not merge my choreography skills with wedding planning?

Just Dance!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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Want more? We LOVE FACEBOOK! so check out the album here.

Love sometimes gets messy!

Thanks for following!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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This is some of the spectacular work that was produced to keep these special memories in style!

Lefroy is absolutely perfect for that classy intimate wedding!

Click here to see the rest of the facebook album!

Thanks for reading!

Angela Schrempf
Executive Wedding Planner
Sweet Occasions Bridal Consulting
www.sweetoccasionsbanff.com

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